The Reaping
Everyone you know, is trying smooth it over,
Trying to find a way to make the hurt go away,
But, I won't let you make the great escape,
I'm never gonna watch you checking out of this place
I'm not gonna loseyou.
'Cause the passion and the pain are gonna keep you alive
Someday.
Author's Note: The rest of this story will be in different characters' POVs. Everyone will get their fair share, so don't worry about that. I think that it is easier to do the reaping like this. I hope you all agree and enjoy this chapter! After this there is one more reaping chapter, then we're off to the Capitol- already! I am not going to do the train ride. Remember to review if you would like your character to survive the bloodbath! The lyrics in this chapter do not belong to me. They belong to P!NK in her song "The Great Escape."
District One
"Almost done yet, Luke?" a chirpy clear voice calls into the training center. Skye Emerald waits for her brother while flipping a lock of her thick red hair over her shoulder. She sits on a small wooden bench right outside of the center.
"No," Luke answers plainly. Skye rolls her eyes, but smiles. She can wait. The only reason they have to get ready- the reaping, is even worse than training for Skye. She actually doesn't mind training at all, until the avoxes start to get involved.
After ten minutes of waiting, Luke finally steps out from training with his girlfriend Romilda on his shoulder. Romilda is the classic District One girl with her golden colored hair and bright blue eyes and tan skin. Romilda has always been fond of Skye like everyone else. Although Skye might act a little differently than all of the spear throwing girls of District One, she's still well-liked.
"Are you guys ready for the reaping?" Skye asks, looking from his brother to his girlfriend.
"Yeah. I think I'll volunteer next year," Romilda says with a grin. Skye's never planned on volunteering even though she's already seventeen, along with Romilda. Luke is eighteen, so this is his last year.
"Really?" Luke questions her, new to this conversation.
"Mmhm! I could totally win the Games!" Romilda turns her eyes to Luke with hunger hidden behind them. "Plus, that would mean we'd get our own place at the victor's village!" Skye looks away awkwardly and heads up to the town square.
Glass Morgans is also walking up to the square with a posse of petite perfect little blonde girls, who look like clones of each other. Glass smiles as he turns around to give them a devilish smirk. The girls sigh and one or two overly excited girls wave their hands in front of their faces, trying to cool themselves down. Glass walks over to a small bench and taps a seat next to him and one of the girls sits and Glass brushes the others off and they disappear.
"Silk, I love you," Glass smiles, reaching in to kiss the girl.
"I love you too Glass," Silk grins, kissing him back. Glass messes with a lot of girls, it's his thing. But none are like Silk. Maybe it's because Silk messes with other guys too. "I love you" is such a loose term in District One.
One of the only girls Glass hasn't managed to lock-lips with walks by, frowning at the two. She flips her red hair in disgust and heads off. Skye's had enough of this District One idiocy.
"GLASS!" A soft voice calls, but it is merely in his head. It frightens him, but he's heard it so much he's grown used to it. It is Amber. Her ghost whispers things to him. Glass ignores it, still making out with Silk. After a minute he stands back up and tells Silk he's going to the reaping. She frowns and makes a procative pose on the bench, trying to lure Glass back and tease him at the same time.
"No, I've got to go, I'm going to volunteer this year," Glass grins.
"Really? Well then we'll have to continue this in the goodbyes,"
"Whatever Silk," Glass shrugs, but he's truthfully looking forward to seeing her for one last time. Glass knows he won't be coming back. He doesn't want to.
He'd kill himself here and now, but he wants to have more fun. And he thinks the arena is the perfect place. Avenging Amber will be easy.
She died in the rebellion eight years ago, when she and Glass where ten. He's always blamed her death on himself and his parents, for kicking them out of the house and onto the streets. Glass has always thought there could have been a way to save her. That he could have used more medicine sooner, or something.
The reaping goes by too slowly for both Skye and Glass. They sigh at the video, Amber in Glass's mind. When the girls take a turn to be reaped the redhead is chosen. Everyone stays silent, not a volunteer in sight.
Then Glass volunteers, shooting his hand into the air and racing upstage. Skye looks at him sadly, and Glass stares back, seeing her as prey.
District Two
Canzi Greysabr sighs as she heads out of the training center, her heart hopeful that she has just completed her last day ever. Canzi plans on volunteering today at the reaping. She can't wait to get out of this hell. Yes, it's home to her friends and family and everyone she loves, but she doesn't like the "District Two mold." Being serious has always been a problem for her…
"Hey Rabbit!" Sabrina yells through the crowd of trainees. Canzi's small pointed ears and snub nose (that twitches when she's mad) gives her the nickname.
"Hi sis! How's training?" She asks, but she already knows the answer. Sabrina does fit the mold, leaving Canzi looking naïve and kind of dumb.
"It's pretty good… are you still going to volunteer today?"
"Yep! I am, and- guess what? I'm going to get a home at the Victor's Village and you and-" she stops for a minute, staring at Sabrina's dark brown boots, "- Sabrina, you have mud on your boots," She wipes it off then looks back up to Canzi expectantly.
"And?"
"What?"
"Canzi, what were you saying?"
"Oh! The Victor's Village will be so fun, don't you think 'Sab? We'll live next to celebrities- I'll be a celebrity! And I can escape training! THIS. WILL. BE. AWESOME! I can't wait!" She says, taking out her inhaler to help her rapid breathing. It starts either in training, midst a run, or when she's talking one speed too fast.
Across town a boy with the name of Sceptor Ashlander meanders down the winding street. His younger sister Orchid clutching his big hand. His other sister Jessamine scowls when Sceptor reaches for her's. Ever since becoming a teenager, Jessamine's been acting like she's "too cool" for Sceptor. He doesn't really mind, in fact he ignores her independence.
"Sceptor- Why isn't Mama coming to the reaping? Isn't it mandatory?" Orchid asks, her eyes searching the street.
"No. She isn't coming because she's been excused,"
"Why?"
"Because Orchid, you know the exceptions… Mama's bedridden."
"Oh. I forgot," Orchid bats her eyes and turns away.
As the kids keep walking down the street two seventeen year old boys walk by. One sticks his foot out in front of Sceptor. He doesn't fall, but stumbles just a bit.
"Watch it blockhead!" They laugh and continue down the road.
Minutes later the Ashlander children are at the town square, all checked in and ready. Sceptor has told them both that he'll be volunteering this year. He thinks he'll make it back. Sceptor won't even consider the consequences.
"Welcome District Two! A lovely day here- as always!" Mim Derimo claps her pudgy hands, her eyes welling with tears. "A year has passed since I've gotten to see your smiling faces!" Mim starts, but she's interrupted by the video of the Dark Days. After the short film ends she grins from ear to ear. She wears a furry light pink dress and obnoxiously high heels.
"Now- on with the reaping! My main gals shall be first!" Mim smiles, her new facelift stretching. Her hand grabs a piece of paper and calls,
"ADELAIDE REID!"
"I VOLUNTEER!" A small girl pipes up in the fifteen year old section.
"Gah! You guys are so fabulous- and brave!" Mim shakes the girl's hand. "What's your name?"
"Canzi Greysabr!" She grins, practically bouncing up and down from the excitement.
"Nice to see you Canzi. Now to the gentlemen!"
"MILLO WIST!"
"I VOLUNTEER!"
"And your name is?" Mim asks the tall boy. He has a kind-looking face.
"Sceptor. Sceptor Ashlander, 'Mam!"
"Ooh… very nice! OUR TRIBUTES OF DISTRICT TWO!" Mim cheers, grabbing the hands of the tributes and raising them in the air. They shake hands, suddenly thinking they don't belong.
District Three
Frankie Verna brushes her raven-black hair off of her face, feeling the curved scar underneath her eyebrow as she squishes down into her bed. Her mother gave it to her. It was an accident from years ago, but it still makes her frown. Well, making a scar was an accident, but slapping Frankie across the face was not.
Frankie and her mother's boyfriend had gotten into a fight, like they always did, but this time Frankie was no longer the underdog- this time she was on top. She ended up kicking the boyfriend out of the house for hitting her poor little sister Jamie. Then Ms. Verna had stormed into the main room, furious, and slapped Frankie across the face. Her fingernail accidentally caught skin and tore it off, revealing fresh blood.
Frankie heaves a sigh. Reaping day always sucks. Watching children ripped out of their parents' arms and thrown into a place they'd never return from can damper a mood. She pushes herself off of her twin bed and heads out the door. Just as she's about to go down the hall she hears his voice. Her mother's new husband- Voltage. His voice sounds stern and angry, but what's new.
"I promise! I swear- I didn't take it!" Jamie squeaks.
"Tell me where it is! I know you've hid it!" Voltage shouts to Frankie's 8 year old sister.
"OW! It wasn't me!" Her voice is desperate now, and Frankie grows with horror.
"Take what?" She gulps, entering into the room, staring at the place Jamie's rubbing her arm.
"My ring, you stupid girl!" He shouts at Frankie, she recoils at the smell of his breath.
"I know where it is," Frankie says slowly.
"Show me!"
"Okay, follow me," Frankie hides a smirk, planning on leading him outside, only to run back in and lock him out.
Rendwick Ambrosia sits on the curb of the road. A cigarette is in his mouth.
"Alice, whens the last time your father hit you?" Rendwick asks his best friend.
"Yesterday," she says calmly, staring at a speck in the road. "What about you?"
Rendwick shrugs, "This morning." Both Alice and Rendwick have "father problems." They beat their children, and Rendwick's dad went so far as to kill his mother.
"Can't you stay with Tommy or Jadde and Ellise?" Alice asks, looking over a bruise on Rendwick's leg. Tommy and Jadde are Rendwick's older brothers who moved out of the house as soon as they got jobs. Ellise is Jadde's girlfriend.
"No. They'd hate that, I'd be a burden."
"Seriously? That's harsh… I'd let you stay with me, but it's probably just as bad."
After a few minutes of silence Rendwick suggests going to the reaping. They throw the cigarettes in the trash and head to the town square. Alice and Rendwick only smoke two a week, but the reaping's a special occasion…
District Three has two mentors- Aimee Drayton and Breeze Storms. Both stand on the stage and help the escort up the stairs.
"What's up District Threeee!?" He says slyly, grinning at all of the girls. "How 'bout one for the ladies!" The escort, Tomas Rode picks a name from the bowl.
"ANNALISE NORTH!"
"I VOLUNTEER!" A girl with black hair calls.
"OH GURL! We have ourselves a vol-un-teer! A volunteer folks! What's your name babe?"
"Frankie Verna," the girl says calmly. She's volunteering to escape her step-father… her only concern right now is Jamie. Hopefully in the time she's gone Voltage won't hurt her too bad. She's asked her friend to take care of her though.
"FAH-RANKAY! Gurrrrrrl!" Tomas claps, shaking the girl's hand. "Now for the gentlemen!" Tomas sings as he grabs a name quickly.
"Let's see, who do we have here? RENDWICK AMBROSIA!" A boy steps out from the crowd, his face slightly sad, but mostly determined. He'll do this for Alice.
"How ya' doing boy? You ready to be tossed into these Games with this princess?" He nudges to Frankie, who tries to hide her laugh. "DISTRICT THREE HAS TRIBUTES!" Tomas cheers.
Frankie and Rendwick smile at each other, thinking that they would have a greater chance of survival if they worked together.
District Four
The waves brush against the shores of District Four, spreading the sand around the beach and pushing up seaweed in the process. A petite tan foot kicks the sand off the surface, revealing multicolored pebbles. Lillith Gold smiles, adjusting her one-size-too-small bikini, trying to find a less obvious way to show off her body. Her silky brown hair falls over her face and she blows it over momentarily.
She's on her way to her "hiding spot," her favorite place to go before the reaping every year. It's a place only she knows about. Although many other people have probably walked by it or even on top of it, no one knows what truly lies beneath the sand and pebbles, except this teenage girl.
Lillith makes it to her private place and sits in the sand, probably getting a bunch of particles stuck to the bottom of her bikini. Lillith counts the small bumps in the sand and grins satisfactorily. Seven. Seven dead bodies. Five of them are her loathsome stepfathers' and the other two are the results of kiss and tell. Only, it's a little more extreme than that in Lillith's messed up life.
But she didn't become a slutty girl all by herself. She had more than enough help from her haunting mother, who forced her into prostitution by the age of twelve. Nor did her thirst for blood or slight insanity come naturally. Those came with years of physical abuse.
Now she sits, glaring at each small mound of sand. Another will most likely join them soon. Her most recent stepfather deserves an "accident" to the head. So does her mother, but that would mean Lillith would be sent to a filthy orphanage.
On another side of town a boy with perfect blonde hair and crisp blue eyes struts towards the town square. A crowd has already gathered. Children are separated by age. This boy walks confidently over to the sixteen year old section. A bunch of his friends gossip about the seventeen year old girl a few rows away. She's worn a completely see-through shirt with a bikini bottom. Sanus Chinksy looks away sheepishly as they're escort stumbles onstage in a ruffled blue dress with a wave stitched into it. She's always tried to "fit in" to District Four by wearing outfits sporting fish and ocean themes, but it only makes her stand out more.
"Good morning District Four! As you all know, I am your escort, Dew Shama! Are you all excited for the reaping? Oh, who am I kidding?! Of course you are!" Only a few psychotic tributes cheer, others smirk like Sanus, and a few keep blank expressions on their faces.
The video of the failed rebellion rips banages off freshly healed scars. It was only eight years ago after all. Sanus doesn't know anyone who was killed in the war, but his mother did, before she died. Mrs. Chinsky passed giving birth to her only son. Her husband never remarried, changing his focus to Sanus's training.
"Lovely! Now, let's skip to the best part, shall we? Alright… girl's first!" Dew claps her hands together before plunging one into the bowl and delicately withdrawing a small folded piece of paper.
"Nimi Brikka!" She smiles, looking at the crowd.
"I VOLUNTEER!" The girl with the see-through shirt screeches. Her coffee colored eyes look crazed as well as the sadistic grin plastered onto her pretty face.
"And your name would be…"
"Lillith Gold,"
"Now for the boys," Dew turns away from the new tribute and reaches for another slip of paper. She clears her throat. "Samuel Fox!"
"I VOLUNTEER!" The blond boy shoots his pale hand into the air.
"I'm Sanus. Sanus Chinsky," He says with a cocky smile.
"OUR TRIBUTES OF DISTRICT FOUR!" Dew hollers, taking a hand from each of them and raising it into the air. She drops their arms and tells them to shake.
"We're going to have great fun," Lillith smiles when she grabs Sanus's hand.
District Five
Lani Baldova skips across the paved walkway of District Five, singing to herself and waving to everyone she passes, sometimes squealing and going to hug her friends. She smiles broadly and flips her dark hair over her shoulder. She wears a pretty dress with a white scarf hanging over her neck.
After going on a happy morning stroll Lani walks back to her house, which is located on a huge field. Her only nearby neighbor is an old man who gives her the chills. She quickly walks up the front steps and gets inside, not wanting to be seen by him.
"BIANCA! Are you ready yet?" Lani shouts, taking a seat at the kitchen counter. Bianca's probably upstairs getting dressed for the reaping, while Lani's other sister Zoe is most likely in her room, shutting everyone out- like always.
"Yeah!" Bianca shouts back.
"ZOE! You need to come too!"
"I'm coming!"
Her parents walk through the front door with Tinka in her mother's arms. Tinka is Lani's cat, well one of her cats. She has four, and then some strays have shown up over the years, poor little things!
"Tinka!" Lani coos, walking over to the black and white cat and stroking it. Just then Bianca stomps down the stairs. Then comes Zoe, who is rather pretty with her long hair and heart-shaped face. All of the Baldovas' are though- Lani's silver eyes make her look even more so.
A boy from a whole different neighborhood waits for the reaping too, his hands in his pockets and his head down. Tar Armat never fits in. His fingers twitch for a moment, tapping his leg. A kind-looking old man walks peacefully down the street. Tar watches him, wondering why he's all alone.
Tell that old man you hate his shirt. A strict but whispering voice says in his head. Or else Libbi dies.
Tar shudders, thinking of his two year old sister.
"I hate your shirt," he mumbles. The old man looks up sadly, then continues on his walk. "Sorry." He doesn't know it, but he suffers with schizophrenia.
Tar decides to go to the town square. When he arrives an annoying escort walks onstage diligently. District Five was awarded Pippy Reeds for winning the Hunger Games last year.
District Two has one victor along with District One. District Three has two victors. And District Four, District Five, District Six and District Eleven all have one victor.
Pippy smiles genuinely, then shows the video, still smiling and then moves on with the reaping.
"Girls will go first, okay? You're all used to that now though…" She grins again, and puts her hand in the reaping bowl.
"LANI BALDOVA!" As soon as the name is read, a girl with dark hair falls to the ground screaming. She pounds her fists on the ground. When a girl next to her reaches to help her Lani screeches at her, pushing the girl. Several peacekeepers move over to her awkwardly and when she won't stand for them, they carry her onstage. Tears fall down her cheeks as she glares at the audience, also known as "the-people-who-didn't-volunteer-for-her."
"Welcome young lady! Now, I shall proceed to the boys!" Pippy calls, then picks a white crumpled up piece of paper.
"JULES REESE!"
Volunteer for the Games Tar. Or kill your mother.
The voice haunts the poor boy as he say glumly, "I volunteer," Several gasps riffle through the crowd as the small child stumbles upstage.
"And your name is-"
"Tar Armat,"
"Well, here are our tributes for District Five!" Lani and Tar smile at each other, Lani's face stained with mascara mixed in tears.
District Six
Cassandra Lampret waltzes through her small house, humming softly to herself. Her sister Shelia grins at her, then continues to sew a scarf. Cassandra isn't sure where Shelia got her knitting skills. She smiles back, moving towards her.
"Reaping day's here," Cassandra mumbles, her dark brown eyes turning down to the floor.
"I know. I can't wait to turn nineteen, then I'll be away from this day- no, I can't wait until you turn nineteen in three years… then we can all stop worrying!"
Cassandra nods, then heads to the dishes, cleaning and scrubbing each one until it returns to its white and shiny previous state. Ever since their mother died, the children of the Lampret house have taken over the chores, leaving their father to mope around, or sulk in his rocking chair. The family barely gets by, but thanks to Shelia, they have enough food to live off of.
After finishing the necessary chores Cassandra rushes upstairs. She sits in her little rickety white desk. Its paint is peeling off, letting the light colored wood below show through. She takes out a small book full of her sketches and starts flipping past each page.
Once Cassandra reaches the portrait of her mother, she stops. Underneath she's written a short poem about the bombs raining down in the city the day she died. When she showed Shelia this drawing she started to cry, asking Cassandra to put away the sketch, although it was rather lovely. Now Cassandra stares out her window, distracted by a blonde boy with a relaxed looking figure.
It's Konan Phillips, the shy boy from a District band. Cassandra has always been fond of their music, and it's about the only thing that will take her father out of his daze.
The young boy brushes a curl off of his face, his blue-grey eyes shining from the sun overhead. His black shoes tap the cobblestone street, setting off light echoes. The song he sang last night rings in his head,
Remember, remember the fifth of November
Gunpowder, treason and plot.
I see no reason why gunpowder, 'n treason
Should ever be forgot...
Konan knows that it has dark meaning. The band played it specifically for the approaching reaping. The family and people who watched sang along, clapping with the beat. Konan and his sisters Eilliac, Danielle, and Hailey along with Danielle's twin Danny all sing in the family band, though eighteen-year-old Hailey mostly writes the songs, or teaches the family the traditional ones.
The town square is already crowded with people by the time Konan arrives. He feels more comfortable in a crowd and less singled out. Maybe that's why he loves his family so much, with its nine members not including himself.
Thinking about them now makes Konan nervous- there is all the more chance one will be reaped! The tesserae had to be taken this year, and Konan offered to split it with Hailey, who is just as selfless as her brother.
Parka Loper attempts to balance on her heels, but makes a fool of herself, like every year.
"Alright District Six! I know you are the home to the morphlings and trains that are never used and live in poverty and only have one victor- but, I think we could have a winner this year! Let's show the Capitol that we are worthy and capable of greatness!" Instead of getting a round of applause for her semi-positive attitude, Parka gets eye-rolls and looks of disgust and pity.
The video plays and Cassandra flinches when she sees the bombs dropping from the sky, thinking of her poor mother.
"Now, let us start! Ladies first, as always!" Parka fishes around in a small bowl and snatches up a name, holds it up and squints. "Wha- what does this say?" she whispers to the stony mentor sitting behind her. She rolls her eyes and takes a peek.
"CASSANDRA LAMPRET!" the mentor, Rose Wallis says, eyeing the crowd sourly. The girl takes her time, slowly realizing that she has been called. Her eyes frantically look about, then her feet start to move, and she makes her way to the stage.
"Now for the boys," Parka grabs another name. "DANNY PHILLIPS!" Is announced tribute as well. Konan's heart sinks. The tesserae didn't matter in the end.
"I volunteer!" he says softly, as the audience parts for him. "I volunteer as tribute,"
"What is your name, dear?
"Konan Phillips," he says, gazing into the crowd, and watching Danielle collapse to the floor while Danny looks frozen in fear.
Cassandra and Konan shake hands, never meeting each other's eyes.
Voting
1-
1-
1-
1-
1-
Remember to vote. If you don't vote on each chapter your character will be blood bathed. If you want, I like to see the reasons behind your votes! If you don't put reasons, that's okay too! Don't feel like you need to put last names too, unless you don't mind!:)
REVIEW LAST CHAPTER! If you want your tribute to survive:O.
ALSO, TEARING AT THE SEAMS PEOPLE- I'm using the tributes as mentors for these games, it does NOT mean that they have won. In fact, the reason I'm not updating yet is because I have a tie in the poll…
I'm sorry I feel like I did awful on District One:(. Sorry to their creators, but worry not- I will have more chapters featuring them before the games, so they can still get more sponsors etc.
A few people might have recognized the first names of children reaped then volunteered for… I used first names from tributes I've sent in before to other great SYOT's :).
I don't know why, but I pictured Romilda, in Skye's reaping to looks exactly like Kate on Pretty Little Liars. ;) I watch that show too much… I watch at least two episodes of season two a night, then read it for an hour… so a lot of my dreams feature PLL… Oh gosh I'm a freak… But I like it- mmhmm
Okay, what is up with you guys?! Almost every single tribute is 17. And no one submitted to the Careers, except for District Four. Everyone wanted District Four. So yeah, looks like you're just as sane as I am.
I tend to babble on a lot, so don't feel like you have to read these, just the first paragraph because I try to put them in order of importance… If there's a sponsor question, I will underline and italicize it so you all can see… Okay bye!:) This is 300 words of author's note…
-Sophie