A/N- I'm back! Sorry for the long wait! For future reapings, I won't be going in numerical order based on districts. I'll skip around the list. I just felt like starting with District One this time. I hope you guys enjoy our very first reaping chapter!
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Brutus looked over the list of tributes, his finger hovering over the names.
"Who to look at first….?" he muttered to no one but himself, his voice echoing through his large, empty office.
His finger moved up and down until finally, it reached a resting point at the very top of the list. Under his wrinkled hand were two names: Euphemia Eurydice and Horatio Amherst… The District One tributes.
"I suppose we could start at the very beginning… A very good place to start!" He pressed on the female's file first, causing the screen to flicker and change. "District One, show me what you got!"
Euphemia "Mia" Eurydice, 17, District One (Submitted by LostTome)
Euphemia stared in the mirror, slowly brushing her platinum blonde hair. All the preparations were in place. The red flower skirt and white blouse had been steam-pressed. Her skin was smooth and perfect. The diamond earrings were clipped in- and from a distance, no one could tell that they were fake. It was finally reaping day.
A sigh drifted through the empty dorm room as her brush worked its way through the last of her tangles. The face staring back at her in the mirror had been her only company for a week. The Career Academy had placed Euphemia in lock-down just a few days after they announced her as District One's female tribute for the 84th Hunger Games. In a normal year, she'd be at a party right now, being showered with praise and admiration by her fellow classmates before making her way to the Reapings, but things weren't normal this year. Nothing had been normal for Euphemia for years.
It was a classic story- almost like a fairy tale. The fairest girl of them all, clever and strong, is born to a peasant family. When her family is struck with tragedy, they are left with no choice but to lock their dear princess away in a guarded tower until it is arranged for her to be married off to an Evil Prince. It was a political proposal. The princess cared not for the Evil Prince. Instead, she was dying for the day she could run off with the stable boy.
And the only way for their forbidden love to ever be…
Was for Euphemia to win the Hunger Games.
Someone began to knock at the door. Euphemia set down her brush and took in a deep breath. She let the sensation of the air running to her lungs calm her and prepare her for what was ahead. It was only 30 minutes until the Reapings, so she figured it was the academy's Headmaster coming to fetch her. Euphemia opened the door, expecting to face her esteemed elder.
Instead, she faced her Evil Prince.
In the doorway stood Bergen Amherst, a pair of Peacekeepers at his back. The young man grinned and gave Euphemia's body a once over with predatory eyes before even saying a word.
"My, my, you look beautiful, pet."
"What are you doing here?" Euphemia practically spat. She had no interest in seeing this horrid man today. In fact, she even planned to turn him away if he tried to visit her after the Reapings.
"Awh, come on. I thought you'd be happy to see me after being cooped up in your room for so long."
"You think starving me out of all other social interaction would suddenly make me like you? I'm not a dog, Bergen."
"No, but you are acting like a bitch."
Euphemia wanted to scream at him right then and there, but she couldn't. She had to physically bite her tongue in order not to, but she knew she just couldn't. This engagement was too important to her family, if she spoke out of turn and he decided to end it before the games then her family would receive none of the benefits he agreed to send if Euphemia didn't survive. This situation was just one big game of chess and, unfortunately, she knew she'd have to sacrifice some pieces to win.
Bergen watched as hostility was swapped for feigned submission on his fiance's face. Satisfied, he continued to speak. "Anyway, it's time for the Reapings. Headmaster said I could escort you since we're practically family now." He stuck out his hand. "My family should already be there and waiting. You shouldn't make a bad impression by being late."
"Yes. Of course," she said before taking his hand.
"Good. Come along now, my pet."
Horatio Amherst, 12, District One (Submitted by Very New To This)
A little girl, dressed in white, sits on her bed and screams. Her nightgown begins to glow red as blood splatters up from her legs. In her small, but violently capable, hands she clutched a crucifix. Her mother watches in horror as her daughter turns the once holy symbol into a weapon. Slamming it again,
And again,
And again,
And again,
Into her thighs. She begged herself to stop. She scolded herself for crying out. Her mother tried to wrestle the cross away but her child's otherworldly strength threw her to the ground. An untouched dresser flew at the mother from across the room, nearly toppling on her as the little girl sat back down. She crawled out from underneath and looked up and watched as her daughter's head turned to greet her. Her neck reached the end but kept going. With a sickening snap, her head turned a full 180 degrees, treating her back as if it was her torso and acting as if her legs weren't pointing the other way.
"Horatio?" a distant voice cried over the mother's screams.
"Horatio!"
Little Horatio jumped, both from the horrific scene on the holographic television screen and the sudden sound of his name. He scrambled for the TV remote. As his bedroom door creaked open, he finally managed to hit the pause button, leaving the screen frozen on the little girl's backward head.
"What on Earth are you watching? An old Hunger Games?" Horatio's mother asked as she stepped into his room.
"No, Mother. It's a movie! Apparently, before the Hunger Games, people would watch stuff called horror movies to scare them and gross them out instead."
Mrs. Amherst knitted her eyebrows in confusion and looked at the screen. She locked eyes with the possessed little girl, covered in her own blood.
"How… barbaric." She walked over to the TV's holographic projector and switched it off at the source. "Just because you're old enough to be reaped doesn't mean you're old enough to watch filth like that in my house!"
"But Mother, it's no worse than the Hunger Games-"
"-That's enough, Horatio!" She said with a stern tone of frustration only mothers could produce.
"Yes, Mother. Sorry, Mother."
"Now," she paused to check the jewel-studded watch on her wrist, "It's about time to head out for the Reapings. Come here. I want to see you."
Horatio smoothed out his shirt with his hands and approached his mother. As she scrutinized his outfit with her eyes, he tried to stand with perfect posture and smile just enough to be polite. He even tried to think boring, mature thoughts as if he thought his mother's eyes could look into his mind. Meanwhile, Mrs. Amherst unbuttoned the top button of his blue polo shirt and tucked a strand of his light brown hair back into place.
"There's my beautiful boy…" she said, her voice beaming with pride. "Let's run along now, your father and brother are waiting for us in the car."
Horatio's face lit up at the mention of his older brother and father. Hand-in-hand, Mrs. Amherst and her son walked out to the car waiting in front of their beautiful home. Although many of the families in District One were considered "well-off" by district standards, the majority of them didn't have cars. The Capital limited its sale in the districts long ago in order to prevent people from moving about too freely. Although it was technically a company car, Horatio's family was considered extraordinarily lucky to have one… but it wasn't luck that got them to where they are.
Horatio's family, the Amhersts, were a part of an organization known as The Five- a group of five families that each hold unshakeable monopolies in various parts of the precious gem mining industry, with Horatio's family capitalizing all topaz, garnet, and turquoise mining. In other districts, the Capital would normally try and break up such powerful monopolies, but The Five would never dare to give up their power so they formed a symbiotic relationship with the capital.
The Amhersts, Berlusconi, Mentzer, Howard, and Lopez families were instrumental in bringing District One back into pro-capital ideologies after the Mocking Jay rebellion. With well-placed bribes and bloody blackmail, The Five made District One into the most patriot district in Panem. In return, the Capital ignored The Five's shady business deals and awarded them a host of other benefits.
Of course, these were all conspiracy theories. No one could ever make any accusations stick to any of The Five despite the massive public outcry.
But Horatio knew the truth.
And his family's cars and computers and new holographic TVs spoke for themselves.
Luckily, his big brother Clement was there to protect him from the bullies who broke his things and called him names simply for being a child of The Five. Clement was a little hard to be around at times, but he was devoted to his little brother. When he looked over at him in the car as their parents drove and saw his nervousness, Clement reached out and squeezed his hand.
"Head up, kid. It's gonna be alright. Your name is only in there once- if that! It pays to have friends in the Capital, after all."
Horatio smiled. "Yeah… you're right. E-even if they do call me, someone always volunteers."
"Exactly. I'll pay someone to do it for you if I have to."
Soothed by his brother's words, Horatio finally felt himself relax. His life had been so stressful lately, but he was finally beginning to realize that the reapings were the one thing he wouldn't have to worry about.
The Reapings
The ATGT company car pulled into a nearby parking lot, allowing the family inside to walk another 5 minutes to the District Square. Horatio's parents hugged their sons goodbye and headed into the spectators' section, meanwhile, Horatio and Clement walked towards the entry lines. Just like in the car, Clement held Horatio's hand as they walked, until suddenly, Horatio felt Clement squeeze tight before letting go.
"Huh? Clement, why did you-"
"I can't come with you, kid."
"What?!" Horatio looked around at the crowds around him. He could already feel people staring at him with disdain. "But I- what about the bullies?"
"I'm 19, I'm not allowed to come in, but-" Clement searched the surroundings from afar until his eyes flashed with recognition. "Ah, here they are!"
A young couple walked toward the brothers. Horatio recognized the boy easily as his cousin Bergen, but the girl was a stranger- a beautiful stranger at that.
"Hey, man!" With a smile, Clement hugged Bergen and patted him on the back. "Thanks for coming."
"Eh, you still owe me," Bergen replied teasingly.
"Hello, Cousin Bergen. Hello, miss."
"Hey," the girl said with a nod.
"Come on, Horatio, you're coming with us."
"Huh?"
"I asked them to help you out in there since I can't," Clement explained.
Horatio smiled.
"Really? Thank you, Clement!"
As the two talked, a loudspeaker began to blare:
"ATTENTION! The Reapings will begin in 5 minutes. Please proceed to your required areas immediately."
Peacekeepers appeared out of the woodwork and began pushing people either into the spectator section or towards the entry line. Horatio looked up to Clement, panic in his eyes. As a peacekeeper started to walk toward their group, Clement bent down and hugged his brother.
"See you soon, kid. Be good," he said before turning and walking away.
Horatio opened his mouth to speak, but Clement's presence was suddenly replaced with a peacekeeper, ordering them to move along.
"C-Cousin Bergen?" Horatio began, unsure what else to really say.
Bergan rolled his eyes at the child trying desperately to stay composed in front of him.
"Let's get this over with."
Guided by his cousin and the girl, the trio entered the line. Horatio was sandwiched in between the two. In a series of stolen glances, Horatio studied the girl's face. He swore something seemed familiar about her, but from appearances alone, he assumed that they weren't related. No one in his family had such pretty blonde hair or such striking pink eyes. Her eyes were really the most striking thing about this mystery girl. Horatio didn't even know it was possible for someone to have pink eyes. It- she- was utterly mesmerizing.
Horatio finally decided to swallow his pride and ask the girl her name.
"Um, miss?"
"Yeah?"
"I'm sorry if I'm wrong, but I don't think we've ever met."
"You're not wrong."
"Oh! Good, okay," he stuck out his hand. "I'm Horatio Tyson Amherst. What's your name?"
Almost begrudgingly, she shook Horatio's hand.
"Euphemia Eurydice."
She instantly let go of the boy's hand and moved forward to get her blood taken. Meanwhile, Horatio's eyes grew wide.
"Euphemia Eurydice?! As in the female volunteer? I saw you in the newspaper! Wow, it's really wonderful to meet you!"
Euphemia ignored Horatio as she moved forward in the line. Truthfully, she felt bad for shunning the little boy. It was always a good idea to pander to adoring fans before the games. However, she was in no mood to be nice, especially not to anyone associated with Bergen. She tried to slip away and disappear into the crowd, but a sour voice suddenly called out.
"Wait there, Pet!" Bergen said as she grabbed Horatio's shoulders and pushed him forward.
Horatio looked around with the eyes of a doe as he was forced to the station. The lady grabbed his arm without a word and pricked it, drawing a small sample of blood. The needle stung, and so did Bergen's surprisingly forceful grip on his cousin's shoulders. Once
"She's not just the female volunteer, you know," Bergen said to Horatio as they finally entered the reaping area where Euphemia waited. Before he continued, he let go of Horatio's shoulders and walked up to Euphemia and kissed her. After what felt like an eternity, he pulled away. "She's going to come home and be my wife."
"O-oh!" Horatio stammered. "Welcome to the family!"
"Thank you," said Euphemia. Horatio noticed her face and voice were near-emotionless despite the fact her love had just kissed her. "I have to go-" She turned and headed off towards the 17-year-old section.
She breathed a silent sigh of relief once she was away from Bergen and that little boy. Now, she could get into the right headspace- the headspace of a victor. As she pushed her way to a proper spot in the crowd she calculated her every move- should she smile or stay stoic? Should she walk out of the crowd and then volunteer or simply shout it from where she stood? Euphemia knew all too well that if she wanted to win, her strategizing had to start here.
As the last of the children of District One settled into place, the Panem anthem played as their district escort took the stage. He was wearing a fluffy pink suit and his smile emitted an unnatural sparkle as if his very teeth were made of diamond. The audience clapped as he entered and listened intently as he gave the same propaganda-ladened speech he did every year.
Girls would be first.
Euphemia's moment of liberation had arrived.
She was ready.
Until she saw a glimmer of red hair beside her.
Aria Olivian. The pair had been classmates before Euphemia dropped out of school to attend the Career Academy last year. In her intense focus, Euphemia had hardly even noticed that she ended up beside her in this massive crowd. Aria gave a small wave, a tiny grin on her face.
"Hey, Mia," she whispered so the peacekeepers couldn't hear and scold them for ignoring the speech.
"H-hey, Aria, I didn't see you there."
"It's okay…"
They didn't know what to say. The speech was droning to the end and soon Euphemia would be gone.
"I've missed seeing you at school," Aria added after an awkward silence.
Euphemia's eyes grew wide.
"You did- I mean do?"
"Yes," Aria said with a chuckle. "Why wouldn't I?"
"I- it's alright, never mind."
Aria cocked her head to the side in confusion, the new angle allowing her hazel eyes to catch the sun's rays just right.
Another round of applause filled the district square as the propaganda speech ended. It was time. It was time and Euphemia couldn't think straight.
"I-" she stammered, her mind's focus torn in two opposite directions. "I'm glad I got to say goodbye to you, Aria."
"Goodbye? I was planning to come visit you before the train-"
"Don't. Please."
"Huh?"
"It is just safer that way, okay?"
"Mia-"
The escort's voice boomed above them all, "Now let's select this year's first tribute! Starting with the ladies…"
"I'll tell you everything," Euphemia frantically stammered as the escort dramatically fished around for a paper in the bowl. "As soon as I get back." As the words left her lips the escort finally plucked up a piece of paper and opened his mouth to speak. Up to this moment, Euphemia had calculated everything. She had every bit of it planned. She just didn't account for this one little thing to throw off her game…
Her real Prince Charming.
The escort couldn't even utter a single syllable before Euphemia threw her hand up into the air.
"I volunteer as tribute!"
Shit… too eager
Her logical side thought as she guided herself forward on pure nervous energy.
A sea of girls parted the instant Euphemia spoke, leaving a clear path to the stage. Before she even knew it, she was at the stage, smiling up at the escort as he extended a gloved hand to help her on stage.
"Why hello there, beauty!" he exclaimed. "Might District One have the pleasure of knowing your name?"
"I am Euphemia Eurydice."
"My, what a wonderful name!" He leaned in as if talking to a friend. "Now, what do you say, Ms. Euphemia Eurydice, do you want to meet your district partner?"
"Of course!"
"You heard the lady! Onto the boys!"
Suddenly, the infectious energy in the crowd died. Mia could feel it in the air- the only thing she could liken it to was poison. The district was angry. In a normal year, standing by Euphemia's side would be another career, hand-picked and adored by all. But now, the man that should have been there was laying in a hospital bed.
Oblivious to the change in atmosphere, the escort stuck his hand in the second bowl of names until he pulled out one card from the very bottom. Slowly, he unfolded it, a smile of sick satisfaction on his face as he made the crowd wait.
"Horatio Amherst!"
Horatio's eyes widened. The moment he heard his name his body reacted automatically, filling with fear the dread- but then it stopped. He chuckled, half out of nervousness, half out of pride.
It's okay! It's just like Clement said, someone always volunteers!
He looked around, waiting to see another hand shoot up or to see someone start walking out. He avoided the gazes of the boys around him, trying to pretend they weren't all staring at him in contempt.
"Horatio Amherst?" the escort repeated. "Where are you?"
The dread returned, this time in an all-consuming flood. He looked around, the weight of the eyes on him finally piercing through his ignorance.
Everyone was staring.
No one was volunteering.
"SOMEONE! PLEASE!" Horatio screamed. "T-this isn't funny! PLEASE! VOLUNTEER!"
Tears of fear streamed down Horatio's face as a peacekeeper made his way to him.
"COUSIN BERGEN!" he shouted as the Peacekeeper grabbed his arm and began to pull him out of the crowd. "CLEMENT! HELP ME!"
That's when it hit him. The stares, the lack of volunteers. There was only one explanation, one that made his blood run hot with anger. He tried desperately to suppress his emotions as he was led up to the stage. It was impolite to break down in such a public way.
"Hello there, little champ!" greeted the escort as Horatio finally made his way next to Euphemia on the stage. "And what might be your name?"
"H-Horatio," he stammered, trying to not let his tears permeate his voice. "Horatio Amherst."
The escort smiled knowingly.
"Excellent. You're right where you're meant to be, little Horatio Amherst." He took the pairs' hands and raised them up in the air as he turned to the crowd. "I now present to you, District One's tributes for the 84th Hunger Games!"
Euphemia "Mia" Eurydice, 17, District One
After the reapings, Euphemia was escorted to a private room backstage. Before she even got a second to sit down, her family burst through the door. Her father wrapped his little girl up in a hug while her mother held baby Wisteria in her arms.
"Mia!" her little sister, Yuna, exclaimed as she entered with their mother.
Euphemia looked at her mother and siblings over her father's shoulder and smiled.
"You have no idea how good it is to see you guys," Euphemia said, her words pouring out like a sigh of relief.
"I still can't believe they locked you up like that before the reapings!" her mother exclaimed. "I know it was for your own safety but-"
"I missed you!" Yuna cried.
Euphemia smiled.
"I missed you too, Yuna."
Her father finally let her go. He pulled away and looked into his daughter's eyes.
"My dearest Euphemia," he began. "I wish I could have given you a better life. I wish I could have prevented you from going through any of this."
"Dad, it's not your fault. It doesn't matter anyway. I will fix this. I will fix all of this."."
"I'm very proud of you, Euphemia," her mother said, pride beaming from her voice.
"And I will show you that I've earned that pride, Mama… and when I do-"
"The engagement will be off," her mother finished for her.
"That's right. When I get back, we will no longer be controlled by The Five. They will pay for what they've done to this family."
Suddenly there was a knock at the door.
"Time's up!" a peacekeeper cried.
Euphemia gave her family each another tearful hug goodbye and a peacekeeper entered to lead them outside. Her eyes darted behind the peacekeeper and to her horror saw Bergen, waiting for his turn as he leaned up against a nearby wall.
"I will take no more visitors," Euphemia demanded. "Please escort me to the train."
The peacekeeper nodded and gestured for her to follow him. Bergen's face contorted in anger as he sprung from his spot on the wall.
"HEY!" he shouted. "Where do you think you're going?!"
The peacekeeper turned around and extended his baton.
"Sir, step away from the tribute immediately."
"That's my fucking wife!" he shouted. "Do you even know who I am?!"
"This tribute is currently property of the Capital. If you do not back off I will use force."
Bergen sneered and spat at the peacekeeper's feet.
"Fine. Just give the whore this," he reached into his pocket and pulled out a grandiose diamond ring. "Found this in your dorm," Bergen said, glaring over the peacekeeper's shoulders at Euphemia who was grinning ear to ear after watching Bergen be put in his place. "I'll be watching to make sure you wear it. I don't want you to forget that you're mine."
Horatio Amherst, 12, District One
Meanwhile, in his own private room, Horatio sobbed into his mother's embrace.
"Time's up!" a peacekeeper cried.
"No!" Mr. Amherst yelled. "This is my son! You can't take me away from my son-"
The peacekeeper entered the room. His baton extended with a thunderous crack, startling the entire family.
"Father!" Horatio cried as several more peacekeepers entered, batons drawn, and began to escort his family out.
Horatio wanted to do something, anything, but everything was happening so fast, and he was so small.
"Please!" he heard his mother cry from the hallway, "We'll pay-"
"This is your final visitor," another peacekeeper said as they practically shoved Clement into the room.
However, before the door closed behind the slightly stunned Clement, the distinct Escort suddenly appeared behind them. He was holding one of the large fishbowls of names. With his trademark television host smile, he stepped inside and proceeded to dump the bowl out onto the floor. The paper covered the entire floor, with many of the cards becoming unfolded in the process. Horatio and Clement looked around, horror in their eyes, as they stared at paper after paper reading "Horatio Amherst."
The escort left and the door clicked closed, leaving the brothers alone in the sea of paper. Silence would have engulfed the room if it wasn't for Horatio's sniffling as he wiped away his tears.
"You…" he began, his small voice filled with anger. "You did this."
"W-what?!" Clement stammered. "That's-"
"It's all because of what you did to the male volunteer!" Horatio shouted, stamping his foot and crushing the paper beneath him.
"He was bullying you, Horatio! I'm your brother, what else was I supposed to do-"
"Talk to him? Pay him off? Anything but beating him half to death!"
"DON'T YOU YELL AT ME LIKE THAT! How the fuck was I supposed to know that paying off some thugs to give some pretty boy a taste of his own medicine would have gone this far? I don't know why the district picked him to be our male volunteer anyway- he was nothing but a slum rat but people treated him like perfection incarnate-"
"-JUST SHUT UP!" Horatio screamed. Clement took a step back. This was the first time he ever saw his quiet, polite little brother even get angry, let alone yell. "You need to fix this! Please, Clement!"
"I… I can't-"
"Can't you just pay someone else-"
"Mom and Dad tried I- I don't know what to do, Horatio. I don't know how to help."
Horatio took a deep breath. His anger had over-boiled to the point where his body was suddenly overtaken with calm. He released his clenched fists and looked his big brother in the eyes.
"I don't want your help anyway."
"Horatio-"
"I hate you, Clement. Get out."
"Horat-"
"Peacekeeper!"
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A/N That's our first reaping complete! Big big thank you to LostTome and Very New To This for submitting Euphemia and Horatio! Both very interesting characters with a lot left to be revealed. How did you guys like this chapter? Thoughts on our first tributes? Was the chapter too long or a good length? Leave a review and let me know your thoughts!