District 3

Tomlin Beckett 18

After Reaping's

As I pace up and down the justice building, I can feel my hands awkwardly fidgeting together while my heart is racing, unsure of what to do. Only a few hours earlier I was hanging out with my little brother, worrying about him but convincing myself that he would be ok. Not once did I even think it would be me that gets reaped! Am I even gonna make it back? Am I ever gonna see my brother and father again? No! You can't think like that Tomlin, of course you will! If you believe you can do something, then anything is possible. I remember about 5 years ago watching the games where a 12 year old girl from district 6 won! If she can do it, then I can! Or can I? Wait shut up of course you can Tom!

A few hours earlier

It's the reaping morning, I can't believe this is actually going to be my last reaping ever! I stare at myself in the mirror to see my sunken green eyes staring back at me, my pale skin on my skinny body contrasting with my dark brown hair.

"Give me reaping outfit" I call to my wardrobe

The wardrobe hears my voice command and presents my grey dress shirt and black slacks to me. After getting dressed I leave my room and I am quickly ambushed by my father who gives me a big hug and a kiss on the forehead.

"Dad!" I complain

He puts his hands on my shoulders.

"Are you ok?" he asks

"Of course! I'm just worried about Tennison that's all" I reply

"I'm fine" I hear Tennison's voice say

I quickly give my little brother a hug. He is looking really smart as usual.

"You ready bro?" I ask

"Yep!" he replies

"Let's get this over with"

My mum then comes to join us but she is silent as usual, barely even acknowledging us. She has always been like this, I know she is busy working as one the lead scientists of our District but she just seems to pretend like we don't exist. Still, at least we've had dad to fill the role of both parents and when he's in his depressed phases that role goes to me. This family has survived this far on that system and nothing could possibly change that, I know it.

Present time

My father and brother burst through the doors of the justice building. My brother runs into my arms, tears running down my face. I manage to wipe the tears from my face.

"I'll be ok" I say

"I promise"

I wipe the tears away from his face.

"This isn't goodbye ok? I'm coming back"

Kaia Telm 15

I'm sat on top of a high building that Gigi convinced me to climb, I like to hang out in places that are quiet and away from everyone. If my mom and my step mom found out I was here, they would probably be very worried…I think.

Gigi moves her hands to signal "Are you ok"

I nod.

"I'm ok when you're here" I sign

She smiles.

There is a sound in the distance that starts to get louder, I feel panic begin to build in my heart, as the horrible noise gets louder I begin to twist my wrists repeatedly in circles, I slap my legs in fear. I hate this sound so much! Gigi reaches forward and covers my ears to protect me I think but I always hate the feeling of others hands on me. Still I prefer it to the sound of the train so I accept it.

Eventually she removes her hands from my ears and the loud sound has disappeared. I breath a huge breath of relief as the horrible sound has gone now and the feeling of her hands on my skin has also.

"Sorry" she signs

"But the sound was stressing you"

"It's ok" I sign back

I look down with my one good eye to how far we have to climb down. Luckily heights are one thing that don't bother me.

"Let's go" Gigi signs

Gigi has been the one thing that has kept me happy through life. I honestly don't know what I would do without her. Sometimes…

At the reaping's

I glance down at the outfit I'm wearing. A white short-sleeve dress covered in a lace flower pattern, black shoes with little buckles on them. I'm told I have to dress smartly for this occasion but I don't really understand why. The Hunger Games is where people have to fight to the death and kill each other to survive so why would you need to dress smart for anything to do with that? Anyway I'm just trying to ignore the fact that I don't find it comfortable. "I just need to fit in" is what my step mom always says.

My family is gathered around me, there's my mom, I love her very much and she is always kind to me and teaches me how to do different things. There's my step mom who is also really nice then there's my brother who is a little annoying to me because he always makes noisy sounds that I don't like.

My mom steps in first to kiss me on the forehead and wish me good luck and then my step mom quickly pushes in to do the same. Then my mom signs some long instructions like she does every year about what I have to do when I get into the reaping square and where I have to go.

I think I get it all down in my head. My mom gives me one more kiss goodbye before I head through!

All the crowds of people are really bothering me and giving me anxiety but I'm starting to get used to it now.

Eventually the time comes around where they have to pick who gets to go into the Hunger Games.

I hear a name called out.

"Kaia Telm"

Wait a minute! That's my name isn't it! I stay dead still, completely unsure what to do.

"Don't be shy"

Some of the girls around me prompt me to go to the front, so I slowly do. Panic begins to build in my heart. Oh no! I'm freaking out! Everyone's staring at me!

I reach the stage, staring down at everyone in the District.

"You're a quiet one aren't you?" The escort says

I begin to slap my leg and whimper in panic! Help!

I'm really sorry about how long the reaping's are taking, I've just slowly lost the motivation to write them but once I get past them the updates will be MUCH quicker. Thanks so much to everyone who's stuck with this story you won't regret it! I'm really hoping to get past the reaping's before next year.

Thanks to Axe Smelling God for Tomlin - theme song: Love it if we made it by 1975

And abookoftears for Kaia - theme song: CHPTRS- "Let the New Begin"

There is one final spot left in this SYOT!