Paradise: The 72nd Hunger Games

Chapter Eighteen

District Nine Reapings

A/N: Only one more Reaping left after this! Are you guys excited! Also, thanks to RakTurtle and audreyoctopus for these wonderful Tributes! Let's get started!

P.S. I do not own the Hunger Games.

Alita Whicker –17- -D9- POV

I look at myself in the mirror. My shoulder length wavy, light brown hair glows softly in the morning light, and my dark brown eyes meet their mirror images as I admire my black dress and heels, certainly the nicest clothing I own. Satisfied with my appearance, I step out into the living room, where Farr and Shay, my younger brothers, already wait, both resplendent in their suits.

"You feeling okay?" I ask Shay. It's his first Reaping.

"A little nervous, but okay," Shay says.

"Good," I say. "Don't be nervous, okay? It's going to be fine."

"Okay," he says. "Thanks, Alita."

"No problem," I say. At that moment, Mom and Dad walk out of the bedroom.

"Ready to go, children?" Mom asks.

"Yup," I answer for me and my brothers.

"Wonderful," Mom says. "Then let's go."

Toby Green –17- -D9- POV

I pull on my suit jacket and appraise myself in the mirror. My curly brown hair is sitting a little flatter today, and my brown eyes are quite light – must be the high light causing my pupils to get smaller, showing more iris. I button the jacket and head out into the living room, where Molly, Thomas, and Elspeth are waiting. As I reach the room, Kitty comes out of her room. Although Molly and Thomas are adults in their own right now, they still live with us because it makes more sense financially, and they probably well until they get married. And at some point, one of us will have to stay on the farm to take care of it after Mom and Dad die. Which one of us that will be, I don't know. I guess only time will tell. Right when Kitty, only twelve, enters the living room, Mom and Dad come out.

"Everyone ready?" Dad asks.

"Yes," Molly says.

"Good," Mom says. "Let's go then. I can't wait to see Dennis and Chelsea."

We leave our house together, walking out of our farm and towards the city center.

Alita Whicker –17- -D9- POV

I arrive at the Reaping a few minutes later and leave my parents at the edge. Farr gets Shay situated as I spot Juno at the other edge of the Reaping and go to talk to her.

"Hey, Juno!" I shout.

She spins around. "Oh, Alita! Hi!"

"Hi yourself," I say, giving her a quick hug. "How are you?"

"Good, you?" She asks.

"Good enough considering that today is children murder day," I say. Juno glances around nervously at my comment.

"Alita! Don't say that stuff out loud," she whispers harshly. "A Peacekeeper might hear you."

"You should know by now that I don't care about that," I say. "Besides, what are they going to do? Kill me? What if I'm Reaped but I'm dead?"

"Fair point," Juno says. "But after this time next year, you won't be a kid anymore. You might not want to have annoyed every Peacekeeper in the entire District."

"Why?" I ask. "They're all a bunch of enforcers working for the tyrant who calls himself President."

She shakes her head. "Don't say I didn't warn you."

"Uh-huh," I say. "I seriously doubt that anything bad's going to happen to me. At least nothing that gets me killed," I amend, thinking of all the punishments that I'd already suffered at the gloved hands of the so-called Peacekeepers.

"District Nine!" The voice of Saturn, the District Nine escort, rings out through the square. "Let's start this Reaping!"

"Let's get to our section," I tell Juno, "and wait for this all to be over."

"Let's," she says. We quickly make our way to our section and wait. Soon, Juno starts the Reaping. "Ladies First! The Female Tribute from District Nine is… Alita Whicker!" Huh. I guess I was wrong. Did they rig the Hunger Games just to get rid of me? Maybe. It's not like it's not possible. I have been enough of a thorn in the Peacekeeper's sides. I walk up to the stage and shake Saturn's hand. I whisper in her ear.

"Tell me, what does it cost to buy a Hunger Games?" She gives me no response, but gives me a dirty look and makes a motion behind her back. Two of the Peacekeepers on the stage raise their rifles pointedly at me, and I get the message. I'm dead anyway, I guess. So I stand on the stage, awaiting my doom. Maybe I'll be able to win this rigged Game. I don't have much hope, but I have to try.

"The Female Tribute from District Nine is Alita Whicker!"

Toby Green –17- -D9- POV

I arrive at the Reaping and, after exchanging greetings with my two oldest siblings, Dennis and Chelsea, their spouses, Sam and Kieran, Dennis and Sam's kids, Nova and Elsa Junior, and making the obligatory comments about how Chelsea's pregnancy was coming along, I was finally released from my family to go seek out the person I wanted to see. I had just barely gotten away from my family when I saw her and immediately rushed over to her, giving her a hug that ended with me picking her up and spinning the both of us around, because, why not? Finally setting her down, I take a good look at my beautiful girlfriend, Lola. She's wearing a white sundress and heels and looks absolutely beautiful, her blue eyes shimmering in the light and her blonde hair loose around her shoulders and down to her back.

"Hi," she giggles. "How are you?"

"I'm just happy to see you," I say, also giggling.

"I can see that," she says, "and so can half the District."

"Let them see," I say. "I want them to see my future wife." She smiles.

"I like that. Future wife," she says. "Kiss me."

I oblige her request. "Are you happy?" I ask a minute later. "This is our second to last Reaping."

"I am," she says. "Especially because," she pokes me in the chest playfully, "by this time next year, I'll be Mrs. Lola Green instead of Miss Lola Avery."

"Yeah," I say, smiling. "I'm excited for that too. I can't wait to marry you."

"I can't wait to marry you more," she says playfully.

"No, I can't wait to marry you more," I say.

"No, I can't wait to marry you more," she says.

"No, I can't wait to marry you more," I say.

"No, I can't," she starts, but is cut off by Saturn starting the Reaping.

"I'm afraid we'll have to reconvene this later," I say. "We have to go watch children get Reaped like corn."

"After this," she says as we walk arm in arm towards our sections, "want to hang out and have some fun?" She tugs at her dress.

"Of course," I say. "I'm afraid this is where we must part, my love. I'll see you soon." I give her a kiss on the cheek.

"I love you, Toby," she says, kissing me on the cheek.

"I love you too, Lola," I reply. We move to our sections and each wait patiently for the Reaping. My eyes never lose hers the entire time and we communicate through expressions, amusing ourselves through the Reaping.

"The Male Tribute from District Nine is… Toby Green!" What? Me! No! No! Okay, I need to look confident. I steel myself and put on a confident expression, walking towards the stage, trying to hide my anger. I shake Saturn's hand and the other Tribute's. In the crowd, I catch Lola's eye. She's crying. I softly blow her a kiss when she looks at me. She smiles and returns the gesture. I will come back. For her.

"The Male Tribute from District Nine is Toby Green!"

"The Tributes from District Nine are Alita Whicker and Toby Green!"

A/N: So, what did y'all think of this chapter? Who are your favorite Tributes so far? And, most importantly, are you ready for the Games?