This is Part 2 of the Reapings/Goodbyes. I hope you like the newest edition to the 4th Quarter Quell. This chapter will contain the remaining 6 district's reapings. Enjoy!
District 7: Elm Sol
I glance over at Sage, she is sitting on a bench outside the bakery just like she was supposed to. District 7's escort, Otreus Sarris , approaches the microphone and begins the ceremony. All I can do now is hope that my name isn't on the chosen paper and not to volunteer.
"Hello District 7! Who's ready for this year's games!" Otreus says enthusiastically and moves on without giving us a chance to respond. "Let's get right to it and pick our tributes."
He moves to the bowl and grabs a name from each bowl and starts off by reading the name on the girls paper. "The female tribute will be Violet Hue! Come to the stage!" Otreus says enthusiastically.
A girl steps out from the crowd of 15's and walks up to the stage. She just stands there on the stage next to Otreus and listens while he reads the boy's name. I almost miss what he says because my gaze is captivated by hers. Her eyes are a bright purple, I can see where she got her name.
I only catch the last name of the boy that was reaped. "Sol. Come to the stage."
Huh that name sounded very close to my name. No one makes a move to the stage. "Elm Sol please come to the stage." Otrues Sarris says impatiently.
My mouth and throat feel dry as I realise my fate. I have to go into the games and I might die in there leaving Sage all alone to fend for herself. All I can do to help her now is win the games.
Oh thats me! I realise. I rush to the stage and scramble to stand next to Ostreus and Violet. "And now for the twist!" Otreus says excitedly. He was never one to create suspense.
He rolls down a projector screen and the president comes onto the screen. He tells us that the tributes have to take a parent, sibling, or close friend with them into the games.
I feel the color drain from my face as I realise that I have to take Sage with me. I have to bring my little sister to her imminent death. The exact thing that I said that I would prevent from happening is coming true.
Otreus turns to Violet and asks her if she has any living family members and if so who. She answers with, "My sister Rosemary."
"Perfect. Rosemary come join us on the stage." Otreus Sarris beckons.
A pretty girl moves in the spectator area. She walks up to the stage and stands next to her sister Violet. "What's your name?" Otreus asks her as if he didn't just learn it from Violet.
"Rosemary Hue, 19." She answers.
Otreus Sarris seems content with that answer and turns to me and asks the same question.
I hesitate for a moment and think of what would happen if I lied to him. I can't lie to him. What will happen if he sees through it? No I can't, I won't. "Sage Sol, my little sister." I finally sigh.
"Will Sage please come to the stage." Otreus says loudly into the microphone.
The whole district gasps as they see how young Sage is, moving from her spot on the bench on the porch of the bakery. I lose sight of her as she makes her way through the crowds and comes up to the stage. Somehow she has this look on her face, a look of innocence and solidarity. I realise how mature she is at just 7 years old. She understands that she will probably die soon and that I will be the only one protecting her in that arena.
"Aw what's your name sweety?" Otreus says nicely to her.
"Sage Sol, 7 years old." Sage says knowingly.
The capitol will be impressed by her maturity and awareness.
"My goodness so young." Otreus says. "Here you are District 7, your tributes for the 4th Quarter Quell. May the odds be ever in their favor."
The ceremony ends and we are all taken into the Justice Building for our goodbyes. Most likely no one will come to say goodbye to Sage and I but one of her friends might.
We are put in a room with very ornately carved furniture. We both take seats on the couch and make ourselves comfortable. "What's going to happen to us?" Sage asks me.
I have to tell her the truth. She'll be told about it sooner or later and might as well know now. "We are being sent to fight to the death." I say. "We are going into the games with fierce competitors. You might be hurt in there and you'll have to be ready for anything."
"I will." Sage says, taking in my advice like a sponge soaking up water.
I keep telling her what is going to happen to us in the next few days to get her ready for it. And just as I expected no one came to say goodbye to us.
I spend the rest of our time here in District 7 telling Sage the bitter truth and telling her that we might not make it out of there alive.
District 7: Violet Hue
I feel bad for my fellow tribute, Elm Sol. His 7 year old sister is going into the hunger games with him! Sadly I have to take Rosemary with me into the games. Luckily we have a better chance of winning this thing than they do. All their time is going to be spent keeping Sage safe while Rosemary and I actually will have time to strategize.
The peacekeepers take us to a room in the Justice Building. I'm surprised by the amount of furniture and can only imagine how much it must have cost.
No one comes to visit us and that all the better, it gives us time to think of a strategy and plan. "Okay Violet, let's think of a plan." Rosemary wastes no time and just gets right to the point.
"I feel bad for Elm. I mean he has to provide and care for Sage in there." I say, thinking aloud.
"Well there's nothing we can do for them now." Rosemary says not getting my point.
"No what if we help him by getting rid of her, either helping him by giving him the chance to look out for himself or it can be to our benefit," I explain. "It will cause him to be so caught up in grief that we will be able to swoop right in and kill him adding another kill to our list."
Rosemary contemplates my idea. I can see the wheels turning in her head. "So what your saying is we kill her in the bloodbath and it will either help him or give us the chance to kill him. I like your thinking Violet." Rosemary high fives my hand in approval.
I smile maliciously. This will be fun, murdering small children. These games are finally giving me the chance to kill people without being punished for it. Just like I got away with mom.
"So now that they're out of the way what are we going to do next?" Rose asks me.
I try to think of some other horrible ways to murder the other tributes, for twists in the storyline that even the capitolites won't see coming. Nothing comes to my mind so I ask Rose. "I'm not sure what do you think?"
"Should we make an alliance?" She considers. "That would get us farther into the game."
"Sure but with who?" I question.
"Well we should wait until we know who the other tributes are and then we can decide." Rosemary decides.
We both are lost in thought when the peacekeepers enter the room and take us to the train for the capitol.
Capitol: Sophia Hera
I watch as Ostreus snatches up the tribute papers. He moves to the microphone and unfolds the slips of paper swiftly. I never understood why he always proceeds with the reaping so quickly. It ruins the mood.
He coughs into the microphone, "Hello District 7! Who's ready for this year's games! Let's get right to it and pick our tributes."
He lifts the girl's paper close to his eyes, his eyesight is so bad that he can barely read without his glasses and he has the nerve to forget them! "The female tribute will be Violet Hue! Come to the stage."
A girl moves in the 15's area. The camera catches her eye and a startlingly purple gaze stares at us through the screen. She moves to the stage and stands next to Ostreus Sarris. She stands there rigidly and doesn't say anything.
In true Sarris fashion he moves right on to the male tribute. "The male tribute for District 7 will be Elm Sol. Come to the stage."
Nobody makes a move. Ostreus is obviously annoyed by this and hastily calls his name again, searching through the crowds. "Elm Sol please come to the stage!"
A boy in the 18's area rushes to the stage. Well I shouldn't say boy, more like man. This guy is so buff that you can see his muscles through his sleeves. "And now for the twist!" The escort says wasting no time rolls down the screen.
The same message that all the Districts get plays on the screen. It's really quite repetitive once you've heard it 8 times already in the past hour or two. I really don't understand why they can't just cut that bit out, it doesn't even add to the show. But it is fun to see their faces drain of all color as they realize what's about to happen. I smile as I see the tributes faces show their emotions, simultaneously removing the mask that hides all emotion. Then the next second the mask is back on Violet's face but Elm's stays a sickly shade of white a grimace still staying on his face.
Ostreus Sarris proceeds to ask the question. "Violet, do you have any family still living here in District 7?"
"Yes. My sister Rosemary." She answers immediately.
"Perfect. Rosemary come join us on the stage." Ostrues says merrily.
A pretty girl moves in the spectator area. She walks up to the stage and tells the whole country her name after Ostreus had asked her. "Rosemary Hue, 19."
Ostrues moves onto Elm. "Elm, do you have any family here in District 7?"
Elm hesitates a moment and answers quietly, "Sage Sol, my little sister."
"Will Sage please come to the stage." Ostreus Sarris says a little too close to the microphone causing his voice to ring around the square.
Mother gasps as she spots someone moving on the screen. "What! What is it mother?" I ask excitedly.
She doesn't answer because the camera pans to a little girl moving from a bench on the bakery porch. I just cover my mouth with my hand. She's so young! I think delightedly. I wonder how this is going to play out.
You can hear everyone in District 7 gasp as they realize that they have to send this little girl into the arena. Sage walks to the stage and joins her brother there.
"Aw what's your name sweetie?" Ostreus asks her gently.
"Sage Sol, 7 years old." She answers.
"My goodness so young." Ostreus says. "Here you are District 7, your tributes for the 4th Quarter Quell. May the odds be ever in their favor."
Then the peacekeepers come and escort the 4 into the Justice Building for their goodbyes.
District 8: Cairo Ode
I had told Max to wait for me next to a lamp post and that I would come get him after the reaping. Now I glance at the lamp post from my spot with the 16's and see that he's still there. Good. The escort for District 6, Penn Feverfew, walks onto the stage. His very annoying high pitched capitol voice sounds through the square. "Welcome ladies and gentleman to the annual Hunger Games reaping ceremony. I'm sure you're all dying to know who your tributes will be. Well let me tell you." He says as he walks to the girl's bowl and plucks a paper from the top. "Your female tribute for the 4th Quarter Quell will be Dusk Morning. And your male tribute will be," Penn says as he picks a name from the boys bowl. "Cairo Ode. Both of you come to the stage!"
He just called my name! I start to panic in my head as I process what just happened. People start to shove me up to the stage. I let them push me all the way to the stage and I climb the steps by myself. I can see a young girl moving to the stage from the female 12's section. There is a wicked smile on her face that sends shivers through my spine. I get the feeling that she is a violently vicious person.
Once we're both on the stage Penn Feverfew announces that the president would like to share something with us. He then shows us a video of the president. He informs us that the tributes must take a parent, sibling, or very close friend into the games, our choice though it must be a family member if they are still alive. Max! I start to panic and I try to think of a way out of this. Wait who says I have to bring Max. I still have dad, after all he's done he deserves to be killed in these games.
"Alright Dusk, Cairo, anyone left living in your family?" Penn asks nonchalantly.
I answer first, wanting to get this whole ordeal over with. "My father, Ty Ode."
"Can Ty Ode come to the stage." Penn announces and turns to Dusk for her answer.
"No." Dusk answers, there is a savage glint in her eye as she continues, "But I do have my dear friend, Star Novake."
I search through the crowd to find this Star girl. I sweep my gaze over the other 12's and it lands on a young girl, her face covered with freckles, the look on her face is one of a civilian being confronted by the peacekeepers. She hesitantly walks up to the stage and stands there staring into the distance. "What's your name and age?" Penn says.
"Star Novake, 12 years old." Star says.
"Now where is Ty Ode." Penn says taping his foot impatiently.
"Oh he's not here." I say. Penn's head turns to me with a perilous look in his eye. "He's at home." I finish hastily using the skills that I have learned from my interaction with my father on how to avoid conflict.
"Well then," Penn says, grinding his jaw. "We're going to have to fetch him then." Penn Feverfew gives orders to his peacekeepers, telling them to return here with my father as quickly as possible, and that he must return unharmed by penalty of their own death.
Everyone in the square is forced to stand and wait awkwardly for the peacekeepers return. I feel quite uneasy standing on the stage for such an extended amount of time. Once an hour had passed Penn had had enough. He leads us back to the Justice Building giving the order for the remaining peacekeepers to bring Ty to my room once he arrives.
When I walk into my room I am amazed by the attention to detail in this room. Everything was plush and made with some of the most expensive fabrics made here in District 8. I take a seat on a velvet couch and wait for Max to arrive to say goodbye. Max enters the room just minutes after me and he throws himself onto me embracing me in a hug that I couldn't escape if I tried. He bursts out in sobs and we just sit on that velvet couch crying together the whole time that he was allotted to say goodbye. The wound that is left in my soul when he leaves stings like someone has just rubbed salt right into it.
A while later the door slams open and breaks the silence with a slam. My father is shoved into the room by the peacekeepers. He glares at me from the doorway. I can tell something bad is going to happen. "You did this to me!" My father yells at me launching himself at me. He lands on top of me and starts to punch me in the face. I scream for help and can just barely hear the door open and the peacekeepers drag him off me. They drag him away and leave me on my own.
I can feel the world slipping away as I fall into the gaping hole of darkness in my head.
District 8: Dusk Morning
Turns out that I was reaped for the Hunger Games. Me this scrawny 12 year old from District 8! I can't believe it. What are the odds! Well it's a good thing that my parents were killed years ago. This way I get to take Star down with me and cause her family so much pain! Fun right! Well now I'm stuck in this plush room leaning against the window frame as Star and her family cry together on the sofa. Star's family is her mother Nova, her father Cosmo and her little sister Moon.
All I can do now is keep this masquerade up. I'm only friends with Star for her money and it's really quite easy to pretend that we're friends because ever since her brother died she's been really distracted all the time, making the stealing easier.
Finally her family leaves and I'm left here with her sniffling on the couch. I can't wait to get into that arena, in that arena I can start to murder again. I guess I should start with Star, she'll be a definite handicap in the arena. I'll be much better off without her. I mean I actually do care about her but not that much.
After a while Star stops crying and tries to talk to me. All I do is give her worthless advice that seems to satisfy her. I keep planning out my strategy for the rest of the time that we get here in District 8. Finally the peacekeepers come and take us to the trains for the capitol.
Capitol: Sophia Hera
The tributes from 8 were pretty interesting. They actually sparked some conversation between my family and I.
"Wow, I can't believe that that father had the nerve to not even show up to the reaping!" Mother exclaims.
"Right." Father agrees.
"Are we not going to talk about how that Morning girl just took her best friend with her? I mean the way she said it was so cruel." I say.
My parents agree with me and the chatter goes back to Cairo and his father, Ty. I sigh and sit back and wait for the District 9 reapings to begin.
District 9: Rhyse Bruin
I've been standing in this stupid square for a super long time now. I can't wait for Azriel Marsh, District 9's escort, to start this reaping. As if my wish was a command Azriel steps out onto the stage. "Good morning District 9!" He says. "I know you've all been waiting all year for this day." I stop paying attention because he starts on with his same old spiel that he says every year about how the games are a punishment for us because our ancestors rebelled against the capitol and blah blah blah.
Finally he walks over to one of the giant glass bowls that contains the girls names that are ages 12-18 that live in District 9. He reaches down into the depths of the bowl and he quickly acquires a slip of paper. He tears the little piece of tape that was holding the paper closed off and he starts to read off the name written on it. "Ladies and gentlemen of District 9 I give you, Fern Rye as your female tribute for this year's games."
I see a timid little girl move in the 12's section. She starts to walk up to the stage and once she gets there she just stands next to Azriel. She looks so bewildered and I can see her eyes welling up with tears. My mind goes back to that little kid that I beat up on the street just a few minutes earlier. His eyes looked exactly the way that hers look right now, filled with tears and fear.
Azriel moves on to the second glass bowl filled with names. This time it has the boys of District 9s names on them. He plunges his hand into the sea of paper and takes hold of one singular paper, one singular name, one singular person that could be being led to their death. He raises the slip above the rim of the bowl, he opens it up and reads out the name. "And your second tribute will be Rhyse Bruin."
What! That's impossible! No one of my friends will volunteer for me. I slowly start to walk up to the stage, I sweep my gaze across the district trying to catch the eye of Wren or Oriel. When I spot them I am halfway to the stage and both their heads are bowed. I reach the stage and climb the steps in disbelief. They didn't volunteer for me! The thought just barely starts to settle in my head when I'm startled by the touch of Azriel. He grabs Fern and I's hand and raises them up. "District 9! These are just half of this year's tributes. One of their parents or siblings will join them in the arena!" Azriel shouts to the district. Everyone except Azriel, Fern, me, and the peacekeepers gasp in shock.
Fern is certainly crying now. I can just imagine the salty tears spilling down her cheeks as she realizes who she has to bring into the arena. I'm completely fine with this. I never cared about any of my family members anyway. I guess I'll bring my mother in? I don't really know her that well. I stopped talking to her when I was six, wow that was a decade ago now.
Azriel asks Fern if anyone and who is still living in her family and she answers with her older sister, Bryn. She comes to the stage and wraps her arm around Fern and tries to comfort her. Azriel turns to me and asks the same question and I answer with, "Yeah my mom Arber." She then comes to the stage and we are all led into the Justice Building for our customary goodbyes.
In our little room Arber and I sit down on opposite sides of the room. The rest of my family comes in and only goes over to my mother, they don't even acknowledge that I'm here. My little sister Ainsley walks toward me slightly but turns back to my mother. I never even tried to get to know my family but it hurts that they aren't even going to say goodbye. It's not like I actually care but, I feel a jab in my heart. Tears well in my eyes, I turn away from the and pull the brim of my hat down over my eyes so that they won't see me cry. No one has ever seen me cry and I don't plan to start now.
After a while they leave and on their way out Ainsley quickly comes over to me and gives me a quick hug. As soon as she came she was gone. I feel this feeling in my heart. It's a warm feeling. I start to cry because no one has ever hugged me before, I guess my life is one of a loner and I never realised how lonely I've felt. I stay on my side of the room and my mother just ignores me and acts like I'm not there. I guess I deserve it, it's the exact same thing that I've been doing to her ever since I can remember. I stay in my corner looking out the window, staring at the ever approaching train that will take us to the capitol and then to the arena. I can't wait.
District 9: Fern Rye
"I give you, Fern Rye, as your female tribute for this year's games." Azriel announces. I can hardly believe my ears. I look around at my friends, eyes wide with horror as I realize what has just happened to me. They all clear a path for me and I walk forward to the stage. I stand there in disbelief. I feel like crying and I can't help it. The tears well up in my eyes and when I can't hold them back anymore they fall out of my eyes and roll down my face.
The male tribute for the games is Rhyse Bruin. "District 9! These are just half of this year's tributes. One of their parents or siblings will join them in the arena!" Azriel announces to the whole country. He proceeds to tell us that we have to bring a family member in with us.
Oh no! I think.
Azriel Marsh turns to us and asks us one after another if we have any family left. I tell him through sobs that I'm bringing my sister Bryn in with me. I hear her footsteps on the stairs up to the stage. I can't bring myself to look at her. I feel an arm wrap itself around me, Bryn's arm comforts me and I feel safe in her embrace but not for long because she is forced to let go as we are pushed and shoved into the Justice Building to say our goodbyes.
In our room Bryn continues to comfort me and after a while I stop crying, and it's a good thing because just a few moments after I stop crying our family enters the room. I look up to see our mother and father walking towards us. When they reach us they sit on the couch next to Bryn and I. There are no words spoken between us and we all just hug each other on the couch for what seems like a second when the peacekeepers come and take them away.
Next my friends Fleur and Ivory come in along with Bryn'ss best friends Pepper and Savannah. Fleur and Ivory come over to me and we all hug each other. We all know that I'm not going to win. A twelve year old has never won the hunger games and they probably are never going to. We only talk about how we are going to miss each other and they tell me that they will always remember me. Those few simple words send me into tears yet again.
Bryn, Pepper, and Savannah have been standing on the other side of the room and they're all in tears too. Now everyone in the room is crying. After a while the peacekeepers come back and take Fleur, Pepper, Savannah, and Ivory away and leave Bryn and I by ourselves waiting for the train to the capitol to arrive.
Capitol: Sophia Hera
I feel bad for Fern Rye, she's so young, just 12 and being sent to her death already. "Why so many so young?" My mother says.
"That's just the way it is mother. We can't change anything about it." I say.
"All we can do is hope that they win." Father says.
There was nothing left to say about District 9 so we all stayed quiet until District 10's reaping began.
District 10 : Leanne Bright
I'm still annoyed at Thorn for being late when Greer Cantra, District 10's escort comes out to the stage. He does his whole talk about how the Hunger Games came to be and how we have to pay for our rebellion and he finally starts to begin picking the tributes. "Good morning District 10! Are we ready to see you our tributes will be?" Greer says. "Who am I kidding you have no choice!" He laughs hysterically.
I for one don't find it funny but he's right we don't have a choice. He walks over to the bowl filled with names and picks one out. You never know, you never know if they rig the games for who they want to be reaped. For all I know all of the slips of paper in that bowl could have my name written on them. Greer picks a paper and reads out the name on it. "The female tribute for District 10 will be Leanne Bright! Come to the stage Leanne."
I knew it! I knew it would be this year. It's a miracle that it didn't happen sooner! I was completely prepared for this so I show no reaction on my face and walk calmly up to the stage. "The daughter of a victor! This is going to be great!" Greer says excitedly. "Now lets see who the male tribute is."
He walks over to the other giant glass bowl and plucks a paper from the top of the mountain. "The male tribute will be… Thorn Hill. Come join Leanne and I on the stage."
Oh great! Now I have to deal with him for the rest of his short life. Once Thorn had gotten to the stage Greer rolled down a screen with a video of President Ross on it. I watch in horror as he informs us that the tributes must bring a parent, sibling, or close friend into the arena with them. They're making me bring father with me! I realise that I have to bring my father, a previous victor in with me. Wait doesn't it say in the rules that if you win you are no longer eligible for the games? No this is a Quarter Quell I bet all other rules are exempt for Quells. I sigh knowing all too well that I will be forced to bring him with me.
Greer Cantra turns to Thorn and I and asks each of us individually, "Are any of your parents or siblings still alive?"
I answer first wanting to get this nightmare over with, "Yes my father Cleave Bright."
"Well can Cleave come on up to the stage." Greer says happily. He has already had the experience of calling my father up to the stage for the games once before and must be very happy about doing it again. Cleave comes up to the stage and stands next to me. I look up at my father's face and it is filled with rage at being sent into the games again.
Thorn brings his older brother Colt in with him and when he is saying his brother's name he stutters so much that it is almost incomprehensible. I see a girl in the 14's area's face go white. The color drains from her face and I remember seeing her running into the square with Thorn. Well, too bad for her. Greer Cantra ends out the ceremony and Thorn, Colt, Father, and I are led into the Justice Building for our goodbyes.
In our room father and I sit silently, still processing what just happened to us. My mother, Fawn, rushes into our room and hugs both of us fiercely. She pulls back and places her hands firmly on my shoulders, looks me in the eyes and tells me, "You're going to do your best to win right?"
"Right." I say to her while nodding at the same time.
She turns to my father. Mother can't seem to bring herself to say anything but "I love you." to use for the rest of her allotted time. Once she's gone we are silent for the rest of our time. None of my friends nor fathers come to say goodbye. We are silent because everything that needed to be said had already been said back at home before the reaping. We wait in that room watching the sun climb higher and higher up in the sky until finally the peacekeepers come and take us to the train station to go to the capitol.
District 10: Thorn Hill
"The male tribute for District 10 will be... Thorn Hill. Come join Leanne and I on the stage." Greer says into the microphone.
It takes a moment for the words to unscramble in my brain and when it finally settles I can't believe my ears. My name! He called my name! I start to freak out in my head and my mouth and throat go dry. I start to walk forward to the stage and when I get there I am completely speechless. Greer rolls down a screen that explains this year's twist. It states that the tributes must bring a parent, sibling, or close friend into the games with them.
I don't even have time to process my thoughts when Greer starts to question us about our families. I stumble over my words as I answer with my older brother, Colt's, name. Leanne brings her father Cleave, who is a previous Victor of the games, in with her. It must be so sad that he has to face the arena again after narrowly escaping it once before.
"People of District 10, here are your tributes for the 100th annual Hunger Games!" Greer says to end out the horrendous ceremony.
He leads us into the Justice Building for our goodbyes. I'm in shock as we walk to our room and Colt guides me to a seat. I stare, stunned, into space until the silence is broken with the loud creaking of the unoiled hinges on the door. I jump as someone walks into the room. It takes me a moment to register who just walked in to say goodbye to Colt and I.
I see Willow walking slowly towards me. "Is that your girlfriend?" Colt teases me.
"N-no!" I stutter. My face starts to feel hot with embarrassment.
"Hey Thornbush." Willow says awkwardly as she hugs me.
I stand stiff as a board in her arms. I wasn't expecting her to hug me. "Looks like I'm gonna have to watch you kill now huh." Willow says, her voice quivering with rage.
She steps back from our embrace. "When you get back you're still going to take me to the bakery, you promised." She says referencing our earlier conversation.
"Of course." I say. Finally saying something to her without stuttering.
"I'll be rooting for you back here in ten alright." Willow says.
I don't get to answer her because the peacekeepers barge into the room and rip her away from me. "Remember we're rooting for you Thorn!" She has to shout the last part because she was already out the door.
The door slams behind her and the room feels empty without her presence. Seconds after Willow disappeared Colts friends bustled into the room. "Colt!" Beverly, Colt's girlfriend, chokes out as she hurtles across the room and launches herself onto him in a vicious hug.
"Hey Bev." Colt says.
The rest of his friends Yerrow, Joanna, and Charlie follow Beverly into the room and they all hug Colt in a group hug. I step back and sit in a chair at the back of the room to let them have their space until they have to leave.
A couple minutes later Beverly, Joanna, Charlie, and Yerrow are herded out of the room by the peacekeepers. Immediately after they are out the door our mother and father are shoved into the room. Cricket, our mother rushes over to me and drags me over to Colt, she then hugs us both fiercely. My father, Yew, stands back and waits for Cricket to release her grip. She is in a mess of tears as she hugs us. Finally she lets go and steps back. She looks at us fondly.
Dad comes over and hugs Colt and I. He was never one to cry and he keeps his composure even now, when both his sons are going into the games. "Just win okay." Is all he says to us before he steps away and comforts mom.
I don't know who he told to win but I will never know because he just walks out of the room and leaves us behind with mom. "I'm going to miss you. Both of you." She shifts her gaze up to Colt, "Look after him ok?"
"Of course I will." Colt says and he puts a reassuring hand on her shoulder.
She grabs each of our hands and squeezes them firmly. "Goodbye." She says and a single tear rolls out of her bloodshot eyes.
The peacekeepers come in and take her away. Mom holds eye contact even as she is dragged from the room. The door closes behind her and Colt and I look at each other. There are no words to say and we both take seats on the couch and process what just happened. We sit on that couch for hours as we wait for Greer to come and take us to the train.
Capitol: Sophia Hera
Greer Cantra lifts up the arms of the four tributes. Leanne and Cleave Bright and Thorn and Colt Hill. This will be interesting, a former Victor competing in another hunger games! How exciting! "I can't wait to see Cleave play again. I wonder how this will affect him, being in the arena with his daughter and all." Mother says.
"I remember his games well." Father says. "He was smart, using that snake to kill his final opponent."
"Yeah, he'll probably try and protect his daughter this year." I reason.
"True." Father agrees.
The screen switches to District 11 as their reaping begins.
District 11: Bane Hedge
I watch as the girl stumbles up to the stage. Tears dripping down her face as she goes to stand next to Calloway. My thoughts fill with laughter at her pain. "Now for the boys." He says as he walks over to the second bowl.
He reaches down, swirls his hand around mixing up the names and snatches one up. He unfolds the paper and reads, "Bane Hedge. The male tribute for District 11 will be Bane Hedge. Come on up to the stage." Calloway beckons.
I stand in shock as his words slam into my face. It can't be me! I must have misheard him surely. But no, a path clears in front of me leading all the way up to the stage. I feel a shove from behind me. Before it can land on me I turn around and punch whoever it was square in the face. I feel his nose snap under the blow and I walk up to the stage, as calmly as if nothing had just happened. I can picture the boy clutching his face while the pain explodes around his face.
The crowd gasps as they witness what just happened. I snicker as I climb the steps onto the stage. When I reach the top and go to stand next to Calloway Beckett a look of shock is spread across his face. I stifle laughter at how ridiculous he looks. He shakes of his emotion and continues along with the ceremony.
"Why don't you both tell us your ages." He tells the girl and I.
"My name is Bane Hedge and I'm 17 years old." I say loudly into the microphone.
"My name is umm Autumn Morgan, 14 years old." The girl says quietly, almost so quiet that she can barely be heard.
"But that's not all folks! Welcome the president, President Ross all the way from the Capitol!" A video plays on a screen of the President announcing that the reaped or volunteered tributes must bring a family member or close friend into the games with them. Amazing! I get to bring my stupid mother with me. Or I could bring Emali with me. Now that's an idea, bringing my little sister in with me so that I can murder her! I've always wanted to do that!
Calloway turns to each of us in turn and asks us if we have family left to bring with us. The girl answers with her mother, Lyra. I answer with, "My little sister Emali." I lace my voice with fake emotion.
It must have tricked Calloway because he puts his hand over his heart. "What a shame, bringing your little sister in with you. But alas we must. Can Lyra Morgan and Emali Hedge come to the stage."
They both move in the spectator area and start to pick their way up to the stage. When they finally arrive Calloway Beckett has them say their names into the microphone.
"Lyra Morgan, Autumn's mother." The woman says.
Emali stretches up to reach the microphone. "My names' Emali Hedge and I'm 5 years old."
The crowd gasps at the age and some shout in rage at me. I couldn't care less there's nothing they can do anyway. I already decided to take her and they have no power to change that. Before the district starts to riot Calloway takes the four of us away to the Justice Building for our customary goodbyes.
Once in our room Emali and I wait for our family to come. Finally our family enters the room. When my mother Caia enters the room she comes right over to me and slaps me across the face. It stings when her hand comes away and I brace myself for another punch but before she can land another one my older sister Karsyn, drags her away from me. "What were you thinking, Bane?" Karsyn yells at me.
She walks over and slaps me herself. "Ow what was that for?" I say, holding the right side of my face in my hands.
"What do you mean what was that for! You just sent our little sister to her death!" Karsyn yells even louder this time, raising her hand for another blow.
Before her hand lowers I grab her wrist and restrain it from hitting me. Caia walks over to a bewildered Emali and attempts to calm her down. Karsyn launches herself onto me and starts to punch and claw at me. She has the advantage of her size and surprise. She starts to pummel me in the face and before long the peacekeepers have entered and hauled her off of me and took her from the room. By now Emali is completely in tears and mother is having an even more difficult time calming her.
"Now look what you've done Bane. You've gone and made your sister cry and on top of that brought her into the HUNGER GAMES!" Mother yells at me.
"Look mom, you yelling is making Emali even more upset." I say pointing to Emali.
"I don't care Bane!" Mother says exasperatedly.
Before she can yell at me anymore the peacekeepers come in and take her away from Emali. "Goodbye Emali! I love you, try to win for me!" Mother says, desperately trying to cling onto her daughter while the peacekeepers fight to get her away.
"I love you to mommy!" Emali sobbs reaching out to her mother that she probably will never see again.
I roll my eyes at her. I couldn't care less that Caia is gone. I never cared about her anyway. I only relied on her for food and shelter but I never needed her.
I listen to Emali's cries as we wait for Calloway to take us to the Capitol.
District 11: Autumn Morgan
"Autumn Morgan come on up to the stage." Calloway says.
Me? This can't be happening. My worst fear is coming true! I panic in my head as I process the situation in front of me. I start to walk forward and I try to hold the tears in, but they slip out anyway. When I make it to the stage Calloway greats me and moves on to reaping the male tribute.
I'm so preoccupied with my thoughts that I miss the male tribute's name. I only come back when I feel a tap on my shoulder. I turn and see that Calloway is asking me a question. "Do you have any family left to bring with you?"
"Uh umm my mother, Lyra-" I stammer, I have no clue why he is asking me this.
He turns to the boy and asks him the same and he answers with, "My little sister Emali."
His voice is filled with pain as he says her name. The whole district feels his pain as they see Emali in the crowd.
Mother moves in the crowd leading Emali up to the stage. The tears start to run faster down my face as the realization hits me. I just chose to take my mother with me into the Hunger Games! What have I done?
When they reach the stage Calloway asks them to say their names into the microphone. "Lyra Morgan, Autumn's mother." Her voice shakes with emotion as she says the last part. She reaches out and grabs my hand affectionately.
"And you darling?" Calloway asks the little girl.
"My names' Emali Hedge and I'm 5 years old." She answers with the blissful innocence of a child.
The whole district gasps and some call out in rage at having such a young child being sent into the games. I look over at her, tears clouding my gaze. She looks up at me with a questioning gaze, as if she has no idea what is going on. I look back at her with sadness in my eyes.
"Ladies and gentlemen, your tributes." Calloway, our escort says as he raises our arms up.
He quickly brings us into the Justice Building to say our final goodbyes. Once in our room Mother and I wait for our friends and family to come and say goodbye. The first to come in is my dad. His name is Jasper Morgan and he works as a harvester in the cornfields. He says nothing as he comes over and hugs both mom and I in his big strong arms. The tears flow even faster out of my eyes as I think about how I probably won't make it out of the arena alive. Neither will mom. Mom I'll have to protect her! Who am I kidding, I can't protect anyone. "Did you hear me Autumn?"
"Hmm what?" I slowly start to come out of my head.
"I asked if you and Lyra are going to do your best to win?" Dad repeats.
"Oh... yeah." I answer.
For the next few minutes mom and dad talk about some random stuff and finally the peacekeepers come and take him away. Next Cammy, Rowan, and Paisley enter the room. They rush over to me and basically tackle me to the ground in a huge hug. Cammy and Paisley can't stop crying and Rowan is on the brink of tears. "Guys it's alright I'm gonna come back." I try to sound convincing though we all know I'm lying. Though no one will say anything because that would mean that they think that I'm not going to come back home to District 11.
"I'm going to try to win." I say as I try and drag them off me.
"Ok." Cammy says, while wiping tears from her eyes.
For the rest of the time we just remind each other of our memories of each other and they tell me how much that they're going to miss me.
"Remember that time at the bakery? When we used all our money to buy one of the pretty cupcakes." I ask them.
Paisley sniffles and laughs sadley, "Yeah, and all the stare's we got when we walked back to your house."
The door slams open unexpectedly and the peacekeepers come and lead my friends away. "Win for us, Autumn!" Rowan calls.
"We'll be rooting for you!" Cammy adds.
Then they were gone. They left us to wait for Greer to come and bring us to the train for the Capitol.
Capitol: Sophia Hera
The girl from District 11 was crying the whole time and the boy legit punched someone in the face. When we saw the boy punch the other kid in the face my whole family gasped. "Did you see what he just did? That was unprecedented!" Mother exclaimed.
"What was that for. The poor boy didn't even do anything." Father said.
"Well obviously that's just how he is." I say sarcastically.
"Sophia." Mother says with an edge to her voice.
"Sorry." I say.
The screen switches off then back on again and suddenly we have arrived in the poorest district in the country. District 12.
District 12: Pierce Wood
Alannah Chain comes out of the Justice Building and casually walks over to the microphone that is situated in between two huge glass bowls filled to the brim with tiny slips of paper. "District 12! How are you?" She says into the mic with her obnoxious Capitol accent.
There is no answer from the crowd. "Well lets get right to the reaping shall we." Alannah tiptoes over to the boys bowl and grabs the first slip that comes to her hand. She unfolds it painstakingly slow and reads out the name. "Pierce Wood. The male tribute for this years Hunger Games will be Pierce Wood."
I stand stunned for a moment and then I start to walk up to the stage. "Don't be shy. Come on up Pierce."
How can I be anything but shy when I'm walking in front of the whole of District 12?! Once I make it to the stage Alannah Chain asks me my age. "Uh. I'm 15." I say into the mic.
"It's great to have you here Pierce Wood. Now let's move on to the girls." Alannah says briskly.
She goes through the same process as she did for picking my name and she reads the name 'Jade Cavern'. I see the girl move in the 14 year olds area. I catch a glimpse of those same pretty emerald green eyes. The girl I saw before the reaping. I recognized her at once. She walks straight up to the stage and gives me a cold stare which sends a chill up my spine. "Jade, how old are you?" Alannah asks.
"14." Jade answers.
So that's her name, Jade. Matches her perfectly. I daydream.
"But there's a catch. This year the tributes must bring a family member or close friend into the games with them."
I don't have time to register what she has said when she starts to question the girl and I. "So Pierce, is anyone in your family still alice?"
"Uh yeah my brother… Airen." I struggle to remember his name for a second.
"Great, can Airen Wood please come to the stage."
I look straight at my brother and the look on his face is unforgettable. That look will haunt me for the rest of my life. The look of pure hatred shines in his eyes. His lips are turned down in a scowl, and for the first time I am actually afraid of my own brother.
He stands next to me on the stage. Airen grabs my arm and acts as if he is holding my hand but he is actually digging his fingernails into the palm of my hand bringing tears to my eyes. I can feel them pierce through my skin and the blood start to well up around them.
"Now Jade, the same goes for you. Is anyone you hold dear here with us today?" Alannah asks, with a sinister layer to her sweet voice.
"My brother Blaze." She answers, her voice as cold as ice.
"Blaze Cavern come join us on the stage."
A tall boy moves in the 16's area and walks up to the stage. His hair is a blazing orange color and I can see where he got his name.
"People of District 12 I give you your tributes! May the odds be ever in their favor." Alannah Chain ends out the malicious ceremony and brings us into the Justice Building for our customary goodbyes.
No one comes to say goodbye to me. Probably because I have always been and always will be a loner. My brother's friend does come to say goodbye though. Jace Peregrin enters the room. I tune out what they are saying and I stare out the window imagining my imminent death.
District 12: Jade Cavern
"Pierce Wood." Alannah Chain calls out.
A boy moves in the 15's area and at once I recognize him as the stupid boy who was late to the reaping. Oh great him. At least I'll get to watch him die a horrible, painful death. Here's one thing you should know about me, I hate when people do things wrong. I also hate when people break rules. Even if it is a minor thing like being late to the reaping (Which is NOT a minor thing) still bothers me.
"And the female tribute is… Jade Cavern. Come join Pierce and I on the stage."
Well now I know who Pierce's murderer will be. And I know that his death will be done right.
I keep my cool as I go up to the stage, and I answer Alannahs question as smoothly as possible. But I almost lost it when she said that I had to bring my older brother with me. She asks Idiot and I who we have left. I'm not even going to bother with remembering Pierce's name so I'm going to call him Idiot. Anyway, she asks Idiot and I about our families. Idiot brings Idiot 2 with him. At least he had a choice. All I have is Blaze. So now I'm stuck with three idiots in the arena.
I answer her question with., "My brother Blaze."
I tune out the rest of the ceremony and I just stare at Idiot with all the scorn I can muster in my gaze. If looks could kill Idiot would have been dead ever since I laid eyes on him at the beginning of the reaping.
In our goodbye room Blaze and I stay silent as we wait for our visitors. I keep looking around the room searching for hidden cameras that could be watching our every move. I find none but I still search and search until we are escorted out of the building and onto the train to the Capitol.
All I know now is that my hit list just got two names longer.
Capitol: Sophia Hera
The boy from 12 is a complete imbecile. He had the audacity to be late to the reaping. Of all places the reaping. Come to think of it alot of the tributes were late to the reaping.
"Great now we've got another moron in the games." I say as I slump back onto the couch angrily.
"At least they'll all be dead and we won't have to worry about their idiocy and insolence in the real world any more. Like we would associate ourselves with their kind anyway." Mother scoffs.
"Right." I say as I roll my eyes.
Now that the reapings are over we can return to everyday life, just until we get to see the training scores.
I stand up from the sofa, excuse myself, and rush upstairs to call my friends. Once in my room I grab my clear phone and pull up Kyra, Milo, and Phoebe's coordinates. Once the pick up I start to spill everything to them. "Can you believe how that little girl, Darci got dragged back into the games?... I wouldn't be able to bear it if we ended up like the tributes from 6!... Can you believe how stupid Pierce was?"
"Being late to the reaping! I know right." Kyra agrees.
"Yeah I feel bad for Keiha, Raven, Elle, and Leo. Imagine if that were us." Phoebe exclaims.
"Totally!" I respond at once.
We keep talking to each other for a while until Father calls me back downstairs. "I have to go guys father says that we are going to Amalia's to start betting on the tributes."
"Bye Sophia!" Milo says.
"Yeah let me know who you bet for." Kyra adds.
I hang up the phone and race to put on an acceptable outfit for going to a place like Amalia's. Amalia's is one of the fanciest restaurants in all of the Capitol and it just so happens to be the prime spot for betting.
Once at the restaurant my parents and I take three seats at the bar and start to watch replays of the reapings. "I'm betting for Bane Hedge. Did you see how he punched that kid in the face!" A stranger says.
I listen to all the opinions and wait to place my bets. Everyone quiet's as I start to speak. I'm known for my famous bets. I've never gotten it wrong, every year since I was about 5 I've placed my bet on the winner. "Well you know, the tributes from 1,2, and 4 are the most likely to win. But this year I have the feeling that someone from an outlying district is going to win. Well Elm Sol will have the drive to protect his little sister Sage so he will be a fierce competitor. But she could be a hindrance. My money's on Cleave and Leanne Bright or Dusk Morning. I know she's just a scrawny 12 year old but she has this thing about her. Like she isn't afraid to kill." I say.
Of course those aren't my actual picks. Why would I tell so many people right out of the gate? No, I'm waiting for after training to actually place my bets. Though I do think that Dusk could pull this one out for me.
"But of course those are only theories." I say sweetly.
After lots of analyzing the reapings we can finally go home. Once back at our mansion in the suburbs of the Capitol, I go to my room and start to get ready for bed. Tomorrow I'll actually start thinking about my bets.