A/N: I didn't really want to have to do reapings, goodbyes, training etc etc for all of the tributes, so I decided to focus the story on one tribute in particular. I put all the tributes into a random name selector and the one it selected was…. Lyra Flay, D5 girl (submitted by Disenchanted lotf)! No hating if your tribute wasn't picked, and just because I'm writing the story from Lyra's POV doesn't mean she'll win. If she dies, the 'baton', as it were, will be passed to another tribute, again randomly selected. So, without further ado, let the 62nd Hunger Games Commence! (I do not own any part of the Hunger Games universe, but I wish I did!)
The Reaping
"Lyra, darling?" my mother whispered gently "It's nearly half-past ten." This woke me up. The reaping started at eleven, and I was still in bed! "Mum! Why didn't you wake me!?" I groaned.
"I'm sorry, it's just that you're so tired at the moment, and you looked so peaceful, and what with it being today and all, I thought I'd let you sleep" She said, somewhat guiltily. I climbed out of bed, pulled on a sweater, and followed her downstairs to breakfast, where I devoured some toast and a cup of tea. Then, noticing the clock, I ran up stairs and changed into my reaping outfit. The anxiety started to set in, so I comforted myself by thinking of all the kids eligible to be reaped, and that, due to my parents being reasonably well-off, I hadn't taken out any tesserae. Basically, I thought to myself, it was incredibly unlikely that I'd get picked.
Just before eleven, my parents and I left for the square. When we arrived, I gave them both brief hugs, and my dad assured me that I wouldn't be picked. I made my way to the peacekeepers to sign, and they pricked my finger to take some blood. I absent-mindedly sucked the injured while I walked towards a group of fourteen year olds, looking for my friends in the process. Soon enough, I spotted Talli's red hair. I headed towards her, and when she saw me, she waved. I had just reached them when the District escort, Glissa Shine, appeared on the stage and tapped the microphone.
"Welcome everyone, to the reaping for the 62nd Annual Hunger Games!" she shrieked in her silly Capitol accent. "First, we have a video that has come to us all the way from the Capitol!" Then she played the same propaganda video that is always played. After it finished, she turned towards the bowls that were filled with paper slips. "First, the ladies!" And with that war cry, plunged her hand into the bowl. She swirled her hand round the bowl dramatically, before plucking a single slip of paper out from the thousands. I waited expectantly, almost already feeling sorry for the poor kid that would get picked, and sent off for slaughter. Then someone shouted my name. It took me a few seconds to realise it was coming from the stage. I was too shocked to move. Then Talli shoved me forward. Maybe it was meant to be a consolatory pat on the back, but now I'll never now. My legs finally got into gear, and I started walking to the stage. Presently four peacekeepers started walking behind me, making sure I had no way of escape. But I never even considered escaping. I was already working out strategies for the arena as I climbed the stage steps. I shook Glissa's hand and stood next her as she moved towards the bowl full of boys names.
"And now, for the boys!" She went through the same rigmarole as she had for me. The guy who was reaped was called Barry Duncan, but everyone called him Junior. He's only 13. I recognised him from school, but I had never talked to him, because he's in the year below me. I don't think he has many friends and on the few occasions I've seen him round school he was pestering someone. He strutted up to the stage like he owned the district, and shooked Glissa's hand, as I had done. Suddenly I saw my parents tear streaked faces in the crowd. This upset me more than anything else, and I bowed my head as I was escorted into the Justice building.
Thanks for reading and please, please, please review!