(A/N) Well, my laziness is getting quite obvious. Once I'm done with the reapings, it'll be MUCH better! So I'm not doing a reaping for Enrix, but he's not a bloodbath. He's going to have a teeny tiny part c:. Districts 10 and 11 males are still M.I.A, but I'll just randomize them if no one wants to claim. 10 and 11 males are also open. None of the characters I submit will win, but they might make it past the blood bath. Sorry for my inexcusable laziness and many thanks to my beta reader and general readers.
SPONSOR QUESTION: DO POWDERED DOUGHNUTS MAKE YOU GO NUTS? (Heh, that's got to be an easy question.)
District Six Reapings, Melinda Snow's POV
I pounded my hammer against the metal on the bench before me. The heat from the welding fires zapped my energy and slowed my every swing. I wiped the sweat from the cheeks and swept my auburn bangs back into my messy bun. Sparks from the fire spat out at me and almost grazed my skin as I decided to call it a day. I loved my work, but it can be rather dangerous.
I hung my welders' apron on one of the employee racks and walked towards the factory door. I had come in extra early to get my hours in so I could work in peace and still go to the reapings. Even at five in the morning the factory was occupied, and it proved to be quite annoying when some of the younger workers caught my eye. I hated the attention I got, but my looks prompted many of the districts boys to gawk at me. Apparently even when I'm drenched in sweat and grease, I'm still attractive. I glared at the group with my lavender eyes and made it obvious their attention was unwelcome before walking out the door.
The sun rose over the hills as I approached my house. My mother stared at me as I entered our clean home, her mouth agape.
"What?" I asked as she stood up in the living room.
"How can you be so untidy? You'll get grease all over the fabric! And to think I just cleaned." She frowned and walked over to me. I loved my mother, but all the years she lived in the Capitol hadn't worn off just yet, and she 'simply despised' it when I came home unclean from the filth of the factory. You could still hear the Capitol drawl in her high voice as she fussed.
"Well, someone has to work in this house." I joked and smiled. My mom had enough money from my grandfather, President Snow, when she came to the district to last a life time. I still enjoyed the grime of the job, though.
"Oh, how can you be so insensitive? Now go, please do get washed up before you come back down stairs!" She put a hesitant finger on my shoulder and ushered me to the stairs.
"Okay, mom. Don't have a heart attack." I smiled and walked to my room. I filled the tub basin in my room full of water my mother had boiled and stripped down. I settled into the water and watched the greases and sweats on my body pour into the water, making it oily. I scrubbed the dead skin and grime from myself and dipped my long hair into the water. When I got out of the tub, I spritzed a bit of lavender perfume on the outfit I had picked. The clothing was simple, a black t-shirt and skirt with a pair of leggings, but it was a step up from my worker duds.
I walked down stairs after slipping on a pair of flats and sat down on the couch. I waited patiently for my mom to graze down the stairs. Of course, as in her nature, she over dressed for the occasion. She had squeezed herself into a strapless evening dress that spilled onto the floor. I rolled my eyes and stood up.
"Overdo it much?" I asked and we walked out the door.
"You can never be too pretty, my dear." She said and smiled. She was very pretty. My father must've been a good man to get someone as beautiful as her. We began to walk to the square and laughed as she freaked out when the slightest bit of dirt touched her dress.
"Oh of all the things, this is the worst possible one!" She said and lifted up her dress so it wouldn't get too dirty.
"Drama queen." I sighed as we approached the lot.
"Hmm…you go get checked in. And I'll occupy myself with those lovely gentlemen over there!" She rang and gestured to a group of male peacekeepers who had been staring at us as we walked in. She put on a cute smile and walked away as I went to one of the little check in booths. After checking in, I walked to the corner of the square and settled in with my friend, Jesse.
Our escort was a slender Capitol woman with crimson hair and golden-contact eyes. Unlike most of the escorts we get, she was a pretty thing with raven feathers tattooed to her body and little diamond talons on her fingers. She looked bored and annoyed as she looked down at us. The crowd refused to let her talk and wouldn't quiet down.
"Ehem….EHEM." She said into the microphone as she nodded at the peacekeepers, each cocked their gun and pointed it at the crowd. They finally decided to hush and she gave us a little smile.
"Well, then, now that we've got that little ordeal sorted out, we can begin. I trust there will be no more interruptions? Good. Now, you must be wondering what such a beautiful woman like myself is doing in front of you rather than a normal escort. And to that, I say please direct your attention to the projection screen." She placed a taloned hand on her chest and gestured to the screen. The crowd obeyed and stared up. A film clip rolled and a young man with a handsome smile popped up on the screen.
"Good morning my lovely little friends and a most sincere welcome to your district's reaping! You may be wondering who I am, and I forgive your ignorance. I am honored to introduce myself as the one and only Theo Cyrillus! I am your humble gamemaker for this year's Hunger Games. Isn't this such a treat?" He smiled and clapped his hands together.
"Now, down to business. You all know how the typical, boring reaping goes. Names are called, yadda, yadda. This year, I figured I would do this differently. I have automatically selected the female from your district to go fight in the games. And this lucky young lady will be quite interesting to pick. The granddaughter of our great president, Melinda Snow! You're so very welcome!" The screen went black and his wicked smile burned into my mind.
I felt myself began to hyperventilate as I freaked out. Jesse and my mother yell out my name as a peacekeeper puts a gun to my back and pushes me towards the stage. I noticed a man that shares my eyes and hair crying as I'm pushed. I stumble up the steps, wide eyed and terrified. The woman gives a dry laugh and walks over to the only reaping ball on stage.
"John Doe to the stage." She says and watches as a scrawny boy walks up. She smirked and stepped off the stage. A helicopter roars to life and she is escorted back to the Capitol. I shook in my place and collapsed onto the ground.