(Hi thank you for your reviews, sorry it's a bit late Ive had loads of exams. Home you like it! please review!)
I couldn't believe the day was here. I couldn't believe it had been a whole year since the last one. With Chuck now my friend, this has been the quickest year to date. It literally seems seconds since Silver was fussing over Blight and I as we stepped off the train. Blight gives me a sensitive squeeze of the hands as we emerge from the justice building. I can't bring myself to look at the rows of children before us.
I cannot bring myself to witness their fear. I remember it all to well myself. Stood quivering as you wait for what seems eternity for the name to be drawn. But I know a little more than these children. I know what it's like to actually be written on the paper. How slight the chance is yet how unlucky them 2 children are.
It still phases me how it is possibly when a 12year old is reaped when their name has only be dropped in a measly one time. Bad luck.
When I do dare to look up, I see all their worried little faces and have to look back down again. I can't help be worried for Chuck's younger brother Luke but I don't think fate could be that twisted. I don't think I could be possibly taking the younger replica of Tom back to the Capitol with me.
My thoughts for these children are interrupted when the doors open and Silver enters. I give her a wave and a smile. She looks no different except for her attire. Baby pink, yet startling, her fitted blazer is embroidered with paler swirls all the way down, where as her skirt just puffs out in a more authentic Capitol way. I can't help wonder if one of the other Escorts did her make up because it looks more capitalised than what Silver would normally wear. In fact her lips are covered in bubble gum pink just the same as her cheeks. This gives some illusional effect of making her cheekbones look high and apparent. Her eyelashes are coated in pink mascara and even her eyes are pink. Apparently it's something called contacts but I'm pretty sure you can only get them kinda things in the Capitol.
"Hello, District 7, welcome to the reaping of the 74th Hunger Games!" Silver says her Capitol accent stronger than ever. She always puts it on at events like this.
My eyes trail to where the public stand and my eyes suddenly cross over to Chuck's. His lips move; 'Chin up. You're tough.' He mouths to me giving me a wink. I nod tilting up my head. I am tough. I've done this for 4years now.
'Don't do anything stupid when I'm gone.' I mouth back when the attention is turned to that rambling old tape about why we deserve everything we're gonna get. Perhaps we do but our children don't. 'Corse not.' He mouths back with a cocky grin. I give him a harsh glance.
'You better not.' I mouth back as firmly as silent words can be.
The tape comes to a close and Silver's delicate petite fingers begin swimming through the large fish bowl. I clench my chair keeping my eyes to the floor.
"Erin Colton." Silver reads out.
My eyes automatically spring up. Then I saw her. She looks perhaps the age of 15. Wavy and dirty blonde, her hair lays limp on her head. She's averagely pretty, nothing Snow would see use in I don't imagine. Her dress is of a deep burgundy and comes loose at the waist. It's plain but considering District 7 doesn't have a lot of money, it's nice.
I'm struggling to identify her emotions as she walks to the stage. Everyone around her is staring in astonishment yet she herself doesn't seemed surprised. One good thing is; she doesn't seem frightened. "Come on up." Silver says friendly.
"Any volunteers?" Silver asks as she pulls Erin onto the stage. Utter silence. It isn't often we have volunteers here in 7 so I don't expect anyone to volunteer for this 15 year old.
"Lets find out who will be joining her then." Silver smiles trying to cheer things up but there's really no use.
"Barker Stone." She reads in a clear almost rehearsed tone.
This one is the sort that don't last very long. He walks up without an ounce of confidence with his head looking down at the ground. He's pretty tall, not very strongly built but looks as if he could at least throw an axe.
Great turn out this year then. Wouldn't be surprised if Blight and I's jobs are over pretty quick.
Even though he doesn't look strong, I immediately take a better liking to the boy because Erin just looks far to ahead of herself and that doesn't play nicely with the Capitol people.
"Lets give it up for our tributes of the 74th Hunger Games. May the odds be ever in their favour!" Silver says but she's far to used to this to be expecting much of an applause.
I get a quick moment to speak to Blight as we reenter the Justice Building. Our tributes are just a few steps ahead but once they turn off to say their final goodbyes, I turn to Blight. "What'd you think?" I ask him pulling my fingers through the fur of my collar.
He shrugs slightly before he replies. "Boy has about as much chance as finding a needle in a haystack and perhaps the girl could get a but further if that egos brought down." Blight shares his opinion. I nod glad it wasn't just me who thought that.
"I'm disappointed really. First time we get a 17year old boy in years." I sigh. Tom was 15 and he was a lot stronger than this Barker is.
"Oh well. Hey Silvs what'd you think?" He asks as silver comes over to us. She pulls me into a soft hug but her beads stabbing into my neck ruins the moment.
"What do I know?!" She laughs walking off to finish the arrangements. What does she know? She wouldn't be escorting them off to the Capitol if she really knows what the games does to these children. To their families.
Once we're on the train our girl stalks to her room and so does eventfully the boy. I eye Blight who has his own eyes set in a bottle of something strong. When he offers I decline.
I don't feel like anything tonight.
Not when I know Chuck could be doing something really stupid in my absence. Not when I know Snow could have his hands on him in seconds.
I push that thought from my head and order a hot chocolate. That's the best thing on the menu here. Beats out homemade stuff. I call Erin and Barker down for lunch but they mainly just sit in silence. I don't suspect them to be friends but I'm sure they would have come across each other before.
The six inch gap between their arms at dinner time tells me their in no mood for an alliance. That's fine.
"So what you good at?" Blight asks them as I tug off a bit of bread and dip it in the sauce. I'm getting used to the Capitol food now. I'm not sick so much anymore. The girl ponders with that a minute until she looks up. I'm glad to see her eyes are not blood shot. She still looks as arrogant as she did not long back. "I know of a lot of edible plants and I can use an axe..." She says. Right so she isn't from town. She's from the rougher less wealthy side of District 7 like I was. Edible plants might be of a little help to her. "Well lets hope you make it through the day to put that into,practise." I say firmly.
I look over to Barker who's massaging the sides of his face in distress. What is wrong with him? I thought he'd at least master a bit more confidence! He'll be the oldest one in it!
"I can't really do much. Can throw an axe a little." He says carelessly.
"Being able to use an axe a 'little' isn't going to kill anyone." I mutter tiredly. It's as if he's already given up. I don't suppose that's a bad thing though. After all he is driving on the number 7 train. The number 7 train where it's passengers are heading for death. All because of me.