Tesla Sherman (16)- D3F
I blow the dust off of the small object, wiping over it for my thumb. It glints in the hot sun. I stare at my reflection in the shining surface. A silver coin.
"Tesla! Where are you?" Nora calls from the stoop of the house. I ignore her and stand up, wiping the coin on my shirt. I recognize it as an old piece of currency that's no longer in circulation. It must have gotten trampled into the dirt over many many years. I wonder when the last time the coin was held by someone.
"What is that?" I feel Nora looking over my shoulder.
I sigh and turn to look at her. "It's a coin."
Nora takes the coin and smiles at her reflection. "It's pretty. I've never seen this one before."
"It's an old coin," I say coldly, hoping she'll leave me alone for a little while. I would like some time to myself before the Reaping to compose myself.
"An old coin?" Nora's eyes grow as wide as the trinket itself. "Tesla, do you know what that means?"
"Someone lost their money a long time ago?"
"No! It means the odds are in your favor!"
"I think if the odds were in my favor I would have found one that's actually worth something."
Nora pouts irritatingly. I scan her outfit, which is a little more decorative than usual. Her pink dress used to belong to our mother, and her pretty white shoes are new for this year's Reaping. I feel trepidation at the thought of dressing up. I know my dress won't be as pretty and delicate as Nora's, though I don't really mind it. It's just annoying to be reminded of how much our mother favors her.
"Give it back," I order. Nora silently places the coin back in my outstretched hand. I don't look back as I head inside the house. We live on the nicer side of town due to my dad's job as a financial advisor to the mayor. Our house is one of the biggest in the entire district, with three bedrooms and two full bathrooms. My dad is washing dishes in the large kitchen. He smiles at me as I walked in. "Hey, Tes. Are you going to get ready?"
I nod wordlessly and continue walking. My father always knows when I need time to myself, unlike Nora. I sigh as I close the door of my room behind me and flop onto the bed. I examine the coin for a little while before getting up and checking my closet for some appropriate clothes to wear to the Reaping. I have a white dress that might work. It's probably the one that I wore last year, but I don't remember. I never pay much attention to things like this.
Unlike Nora, I don't have any fancy jewelry from our mother, so I decide to go without. Asking Nora to borrow things is always embarrassing.
I know that even though Nora and I are twins and look quite a bit alike, Mom has always preferred her. Back when she still lived with us years ago, we would fight for her attention, but nowadays I just don't have the energy. She remarried several years ago and has a new family now that I'm clearly not welcome in. It would be bearable if she didn't ignore Nora the same way she does to me.
I change into the dress and slip the coin into my pocket so that Nora won't get a hold of it. I know luck doesn't exist and is the stupid person's explanation for things, but Nora seems to have had luck on her side when she was born with an emotional disposition and a love for "normal" things. The odds are just in her favor, I guess.
I shake my head in order to get rid of these thoughts. It's not the time to start getting mopey. I compose my face into my usual calm mask and head downstairs. Dad is finished with the dishes and is waiting with Nora in the living room.
"Tesla," Nora says quietly, standing up and floating over to me daintily. "I'm sorry if I upset you earlier. Do you want to borrow my necklace?"
She holds out a silver locket in my palm of her hand. I stare down at it, then back up at her hopeful face. I shake my head slowly. "No thank you. Let's get to the Reaping."
Pixel Mackaby (15)- D3M
Today is one of the few days that I have off from the factory and school, so I should be enjoying my morning. Instead I'm sitting in my room, alone, panicking. I've taken out two tesserae before when times were tough. That means that along with my 4 regular slips, I have 6 slips with my name written on it in that glass bowl. Logically, I know those still aren't terrible odds, but I can't get it out of my mind.
I hear my family puttering around in the other room. Our small apartment is not unlike most in District 3, with not a lot of space and very thin walls. This means I can hear everything my sisters are saying in the kitchen. For Vyra, this is her last year, and bound to be both nerve wracking and relieving. At least, I hear that relief is what other people feel after danger has passed. For me, it never seems to pass. Not ever.
I'm supposed to be getting ready for the Reaping, but paranoia has paralyzed me in my bed. I would never leave it if I could.
I hear Hugh laughing as he runs up and down the hallway. The door to our room opens and he peeks inside. He's too small to understand why everyone is acting so strange today.
"Pixie?" he asks me. My name is still difficult for him to pronounce. "Why are you in bed?"
"I'm getting ready," I say quietly.
"Vyra and Vinnie say we should leave soon. Are you coming?"
...
I meet up with Lonny outside of the square, before we have to prick our fingers. Panic is starting to rise up in my throat, almost choking me. I'm not necessarily afraid of blood, but the sight on Reaping day always reminds me of what will happen if I'm reaped.
"Are you feeling okay?" is the first thing Lonny asks me.
I shrug, trying to seem nonchalant. "Fine."
Lonny doesn't seem convinced and stays at my side while our blood is taken. I know there are other people she could be with at this time, but she chooses to stay with me, which I'm grateful for. Like most people, Lonny has a lot of friends. I consider her my best friend but I'm sure she doesn't think of me that way. I'm sure she only hangs out with me because she feels sorry for me; and quite honestly, who wouldn't?
She has to leave my side when we enter the square, separated into our respective gender sections. I hate the feeling of being surrounded by people, especially people my own age who know who I am and so know that I hate being around them…
The mayor steps up to give his annual speech and I suddenly feel like all the air around me has vanished. As I struggle to breathe, the video about the history of the Hunger Games looms over us, fortelling my death and destruction that will either happen from asphyxiation right now in this square, or in a week in the arena. I just know I'm going to be picked. I just know it, I just know it, I just know it…
District Three has had the same escort for every one of my reapings, and her face has become synonymous with all-consuming fear. I've gotten used to dealing with fear over the course of my life, but Reaping day brings with it a whole new breed of fear that I can never shake away no matter how hard I try.
"Let's pick the girls first!" the escort chirps, and I find myself wishing she would just do the boy's and get it over with.
I don't have time to worry for my sisters or Lonny before the name is cheerfully read off for all of Panem to hear.
"Tesla Sherman!"
I don't recognize the name, not that I know many people in the district anyway. She walks stiffly out of the sixteen-year old's section, her black hair tied up loosely. When she turns to face the crowd, I don't see anything in her eyes. I can relate to not experiencing anger or sadness or whatever else someone might feel, but there's no fear either. My breath, which has continued to come quickly for a while now, starts to slow down.
"And now for the boys!"
A jolt of panic shocks me, but I tamp it down and try to remain level-headed. Even if I do get picked, I won't show fear, I won't. I won't get picked, I won't get picked.
"Pixel Mackaby!"
A vision of white flashes over my eyes as though I might pass out, but my legs are moving of their own accord. As I climb the stairs, I realize the Capitol won't want to see my terrified face on their screen; they always prefer tributes like my district partner. No fear.
Despite the fact that the entire district and Capitol are watching me right now, I try to put on a brave face for the cameras, but I can still feel myself blinking in shock as I stare into the crowd, nervously pushing my glasses up farther on my face.
"Wonderful!" the escort says shrilly, touching my shoulder. I'm too terrified to even mind. Tesla and I shake hands, and I'm amazed at her expressionless face when she looks at me.
Suddenly I'm in the Justice Building and I don't know how I got there.
The door opens and my family pours in, most of them already in tears. Vyra and Vinnie hug me tightly, while Quibb desperately tries not to cry. He's just old enough to know that the Games mean certain death, but he's always wanted to be a big strong man. Hugh, on the other hand, is crying just because everyone else is, with no idea that I'm going away.
I take him into my arms as my parents try to comfort my other siblings. "I love you, Hugh, and I'll see you soon. Don't be afraid, okay?"
He nods tearfully.
After the door shuts behind them, I bring my knees to my chest and try not to cry. The Capitolites won't sponsor me if they think I'm weak.
I'm surprised when the door opens again, revealing Lonny. She comes to sit by me on the velvet couch, not saying anything for a few minutes. It hits me just how much I appreciate Lonny. She's been my loyal friend through all these years, even though I know she doesn't understand me fully.
"Here," she says quietly, taking off her bracelet and handing it to me. It takes me a second to realize why; I can take one piece of home with me to the Capitol. I weigh the metal bangle in my hand.
"Thank you."
We don't say much after that, but it's nice spending time with her in the usual way. When the Peacekeepers come for her, I blink away my tears and slip on the bracelet.
Tesla Sherman (16)- D3F
"Stop crying, Nora," I tell her sternly. "Seriously, don't."
Nora looks at me with an incredulous expression, still obvious through her tears. "Tesla, do you realize what's happening?!"
"Yes, I realize," I say calmly. "It's already happened; there's no use crying about it."
"Tesla, please just try to win," Nora continues sobbing. I guess she didn't bother to listen to me, as usual.
"Tesla."
I look up to see my father looking at me intensely, tears also budding in his eyes. "You are good at thinking through things. Think this through. You're sixteen. That's plenty old enough to win, and you're smart and a quick learner. You have good chances. Please try to win, Tes."
I smile up at him. "I'll try, Dad."
Not long after that, the Peacekeepers come to take them away. They both cry out as the door shuts behind them. I sigh once they're gone, wondering if my mother will come to see me.
I'm not surprised when she doesn't.
As the Peacekeepers come to escort me out of the building, I realize I still have the silver coin in my pocket. I take it out and stare at it curiously. It's as good a token as any.
Hey everyone! I just wanted to let you guys know that I've started to keep score of the sponsor points on my profile, so you can always see how many you have. I'll see you in District Four!