Hello my friends! Hope everything is going well! Sorry for the lack of updates, and for having absolutely no schedule, I'm just trying to find my rhythm and I promise I will have something worked out within the next few weeks. I'm currently thinking of two updates a week (Thursday and Sunday) and then bringing it down to once a week when the games actually start, as the chapters will be longer and more complex. But then again, its me, so no promises…

Anyway, yes, no one actually cares about this- you're here for the reapings! To spice things up, and also because I won't have the energy to write Justice Building scene for every tribute, the District Three Reaping will be told from the point of view of a family member of the chosen tributes so we can see how they feel about the whole thing. Hope this is something you enjoy, and if it goes well, I might do another chapter in this way. Okay, this is far too long now… enjoy, see you all soon!

Diva

Family was supposed to be the most important thing in the world. They were supposed to care for you, and love you, and make you feel better when nobody else could. Shame Shimmer lived with a total bitch of a sister who cared only for herself. Shimmer found herself biting her tongue whenever Diva was around, terrified that she was say the wrong thing, or look the wrong way, or even breathe in a way that her sister didn't like.

The family revolved around the girl, and Shimmer supposed her parents must have known that the second she was born- they had named her Diva after all. By no means was Shimmer a selfish girl, she didn't want attention or anything special, she simply wished that her sister wasn't here. The pair couldn't be more different if they tried. Diva was tall and slender and beautiful and every boy's dream. She could ignite the room with just a blink, and capture their attention with the turn of her head. Shimmer, on the other hand, was boring. She was plain, stocky, an outsider, who would rather spend her nights reading alone than out socialising. Perhaps Shimmer's worst trait, was the fact that intelligence was never one of her strong points. Unlike her sister, who was always top of her class, securing one of the best jobs, Shimmer knew she would be condemned to a life working in the factories. She tried, she really did, but she could never compare to her sister, and in many instances that made her proud.

In summary, then, Shimmer was a disappointment. To her sister, to her parents and to her district. And she was all but ready to give up. It was sick, she knew it was, but a twisted part of her hoped she would get reaped today. It would solve so many problems. She had always been too scared to end her own life, but if someone did it for her, wouldn't that just be a blessing in disguise?

An even sicker thought entered the periphery of her mind, and no matter how hard Shimmer tried to banish it she was forced to entertain it. Maybe it was Diva who should be reaped instead. God knew she deserved it more than Shimmer ever would and it would just make things so much easier. Shimmer wouldn't have to live her life in a shadow anymore, the endless bullying and teasing and feeling inferior would stop. And, if by some miracle her sister did emerge victorious, they would have enough wealth to last them forever, Shimmer would never have to step foot in another factory again. It was almost as if the Capitol had heard her prayers, the Quell presenting a time where both sister would be eligible, despite being over the age cap. What was even worse than Shimmer imagining her own sister in the games was the joy she got out of doing it, and the fact that it was not the first time the charade had played out in her mind.

She heard the gentle tapping of heels, a luxury in the poverty stricken district, and felt her body tense against the back of the sofa, the return of Diva sending an icy breeze through the house.

"Are you ready?" She called through the house, a demand rather than a casual question and Shimmer felt the house erupt into activity. Everyone responded to Diva's beck and call, acting as if failure to comply would result in their own death. It could. Shimmer considered, who knew what her sister was capable of, no one had dared to defy her. Diva wasn't only a stunning beauty and mind, she was much more powerful than that, and the whole Bellarose household knew that. Of course they all worked tirelessly in their jobs, but it would never be enough to survive, not with out the income that Diva provided. Everyone knew she hadn't made her way to the top without hurting people in the process, but they all turned their heads, knowing the mess they would be in without her.

"I said, are you ready?" Diva's voice broke through the silence once more, and reluctantly Shimmer pulled herself to her feet, entering the hallway, stopping dead in her tracks as she set her eyes upon her sister. No matter how much Shimmer complained about the way she acted or existed or carried herself, in no world could she deny that Diva was beautiful. Her long brown curls were tucked back behind her ears, scraped back into a bun layng loosely on the top of her head, her face dashed with a subtle touch of makeup, not the she needed any. Diva was perfect in every single way.

"Stop staring, Shim. You're worse than all the boys." A smug grin spread across Diva's face, tormenting her sister and the lack of males attention she received. Not perfect, Shimmer thought to herself, retracting her previous statement. Perfect until she opened her mouth and revealed the true cold bitch inside.

Shimmer smiled sweetly, nodding her head in agreement and turning to face the other way, determined not to give Diva the rise that she was fishing for. In all her years of torture in this house, Shimmer had discovered that simply agreeing with Diva and turning away annoyed her more than and reply ever would. Shimmer heard her sister take in a deep breath, ready to explode, but when nothing came, she spun around, faced with Diva being embraced by their parents. She pulled her coat down over her knees, walking towards the front door, holding it open for her family to exit, not surprised when no one even acknowledged her presence.

Awkward wasn't exactly the word that Shimmer would use to describe the walk to the Justice Building. She preferred uncomfortable. Or perhaps neglectful was the word she was searching for, if it even was one to begin with. All Shimmer knew was that her parents spent the entire time questioning Diva on all elements of her life, listening intently as she detailed the thrilling parties and dinners and whatever else that she had been invited to. Not once did anyone even look at Shimmer and whilst the fact hurt like hell, she was secretly glad, knowing the way Diva would rip into her at any mention of the boring lifestyle.

Relief was never an emotion Shimmer ever thought she would feel at arriving at the reaping, but it ended the small talk with her parents and sister and the silence that washed over the place as their escort entered the stage, was one that Shimmer welcomed.

Admittedly, she zoned out for a majority of the speech, tales of the dark days and the rebellion and the need for atonement was all discussion she had heard before, and not ones she was ready for again. But her attention was grabbed once more as the names were called out.

"District Three, you have been a great audience, but now for the stars of our show: your tributes." Shimmer had to suppress a giggle, despite the nervousness bubbling inside her, as the only thing she could truly focus on was the size of the escorts teeth. The sun practically bounced off of them, and Shimmer would sure they would blind anyone if they got too close. "And your female is…." She closed her mouth, forcing Shimmer to stop thinking about teeth and about the more pressing matters at hand. "Diva de Bellarose."

Well shit. Didn't that just complicate things?

Shimmer knew the sense of guilt that built within her would never pass. She'd asked for this, prayed for this, begged for this. And now it was happening, and she felt nothing like the glee and happiness she assumed she would.

Darkness overtook her, starting from the inside before moving outwards, fixing Shimmer in her place, no matter how much she wanted to shout or run or cry, there was just nothing. A scream unlike any other rung out through the square, and everyone turned away from the stage, and towards a woman, huddled in a ball on the floor next to Shimmer, her arm grasping on to her daughter for a final time.

Diva crouched down, placing her hand on her mother's shoulder, whispering something that Shimmer couldn't quite her. What she didn't expect, however, was for Diva to rise to her feet and pull her into a frantic hug, brushing away the tear Shimmer didn't realise had formed on her face.

"You need to look after them, Shimmer, I love you." Diva pulled away nodding at her sister, before turning towards the stage and walking without a second look back.

Shimmer watched as her sister snatched the microphone from the escort, and she couldn't help but smile at the girl's defiance. At least she hadn't lost her flare. The audience looked on in anticipation, as the girl stared straight down the barrel of the camera. "This is a message for the tributes and the Capitol. You have no idea the storm that's coming for you." She took a deep breath, the crowds assuming a dramatic speech was to follow. Instead, the girl spat, covering the camera lense, a smug grin engulfing her face as a cheer rang out through the square.

Alfred

Enoch knew he should feel more excited about the prospect of seeing his son. Visits were few and far between and no matter the success and money that the man earnt, his proudest achievement would always be the family he had built and the man his son had grown up to be.

The dread that Enoch felt for the day, however, quickly outweighed any sense of joy or contentment he had within him. Had it been any other day of the year, the older man would have had an endless array of events and trips planned for the family, desperately grasping at any time they had together. Instead, this time, the Capitol had control of the agenda, and there was only one thing they had planned.

He sighed greatly, something his wife always complained at him for, as he approached the door of the house that he had lived in for a majority of his life, but was beginning to feel more and more as if it didn't belong to him. Working for the Capitol was a blessing, Enoch knew that and he was beyond thankful for all they had given him but he couldn't help but feel disappointment at all time he lost with his family, the memories he missed out on, the fact that he never got to see his son grow up.

"I'm home!" He called through the empty corridor of the house too big for just three people. Enoch leaned against the wall, not ready to venture even further in, knowing that by the time he settled down, they would have to leave.

"Dad?" The word echoed through the house and Enoch couldn't deny the sense of pride he felt whenever he heard it. His family was the best thing in his life, and no matter what he achieved in the way of science or academia, nothing could replace that. Alfred entered the hallway, gravitating straight towards his parent, the two joining in a hug almost instantly. "I've missed you." Alfred spoke, pulling away and taking a step backwards. Enock's eyes traced up and down his son, smiling slightly at the way the suit swallowed and hung off his slender figure. He reached across the gap, taking his son's hand in his own.

"Alfred," Enoch spoke sincerely, wanting to spill his emotions to his son before his wife emerged. "I want you to know that whatever happens today, I am so proud of you. You're a man, son. You've come so far. You're training at the best STEM institute in Panem, Alfred, you're going to make a change." He pulled his son into a hug once more, placing a light kiss on the top of his head.

"Have I interrupted something?" Mathilda entered the group, her voice stern and unwavering, not used to intimate displays of emotion in her house. She strode over, and in an uncharacteristic act, wrapped her arms around the two most important people in her life. "How are we all feeling?" She breathed, pulling down her dress as she separated herself from the two males.

What she received in reply, was a solemn smile from both, Enoch not having the courage to speak through fear that his voice would crack and his weaknesses show. The thought of losing his family to the games was more than he could bare to think about, and despite his intelligence, Enoch knew that if he was reaped, there was no chance of him coming home victorious. Some districts trained their whole lives for the games, putting forward tribute that were cold and callous and calculated, some that Enoch knew both him and his family could not compete with. Sure, there were no volunteers, but everyone knew that the chances of a totally career free game was very remote.

"I think we just need to get it over with." Alfred returned after a considerable pause, jolting Enoch out of the fear that had overtaken his mind. "It's disgusting and cruel, but there is nothing we can do to change that." The sensible head on Alfred's shoulders was one of the things he admired the most about his son. He knew he was scared, the way Alfred's hand shook as he gripped onto the door handle proved that. But he was keeping it together, something both Enoch and Mathilda were not entirely sure they could do.

"Well okay then," Mathilda placed her hand against Enoch's back, guiding him towards the door, afraid that without the assertive hand, he wouldn't move. Enoch knew exactly what she was doing, and knew that she was probably correct, he was putting off this journey more than he had anything in his life.

Much to Enoch, and probably his whole family's, dismay, it was only a short walk to the Justice Building from their house. Being one of the wealthiest in the district, the Goddard family home was in the centre of town, close to the political hub, and the luxuries of the city and although this was usually to the family's benefit, in this moment, Enoch would do anything to be living on the outskirts.

Turning the corner and seeing the herds of people penned in like cattle, suddenly made the whole situation more real to Enoch that it had ever been before. The reaping had been a worry for the last few years, Alfred was only 18 after all, but this year it was worse than ever. He was scared for his son, his wife, himself and not only that but even if Alfred was reaped, he couldn't volunteer to take his place.

The family took their place, staying to the back of the pack, committed to making a quick exit once the charade was over. Instinctively, the three joined hands, finding solace and comfort in the fact that at least they were here, going through it together. Enoch stroked his fingers across the back of his wife's hand, feeling a sudden burst of sickness. He hadn't told her that he loved her today. What if he was reaped and never got to say it again? What if she was standing here, thinking he didn't care about her, or wasn't scared about the prospect of her being reaped? He leant in, ready to whisper to her, but could barely get the first word out before he was interrupted by a scream. He looked around the arena, searching for where the scream came from, before realising that he didn't have to look for. Mathilda was shaking, her whole body trembling against that of her son.

"Alfred Goddard?" The escort repeated, growing more impatient by the second. "Alfred, where are you?"

No.

No.

No.

No.

Enoch had never believed in an earth shattering moment, he was a man of science, not emotions, no moment could ever be that bad to make everything else seem hopeless.

He had been wrong, he knew that now, as he watched his son climb onto the stage.

Alfred looked confident, his mouth arranged into a flat line, giving away no emotion. Enoch knew that face, it was the same one Alfred had pulled when he won second place at his tenth grade science fair. It was all fake, just for show, to reassure his parents that everything was fine. Enoch knew that inside he was broken.

And for the first time, Enoch wouldn't be around to fix him.

I feel like I'm making these reapings too long, this chapter alone was nearly 3000 words and its going to take me a while to get through them all. So, just a quick question: would you prefer that I made these shorter? Perhaps limit myself to 1000 words per character and then that way we can get to the actual fun stuff quicker, and I can develop and show more about the character then? Or are you happy with the way things are, longer chapters but slower updates? Leave a review or send me a message to let me know! Thank you once again for your support, and I'll see you in a few days for another chapter xxx