District 3 Reaping

I know this is a little late but I'm afraid there will be times when I can only get a couple of chapters up a week. I've got to hand it to captain-random64, the author of one of the SYOTs I read, I have no clue how you manage to get chapters up nearly every day dude. You have skills. Enjoy the Chapter and May the Odd be Ever in Your Favour!

Annalise Slate POV

As the sun warms my face, I lie back on the roof of the school bike sheds, never wanting to leave. Just as I begin to get comfy though, my friend Nita pokes me.

"Lise; you got any morphine left?" she asks.

"I dunno" I don't open my eyes "Check the bag."

"I did; there's none left. Can you go and get some?"

"No I-"

"Lise?" calls a voice.

I look down at my bratty 15 year old sister Styx.

"What do you want Styx?" I say resentfully.

"Are you using morphine up there? You shouldn't use that; it's bad for your health" she nags.

"Bit late now sister" Nita laughs at her.

We both laugh and she glares at us.

"I just came to let you know I'm volunteering this year!" she says smugly.

I look directly at her.

"Excuse me?" I snarl.

"Well my dear sister, you may as well know. Back in district 2, I was quite renowned for my dagger skills and now I can't wait to kill some tributes!" she sneers.

I jump down from the roof; it's only a few feet.

"I bet mom and dad are gonna have something to say about that" I growl.

"So now you're the one worried about the parents? To be honest, I think they'll be quite proud that one of their children actually has the district 2 spirit they were born with!"

"Oh please, just get lost you goody two shoes!" I hiss.

She shrugs her shoulders and turns away. I hate Styx almost as much as I hate district 3. I have a brother too; his name is Clio. I guess he's ok. We moved here a few months ago from district 2 since our parents were both assigned as peacekeepers for district 3, my mom being head peacekeeper. But district 3 is so weedy; its industry is technology for goodness sake. I appreciate that we need some people to do the weak jobs but I don't want to live in the same place as them. I'm a Career; I have Career blood. I've trained as a Career. How much more proof do you need? That's why I'm volunteering. If I can't live somewhere strong, I'll have make district 3 seem strong and the only way to do that is by winning the games.

Clio Slate POV

"Then I was like STAB, STAB, STAB; three of those mean Careers all at the same time. Cool dream huh?" laughs my friend Therese.

"Not really; it's not like it's something you could aspire too" snarls my other friend Matthew.

"Why shouldn't I?"

"Because Nita says none of us babies would stand a chance."

"Ok 1. I'm not a baby. 2. That's dumb advice; not everything your stupid sister says is right!"

"Don't call my sister stupid!"

He pushes Therese and she pushes him back. A small fight ensues between the two of them; great this is the third time this week.

"Guys!" I demand quietly "Come on quit it!"

They eventually stop and Therese brushes the dirt off of her clothes.

"Fine, we'll let Clio decide. Clio, do you think my dream is cool?" she simpers sweetly.

"Oh yeah leave it up to cowardly Clio. Although surely even he can see that your dream is sad little girl dream, can't you Clio?" Matthew says almost threateningly.

"Err… I guess it's an ok dream" I shrug.

Well it is; but not to me. I hate fighting of any kind which is why I dreaded it when the games were reintroduced on my 11th birthday. But last year I knew my family would be safe because even if Styx or Lisey were reaped, someone would volunteer because we lived in district 2. Now we're in district 3; nobody volunteers in district 3. Plus, what if I'm reaped? Matthew talks a tough game and is pretty threatening (which is part of the reason I'm scared of him) and Therese is strong but I doubt either of them would volunteer. The only upside is thanks to my parents being peacekeepers, none of us need tesserae.

"Pfft, trust you to side with the girl. You practically are one, right down to the name and everything" Matthew scowls.

"Eurgh whatever Matthew; come on it's time for the reaping" Therese smirks, knowing she won the battle, despite (knowing Matthew's persistence) not winning the war.

I follow behind them, with zero idea of what the next 30 minutes will bring.

Annalise Slate POV

This is it; it's finally time. I can't wait to see Styx' face when I volunteer before her. I wonder if Clio knows I'm volunteering; blessed boy. Truthfully he's probably the only thing I care about in district 3. He may be a little weakling who foolishly sees good in everyone but he's a sweet kid. Thankfully I don't need to worry about him being reaped. It'd be ridiculous if he was; he's been in there once for goodness sake. On the other hand, I am slightly more on edge about it now we live here. If we were in district 2 someone would volunteer for him no problem but in district 3… it might be risky. Nita and I stand in the 18 year old girls crowd whispering to each other. Nita had told me our escort Petra Thistlewood, is a fat pompous Capitolite. She's certainly lived up to my expectations. Her face is white as sheet from the amount of makeup she uses but it just looks like paste. Her bright blue hair makes her look like a clown. After a very long, tedious, patronising speech, she wobbles over to the girls reaping bowl.

"And the female tribute representing district 3 is… Rosalinda Teel!" she chuckles unkindly at the girl's name.

"I VOLUNTEER AS TRIBUTE!" I yell before Rosalinda Teel can even get out of the line.

"A volunteer from 3; is this some kind of joke?"

"Nope" I run up to the stage and then face the crowd "It's time we got some honour to district 3, don't ya think?"

Nobody responds but I just step back and grin at them, knowing what I've said won't be a bluff.

Clio Slate POV

"Ok, after that distraction" Petra glares at my sister "We can now get on with the boys."

This is awful; why would Annalise volunteer? I mean, she's one of the most skilled people I know but the Careers are just as good, if not better. I couldn't bare it if she died; she's all of got. Mum and dad don't care about me because I'm weak and Styx always puts me down when she's not bothering Clio. Annalise's the only one I trust. She might ignore me sometimes but when she does acknowledge me she's not horrible.

"Clio Slate!"

What?

"No! Someone volunteer; someone volunteer right now!" shrieks a voice from the stage.

For a split second I think its Therese but then I see its Annalise. I start to walk towards the stage and Annalise takes a long look at me.

"Do it; look at him! Oh fine, you can all drop dead then! That includes all you peacekeepers and you Capitol bastards!"

BANG

Annaliese falls.

"Lisey!" I yell.

But she isn't dead; I see a dart sticking out of her arm; they've knocked her out. It looks so ugly and that's when I realise. A dart in Annalise's arm is just the beginning. I'm gonna see much worse before I die or somehow win these games.

Annalise Slate POV

I blink my eyes open and go to stand; I fall quickly. My vision is hazy and my head hurts. I drag myself onto the wooden chair sitting in a corner. After what I just did, I doubt I'll get to see my parents or Styx again. I don't care; none of them care about me. Styx openly dislikes me and my parents only care about my ability. As for Clio, well, I'll have to cross that bridge when I get to it. This is gonna be harder for him then it is for me so I'll have to be the strong one. Suddenly I see the door swing open and Nita storms in.

"Hey Anna" she spits her eyes glimmering, even though I hate that nickname "Nice little train wreck you became out there."

"I'm sorry; it's just, he doesn't deserve it Nita" I protest.

"Well I do feel sorry for you" she sighs and I smile gratefully "After all, with your kid brother dragging you down, your chances have dropped pretty significantly."

In a second she's down pinned to the floor.

"Don't you ever talk about Clio like that, you hear me?" I roar.

Then I feel a sting as she scratches my eyelid with her sharp nails and the red blood blurs my vision. While I'm distracted, Nita rolls us over so she's pinning me instead.

"See Anna, this is why you live in district 3. Nothing to do with your parents; it's because your too pathetic and emotional to ever be a Career" she mocks me.

Two peacekeepers, upon hearing our noise run in.

"Knock it off!" one shouts as they pull as apart.

One holds Nita under his arm (even though she's a tall, muscular 18 year old) and carries her out. The door slams and minutes later I hear her screaming. I lean up against the wall that seperates Clio and I and begin to sob as I hear him saying goodbye to his friends. I hear little snippets of conversation like "You are brave Clio" and "Good luck Pipsqueak". I may achieve Career status but I'll never know friendship like that; and it hurts.

Clio Slate POV

My friends leave the room, sadly but not crying, which is more than what I can say for myself. I'm just reduced to snivelling when my family comes in. I stare at them, unsure what to do. We're not particularly close. They just look back at me and then Styx says "Can we go now?" and they leave. It doesn't matter. I've said my goodbyes to everyone I wanted to. I even have a goodbye from Annalise, right here in my pocket. It's a letter she wrote years ago, when I was about 4 and she was just about 10. She didn't ignore me then but I didn't read the letter until I was older, and could understand it properly. I pull it out and unfold it.

Dear Clio,

You can't read yet but I just wanted to let you know that you're the best brother ever. You're much more interesting than Styx and one day I'm gonna be the strongest Career that ever lived so that you, mom, dad and even Styx can be proud of me.

Love, the best sister ever,

Lisey

I hug the letter and the quickly and neatly refold it before it can tear. I don't know how long I'm gonna last in the arena. I'll be lucky to survive the Bloodbath. But at least the last thing I can read before I die can be from someone I love.

Aw, I hope you found that at least kind of cute. If you didn't, well you're not heartless, you just like marmite (which is almost as bad, but not quite). I've got some ideas in my head for the district 4 reaping so it should be up by Friday at the latest but no promises.