God I hate school, anyway I promised a reaping or two everyday so even if I am tired I'm sticking to that promise. I'm not sure if you guys think these reapings are too long but I'm a strong believer of character development, what's the point of writing a few sentences about someone with no detail or background information.
Anyway ... I hope you're liking this so far, here is the next reaping.
District Nine Reaping
Ashlynn Lennox
I've been hungry for probably most of my life. Starving isn't the nicest feeling in the world, particularly when you're so close to death that if you don't get food in your system within a few hours you'll end up in the ground. That was me once, so close to death, my ribs sticking out, my face shallow, my eyes bulging. It was quite a horrible experience, probably the worst of my life so far. It was thanks to my mum they managed to get a loaf of bread down my throat before I did end up in a box. Dad neither Quinn my eighteen year old brother knows the secret but I do. My mum used to sell her body to peacekeepers, gathering money for food but she stopped just before I started to starve. Being much younger I was more weak and couldn't last as long, she started up again and managed to save me from death.
I'll always be in her debt for that, I can't ever thank her enough. But that experience did change me, it's not a very pleasing thought knowing that I'm always grumpy, never having a laugh except with my only friend Bethany. Not even Quinn who went into his own shell when Robbie our younger brother died, I was upset for quite a while but I got over it, Quinn's a bit better, he's a very protective brother after watching Robbie die from starvation and me nearly die from being hungry.
I've signed up for tesserae behind my parents and brother's back, I know Quinn has as well. Today's the reaping so I'll see whether those extra pieces of paper with my name actually make a difference.
"Ashlynn?" I hear Quinn say from outside my door, he knocks but it doesn't take much to open my wooden, barely solid door. I flies open in a puff of dust and hits the concrete wall. I hate my room, I hate my whole house. I smile at him, he's quite good looking actually. He inherited my dad's blond hair and green eyes whereas I inherited my mum's red hair and green eyes, oh I also have a small scar on my cheek that looks the colour of a strawberry. I'm not even sure how I got it, it happened when I was little I remember that much.
"If I get reaped today-"
"Quinn you won't!" I interrupt, shuffling to sit closer to him. My bed creaks with our combined weight and in unison we stand up.
"If I do, I want you to know I'm not picking you, me and dad already have it arranged that I'll take him, not mum, not you alright." He smiles and gently strokes my cheek. Sometimes his over protectiveness is smothering, but I'm glad I have him. Someone to defend and protect me, mum and dad are always so busy working we hardly see them. I'm surprised Quinn even got a chance to discuss this with him.
"Okay Quinn but I know you won't get reaped, someone else will." I smile and let him stroke my cheek again. He's already changed into his reaping clothes, he picks mine up from my wooden chair and throws them at me. I manage to catch the bundle and kick him out my room with a grin on my face.
He can be fun sometimes.
Yaven Drenna
I grab Emilee my cousin from her waist and throw her into the grass. I pick up a bucket I just filled with water and drench her with it. This isn't me being horrible, this is me and Emilee having a laugh. She stands up, spitting water everywhere and charges at me, fists raised in the air. I swerve out the way and run back into the house, laughing until I realise that today is the reaping. That's enough to dampen anyone's mood. She laughs and charges again at me but I grab her round the waist and lift her up before carrying her up the stairs and into her bedroom.
"Get dressed!" I shout but in a friendly way, not being bossy. Emilee may be my cousin but I always regard her as my sister, she's lived with us ever since her parents; my aunt and uncle were killed in an 'accident'. They say it was an accident but we've never been told the details, so who knows what really happened.
Emilee is also the only person I ever mess around with and have fun with. With my parents, with my few friends, with anyone else I have any contact with I'm dead serious. I know why ... ever since I watched the brutal murder of a random man just walking down the road minding his own business, a peacekeeper charged him and beat him to death. He threatened that if I ever reported this he would kill me as well. But someone else reported him and he was thrown in jail and later executed. I'm surprised that happened, him being a peacekeeper, I thought they would have let him go and come up with some excuse that the poor, innocent man was doing something wrong and things had gotten out of hand.
"You need to get your reaping clothes on!" Emilee says, banging on my door. I shout for her to go away, but once again in a joking manner and strip. I'm surprised at how muscly I am, I don't do any training or anything for the Hunger Games, if I was reaped I would probably stand a chance. But today's my last reaping, never again will I have to bear the wait of finding out if it's mine turn next to die.
District Nine won two years ago though, the female by sheer luck. The other tribute from Six tripped as he was running and snapped his neck. Idiot.
But there's still today though ... I could still get reaped!
I don't want to think this so I stand up, jump on the spot, squirt water from a water bottle on my face and then get into my smart reaping clothes. A shirt, trousers, black shoes and a bow tie, something Emilee picked out for me.
We're not mega rich, but we can afford some luxuries from the Square and its shops. Like bread from the baker, warm, fluffy bread that tastes absolutely amazing. Sweets from the little sweet shop and a whole manner of other bits and pieces. This bow tie was a little gift, that's why I drenched her with water actually.
I look ridiculous, I think to myself examing my neck in the mirror. Whatever I'll wear it for this reaping, then I'll chuck it in the bin.
I flick my blonde fringe from my dark green eyes and nod with satisfaction (minus the bow tie), I look good enough I suppose. I leave my room, smile at how pretty Emilee looks in her little dress and walk downstairs just in front of her. Sometimes I can't believe she's fifteen, it seems like it was just yesterday when she turned up on our doorstep crying her eyes out. My mum immediately took her in and from there we built up our relationship from just cousins to brother and sister.
"Yaven, Emilee ... oh you're ready, don't you two look nice." Mum says, smiling and giving us a quick examination with her eyes.
"Do you approve." Emilee says giving her a little twirl. Mum smiles and gives her a hug.
"Course I do, you look beautiful." The two of them walk out the door, dad leads from the back. He puts a hand on my shoulder and turns me around.
"It will be alright today son, let's go out the four of us afterwards get some lunch from that little cafe on the corner."
I nod and say that would be nice. But I still can't fight away the feeling that something isn't right. That something bad's about to happen.
Ashlynn Lennox
The Square is packed with everyone standing in their sections or otherwise at the back waiting to see what happens. Quinn and I keep near mum and dad until a peacekeeper walks up to us and tells us to hurry it up. He stays behind me until I'm in the fifteen year old section, he gives me quite an evil grin and carries on looking for other kids to tease and be horrible to. I look at Quinn, he nods at me and gives me a smile.
"Ashlynn, good luck today." Bethany says, giving my arm a tug, I turn to face her and say thanks.
"Our names aren't in there that much, not compared to all the older kids." I don't dare tell her I signed up for tessare or she'll definitely tell Quinn and my parents and I just can't deal with their nagging. I can only last so long surrounded by protective people, sometimes I do need a break from it all.
"It's horrible this year isn't it. Having to pick someone from your own family to join you in the Arena. I have no idea who I'd pick, what about you?" Bethany says, she never stops talking I swear.
"I don't know." I lie, I do know but it would kill me to do it. Quinn would have to be the person I would pick, I have to be fair and pick someone who has a chance, besides I know that if I did choose him he would do all he could to protect me and help me to win. At the cost of his own life though.
"Stop it." I say, pinching my arm. Bethany gives me a weird look as if to say you're mental before looking at the stage as Mayor Danola walks to the centre, grinning at us all. She's always smiling, in fact I'd say she was just as excited as our escort, Trinity Granger our highly weird and highly energetic Capitol escort.
"I hope you are all just as excited as I am for today's reaping -" Yeah as if I think to myself -"I have to start however with my usual speech, keep on listening, this is interesting."
I don't keep on listening, who the hell would listen to a woman ramble on with the same crap that comes out her mouth every single year. Even when I was young and didn't stand in the sections, when I was at the back holding my mum's hand I would zone out. Half the time I didn't even get what she was waffling on about. The history of Panem bores me, I know that there was a war, I know that the Hunger Games is our punishment, but honestly I don't care. Twenty Four children get reaped, and twenty three children die, that's all I care about, how sick this messed up system is.
"And now I give you Trinity Granger!" Some applaud as she walks on in six inch pink heels, an hourglass gown and a bright pink wig. She smiles bearing her pink studded teeth and walks in front of the female reaping ball.
"Ladies and Gentleman, I can't tell you how wonderful it is to see all your bright, smiling faces looking up at me!" I glance around as she pauses, doesn't look like anyone is smiling at her, most are either looking at the ground, crying or just staring at her without showing any emotion.
"I know you cannot contain your excitement so here I go!" She dives her hand into the ball and picks the first paper that her fingers come into contact with. She pulls it out slowly, adding to the already horrific tension and unfolds it (equally as slow).
"Our female tribute is ... oh how do you say that name ... umm Ashlynn Lennox!"
It had to be me didn't it. Great, I know that's me dead, how lovely it is knowing you're going to die. This is now my worst experience ever, but I bet the Games will beat that right off the top spot. Death is probably a much sweeter release than killing other people. I'll die quickly then.
Yaven Drenna
A girl from the fifteen year old section takes a step forward. She isn't crying which is one good thing. I can't stand it when people cry. A boy in front of me is moving on the spot like he's angry about something. I bet that's his sister. Poor dude.
Ashlynn-whatever her name is gets onto stage and I can see in her eyes she's terrified. No offence but she isn't going to go very far in these games, she's probably never even killed a fly let alone a teenager.
"Now dear, how are you feeling?" Trinity says, looking at her with her eyes wide with interest. How the hell do you think she's feeling ... stupid woman.
"Fine." The girl says, tapping her foot on the stage and swinging her arms. Is she that bothered, the worst is yet to come today, she now has to pick a member of her family. That would be horrible.
"I'm sure you're speechless, what a great honour this is after all. Now I guess we get on to the next part, can people who are related to Ashlynn Lennox our wonderful female tribute take a step forward for me please."
I guessed right, the boy in front of me shuffles forward, I can't tell if he's crying or not, if he is he isn't making any noise. I turn my head to look at the audience and see a man and woman presumably her parents step forward. The woman is crying which makes me uncomfortable but the man looks straight on, no emotion on his face. I guess this is his way of dealing with things.
"Who are you choosing sweetheart." Trinity says.
Before she can even pick the boy in front of me shoves his hand in the air," Me, she's taking me, I volunteer!" He runs to the stage and throws his arms round her. The two stand there embracing until Trinity gets in between them to pull them apart.
"Are you her brother?" She asks, gazing into his eyes. I'm a guy and even I can't deny he's good looking.
"Yeah Quinn Lennox."
"Well I'm sure you two will make an excellent show. Now onto the boys." She pushes through the two of them and without any hesitation picks the piece of paper at the top of the pile. Slowly she unfolds it, clears her throat and then shouts to us all, "Yaven Drenna!"
Guess I couldn't get out of the reapings after all ... only today as well I had to get through and then I was free. I move slowly, looking at everyone staring at me. I hate it when people stare. I smile at Emilee who has started to tear up. Please don't cry.
She seems to understand me as she wipes her eyes and smiles back at me. She knows how much I hate tears. The only problem is I've already made my mind up who I'm taking. I had done ages ago in case I was reaped. Emilee's coming into the Arena with me. Trinity calls for my family to step forward, I don't hesitate, I just want to get this over and done with and put the whole thing behind me. I'll protect Emilee, but I'm not sure if I want to win or not. If I win that means Emilee's dead.
"I choose Emilee Shawson, my cousin." She smiles at me and runs on stage, we hug for a few minutes before Trinity pulls us apart and looks at her.
"Another fine partnership. Let's give it up for this years tributes from District Nine!" Most of the Square applaud although they don't sound too cheery.
We get taken into the Justice Building and within two seconds of waiting mum and dad come flying in, grabbing us both and embracing us.
"No tears." I say, mum nods also aware of my hate for crying. Dad gives me a half hearted smile. He knows that only one person can come back, next time he sees us, either both of us will be in a box or one will be dead and the other victorious.
"Emilee I know you're my niece technically but I want you to know you're like a daughter to me." Mum squeezes us both and slowly lets us go.
"Take this." Mum takes off her emerald bracelet and puts it into Emilee's hand. "A token for you in the Games." She doesn't give me anything, tokens are another thing I have a hate for but I can put up with Emilee's bracelet.
"Good luck my babies." And with that they both leave.
The streets are a blur as we get to the train station and what's worse is I've decided I want to win, I want to live and return to my parents. I'm sorry Emilee, you're like a sister to me but I need to win, and that means you're going to have to lose.
