Chapter #3:
Year of the 64th Hunger Games
Victor: Cashmere Caverly
This is it. The day of my first reaping. I prayed this day would never come, but it did. Finnick tells me everything will be fine, that since my name is only in their once it is very unlikely I will get picked. Our district is one of the most heavily populated, so my chances of being reaped are slim to none. But still, I'm scared out of my skin.
I look myself over in the mirror, not much has changed since last year, my hair is longer, and has turned more red than it was. I look like my mother, with big eyes, and a rather small nose, and of course the red hair. I put on my best clothes, the green t-shirt, with cap sleeves, and the yellow, green, and white skirt that Mags got me for my twelfth birthday. My hair is in a long french braid, and my nails have been painted gold.
I should try to distract myself from today, maybe think about what Finnick, Sammy, and I will do while Mags is away. Last year was fun, we went sailing all by ourselves, and jumped off the boat, showing off our various dives, and jumps. We also visited our parents graves, not as fun, but a good experience for the both of us. We brought them flowers, lilies for my parents, and tulips for Finnick's.
I wonder what we'll do this year. Assuming of course that neither of us is reaped. Finnick assures me that I won't be.
The salty sea air filters from my bedroom window, and it makes me feel better. I want to stay home, or go to the beach, not be forced to watch the stupid Hunger Games. I don't watch more people from the districts killed. Watching Jaelyn and Gallagher die was one of the hardest things. Both were killed by Gloss, the winner of the 63rd Hunger Games.
I replay Gallagher's death in my head, he was only twelve, his head in Jaelyn's lap as his breathing stilled and his body went limp. She left him under a shady tree and silently walked away from his body. Later, Gloss came up to her while she slept and killed her, later, when asked about it Gloss said that killing Jaelyn was a mercy kill. That made me sick.
When I go downstairs, Mags has already left a bowl of cereal for me, and I hear the shower upstairs, telling me that's where she is. Finnick however, is sitting at the breakfast bar, gulping down a glass of orange juice. "Hey," I say.
"Hey," he smiles. "You ready for today?"
"I guess." shrugging, I take a bite of cereal.
"I was thinking," he starts taking another bite of cereal. "That when we get home we could go fishing?" I nod, I like fishing with Finnick.
"Sounds good." I say. We sit in silence for a bit, and after I finish my cereal I turn to him, serious, though it is hard to be serious with Finnick. He's always making jokes. "Tell me again." I request. He looks down, solemnly, knowing what I mean, and not wanting to talk about it again.
"When we get there, they do the finger prick, scan your blood and tell you to go in. You wait with your age group, someone is reaped and we go home." I nod, really not looking forward to this. For one thing, having my finger pricked is not something I'm keen on. I have a fear of needles, and have since I was young. "Hey," he says and puts a hand on my shoulder, "It'll be okay. You'll be fine."
"I know." I sigh, still the nerves of being reaped rock me.
"Alright kids." Mags came down the stairs with a suitcase for when she goes to the Capitol. "Are we ready to go?"
I nod and walk over to her. Mags leans down and gives me a kiss on the top of my head. her long curls sweep over her shoulder and her makeup is faint, and makes her glow. Finnick follows closely behind me and gives Mags a kiss on the cheek. "Let's go." he says with a smile.
After walking to the town square Mags gives us each another kiss and walks to the train where she will set down her suitcase and go sit by the other mentors. It is again her year to be a mentor for this year's tributes.
Finnick gives my hand a quick squeeze then goes to the other line where he will sign in. "Next," the woman says and I walk forward to the front of the table. She holds out a hand and I give her my hand, palm down just to make her life a little harder. Peacekeepers deserve it.
She turns my palm up and sticks a buzzing needle into my index finger. It hurts, stings, I look over at Finnick who is wincing as well. The peacekeeper pulls the needle out and presses my finger to the paper, and scans it. "Go ahead." she ushers me into the square.
I hold pressure on my finger and walk into the square. Finnick walks beside me yet only for a moment because we go into our separate sections of boys vs. girls. I stand in my spot looking at Finnick, until Jasper comes out on stage. "Welcome to the reaping of the 64th Hunger Games!" He smiles, looking down at all of us, as if he's expecting someone to look up excited with him. "A video, from the Capitol!" He introduces, I don't even pay attention to the video, I look around at the other kids. The girl who stands to my right is shorter than I, with brown hair that reaches her waist, and brown eyes so big they look like small planets. The girl on my left is the same height as me, and has reddish brown hair in a bob with brown eyes.
When I look over at Finnick across the way who is looking back at me worried. "And now to reap this year's tributes," Jasper walks over to the bowl full of boys names, "Moderhack Beits." he announces. Moderhack gallantly struts forward to the stage, his cropped blond hair shining like the sun. He wears a white button down shirt and khakis. He shakes Jasper's hand and stands to the side waiting for Jasper to announce his opponent.
Jasper makes his way over to the girls bowl. I hold my breath an mutter quietly, "Not me, not me, not me." The girl to my left looks at me but I don't return the glance as my eyes are glued to Jasper. He reaches his hand into the bowl and recites the name.