So yeah, two in one day! I'm trying to make up for the lack of updates recently. I'll start on the train journey now, I'll only do one chapter on that, because it's not particularly interesting, I'm not doing the goodbye's at all. On the train journey the two tributes from each district will get the chance to talk to each other and get to know each other, which should be mildly interesting if you asked for your character to have a romance with their fellow tribute.
When Eliana woke up the first thing she saw was her mother opening her new pink curtains. They were an apology present that her mother had made out the leftover material from her old dress. An apology for having ten tesserae in the reaping. Business had not been so good in the last year, and they could do with the food. But Eliana hated the curtains, they reminded her that she wasn't safe, but at least it was only her that wasn't safe. Genny was safe, she only had her name in once, the chances that she would be picked were so miniscule that it was practically impossible.
"Good morning, Ellie" Her mother turned and smiled at her, kissing her forehead. Eliana smiled back. Her mother was always optimistic, even when Eliana felt like crying.
"Morning" Eliana stretched her arms above her head and yawned as she threw aside her duvet. Her mother left the room silently and Eliana sat on the edge of her bed, her toes just skimming the floor, letting the feeling of dread gather in the pit of her stomach, like stones dropping in a pool. Today was Reaping Day, and this time tomorrow she could be waking up in a capitol bed. Her mother had laid out Eliana's best dress on the end of her bed; it was light green and reached just above her knees, and went beautifully with the black tights that she'd got for her birthday once She wouldn't normally wear all this, but today was definitely not normal. If she was reaped she wanted to make a good impression on the Capitol audiences.
Eliana got dressed as fast as she could and ran down the stairs. Her father was eating bread, with jam on, and her mother was stitching up an old dress of someone's. Her mother and father ran a tailor business, and Zenny Maserly stitched up old clothes for a small fee. The dress she was repairing now was probably for today. Genny was nowhere to be seen, so she was probably still asleep.
"Shouldn't someone wake Genny?" Eliana asked, grabbing some bread that her father had finished toasting over the gas fire. Eliana's mother shook her head at the idea.
"Best to let her sleep in if she can" Eliana's mother's voice was kind and her father grunted in agreement. Ellie took a bite of her toast.
Genny and Eliana held hands as they walked towards the square. Genny's eyes were red and puffy. She'd been crying all night out of worry for her sister and only woke up half an hour ago. When they reached the square Genny separated from Eliana and stood with her mother where all the other adults and children that were too young to be reaped were. Eliana made her way nervously by herself to the female sixteen year old pen. She could see Bee crying, over in the fifteen year old pen. Everyone was silent for the mayor's speech. And then, just as Eliana was ready to fall asleep, Effie Trinket stepped on the stage. This year she had a bright blue wig on, with matching high heels that were so high, it was a miracle she could walk in them. She talked for five minutes, but Allie couldn't tell what she was saying through her Capitol accent. Next, the only live victor of District 12 stepped onto the stage. Katniss stood silently, only nodding when she was addressed. Eliana didn't remember Katniss' Hunger Games very well, just a few things. The little girl from District 11 swathed in flowers, Katniss and the boy, Peeta, kissing in the cave, and the mutts. The mutts with their Oh-So-Human eyes. And Peeta's look of serenity as he lay dead on the floor, after swallowing the berries by accident. And in her second games, Katniss' look of horror when she realised she stabbed Johanna Mason, Mags disappearing into the fog, the little girl's screams coming from the bird's throat.
"Ladies first!" Effie squealed like she always did. Eliana squeezed her eyes shut. Not her, not her, not-
"Eliana Maserly!" Eliana's stomach clenched, the stones that had dropped in her stomach earlier turned to liquid, and it was all she could do to keep it down. She walked to the stage, and stood there awkwardly whilst the male tribute was chosen.
"Clapton Limerick!" Eliana gasped. Clapton was the little boy that had been born two months before he should have been. It was a miracle he'd lived. But there was no way he would even survive the first five minutes of the games. He needed help carrying all his school books in case the effort wore him out and he fainted.
"I volunteer!" Eliana's eyes searched the crowd for the volunteer. It was a boy she recognised as Clapton's older brother, Jarsen. All the girls loved Jarsen, he was handsome and flirty, but Eliana doubted he liked them back.
Eliana shook hands with Katniss. Her eyes were grey, but they seemed to be on fire. The Girl On Fire, they called her. But Eliana couldn't decide whether the fire was determined, or sad, or angry. And just for a moment, Eliana wished that she wouldn't win the games. Once you were reaped you only had two options in life. To die, or to live with the shadow of guilt and sadness living over you. Jarsen shook hands with Katniss second, and he seemed taken-aback, scared, like Eliana had been. Then Eliana was shocked again, as she shook hands with Jarsen. His grip was too firm, like he wanted to squeeze the blood out of her there and then and be done with a tribute. But the terrifying thing was his stare. It was determined. Jarsen had nothing against her, but he was determined to come back alive. For a moment, Eliana was scared, maybe Jarsen saw it in her eyes, because he gave the barest hint of a smile, but then Eliana returned his steely glare. She had everything she needed to make it back herself. And she wasn't going to give in so easily.