Arden Gaines POV
I sit on my cot, engrossed in a book by some capitalite about math and the old days. I'm exhausted and a mess, but I just can't put the thing down. I turn the page and find that it's over... I'm a bit disappointed, but that's okay, because... oh my God, I forgot, today is the reapings! I look at our tiny wooden clock, and see that I only have twenty minutes before they start... I have to hurry. I comb my brown- almost black hair and put my contacts onto my brown eyes. Oh, that's better... I quickly dress in Brown slacks and a white button up and walk out to the kitchen. Mother and father have already left for work at the factory, but my 16 year old sister, Mariella, is sitting at the table sketching. Mariella is very... odd. She is mute, but by choice. I've never heard her talk before in ny entire life, She expresses and says everything through her drawing. Frankly speaking, I think it's silly, electronics and math are so cool! "Hi Mariella." I say. She looks up at me and quickly sketches an amazing portrait of a sad girl, crying. She's sad because it's reaping day... for me this is it. My last reaping. Then I'll be free. Free to live my life in peace and do all the amazing things I'd like to... I walk outside and my 3 best friends, Sid, Sabine, and Deon, are waiting for me. Sid is like me; tall, and extremely nerdy. Sabina is chubby and blonde, and I'm pretty sure she has a crush on me, and Deon is a bully to most people but we've been friends since we were little so he sort of protects me. "Sorry I'm late, I was reading all night."
"As USUAL!" Sabina says edgily. "You should spend more time with us!"
"Hey, I gave other more important things to do, like making circuit boards and reading." She rolls her eyes and Deon raises his eyebrows but Sid agrees with me.
"Hey, he's a NORMAL district 3er. It's not a crime..." our mood turns grey as the brightly decorated square comes into sight. 2 more kids will be sentenced to death, and I pray that it won't be me or someone I love, because I don't know what I'd do... we wait in line until it is our turn to 'sign in' I hold out my hand and a peacekeeper shoves a needle into my finger and presses into onto a paper befire waving me on. I wander to my section and wait with Sid and Deon until our escort, Narcyssa Estinia, princes up to the podium, her green hair flowing behind her.
"Welcome Welcome Welcome district 3! Time for the reapings for the 160th hunger games! The best time of the year." I wait, just get to the names already, let this be over. She plays the video and we watch in silence. What kind of world has this turned into? A place where the leaders watch kids kill EACHOTHER for entertainment... "this year were doing boys first!" Good, soon this'll be over, I'll be free. "Arden Gaines." Good... wait, what?! No! It can't be me, it just can't. I look at Deon and Sid but they avoid my gaze. They're not going to volunteer. I suddenly hear wailing though, wailing from the 16 year old girl section. Mariella is crying her eyes out. She's never acted like this befire. Of course, her brother is going to die... I'm so shocked, I just walk up onto the stage, My movements robotic. I'm never going to get to get married, or read more books, or invent something... I'm going to die, murdered by another kid. My life will be over far too soon, and there is nothing, nothing in the world, that will change that.
Gizma Einberg POV
I lie in bed, starting up at the little star lights that I made with scales I stole from the factory. They twinkle and light up our still dark cottage, letting a faint, soothing glow seek into the room. I get up and quietly walk out the door into the night. It is pitch black, I'd guess about 3 am, but the faint glow of faraway stars light up the sky and pierce through the fog that never leaves district three. I sit on the ground and stare above me. What I would do to escape somewhere far away, to those stars... of course, I have a secret, something that's been pecking at ny mind since I realized it. Two years ago, when I was fourteen, I was at the factory and found an electronic base where the capital keeps information, and I figured something out; Panem was once called America, long ago before the dark days. The thing us, according to the base, there were seven continents, and only one was America... so the others. What happened to the others? I've always wondered... I hear a door creak and turn around to see my mother, Lana, standing in the doorway. "Gizma, you need to come in! You'll get in trouble..." I mod and walk into the cottage again, still pondering over the missing continents. I look in the mirror and brush my long brown hair, putting on my glasses so I can see better. I slip into light grey dress that makes my pale skin look slightly tanner, and I guess I'm ready. I sit down at my little desk and pull out little bits I stole from the factory, my main source, and tinker a bit. Pretty soon I have a tiny earth that spins when I push a button. I look closely at my estimated continents. What is it like? Do they have hunger games? Technology is My favorite thong in the world, my knowledge is vast and My experience is great. My life's work is to be a great engineer, me and my best friend Serva, who is as compassionate about the topic as I am. I sit and ponder for hours until it's finally time to go to the town square for the reapings. This day is My greatest fear, I am terrified of it. This day is the day that I could get chosen, chosen to die. My strengths are limited: I'm quick, pretty nimble, and smart... but I'm small, weak, I cant use a weapon, and the sight of blood... ugh. I could never survive the games. I had to take tesserae this year, so though I'm only 16, I'm in there 28 Times. Not the best odds. But I can't get chosen, I just can't. I walk out the door and meet up with Serva and we walk to the square together in silence. When we get to the square, we wait in line until we get to the front. I hold out my hand and a peacekeeper stabs it with a needle and presses it onto a paper. I stare at the blood in horror but Serva pushes me on and we walk to the sixteen year old girl section. Narcyssa, the escort, names her way to the podium and plays the video befire giving a speech and letting us know that this year they're doing boys first. She reads the name Arden Gaines, and a tall, dark haired boy walks onto the stage, a blank and emotionless expression on his face. She reaches into the girls bowl. I cross my fingers. Please don't let it be me... "our PRECIOUS little girl will be..." she opens up the slip. "Gizma Einberg!" I stare for a moment before falling into the ground, sobbing uncontrollably. How can it be me? How? I have no chance, I'm going to die! A peacekeeper pushes me not the stage next to Arden and he gives me a sympathetic but terrified glance. We shake hands and then are led to waiting rooms. I can't believe that I've been reaped. I can't believe um going to get murdered by other kids.
Arden Gaines POV
I stand motionless in my waiting room. I gave to say goodbye now, goodbye forever. I have to hug my family for the last time. Three minutes, that's it. That's all. I am astounded when Mariella runs in, the others at her heels, and throws her arms around me, weeping. I am more amazed though, when she says something. The first thing I've ever heard her say. "Arden, Arden, I'm so sorry! I'm sorry I never talked to you, I'm so sorry. And now Its too late... but can you win? Can you please win? Don't die Arden, please don't die. I could never live with myself." Her voice is soft and lyrical, but her plea is heart wrenching. We both know that I won't live, not up against those careers. "Please live. Please, promise me!" She rubs her eyes, Her sad expression turning to one of hope. "You CAN do it, I know you can. I've always loved you, truly. But if anything... happens, I promise never to forget. Truly." We hug EACHOTHER and I turn to my parents.
"I will try, but... I Can't do it. I can't kill other kids. Just try not to be sad... and try to forget my death, whatever it may be like." They hesitate, then nod.
"We know you'll be brave. We kniw you'll try." They all start sobbing again as a peacekeeper drags them from the room and takes me to the train.
Gizma Einberg POV
I slowly sink onto the bench in my waiting room as the true terror of what lies ahead gets to me. I'm going to get murdered bloodily and painfully. By children. The door swings open and mother and father walk in. Mother has always loved me very much, it father's usually so involved with his work to really like me much, however, today they are both crying, their eyes red and puffy. Mother wraps her strong arms around me. "Gizma, oh Gizma. I'm so sorry. I didn't expect... you must win. You have to win, you cannot die. You must come home to us, alright?" I know that we both know that's not going to happen, so I stay silent. Father walk over to me.
"If I've ever been cruel, or harsh... I'm sorry dear. I'm so very sorry. Please forgive me. I love you more than you can even imagine. Please don't die out there, cone home, please."
"Oh mother and father, I can't though. I'm too afraid, I can't win. But I'll be in your hearts." We hug again But a peacekeeper drags them from me and pushes them out the door, leading me to the train, still sobbing. I am alone now. And I'm going to die, very soon. Too soon, Far too soon.
Alright, I'm sorry I took so long to post, I've been quite busy and, as some of you might know, I am currently co writing a story with angelofmusic4ever and brocasica, it's called Fandoms at War: The Ultimate Hunger Games. Go check it out, its on angelofmusic4ever's page. But I'll write chapters more frequently, I promise. Also, those of you who still have reservations MUST GET THEM IN BY MIDNIGHT TONIGHT, WHEREVER YOU LIVE! Otherwise I will have to reopen the sopt tothe publoc and it will no doubt get filled immediately. Please review!