District Two Reapings
Leslee Quest took a deep breath, deeply filling his lungs with much needed oxygen. He had just finished his training for the day, a bit of hand-to-hand combat with his twin brother, Perco, followed by a hundred-lap race around their house. Leslee turned, taking another breath, before shouting, "Come on Perco! Pick up the pace!"
"Coming!" Yelled a voice, full of fatigue. His brother raced up to meet him, red faced and exhausted.
Leslee smirked. "Jeez, I won again. Why am I not surprised?" His brother panted for a minute, before replying "Because you take this way too seriously?"
"Perhaps," Leslee replied. "But at least I-" He was cut off by their father exiting the house. He started to stride towards them, his feet covering masses of space, before he met them.
"Good morning boys," he said. "I assume that you finished your training?"
"Why of course father," Leslee said. "And I just so happened to beat dear Perco. Again." Their father sighed, before turning to Perco.
"Perco," he said. "You have to work harder!"
"But father-" Perco began.
"No buts. Today is reaping day. Get inside and clean yourself up, I want you looking good." Perco muttered something in response, and then dragged himself away towards the house. His father turned to him.
"Leslee," he started "You know that you're much stronger than your brother," Leslee smirked, and nodded, but sensed what was coming next.
"And, as you know, you are eighteen, and this is your last year in the reaping. So…"
"You want me to volunteer," Leslee finished. He had expected this, as he had a better chance in the games that Perco did, but still…
"Exactly." His father replied. "Now, go and get yourself ready. We want you looking good in front of all of Panem!"
"Yeah," Leslee said, making his way up to the house. But his mind was preoccupied with much more than looking nice for the reaping.
What will Perco say if I do this…**district two reapings**
Sugar Ayllep sighed, running her brush through her golden-blonde hair, softly detangling the shimmering strands. She got ready early only to walk around in her reaping outfit all day, a white strapless dress made of lace. She didn't stay at her drunken aunt and uncles house much, it was just there for her to sleep in. Ever since she was disowned, she had no-where else to go, except to her wasted relatives. Today was her least favourite day of the year. Not because of the fact that two children were sentenced to death, even though that was bad enough. But because, once a year, she'd have to see the mayor, her father, scan her out in the crowd just so he could stare at her with his cold, piercing eyes. All because she didn't want to train, she didn't want to prepare herself like a lamb for the slaughter. So now, even as a girl living in 2, she was as poor as a child from District 10. She wasn't that bad off, when she thought about it. She sold the gifts that she received from countless admirers, guys who chased after her. They said she was 'good looking', and that she could be the most popular girl in school with a body like hers. But none of that mattered to Sugar. Sugar. Even her name made her irresistible to guys everywhere. But all Sugar really wanted was to be able to live in peace, without boys hounding her, without the threat of the games looming over everyone's heads. That's why, she told herself, that's why I steal. I steal not just to make sure she has enough to live with, but to punish those who think that watching people being executed live on television is a good thing. It makes me sick. She stumbled out the door and into the fresh morning air, and started walking.
Where to though, she had no clue.
**district two reapings**
Leslee smiled, adjusting the tie on his plain white suit as he walked towards the roped off section for the eighteen year olds. His feet stopped moving, and he closed his eyes, envisioning how he was going to win the games. Would he be a ruthless killer, destroying everyone in his sight? Or would he hide in the shadows, waiting for the perfect opportunity to strike? Leslee already knew the answer to that. He would find the careers, join with them, wiping out the competition, then flee when the number of tributes decreased, otherwise risk being slaughtered in his sleep. Or maybe, it would work the other way round? But, the most important question on his mind is…could I actually kill a person? Of course I could, he thought, but that doesn't mean I'd like it. He was pulled out of his deep thought by Perco.
"Hey, Leslee…"
"Yeah Perco? What's up?"
"I was just wondering…you've been all glassy eyed and deep in thought all morning. Is anythi-"
"No, of course not!" he snapped, before saying more gently "No, nothing is the matter. Nothing at all. In fact…" He paused. "Everything is brilliant." Perco looked unconvinced. "Okay then, but please, Leslee…don't do anything stupid.
**district two reapings**
There was excited chatter floating in the crowd, discussing anything from the tributes to the area or even that horrendous outfit that Kathyleena wore to Mariekate's dinner party last week. Sugar stood in the enclosure for the seventeen year olds, trying not to scowl. Her eyes scanned the stage, and found her father. He was sitting in a polished chair, his head held high. His gaze met hers and it sent a shiver down her spine, his icy stare penetrating the cool demeanour she had plastered on her face. She shuddered, then increased the intensity of hatred she tried to shoot at her father through her eyes. But she had to tear her glare away when the escort for district two stumbled onstage, barely able to keep upright in her ridiculously high high-heels.
"Welcome, District Two, to the reapings of the 100th annual Hunger Games!" The escorts voice was high-pitched and squeaky. Sugar assumed that if she had to listen to this much longer she would have a splitting headache. "Now, lets discover who our tributes for District Two will be this year!" A great cheer filled my ears, the people of my district waiting to see who would be next in line to die.
"Now…ladies first!" She giggled, striding over to the glass bowl filled with the names of girls from our district. She smiled, waggled her fingers and dipped them into the bowl. She pulled out a strip of paper and unfolded it. Her mouth opened, and she began to read out the name of the girl who would have the honour of representing our district. Not like it mattered anyway, Sugar thought. Chances are that someone will volunteer anyway.
But she never expected what would happen next.
"Sugar Ayllep!"
Everyone turned, and Sugar found herself standing alone. She shook her head before taking dainty steps towards the stage. Deep breaths, she commanded herself. Someone will volunteer. This is district two, right? Someone has to volunteer…By the time she was at the stage, she realised that no one was going to volunteer, or they would have done so already. Then it finally hit her.
I am going into the games.
**district two reapings**
Leslee watched as a girl with long blonde hair, Sugar Ayllep, walk up to the stage, her eyes locking with the mayor. He wondered what was happening. Hang on a second…isn't that the mayors daughter? He shrugged. Oh well. At least I get to see who I'm up against…
"And now for the boys!" The escort smiled, and pulled a name out of the pool of boys. "And our male tribute for District Two is… Damieon Nikinlo!" Leslee took a deep breath and stepped forward, away from my brother.
"I volunteer!" he shouted. The crowd parted, and he walked towards the stage. He ran his hands through his dirty blond hair as he took his place besides the escort.
"And what might your name be?" She asked.
"My name is Leslee Quest." He replied. His eyes found his brother in the audience, looking shattered. His eyes seemed to scream 'why would you do this?' But Leslee stood his ground.
"Now, now, shake hands!" Leslee hands closed around Sugars small one, and she looked directly into his eyes, her bright blue ones telling him that she wasn't happy. That she hated her current situation. That she would do anything to get back home.
"I present to you, your tributes for District Two, Sugar Ayllep and Leslee Quest!"
A/N: So, District two reapings are up! So…I really don't know what else to say. Um, I've written a Hunger Games one shot as well, so…could you take a look at that? I'd really appreciate it
So…REVIEW!
~Bubbles975~