FOX FACE'S SISTER
District 5
77th annual Hunger Games
I am standing in the middle of all the thirteen year old girls in district 5. They were nervous chatter and laughter around me. Everyone was biting their nails or pacing around anxiously but me. I wasn't scared; I knew the chances of it being me were so slim they weren't even worth worrying about. My best friend Gabriella on the other hand was a wreck. She was holding so tightly onto my hand that my hand had turned blue. I don't know why she is so worried her name is only in it twice while my name is in the reaping ball twenty times.
A lot of people would think it's weird that my name is entered so many times considering the fact that only three years ago my older sister Finch was reaped. But they are eleven of us in my family and we can't feed them all on my parents salary it is impossible. Last year it was my first year in the reaping, I was a wreck back then I was nearly certain they would pick me, but they didn't and that was when it dawned on me how small my chances of being reaped really where
"What if they choose my name?" Gabriella whispers to me so quietly that I have to read her lips.
"Gab, your names only in their twice you're not going to be chosen." I tell her. She nods but she doesn't seem reassured. That doesn't matter it will all be over soon and me and Gabriella will be fine.
A wisp of my red hair flows into my vision. I carefully tuck it behind my ear. I was too busy getting my little sisters ready for reaping that all I had time to do was tie my hair back in a bun and put on an old dress of Finches. I bite my lip hard; I have to firmly tell myself not to think of Finch, because when I think of finch I cry and I remember it all and I don't want to remember it and I don't want to remember Finch.
Calm down I tell myself and stand here and wait for the reaping to end and then I can get home and try and think of something I can do to get money so we can pay the rent for this month.
Gabriella nudges me in the arm and she points towards the stage. Bexie, the woman from the capital who comes to represent the games for district five walks in to the center of the stage and grabs the microphone.
"Happy hunger games district five and may the odds be ever in your favor." She says with a fake smile. All the representatives are instructed to say that at the start of every reaping. I think it is a bit silly because they will always be two people whose odds where certainly not in their favor.
Bexie is probably my favorite of the people who come to announce the games from the capital. Unlike most of the ones for other districts she does not wear massive wigs with brightly colored clothes. Bexie is smart enough to understand that in the districts those clothes are nothing more than something a clown would wear. Bexie is dressed in the most stunning white dress that the back flows about 2 meters behind her, her beautiful long brown hair falls down her back, every inch of her face is covered in make-up and she is wearing a gold necklace with tiny diamonds dotted on it which is probably worth more than district five itself. It looks like she should be getting married instead of choosing two kids who will most likely be dead in a month.
She smiles at the look of aw on our faces when we see her dress and her necklace. "Before we begin the reaping a quick message from you gorgeous mayor Caroline smith!"
Caroline slowly walks onto the stage in her high heels that every time she takes a step with makes me flinch. Everyone in the crowd stops talking and I swear even the birds' stop singing. She walks to the center of the stage and looks over the crowd of children like we are a disappointment to the whole of Panem.
"Welcome district five, today is the reaping for the hunger games."
I wonder how she can talk with no emotion that would be a very good skill to have if you where reaped.
" One girl and one boy tribute between the ages of twelve and fifteen will be chosen for the honor of representing district five for the 77th annual hunger games." After this I deiced tune out I know the rest of this speech will just be about the rebellion and how much we owe the capital.
As the speech finally ends Bexie takes the microphone of Caroline. "Thank you Caroline. Now let the reaping begin!" She sounds very excited about this but I am unable to tell if she really is. Men with cameras all surround the glass ball with all of the girls names in it. I think the capitals are watching the games live and this is the first reaping of the day so everyone in the capital must be very excited about it. "Ladies first!" She announces walking over to the glass ball, she gracefully drops her hand in and picks out a piece of paper. "The female tribute representing district five is Faye crossley!"
Gabriella lets go of my hand and takes a few steps back. All the other girls around me do the same. I must have imagined it I tell myself the chances of me and Finch booth being choose nearly impossible. I look up at the screen behind the stage and looking back at me is Finch. I blink several times in disbelief and then her face is replaced by mine. Will out fiats be the same?
