Ferris Peterson
Reaping Day pisses me off.
I mean my family is starving anyways, why do they have to punish us with this stupid game too? It's not likely any of my family members would get chosen; most aren't old enough anyway. But me, my sisters Shelly and Junie and brothers Slod, Jaq and Tem are. I come from a big family, okay? Plus you have to wait in a huge crowd when I could trying to be trading down at the Hob, or offering my labor to people who are constructing houses or something. It's a big waste of time, a waste of two lives, and a waste of…just…everything!
Right now at this moment I'm sandwiched between two giggling girls who are staring at me and whispering to one another as if I'm not there. They're both from the richer part of town—you can tell by their curly blond hair and round faces.
"What do you think he lives off of, dirt?" One whispered to the other. They've been doing this throughout all of the mayor's speech.
"I have no idea—maybe he doesn't eat anything!" The other exclaimed.
"That's it!" I hissed in a fierce whisper. "You don't know anything about my life, so shut the f—"
"Ferris Peterson!"
Shit. Are you kidding me? I look up to the stage, only to see the escort scanning the crowd and holding the slip of paper with my name on it up expectantly. I push the girls out of my way and they gasp, both realizing who I am. Rage wells inside me like nothing else has before. Everyone stares at me and I can't help it—two angry tears slid down my burning cheeks. It's not fair, it's not fair, I'm suffered enough, it shouldn't be me—
But it is me. The underfed, angry boy from the Seam.
Abrielle 'Abbi' Robinson
The boy—Ferris, making his way to the stage now was standing not too far away from me when his name had been called. You could see he was crying too, and he lowered his head as he mounted the stage, trying to hide it. I felt bad for him—and I felt so grateful for the next few minutes that I had a nice home, nice clothes, good food I could eat every night and that most of all, I wasn't going to go into the games. This, however, only lasts a few minutes.
"Well," One of my best friends, Nathan whispers to me and my other friend Ava in a high-pitched voice, his attempt to lighten the mood. "At least he's handsome. I mean, like really, rally hawt" He pretends to squeal. Ava laughs out loud, but I just stifle a weak smile. It feels wrong to laugh at someone whose body will be returned to the District slaughtered and broken.
There are no volunteers when our escort asks for them. She moves on to pick the female tribute. Hurrying over to the glass ball, she pulls out the first one she gets.
"Abrielle Robinson!"
I feel like I've been slapped in the face, but with a two-ton brick. I pull myself away from my friends' grasps, forbidding any fear to show on my face. How ironic, I think, as I get onto the stage. I see my family, my little twin brother and sister Rosy and Lukas and my three-year old baby sister Mia. Rosy and Lukas have some idea what's going on, and they're both huddled together, crying silently. Mia sobs loudly, probably out of confusion though she must sense something is wrong. My parents clutch her tightly, not wanting to look at me for fear of crying themselves.
Will my siblings remember me? Will I ever see them again?
Yay, and the Reapings are finally over and done with. Thank god. Train Rides are next! Also, keep in mind who you'd like to sponsor because after the interviews are completed, I'm going to be asking for those. Thanks for everyone who has read and reviewed this story so far, please keep up the good work! Also thank you to stinkermrpink who is going to be my beta for the rest of the story, I think.
If you have any questions, comments or anything, review the story or PM me.