District 12 Reaping
It all finishes off tonight! The final reaping is finally here. I'll start the tribute, stylist and mentor stuff as soon as possible. By the way, if you haven't already seen I've edited the District 10 Reaping as I felt making both Elliot's family and Cliff disappear was a bit unoriginal. Admittedly, the only reason I made Cliff disappear in the first place was because I ran out of time.
Dallas Cho POV
I am not a brave person. I wouldn't go as far as to call myself a coward but I definitely get nervous under pressure. The Hunger Games absolutely terrify me. I imagine tall strong boys who look like men, bigger and more aggressive than… well anyone really, especially from any of us from The Seam. The Seam used to actually be an area of District 12. That was back when Katniss Everdeen lived here, before the rebellion, before any of it started. But now "The Seam" is just a generalised term for the poorest part of District 12, where my home is situated. It's much smaller now; since the revolution but some people still fall on hard times. I only have my mother now; my father died a couple of years ago but it's a good thing; he was a bully. She is thinner than me; she gets her food from a woman named Esme Sae. Luckily she likes my mother and I'm friends with her son Vanni so if she has any leftovers (which isn't that often) she passes them on to my mother. These days seeing my mother almost gives me the slightest happiness that the games are back on. It sounds crazy but despite the fact I hate the idea of teenagers killing each other, if I was reaped, it could do my mother good in a couple of ways-
If I (by some miracle) won, then it would provide a whole new life for us. We'd never be hungry again, and we could spread it amongst the other people around The Seam.
As horrific as it is, if I died in there, at least my mother wouldn't keep giving her food to me. Recently she's been lucky to get one small meal, let alone three.
So you see my point of view. All the same, I still don't have any skills to bring in there. I'm reasonably fast and I know how to hide but I can't carry a sack of apples let alone a massive steel sword. My aim is pretty hopeless, though I have had the odd fluke. This is bad enough something that is twice as unnerving is a fact only we know in District 12; something that makes me know the Hunger Games will never end- what happened to Katniss Everdeen.
She and her husband Peeta Mellark have lived in the same house in what used to be Victors Village for 25 years. They have a daughter; they used to have a son. His name was Jensen. He was a little bit older than me; I don't know much about him, only that he had blonde hair like his dad. So, Jensen decided to take up mining when he was 16. Well, his mother was terrified for him. I heard her dad died in a mining accident; something we have in common. Anyway, Jensen insisted he'd be fine. But he wasn't. On his first morning at the mine, they found a bomb. Nobody got out. The whole Everdeen-Mellark family went into a depression for a little while but soon Peeta and their daughter Rebecca were ok again. Katniss Everdeen still isn't. That was 5 years ago; and that's why she won't do anything. Rebecca's two years older than me so she'll be in the reaping this year. It makes me sick to my stomach her parents won't try and do something. I comb my black hair so it covers my ears- or ear as it were. Even three years later, I still shy away from my own reflection when I see it. It was my own fault. You see, before he died, my dad used to push my mom around. Then one day I got myself caught in the cross fire. The rest is history. I dress in my reaping outfit- just a plain white shirt with some blue pants- I don't feel the need to dress up for the Capitol, no matter how scared I am of them. I walk down the stairs slowly, trying to take in any kind of vibe this house has in case I never see it again. When I reach the kitchen my mom has made pancakes. Something's up; we can't afford to make pancakes, not with our weekly budget.
"Mom, what gives?" I ask, puzzled.
"Dallas, you look lovely" my mom exclaims cheerfully, completely ignoring my question.
"Where'd you get the extra eggs from?"
"Oh! Esme had some spare so she said I could have them for the special day"
"Special day? Mom, it's the reaping. For the Hunger Games; special isn't exactly the word I'd used to describe it"
My mom goes quiet for a moment. Then she coughs. Suddenly a coughs turn into chokes and her chokes turn into sobs.
"Oh Dallas, I couldn't bare it if you were reaped. Promise me if you get in you'll stay alive" she sobs, coughing through each one.
I know the chances of me living through the Hunger Games are microscopic but I can't just leave her without any hope at all.
"I promise" I reply, hugging her fragile body.
She's so tiny; it's like hugging a skeleton. I consider how likely it is I'll get reaped. I don't know how many times I'll be in that bowl. I stopped counting at 30.
Branwen Pritchard POV
I bite my lip, trying to get my hair to go right. Typically I woke up with a major bed head this morning; it practically resembled a red afro. Fortunately, after being washed and brushed, it's in a decent state. Now if I can just get it into a side plait and… got it. My hair is naturally curly so I like to wear it down a lot but today I just felt like doing something different. Looking in the mirror, I ponder whether this was a mistake. I walk down to find my parents sitting on the sofa, my mom with a nervous look on her face and my dad clicking his knuckles (he does that when he's anxious). I should probably say right now that they're not my real parents though it kills me to admit it. Their family name is di Cosmo. Mine's just Pritchard. Maybe I should tell the whole story. I was a door stop baby. My parents left me outside a random door when I was born though even if they turned up today, I wouldn't consider them my parents. The di Cosmo's are my parents. Anyway, they took me in and were able to look after me on a trial basis and then when I was two, they adopted me properly. Because I look similar to their son Marco, they passed us off as twins. I've known since I was five; they didn't want to keep it from me longer than they had to. After I'm changed into my blouse and hideous navy skirt (I hate skirts; my mom made me wear it), I go downstairs and see my mom and dad watching me come in.
"Mom, dad, its reaping day today" I announce.
"We know" says my dad.
"Look Bran, is there anything you want us to do? You know, to make you feel better about the reaping" asks my mom.
Yes, let me wear my jeans instead of this stupid skirt. But I don't say it out loud. My mom bought the skirt especially so I have to act like I love it. But there is one other thing I want.
"Can you please change my name to di Cosmo?" I ask.
They both give me an awkward look. This di Cosmo/Pritchard thing has been a problem for as long as I can remember. I like to hunt so to stop them tracking down the whole family if I was caught, I use the name Pritchard. But it's really depressing. Nobody at school gets my family situation. The bitchy girls call me a "family reject" as if my family didn't want me to share the same name as them. But it's not like that. I don't need friends anyway; friends only increase your chances of being betrayed.
"Bran, you know it's not that we don't want you to share the same name as us don't you?" my mom says softly, as if she's scared she'll hurt my feelings.
"It's just, when your hunting, if you were caught it could cause so many problems for the rest of us" continues my dad.
"I know but, if I'm reaped nothing about hunting will be mentioned, I'll just be another tribute. If I'm going to die, I wanna die as a di Cosmo" I explain.
My father thinks for a moment.
"Ok, we'll change your name back. Have you got a tribute token?" he asks eager to change the subject.
I show her the piece of string with the wood on the end. They're both pieces of my first bow and arrow so it's really special to me. My brother Marco walks into the room. My mom looks at him quickly so he's involved in the conversation.
"Ah Marco there you are. Is there anything you want us to do for you?" she asks kindly.
"No I'm fine" he replies.
"Are you sure darling? Because…"
No! I said I'm fine!" he says angrily before storming out of the door.
"Where's he going? It's only 8:30, he'll be waiting by the judgement building for ages" I say.
"Go after him Bran; find out what's wrong" says my father.
So I leave the house, maybe for the last time. To be honest, the reaping itself is the last thing on my mind. I like to think that my chances are pretty slim. I'm 16 so I'm already in there 5 times but I was lucky enough to only have to get tesserae twice. I hate the Capitol for what they've done and I wish everyone who had any part in putting the games back on would just drop down dead right now. But I don't know what to think of the games themselves. It makes me sick that they expect children to kill each other for entertainment. But I can't deny that it represents every single District especially District 12; it's all about fighting for your life.
Dallas Cho POV
I arrive at the reaping by 9:45; Effie Trinket has just started the speech. She's about sixty but she definitely doesn't look it. She must have had surgery back in the Capitol. She has bright pink hair but rumours have speculated that it's actually a wig. I heard she was always excited about the games years ago. She doesn't look excited today; she looks on edge. Still, she puts on a huge smile as she walks up to the podium.
"Welcome, welcome to the 74th- I'm sorry- the 76th Hunger Games" she beams.
Suddenly the mayor decides to make some huge speech about how the games have begun again even though everyone's seen it on the news. Effie takes a glass of water from a peacekeeper. I feel kind of bad for her; she must be so nervous. By the time the mayor has finished his long speech, Effie is fine again. She goes back up to the podium.
"Thank you Mayor Paulo. Now let us begin the reaping" she says, trying to act as if the speech was meant to happen rather than it just being an attempt to save her butt.
"Ladies first" she smiles getting a reaping paper from the boys bowl.
Before anyone can say anything she reads the name out.
"Marco di Cosmo- oh my, I'm sorry I seem to have chosen from the wrong bowl" she apologises blushing.
A peacekeeper rushes up to her and whispers in her ear.
"Are you sure? Well ok…" Effie replies to him uncertainly, not seeming to keen on his ruling.
We in the audience wait for the judgement.
"Well, I have been informed that due to my mistake, District 12 will have two male tributes. So Marco di Cosmo, please come up to the stage" she says flatly, as if she's lost all connection to the rest of the world and her brain is now on auto pilot.
"WAIT! GET OUT OF THE WAY! I VOLUNTEER AS TRIBUTE" someone cries.
Branwen Pritchard POV
I push the peacekeepers out the way and make my way onto the stage.
"Oh, it seems we will have a female tribute from District 12 after all. What's your name young lady?" Effie asks me.
"Branwen Pri-I mean di Cosmo. Branwen di Cosmo" I reply quickly.
"Well Miss di Cosmo, please stand back slightly, just so you're out of the way" she commands.
Man, someone is obsessed with detail. I stand back, thinking about 1. What I'd just done and 2. Why I did it. 1. I volunteered for my brother as a tribute, possibly sealing my fate. 2. It was all down to what he said to me this morning.
After he'd stormed out and I went to follow him, he was pretty far ahead of me. I had to run to catch up and even then he sped up slightly so I'd have to run a little faster. Once I caught him, I grabbed him and turned him round so he was forced to look at me.
"What was that all about?" I asked him angrily.
"Like you don't know" he replied just as angry.
"No I don't. Just tell me"
"I've been getting tesserae, alright!"
"So? I got tesserae too. It's not like we had to get loads, we were pretty good for food this year"
"That's what you think. Mom and dad have been making me get extra. I'm in their 23 times this year!"
I froze.
"What?"
"Since you apparently do us "such a big favour" by keeping your name as Pritchard so we don't get ratted out, they think it's only right I get extra tesserae"
"What?"
"Have you got cotton in your ears? I'm going to get reaped. I'm going to die!"
That was the end of the conversation. As I come out of my trance I hear the boy tribute's name.
"Dallas Cho"
Dallas Cho POV
I freeze on the spot. No, it can't be me. It can't. I go numb inside. It's like I'm being controlled as I walk up to the stage. The sound of people shouting and Effie saying "Come on up young man" are all distorted. I catch a glimpse of the girl. She's got olive coloured skin, bright red hair and a semi strong build but then my vision becomes twice as fuzzy; everything is too bright. Suddenly, I black out.
Branwen Pritchard POV
The male tribute lays on the stage for a few moments before two peacekeepers lift him up and take him inside the judgement building. Poor kid; he only looks about 12 and he's clearly from The Seam judging by his pale skin and thinness. I don't know how long he'll last in the arena. Maybe I should befriend him. No, I can't help people who are so weak. As much as it pains me to admit it, he'll bring me down. When my family arrive my room in the justice building I don't know what to say. Should I be mad at my parents? Should I believe Marco?
"Why did you do it?" I ask, directed at my parents, though I'm not facing them.
"I'm sorry Bran; we just thought it'd be fair. We had so many scares that we'd run out of food" my mother explains.
"Then why didn't you ask me to get more tesserae. You forget that I may have hunted for the animals that made us money but Marco ran the stall in the hob illegally; he was in just as much danger as I was"
"Now Bran, you know that's not true" says my dad.
"It is; that's why I volunteered. To give him a chance"
Marco steps forward himself.
"Bran, I didn't expect you to volunteer for me. That wasn't why I told you; you shouldn't have done it" says Marco, looking pretty uncomfortable.
"I should have and I did" I reply stubbornly.
Shortly after that the peacekeeper escorts them out and now I'm left wondering if I actually did do the right thing. Or if I've just been insanely stupid.
Dallas Cho POV
When my mom walks in, I have no shame and sob into her arms.
"Mom, I don't want to die" I cry.
"Shh, you're not going to die" says my mom calmly.
"I will. I can't do this"
"Stop! You can. Don't let them see you cry; do not make yourself look weak. If things get bad, hide".
I'm surprised my mom has this kind of advice on Hunger Games strategy.
"How do you know all of this?" I ask.
"I have my sources" she smiles.
She leaves with the peacekeeper and for another twenty minutes I get time to myself. I realise this is probably the last time in my life I'll get to be at peace like this before I die.