District 2 Reaping

Helen Stryker

Age 18

District 2 Female

"Hero, Jason, what are you doing?" I say loudly. My identical twin brothers, crouched behind a couple of boxes, cringe. A group of kids, hearing my words, screech and run away. Hero stands up and laughs nervously, trying to play it off.

"We were just… waiting for Jason's crush Hannah to come along… ya know?" he says nervously. Jason punches Hero in the arm angrily.

"Hey! No one was supposed to know about that!" he cries, his face flushing. I cross my arms and tap my foot. The bucket of water balloons they were attempting to hide did not help their case.

"Cut it, you two. You were obviously trying to pelt some more little kids with water balloons. What did they do to you?" I growl. I hit them with a fiery glare that I learned from my friend Pallas. Despite the fact that both my brothers are taller than I am, they cower under my fiery stare.

"Geez, sorry Helen. That stare of yours could cut glass!" Jason cries. I sigh and close my eyes.

"I'm just annoyed that I have to keep an eye on you all the time. Mom wants you home so we can get ready for the Reaping. Today is my big day, you know!" I complain. My brothers look at each other meaningfully.

"Hey, Helen. You know, we've been thinking…" Hero began hesitantly.

"... we don't think you should volunteer for the Games." Jason finishes.

"And why is that?" I growl, letting my voice get dangerously low. My brothers must have picked up the hint, because they back out quick.

"O-Oh, nothing! Haha, we were just, you know! Concerned…" Hero stops as I glare at him again.

"Oh fine. It's just… Helen, you're a lot older than you look. You're also really short. It gives you a major disadvan-" Hero is cut off by a swift punch to the gut, courtesy of my fist.

"I'll have you know that I can handle myself just fine, dear brother," I say. "Now get up, mom is expecting us."

I hear Hero coughing as I leave the scene. No one teases me for my size. Even if it's my own family.

Victor Worthington

Age 18

District 2 Male

I stand in the eighteen year olds section, watching the stage. They're playing highlights of last year's game, as usual. I glance over at the fifteen-year-old section, where Queenie, my sister is standing. She looks at me meaningfully.

I know what I'm doing, Queenie, I think. Mom and Dad are likely watching, and Czar is probably bouncing up and down in the twelve-year-olds section non-stop. I've trained for these Games my whole life, thanks to Mom and Dad, and I'm going to win them.

But what if I don't? I shake the thought out of my head. No time for thoughts like that.

"Hello District Two!" Despite the daylight, a spotlight shines onto the stage, revealing our escort, Yuri Kori. He's quite the weird one. He love rollerskating, of all things. He gives us a few lines about the Games, and then skates over to the girl's bowl.

"Alright, Tay Foyasa!" he cries.

"I volunteer as tribute!" a girl who is way smaller than anyone else in the eighteen year old section yells. She walks quickly and purposefully onto the stage, seemingly unaware of the whispers that followed her.

The girl turns around on the stage and glares at the crowd. Her eyes are like living balls of fire that could burn you to death. However, I know that her size could be used to her advantage, and she could be a tough battle.

"What's your name, dearest?" Yuri asks her. She snatches the mic. In an instant, her face changes from fiery determination to a calm and serene look. All of a sudden, she changed from unyielding warrior to an elegant, mature queen.

"My name is Helen Stryker, and yes, I am eighteen years old." she announces. Helen hands the mic back to Yuri.

"Okayy, let's have a boy, shall we?" he yells, skating to the other bowl. Yuri pulls out a slip of paper.

"Steven Stone!" he yells.

"I volunteer as tribute!" I cry at the top of my lungs. There are plenty of cheers, and I think I even hear a few from my parents, as I make my way up to the stage.

"What's your name?" Yuri asks me.

"My name is Victor Worthington, and I'm going to win this!"

Enthusiastic cheers follow my proclamation.

"District Two, let's hear it for your tributes, Helen Stryker and Victor Worthington!"

Helen Stryker

Age 18

District 2 Female

"Helen, good luck, alright dear?" my mother says, hugging and kissing me. I push her away in annoyance, because my best friend, Pallas Honor, is snickering behind her hands as she witnesses the scene.

"She'll do great! Not as great as my sons could have done, probably, but she'll win!" my father laughs. I glare at him angrily; he had always favored Hero and Jason over me.

"Good luck, sis!" Hero and Jason cry in unison, squishing me in between a bro hug. Pallas walks forward and gives me a hug, and a few words of encouragement.

"You'll do great, Helen, I just know it!" Pallas says, hugging me tightly. I smile as I pull away.

"Am I forgiven for that time I nearly stabbed you while sparring?" I laugh. Pallas nods, smiling brightly.

"Absolutely!" she laughs. Then her face turns serious. "Helen, do you not have a token?"

I blink. I had completely forgotten about a token.

"Er, no-"

"Here." Pallas unties her favorite hair ribbon and hands it to me.

"Pallas? But… this is your favorite hair ribbon." I begin. Pallas stops me with a pat on the shoulder.

"Think of it as a thank you," she says, "For being my best friend."

Dang it, I made a promise to myself that I wouldn't cry.

"I promise I'll return home to you all!" I cry, tears welling up in my eyes. My brother hug me one last time, my mother kisses me on the forehead, and they all leave, calling out their goodbyes and wishing me good luck.

I wipe the tears out of my eyes. Now is not the time for tears. It's time for careful planning. I sit down and start thinking, but when I start thinking…

Not again… the image is burned into my mind. His dead body, lying on the floor of the alleyway, after I strangled him…

Stop. Stopstopstop! I drive the vision out. I have to concentrate. I can't let it haunt me.

Victor Worthington

Age 18

District 2 Male

I sit on the plush couch in the Goodbye Room, planning my strategy. Judging from what I've seen in the Academy, Helen would be a tough fighter.

"Victor, good luck. We know you can win this year," my father says, gripping my shoulder. My mother nods in agreement. Czar, my little brother, crosses his arms and pouts.

"I should have been the one to volunteer! I'm way better than you are!" he proclaims. Queenie pats him on the head, giving me a look that says, How am I gonna deal with this kid?

"You're twelve, Czar. You have your whole life ahead of you. You can just get stronger." she whispers to him. Czar stops pouting for a whole five seconds before going back to being sour-faced.

"Listen, Victor. You have to get plenty of allies. Join the Career Pack, it's safer that way. Just remember that you have to return home, okay?" my mother says. I nod, confident.

"Thank you for the advice, Mother. I'll make you and Dad proud, I promise."

Queenie gives me a quick hug, and they all file out of the room.

Sometimes I wonder how my life would have been different if Mom and Dad hadn't made me train for the Games. I wonder what would have happened if I didn't volunteer. I don't even have friends. They just get in the way of my goals. But maybe having friends wouldn't have been too bad.

How am I gonna fit into the Career Pack with my zero social skills? I think.

And there you have it! I hope this chapter was up to standard, I tried my best! Also, thank you to AmericanPi for your editing~

Thank you to goldie031 for Victor Worthington! And Helen is created by me~

Quick note: Helen is eighteen years old. Her being sixteen on the tribute list and the blog was a mistake. The blog will be finalized soon after I get all the tributes.

Chapter Question: What are your thoughts on Helen Stryker (D2F) and Victor Worthington (D2M)?

I'm still waiting on one more submission from someone, so I hope the Reapings will get done fast!

So thank you guys so much for reading, and me, NyanToDaMax145, will see you guys next time! BOOOOOOOOIIIIIIIIIIII!