Breaking Point Sextet V
Love: The 75th Hunger Games
Chapter Two:
District Ten Reaping
A/N: Well, well, well, here we are, in District Ten on Reaping day for the fifth time! Thanks to Professor R.J Lupin1 for the wonderful Tributes featured in this chapter! Let's get going! Also, I do not own the Hunger Games, Suzanne Collins does.
Gage Padgett –17- -D10- POV
"Gage! Gage, honey, get up!" It's Mom's voice, of course, I mean, who else would it be? "It's Reaping day!" Ugh, right, Reaping day… today, I really, really, really have to hope I don't get Reaped. Because if I do… well, I'd rather not think about it. And I hope Soren doesn't get Reaped. And Simon. And Rorak and Hewitt, of course. The Hunger Games might be an important reminder about national unity, but that doesn't mean I want my family or… Simon getting sent to them. Or me. I mean, if it was me, besides the whole probable death thing, which wouldn't be a lot of fun, Simon would find out how I feel about him, and well, that would be – "Gage! I love you, but if you don't get up now, you're not going to have time to get dressed!"
Right. I hear her coming towards the door. "I'm getting up!" I shout, climbing out of bed and thumping onto the floor. "Give me five minutes, I'll be out."
"Don't forget to brush your hair!" Her voice comes through the door before she starts to walk away. I yawn. Oh yes, despite minor mortal terror, I can still be tired. Delightful.
I look at myself in the mirror a few minutes later. My dark green eyes stare at themselves, framed by freckles and curly red hair, looking pretty nice, I think, with my nice gray suit. I walk out to the living room, where Fenna and Cario are waiting. "Morning, guys," I say.
"Good morning, Gage," Fenna says. "You look nice today."
"Is it a good morning, Fen?" Cario asks her sarcastically.
She rolls her eyes. "Whatever, Cario, I don't have time for this this morning. Gage, how do you think my hair looks?"
I look at her hair. It's red and curly, like mine, but, well, longer. Today she's done some complicated style with it, that I guess makes her look nice? "It looks wonderful, Fenna," I say. "Why do you ask?"
"I'm hoping it'll impress Leonard," she says.
"Oh, of course, how could I forget? This is part of the plan, I assume?" I ask.
"Well, of course," she says, slightly defensively. "I think this will help me to woo him by the end of next year." I roll my eyes. "What?" She asks.
"Look, sis, there's nothing wrong with planning out your life, but have you ever considered opening up a little bit? I mean, what happens if Leonard never gets 'wooed'?" I ask.
"Well, then I have two backup plans," she says matter-of-factly.
"Of course," I say. "Of course."
She's about to respond before Mom comes out, brushing Soren's hair. "Hold still!" Soren does comply, drooping a bit, and Mom apparently sufficiently tames his locks. "Good, you can go, let me put this away, and get your father, and then we can go."
Soren smiles. "Thanks, Mom." She runs off to go find Dad and return the hairbrush, and Soren flashes us a smile. "How's it going?"
"Fine," Fenna says tersely.
"Fine," Cario echos, arms crossed across his chest.
"Oh, everything's going pretty great," I say, "you?"
He raises an eyebrow at our various answers, and chuckles. "Just hoping none of us will be the lucky winners of today's Reaping."
I nod. "I know how important the Games are, but especially this year, I'd rather not Reaped."
Fenna nods. "One of you being Reaped would be a big problem, especially if you love me more than anyone else."
Soren and I both roll our eyes and say nothing, after all, we know Fenna loves us, even if she's… a bit weird sometimes. But Cario speaks up. "Touching to know how much you care for us, Fenna," he says, arms still crossed.
"Hey, I -" Fenna starts to say, but is cut off by Mom and Dad arriving, arm in arm.
"Hello, children," Dad says. "We should leave now, if we walk at average human walking speed, we'll just be there in time."
Mom chuckles. "Yes, we should leave, but are we average humans, dear?"
Dad smiles. "That's a good point, my love, you're anything but average."
They kiss, and Cario groans. "Could you two stop that? It's gross."
"You won't think it's so gross when you're older," Mom says to my eleven-year-old brother. "Trust me."
"Yeah, whatever," the spite child – sorry, Cario, says. I think he'll get to the point of not thinking it's disgusting sooner than later, considering that for the past six months, he's pretty much been running on spite. Either he's been possessed, or he's going through puberty. I imagine the second's more likely, although you never know.
Anyway, we head out on our way to the Reaping, and as Fenna and Cario, too old and too young to be Reaped respectively, argue, I just really, really hope I won't get Reaped. Not this year. Not this year.
Simon Hazel –17- -D10- POV
"Do you regret what you did? Your treasonous actions against this great country?" The Peacekeeper, Peacekeeper Captain Richards, asks.
"No," Mom spits on the ground. "I'll do whatever I need to for my children."
The Peacekeeper laughs. A terrible, evil, laugh. Like a demon. "And you think this helped your children? Very well, then. You have been found guilty of treason against Panem, and you shall face capital punishment. Do you have any last words?"
"F—k you, childkillers!" She shouts. The Peacekeeper pulls the trigger of the gun aimed at her head. There's a boom. Not even a scream, not from her. Whether because she didn't have time to process the pain, or because she was strong enough not to scream, I don't know. But Dad… he screamed.
"You'll pay for this! You'll all pay! You kill children, you killed my wife, one day your regime of terror will top-" boom. His head splits open, and he falls to the ground too, as the Peacekeeper holsters his pistol.
"Get them out of here. And let this," he kicks Mom's body, "be an example to anybody who would try to Rebel. Oh, and take the kids to their new family."
"Yes, Sir!" I'm dragged away from the scene by rough hands, but their faces still haunt me. Gunshots rattle in my head. Dad's scream joins them. Mom's face, before so beautiful, now bloody and lifeless, screams at me like it never did in life. And I can't take it I can't take it I can't take I can'ttake -
I snap awake, sweating. That's odd, the nightmares mostly stopped a few months ago, why… oh, right.
"Simon! Rise and shine, Reaping Day!" Penrose shouts. Nicely, of course. Everything she does is nice… or, well, she pretends to be.
"I'll be out there in a few minutes, Penrose!" I respond, before getting up and going over to where I laid the suit for today last night. It had taken me an hour to pick it out, and I think I'm getting better at making decisions, before that would've taken two hours!
I quickly put it on, and then spend most of the prep time I'd allocated last night brushing my unruly dark brown curls back, well, as much as I can. I take a second to look myself over, smiling at my own hazel eyes. I hope Nez will like it. He doesn't often like what I wear, but this is new, so I think he should like it.
As I go to leave the room, I realize that the book I fell asleep reading last night has fallen to the floor, and carefully pick it up and put it back on the nightstand. Can't leave a book on the floor. When I do finally make it out, Ella, my twelve-year-old sister, and Charlotte, all of seven, are waiting for me. I worry about Ella sometimes. Okay, a lot. While I appreciate her flaming spirit, and even share it, she's going to get herself killed someday if she keeps it up as obviously as she has been. After all, as the whip scars on my back prove, as this day proves, the Capitol has no problem hurting children.
"Hey, Simon," Ella says. "Looking forward to maybe getting murdered today?"
See, this is what I'm talking about. We literally live in the house of possibly the two most Capitol-friendly people in Ten, and here she is, dissing the Capitol in the living room. Still, I do agree. This year's twist is extra cruel too. "Not looking forward to it, no," I say. "Nervous. About both of us, and Harvey."
She nods, and Charlotte pipes up. "I can't wait to see that Golden lady again! Her accent is so funny!"
Both me and Ella can't help from laughing at Charlotte's innocence. I just wish she could keep it. "You're right," I say, "it is pretty funny."
At that point, Chandler, our foster 'dad', comes out. "Children, you're not making fun of Golden, are you? She's a very respected figure in the Capitol." Yeah, sure.
"No, Sir," I say quickly. I hate this man.
"Good," he says. "Now where are your siblings?"
"Right here, dear!" Penrose, Chandler's trophy wife, at least pretty much, says, coming out with Felicity and Harvey. Felicity, only ten, who creates great works of art, and Harvey, who would betray his own parents and family to save his skin.
"Sorry, I was drawing," Felicity says, cheerfully. "I lost track of time."
"It's alright, sweetie," Penrose says. It might be fake, but at least she acts kind, unlike Chandler.
Harvey makes no excuses. "I suppose we should get going," he says. I nod. I wonder if I can slip away after the Reaping, and try to find… somebody. No, it's too risky. At least without a plan. And of course, Nez might want to hang out.
We head out to the Reaping, a failing facsimile of family happiness.
Gage Padgett –17- -D10- POV
When we get to the Reaping, my friends find me as my family disperses and I look for Simon.
"Hey, Gage!" Rorak shouts before walking over. "How're you?"
"Pretty good," I say. Pretty can mean a lot of things. "You?"
"Pretty good," he responds. "Hoping I don't get Reaped on my last year."
I nod. "Fair enough." Where's Simon? He should be around here somewhere -
"Gage!" Lunara waves at me, as she and Hewitt come over, holding hands. "How're you?"
"Good enough," I respond. "You two?"
"Decent," Lunara says, "just hoping that nothing goes wrong today."
"Yeah," Hewitt says, "I wouldn't… well, want my love for you to… well, you know."
"I know," Lunara responds, and kisses him. "I'm sure we'll be fine."
He smiles. "I hope so… I'm sure you're right, we probably will be."
"Ahem," Asterra says, walking up, "You know there are other people around, right?"
"Oh, uh, sorry," Lunara blushes.
"It's fine, I'm teasing," Asterra says. "How's everyone?"
She gets a unanimous "pretty good, worried about the Reaping", and then I spot Simon. He has a nice suit today, I think it's new, he looks so handsome, I wonder if I have time to go say hi -
"Gage?" Asterra asks. "Gage?"
"Huh?" I respond. "Oh, uh, sorry, yeah, what was the question?"
"I asked who you put," Asterra says. "Just curious, you don't have to answer, obviously."
"Oh, uh," I stammer, trying to figure out what to say. Do I lie? Nobody knows my feelings, they still shouldn't, but I shouldn't lie to me friends -
Another voice interrupts my thoughts. "Okay, District Ten, they found a replacement for me, thank goodness, so this is the last year I have to do this!" Golden, the District Ten Escort, sounds excited for once. "So let's get this over with! Everyone to your sections!"
"Oh, sorry, gotta go," I say, before bolting for my section. I try to get a spot near Simon, but that doesn't happen with how many boys our age there are, and Golden clears her throat and starts the Reaping.
"Okay, so this is a little different this year," Golden says. "But you already knew that." There is indeed, only one bowl on stage. "First, I'll pick a name out of this bowl, then the Tribute will say the name of who means the most to them." That seems unnecessary, but I guess theatrics are important. "Let's get started." She reaches into the bowl and grabs a piece of paper, nearly tearing it open.
"The Tribute from District Ten is… Gage," no no no no, not me, "Padgett!" Well crap, this is not good. I've never taken tesserae or anything, I was almost done. How could this happen? Right, I need to go to the stage. I start moving that way. I wonder who the female tribute will be – oh no. No, no, no, no, no no no no nono! This can't be happening. This must be a dream, I'll wake up soon.
I reach the stage, and don't wake up. "What is the name of the person you love most, kid?" Golden asks.
"Uh, I, uh… I," I stutter, and Golden sighs.
"Oh, let's just get it over with," she says, looking down at a screen hidden on the podium in front of her. "The person Gage Padgett loves most is… Simon Hazel!" Oh no, this can't be happening.
Simon Hazel –17- –D10- POV
I arrive at the Reaping, and my family goes off to their places, as I go to find Nez. There he is, wearing a suit and looking very nice.
"Hey, Nez!" I shout. He looks over at me and walks over.
"Hi, Simon," he says.
"How're you?" I ask.
"Fine," he says.
"What do you think of my new suit?" I ask, hoping he'll like it. I think he should, I mean it's a nice color, it doesn't have any of the usual issues and -
"I think it looks a size too small," he says, then seeing my sad expression, a couple seconds later, "oh, I'm just teasing, Simon, it looks fine."
He does like it! "Thanks, Nez!" I smile.
"Hey, Nez, Simon," a voice interjects from behind us, and I turn around to see Nella.
"Oh, hey, Nella," I smile. "How're you?"
"Good, thanks. Is that a new suit?" She asks.
"Oh yeah, it is," I smile, "Thanks for asking."
"No problem," she says. "Hey, can I -"
At that moment, Golden's voice rings out over the square "Okay, District Ten, they found a replacement for me, thank goodness, so this is the last year I have to do this!"
"Well, guess we've gotta go," I say. "Ask me later, okay?"
Nella nods. "Yep, see you in a few."
Me, her, and Simon head over to our respective sections, and I wait anxiously to see who will be Reaped. Gage Padgett… he goes to school with me, sometimes we hang out, not that often though. Still, I feel bad for him, I mean, no one should have to get murdered in this terrible pageant. And I wonder who will be brought up with him. A brother or sister? A girlfriend or boyfriend?
"The person Gage Padgett loves most is… Simon Hazel!" Wait, what? Me? Why me? How could he love me? I barely know him. Well, maybe it's another Simon Hazel… I look around, and spot Peacekeepers starting to move my direction. Nope, it's me. How did this happen? Why does this kid love me? I barely know him.
I walk up to the stage and repeat my name for Golden, before looking at Gage, trying to figure out why – and how – he loves me. This is definitely not what I had planned for today.
"The Tributes from District Ten are Gage Padgett and Simon Hazel!"
Kylie Mino –18- -D10 Rebel Forces Co-Commander, Pilot- POV
I feel really bad for the two who were Reaped this year. I mean, I feel bad for them every year, but especially this year. This is just such a cruel twist, I mean, the person you love most? I wonder… if I had been Reaped, would Kayne have had to go through this all again? That would be cruel and unusual… well, more than usual, that is. In some ways, I do hope that Layna's right, that the war will start soon. That's not to say I want a war, but I do want children not to get murdered every year. I don't want my children to grow up in this world. And I do want kids, someday… how soon will depend on how soon the Capitol moves, I suppose. I just hope it won't be right after or during the Games… because if it is, Kayne will be in the Capitol, and well… probably best not to think about what might happen if he's in the Capitol when they try to crush us.
A/N: Well, that's a wrap on the first Reaping of the Quarter Quell! What did y'all think of these wonderful two Tributes? Like one more than the other? Also, for the new people, Kylie is the girlfriend/fiancee of Kayne Lytch, the Victor of the 71st Hunger Games, so many years ago. Also, I'm loving the Tributes I've got so far, so please continue to submit some more!
D1R: Open
D1L: Open
D2R: Open
D2L: Open
D3R: Open
D3L: Open
D4R: Reserved for Son of Arryn
D4L: Reserved for Son of Arryn
D5R: Reserved for chcolate
D5L: Reserved for chcolate
D6R: Reserved for TheWatcherofTheVoid
D6L: Reserved for TheWatchedofTheVoid
D7R: Open
D7L: Open
D8R: Open
D8L: Open
D9R: Open
D9L: Open
D10R: Gadge Paddet, 17, by Professor R.J Lupin1
D10L: Simon Hazel, 17 by Professor R.J Lupin1
D11R: Open
D11L: Open
D12R: Open
D12L: Open