Caleb Odalric (18)- D5M
"Nina…"
I wake up to Jett licking my face, his dog-breath making me cringe.
"Ew, Jett, stop," I mutter, pushing him away. He whines sadly, something he doesn't do very often. He must have realized I was having a bad dream. A dream about what today is: the Reaping.
I hear my parents talking in hushed tones in the other room. Jett gazes at me with sad-puppy eyes that he's never grown out of. He's always been very intune with my emotions, and very protective of me. That's why he sleeps with me every night.
"Alright, let's get up, Jett," I say without my usual gusto. He notices this as well and jumps off the bed with his tail down and ears flat. I glance at the clock and realize it's late; the Reaping is only in a couple of hours. Still, I wish I could have slept more.
I throw on my usual Reaping outfit and head into the kitchen with Jett. My mother isn't dressed yet, sitting at the table. My father is in his Peacekeeper uniform, face grim and ready to go patrol the square before the ceremony starts.
"How are you, Caleb?" he asks me as soon as I enter.
"Never been better," I mutter under my breath. I don't mean to be rude to him, and he's knows it. Reaping day is just hard for us since Nina's name was called four years ago. My sister was only twelve, so young and innocent and my best friend aside from Jett. The brute from One had killed her gruesomely during the bloodbath, returning home in a small wooden box that we buried in the district cemetery.
"It's your last year," my mother says, clearly trying to hold it together. "And you've never taken tesserae. After this, you won't have anything to worry about."
"I know, Mom."
Ever since Nina's death, Mom has been terrified of me being reaped as well. It's not unheard of for family members of past tributes to compete in the Games. Whether or not the Reapings are rigged for that sort of thing is a debate even I can't pick a side on, but either way, it's still a possibility. I comfort myself by knowing that I would have an advantage over the other tributes if I was picked; I'm eighteen, and my father is a Peacekeeper. I can't say I haven't learned anything from him over the years, and he was the one that convince me to exercise regularly to stay in shape.
Jett curls up on my feet as I eat breakfast, scrambled eggs and toast. Not everyone in District 5 is capable of living as well as us. My father, though he cannot marry my mother because he is a Peacekeeper, takes good care of us.
My father leaves not soon after, my mother and I left with an hour to kill before we have to leave. We spend most of the time in silence. We used to be so close, but that's before Nina died and Mom was overcome with a sadness unlike anything I'd seen before. I'm sure she's worried about me being Reaped, and I try to convince myself that it won't happen.
Before we leave for the Reaping, my mother comes over to me and brushes my blonde hair away from my eyes, smiling at me.
"You look just like your father. You have his nose." She taps my nose affectionately.
I grin back at her, glad that she's joking around with me. "Thanks. I know you think his nose is too big."
"That's not at all what I think!" she says in mock offense.
We share a small laugh before heading out, Jett right on our heels, tail wagging and tongue hanging out.
Amelia Waltraud (16)- D5F
My knee is jumping as I sit on our bench, waiting for Elanor. We agreed a long time ago not to treat the Reaping day different than any other day, so we still meet in the morning for our usual jog around District 5. The ceremony doesn't start for nearly four hours, so we still have lots of time to run and then shower and get ready for the Reaping.
The Reaping always makes me nervous, even though I know my chances of being called are slim. I've never taken our tesserae and I have only 5 slips in the entire bowl of names… Still, it's a sad thought. Though my life isn't the best, I would like to live it all the way through.
"Amelia!" I look up and smile when I see who it is. Elanor kisses my on the cheek gently when she draws near, making me blush.
"Are you ready?" I ask softly.
"Always," Elanor grins, apparently not worried at all about the Games.
We start on the usual path, jogging along the stream that runs beside the western fences. It's probably my favorite place in the district, the sounds of birds chirping and running water the most soothing thing that exists for us in Five. The rest of the place is covered in cement and tall buildings emitting smoke. Most people have to wear face masks when traveling downtown, so we avoid that area, sticking to the perimeter of the district.
We end our run at my house, where we go inside for some water and breakfast. We take turns showering, while my mother cooks for us both. Elanor comes around so often that she has her own place at the table. She always complains and says its not her job to feed her, but we insist. Both of our families are not very well-off, but we make do with what we have, and what would be the point if we couldn't share it with someone?
"Thank you, Miss Waltraud," Elanor says sweetly when we sit down. We're no both dressed in our best, which isn't much by wealthier standards, but good enough for us. It feels like we're real family having a full meal together, even if it's just course bread and coffee.
All of a sudden, there's a knock on the door. "Ziva!"
My mother pales, and I'm sure I do too, when we recognize the voice. I shouldn't have said this was a family meal.
"Hold on!" she calls back. "Why don't you girls go back to Amelia's room, huh?"
"Okay." I take my coffee and pull Elanor with me to the small bedroom off of the kitchen. It's stuffy and dark, but the smell and sight of my books comforts me momentarily.
Elanor doesn't seem confused; things like this have happened a couple of times before. I'm sure she knows we have secret, but she never tries to pry. Her cooperation in hiding from my father is much appreciated; he doesn't want anyone to know that he is related to me. If he knew that Elanor was here, he would flip, so we stay in my bedroom until I hear my mother's voice from the kitchen.
"Amelia? Will you come here for a moment?"
I set down my mug and the book Elanor and I were silently reading together and unwillingly leave my room. I make sure to shut the door behind me so that Elanor won't be seen.
My father is standing there in his white Peacekeeper uniform, his eyebrows pulled together in disapproval. I draw further into myself both physically and mentally, looking at the ground as I shuffle my feet nervously.
"Hello, Amelia," he says gruffly. "I thought I would come to see you before the Reaping."
"Thank you." I say. I know by now not to call him Dad.
"Your chances of being picked are very slim due to what I've provided for you," he continues. "So don't worry."
I nod slowly. Of course, I know the real reason he's here, which to give my mother this month's money to stay quiet about my parentage. Born out of an affair, it would ruin my father's marriage and reputation.
"I will see you next week," he informs my mother, then hurries away. He never spends more time he than he needs to.
I look up at my Mom. She looks sad, as usual. She's told me before that she never held any true emotions for my father, but they had conceived me nonetheless. I'm my father's greatest regret, I'm sure.
I retrieve Elanor from my room, happy to see that's she's still smiling and not upset for leaving her alone. She doesn't ask any questions, just takes my hand and asks, "Should we head out?"
"As soon as Mom is ready," I answer with a smile back. It's nice to have someone to trust, someone that I can count on no matter what. Elanor and I are not exactly friends; maybe something more, but I'm fine with what we have now. I was not born out of love, but I certainly am capable of finding it.
Caleb Odalric (18)- D5M
The mayor's speech is as dull and infuriating as ever. Surely the Capitol doesn't really believe that my sister, a twelve-year old girl, died for crimes committed over 70 years ago. Or worse, for "honor" and "glory".
It comes time for the escort to draw the names. As he dips his hand into the girl's ball, I wonder who will be the poor soul who will be sent off to die. It most likely won't be anyone that I know; I don't really have any friends.
"Amelia Waltraud!"
I don't recognize the name, and I barely recognize the girl who climbs the stage afterward. Her eyes are filled with tears, but she doesn't let them fall.
"And now for the boys!" the escort cries delightfully. He doesn't seem to care that the girl is close to tears, or perhaps he doesn't notice. I don't know which is worse.
The freakish man pulls out a small slip from the boy's ball and I tense up in anticipation. My left hand automatically goes to the pink friendship bracelet on my right wrist; the one that Nina had made for me before she died.
"Caleb Odalric!"
My name echoes off the walls of District Five. For a moment I feel like the world has stopped spinning. I couldn't have been called. The odds were in my favor!
I feel myself start to walk up to the stage. Everyone thought the odds were in Nina's favor too, though, I think bitterly.
"And here are your tributes for District Five!" the escort announces cheerfully. "Shake hands, you too."
I put my hand out, but the girl waits a second before doing as she's told. Maybe she's still shocked about what has happened. I look up and see she's staring at me with terror, like I will be the one to kill her in the arena.
Two Peacekeepers grab us by the shoulders and steer us to the Justice Building. We don't stop until we reach a hallway with two ornate doors. Opposite them is a large painting of the birth of Panem, thirteen districts and a shining Capitol rising out of the ashes of a destroyed world. District 5 is represented by a man wearing a hazmat suit, handing the Capitol a lit lightbulb. It has me wildly wondering what my outfit for the Tribute Parade will be.
The Peacekeeper drags me into one of the rooms, with is also decorated lavishly. I've been to the Justice Building before for my father's promotion ceremonies, but this time, the luxury feels foreign and unfeeling, not welcome and inviting.
The door opens again and my parents and Jett come bursting in the door. Mom is already crying hard, wrapping her arms around my neck. Dad's face is set with grief. I realize that if I die, my pain will end, but my parents will have lost two children.
Even Jett is upset, jumping onto the velvet couch with me and whining as he buries his long nose into my armpit. I scoop him into my arms and scratch between his eyes, just where he likes it.
"I'm sorry, Jett," I whisper to him. "I have to leave."
He never recovered after Nina left; laying in her bed and crying for months after she died.
"I'll be back," I tell him. "I'm going to come back, you'll see."
Amelia Waltraud (16)- D5F
After my mother's visit, I almost hope that Elanor won't come. Goodbyes are too hard, especially when I know it will likely be forever. Maybe we can just remember each other the way we were this morning, when everything was fine and I had a whole future ahead of me.
But of course she comes, tears and all.
"I brought something for you," she whispers, as if someone might hear. She slips a thin silver chain around my neck. There's a charm hanging from it; half of a heart. Elanor pulls out an identical necklace from her pocket and clasps it around her own neck.
"I was going to give it to you later today," she says softly. "At your house. But this works too."
I laugh tearfully and pull her in for a hug. We're never going to see each other again, so I might as well tell her how I feel. I suck in a deep breath and begin to form my sentence just as the Peacekeepers burst in to take her away.
"Elanor!" I call out.
"Amelia-"
The door shuts behind them. I stare at the charm around my neck and dread starts to fill the pit of my stomach. The odds were definitely not in my favor today.
I know my father won't visit me. He'd be too afraid of connecting himself to me. He might even be glad that his biggest mistake will be erased from the face of the earth.
Besides, he's probably to busy visiting his other child who will be competing in the Games.
Hey guys! Here's District 5. I hope everyone had a great day and will have a great week!