With this chapter concludes the reapings
I'm so excited to get through this because,
I REALLY HATE REAPING CHAPTERS
But, enough about me.
Meet Ember and Xoren out last two!
Trigger warning: Kind of sexual in Ember's POV...
Could dress up
To get love
But guess what?
I'm never gonna be that girl
Living in a barbie world
Ember Poxal, 18
District 12 Female
I never chose this life for myself. Honestly, this life chose me. Bare with me, because I know that's cheesier than the baker's bread I've never gotten my hands on, but it's true. No one wakes up one day and decides: "I'm gonna be a hooker." No, it's more complex to that. There's always more to a story than the cover. Which is why I do my best to make mine as ambiguous as possible.
I used to have dreams you know. I wanted something more in life than just being one of the Poxal triplets. We aren't even actually triplets, but for the right price anything can happen, am I right?
We're selective with our customers. A key that opens any lock is celebrated, but a lock that opens for any key is broken. You'll never catch a homeless person living in a castle, and that's where most of men and women in our profession go wrong. Our body is our merchandise after all, and our wage is the paycheck. We might not be the best off, but because the Peacekeepers know we aren't giving it up to any person with a scrap of food they're our main customers.
The operation is simple. Cali and Regis distract, and I go around the room and take things people wouldn't notice they're missing. Very rarely do we have to make this a triplet endeavor. However, I go off on my own little...uh, "excursions" and work on the side for myself.
Like I said before, I did have dreams before this. I wanted to be a writer. No seriously, hold the laughter and giggles, and spare the jokes about writing erotica because that's stupid. I had dreams of the Capitol inviting me on book tours and dreams of the Capitol buying my book making me a number one best seller.
Broken dreams taste sour, though, so now I just do what I can to get the money and go.
"Well, well, well if it isn't the Poxal Triplets," says Mr. Ronnaldo. "Long time no sees girls, tell me, when are you gonna see good old Mr. Ronnaldo again?"
"When Mr. Ronnaldo books us of course," says Cali. She's always been the best at charming. Regis is the best at seduction, I'm just kind of in the middle and I think that's okay.
"Well, we might have to make that offer happen soon," says Mr. Ronnaldo winking at us. "I'll see you, girls, later."
He walks down the street and turns into the baker's shop. What a scandalous mayor we have.
"We are so not going back to him," says Regis as soon as he's out of earshot. "It's flabby, and he makes us do that weird thing with the-"
"We don't need a reminder," says Cali as she twirls her hair. "We all remember all too well."
We laugh as we round the corner into the Seam and begin our usual rounds of sneaking things off the shelves when people aren't looking. A piece of bread here, a cup of soup there. Doesn't make for much, but as a whole, we are pretty well fed.
"Well, now that we've had dinner, what's the plan tonight."
"We have a 'business meeting' with the couple on Elder's Road, we have an appointment with The Bradley's right after, and just enough time for Ember to sneak into Ronnaldo's house and swipe some carrots for mom." says Cali smiling.
"I hate going in there," I say bluntly. "It smells like onions and whiskey."
"You're his favorite, so if you get caught he's less likely to press charges on you."
"He's going to make me do the thing," I whine as we continue to walk towards our house to get ready for the evening's endeavors.
"Not if you don't get caught. Plus, his wife is there, you can't be that loud," says Cali.
"Wait, are we even talking about the same thing?" says Regis
"Probably not," I say. "He seems a tad perverted, and like not in the good and humorous way? More like 'what the hell how did you even think of that' kind of way."
We laugh as we enter our home and head straight to our bedrooms and begin to change and get ready. Mom limps in and smiles at us. "My beautiful girls," she says. "I'm so proud of you for working hard and helping the mayor every night. It was a real blessing that he saw you three eligible to clean his house as much as you get too. It's a real help."
"We know, mom," we say smiling back. Trying to hide the secret shame that lies underneath our fake smiles. "We're blessed too."
I never promised you anything I couldn't do
We tried to bury it and rise above
We tried to bury it and rise above
Xoren Cinnabar, 14
District 12 Male
"Xoren, tell me how you're coping." says the orphanage therapist that literally has no earthly idea what she's talking about. How can anyone know what's going on? I've been coming to this stupid therapist for years, and nothing has changed.
My parents are still killed. There's no bringing them back. It's the Capitol's fault.
Yvila is a lot more experienced in the 'saying what you need to so you don't continue to have to come to this' thing, but that's because she's all together, all the time. She's more rounded in my opinion. It's like mom passed on all the good genes to her in utero, and I just got stuck with everything else.
"I don't know what's going to be different this time," I say as I tilt my head back and sigh. "I still blame the Capitol for what happened. My parents weren't traitors. They did everything by the books in this country, and I will not rest until I can prove that they are innocent."
"You're being a little hostile today," she says as she writes down on the clipboard. "Tell me, the directors of the center say that you've opened up a palm reading business? I pride you on making your stride and trying to get money for when you age out, but a palm reading? Isn't your sister a baker?"
"Yvila has her own ways of doing things. Mine just happens to be a lot quicker to get the money I need. Say what you want, but people in this District will do anything for a bit of hope."
"Is that something you think is okay to do? Give people a false sense of hope? Ask the therapist
"What makes you think that I don't see things?" I begin. "I could be a psychic with unknown powers that exude any understanding that you'll ever encounter. Your puny mortal mind could be no match for my superior third eye that sees into the future."
"Oh yeah?" ask my therapist with a chuckle. "Tell me, what does mine say then?"
Let's be real for a second. This woman is pretty much an open book when it comes to understanding who she is. She's happy, but it isn't the happy that is genuine. Underneath her smile lies a scared woman. I'm guessing her husband hits her, or he's a drunk. Either way, the marriage isn't a happy one. Her kids are probably not the best behaved because she seems like the type that encourages them to "express themselves" in whatever way possible. I'm imagining her in an affair. That would make sense with her honestly.
"Alright," I say holding out my hand to her. "Let me see,"
She hands me her hand and I close my eyes and begin to run my own palm over her hand. I smile as I get the reading and then high five her hand. She jumps back in shock over our hands touching, but I continue to do my "ritual".
"I see a man," I say to her. "You're seeing a man, but he doesn't have a ring on his finger. He's not your husband, is he?"
"I-I-what?" she says shocked. Point one for Xoren.
"I also see another man, this one has a ring on his finger. He has a bottle in his hand." her hands begin to sweat. "He also has a fist in the other one, but that could just be a coincidence?" I feel her tense a bit, "No, no, not a coincidence. Your husband isn't a nice man is he?"
"He...he works very hard." she says quickly.
"I also see children. Genders are unknown at this point, but they seem very conflicted in life choices. Free thinkers, one seems to be very good?"
"Yes, my daughter is very good," she says very quietly. Almost silent.
"Your son?" I say thinking that's the only option. "He's making some hard choices even as we speak."
She pulls her hand away and slams it to her side. "That's enough," she says. "I think it's best that you leave."
"Oh come on," I say, "We were just getting to know each other."
"Xoren, leave." she says sternly.
I get up from my chair and walk towards the door of her office. I open it up and before I exit I turn back. She is wiping tears from her eyes as she goes to dig for something in her desk. I see her pull out a glass and another large bottle with golden liquid in it before I close the door behind me.
"How was it?" asks Yvila as she looks at me smiling as I open up the door.
"Meh," I say. "Same old, same old."
know the other girlies wanna wear expensive things
Like diamond rings
But I don't wanna be the puppet that you're playing on a string
This queen don't need a king
Ember Poxal, 18
District 12 Female
I cannot stand the fact they're actually making me go and steal carrots from this man's house. I have no earthly idea why we don't just steal them in the seam, but apparently, they're too valuable to rip off of someone that can't afford them.
"It's a quick in and out operation, sis." says Cali.
"Yeah, you go in, get the carrot, and come out," says Regis. "Just don't be stupid."
I roll my eyes and kick my hells off on the ground. I look both ways in the giant yard that the mayor has before I make a beeline sprint for the house. There's a window that I and my sisters learned are always unlocked. I think it's how his secret lovers get in and out of the house without his wife knowing.
When I get to the window I take a deep breath and hold it in as I push the window open. I throw my leg over and step up into the house. I do a tuck and roll under a table and look both ways down the hallway. The halls are dark, and they it doesn't seem like anyone is awake. I just have to figure out where the kitchen is now.
I carefully come out from under the table and begin my walk down the hall. I turn the corner a couple of times and end up staring at a giant living room. There is a piano on the left wall followed by lavish couches and many other decors throughout the house.
"So this is how you live while the rest of us are in rags," I whisper as I continue down the way that looks right.
As I continue walking I end up at a giant hall, it has two doors, one of them is bound to lead to the kitchen. I open up the door on the left and cross my fingers that no one is behind it as I walk into the door.
To my complete horror, there is a lamp on, and Mr. Ronnaldo is sitting at his office desk. He looks at me confused when the door opens, and then hurries up and ushers me inside.
"Ember, what the hell are you doing here?"
Thinking on my feet, I realize what this is going to have to turn into for me to get away with this. This is going to suck.
"You said see you soon earlier," I say with a wink and smile. "I just assumed you meant tonight? Was I wrong? I can go home. I just thought that being such a busy mayor it must get stressful. Maybe you needed someone to help you relieve some stress."
He looks me up and down and then smiles as he gets up and crosses the room. He pulls my face close and kisses me, and then crosses over to the other side of the room to lock the door. He turns back and smiles at me.
"Oh no, there won't be a need to go home," he says. "We can have a party right here," he says with a smirk on as he begins to take off his trousers.
Twenty minutes later and I lay on the couch in his study. He stands on the balcony of his office smoking a cigarette, and I'm dying to get out of this house. I've been in here too long, and Cali and Regis are probably looking for me by now. I just don't want them to come inside and then we have to redo this all over again. I do not have another round in me.
"That was something," he says from the balcony. He stands in nothing but his boxers and a pair of dress socks leaning against the rail. He ushers for me to come closer to him, and I cringe on the inside before I put on a fake smile and get up to go to the pervy old man.
"I suppose you want payment?" he asks me as he reaches down into his sock and begins to pull out a few coins.
"Actually, I was hoping for some carrots?" I say cautiously
"Carrots?" he asks me surprised.
"Don't ask," I say. "It's a long story."
He holds his finger up and nods as he walks to the other side of the room and walks out the door. He closes it behind him, and less than 30 seconds later another young man opens the door. He is wearing a pair of sweatpants and no shirt and when he sees me his eyes scrunch up. I quickly turn around and face the balcony so he can't see my face.
He's an attractive boy, around 19 years old. I know who he is, every girl in this District knows who he is. He's the mayor's son. Buckley Ronnaldo.
"Well this is a surprise," he says chuckling to himself. "Can I help you with something?"
"Oh my gosh," I say mortified as I jump over the edge of the balcony and land on the soft grass in the mayor's backyard. Thankfully the balcony is on the first story, and thankfully I still had my dress on.
When I arrive at the spot where my sisters were waiting for me they look appalled. "What the hell, Ember!" they say. "We thought you died."
"I'm literally going to kill myself," I say 9 shades of red darker than normal. "
"So, no carrots?" ask Cali sadly.
Reaching, reaching for, reaching for my resistance
Nobody, nobody, nobody sees it at a distance
And I am catchin' up and I am seein' red
How about I throw my way and raise it overhead?
Xoren Cinnabar, 14
District 12 Male
Reaping days are just days that I don't get money to live. I hate that everyone has to take off on these days. It's not like every family is losing someone, and sometimes, people don't even lose anyone. More often than not it's one of the orphans that get reaped. The rich have fewer names in there.
I close my eyes and breathe in the surrounding scene. It seems as if everyone in this District is so far up the Capitol's butt they don't understand the repercussions of just sitting around and doing nothing. I've wished so many times that I could get up. That I could scream for rebellion. That I could beg the Districts to rise up and attack full throttle. That, unfortunately, is not in the cards.
I'm not meant for something that great. But I know someday, something amazing will happen, and the Districts will unite, and the Capitol will fall. I just hope that I'm around for it.
"Hello District 12!" says the escort happily. "Welcome to the 31st reapings for the Annual Hunger Games! It's an exciting time of year, and everything is going to be sooooo enthralling this year!"
I don't trust anyone that adds that many o's to a sentence.
"Let us start with the females, shall we?" She struts back to the female reaping bowl almost as if she is walking a runway. She sticks her hand all the way into the bottom of the bowl and pulls a name out.
She walks back to the front of the stage and opens up the envelope.
"Ember Poxal" she reads into the microphone.
Well, well, well. One of the Poxal sisters. I don't know her personally, but I have heard of her. Everyone has heard of her. She's the more resilient one. Her sisters do a really good job of taking the blunt for her. She never really has to do the "services" that they provide. Well, at least that's the rumor at the orphanage.
She walks out of the 18-year-old section and struts to the front. She flips her hair and smiles to the camera which I think is a semi-bold move. She greets the escort with a cheerful smile, but if you were looking close enough you see a look of sorrow and hopelessness on her face. She quickly bounces back with a smile, however.
The escort then walks back to the stage and goes to the boy's bowl. They put their hand on the very top of the bowl and pluck the first name that comes to them. He walks back up to the front of the stage and before he even opens the card I get a bad feeling.
There are some moments in life that you just know will change everything. There are some moments in life you just can't explain, but you just knew they were going to happen. Though I might not be psychic, when he read the name "Xoren Cinnabar" into the microphone, I wasn't surprised.
I try and walk up to the stage as confidently and as suave as Ember did, but my legs inevitably fail me as I walk with my legs wiggling. Yvlia screams as I stand on the stage next to the girl.
"I volunteer!" she screams. "I volunteer for, Ember!"
Ember looks hopeful as she stares at the escort in happiness when the escort shakes their head. "The time for volunteers has long passed for the girls, sweetheart." they then put on a smile and raise Ember and mine's hands up. "DISTRICT 12, I GIVE YOU YOUR TRIBUTES! EMBER POXAL AND XOREN CINNABAR!"
We are finally done. This is so hard because we are getting closer and closer to the bloodbath. Though I'm happy for that. I'm still nervous because all of these characters are SO good. This is going to be hard, because I thought I had everything planned, and lol, I have nothing planned anymore.
Predicted Placements now that we've met everyone?
Opinions on these two?
Who is your favorite tribute?
Keep it classy,
Caleb