Reapings

District Three

Halen Moon's POV

I looked around the crumpled place I was at. Rats ran around the room but we were so used to them that it didn't matter anymore. My five year old brother Arou was actually holding one by its tail and giggling. He ran up to me and almost shoved it up my face.

"I got this for you!" he said with a big grin. Anyone else would have thought that he was pranking them, but I knew Arou. The kid genuinely thought that he had a good gift for me.

"Thank you Arou," I replied sweetly, ruffling his hair, "But I think it wants to run around and be with its friends."

Arou looked a little sad at that but he got over it soon. A huge grin was plastered on his face as he nodded and set the squirming rat on the ground, giving it a gentle push. Instead of attacking him, the rat scurried away, anxious to put as much distance as possible between itself and Arou.

That was when my mother entered the room. Every time she entered the place, her face had that sad expression. Many times I had heard her sobbing in the night because of the rats.

It had not always been like this for us. Four years ago, we were pretty rich. We had a bakery, we made fair money. We always had enough to survive and enough to be happy as well. My father was loving and kind, my mom really sweet and caring. Arou was barely a year old and he was like an angel to me. We were a happy family.

And then, one day, the stove set fire to the whole building. The walls, the roof, everything inside was engulfed in flames, fell down as ashes, cooled down to give debris. I could never forget that day. I was trapped inside, smoke filling the whole place. The door wasn't there, but fire blocked my way. I had nowhere to go. The smoke was suffocating me. I fell down to my knees, knowing my death had come. I just wanted it to get over quickly.

My father jumped over the flames to me. I couldn't believe it. He had come to rescue me! We would all be saved! He lifted me off the ground and jumped over the flames again, towards the open doorway. My mother was cradling Arou, encouraging my father. Suddenly I saw the roof move. I knew we couldn't be saved. It would fall on us and kill both of us. With all his strength, my father tossed me outside and at that very moment the flaming roof fell on him, crushing him instantly. And I was still alive.

We lost everything we had. We had nowhere to go. My father was gone. I remembered my mother's face, the shock and grief it held. I remembered Arou's cries, as if he had realised that he would never feel his father's presence again. And I remembered the utter hopelessness it brought to me. And the guilt… I was not responsible for his death. At least that's what my mother told me. But why could I never believe it?

Times were too hard after that. No home, no job, no food. I dropped out of school to do odd jobs at some shops here and there. My mother got a job at the factory, but it paid so low that it was never enough. We found an abandoned house with weak walls, leakage and rats. We made it our home, having no other choice. When I turned twelve I started taking tesserae. I had risked my life but at least it provided enough food to see another day.

"Halen," my mother said.

Her voice brought me back to the present. I smiled at her.

"Yes mom?"

She looked me with tears in her eyes. I grabbed her shoulders and hugged her. It was the Reaping Day. It might be my last day with her.

"Get ready," she said, wiping her tears and smiling at me. I nodded and was about to head to another room when she grabbed my arm.

"You look like your father," she said lovingly and patted my cheek.

I could feel myself on the verge of tears. I fought them back and squeezed her hand. After that I left.

I put on a navy blue jacket with golden buttons and khaki pants. I had bought them last year after saving up my money for long. I had taken extra tesserae so that I could save the money to buy them. We were supposed to look good on Reapings. Even though the Games were cruel and inhuman, even if the Capitol was Hell itself on earth, we had to look good. Why? Because the poor kids would march to their deaths for entertainment. I shivered at the thought. How could they do it? Didn't they have any conscience?

"Halen, Oliv, Gami and Salin are here!" my mother called out.

"Coming mom," I called back and walked out of the room after combing my ruffled black hair. I had brown eyes and slightly tanned skin. I had a few freckles on my nose and cheeks and my front tooth was slightly crooked. It had happened when my father had hurled me out of that burning building. There was a scar on the edge of my lips. I was of average height, with a bit skinny and slightly muscular frame due to all the weights I had lifted to deliver them to other people's homes. Overall, I looked nothing too good and had basically nothing to boast of.

I ruffled Arou's hair and walked out of the house. My friends were waiting for me. Oliv gave me a smile. "Late, as always," Salin said, a smirk on his face. Gami raised a brown at him and then punched him playfully. I laughed. After everything that had happened, these were my only friends.

"Mom, I am heading for the Square," I called out to her. Before she could out, I jogged away.

I just could not bear to meet her eyes.

Brynn Elizabeth Stone's POV

"Honey get ready for the Reapings!"

I had just returned home after selling my goods. That day I had made some profit. Hopefully, we could keep the food on the table for a few days.

"Brynn!"

"Yeah mom I will get ready! Just let me take a break for a few minutes," I called back.

My mom walked in then and I got up, propping myself on my elbows.

"Dear, you're getting late," she said softly. I could see the fear in her eyes though, even though she put up a brave façade for my sake. I smiled at her.

"Okay mom," I replied and stood up.

She ruffled my hair. I grinned at her and then I produced something from my pocket.

"Here's a gift for you, mom," I said and pushed it into her hands.

"What is it, Brynn?" she asked and then looked down into her hands. Her eyes widened. There was a small mirror in her hands. It was brand new and did a fine job. It had cost me a lot but I had really wanted to gift my mother something. We were very poor; we couldn't afford such luxuries.

My mother looked at me in wonder. I beamed at her and threw my arms around her, taking her in a warm embrace. She returned it, her face buried in my shoulders, her tears falling on them.

My mother was only twenty when I was born. A few weeks after that my father walked out on us. He simply abandoned her. He abandoned me. Jason was a monster. I never heard from him. He didn't care whether we lived or died. I hoped he was dead. That man deserved it for hurting my gentle mother. When I grew up I wanted to take up her last name and drop Jason's. Brynn Elizabeth Grace. No connection with Jason. My mother persuaded me not to do it. I never found out the reason but I guessed it was because she was still attached to him. She might have forgiven him for leaving but I would never do it.

I released my mother from the hug and gave her one of my dazzling smiles.

"Thank you Brynn. But why…?"

"Come on mom! You need to know how pretty you are, right?"

She let out a weak laugh at that and then gently pushed me.

"Get ready, princess. We have to be on time," she said and walked out.

I sighed and closed the door behind her. I ran a hand through my curly light red hair and tied them in braided pigtails. They fell to my back. I had light green eyes, a small but strong frame. I was good at running because of my long legs. I put on a simple light blue dress that came down till a little below my knees.

I walked out of the room and saw my mother in the kitchen, leaning on the counter, staring ahead. I put my arms around her from behind and said, "Mom!"

She laughed and turned to look at me. A loving smile had appeared on her face.

"You're looking lovely! Here, take a look!" she said and handed me the mirror. I glanced at it. Well, I didn't look like a zombie, more like a human in fact. My gaze hardened. The only day I dressed up well would be the Reapings. Why? Why were we being punished for something that people did back then? It was so stupid! So cruel! Sixty years, and we still had the Hunger Games? How long would it last? Would it go on forever?

I tore my gaze away from the mirror and handed it back.

"I told Jazmin and Brandy that I'd meet them in the Square. Got to leave now. Bye!"

"Wait-"

I ran out before she could complete her sentence. The road was unusually deserted. Of course everyone would be at the Square. The sound from the factories was absent. As I ran, I saw that not a single soul was around. Great, I was late.

By the time I reached the Square the mayor was done with his speech, our escort Miranda was already on the stage, and her hand was about to go into the boys' bowl. I joined the other sixteen year old girls, panting by the time I has stopped.

"You took your time," Brandy commented.

"Were you one more minute late, you would have been done for," Jazmin said.

"Sorry," I muttered.

"Albert Kasy!" Miranda called out.

I didn't even realise when that happened. I saw a boy heading out from the thirteen year old section, trembling as he walked. He was about to get on the stage when a loud, clear voice rang out.

"I volunteer!"

I gasped. Who would volunteer? As if to answer that very question, the camera focused on a skinny boy who was making his way from the fifteen year old section to the stage. He was not stone faced, nor was he angry or anything. He had the look of the person who had accepted his fate and surrendered to it.

"May I have your name, young man?" Miranda asked. Her Capitolite accent along with her orange hair was so ridiculous! And she asked the question with such a nasal tone that I almost laghed.

"Halen Moons and I will try to make it back."

Miranda clapped hard at that. A few people joined in but the others just stared at him.

Miranda walked over to the girls' bowl and started fishing for a slip. She took it out, unfolded it, fixed her eyes on it, opened her mouth and the name was-

"Brynn Elizabeth Stone!"

Wait. What?! No, this couldn't happen! I started moving backwards, shaking my head. My life couldn't be that bad! I couldn't be reaped! No!

"Brynn, please come on the stage."

A Peacekeeper had walked over to our section. He grabbed my arm and started to pull me along.

"Wait! Wait! I'll go there," I told him and started moving. My legs felt like lead, my motions mechanical. My heart was beating too fast. This was a nightmare…

Soon I was shaking Halen's hand. He smiled at me sadly. I was confused. Why? What was happening? I- I had been reaped. I was about to die.

I was ushered to the Justice Building. The door opened. My mom and friends rushed inside. My mom swept me into her arms. She was sobbing. Why was she sobbing? I wasn't going anywhere. I was- I was right there! My friends were crying too. Brandy patted my shoulder and squeezed it. They told me to be strong, that I had a chance. Their words felt empty. Of course I didn't have a chance. I was about to die…

My mother gave me her wedding band. It was my token. That cleared my head a bit. Why was she giving this to me when she had received it from Jason? I knew it was not to torment me, but that was exactly what she was doing. I shook my head. It didn't matter. It was my mom's.

The Peacekeepers took them away too soon. And I was left alone, alone to head for my end.

Halen Moon's POV

Arou was sitting on my lap, looking back and forth between mom and me. My mother looked at me with so much confusion, sadness and anger that I could not bring myself to speak.

"Why?!" she yelled at me.

"We need the money, mom," I replied.

"So you will march to your death for it?! We've been surviving for four years! Why did you do it?!"

"If I win," I felt my voice rising, "Arou will be able to go to school! We'll be happy, mom! And if I die, there will be one mouth less to feed."

She stared at me with dead eyes. Her lips were quivering. I felt terrible for talking to her like that but I held my ground.

"What did you just say?" she asked, her voice barely audible.

"Have faith in me," I told her calmly as I ruffled Arou's hair.

"Where are you going?" he asked.

"A holiday," I replied.

"Take me with you!" he ordered.

"Later, Arou. Later."

They were asked to leave by the Peacekeeper after that. My mother gave me one last hug and they left.

My friends came in after that. Salin hugged me tightly.

"We won't ask you why you did it," Gami said, "We will just say good luck."

"Please come back," Oliv put in and joined in our embrace.

"I'll try," I replied, "Just look after mom and Arou, will you?"

"Definitely," Salin replied. He dug into his coat pocket and produced an old playing card. Ace of Spades.

"Be victorious," he said. I nodded as I took it and shoved it into my jacket.

They had to leave after that. We shared one last hug and then they left. I sat down on the seat. The building was too posh. I'd have to return to give my mother and brother something that good.

The only problem was that I had to kill.

There it is! D3! Thank you and theflowercrowns for these awesome tributes! It was fun writing them, really enjoyed it! Hope I did a fair job with them. I'll keep this short because I'm tired but thank you everyone who reviewed the previous chapter. I'm glad most of you liked the twins. Thank you again for the awesome reviews, they made me really happy! Hope you enjoyed this. Only three more left, right?

Have a great day!