DISTRICT 10 REAPING

I looked outside as the cattle rummaged across the green grass, mooing to each other and grunting in reply. As usual. I watched as one brayed up at the sky, his muscles rippling under his majestic brown fur, his pounding hooves moving gracefully.

Watching them, I tore my attention off the giant creature and looked at a cow as she grazed, her teeth grounding together as she uprooted rare grass that patched the area like islands in the giant ocean, which is the dirt.

Some families are fortunate enough to plant grass all over their fields and even get some luck of daisies and orchids for themselves. Some can even afford seeds that sprout grape vines.

One family sticks out in mind. The Brekke family around the corner. They have lush grass and beautiful grape vines. A girl lives there with her father...I've seen him, he's huge with jet red hair and dark grey eyes and gnarly fists. Mr. Brekke hangs around at the bar sometimes, spending all he got for beer and wine.

I've only seen his daughter, Fey, once. She was in a frayed T-Shirt and jeans, and she was scurrying around, refilling her father's bottles. Bruises lined her spine and collarbone. I never understood why her silver eyes seemed to be drained of color and why her skin was bruised like that.

The sun soon blossomed with color, and the cows brayed at each other with the immense heat. My gaze flickered around them, and seeing their water half full, the grass green enough for the day, I decided to go down and make myself some breakfast.

Once I slid out of bed, I almost jumped back in with the heat that flooded through the floor. Oh, darn it; I had forgotten to lay the ice down on the wood. Every night it's the same. I have to do it, or else the heat from the sun outside would ruin the small house the mayor provided me.

I hurried downstairs, scrambled outside, then ran straight to the Vine, our trading store.

Once I arrived, I sighed at the feel of the small fan that buzzed, rotating and cooling the room slightly. We had little electricity, so once in a while, the fan would shut off, and a small old woman with pale white hair would turn it back on and babble some curses.

I went right to a man with a stubble and grey hair.

"Ice?" I asked. He nodded, turned, and scuffled around a bit before pulling out a can. Inside should of been ice, but his brows furrowed at the sight of melted water.

"I'll take it." I said, because when I stuck my hand in it, it was cool. The man nodded and held out his hand. I fished around in my pocket and pulled out a few steel coins.

"How much?" I asked. The man held up three fingers. Three pieces of steel for ice? Are we that desperate? I put two in his hand, and he glared at me.

"Please?" I asked. He grunted, muttered something under his breath, then slammed the can down so about half of the water spilled out over the top and sauntered away.

I took the can and turned to see Fey leave the Vine in a frail see-through nightgown. She held a cup of milk and a bag full of some things she must of traded. As she left, I couldn't help but tuck the can of water under my jacket and skirt outside to watch her leave.

I almost wanted to follow her, to find out what her life was like, but I was already running back to the small house.

Once I was back inside, I used the can of water to carefully wet the floor, but it almost evaporated right off the wood. Ice worked much better. I frowned, then went to my cabinet and withdrew a slightly stale roll. I cut off the crust and ate the rest of the inside and drank the rest of the water that I didn't use.

I then went to the bathroom, slid into a grey shirt and black shorts, and put on dark red shoes that belonged to my father.

Afterwards, I went to the bathroom to comb out my dark brown tangled hair, that could easily be mistaken as black hair.

I brushed my teeth and washed my hands with a tiny soap, then headed out to the square.

It was extremely crowded, and I couldn't make out a single face, because every one I tried to observe was replaced with another person trying to cram in. I almost fell three times, and was knocked to the side five times, hit in the head two, and mistaken as someone else four times.

Finally, a lady with insanely unfashionable makeup trotted up to the stage, her hair sticking up straight. Blair...that's her name. Weird.

"Happy Hunger Games!" She hooted, then leaped over to the girl's bowl after saying,

"Ladies FIRST!"

She fished her hand around, then pulled out a name.

It was Fey.

I stared in shock and my eyes scoured the area for her. Fey was nowhere to be seen. Finally she stiffly walked up, her face pale, her silver eyes black, her copper hair like white fire blazing in the sun. Two braids bobbed on her back, and she stood up on the stage.

"Joss Lae!" Was the boy's name.

Guess what? That's me.

I felt as if lightning surged through my veins, but acted like it was nothing.

Show no fear... I thought. I shook my head and calmly strode up. Once I reached the stage, I met Fey's unwavering gaze. Her expression said,

I've seen you before. I can't kill you.