Alright, this chapter's a little longer, but I hope you like it just as well. Please PM me if you have ANY character ideas. They could be stylists, prep teams, tributes, reporters, gamekeepers, interview hosts, mutts, etc. Just leave a name, age, gender, what they are ad any other information you think is important. PLEASE!
After my encounter with Gale Hawthorne, I headed back home. My mother frowned as I opened the door. I should have kept a better eye on the time. It was now 9:25am. Had I really been looking for Ash that long? It was only an hour until the Reaping began.
"Where have you been?" she asked, both upset that I hadn't told her and concerned about the time. I signed to her, but as usual, Willie understood before she did.
"She was looking for Ash." he told her. This happened a lot. Willie knew more sign language than our parents and could read my signing as easily as reading off a page in a book. Since they worked so much, they weren't as experienced in my communication. My brother had declared himself as "Lynnie's official translator!" I only allowed him to call me 'Lynnie'. It was too embarrassing otherwise. Still, I would do anything for my little brother. He liked to feel helpful, so I let him be my translator. This was only for the house of course and Ash understood nearly as much as my brother did.
"Well, get dressed. You don't want to be late!" My mother grew even more worried as she said this. She was always tense during Reapings and had perfect reason to, since her first daughter was killed in them. I nodded and headed to my room, while Willie headed into his own to get changed. I put the only formal outfit I owned that still fit me, my deep blue dress that I'd recieved for my birthday. It fell down to just above my knees and included short sleeves that would be able to cover my mark from the snake lady.
I switched my regular sneakers with Rosa's matching flats. It wasn't often that I wore many things of hers, mainly because it brought up the memories all over again. But I wanted to know that some part of my sister was with me as I went through the Reaping, just as I had every other time that I had gone.
There wasn't much I could do with my hair, but I brushed it out and kept it down in its usual side part. My hair was a little wavy and on the thicker side, but I didn't mind. Finally, I went back to the kitchen, where Willie, my dad and my mom were. They smiled when they saw me, which made me return one back.
"Lynnie, you look pretty." my brother smiled, his eyes sparkling even more than normal. I knelt down and rolled his sleeves up, since he still hadn't grown into his dress shirt and pants.
"Your friend's here." my dad told me. I turned to meet the familiar soft gray eyes of Ash O'Riley, one of the best hunters in 12, the boy the girls at school would never stop talking about and most importantly, my best friend. He had the traditional Seam looks, with his black hair and olive skin. His eyes, however, always seemed a shade or two lighter than the others. A light smile formed at his lips when I looked at him.
"Hey." he greeted. I signed it back to him. "You ready?" I nodded, grabbing my makeshift bag of treats that Gale had given me. I gave both of my parents and brother a kiss on the cheek and then headed out wth Ash. When we were out of earshot, I turned to him.
'Where were you?' I signed, frowning.
"I told you I had some stuff to take care of." he replied.
'That was a few days ago. I thought you'd be done by now.' The truth was that I had missed him, a lot. He looked a little guilty now.
"I'm sorry, but it took longer than I thought. I actually just finished this morning." I thought about this for a moment.
'Is that why you were at the Hob?' Most people wouldn't have noticed the change in him, but four years of knowing him allowed me to see them. His shoulders tensed and he eyed me, surprised.
"How did you know that?" He asked, hesitant.
'Someone there told me.' I tilted my head slightly to the side. 'So, what were you doing?' He relaxed a little, although I didn't know why. What was he doing at the Hob that he wouldn't tell me about? Ash stopped walking and turned so that we were only inches apart. One finger went over his lips and he smirked.
"It's a secret." he said, enjoying my reaction. He resumed back to walking. "By the way, you're blushing." This only made me blush more and earned a chuckle from him. I playfully nudged his shoulder with mine. Then, I remembered the food and opened up the bag. Ash's eyes widened at the rare treats.
"Where did you get this?" he asked, caught off guard. I put my finger over my lips and signed with my other hand. 'It's a secret.'
"Alright, I'll let you in on my secret if you tell me yours." he offered, placing a cracker into his mouth.
'The same guy who told me about you at the Hob. I don't know why he would give me this for just two squirrels though.' I signed, while popping a berry into my mouth. 'He's a hunter, like us, but he's older. Alright, now what's your secret?' Ash said nothing and ripped of a piece of bread, savoring the taste. I frowned at him.
"You never said when." was his reply. I shot him a glare. "Don't worry your pretty little head off. I promise I'll show you after the Reaping." I rolled my eyes. We finished most of the treats and saved the rest for our little siblings. Ash's little sister, Alyssa, was quite fond of berries, as was Willie. The two were actually good friends and loved to play together. It was especially nice because they were the same age.
"Good luck." Ash whispered to me, just before we were separated into our sections. I listened as our mayor gave his annual speech that even he had grown quite bored of. He spoke of how the rebellion failed and this year's Hunger Games. What caught my attention was when he announced that Katniss Everdeen would be mentoring. Even though she'd won the 74th Hunger Games, she never mentored. Only Haymitch Abernathy. It was strange that she picked now to start.
"Hello District 12!" Effie Trinket excitedly greeted the crowd, only to recieve the usual silent. She looked the same as always, except this year she wore a bright purple wig and had matched her outfit with it. "Let's switch it up this year and start off with the boys, shall we?"
She walked over to the large blue ball of names. I bit my lip.
'Please don't be Ash. Please don't be Ash.' I signed over and over to myself. He'd taken out tesserae again this year and had his name in that ball eight times. It wasn't nearly as any as some of the Seam boys, but I still worried. I couldn't live with myself if he was reaped.
"Russell Irving" I breathed a sigh of relief. It wasn't Ash. A sandy haired boy with blue eyes stepped out of the sixteen year old section. He might have been a older, taller and less starving than Ash, but I doubted he had my best friend's survival skills. Still, I shouldn't have judged him, or even compared him my hunting partner. The capitol transformed harmless children into vicious, strategic monsters.
"And now for the ladies!" Effie continued, with just as much, if not more excitement. I knew I had ten slips against me, but again, others had more. I was a little more calm, knowing that Ash was spared. Still, that didn't mean I wouldn't be chosen.
"Lynnia Evers!" she squealed. I froze on the spot. Had I heard her right? Screams and cries could be heard from the family section. I took a deep breath and silently walked up to the stage. My eyes found Ash in the fifteen year old section. He was in a mix of emotions, shock, fear, pain, sadness, more shock. I'd never seen those emotions on his face and now, looking at him so upset, I never wanted to again.
I glanced at the mentors, Katniss and Haymitch. Haymitch looked indifferent, but Katniss, was there the slightest twinge of pity? Worry? Anything? I hoped so. I needed someone to help me, to get my legs to move so I could run. Run past the peacekeeper, through the crowd, take Ash and Willie with me and just get away from these horrible games. But I couldn't do that. I couldn't abandon my district, for all of them to get punished. So, my legs stayed in place, numb on the spot.
Memories of Rosa walking up on the stage flash back to me, no matter how hard I try to avoid them. Still, I keep my face as calm as I can. Looking scared and broken won't make people want to help me and I know I will need all the hep I can get if I want to survive.
As of now, I'm officially the District 12 female tribute for the 80th Hunger Games. My likely death will be shown on national television and there isn't a thing I can do about it.