Seneca Crane, 20

Gamemaker


Four years ago, the tradition began. Four years ago, two strangers gathered in a small room for an internship assignment. Four years ago, a friendship formed. When Seneca first met Lucia, he thought she was another stuck-up rich kid who's daddy paid his way into the internship. And she was rich, but she wasn't stuck up. She was willing to work just as hard as Seneca was, and over time, he came to respect her.

Now, they always watched the reapings together. Lucia could read strangers in a way Seneca simply couldn't and she always provided insightful commentary. The two were settled on Seneca's grandma's sofa, popcorn and soda at the ready.

The screen blazed to life with the Capitol insignia and anthem, and Seneca's heart began to pound in anticipation. He was ready for some interesting tributes, the past few years had some wimpy victors. Between Zander and Dakota, with one kill each, they needed some more bloodthirsty contenders, or at least someone more willing to kill.

It was a windy day in District 1 and Clio Lang was struggling to keep her wig on. It made both of them giggle, but she seemed pretty upset. She rushed through her intro and selected a slip from the top of the bowl instead of drawing it out.

"Twirl Everett!" she called. Immediately, a beautiful blonde stepped out, raising a hand above her head. A crown of flowers was braided into her long hair.

"I volunteer!" she called clearly. She shook hands with Twirl before climbing the stage, where she gave Clio a quick hug.

"I'm Regina Soto, your victor!" She waved to the crowd, who cheered wildly for her.

District 1's male volunteer was much more subdued. He was tall, with golden hair and bright blue eyes, but he was frowning and moved slowly. He introduced himself as Helios Carnegie, and thanked everyone for the honor.

District 2 was gloomy, as it usually seemed to be. Was it ever sunny there? Veridie seemed to be the only bright presence in her sunshine-yellow dress. She greeted the district with a grin before selecting a slip from the girl's bowl. She read the name, and a scrawny redhead stepped forward from the 15-year-olds section. She hesitated, waiting for someone to volunteer, but no one did. Seneca leaned forward, watching closely. The girl walked forward slowly, eyes flicking back and forth. But as she reached the stairs, someone called out.

"I volunteer!"

A tiny 18-year-old with dark brown hair and freckles stepped out of the 18-year-old section. She walked down the long center aisle quickly, ignoring the redhead she volunteered for. Climbing the stairs, she stood stiffly beside Veridie and stared out at the horizon.

"She's scared," Lucia whispered. Seneca nodded.

"Your name?" Veridie asked, holding the microphone out to her.

"Oh! Mozu Striker," she said.

"Well, congratulations Mozu," Veridie replied. Mozu mumbled something under her breath, probably a hesitant 'thank you'. Then Veridie went to select a male tribute.

"I volunteer!" a large boy called out. He was black, with buzzed hair and a huge scar across his face.

"Blitz Shrapnel," he said to Veridie, nodding firmly. Veridie smiled at him, but he didn't smile back. He just stared Mozu down as they shook hands.

District 3 was next, and looked like it would be just as underwhelming as usual. Even Caligula seemed like he didn't want to be there. He quickly reaped a curly-haired girl named Lana Rose, who started to cry a little. Looking closer at Lana, Seneca could see her face was scarred a little, and when she tucked her hair behind her left ear, the top half of it was missing. She'd clearly experienced something traumatic.

Wyler Kline was reaped next, and Seneca gasped. He looked exactly the same as Blitz, except for his glasses. They were also both 18. How strange. He and Lucia exchanged a confused look as Wyler grumbled his way to the stage.

In District 4, the mood picked up, but Seneca couldn't shake the images of Blitz and Wyler out of his head. There had to be something going on there. There had to be. But he pushed it to the back of his mind as Daphne Blumenthal took the stage, inciting cheers from the crowd.

"Thank you everyone!" she called. "Now, shall we switch things up and start with the gentlemen this year?" Daphne drew a slip, but before she could read the name a roar came from the crowd and a huge boy with shaggy brown hair stepped forward, pounding his chest.

"I volunteer!" he shouted before roaring again and climbing the stairs. Daphne leaned away from him a bit.

"Welcome," she squeaked, holding out the microphone. He roared into it again, which made the crowd laugh. Finally, he introduced himself as Sam Nkata Creek.

To everyone's surprise, the female tribute was reaped. Her name was Adelind Genoa, and she had long, chestnut hair that was tied back in two braids. She was frowning heavily, but was greeted cheerfully by Sam.

It was blazing hot in District 5. Everyone looked sweaty and uncomfortable, even Sabrina Jett, the escort. And she was barely wearing any clothes!

"She's going to have a nasty sunburn," Lucia said with a giggle. Seneca laughed.

Sabrina seemed to have realized her error because she too rushed through the introductions. Then she wobbled over to the girl's bowl to draw a slip

"Fritz Poco!" she called. A skinny, red-haired 18-year-old with round glasses walked to the stage while someone in the crowd started sobbing. The camera narrowed in on a thin girl with brown hair, who was crying into her hands. But Fritz seemed composed.

"Hi," she said to Sabrina. "I just want to say, don't count me out." And she mustered a small smile.

"Dieter Weiss!" Sabrina called next. Dieter turned out to be a small 12-year-old boy with blue eyes and blonde hair who fell to his knees and began to hyperventilate. Two Peacekeepers grabbed his arms and dragged him to the stage while he cried. Seneca frowned. He wouldn't last long. Fritz gave the frightened boy a hug instead of shaking his hand, which he hesitantly returned.

District 6 seemed to be the first non-Career district with some energy, though that could be credited to Hestia Locke, their escort. She was always a bright and bubbly person. Seneca had the honor of meeting her last year, and she was the type of person you struggled to dislike.

"Welcome welcome welcome!" she called, waving an arm to incite cheers. "Shall we start with our lovely film?" Then the screen cut to a commercial for Trinket's Trinkets, and Seneca looked over at Lucia.

"Those boys from 2 and 3 looked really similar," he said. Lucia nodded.

"Odd, huh. The chances are super low."

"Yeah… Blitz seems promising though."

"So did the pair from 1," Lucia put in. "The girl is going to be a fan favorite, I can tell."

The screen switched back to District 6 and they both settled back down on the couch to watch. Hestia was just drawing a slip from the girl's bowl.

"Anne Porter!" she called.

A dark-skinned girl with braided hair stepped out of the crowd, a look of fear on her face. Seneca noticed that her stomach was just a bit swollen. Was she pregnant? But Anne only made it a few steps before someone dashed out of the crowd in front of her. A 15-year-old girl with the same dark eyes as Anne thrust a hand in the air.

"I volunteer!"

Anne rushed forward but a Peacekeeper cut her off, grabbing her shoulders.

"Ellie!" Anne shouted, reaching out. Ellie gave Anne a soft smile.

"I love you," she mouthed. Then she allowed a Peacekeeper to guide her onto the stage.

"What a brave girl," Hestia gushed. "Was Anne your sister?"

"Yes," Ellie said. "I'm Ellie Porter."

"Well, give it up for the brave Ellie Porter!" Hestia cried, and the crowd clapped half-heartedly.

"Josko Makinë," Hestia called next, and the silence of the crowd was interrupted by a woman's scream. She began to sob as Josko hesitantly made his way to the stage, mouth agape. He was a tall, thin boy with a messy mop of blonde hair.

In District 7, the camera spent an extra amount of time admiring the trees before zeroing in on the stage. Hans Colfer stood out against the green backdrop in his bright pink suit, a wide grin on his face as the usual Capitol video played.

When it was time to choose the girl, he dipped his hand into the bowl and swirled it around dramatically.

"Lavinia Danse!" he called.

"Fuck!"

A girl dressed in baggy clothes and a scarf that hid most of her face stomped out of the crowd. She looked furious, from what Seneca could see of her. She climbed the stairs and shoved her army hat back, revealing a freckled face and bright blue eyes.

Next, Hans drew a slip from the boy's bowl.

"Marcus Taylor!" he shouted. The crowd started to murmur as a boy began to laugh. A broad-shouldered mountain of a man with tattooed arms and spiked hair stepped forward, laughing. He was wearing an orange prison jumpsuit and his wrists were cuffed. Two Peacekeepers flanked him on each side. Hans backed away as Marcus joined him on the stage. According to Heaven Weiss, he had recently been jailed for multiple murders.

Like District 6, District 8 was smoggy and dull, but they didn't have Hestia to brighten it up. They had Agnes Ortega, who was getting older and would be retiring soon. She was definitely bitter she'd never been promoted to a better district.

"Colette Reilly!" Agnes called. A little girl immediately started to cry, falling onto her hands and knees to sob. As a Peacekeeper dragged her to the stage, snot dripped down from her nose and she wailed louder. Seneca winced. What a mess.

A short boy named Theo Wondderoo was reaped next, and he held himself together much better than Colette had. He kept his face neutral and gave Colette an awkward pat on the shoulder when they met.

District 9 was breezy. He could tell from the swaying wheat stalks and the billowing of Amity Knox's long red dress. Her cherry lips and dark hair brought the ensemble together perfectly. She looked incredible.

"Ladies first," Amity sang. "Gaia Branson, come on up!"

A slim 17-year-old girl with curly brown hair was ushered out of the crowd. Tears sparkled in her eyes, but she clenched her fists in her pink skirt, took a few deep breaths, and began to smile. Once she was on the stage, she began to wave at the cameras.

"She's a fighter," Lucia commented.

"Alrik Garrison!" Amity called next, bringing an intimidating young man to the stage. He was also 17, but looked years older than Gaia. His black hair was shaved on the sides and slicked back on top, and his skin was leathered and dull. He stood silently beside Amity and Gaia and refused to shake her hand.

In District 10, Arturo switched things up and started with the boys. He reaped a boy named Ray Phillips, who turned out to be a blonde 14-year-old with a nasty scar on his face. He was scowling, but his expression lightened as he reached the stage.

Thalia Caerwyn was reaped next. She was a tall, scruffy-looking 16-year-old with olive skin and hair that fell to her waist in a braid. She trudged to the stage at a slow pace and ignored both Arturo and her district partner.

District 11's reapings began with a few shots of open farmland and orchards, which was a nice touch. Isis O'Hara looked stunning in a midnight-blue suit and sparkly heels. She started the reapings with the usual speech and video, but there seemed to be a certain something extra about her today.

"Fallon Blake!" Isis called, and a ripple of murmurs spread through the crowd. A tan girl with dark, curly hair marched up to the stage, grumbling under her breath. She shot Isis a death glare when she reached her.

Noah Brimms was reaped next, and Lucia gasped as Heaven revealed who he was. Apparently, Noah was the son of a Peacekeeper, and he certainly looked the part. He was large and broad-shouldered, and was smirking as he joined Isis and Fallon on the stage. Fallon rolled her eyes at him.

Finally, they reached District 12, the most underwhelming district. Seneca was getting tired, but he knew it was important to pay attention. District 12 could produce an underdog.

Ajax Bloome was forcing a smile, but it was clear he didn't want to be there. He'd been gunning for a promotion for years, but he just wasn't personable enough. In his loose-fitting purple suit in a soot-covered district, he looked far from a fancy District 1 escort.

After the usual spiel, Ajax spoke up.

"Now, let's select our female tribute!" He selected a slip from the top of the bowl and read it aloud.

"Saoirse Brennan!"

A freckled redhead stumbled out of the 18-year-old girls section, her eyes wide in shock. She joined Ajax onstage and shook herself slightly, as if trying to shake awake. But she held herself together fairly well. Unusual, for a 12.

The next tribute made Seneca and Lucia gasp aloud. Sump Landon was identical to both Blitz Shrapnel of District 2 and Wyler Kline of District 3. Something was going on.

Sump's face was partially covered in a bandana, but there was no denying their similarities. He was thin though, thinner than most tributes from 12, and began to cough as he staggered into the aisle.

Two Peacekeepers spoke quietly to each other before one came over and picked Sump up. He immediately perked up, slapping the Peacekeeper on the back.

"Giddy-up!" he shouted, but then another hacking cough racked his skinny frame.

The Peacekeeper dumped him unceremoniously beside Saoirse, who backed up quickly. He was clearly ill, and Ajax looked frightened and Sump grabbed his wrist and pulled the microphone to his mouth.

"I'm not Sump Landon," he said firmly. "My name is Yale Morley!"

An hour later, the news was all over the Capitol. Dr. Alba Kirsten and Dr. Max Gallagher, the leading researchers in twins, had performed a study with three identical boys. Somehow, all three would be participating in the Games. Head Gamemaker Phoenix Creed had to come out and make a statement saying that each boy would represent their home district, not their district of birth. But how would the boys interact? It was anyone's guess.


Hi everyone. Here are the reaping recaps! I had these written for a while; I just had to add Danse in. That's why it's coming out so quickly. Also, sorry if it's repetitive. It's kind of unavoidable. No specific questions this chapter, since it's late and I'm tired and sad.

Have a nice day, be kind to each other, and never stop reading!

- Fiona