Through the gap in her hair, October watched the reaping unfold. She swept her thick, dull brown hair off of her pallid skin just as a beautiful woman in a silver dress cleared her throat. Her hair was a bright white color that was pierced by almost unnoticeable veins of gray. Her eyes were an astonishing ice blue color against her pale skin and white hair.
"The District 10 reaping is now underway," the woman observed plainly, her voice heavy and mysterious. "I am Howlite Enestem, the escort for your District."
October snorted rudely. Get on with it, she thought impatiently. She hated the reapings. It wasn't necessarily because she hated the prospect of sending someone to die; that all depended on who was sent. She liked watching the tributes fight to the death. Standing in a stuffy, crowded square, however, was not her idea of a fun afternoon. Especially since she was wearing a hideous pink dress. As she had no parents, the peacekeepers provided her with their idea of nice clothes for the reaping.
Howlite reached her long spindly fingers for the name of the girl who would enter the games. October watched her movements hungrily. She had a secret little wish to be reaped, but at the same time she didn't. October was confident that she would win the games if she went, but she didn't like being the center of attention. She didn't want her toil to be broadcast to the world. My goodness, when would she pee? She was fine with slaughtering people in front of millions of eyes, but she wasn't down with the rest of her life on a screen.
In addition, she didn't like the stories she had heard of the Capitol. Howlite's painfully white hair only increased that. Who would dye their hair white? Then again, Howlite's hair was among the most sensible of all her siblings. October wanted the retch when she saw some of the other escorts. Citrine Enestem was difficult to look at with her astounding yellow hair. Morganite's pink hair literally made October want to strangle something. The worst one was definitely Rhodochrosite, whose hair was not only pink but also decorated with zebra stripes.
The voice of the white-haired escort tore October from further dwelling on the idiots who inhabited Panem's Capitol.
"Your female tribute will be October Tyne."
Despite all the thought she had given to being reaped, October didn't know what to feel. She was torn between excitement and fear, so she chose to feel nothing at all. She hiked up her skirt so it wouldn't obstruct her legs and she strode towards Howlite, her head held high. Dignity was her main goal. When she had completed her first bath in the limelight, the attention turned away from her to the next name Howlite would call.
No time was wasted in selecting a male tribute. Howlite read the slip of paper and then raised her eyes to the crowd. She parted her perfect red lips and the name soared out.
"Your male tribute will be Marshall Reed."
October almost laughed. Almost. Marshall Reed. It had to be a joke. There was actually no way that Marshall could go to the games. He was sickeningly noble and caring. He would kill himself before laying a finger on anyone else. He was the very epitome of a Gary-Stu. He was tall and muscular with blonde hair and bright green eyes, just like October's. He had both his parents and two siblings. He was yet another person who disgusted October. And she had to spend days with him before the Games actually began.
"That concludes our reaping," Howlite said. "Do not forget to watch the rest of the 238th Hunger Games on your televisions, as it is mandatory."
Two peacekeepers came up and grabbed the arms of both October and Marshall. October felt the strong urge to slap the peacekeeper, but she figured now wouldn't be the best time to piss off the Capitol. She was led into a room that was empty except for Marshall's family. She scowled as the sixteen-year-old hugged his parents. His younger brother wrapped his arms around his brother's leg while his older sister stood by her mother for moral support.
The seconds inched by as the Reed family said their goodbyes to their middle child. October attempted to ignore them, slightly bitter and hugely prideful. She didn't need a family. She never had a family and she never would have a family, and that was what it was. She turned up her nose and waited impatiently to be led off to the train.
Just one last year.
Levi almost could have cheered. Well, no. Maybe he would have smiled, which was kind of like cheering for him. He was in the clear. This was his last reaping ever, and then the stupid Capitol could never threaten him ever again. He would be free to live his life, slipping under the radar of the peacekeepers and being perfectly fine.
All he had to do was pass through this reaping unscathed.
He wanted to shout for them to get on with it, but he didn't. As much as he wanted to get out of the oppressive District square, he wasn't in the mood to provoke the peacekeepers. They could easily force him to go the Games, which wasn't on his agenda.
The District's escort, Tanzanite Enestem, appeared in her trademark stunning silver dress. Her rich purple hair stayed oddly in order as she moved. She faced the crowd, her gray eyes piercing into the souls of anyone who made eye-contact.
"Hello, District 11," Tanzanite greeted coolly in an accent that sounded rather foreign. "I am Tanzanite Enestem, the escort for your tributes."
Yeah, yeah, yeah. We know. Get on with it, lady, Levi thought, his expression bored. He watched with mock interest as she bent and picked a name to be the female tribute. He then rolled his eyes. If he had a flat, hard surface, he would be drumming his fingers on it. It's the same every year. Why do they make such a big deal out of it?
"Your female tribute for the 238th Hunger Games will be Tessa Shanley."
Levi might have laughed if he was the type. He fixed his gray eyes on the girl who was emerging from the section for the eighteen-year-old girls. Levi knew Tessa quite well on his terms, as they were the same age. She was very tall and slim, with long and wavy red hair. Her hair was in a high ponytail that swept back and forth across the back of her brown dress as she headed towards Tanzanite. Her eyes were dark brown, and her skin was pale and freckly. From what Levi knew, Tessa was friendly and sweet. Totally not material for the Hunger Games. She would stick out like a sore thumb, too, with her flaming red hair and her abysmal height. Levi himself was a little on the short side, with dark brown hair that was so short it was almost—but not quite—buzzed.
Once Tessa had finished wading through the crowd like a mouse through a field of freshly cut grass, Tanzanite made quick business of selecting a male tribute. Levi caught himself holding his breath and released it evenly. He wasn't worried. He was in the clear.
"Your male tribute will be Levi Gail."
Screw this shit.
Levi attempted to keep his expression neutral. He headed placidly towards Tessa and Tanzanite; he'd rather go on his own terms than get forced there by the peacekeepers. Tessa smiled him.
He gave her the finger.
No one seemed to notice the two as Tanzanite dully closed the reaping. "What was that for?" Tessa asked, her voice more guarded than Levi had expected it to be.
"I don't need your sympathy," he growled.
"Sympathy?" Tessa said, bewildered. "I was reaped, too, you know. Sympathy? No; that's being nice."
Levi snorted. "Very nice, darling," he said satirically.
Whatever response Tessa had, it was cut off by Tanzanite. "Come along," she instructed roughly. "We're on a tight schedule, and I hate being late." Levi followed quickly, escaping the grasp of a peacekeeper that was going to yank him towards his destination. Levi knew that next he would watch Tessa sob goodbyes to her family while Levi stood in the corner and pretended not to notice.
Sure enough, Tessa ran to her mother as soon as they entered the room. Levi leaned against the wall and rolled his eyes. Parents ought to be prepared to say goodbye. The sobs coming from Mrs. Shanley were irritating more than anything. This happened all the time. Why is it such a shock? There should be lessons or something.
Despite his reasoning, Levi felt a niggling worry in the back of his own mind. Statistically, it was very probable that he would cease to exist in a matter of days.
No.