The games aren't just a show.
Saturn Bronzelock
Capitol citizen
I pull myself out of bed at the sound of the alarm. It's not normal for Capitolites to wake up early, but I want to get a good seat for the reaping screenings in the city circle. If I'm out of the house in two hours I might be able to get a front row seat! It's a stretch, but if I'm quick with my makeup I might be able to make it in an hour and a half.
"Koralia, if you don't get up now we'll be late!" I yell. A dull murmur comes from the second bedroom. Typical. Koralia's never up in time for anything.
I brush my teeth and eat breakfast, and Koralia still isn't out of bed. We're not getting front row seats. Just like every year. Oh well. I head back to my room, slamming the door as I go in, in a feeble attempt to wake Koralia. My greenish skin looks sickly in the mirror, and once again I regret dyeing it that colour. I should have gone with the pale aquatic blue Adirius recommended, but I made a lot of bad decisions that year. I apply my favourite lipstick liberally, it's aqua shade almost calming compared to my crazy yellow eyeliner and deep blue wig.
I choose my outfit with care, it's pale yellow paired with navy blue matching my makeup almost perfectly. Not that anyone will see it, since I won't get a decent seat at the screening. I open my tablet and see a message from Orinia.
Will you be at the reaping ceremony
I think for a minute before replying.
No. Koralia's not up yet
It takes a minute for a reply to appear.
Again? Oh well
She's so lucky to be able to go. But then, I love Koralia, even if she means I don't get decent seats.
"Morning. Sorry about the reaping." Koralia says from behind me. I turn around, and notice how bedraggled she is.
"Morning. You alright?" I ask.
"Yeah. I'm fine." She says, brushing a strand of black hair over her shoulder. She's never been particularly fussed about her appearance, and it's just one of the things I admire about her.
"Come on, the reapings start soon. We should be ready." I tell her, and we head into the living room to watch the reapings. I switch on the TV, and it opens into a Capitol announcement. Sitting on the screen is President Larcgrove, assigned after the late President Snow's death. It's a rerun of an interview from a few days ago, with the president and interviewer going backwards and forwards in a short conversation.
"The Hunger Games will continue. We are still strong. Do not lose faith." He says, straight to the camera, before the interviewer thanks him and introduces Head Gamemaker Ruso. I tune out of the interview, I've heard it all before when I watched the interview live. But one line sticks with me.
"The arena is just like a book. And you don't judge a book by it's cover." She says to the interviewer. It catches my attention for two reasons.
1. I've never heard the arena compared to a book before.
2. She's quoting an old saying, but why?
She's telling us that our first impressions of the arena are probably wrong. But why is that? Why does she want us to question the arena itself. I don't have time to think about it, because the seal of Panem has appeared against a black background on the screen, glowing a beautiful golden colour. A voice booms over the speakers.
"And now, we present the reapings of the 86th Hunger Games." I sit back and relax and watch as District One, District Two, District Three, District Four pass by. The tributes look like they'll make an interesting year, to say the least. But I'm waiting for the other districts, because they always seem so much more interesting. Who cares if someone's been training from a young age, that's something that happens every year. Although, volunteers seem pretty much non-existent this year.
The screen cuts to district five, the power district. Their square is full of people, some of them upset or crying. It always puzzles me when people are upset at the reapings. Why? It's a happy day. The camera pans to the stage, where the Mayor begins the speech, before scanning across the square over the children in the square. My eyes focus on a girl, blonde hair and brown eyes, maybe twelve or thirteen, who seems to stand out from the crowd. Her dress is torn and dirty, an yet she looks pretty, her looks marred only by the tears rolling down her cheeks. The cameras focus in on her as well.
Suddenly the camera switches to a shot of the stage, where the escort is standing. She steps forward and glances around the square.
"And now, we will find out who will represent District 5 in the 86th Hunger Games. Now then, let's do ladies first!" She says, and I can't help but feel a short burst of excitement. Artemis reaches into the reaping bowl and pulls out a slip. "Kasia Grant! Would Kasia Grant please come to the stage." The cameras focus in on a girl in the twelve year old section, walking towards the stage like she's walking to school.
It seems this year is going to be fun.
Be strong for those you've lost.
Axel O'Hardy, 16
District Five Male
Reaping day is always a hard day. It's hard to see someone be called onto the stage and sent to their death, it's hard to see the Capitol escort smiling like it's no big deal, it's hard to see someone you know forced into what is effectively a death sentence. It's especially hard when one of the tributes is your sister. Reaping day was always hard, knowing that one day I might be called. I never even considered it would be my sister. Four years ago I watched my sister Renia being called onto the stage, sent towards certain death. That year was utter hell. The thing was, I thought she was going to win. She had a good ally, the girl from three, she was lucky, and she was in the final four. The girl from one was her killer. At least it wasn't a swamp mutt. I wish I'd been able to volunteer and take her place, but the rules wouldn't have let me. I had to stand and watch as they dragged my sister away.
"Axel, breakfast's ready." Mother yells. I hurry into the main room that works as a kitchen, living room, dining area. At least we aren't in a crumbling shack like some in our district. Mother and Father are waiting for me, plates barely holding any food. It's not that we can't afford to eat, we just know we won't be able to. I won't be able to eat on reaping day until the day I die. Hopefully that'll be a long, long time away. No one speaks over the kitchen table, in fact, no one talks at all. No one eats anything either.
I grab my coat and head out of the door, wanting to get away from my parents for just a few hours until the reaping. I head down the street, around the corner, to the house of my best friend's house.
"Edson, you coming?" I knock on the door, hoping for a response. I'm not disappointed.
"I'm coming. I won't be a sec." He yells back. I stand there for a few minutes, and then the door opens and Edson is standing there. "Come on Axel, if we want to go before the reaping, you better come quickly."
We race down the street, heading for the one place in Five that there are no peacekeepers. No one knows about it but is and some of our friends, of which there a three waiting for us there.
"You two are late. Where have you been?" Asks Tamra, although her tone is joking. She brushes a strand of dirty brown hair over her shoulder.
"Mum didn't want me to go out." Edson replies, smiling. Then Tamra steps out of the way, and we go inside. It's not exactly a large space, but it's a nice place for us to hang out. I lean against one of the tin walls, and the others do the same. The tin hasn't warmed up since the night, and the cold seeps through my clothes into my skin. It doesn't particularly bother me, what I really hate is when it's really hot. Somewhere really hot would be my worst nightmare for an arena. I hate the years when it's a desert or a tropical arena, watching people die of dehydration or tropical diseases.
"How're you all doing this morning?" Tamra asks, her eyes flicking to each of us in turn. Everyone answers with the generic "I'm fine", and leaves it at that.
"I wish we didn't have to go to the reaping. What's the point? They should just choose a name and show up at their house and take them." Damia bursts out.
"My offer still stands, if you want to leave." I reply. She laughs at me, although Tamra obviously isn't impressed.
"Joking about that will get you in serious trouble, so shut up." She snaps at me. I understand her concern - being overheard talking about leaving the district would get me in a lot of trouble - but I wish she'd lighten up.
"Sorry to interrupt, but we should probably get going. The reaping starts soon." Edson reminds us.
The road to the square is full of people making their way to the reaping. I notice a lot of younger kids with their parents, some crying, some obviously holding back tears. It's pretty normal on reaping day, but I always feel horrible for them. Everyone hates the reaping, but it's worse for the younger kids. At least us older ones have a chance. As we pick our way through the crowd gathering in the square, I find it hard to focus on other people in the crowd, my eyes flicking from person to person.
We find ourselves watching the speech from the very side of the square, very close to the people who aren't in danger today. I feel a sharp pang of jealousy, that they don't have to worry about the games.
"And now, we will find out who will represent District 5 in the 86th Hunger Games. Now then, let's do ladies first!" Says our escort, Artemis Konteli. She reaches into the reaping bowl, running her fingers through the slips in an exaggerated manner. Finally she settles on a slip and pulls it out. "Kasia Grant! Would Kasia Grant please come to the stage." I look from side to side for the poor soul chosen for the games, and spot a girl walking to the stage from the twelve-year-old section. She looks surprisingly calm for someone who's just been reaped.
"Now, the men. Let's see." She reaches her hand into the other bowl, and pulls out a slip. For a second, I wonder who it'll be. "Axel O'Hardy! Please come to the stage now." That's my name. But there must be another Axel O'Hardy, because otherwise that would mean I have been chosen, and there's no way that's happening. But no one is stepping towards the stage. So I take a deep breath and step up towards the stage, slowly at first, and then faster, because I want this over with. As I step onto the stage, I reach out and shake Kasia's hand.
"Ladies and gentlemen, the tributes of District 5!"
This reaping was...interesting to write. I hope you enjoyed reading this chapter. I want to thank Katarinakat for submitting Kasia, and Pacecca for submitting Axel. Thank you once again for reading this, and I will try to update soon.