"Children are not things to be moulded, but people to be unfolded."
Grazyna Sewc, 15,District Eight Female
Screams is what almost always woke her up in the morning. This morning, was not an exception. Letting herself flop back against the covers, and ran her hands over her face. Her siblings were lucky they were cute. Grazyna got out of bed, and went over to her closet. Grabbing her favorite pastel pink dress, she slipped it on, and grabbed the black flats and placed them by the bed. She ran a brush carefully though her hair and pulled it up and out of her face. She yawned as she stepped out into the hall, and peered into the living room. Her two youngest siblings, Ramie and Rivet were in front of the TV, watching the recaps of the previous years games.
Shaking her head, she headed into the kitchen to try to find something to make for breakfast. Footsteps came from the hallway, running into the room, as Taffeta ran into the room. She loved that her siblings were so carefree, and glad that they still had a few years before they were eligible for the Games. Grabbing a pan, she lit the stove, as she got a bowl and cracked a few eggs in it.
The room was starting to warm up, so she went over to the window and opened it to let some air in. Today would most likely be another warm one. Eyeing the clock the wall, she saw that it was just almost eight in the morning. Less than an hour to get everyone ready and out the door for the Reapings. Pouring the eggs into the pan, she started to scramble them. A couple minutes later, the door to the house opened and cries of "Pahmina!" Came from the younger ones. She grinned, and pulled the pan off the stove, and started portioning them out for each sibling.
"Morning, and don't worry, Tuck was with me." Pahmina spoke as she came into the kitchen.
"Hey, I figured that much, you know how much closer he is to you than me. He's okay though?" She asked, as she pours her sister a cup of coffee.
"Yeah, he's good. We went out early to watch the sun rise. Give yourself one more good day."
Placing a half slice of bread with jam on it, she carried the plates to the table and set them down. Calling out for her siblings, they all ran in and took their spot. Grabbing the pitcher of water, she eyed how much was left and sighed. She poured everyone some water, and sat down at her spot. She could see Taffeta eyeing her empty glass, as she felt someone hug her. Seeing it was Tuck, she pulled him tighter, whispering a good morning to him. Once he was in his spot, they all started eating.
"Alright, now listen!" She called out, "Today is suppose to be extra warm so once I get more water, I want all of you to have an extra cup or two before we leave. I don't want any of you getting sick at all during the reaping okay?" She spoke, and her siblings agreed.
"How come you don't have any water?" She heard Taffeta ask her, big brown eyes looking at her.
"I wanted to make sure that you all had enough for breakfast. It's okay, I'll get more in a bit, okay?"
Breakfast went on as normal, the younger ones chatting amongst themselves. After cleaning the dishes and setting them to dry, she filled up the pitcher and poured water for the siblings. Letting out another small yawn, she made her way back up to her room, seeing that Pahmina was starting to get the younger ones ready. Grazyna mouthed a 'thank you' before going back to her room. She heard her father's door opened, and seconds later, he stumbled by her room, and scoffed at her.
"You, look disgraceful." His face twisted up into a scowl. "Try to make yourself look fucking decent."
She sat on her bed, as she retied her hair, and couldn't help the tears that fell. She missed her mother during times like this. Her mother had died when she was eleven, due to a virus and she couldn't get medicine to save her. Since then her father had closed off, really only feeding the kids. Grazyna had taken on the motherly role in her younger siblings, having to grow up rather quickly.
Maybe her father was right, she thought as she looked at herself in the mirror. Her dress was a tiny bit too small, her body looking skinny. She knew that she was pretty, having hearing others mention it, but she couldn't see it. She thought that she looked, well, plain and average. Wiping her face from the tears and putting a smile on, the girl slipped her shoes onto her feet, got up and went to help get the kids ready.
Grazyna held onto Taffeta and Ramie's hands tightly. Once they got to the check in, she and Pahmina passed the younger ones off to their father. She watched as her sister, made her way to the seventeen-year-old section, as she made her own way to the fifteen year old sector. Luckily there was one familiar face that she saw, her best friend Ester. Grinning, she grasped the female into a tight hug, and grabbed her hand in her, a habit they picked up after their first reaping.
The ever so familiar color of mint green made her eyes hurt, as their escort, Roman Maximus made his way out onto the stage. His skin and hair seemed to all blend into one.
"Welcome to the Reaping for the 100th Hunger Games, and as always, May the Odd be ever in your favor!" He crooned out, a wicked grin on his face. Grazyna couldn't help but glare at the man. How could he be so cheerful about picking kids to send to their death? God, she hated the Capitol.
"As always, we'll start with the video from the Capitol!"
"Ladies first!"
The escort went over to the bowl holding the names of the females that were eligible, and plucked one from the middle.
"The female tribute for District Eight is Grazyna Sewc!" Somewhere from the front came a gasp. As Grazyna made her way to the stage, she shook her head to Pahmima. She would not volunteer for her.
"And now, the male tribute is Alban Roth!" From the sixteen year old side, came an average height male, who seemed to be built. They forced the teens to shake had before leading them to say their goodbyes.
Pahmina, along with the young ones came in, tears already falling down the faces of the three youngest. Grazyna pulled them into her arms, whispering that it would be okay.
"Pahmina will take care of you now. You listen to her okay? No picking fights and be good. I'll miss you all, but I'm going to try and come back." She whispered to them, tears silently falling down her face.
She hated that she was going to be separated from them, but she knew that they would be okay with Pahmina.
She would come back.
She had to.
"Do what you have to do so you can do what you want to do."
Alban Hugh Roth,16, District Eight Male
The sun was just starting to rise as Alban made his way home from his night shirt at the local factory. It had been another slow and boring shift, of him sewing up peacekeeper uniforms. He hated his job, but knew that it was important that he keep it. The only thing that didn't sit well with him was that it didn't pay that well, often leaving him and his siblings hungry. He paused for a moment, wiping the sweat off his forehead and taking a few deep breaths, the heat of the factory always made him lightheaded and faint, and today was no different.
He finally arrived at the small, rundown house that they had started taking shelter in four years ago. His two brothers were sleeping on the floor, covered up with blankets. Shaking his headed, he went to wake them.
"Come on you two, it's time to get up." He shook them gently. Jute was the first one up, rubbing his eyes softly and yawning. It took an extra five minutes to ger Rollag up, and even then he was grouchy.
"Alban, I'm hungry." he heard Jute say softly, brown eyes wide. Running his hand through his hair, he made up his mind.
"Stay with your brother, I'll be back in a bit."
Walking quickly, he spotted the local bakery, lights only just coming on. Looking through it, he could see half used loaves, and at the bottom, almost like the gods were looking down on him, was a perfectly good loaf. Granted, it was burnt on the bottom but he wasn't picky. Grabbing what he could and shoving it in his pockets, he mae his way away. As he walked back, he could feel himself getting weaker. Having not eaten in almost two days and working almost 18 hours a day, his body was taking a beating.
His breaths came on in puffs, as he fought against the black spots that came into his vision. No, he had to be strong. Finally, his house came into view, and he could of sobbed with relief. He let the door shut softly behind him, and his brothers heads perked up.
"Reaping day gift." He held the loaf up, and sat on the floor next to then. Dividing the bread into three, he gave them the bigger pieces before breaking off pieces of his own and eating them.
After a quick wash up, Alban went to get Jute ready. Pulling a nice shirt and a pair of his old pants onto the boy, he ran the comb to try to tame the hair.
"Ow, that hurts!" Came from the boy, as he tried to pull away.
"You fighting it, only makes it worse!" He chided, brushing the comb through the boys hair one last time. "You're good, go and wait in the living room." He called out, as the youngest ran as soon as the brush was out of his hair.
"I swear, that kid." Alban muttered softly, shaking his head. Rollag came in, just finishing buttoning up his shirt, and grabbed the comb.
"Ready for today?" He asked Alban.
"Are we ever ready?" The eldest spoke, and pulled the belt through the loopholes and tightening it. He'd have to somehow get a new pair of pants soon, somehow.
"If I get chosen this year, you need to promise me you'll look out for Jute, he's only just a kid. And don't come say good byes, It's better for all of us if we just don't."
"I promise."
The ever so familiar color of mint green made her eyes hurt, as their escort, Roman Maximus made his way out onto the stage. His skin and hair seemed to all blend into one.
"Welcome to the Reaping for the 100th Hunger Games, and as always, May the Odd be ever in your favor!" He crooned out, a wicked grin on his face. Alban wanted to slap that grin off the mans face. It was then that he realize that the Capitol was better at stealing the lives of kids, then he was at stealing food, which said a lot since he was actually good at stealing
"As always, we'll start with the video from the Capitol!"
"Ladies first!"
The escort went over to the bowl holding the names of the females that were eligible, and plucked one from the middle.
"The female tribute for District Eight is Grazyna Sewc!" Somewhere from the front came a gasp. Alban watched as girl from the fifteen year old section make her way up, head held high.
"And now, the male tribute is Alban Roth!"
He could see Rollag wanting to lunge forward, to take his spot. Alban shook his head, he couldn't do that to his younger brother. He'd never forgive himself for it. Making his way up, he kept his face blank, not wanting to let people see his emotions.
After shaking the girls hand, he was led into the nicest room he had seen in his life. Letting himself sit on the couch, he relaxed the best that he could, given the situation. At least he'd be well fed for the next two weeks.
But, maybe, just maybe, he'd find his way home.
Hey y'all!
Here's District 8! Huge thanks to CuriousClove for Alban and Grazyna, I love them both and I hope I wrote them to what you expected!
As always, don't forget to read and review, I want to get to 35 reviews and then I will post district nine! We're finally almost done with the reapings!
theflowercrowns