Veles Dragomir, 17
District 7 Male
One year and seven months before the Reaping
The increased peacekeeper force in District 7 was sudden. It practically happened overnight; the next morning, Veles awoke to hundreds of those pristine white uniforms everywhere. There were many guesses as to why all these Peacekeepers were strolling around the district with guns in their hands, but nobody bothered to explain anything. After all, why would the Capitol want to speak with the district as if they were on the same level?
Veles guessed it had something to do with the 7th Hunger Games. After all, a lot of things in the district had to do with what happened in the 7th Hunger Games.
"Maybe it's a good thing?" Perun asked at breakfast. "With all those Peacekeepers around, nobody's gonna try to do anything to us. That's good, right?"
Harrion shrugged as he poured himself a cup of coffee. "When there's rules, there's always someone to break them."
Veles shook his head. "People will have to get craftier with the way they hide dead bodies now."
"You're still not over it, are you?" Harrison asked, sipping his coffee. "Veles, I know it's only been a month-"
"And when I find that bastard, I'm gonna beat him to death."
"We have no proof it was a guy," Perun spoke up. "What if it was a girl?"
Veles sighed. "I don't care who they are. I want them dead."
"Do you think the Peacekeepers will help us?" Perun asked Harrion, who just shook his head. ''At least one of them would have to be on our side."
"I wish, kiddo. But there's just too many risks. They might try to apprehend us instead and we just can't betray the guild like that."
Perun shrugged. "Well, we're not gonna do anything with them around. They can't arrest us if they have no proof."
Veles tapped his fingers against the table. "What if one of them did it?"
"You think so?"
''Why not?" Veles pointed at the window. "They're practically untouchable. Nobody's gonna question the authority of a Peacekeeper. And they've got an excuse too."
Harrion scoffed. "This isn't the Hunger Games. You just can't go around murdering people nilly-willy, even if you've got a cool uniform."
"Which brings me to my next point. The Peacekeepers are roaming around here because 7 isn't happy over what happened in the arena, so if anyone steps out of line, they've got the excuse to kill. Can just brush the dead guy off as an unruly rebel. She was a defenseless little kid, what was stopping them from gunning down her? Who would believe her side of the story? Why would you question a Peacekeeper?"
"So you think they did it," Perun said quietly.
Veles glanced over at his little brother. He was completely emotionless. They had been through so much together and they didn't have any other family left. This meant as much to Perun as it did to him. They wanted to avenge her. Both of them.
"If you two are done plotting a potential homicide, I need you to deliver some messages," Harrion told them as he scraped his fork across his plate. "I'm ceasing all guild activity today."
"Good." Veles got up from his chair. "Because I can't stay in here all day."
"And please leave the Peacekeepers alone! I am not in the mood to cover either of your hides! You can solve your little murder mystery later."
"If only it was that easy," Veles scoffed as he stomped outside. Perun followed him. "If only it was just a little game."
"He's right, Veles. We shouldn't anger anybody now."
"I know, okay? And I don't plan to."
The streets were eerily empty. As the Peacekeepers marched, many houses had their front doors locked and their curtains drawn. Some people were opening up their shops, but worked as quickly and hastily as possible. They kept their eyes to the ground and nobody said a word.
With all the tensions in District 7, pissing off a Peacekeeper was practically a death sentence.
Veles hurried along, pulling Perun with him. They were very careful to avoid bumping into anyone sporting that dreadful white uniform. Veles had no intentions of letting his guard down, not when surrounded by people he didn't trust. He only trusted his little brother and that was it.
Finally, they reached the guild's meeting place. Unsurprisingly, it was pretty empty. But Veles and Perun joined the little group of thieves sitting in the centre. One of them produced a loaf of bread, which sh tore off large chunks to give to the brothers. ''Good morning, boys. What does Harrion want now?"
"He wants us to lay low while the Peacekeepers are still alert," Perun told everyone. ''He's ceasing all guild activity today."
"Well damn," the girl with the bread muttered under her breath; Veles wasn't entirely sure what the names of all members were. "Should've said something earlier."
"So keep an eye out and don't let the Peacekeepers provoke you," Veles said in a stern tone. "And do not trust them. They're not like us. They don't care about morality and rules; if we do anything that looks like stepping out of line, we're dead and this guild is ruined."
That got up a couple of snorts from the guild. "Calm your murder boner, Dragomir!" one guy yelled and everyone laughed. Veles just glared at him, but felt Perun brush up against him and he took a deep breath to calm himself down. A thief's honour only went so far, after all. Loyalty was never any of their strong suits.
And trust was a dangerous thing.
But Veles figured his work here was done, so he took his brother's hand and led him out of the guild. "Come on, Perun, we're going back home. And watch where you're walking, okay? I can't lose another family member again."
Darra Delaney, 17
District 7 Female
Three years before the Reaping
Darra did not like attending the Reaping.
She also hated the fact that it was a necessary evil in Panem.
But what could she do? She just grumbled to herself as she changed into her prettiest dress and brushed her bright red hair. She had to admit, she didn't mind the outfit, but she was going to forever associate it with the Reaping. So she just scowled at her reflection in the mirror.
"Darra!" Harriet Delaney, Darra's mother, poked her hand into the bedroom. "Are you dressed yet?"
"Yes, ma!"
"Okay, just making sure."
Darra grumbled as she smoothed out her dress and stomped out of her room. In the bedroom next to hers, she could hear faint whispers and muffled sobs. So she decided to check up on the twins, since she had nothing else to do.
"Hey Lilly, Jonah. What's up?"
"I'm scared!" Lilly wailed and Jonah nodded. "What if one of us gets picked?"
Darra sighed. "Yeah, I know the Reaping is scary. I don't like it either. But you guys made it through your first Reaping last year and nothing happened."
Lilly wiped some tears from her eyes. "You're right," Jonah muttered as his gaze softened a little.
"And look at me! I've made it through two of them! And Maeve will be done with hers next year. Trust me, there are tons of kids in 7 and the bowls have so many slips in them. You two have nothing to worry about. And if one of your names gets called, I will do what I can to protect you."
Lilly grinned while Jonah just stared down at his feet. Darra gently patted him on the shoulder. He knew what he was thinking. If the gods of fate looked down upon them today and he was chosen, his family was powerless to save them.
But she didn't want to think about that.
She wasn't going to let the Capitol tear her family apart.
Downstairs, lunch was ready. The six Delaneys sat around the table, eating silently. All Darra could hear was the sound of chewing and occasional lip smacking. She tolerated it for now, before the Reaping happened and 7 was filled with nothing but screams and cries.
"Are we ready to go?" her father asked. The kids all nodded, then shared uneasy glances. But what could they do? They were going, and that was final.
Jonah reached out and took Darra's hand. Normally, she would've made him let go of her, because they were both teenagers now and could walk on their own just fine; Darra was not one to be babied. But she gave his hand a gentle squeeze. It's alright. It will be over soon.
The Reaping usually lasted half an hour, but it felt like an eternity to Darra. Finally, she and her siblings were split up. Darra stood with the other 14 year-olds; Jonah and Lilly were one section behind her while Maeve was up it the front with the other 17 year-old kids. Darra caught sight o some friends and classmates, then clutched her hands together and waited.
The Reaping played the way it did; the way it had for the past six years. And when the escort stuck her hand into the first glass ball, Darra's heart began to pound and she couldn't breathe.
Not me. Oh please, don't pick me.
"Aimee Melantos!"
The escort's voice echoed over the crowd and a sixteen year-old girl broke down into sobs as Peacekeepers escorted her up to the stage. And suddenly, Darra felt a humongous weight come off her shoulders. What was she so worried about? It wasn't her who had been chosen. She was safe for at least another year.
She would've laughed to herself, but that would've come off as rude to everyone around her and especially to poor Aimee. And the Reaping wasn't done yet. There was still one last name to choose. And maybe because she knew she was safe, Darra almost tuned it out until the familiarity of the tribute's name snapped her back to reality.
"Jonah Delaney!"
No!
Darra craned her neck this way and that, trying to spot her little brother. She heard Lilly scream and saw her parents on the sidelines holding each with twin masks of fear. And then she saw a little boy stumble out from the crowd and slowly shuffle towards the stage, tears streaming down his cheeks.
"Jonah!" Darra screamed, pushing people aside as she ran towards him. "Jonah! No, take me instead! Take me!"
Jonah glanced up at her with glossy eyes and Darra stretched out her hand towards him, but a Peacekeeper grabbed her and yanked her back. "Silence, girl!"
"Take me instead of him! I volunteer! I volunteer for him!"
The Peacekeeper threw Darra to the ground. On the stage Jonah covered his eyes. Lilly stopped screaming and Maeve said nothing.
"You should've volunteered when you had the chance, bitch!" the Peacekeeper yelled at her. "He's the tribute, not you! So stop being a nuisance and get out of my sight!"
In the Justice Building, Darra sobbed as Maeve held her. Jonah already had to tears left to cry as he leaned against his twin sister. "Be strong," Darra whispered to him as the Peacekeepers opened up the door and yanked them all out. "Be strong, okay? Be strong and you'll be alright. We love you."
"Okay," Jonah told her, right before the door was slammed in his face.
And that was the last word he ever said. Because Jonah made it to the second night of the 6th Hunger Games. In the stone cold labyrinth of an arena, he was discovered by the pack of tributes from 1 and 2. The eventual Victor did kill his killer, but it didn't change the fact Jonah Delaney was dead.
And Darra had never hated the Capitol more than she did now.
That was the District 7 Reaping! What do you think of our two characters? Whose death is Veles trying to avenge? What do you think happened to Darra's family after they lost Jonah?
Thanks to my vacation at the beginning of August, my updating schedule got messed up a little, but I'll try and get into the swing of things. The plan at the moment is to alternate between PC and TMH updates. And since PC is further ahead, I want to wait until all TMH Reapings have concluded to upload the Bloodbath.
Next up will be District 8! I'll see you all there!
-Vr