Chapter 12: The Undesirables

District Twelve Reaping

Iry Hawkfeather - District Twelve Female

"I always would be happy to make a character even more unlikeable, but you know, there's a limit and if you go there, you get a different kind of movie, man,"

- Paul Giamatti

Chewing the bubblegum I had in my mouth, I inhaled on the gum, blew it, forming it into a huge pink bubble. Once it made a 'pop' noise, the gum layer was all around my lips, making me laugh. I love bubblegum or just candy in general. They're the best thing in the world. Best thing ever invented times infinity.

Candy, candy, candy, what would have I ever done without candy?

A sudden thought came to mind. Would've probably joined in the majority class of the smelly, dirty commoners in this district.

Thank goodness I wasn't born in the Seam.

"Daddy, I'm going outside! I want more candy!"

My father smiled at me. He was a thin man with blonde hair and green eyes. He's behind the counter, showing rows and rows of delicious candy that only the merchant class - and a rare Capitolite visitor - can afford. He owns a candy show, the only candy shop in this dirty district. He's wealthy, and I'm his one and only daughter. I'm special, more than anyone else in this crumpy district.

I wish I was born somewhere else sometimes - even complained about it to my parents one time but diffused me with telling me they'll lose everything if they do - and it always worsens in this district. In any case, I'm a queen here. Everyone knows that.

"But you already had some today, sweetie," dad said. "Maybe you could call dial it down a little for today."

"Daaaaddy! I want candy! I promise it's not only for me," I lied.

"I don't know, your mother told me you've been eating too much. I don't want you to have a toothache."

"Fffffine! Give me some for my friend's dad!"

He gave me a fatherly smile and laughed. "Okay, Iry. For friendship, you can ask for five different candies."

It always feels easy to trick him. Once upon a time, I would have felt bad for lying, but it isn't all that horrible. More candy for me!

Once I picked what I wanted, I went out. "Bye Dad!"

He's not my dad.

Not biologically anyway. It's pretty obvious.

I have red hair. I have some wide brilliant blue eyes that I'm sure others take notice. I don't have my father's looks, hell, I might even be more fit than my dad. My mom doesn't have my looks either. She has black hair - common dirty seam hair - and her good looks and eyes. So yeah, pretty, healthy, wealthy, and once more, pretty.

My real dad is a peacekeeper. Not sure who or where, but who cares. I have two awesome dads! Being a peacekeeper, he should be awesome. All the peacekeepers I meet are nice to me, so he should be too.

Unwrapping a small chocolate bar, I ate it instantly. ~It tasted like nuts, and a feeling of a sea breeze wash over me. As if I'm riding a whale, surfboarding vast waves~

Not sure why I think like that, but candy!

While walking the road, I had noticed a boy laying his body next to an empty stall.

He had a sad frown on his face that I ignored, has dark marks on him that would mean he's another child from the miner class. The boy - he can't be older than ten - looked lost. Lord and dirty. What is he doing here? You know what, I don't care.

"Kid," I said. I walked right in front of him.

He looked at me, curious.

I grinned. "Want some sweets?"

He blinked as I started waving around some bars of chocolate. Then he nodded.

"Okay... kiss my feet."

The boy blinked once more, moved from the stall, crawling misery on all four limbs. He was just about to kiss my shoes before stopping.

"What are you waiting for?" I questioned, annoyed. "Don't you want some food? Just kiss my feet."

He's the peasant here. It's an honor.

Quietly and swiftly, he kissed.

He got the candy and the boy learned his place. This is the merchant's district. No smelly miner's here unless they want to beg for something. It's the way of the world.

I walked away, ignoring the sad look on the boy's eyes as he started eating his chocolate bars.

Unwrapping the lollypop, I put it in my mouth and smirked in expectation.

Kids do almost everything for my surgery sweets.

It's why I'm the Queen.

The only thing missing is real friends, a random thought appeared.

NO! That is not the right way to think.

Queens don't have friends. Remember that.

Cole Lynderly - District Twelve Male

"Cole! Cole! Look what I found!" my friend Benjamin beamed brightly to show me something.

"What is it?" I sprinted towards my friend.

There was a large fence, a barbed wired fence that meant to keep out Twelves from ever leaving their district. I once heard that President Potter back in the 100 HG removed this fence and Districts, citizens, at a time, were allowed to travel anyway. It only lasted a few years, but people were happier somehow. Then the fence was brought back, forever keeping districts separate once more.

Benjamin pointed to the cut hole in the fence. "Well..."

I turned to my friend. "There's a gap here."

"Yeah," he nodded enthusiastically. "Let's go through it."

"Isn't that illegal?"

Benjamin's smile got smaller. "You do know there are hunters in this district right?"

"Yes?"

"Well, outside the fence is a forest with animals. So, technically, hunters are illegal yet they sell goodies every day. So yeah Cole, this is illegal. But no one cares enough about it. As long as no Peacekeepers see, they won't tell."

I smiled, having no more reservations. "That sounds great then! Let's get going!"

We're going on an adventure!

Once we passed the fence, we saw a better view of the forest. I don't think I've seen so many trees in one place. Well, yeah, I know it's a forest. But Twelve is a barren place with barely any trees at all. It looks so nice.

Chirping birds, animal noises, and leaves fluttering. Something mom read to me, but something I've never experienced. It's all so green.

Benjamin and I kept on walking. We talked. We played tag. We saw a deer. We played with sticks and used them as swords.

It was fun.

"We have to get back," Benjamin told me. "Think our folks won't like us being late."

Only that day didn't end up fun.

"Your right. Let-"

BBBOOOOOOOOOMMM!

The ground shook, and we both fell.

I woke up, not remembering how I went to sleep or why my bed is rocky and tough. I looked up and saw that the sky was gone. Not completely, it looked though as if there was only one entrance and it was in the air.

Rocks were everywhere. So were bodies, unmoving from the ground.

So was Benjamin next to me.

He wasn't moving. He never moved when I called his name. He didn't move when I pushed him. HE DIDN'T MOVE WHEN I SHOOK HIM!

"Cole! Wake up! You're having a nightmare!"

My sister shook me.

"Gemma," I muttered, still half-asleep.

She smiled innocently, but wary before replying, "Um, it's morning. Mom made breakfast."

...

We both stared. Gemma was a little unnerved. I can tell.

"Get out Gemma. I'm cursed," I told her honestly. "You shouldn't be here."

"Cole..." She looked up to me, looking like a sad kitten. "Mom and dad say it's not your fault."

They don't know that.

I was there. A year ago.

Along with 40 dead miners. Plus Benjamin.

I was the only one alive. It makes sense that I'm cursed. I doomed them.

Genna doesn't deserve my company. She doesn't deserve to get hurt.

"Genna. Please leave my breakfast at the door," I said quietly.

My sister. All chocolate skinned - a rarity in Twelve - with short hair and brown eyes. She doesn't look all that different from me right now. That'll change in the future, but I don't plan on seeing her again when I get old enough to move out.

She nodded. All sad. Most likely still expecting me to play games with her as we did before the incident I caused.

"It's Reaping Day, by the way," she said before she left my room.

I almost laughed.

The worst day in Panem, perfect for a cursed boy like me.

So I got dressed, brushed my teeth, ate my breakfast.

Then to the miserable town hall, I went.

This miserable day started.

"Welcome District Twelve! It is I, Cornelius Curio! But please, call me CC!" the funny looking Capitolite announced. A bubbly tall man with a fursuit, a lot of make-up - his lips were black, as were his eyeliners that was around his shiny blue eyes. Does he have feather tails? I have no idea. I think my curse has affected my life in more ways than one if I have to suffer watching this Capitolites attire.

"Now, on to the 172nd Hunger Games everyone!" he cheered. Somehow, CC still had a smile on his face when everyone else looked miserable and had frowny faces.

He went to the girl's bowl. I waited for the cursed name.

"Iry Hawkfeather."

There was crying. A lot of crying. "NO! NO! NO! NO!"

I saw a redheaded girl from the fifteen-year-old section drop to her knees, crying. I haven't seen a girl break down like this before.

Funny thing is I recognized her. She was a meanie who kept offering us children candy if we did things for her. Like steal, talk, break a window. Benjamin and I stopped coming to her when she ordered us to carry her. Not just carry, she wanted us to lift her while she was sitting down on a chair.

Not much sympathy for Iry, I had noticed. A lot of people smiled viciously, and I think I hear someone laugh.

Peacekeepers had to carry her to the stage. CC looked disappointed at her, tsking.

Then he moved on to the boy's bowl.

Wonder who's it going to be.

"Cole Lynderly."

...

...

I let out a chuckle.

The chuckles got louder. Then turned into full-blown laughter. All the boys around me took a step back from me, looking at me strangely.

I'm so cursed! Cursed! CuRsEd!

I didn't even notice that I walked to the stage. I think I was too busy laughing at my irony. A boy that should've been dead now in a death game. The ultimate curse.

CC eyed me, taking a step back. Unsure of what to make of me. Even Iry stopped crying, staring at me like I'm some kind of freak.

Oh...

I think I'm smiling. Why was I smiling?

My smile wasn't the normal kind, I bet.

"To the tributes from Twelve. Iry Hawkfeather and Cole Lynderly," CC didn't even shout out happily like he did last year. He sounded unsure for once, even depressed.

He skipped the shaking hands part of the whole thing and guided both of us to the Justice Building.

In the Justice Building, my parents visited along with Gemma.

They said to keep safe, to stay alive. They hugged me and said goodbye.

We all know I'm not coming back.

At least their cursed family member is gone now.

Iry Hawkfeather - District Twelve Female

What the hell was up with that creepy smile?

Not that it should be all that important during my current position, but I'm starting to think that boy is one of those criminals I heard sometimes volunteer into the Hunger Games as a chance to escape the death penalty.

Mom visited.

My dad visited too.

My aunts came in too. Dulcie and Bella Dusting. Best aunts ever. There are always telling me that I'm their darling princess. Now I'm going to be having a rough time, no doubt about that.

We cried and we promised, but that won't be enough.

I'm not stupid. I know that the Hunger Games will be dangerous. That there is a low possibility of me winning. I mean, there hasn't been a winner in District Twelve in 30 years! Come on!

Snow dam him, I am going to die.

Then the doors opened. A man with red hair and a peacekeeper came bursting into my contained prison room.

"Wait! Oh, wait! Wow, okay. That was a jog! I think I need a minute," the man breathed out.

I tilted my head in confusion. "I'm sorry. Who are you?"

"I- I'm-" the man breathed, and finally said, "I'm your father."

What? Wait, what!?

"I'm here to tell you that your sister is going into the games with you."

I have a sister! What the shit!?

"You-" I started, before realizing that I have no idea how to react to a situation like this. Should I be mad? Angry?

However, the Hunger Games was closeby and I asked the question that I needed to ask first. The question that could very well save me from becoming a dead tribute.

"Who's my sister?"

The stoat ginger man with blue eyes licked his lips and said...

"...Her name is Bliss Lustra."

A/N: And with that, all the Reaping is complete! Thank you that one ace popsicle stick for the spoiled candy-loving Iry Hawkfeather(not to mention the nice twist I brought in the end) and Manectric11 for the deluded and semi-insane Cole Lynderly. Also, a shoutout to PotatoSorcerer for CC!

So, yeah. It took me a while. Only until Halloween night did I finish this chapter: the Final Reaping. Which I thought would be interesting to mention.

Right now, I'm going to ask these questions.

1) Whos your favorite character?

2) Who's your least favorite character?

3) Who do you believe is going to be the victor?

Now, it's time for the train ride! Let's see some Victors and how they interact with the tributes! There is a process you know, and it's not all that bad. I can't wait! Thank you all for reading!