Just in case someone tries to sue me, the Harry Potter reference is obviously credit to the wonderful J. and Twitter can have all the rights it wants to the term 'tweeting' I hope you're enjoying the story and get ready for the drama to kick in.
Oh and there were a few typos in that last chapter, I'll try to rectify that as soon as possible!
MissMooMoo- that's exactly what I'm doing now! Thank you for the review!
Chapter 6- The Day
I knew it from the second I opened my eyes.
I'd made my way to Taina's and had stayed there since. I'd told Jack all about my typical teenage life and my family. I learnt all about him too, his Oxford upbringing, his aspirations to become an author and the fact that out of everything he missed about home his cat was his main loss. I found that especially cute. Taina had explained more about the madness that was this place. How the reaping worked, the years when Katniss had been alive and all the time before and after, it all sounded rather grim. I'd fallen asleep to the sound of Jack talking quietly about the wonder that was Google. But now it was morning, and I knew in the very core of me that today would be the day that I lost any sort of security. I rubbed at my eyes and slowly opened them to see Jack sat on the other chair looking right at me. I yawned behind my hands and then mumbled "Do you just spend all night watching me sleep? Because that's a bit Edward Cullen" He laughed (he did have a very nice laugh) and shook his head "You wish" and got up.
"Today is the reaping isn't it" I said
"I thought it was just me with that feeling"
"No, I can feel it too, the feeling of impending doom" I played on the melodramatics there and he chuckled slightly, considering we were both probably going to die he was in good spirits. He sobered up quickly though and his face fell back into a serious expression. "Taina's left to make sure we're in the reaping, which is lovely of her" his voice was dripping with sarcasm
"Great" was all I could say, I realised I was still wearing the same clothes from ages ago, and I'd been through the woods in them now too "Is there anything else to wear?" I said mostly to myself so when Jack replied I was happily surprised
"Go in the room over there" he pointed to the room I presumed was Taina's "She said we needed to look presentable today was she left something out for each of us" He then glanced down at himself then gave me the once over. "You can change first, you look a bit muddier than me" he gave me a half smile and I headed towards the other room, giving him the finger as I went. Just as I closed the door I gave him a fake smile and watched as he laughed and turned towards the dying fire. What I found laid out for me wasn't exactly the height of fashion but definitely better than what I was wearing. A pale blue dress was there with a ribbon tie back, it was elegant and beautiful but it looked old fashioned and handmade, even if this was the future. I pulled off the stupid trousers and top I'd been stuck in since I got here and picked at the mud on my legs and arms. I was happily surprised to see I was in the same underwear I'd had in the 'normal' world, I'd realised I'd had something on but this was quite a nice shock. I pulled on the dress and realised I wouldn't be able to do the back up on my own, as much as I struggled around in circles trying to work the stupid back, I even tried taking it off, doing it up and trying to put it back on. But that wasn't going to work. "Jaaack" I called and I heard a grunt
"Yep?"
"I could use some help with this, I can't do the back of my dress up" I felt myself blush at the prospect of him doing me up, but I couldn't know when Taina would be back and I wasn't putting the other clothes back on. "One sec" he called back as I tried to pull myself together so as little of me was showing as possible. There was a knock at the door "Come in" I sighed and turned as he slowly opened the door. A blush creeped up his cheeks when he walked in and I had to suppress the urge to giggle. "It's just the back, it's more complicated than I'm used to" He stepped in slowly and assessed the back of me, I could feel his eyes on my bare skin and shivered. Carefully I felt him pick up the ribbons and slowly thread them through their designated holes and finally tie a bow at the nape of my neck. "Done" he said quietly "You look lovely in that by the way" I blushed badly, I could feel the heat projecting off my face and looked down "I'll get out of here now so you can change" I scrambled out of the room and occupied myself with my muddled thoughts until he had changed. It was a big change in appearance, a smart shirt and trousers could work wonders, he looked slimmer and you could see a slight bit of definition in his muscles. "I guess we're ready for this then" he sighed before chucking himself back on the only available chair, I felt dainty and smart in the dress I was now wearing, like I came from a wholesome background and was a sweet girl. I didn't really feel like one though, more like an imposter trying to look nice. The silence in the room was about to get to awkward mode when Taina came rushing and wheezed "It's time, come with me" we glanced at each other and left the battered old house. I glanced back as we headed towards the direction of the square. I had a gut instinct that this was the last time I'd see that pile of rotting wood and stone.
The square looked different today, there were people milling about everywhere and the few children that did live here were being herded into boys and girls with the youngest nearest to the big building I had nearly entered yesterday. People in black armour walked between the crowds, they were armed with a large variety of weapons and they didn't look very forgiving in the mass of people. Taina ushered me along towards a table that Jack was already stood in front of. His body jerked then he was pointed in the direction of the boys' side. Taina pushed me into the direction of the table and whispered into my ear "Good luck girl, you're special and you can win" I looked at her, we were about the same height so I looked straight into my wrinkled face "Now go, and be strong" she said quietly. I nodded and stepped up to the table, the woman sat at it looked very bored and pulled out a needle "Finger please" she said in the most monotonous voice I'd ever heard. I carefully gave her my hand and she jabbed the needle into my middle finger. Ouch "Thalia Fairwater, 16 years old, District 12. Correct?" she looked at me
"Yes" was all I said, it was all pretty much made up bar that I was 16, she nodded and pointed me in the direction of the girls side. I stumbled over a stone at an angle in the ground, when I looked up I could see Jack staring at me with worry written all over his face. He looked sick so I gave him a sarcastic thumbs up and walked towards the group of girls that looked about my age. All 3 of them. There were many adults about but hardly any children. I could see why Taina had done what she had, there weren't many children left here.
A large man appeared and walked up the steps to the building. Silence came upon the crowd and I looked up at him. He was quite ugly and angry looking. "So, as the Capital cannot afford to send mentors to district 12 I shall be conducting the reaping this year." It was only when he gestured in their direction did I realise the two huge bowls filled with pieces of paper. My name was in there. My new name anyway, and it was the thing that was going to send me to my death. "We'll get right onto it then, may the odds be ever in your favour and ladies first" My stomach clenched harder than it ever had before and I knew I probably looked paler than normal. The large man wobbled over to the one of the bowls and stuck a chubby hand into the pieces of paper please don't be me I thought, it was a natural instinct and I knew there was no hope in that wish coming true. He'd now chosen one and was making his way back to the microphone"hmph hmph, the female tribute for District 12 of the 97th hunger games shall be…" I felt faint and was breathing hard "Thalia Fairwater"
no no no no no no was my only thought as I stepped out of the group and made my way up to the steps of the building. You know when you still have a glimmer of hope that it won't come to what everyone expects, yeah that had died now. "Congratulations Thalia" the large man patted me on the back touching some of my bare skin "now onto the boys" he grunted and walked away leaving me in the center of the stage on the verge of tears. The man had now reached the other huge bowl.
I looked out across the crowd gathered and found Jack, he wasn't even looking at the man about to name his fate, instead he was looking at me. Promise in his eyes, like he'd be able to help. "And the male tribute for District 12 of the 97th Hunger Games is…" Now I really didn't want Jack to get called but it would be a good bit of comfort. I felt selfish and snapped out of my soppy stage presence. I straighten up and waited for the name "Jack Oakwood". I looked down, I felt awful but also slightly relieved. It was an odd mixture of emotions. Jack ran up the steps "Congratulations Jack" the man said boringly. "There you have it ladies and gentlemen of Panem, your tributes from District 12, Thalia Fairwater and Jack Oakwood" Of course it had to be us. It was the only destiny we had from the second we arrived here. Jack was looking at me, I heard him mumble softly "You ok?" I nodded in just the slightest movement and raised an eyebrow to ask the same, he shrugged just as the man raised our arms in celebration.
Four of the armoured guards approached and escorted us into the building and straight out the back. I only looked at Jack, he was my only source of comfort and I wasn't taking my eyes off him. We were put straight into a car, driven to a station discretely and put on a train faster than I could've even thought of Taina. I ignored the plushness of the cabin and looked out of the window. It was the view of a dying district and I gave it a salute as the train pulled out of the station.