CHAPTER SIX-The Morning of the 73rd Hunger Games Reaping Day
A/N So to anyone who reads or reviews: You guys are awesome! Hope you like the new chapter! Also, huge, major twist that I hope you all will like...you will see...oh yes, you will see!
The Reaping Day of the 73rd Hunger Games and all I can think about is Derek Angello who dies in the Games last year. I realize I probably wouldn't be here if he hadn't died, but I desperately wish he had lived. Just having his brother around is amazing. I find myself wondering what would have happened if I had talked to him at school one of those times.
Well, Jared is here. For him, I can come back from the Games if I am chosen this year, but still, he's the only person left that I have even talked to.
I sigh and glance over at Jared who is sleeping beside my bed. He never did like to sleep on his own bed for some reason, and mine is so small, so he will occasionally just wake up and lay down beside my bed.
"Hey Jare." I whisper.
Jared jumps up, and then looks accusingly at me, "No nicknames!" he protests in a pouting voice.
I roll over onto my back and look at him upside-down with my head over the side of the bed.
His faux anger dissipates and he grins at me.
I don't tell him what I just found out, but I do give him a secretive smile. He fidgets and says, "Oh, you found out."
His face is red, and I say, "Jare, it's fine that you are making friends."
"Yeah, but-"
"Come on, time to get ready for the accursed Reaping." I say. We both hate the Reapings, but we know that we have to be there, so neither of us will go against the law to skip it. Look what happened to both Jared's and my parents.
After we are both dressed, I fry some eggs and we sit down for breakfast.
"So, who is this friend?" I ask.
Jared goes red and mutters, "Lani Sherel."
"Ooh, somebody's in love." I tease.
Jared stares at his plate and protests.
Jared is thirteen this year, and I am sixteen, so we both have at least a little experience in the Reapings. Last year, no one I knew was Reaped, but the Capitol still took my parents. This year, it's Jared or me...hopefully, if either of us is picked, it will be me.
PARAGRAPH
When we get to the Reapings, I embrace Jared tightly and whisper, "Be strong, lil' bro."
He gives me an encouraging smile and I realize that his name is in the Reaping this year, whereas last year, he had managed to sneak out his name slips.
We part ways, and I see Jared waving at a girl in the female thirteen-year-olds section. She has dark brown hair and hazel eyes that are so thickly fringed, I wonder if they are natural. She waves at him, and then the escort-that hag-comes on stage.
Just as hideous as last year, but this time, she has her twelfth loop earring in each ear (seriously? How many earrings can one person wear!)
"Hi, District Five! Let's see who our lucky girl is!" her voice is so high-pitched, I see many kids in the district square clap their hands over their ears.
I have a new person I don't want chosen this year.
"Not Lani Sherel, not Lani Sherel." I whisper, because no matter what Jared says, I know he likes her.
"Misty Crain!"
Oh my gosh, she is so annoying! But at least Jared's girl won't be going into the Games this year.
Misty is a strong-looking girl with silky dyed-purple hair, and she marches towards the stage like a career. For all I know, she might have planned on being a career.
"And our lucky guy!"
As I clap my hands over my ears, I plead, "Not Jared, not Jared, not Jared, not Jared."
"Michael Sherel!"
I release the breath I had been holding and relax. My little brother is safe for another year. Then I hear, "No, Michael! No!"
And then something that makes me shriek.
"I volunteer!"
It's Jared. I know his voice well enough to know without even looking.
"Jared!" is all I can manage because I'm shaking worse than a leaf in the wind.
He gives me a wry smile which holds nothing but pain. Michael is Lani's little brother and Jared is not about to let her suffer that loss.
He steps up to the stage, giving me what I guess is supposed to be an encouraging smile, but only makes me sob worse.
Then I notice Lani in the crowd and she is crying as well. She did not want her little brother to go to the Games, but I can tell that she does not want Jared in them, either.
I don't take in anything after that as I sink to my knees and just break down.
PARAGRAPH
I rush to the Justice Building and find Laini is already there, sobbing and embracing Jared. I guess she is somewhat relieved by the fact that Jared is a year older than Michael, but to be painfully honest, this is the Hunger Games. What chance does a thirteen-year-old stand against such odds? Perhaps his chances of returning are greater than Michael's simply because Jared is very sly and resourceful and Michael is small and less experienced than Jared.
Jared is holding Laini close to him and telling her not to worry about him, when he sees me, and immediately goes bright red.
"Why, Jared? Why?" I almost scream.
Laini whimpers and steps back from Jared and I throw my arms around my little brother, who is now as tall as I am.
After a moment of hesitation, Jared embraces me back, and says, "Don't worry, Korena. I'll come back. I swear."
"You can't swear something like that!" I shriek, "It's not something you can just make happen. You have to kill all the other twenty-three tributes to get back, and I just don't see how-"
"Korena, no offense, but shut up." Jared says, grabbing me by the shoulders, "Keep up hope and I will come back. Be a raincloud and know I won't have it in me to win."
A peacekeeper comes in to take Jared away, and Laini squeals and throws her arms around his neck.
"Korena, stay optimistic and I know I'll come back." Jared says, and I suddenly rip out my single loop earring and give it to him.
"It's all I have right now." I say, "Good luck, little brother. Make me proud."
Jared puts on a brave smile and suddenly stops following the peacekeeper.
"Laini..." he stops suddenly and kisses her, and when he starts back after the peacekeeper, Laini sobs even harder and says, "I love you, Jared Angello!"
Let it be enough. I think.
PARAGRAPH
I can't leave the television for one moment. My eyes are glued to the screen, watching everything with all my attention. Missing most meals, losing sleep.
Jared makes it past the bloodbath and runs for the mountains which are to the left of the Cornucopia. I watch intently as he makes himself a shelter there, and avoids all the other tributes.
On day two in the arena, Laini Sherel comes to my house and knocks timidly. When I answer the door, she has an insane smile on her face.
"He made it past the bloodbath!" she squeals in my face, and I let her come in to watch the Games with me.
Thirteen tributes die in the first day; eight in the bloodbath, and five just by running into the traps of the careers during the later hours.
The second day, Jared goes out to hunt, and I am not surprised that he doesn't find anything...he never was great with any weapon.
Then an avalanche comes from the top of the mountain and Jared runs. I'm sure I'm about to break Laini's wrist I'm holding onto her so tightly. And she is so very pale...
Jared dives out of the way and the avalanche crushes the careers' camp, killing all six. I'm shocked and Laini has an insane smile on her face. I begin to wonder if this is getting to her too much.
Day three in the arena and already there are only five tributes left...must be a record.
Jared is still alive and none of the careers are around.
This day is uneventful and Jared manages to find some edible roots.
The next day, though, we get a shot of an alliance of the girl from seven, the boy from twelve, and the boy from six. That means that the girl from three and Jared are the only loners.
But when we see this alliance, it's to watch the girl slit both boys' throats in their sleep and then sneak off into the night.
Just two girls and Jared left by day five. Laini is almost maniacal squealing happily as the girl from seven kills the girl from three. I'm shocked, but that means this ruthless killer girl and Jared are the only ones left.
The next time Jared comes on screen, he is battling a mutt which seems to be a flying snake. It stings him on the shoulder and Laini passes out, as Jared falls limp...no cannon goes off and Jared's shoulder is gushing blood. But he's not dead.
The girl from seven is coming through the forest nearby and the snake is sniffing the air.
"Don't kill him...please don't kill him." I whisper.
And as the girl from seven comes around through the trees, the flying snake whips around and bites her in the face. A scream, and then it's all over. A cannon goes off and someone declares unconscious Jared Angello to be the winner of the seventy-third Hunger Games.
Laini shrieks and runs forward to kiss the TV screen and I'm in such a state of shock that I almost pass out.
My little brother just won the Hunger Games!
A/N So the next chapter is not going to be a Games, it's going to be...something else. Read and find out (But please don't forget to review!)
*CYBERSPACE CHOCOLATE*!
-Rogue Elf Princess