Ok, I'm getting sick of intro chapters. Straight to the Reapings! I'm just starting with 2 since I still need one's male from Aceswims. Anyways...here we go!
Zara Unova's POV
Flames. Screams. Chaos. My nightmare unfolds in front of me once again, but this time I refused to look. I covered my ears, hoping to shut off all of my senses. When I finally gathered the strength to open my eyes, all the flames went away. I stood up, and smiled.
"SEE?!" I hollered at the barren wasteland. "I'm not scared of you! You. Can't. CONTROL ME!" I held out that last word until I was feeling confident in myself.
For the first time in forever (sorry for the reference), I had woken up smiling. Keep in mind I said woke up. I frowned again when I remembered it was Reaping day. Groaning, I sluggishly got out of bed, and walked toward my Reaping outfit. A long, silver colored sundress with gold trimming and a baby blue scarf. I quickly wiggled into it, not caring about smoothing it out. I draped the scarf over my shoulders, and slipped on my training boots my mom insisted on me wearing. I jogged to the stairs, and slid down the railing. It was unfortunate that mom was waiting at the bottom of the stairs. Even more unfortunate that she was carrying a curling iron and makeup.
"Come on, Zara!" She called, turning toward the bathroom. "We have to leave for The Reaping in an hour!"
"Okay," I groaned, following her.
She had me sit on a stool, and she did my makeup while the curling iron heated up. I kept my eyes closed most of the time, but I saw rose blush, light blue eye shadow, dark purple eyeliner, and even some midnight black mascara. I lasted through the makeup process, then mom started running the curling iron through my long, dark brown hair. When she was done, she urged me to look into the mirror. I did. I was also taken aback. I was certain I'd look like a clown or something, but I looked...good. I smiled, then immediately returned to a frown. I wouldn't want my mom to have this victory. Never in a million years.
"CARTER!" Mom hollered. "You ready to go?!"
My dad quickly ran down the stairs as mom escorted me out of the bathroom.
"Ah, Zara!" Dad exclaimed. "How's my little Victor?"
"I'm not a Victor yet, dad," I corrected. I have to admit I giggled.
"Oh, pfft, I know you'll do it!"
"I dunno," I responded. "Julian's pretty good," then I whispered, "The instructors had to keep reminding him to land an injuring blow, not a fatal one."
"Sounds like a bloodbath tribute to me," mom observed.
I finally gave in, and smiled. My parents can be stern and Hunger Games Addicted, but it was fun to talk to them when they were in a good mood.
We walked out the front door, and strolled down the streets to the square. Dad even bought a cinnamon roll from the bakery for me. When we made it to the Reaping, I quickly signed in, and the Peacekeeper even told me 'good luck'.
"Zara!" Scarlett cried once I walked into the square. "I'm so sorry I wasn't at the Academy the last month! My Aunt Venieii got really sick, and I had to go home and help."
"Oh, it's fine Scarlett," I told her, giving her half of the cinnamon roll. "Guess what?"
"What?" She asked.
"I was chosen by the academy to volunteer," I told her. I felt my eyes filling with gloom, and my smile dropped. I can't believe I had just said that like I liked it. I honestly was just glad Scarlett was okay, and it came out the wrong way.
"Oh," Scarlett whispered. "Do you think-"
"Everybody to your squares!" The escort called. "The Reaping's about to begin!"
"Zara!" Scarlett cried as I ran to the 16 square. "Zara! Where are you..."
Her voice was drowned out by the other 16 year olds congratulating me. I felt horrible leaving Zara like that, but I don't know what else I could've done.
"Testing...testing..." Our escort, August May, said into the microphone. She looked the same as last year, a white party dress with curly violet hair and heavy eyeliner. "Welcome to The Reaping of the 34th Annual Hunger Games! As usual, ladies first." She strode over to the Reaping ball, but before she could even insert her hand, I ran out of the 16 square.
"I volunteer as tribute!" I called, feeling heavy dread.
2 hours earlier...
Julian Grayson's POV
"Slow...slow..." I muttered to myself, going through the motions of setting a trap. In just a few minutes, my mom would come wake me up, and I wanted to show her that I could make a snare. "Over and under..." I smiled in triumph as I latched the last knot.
I grabbed a stuffed animal polar bear that I wanted to destroy for a long time, and threw it onto the snare. Once it collided, the snare quickly lifted the animal into the air.
"YEAH!" I screamed as my mom opened the door.
"Julian? Is everything all right in here?" She asked.
"Mom! Mom!" I chanted, jumping up and down like a small child. "I can make a snare! I'm set!"
"Good for you hun," she smiled. "You'd better get ready, you're dad needs to be there early, remember?"
"Yeah, yeah, okay," I mumbled, quickly cutting the wires. My dad was the mayor of 2, and while he acts like a stern and strong leader, he's actually a kind and caring guy.
After I shoved the wires under my bed, I opened my closet to my Reaping outfit. A pair of black pants with white patterned stitching, and a white dress shirt complete with navy blue lace-up dress shoes. I slipped everything on, and quickly combed my curly dirty blond hair. Satisfied, I walked into the living room where mom was finishing putting on her mascara, and dad was pacing going over the speech for the end of the Reaping.
"There you are, Jules," Mom acknowledged, closing her makeup kit. "You ready to go?"
"Ready as I'll every be!" I exclaimed, then slapped my forehead. I really need to stop acting like a little kid.
I pushed open the door, and we walked into the crisp morning air. Dad quickly slipped into the square and behind the staged, while I signed in. One of the first like always. The first was always Marc, since he wanted to make sure to be here before me for some reason I'll never understand.
"Hey Julian!" Marc called, waving to me. I jogged up to him. "Good luck!" He told me. I smiled.
"I don't know what it is, but I have a feeling the odds are in my favor this year," I told Marc.
"Never go with your gut feeling," Marc told me. "It always betrays me."
"Exactly," I responded. "It betrays you."
"You got a point," he paused. "Hey! When you come back, can you teach me your ways?" He said ways in such a weird way, I laughed.
"Sure, bud." People were starting to file into the square, and a glance at my watch told me that The Reaping was about to start.
Marc and I quickly made our way into the 17 square, and I stayed near the edge so I could easily get out.
"Testing...testing..." Our escort spoke into the microphone. "Welcome to The Reaping of the 34th Annual Hunger Games! As usual, ladies first." She walked over to one of the Reaping balls, but before she even put her hand in, I saw Zara run out from the 16 square.
"I volunteer as tribute!" She cried, her voice cracking at the end. She walked up to the stage, a stone cold yet confident look on her face.
"And what is your name, dear?" August asked.
"Zara Unova," Zara told us in the mic.
"Oh, I love that name!" August exclaimed dreamily. "Onto the boys," She reached her hand in, and pulled out a tiny slip of paper.
"Donigan Freemam," she called.
My stomach twisted into knots. That was because he was my cousin, and only just recently turned 12. Someone help him! I screamed in my head, but then I remembered, Oh, yeah. I'm the volunteer.
"I volunteer as tribute!" I called, jumping onto the sidewalk. I walked up to the stage with confidence.
"And your name?"
"Julian Grayson," I spoke into the mic.
"Our tributes from District 2!" August exclaimed.
Justice Building
Zara Unova's POV
Silence. That's what I heard for a few good seconds sitting on the felt couch. Then the door opened, and Scarlett walked in.
"Three minutes," The Peacekeeper said, then closed the door.
"Oh, Zara!" Scarlett cried. She ran to me and gave me a big hug.
"I'm so sorry!" Then she looked me in the eyes. "You didn't let me finish my sentence before The Reaping. I wanted to ask, do you think you'll come back to me? To all of us? I'm you're friend Zara. Give me a straight answer!"
"I-I don't know," I responded.
"Zara!" Scarlett screamed. "Give me a yes or no! Will you, or will you not return alive? Will you be breathing, or dead in a coffin?"
"I-"
"Just say it," She whispered. "You're coming back to me dead, aren't you?"
"Scarlett..." I saw tears in her eyes, and I couldn't help crying myself. "Face it, I'm no match for Julian, he could kill me in a heartbeat. If any other tributes are as good as that, I'll be dead before I have a chance to suffer from dehydration."
Scarlett and I were quiet for a moment, letting that sink in.
"May the odds be ever in your favor," she whispered, clutching my hand. "Best friends forever, through life or death?"
I nodded. "Forever. If I'm living or breathing, or a spirit above."
"Times up," the Peacekeeper told us, coming to collect Scarlett. She came back a minute later with Blaze. "Three minutes."
"Zara..." Blaze whispered. I nodded.
"This is the reason we broke up," I finished.
He sat next to me, and I brushed some of his dirty blond hair out of his blue eyes. His eyes-which were only a shade darker than mine. I ran my hand down the side of his head, and we were quiet again.
"Don't let me lose you," he whispered, grabbing my hand. "If you win, I won't worry about losing you anymore and-"
"-We can be together," I finished.
Then I did the unthinkable. I leaned in and kissed him. Nothing gross, just a small peck on the cheek. "I love you, Blaze Dunkins." I whispered.
"I love you too, Zara Unova," he responded still taken aback.
"I'll come back to you alive," I told him. "I promise."
"Time's up," the Peacekeeper called.
"Wait!" Blaze cried. He dug something out of his pocket, a small diamond. He dropped it beside me. "You're token."
"Where did you get it?"
"I may have a friend in 12," He whispered, and winked. He was then escorted out.
While I waited for the Peacekeepers to bring me to the train, I turned the diamond over in my hands. I had just made a dangerous promise. One I might not be able to keep.
Julian Grayson's POV
"Three minutes," The Peacekeeper said, pushing Marc in.
"Hey, Jules," Marc snickered, sitting next to me. "Excited?"
"Over the moon," I responded.
"Make sure to mention me in some way during your interview," Marc told me. "You never would have been alive if it weren't for me."
"Oh?" I asked. "What makes you so sure?"
"Nothing," he exclaimed. "Just that I saved you from drowning when we were five."
"Liar!" I called. "You and I both know that was your mom!"
"Just mention me, okay?"
"You know what, if I die, I'm not gonna miss your lame jokes."
"Hey!"
"You know what?" I told him. "I will mention you in my interview, but you have to dance in the middle of the square saying 'I'm famous!' for fifteen minutes."
"Deal!"
"Time's up," The Peacekeeper told us. Marc waved, then went back to his family.
My mom and dad didn't come-I told them goodbye earlier.
But I had a pang in my gut-like I was going to die before the first dead tributes were projected in the sky.