Here it is, the Reapings. I think the POVs are a bit lopsided for this chapter, but let me know what you guys think! So...that is all.

Marquette Tetra

I woke up in the field next the square. People were already gathered, waiting for the excitement to begin. The clock read 9:45. Fifteen minutes until the Reapings began. Today is the day I prove myself. Today is the day I show my father that he cannot control me.

I look down and realize I was still in my wetsuit. Not exactly "formal wear". But it would have to do. I couldn't go back to the house after last night. So I combed my red hair with my fingers so it would be as neat as possible. The cut on my cheek was still stinging, but at least it made me look tougher. I looked at my hands. My nails matched my fiery hair. I was a good thing I had decided to paint my nails two days ago. At least one part of me would look prepared.

The Reapings would begin any minute, so I took by place in the sixteen year old section, next to two girls who didn't recognize me. They look at me weirdly, probably because of the wetsuit. But I just smiled, looking out of place among all the dresses. Being a Career district, the Reapings were a big celebration. So everyone was dressed formally. That is, except for me.

Finally, a woman with light blue hair and enormous earrings scurried onto the stage. she began to make the speech she always did during the Reapings, but I wasn't paying attention. The only thing I could hear was my heart racing.

What was I nervous about? I wondered. I had been waiting for this moment all year. But now, all I could think about was Kory. I thought back to the moment when we hugged goodbye, and I stared into his blue eyes. I realized I had said farewell too soon. But I couldn't go back now. Because if I did, my father would think of me as a coward.

The lady said in an unnaturally high pitched voice, "First, the female tribute." She drew her hand inside the ball, and my heart began to race. This was it.

"Nisha Fenir," she said, and the girl sitting next to me began to stand up. But before she could, I shot up, raised my hand, and shouted, "I volunteer!" the crowd turned to me, and I began to scan the faces. Thousands of eyes were trained on me, but not one of them was the soft, blue eyes of Kory.

The woman had an excited look on her face as I walked up to the stage, trying my hardest not to tremble. "Splendid!" she cried. "And your name is?"

For some reason, I felt my father's icy glare watching me from the television in his den. And I had to make sure he was watching. I'm not what gave me the idea to say this, but I grabbed the microphone from the lady's hand and said, "I'm Marquette Tetra, and I plan on winning." I gave a small wink for the cameras. You're welcome Dad.

The women took the microphone and I sat on my chair as she called the next name. Gordon Bludsoe. He was big, monstrous, and truthfully, a little scary. No one dared to volunteer for him. When he stomped his way up the stairs and onto the stage, he took the mike and said loudly, "I'm Gordon Bludsoe, and I plan on winning." Great. Just my luck to be paired with the insane monster.

Finally, the anthem played, and we were escorted off the stage. Probably going to the Mayor's house to say our goodbyes. Suddenly, my heart began to flood with sadness. I remembered the solemn, final look on Kory's eyes, and I knew no one was coming to say farewell.

Kodiak Nyquist

Gears grinded and pistons pumped around me. The furnaces burned brightly, the intense heat searing my flesh. There was a crash, followed by a bloodcurdling scream. An alarm sounded, and the gears grinded to a stop. And all I saw was the blood. The gears, the walls, the floor. All were covered by the thick, crimson…

Dad was dead. Lynn. Dead. And the nightmares? Still going strong. And to top it all off, today was the Reapings. I slipped on the button-up and tie I always wore for the Reapings, as well as my signature beanie. My sister and mother were in the dining room, already dressed. They were silent, the only sound was coming from little Leo in the corner sleeping. Our hearts were heavy, our senses were shot, but unless we wanted a beating, we had to leave now. But all that was on my mind was the blood.

The walk was uneventful. I was carrying Leo, who was still asleep. My heart sank even lower when I realized he would never know his father.

We paraded in silence, except for when Vespa said, "Your shirt's buttoned wrong." I barely cared. A lot was on my mind, as you could probably tell.

Finally, was arrived at the square. People who passed by us stopped to offer us their condolences. I suppose news spreads quickly around here. But their "Sorry"s could only do so much. This scene seemed eerily familiar. I quickly realized where this had happened before. Lynn.

From here we split up, my mother and Leo went to the spectators' section, Vespa stood in her section, and I went to find my fellow sixteen year olds. I searched the area for Kat, thinking that she would know what to say. I was wrong.

When I found her, all she said was, "I'm sorry." She leaned in to kiss me, but for some reason, I pushed her away. I don't know why, maybe it's just because I couldn't take any more sympathy. Without saying a word, I separated, finding a seat next to Garl.

He was busy eating another piece of toast. When I sat down, he stopped chewing said, "Listen man, I'm really sorry about what happened." I tried to give him my best smile, but it probably turned out to be a grimace. Then I replied, "There's nothing you could do." He gave a nervous look and resumed munching on his toast.

A man with bright red hair stumbled onto the stage. He was drunk, and he reminded me of the Peacemaker I had knocked out yesterday. The man struggled to get his speech out over his hiccups, so instead he stopped halfway through and said, "Blah, blah, you guys know the rest. Let's get this over with."

He reached his hand into the female box and mumbled, "Selene Maynard." A twelve year old girl trembled as she made her way up the stage. It was hard not to be reminded of Lynn. As expected, when the man asked for volunteers, there was only silence.

Then he reached into the male's container. He called out the name. My heart froze at the sound of those two words. Kodiak Nyquist. Garl began to stand, but I quickly pulled him back down. I started to walk up the aisle, my shirt buttoned wrong and my beanie crooked on my head. My luck had just turned from bad to worse.

XxXxX

The room was barren except for two red chairs and a television showing the Reapings. I sat there with my head in my hands, thinking of the bad luck my family was having.

The first ones to visit were Kat and Garl. The moment she walked through the door, I ran up and kissed her. We stood there for a long time, our lips interlocking, and I hoped this would make up for when I pushed her back at the Reapings. When we stopped, I saw that she was crying.

"Kodi, all I wanted was for you to be okay. But now-," she said through her tears. I held her close and said, "You have to promise you'll take care of my family while I'm gone, okay?"

She replied, "Only if you promise to get home." Would I be able to? Could I bring myself to kill others? I didn't know, but instead I replied, "I promise."

I let go and turned to Garl. This time he wasn't chewing on anything. "You have to promise me you'll do the same," I told him. He nodded and said, "Don't worry Kodi. They'll be safe. But, why didn't you let me, you know. I could've volunteered."

I looked straight into his eyes and said solemnly, "Because I can't let anyone else die." The Peacekeepers stormed in and began to escort my friends out of the room. On the way out, Kat screamed, "Be safe Kodiak!" I gave her the most assuring smile I could, even though I wasn't sure if I could keep that promise.

Next, my family came in. My mother was holding Leo, so I kissed him and held him in my arms. We sat there in silence for a minute, my mother quietly sobbing. Finally, Vespa said, "Kodi, I know you can win this. You have to." For once, she didn't have her snobbish attitude, and I could see she really cared.

Our time was running short, so I quickly hugged every one of them before saying, "I will." I tickled Leo, and he giggled. I rubbed his bald head, and I knew I had to see him grow up.

The Peacekeepers came in. My family walked out of the door, and I realized that I meant what said. I had to win. For Garl. For Kat. For Vespa, Mom, Little Leo. And especially for Dad and Lynn. I looked down at the silver bracelet on my wrist. I will come home, and no one, not even the Capitol, will stand in my way.

Man, I'm starting to get attached to both of them. It's going to be difficult when I have to...you know. Anyways, hope you enjoyed it, and please Review!
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