The characters won't know about the twist until after they have been reaped or have volunteered. Also only half of the reapings and goodbyes are going to be in this chapter because they are taking surprisingly long to write. Sorry! Anyway and onto the death of children!
District 1: Glamor Price
Our district escort, Penelope Venue steps onto the stage, and tests the microphone. "Welcome everyone to the 100th hunger games reaping ceremony!"
Ugh I hate her voice so much! It's as if someone is scratching a knife through my ears whenever I here her stupid capitol accent. "May the odds be ever in your favor, now lets begin, ladies first."
Penelope walks over to the giant glass bowl filled with little slips of paper with names written on them. It's a wonder how she doesn't trip wearing those ridiculous heels!
She exaggeratedly drags her hand around in the sea of names and slowly brings one piece back up. She unfolds the paper with excruciatingly slow movements. I have to clench my jaw and fists to keep myself from screaming at her to hurry up. "The female tribute from District 1 will be," She inhales slowly, "Glamor Price. Would you please step forward."
I stare in horror at her face, am I hearing her right? Did she just call my name! Impossible my name is in there half the time as everyone else's! The people behind me shove me forward. They make a path for me leading right up to the stage. I sweep my gaze over the crowd as I slowly walk towards the stage. I catch my mothers eye and the look on your face makes it seem like she just witnessed a murder.
I reach the steps that lead up to the stage. I slowly start to climb up them. When I reach the top Penelope forcefully grabs my arm and whispers in my ear, "Took you long enough."
She plasters a smile back onto her face as she addresses District 1 once more, "Ladies and Gentlemen give a round of applause for this year's female tribute, Glamor Price."
The crowd erupts in applause, the sound is deafening. I wish I could get off the stage but I seem to be paralyzed. I see my face on one of the webcams and I am appalled by what I see, a girl that looks scared to death. That won't get me sponsors. I force a smile, one that looks like someone you can root for and could see winning.
Penelope leaves my side and walks over to the other giant glass bowl full of tiny slips of paper.
Good. Now let's see who's going to join me.
District 1: Lief Villain
Glamor Price had just been selected as the female tribute for this year's games. I'm surprised that no one had volunteered for her. I had seen her in training, she was amazing at everything. She specialized in blades of all kinds, swords, knives, scimitars, you name it. One time she actually killed a trainer while training for throwing knives.
Then why did she have this look on her face, the look that children have when they are selected to train with the 18's. Just like that the look was gone from her face, no trace of it left. It was only there for a second but I caught it. What replaced it was a half smile half leer. Half sweet, half deadly.
Then Penelope, our escort, walked over to the boys bowl. She drew the name so painstakingly slow that I really had the urge to kill her. "And the male tribute for this year's games is-" She didn't have time to finish because I had already raised my hand and blurted out the famous last words, "I volunteer as tribute."
"Well it looks to be that we have a volunteer for Calix Gem, come on up to the stage." Penelope beckons.
As I walk up to the stage I catch the eye of the person who was supposed to be this year's volunteer, Splendour Castle, I give him a sneer as I walk by. I mount the stage and stand maliciously next to Penelope Venue and Glamor.
"What's your name." The escort whispers to me.
"Lief Villain." I whisper back.
"Welcome Lief Villain as your male tribute for this year's Hunger Games!"
The crowd applauds uneasily. They all know that I wasn't supposed to be the one going into the games, Splendour was.
"Here you are Panem District 1's tributes for the 100th Hunger Games!" She announces.
People start to whisper suspiciously, there is supposed to be a catch for the Quarter Quell games. "Oh I almost forgot, the catch."
She plays a video that was broadcasted to the capitol just moments before. The president of Panem appears on the backdrop of the stage opening a little envelope, he starts to say, "This year all the tributes will be sent into the arena with one of their parents, either their mother or father. If their parents no longer exist we will move to siblings, then to close friends. Happy Hunger Games and let the Reapings begin!"
The whole district gasps in unison. This is exactly what I wanted! A chance to take revenge on my father and kill him!
"Glamor, you will bring your mother, Dynasty Price will be joining you in the arena. Dynasty please come to the stage." Penelope then proceeds to call up my father Jair Villain to the stage as well.
"You'll pay for this." Jair threatens me in a whisper.
"Oh I'm sure I will." I say smuggly back to him.
Glamor's mother is just the palest shade of white a person can be. She looks like she has just seen a ghost.
"Happy Hunger Games and may the odds be ever in your favor." Penelope ends out the ceremony.
Peacekeepers quickly shove us into the Justice Building for our goodbyes. Though I doubt anyone is coming to say goodbye to my father and I.
I was right no one came to say goodbye to us. Not like I was expecting anyone to come anyway.
District 1: Glamor Price
Now that it's just my mother and I in our little goodbye room in the Justice Building it is eerily quiet between us.
The only reason the silence is broken is because my father rushes into the room.
He is breathing heavily, as if the peacekeepers chased him all the way here.
"One of you has to win alright." Father says while still out of breath.
"Yes, Glamor you have to win. I'm too weak to win, and I couldn't bear losing you in the arena." My mother says turning to me.
I don't answer and there is an awkward silence stretches out until the peacekeepers come back and take my father away.
Capitol: Sophia Hera
The tributes stood on the stage, the girl, Glamor has a menacing leer on her face. The boy Lief, is sneering at his father, him sneering back. Glamor's mother has turned a milky shade of white, she looks as if she's just seen a murder.
The tributes actually look quite scary standing there next to Penelope. I can't wait to see them start to hunt and kill each other!
"Oo this year is going to be interesting!" I say to no one in particular.
"Yes quite." My father agrees. "It looks like the boy, Lief doesn't get along with his father. I can't wait to see what that brings to the games."
"Quiet." Mother says sternly. "District 2's reaping is about to begin."
We all settle down and wait on the edges of our seats to see who Vesta Scala picks to be District 2's tributes.
District 2: Astra Noire
I enter the square with my and we all go our separate ways. Mother, Father, Calista, and Cora to the spectators area and me to the 15's.
"The reaping is about to begin." The person next to me murmurs.
"I know." I mutter hastily back.
Our escort, Vesta Scala makes her grand entrance onto the stage. Flourishing her arms as if she's the most important person in the world. Ugh, capitolites, always think that they're the best in the world! Well newsflash nobody cares! I stare at her, if I could shoot daggers from my eyes she would be long since dead.
"Well hello everybody!" Vesta says with the most capitolesc accent you've ever heard. "Welcome the 100th Hunger Games Reaping ceremony. May the odds be ever in your favor and without further ado let's find out who our female tribute is going to be," She says as she walks over to the bowl.
She grabs a random slip of paper, unfolds it so slowly. I think she's trying to build up suspense but she is failing miserably at it. The only thing she is achieving by doing this is the entire district's annoyance.
Vesta takes a deep breath and announces who the female tribute will be. "District 2's female tribute for the 100th hunger games will be… Astra Noire! Astra come to join me on the stage."
Am I hearing her right? Am I actually being reaped as tribute?! No time to think. You have to get to that stage and show no fear, act like you were planning for this all along. You can't let the capitol think that you're a coward. I think to myself.
I walk up to the stage and act like this doesn't bother me at all. I act as if this was all part of my plan. "Looks as if we have another tribute from the Noire family this year! Hopefully you'll win this year Astra." Vesta says, giving me a piercing look as if trying to find some crack of emotion in my eyes.
I give nothing away. I just say nonchalantly, "My brother didn't have what it takes. But I do have what it takes and I will win the year's Hunger Games."
That couldn't be farther from the truth. I know I don't have what it takes. Even though I have been training at the gym for years for the chance to be in the hunger games, I still don't have any skill in fighting or hunting for food.
Vesta continues on her speech about bravery and such. At this point I have tuned her out and started thinking about my strategy for the games. Should I fool everyone to think that I'm strong, weak, smart? No I should just be myself, stay on the good side of the other careers and have them carry me through most of the games. Then when they're least expecting it I'll kill them. I don't know how but I'll do it when the time comes.
I didn't notice Vesta walking towards the bowl, but I do notice the person mounting the stage from the other side. I have no clue who he is but I guess I'll find out.
District 2: Baylor Arkose
The girl, her name was Astra just mounted the stage. She had walked from the 17's area on the other side of the square. She looked like a fierce competitor, I've seen her a few times training in the gym. She didn't seem like she was good at anything, but that might have been a strategy for not being chosen to volunteer for the games.
Since it is the Quarter Quell this year no one was chosen to volunteer this year because I guess the trainers wanted to leave the choice up to fate.
Now our escort has started to walk over to the other glass ball that holds all the male tribute names. The group holds their breath at the same time as she reaches down into the depths of the bowl. She quickly snaps her hand back out of the bowl holding a single slip of paper.
Vesta unfolds the paper that holds one kid's name, the one that is going into the games. The one who might die. "And the male tribute for District 2 is… Baylor Arkose! Join us on the stage." Vesta invites.
I feel dizzy, my head feels as light as a cloud and it's about to float away. I try to take a step forward, I fail and fall straight onto my face. So embarrassing. I scramble to my feet and hurry up to the stage.
When I reach the stage I walk over and stand next to Vesta and Astra. "Ladies and Gentlemen I present to you your tributes! May the odds be ever in their favor. I'm sure you're all wondering what this year's twist is well I'll show you," Vesta says smugly.
She plays a video of the president of Panem reading the 4th Quarter Quells twist. He says that the parents of the reaped tribute must join them in the games.
Oh god! My mother has to join me! How has this happened? I have to protect her! All these thoughts fight for my attention in my brain, making me very confused.
Vesta stops the video. "May Beatrix Forge and Roxanne Noire please come to the stage and join your children as the tributes for District 2."
I watch angrily as my mother climbs up to the stage. She wears a mask of bravery on her face. She isn't going to let the capitol see her scared, the only person who has ever seen that was me. And I intend to keep it that way, we can't be shown as weak because then we will be targets in the arena right off the bat.
I guess Astra's mothers' name is Roxanne because that's who comes to stand next to her. Her mother looks stone cold, that seems to be her personality because she is showing that it takes no effort for her to look that way.
Vesta raises Astra and I's hands and the District roars with applause. Peacekeepers lead us into the Justice hall and lead us away to separate rooms that we share with our family members.
Once Mother and I are alone we start to talk strategy. "We need to seem strong, Baylor. We need to be in the career alliance. We need to have them keep us safe until there are a couple threats left then leave them or kill them one or the other. Preferably kill them." Mother advises.
"That's exactly what I was thinking." I say as I start to pace around the room. "We should start to align with Astra and Roxanne. Astra wasn't strong in training but I think that was all strategy. Roxanne seems strong. Did you see her face on the stage? She wasn't letting the capitol see how she feels. That could mean that we can trust her or that she will slit our throats during the night."
"I think that we should wait and see who the other tributes are first Baylor. Then from the interviews we will pick who we want in our alliance." Mother says wisely.
Just then the peacekeepers shove my father, Ryker into the room. Once he enters he rushes over to my mother and hugs her fiercely and whispers something into her ear. She nods her head as if she is agreeing to something. He steps back and looks at me.
I've never seen my father hug my mother before, let alone give her advice. "Be strong Baylor. Don't let them get into your head. If they do, you're done for." Ryker says gruffly as if he is holding back emotion.
I nod. It makes sense. I can't let the other tributes get under my skin. Good thing my skin is thick, from all the years dealing with my father. "I know you won't believe me, but son, I love you. You have to trust me on this." My father says.
I'm skeptical at first. Then I realise that all my father has done to me and my mother was to prepare me for this. To prepare me for if and when I go into the games. "This whole thing was a charade. An act to toughen you up for the games, to make sure that you wouldn't let anything that anyone could say to you get under your skin. All this arguing with Beatrix was to make your skin thicker, make it so that nothing gets to you." Father tells me.
Mother nods in agreement, "This was all for you. All these years of fake arguing and fighting. Everything that we have done was for you. Never forget that." They both rush over to me and hug me as if it was their last. Which it probably will be because only one of us can get out of there alive.
The peacekeepers barge into the room and drag father away. He doesn't protest, just looks back at me with a knowing look in his eyes. I nod to say that I believe him. I turn away from the door and stare out the window and down into the square where people are dispercing.
District 2: Astra Noire
Mother and I are shoved roughly into a room to await the arrival of our family and friends. First Father, Calista, and Cora burst into the room and ran over to us, tackling us to the ground in a hug that I couldn't escape if I tried.
The twins burst into tears because their mother and sister are going into the games. First their brother then their sister. Then their mother.
The whole family bursts into tears. "Astra why do you have to go! Why does mom have to go with you!" Cora screams.
"Oh Cora, it's going to be alright. One of us will come back I promise. She looks up into my father's eyes and something is exchanged through that look. I just don't know what.
"Mom will come back I promise." I say to Cora and I stare into mother's eyes, daring her to challenge me.
Calista hugs my legs and I try to pry her off, but she isn't budging. Her tears soak the hem of my skirt. "What about you sis?" Calista asks, her voice muffled.
"Oh umm-" I rush to find the words to explain this ordeal to her.
"They'll both come back. I'll make sure of it." Father says tearing Calista off my leg.
He comes over and embraces me with surprising strength. He lifts me and spins me around. "Win for me." He whispers in my ear.
I give a slight shake of my head, only noticeable for a second. It tells him that I'm not planning on coming back. I'm planning on having Roxanne return. They can handle losing another sibling but not a mother. But I promise they won't lose both.
The peacekeepers barge into the emotion filled room. They have to tear the twins away from my mother, they leave screaming that they want us back. "COME BACK ASTRA COME BACK!" Calista screams at me.
"MOM!" Cora sobs as the peacekeepers haul them out of the room, father follows them and the door closes behind them.
And there was silence once again.
Capitol: Sophia Hera
The tributes from 2 look oddly weak. I don't think I've ever seen someone from 2 look so weak. I wonder what's up with them. I shrug. What's also weird is that no one from 2 volunteered. They normally have at least one volunteer.
"They look weak." My father says, disappointed.
"Yeah." I say, lacking my usual spunk.
"They'll be killed right off the bat." Mother predicts.
For once I'm not excited for District 2's tributes, hopefully they make it up to me in their interviews and training.
The screen changes to District 3 and Reign Queen shows up. The reaping has begun.
District 3: Byte Pixel
Reign Queen steps out of the door at the back of the stage. She walks forward to the front and tests the microphone. It sends a series of ear splitting ringings through the square. We all cover our ears trying to shield them from the horrendous noise.
She couldn't have just looked at the on switch! I thought exasperated.
"Good morning ladies and gentlemen. I'm sure you're all eager to begin but we are having some technical difficulties." Reign informs the district.
After a while they finally managed to figure out what was wrong and started the ceremony. "Sorry for the delay but now that that's over with we can begin." Reign says. "As always ladies first, and may the odds be ever in your favor."
Reign walks over to the girls' glass bowl and swirls her hand around the bowl. Grabbing a paper suddenly and for dramatic effect slowly brings it up from the bowl. She takes a breath, unfolds the paper, ripping the little black tape that was holding it together. "And the female tribute from District 3 is…" She pauses taking a very slow and very long breath. "Darci Clyd."
Reign looks disappointed. As if this wasn't the person that she had wanted to reap. Reign starts to move towards the boys bowl but a voice calls out from the crowd, "I VOLUNTEER! I VOLUNTEER AS TRIBUTE."
Everyone's heads turn to see a girl no older than 14. She stands in the middle of the street splitting the girls from the boys, she's breathing heavily.
"It seems as if we have a volunteer folks." Reign says excitedly. "Come on up to the stage."
The girl walks up to the stage and comes up before Darci even moved from her spot with the 14's.
"What's your name?" Reign asks into the microphone.
"Coraline, Coraline Dellmare." She answers. "15."
"Well then, let's move onto the boys." Reign says moving to the boys bowl.
Her hand shakes as she chooses a slip of paper and reads it into the microphone. "Rocket Jinx."
"I volunteer as tribute." I say cooly.
Reign jumps, startled, "Oh my goodness! Two volunteers from the same district! This is the most exciting thing that has happened to me all year. Come on up to the stage young man." Reign beckons.
I calmly walk up to the stage and stand beside her and Coraline.
"Now what might your name be?" She asks.
"Byte Pixel, 15." I answer smoothly.
"Well then these are your tributes for the 100th hunger games District 3. Oh and before I forget," Reign grabs a remote and presses a button. "The president would like to share something with you."
A screen rolls down from out of nowhere and the president appears on it. The president then starts to explain the twist. "This year all the tributes will be sent into the arena with one of their parents, either their mother or father. If their parents no longer exist we will move to siblings, then to close friends. Happy Hunger Games and let the Reapings begin!"
Good thing I don't have anybody left.
"Coraline. Who is left in your family?" Reign asks.
"My mother." Coraline answers uneasily.
"Her name's Trinity." Coraline whispers, and it is almost inaudible.
Somehow Reign heard her. "Well then can Trinity Dellmare please come to the stage."
She turns to me, "Who do you have left?" She asks me.
"No one." I answer.
"Well you have to have someone." Reign says happily. "Come on bud you can tell me." Reign says persuasively.
"No, I don't have anyone." I say more forcefully this time. "They all died a long time ago."
"Well since you have no one left we might as well have someone from Coraline's family join you." Reign announces.
"Darci, since Coraline volunteered so willingly for you, I'm guessing that you have some sort of bond with her. You will join Byte in the games this year." Reign announces.
Oh great a little girl is going to join me! I think reproachfully.
Darci comes to the stage and stands next to me. Her heart is beating so forcefully that I can hear it. This poor girl just barely escapes the games only to be dragged back again.
Reign raises Coraline and I's arms and says, "These are your tributes District 3! May the odds be ever in their favor!"
District 3: Coraline Dellmare
"Darci Clyd." Reign announced to the district.
Time seemed to stop, I couldn't control it but I felt myself step out of my area, and shout, "I VOLUNTEER! I VOLUNTEER AS TRIBUTE!"
"It seems as if we have a volunteer folks." Reign says excitedly. "Come on up to the stage."
I go to the stage, glancing at Darci as I walk by her. She has a horrified look in her eyes, mixed with some relief as well.
I get to the stage and Reign asks for my name. I respond with, "Coraline. Coraline Dellmare. 15."
"Well let's move on to the boys." Reign says as she starts to pick a name from the bowl.
Turns out that she picked a kid and another volunteered for him. Well not exactly, it's like Byte was planning to volunteer not for the kid but for himself.
Byte came up to the stage and Reign then started to play a video of the president, that is supposed to explain this year's twist. He told us that we had to bring one of our parents if they still lived into the games with us.
No my sweet, sweet mother! She can't be in the games she won't survive!
"Coraline who is left in your family?" Reign asks.
"My mother." I answer quietly.
"Her name is Trinity." I say so softly that I can barely hear myself say it.
"Well then can Trinity Dellmare please come to the stage." Reign says.
"Who do you have left?" Reign asks as she turns to Byte.
"No one." Byte replies.
"Well you have to have someone." Reign says happily. "Come on bud you can tell me."
"No, I don't have anyone. They all died a long time ago." Byte answers clenching his jaw.
"Well since you have no one left we might as well have someone from Coraline's family join you." Reign announces.
WHAT! She can't do that! I scream inside my head. Well obviously she can because she just did. I counter myself.
"Darci, since Coraline volunteered so willingly for you, I'm guessing that you have some sort of bond with her. You will join Byte in the games this year." Reign decides.
Not Darci! No no no this is all not going to plan! I start to panic.
Darci comes to the stage and stands next to Byte. Then Reign Queen raises our arms and says, "These are your tributes District 3! May the odds be ever in their favor!"
With that the peacekeepers came and took us away and shoved us into the rooms where we would say our goodbyes.
When we enter the room and all goes silent. We waited until someone arrived to say goodbye, but nobody came. The only person that could and would come was Darci and she was somewhere else in the Justice Building with Byte Pixel saying their goodbyes.
District 3: Byte Pixel
I'm now stuck in a room with a stupid 14 year old that won't stop crying! Why is she crying? At least she has friends going into the arena and she actually has a shot at winning. A very slim one but a chance all the same.
Just then a pair of people burst into the room. A woman and a man. They must have been Darci's parents, who else could they be? No one was coming to see me, I was sure of it.
Turns out they were her parents. They gave her empty advice that wasn't going to be useful, they told her that they loved her, that she was going to make it out of the arena. I doubt that. I doubt that either of us will make it out of the arena. Especially because I was going to make sure that I wasn't going to make it out of there. I was going to survive for a while, give the capitol a show but then at some point I'm just planning on jumping off a cliff or eating poison berries.
Nobody else came to visit either of us after Darci's parents left. All we could do was wait in silence for Reign Queen to come retrieve us to get on the train to the capitol.
Capitol: Sophia Hera
The kids that were reaped from 3 were Darci Clyd and Rocket Jinx though they both had volunteers take their places. Too bad that Darci ended up getting dragged back into the games by Byte Pixel because he didn't have any family or friends left to take with him.
"Wow this is the most interesting district so far." I say while still having my eyes glued to the screen.
"I agree." Father says.
I guess I should introduce my parents to you. My father is Crynn Hera a famous fashion designer here in the capitol and my mother, Dara Hera is a plastic surgeon that specializes in doing the odd style of the capitol.
"I can't believe that we got two volunteers from an outlying district!" I say. "I mean we're every lucky if we even get one."
"That's so sad that that little girl, what was her name?" Dara, my mother asks.
"Darci Clyd." I answer
"Oh yes, Darci, anyway it's so sad that she escaped the games only to get put back in them again when that boy volunteered that had no one left. I wonder why he volunteered, I mean he didn't seem to have any connection to the boy that was reaped." Mother says.
"Maybe he volunteered because he had no one left and he felt lonely." Father suggests.
"Maybe, that is a reasonable reason to volunteer isn't it." Dara finishes.
A new live video pops up on the screen and the District 4 reaping begins. The room becomes silent without me even having to say anything this time.
District 4: Marina Pearl
I stand in the 17's and wait for the reaping to begin. Still lost in my memories when I hear a tapping on the microphone. Our district escort, Fiona Bone, is standing on the stage impatiently waiting for everyone's attention to be on her.
"Good day everyone." Fiona greets. "Today is a very special day as you know. Today is reaping day! So exciting."
Her statement is met with silence, nobody agrees with her that reaping day is exciting. It may be exciting to capitolites but definitely not to us district people. Today is the day that we find out who we have to watch slaughter or be slaughtered.
"Now lets begin with the ladies." Fiona says, clearly upset that no one agreed with her earlier statement.
Bone picks the first paper that comes to hand and unfolds it carefully. "The female tribute from District 4 is… Marina Pearl! Join me on the stage."
Well that was easier than I thought. I didn't even have to volunteer. I walk calmly up to the stage, mount it and stand next to Fiona Bone as she starts to riffle through the boys bowl. She grabs a paper and reads it into the microphone, "The male tribute from District 4 is Fjord Reed. Come to the stage Fjord."
It takes him awhile but he steps out from the group of 15 year old boys and comes to the stage. Nobody volunteers to take his place. "Alright now that we have our tributes picked out lets hear a little news all the way from the capitol." Fiona says as she rolls down a screen at the push of a button.
The president comes on the screen and tells us that we have to bring our parents, siblings, or close friends into the arena with us.
Well that's just great, both the remaining members of the Pearl family have to go into the games. I think reproachfully. Unless there's another way. Unless there is a way that I can pretend like my brother doesn't exist and keep him out of the games. At least I can save him, I might not be able to save myself but I can sure try for him. What are they going to do if they find out I killed them? They're already sending me into the freaking hunger games that's even worse than death!
I have a plan. When she asks me who is left in my family to join me I will say that they all died. I will convince her that I don't have any family members left, that I will have to take one of my friends in with me.
"Alright now Marina, who do you have in your family to bring with you?" Fiona asks delightedly.
"I don't have anyone." I say as I steal a glance at my brother.
Fiona follows my glance, notices Trent, and puts two and two together. "No you don't silly I saw you look at your brother out in the crowd. Don't be afraid come and join us!" Fiona commands.
Dang it! I had to go and mess up the plan! Why do I have to be such a bad liar? I scold myself.
Trent comes up to the stage and stands next to me. He whispers something in my ear. "What was all that about?"
"I was trying to save you." I answer, also in a whisper.
"Now Fjord, do you have anybody?" Fiona asks with a stern look telling him not to try the same thing that I did.
"Yes." He sighs. "Over there."
He points to a mother and father holding two kids next to them. A young girl and boy that are no older than 6.
"Will one of you please join us?" Fiona asks, even though it isn't a question.
What appears to be the father leaves the group and comes to stand at the stage. "Tell us your names." Fiona says.
"Trent Pearl, 18." Trent answers.
"Fen Reed." The father answers.
"Then there you have it District 4, your tributes. May the odds be ever in their favor." Fiona ends the ceremony and peacekeepers lead all 5 of us into the Justice Building to say our final goodbyes to our families.
Once Trent and I entered our room immediately my best friends Mira and Darya bustled into the room followed by Trents friends Cove, Harbor, Lagoon, and Tide.
They are all overwhelmed by the situation. The first to speak is Lagoon. "I mean I knew that Marina was going to volunteer but I didn't think that she would be reaped!" She says.
"One way or another I was going to be in the games Lagoon." I say.
Everyone starts talking and at some point everyone but the boys, Trent and Tide, started crying. Eventually the peacekeepers came and took them away and the room was silent once again.
District 4: Fjord Reed
Father and I are led to a room in the Justice Building where we are then met with my mother Delta and my younger siblings Haven and Marlow. We all sit in silence until my mother and father go off into a conversation in the corner of the room and I am left with my 4 and 5 year old siblings Haven and Marlow.
They ask me questions like where I am going and what I am going to do there, to both questions I answer with I don't know. "Now look guys I know that this is going to be hard without me and dad but you have to behave for mom okay she is going to need you." Marlow nods but I have to repeat the question to Haven because she didn't hear me the first time.
She eventually agrees and we go back to the useless questions. Once Delta and Fen are done talking about who knows what the peacekeepers have arrived to take them away. Haven looks back at me with her sea green eyes. I wave goodbye to her and we are left alone for the rest of the time that we have left in District 4.
Capitol: Sophia Hera
There was nothing special about the District 4 tributes other than the fact that one of them tried to hide her only remaining family member from Fiona Bone.
The room was silent for a while. Nobody had anything to say about District 4 and so the silence went on until District 5's reaping began.
District 5: Feu Lionne
I was only a minute late luckily. When I got there the reaping was about to begin. District 5's escort, Thyia Brison walks up to the microphone and starts the ceremony. "Hello District 5! Are you ready for this year's reaping?" She says.
There is silence in the square. No one is ready or excited for the reaping. "Okay then let's start with ladies first." Thyia says clearly ruffled by nobody sharing her enthusiasm.
She reaches deep into the infamous glass bowl. She snatchs up a small slip of paper. Brison slowly brings the paper up to the microphone. Rips the binding piece of tape and unfolds the paper. "Ladies and gentlemen the female tribute from District 5 will be… Feu Lionne! Please come to the stage Feu." Thyia Brison calls my name.
Me? This can't be happening. My breath quickens. I can't breath. I need to get out of here, but there's no escaping my fate. I have to go up to the stage, it isn't an option. I have to look brave for the cameras. I paint a brave smile on my face and walk up to the stage.
When I arrive at the stage I am greeted by Thyia and she immediately moves over to the boys bowl. She reaches into its depths and plucks a paper from it. "Now that we know who our female tribute is, don't you want to know who the male tribute is?" Brison asks. "And his name is Alaci Belette. Won't you please join us on the stage."
Alaci hesitantly comes up to the stage. "Now I'm sure you're all wondering what the twist is. Well President Ross would like to tell you." Thyia makes a screen appear out of nowhere and the president comes on. He says that the tributes have to bring one of their parents, siblings, or closest friends.
I've been nothing but rude to my mother and she has been nothing but kind to me and now I'm taking her into a death trap! I realise.
"Feu, are any of your parents still alive?" Thyia asks me with his horrible capitol accent.
I glance over at my mother in the crowd. I clench my fists, still filled with splinters from my door and say, "Yes."
"What are their names?" Brison asks.
"Ember Lionne." I say staring at the ground. "And Ash Lionne, he's my older brother."
Thyia Brison turns to Alaci, "Are your parents still alive?"
"Yes, their names are Luna and Shire Belette." He answers.
"And who would you like to bring with you?" She asks him.
"Luna." Alaci answers hesitantly.
Alaci glances into the crowd. I follow his gaze to a pretty woman holding a young child in her arms. There is a horrified look on her face. She hands the boy to a man that must be Shire and she walks up to the stage with a blank stare on her face.
My mother also joins us on the stage. "District 5! These are your tributes for the 100th Hunger Games. May the odds be ever in their favor!" Thyia Brison ends the reaping and a bunch of peacekeepers escort us into farwell rooms in the Justice Building.
Ember and I are shoved into a room with very fancy furniture. I'd never been in such a fancy room before in my life. My mother and I stand there marveling at the beauty in this room when my older brother Ash bursts into the room.
He runs over to us and hugs us like it will be his last. And it probably will be. My mother bursts into tears but my eyes stay dry. I was never one to cry. Not even at my father, Flames funeral. I also didn't cry at my younger sister Flicker's funeral. She was just 7 when she died. The memories are so old that I don't even remember how they died.
"You're going to win." Ash finally says.
"We'll sure try." I say.
"You have a pretty good chance. I've seen the things you've destroyed. You'll be fine." Ash comments.
We both look at my mother. I think we all know that she isn't going to win. "I'll do my best to protect you mom." I tell her. "I give you my word."
"Thank you Feu. But that won't be necessary." Ember says.
"What do you mean?" Ash asks.
"You'll see." Mother says.
We stay in a hug until the peacekeepers come back to take Ash away. Ash doesn't resist as they pull him away. I stare at the spot where he disappeared even after he was gone.
No one else comes to say goodbye to us. Now we just have to wait for the train to take us to the capitol.
District 5: Alaci Belette
My name was chosen from the bowl. I became the tribute for District 5. What's worse is that I dragged my mother down with me. That's right my mother and I are both going into the arena along with Feu and Ember Lionne.
We were escorted to a very fancy room filled with very expensive furniture. I plop myself down on one of the couchs. My mother does the same but with an armchair.
We both stare off into space for a while. Finally our family enters the room to say goodbye.
"Nice place you got here." My father says as he surveys the room jokingly.
"Yeah right." I say standing up to give him a hug.
Finn walks over to my mother and hugs her fiercely bursting into tears. "What's going on Mommy?" Finn says through sobs.
"Alaci and I are just going to go to the capitol for a while." Luna says, trying to calm Finn down.
It works and Finn stops crying after a while and gives me a hug.
My father, Shire goes over to my mother and hugs her, whispering something to her. It's probably advice of what to do in the arena.
The whole family gets together in one big, final hug and Father and Finn leave the room.
Next Rain enters the room to say goodbye to me. "I guess the odds weren't in my favor today." I say to him, remembering our conversation before the reaping.
"You could say that again." Rain says. "You gotta win ok? You've got this."
"Thanks." I tell him.
We don't talk for the rest of the allotted visiting time. Which would be awkward for most people but Rain and I have been friends since forever so it was fine.
The peacekeepers come to take him away. They do and my mother and I are left alone for the rest of the time before our train ride to the capitol.
Capitol: Sophia Hera
District 5 was way more interesting than 4. It actually sparked some conversation in the house.
"Why do you think Alaci chose to take his mom over his dad?" I asked my mother.
"Probably because his father can provide more for his little brother than his mom could if they both die in the arena." Mother says wisely.
"Yes that makes sense." Father agrees.
I nod my head as well. "Didn't you notice how the girl's family had all fire themed names?" I say.
"They did?" Father says, surprised.
"Yeah the mother's name was Ember, the daughter Feu, and the son Ash." I explain. "They're all elements of fire. Feu is the actual word for fire and ash comes after fire and the embers are beneath the fire."
"Oh." Father says.
The screen starts to move and District 6 appears. We all become silent as we watch the reaping begin.
District 6: Kieha Ridge
I wish I could be standing next to Raven, comforting him. He stands over in the male 15's section, just across the aisle from me. I can see Leo trying to comfort him. He is unsuccessful.
I hear a ringing coming from one of the speakers near my head. That signals that our district escort, Heirax Filo is ready to begin. The whole district becomes silent as Heriax starts the ceremony. "Ladies and gentlemen. Are you ready for the 100th Hunger Games?" He asks.
The only sound is the electronic buzzing coming from the microphone. Heirax coughs. "Lets begin, with ladies first."
He walks over to the bowl and fishes around for a paper that fits his liking. After an obnoxious amount of time he finally picks one. He reads it into the microphone. "Elle Sparrow. Come to the stage."
I'm frozen with shock as Elle moves through the crowd of 15's, on her way there she passes me. We make eye contact and she stares into my soul. I know I can't volunteer for her. I just can't. She gets up onto the stage and stands there with a shocked look on her face. She is still staring into my eyes. When I can't hold the stare any longer I look away. I feel her gaze burning into my back as I turn and stare into the trees.
Filo welcomes Elle and moves to the boys bowl. He picks a name in the same fashion as he did with the girls and reads it aloud. "The male tribute from District 6 will be, Raven Surge." He announces.
There is a gasp in the crowd. Raven had been popular among the kids of District 6. Everyone near me turns to Franny and I knowing that we're his friends, the same happens to Leo in the boys section.
Raven bravely moves from his spot and walks up to the stage. He stands next to Elle and Heirax. The escort then tells us the twist. "The tributes this year have to bring one of their parents or siblings if they are still alive. If not then they have to bring one of their closest friends.
Here's the thing Raven's parents aren't alive anymore. Crane was his only sibling left and she just died. And his closest friends consist of me, Franny, Leo, and Elle. And Elle is already one of the tributes this year. So Raven has to pick one of us to come into the games with him. What's worse is that Elle doesn't have any siblings and both her parents died last year. That means that she also has to take one of us.
Elle is closest to me, so that means she has to take me with her. Raven is closest to Leo so he has to take him. The only one left that is going to stay here in District 6 is Franny.
"Elle are any of your parents or siblings still alive." Filo asks.
"No." Elle answers.
"How about close friends?" He adds.
"Yes. My best friends Kieha and Franny." Elle answers looking at the ground.
"Well who are you bringing?" Heirax asks.
"I have to bring my closest friend. That has to be Kieha." Elle finishes. "I'm so sorry."
"Kieha please come to the stage." Filo commands.
I walk up to the stage. Not surprised because I knew this was going to happen from the moment that he told us the twist.
"What's your name?" Heirax asks me.
"Kieha Ridge." I say.
Heirax moves on to Raven. "Are any members of your family still alive?" He asks.
"No, but my friends are." Raven answers.
"What are their names?" Heirax asks.
"Kieha, Elle, Franny, and Leo." Raven answers, plucking up enough courage to look straight into the camera.
"Oh dear that is rather tragic isn't it." Filo says without the slightest bit of sympathy in his voice. "Now are you going to bring Franny or Leo?"
"Leo." Raven answers without hesitation.
Leo walks up to the stage and tells Heirax Filo his full name. Leo Night. "Here you have it folks, your tributes for the 100th Hunger Games!" Heirax raises our arms and leads us into the Justice Building accompanied by plenty of peacekeepers.
Wow the whole group might be killed very soon! I realise. The peacekeepers lead Elle and I into a room with a plush couch and chair set. Elle and I sit next to each other on the couch too shocked to even comprehend what just happened.
Surprisingly the peacekeepers also shoved Raven and Leo into the same room as us. I guess because we are all best friends they decided that we should all be able to say goodbye together.
Franny entered the room a few seconds after Leo and Raven did. She came over to Elle and I and hugged us both. "I can't believe what's happening right now!" Franny exclaims in a whisper.
"Yeah me too." Leo says. "How did he just pick Elle and Ravens names for the same games. They both dont have any family left and we're the only ones they have left. No offense." Leo adds.
"None taken." Elle and Raven say.
"Look one of us has to win." I say. "We don't have another option. Also we have the advantage of numbers. We'll already have an alliance of four when the games begin."
"Yeah we have to stick together." Elle adds. "It's our best chance of winning."
The conversation about who we are going to align ourselves with begins, and the strategy talk begins as well.
In the middle of this talk the peacekeepers come and take Franny away.
After a while we work out the plan. We are going to grab everything we can from the cornucopia while avoiding being killed and have a power alliance of at least four. And if we can we will align ourselves with the careers, but not stay with them for too long because that would give them a chance to kill one of us. That's the whole plan and we are going to hope that it's enough to get one of us to the end.
District 6: Raven Surge
My name was called, which landed me in the spot of having to pick between Leo and Franny of who I was going to take with me into the games. I chose Leo because we are closer and because he is way stronger than Franny.
Now almost all my friends are coming into this murder trap with me. We all were put in the same goodbye room. I have no clue why but you know it was nice of them I guess. We all came up with this strategy for the games, which was to keep our alliance of four and then maybe add the careers to it as well.
I think this plan will work out pretty well, it will ensure that we make it far in the games.
I'm actually happy that Crane died this morning because if she hadn't then I would have had to take her in with me rather than Leo. I would have had to protect Crane rather than have Leo, Kieha, and Elle protect me.
Franny was the only one who came to say goodbye to us. I'm surprised that Kieha's mom didn't come and that Leo's parents didn't come. I guess that they couldn't handle coming to say goodbye to all the kids that basically were part of their family.
Our strategy talk lasted so long that the peacekeepers came to take us to the train during it. We all left together and boarded the train to the capitol for training, interviews, and to get ready for the games themselves. I'm just wondering who else is going to join us in this year's games.
Capitol: Sophia Hera
"Wow." I say after the District 6 reapings had ended. "A whole friend group is going in together!"
"I can't believe their bad luck. I can't imagine what was going through their minds when they realized that they had to take their best friends with them." Father breaths.
"I wouldn't be able to take Kyra, Milo, and Phoebe with me!" I say.
Kyra, Milo, and Phoebe are my best friends. I can't even comprehend having to kill them.
"Well it's a good thing that we don't live in the districts." Mother says.
The screen glitches for a second and the District 7 stage shows up, with trees everywhere you can barely see it from the airborne shots.
The room falls silent as Otreus Sarris begins the reaping.
To be continued...