District One- Reaping Day
"How does my hair look?" Dazzle asked her older sister as she adjusted one of her long curls. She looked at the mirror. She looked over to where Shimmer stood. Dazzle had long been considered the most beautiful girl in her class. Her skin tone was slightly darker and more exotic than most of the people in District 1. Her black curly hair was highlighted with touches of gold
"Same as it did when you asked me ten minutes ago." Shimmer said barely looking at her sister.
"No, I changed my bangs! Now which dress to wear?"
"You are still going to be the one all the boys are looking at, no matter what you wear."
"But I am not after these boys! I have to make sure that Gloss sees me. If I can impress him, maybe he will be convinced to take me with him to District 13."
"Have you not noticed he is spending a lot of time with Pearl and Silk lately?"
"They have nothing on me!"
"You mean besides the fact that they are already victors!"
"Well if all works as planned so will I!"
"But then you will go to District 13 yourself!"
Dazzle just ignored her sister and pulled another dress from her closest. Last year, she would have just had a new dress made for the reaping. This year however it was not as easy. The small rebellion that took place in the Hunger Games had made it hard to get the new fabric that was needed for a new dress. Now Dazzle was being forced to use an old dress, or one of her mothers, or sister's dresses. Dazzle in a fit of frustration ran out of her room and into her parent's room. This was the last year that she would be able to go to the Hunger Games. Her last chance to move out of the mining district, and into the Victor's Village. Her eyes caught on golden dress from her mother's closest. She pulled it out of the closest and looked at it. It was too small for her mother.
"I see you have found my reaping outfit," her mother said from the doorway.
"You wore this?" She asked staring at the shimmering dress.
"I did, but only one year."
"Why didn't you volunteer?"
"Because my twin sister did."
"You never talk about her. Why did she not win the games?"
"She was the last tribute killed in her Games. She thought that she had killed the guy who eventually ended up as the Victor, but she miscalculated."
"Is that why you never let Shimmer volunteer?"
"I would have supported her if she decided to, but I did not see a reason why she would volunteer to go to her death.
"You know she is talented with the knife. You have seen her throw!"
"You are just as talented."
"You know I am going to volunteer!"
"I figured as much."
"You are not trying to stop me?"
"Would you listen to me if I tried?"
"No!"
"Then I will spend the little time that I have left with you, not fighting!" Her mother said as she pulled her into a hug. Without saying a word Dazzle let her mother assist her into the dress. No words were needed. Her mother had already been a source of strength for her.
Her mother had raised her on her own. She never allowed either of her daughters to enter for tesserae. She was a single mother, who was determined that her children would not rely on the Capitol for anything. Dazzle tried to think if her father would be proud that she was planning on volunteering to be a tribute.
Her father had died when Dazzle was just a small child. The Capitol claimed it was a mining accident, but her mother claimed that there was more to the story. Her mother said that he was once the leader of the rebellion in District 1. Now that rebellion had been defeated by the Capitol for good. Anyone thought to have supported the rebellion was executed in the District square the same day that four tributes from District 1 won the Hunger Games.
Dazzle looked at herself in the mirror. "You look stunning," Her mother whispered behind her.
"Thanks" she said as she accepted her mother passing her a tube of golden lipstick.
"We should get going," Shimmer said as she walked by the room. "The sorting starts in an hour, and Dazzle still needs to check in."
Her mother just nodded, and nudged Dazzle to the door.
The walk to the square took a little more than a half an hour. Dazzle just looked straight ahead. She could tell that most of the other teens in the district were dressed in their best. Her eye caught a couple of the guys that she thought would stand a chance against.
It took her almost no time to make it to the check point. She stuck out her arm before the peacekeeper working the table for the check in.
Every teen in the twelve districts would be expected to follow the same procedure today. They would take some of her blood, test it to make sure she was supposed to be there. Make sure that every teen in the district was there.
Dazzle did not pay them any attention. It was the same routine year after year. She quickly found her spot with the other seventeen year olds. She watched as many of her classmates were busy talking to each other and giving each other encouraging hugs.
Dazzle did not have many girl friends. They were too emotional for her taste. She found herself closer to the guys. They would flirt with her, not be surprised when she did not return their affection. They were just easier to understand.
She watched in silence as the new District One escort made her way to the single microphone in the center of the stage. She had on a bright blonde wig, with a giant pink bow in the very center of her head. Her dress only went to her knees but the only word that Dazzle could think to use to describe it was puffy. Former victors from District One followed her onto the stage. She looked for Gloss, but could not see him. He was the one victor from District 1 that admired the most. His sister Cashmere was there and waving to the crowds. His absence worried Dazzle.
"Good afternoon ladies and gentlemen! My name is Aphrodite Kiellen, and I am the new escort for District One. Your previous escort Effie Trinket has returned to District 12 this year."
Dazzle just looked at the stage in boredom, the video that was playing was a film that was played every year before the tributes were selected. It told of the founding of Panem. Dazzle was more worried about the changes on the stage. She was never a fan of Effie Trinket. The only reason she was the escort for the District One tributes last year was because Katniss Everdeen was one of the mentors. Now that Katniss was back in District 12, it seemed only right that Effie went back to the god forsaken place as well. But that still did not explain why Gloss was missing from the group of surviving mentors.
"Now let's start with the girls. May the odds be even in your favor?" Aphrodite walked over to a large circular dish that was labeled girls. She fished around in the dish for a moment before picking up one of the cards and walking back to the microphone.
"Chiffon Pairsley" Aphrodite with a smile. A small girl from the twelve year old let out a scream. The other twelve year old started to push her into the main aisle. Peacekeepers picked up the screaming girl and placed her on the stage.
"Any volunteers?" Aphrodite asked looking around the square. Dazzle did not hesitate. She silently stepped out of the area where the other seventeen year old girls were standing, and made her way up to the podium. No one else bothered to move forward to volunteer
"Great!" Aphrodite said as she looked at Dazzle. "And you are dear?"
"Dazzle Malifor!"
"Excellent! Now on to the boys." She said as she walked over to the dish with the boys' names. Peacekeepers silently pulled the screaming girl off the stage.
"Sterling Spence." A blond boy from the sixteen year old group stepped forward. He was already muscular for his age. He had that look that of cuteness that was guaranteed to get him noticed in the arena. Dazzle just smiled.
