The Reaping-
My eyes opened, sore and red. I squinted at the sunlight pouring into my room. No longer was Joshua sound asleep at my side, but standing in front of me, a small hand on my side, shaking me awake. I sat up,"Morning?" I said, still squinting into the sunlight. "Morning." He squeaks, taking the hand that shook me awake using it to chew on his index finger. I sat up and looked at him, "Take that out of your mouth." I said, batting it out of his lips. "filthy child." I muttered, shaking my head. I stood up, seeing the dress that my mother had laid out for me for the Reaping ceremonies. I swallowed, it all seemed so real now. "Another Reaping. It's just another Reaping",I tried to convince myself. I was confident that I wouldn't get picked. We had never taken tesserae because we could afford to feed our family with the money I made from work, my mother's, and father's.
I ushered Joshua out of the room for some privacy while I changed. I shut my old wooden door with a click, and my bare feet walked to my bed, creaking the floorboards with every step. You could never keep quiet in a house like this.
The pale green dress laid on my bed, and my fingers wrapped around the fabric, as I lifted it from the bed. It was simple, but a little worn. I thought I had seen my mother wear this before, so I assumed she was lending it to me. I stripped my clothes and slipped into this one, I felt too dressy wearing this. I felt girly enough with the hairstyle my mother would give me in minutes. The fabric on the dress was an itchy cotton, I wanted more than anything to take it off. But this was the only dress that I owned and my mother would kill me if I was caught in pants at the Reaping. The dress had three buttons that opened up to the folded down collar. I tugged at it, unbuttoning the three buttons so that there was a deep V to my chest. I knew my mother wouldn't approve, but it was better than taking off the dress completely. There was a ribbon tied around the waist of the dress, I quickly yanked it off and put it on on the ground. I smiled, this would look much better. The dress hung to my knees, the length was unflattering and honestly, plain ugly. A devious smile creeped onto my lips and I glanced at my door, making sure it was locked. I walked to my bed, reaching under the matress to yank out my axe. I smiled and sat on my bed, begining to pull at the fabric, I slowly cut about three inches off the end of my dress. Now my dress had an uneven edge and hung a couple inches above my knees. I tucked my axe under my mattress once again and smoothed the wrinkles in my dress. My mother couldn't complain because now it was the dress or pants. I was fine with either choice now. Though, a long lecture would be in my future.
I unlocked my door and twisted the knob, as I strutted out of my room confidentally my mother's mouth dropped open. I smiled brightly,"Morning,Mother!" I said, cheerfully and kissed her cheek. Her hand clapped over her mouth and I raised my eyebrows innocently,"What is it, mother?" Her eyes glared at me, harshly and I bit my lip mischievously. "Oh, by the way, I love this dress!" I said, straightening the wrinkles in the skirt. She shook her head,"Sit." She said sternly, pointing at the wooden chair next to her. I skipped over to the chair and sat down, I could tell her urge to yell and scream was at an all time high. I couldn't help but giggle. She ran her fingers through my dark auburn hair and she began to work on it. She didn't even have a comb, just a stack of bobby pins and her callused hands. I sat in the chair, my posture as terrible as usual. I bit my nails the same way Joshua did as I slumped in my seat.
Soon after I had sat down, my mother was finished. "Okay, done." She said, sighing. She had seemed to have been distracted by my hair to yell at me for what I had done to my dress. I stood up quickly, skipping (for the sake of annoying my mother) through the dining room into my parents bedroom. Where I knew a full length mirror was placed. I stopped skipping and walked into the room, the squeaky floorboards worse in the bedrooms than in the main rooms, I never knew why, it was always how it was.
I stopped in front of my mother's mirror that was leaned against the wall directly beside her large wooden dresser. I took in my reflection in the mirror. My wide-set brown eyes, a dull color today, my olive-toned complexion, small nose, and thin lips. Then there was my hair, that fell past my collarbone in dark waves. My mother than taken the front parts of my hair and pulled them back, pinning them there, the ends blending with the rest of my hair. It was a lot simpler than normal, last year I had elaborate braids all tied back into a bun, the year before that it was parted on the side and pulled to one side of my head, and then one braid pulled around my head to look like a headband. I was much happier with this style than any of the others. I couldn't help but laugh as I looked at my dress. The ends were severely frayed, but the length showed off my legs. It looked much less girly, and more sexy than anything with the short length and opened chest. I nodded, I had done a pretty good job.
As I left my mother's room I saw Joshua coming towards me, he smiled, taking his index finger away from his mouth. "Pretty." He said, grinning a smile that missed one front tooth. I picked him up,"Mommy doesn't like it, you should go tell her what you said to me." I whispered in his ear. His uncombed mop of hair fell into his eyes and he grinned, his bright green eyes lighting up. "Okay!" He said, running over to my mother the second I set him down. I grinned and watched as Joshua tugged on the end of Mother's skirt,"Sissy looks beautiful, you are so crazy, Mama...not believing she is." She rolled her eyes and threw a glance at me, I shrugged giving her an innocent look,"I don't know where that came from." I said, smiling. My mother pat Joshua's head and a loud bell range throughout the district, signalling that everyone must come to the square. I walked to the door, slipping on my black work boots. My mother didn't protest, I sighed, and looked at my mother. She echoed my sigh and pulled me into a hug as I approached her,after a few seconds, I hugged her back, but only for a little. I released her and she let her arms drop,"Good luck, Johanna." My mother said, quietly. I nodded and shrugged,"I'll see you in a little bit." I said, knowing I wouldn't come back. Joshua tugged on my dress and I leaned down onto my knees,he wrapped his arms around my neck and I hugged him back. "I'll be back soon, J." I said, ruffling his already-messy hair. "I love you." He said, quietly. His bright green eyes specked with brilliant dots of silver. I touched his cheek and smiled,"I'll see you soon, okay?" He nodded and smiled. "Bye bye." I sighed, my father still wasn't home. Probably at the bar. It was his only coping mechanism since Vincent. I looked at my mother, knowing would realize I was thinking about my father. She shook her head and I rolled my eyes,"Whatever, it's not like he cares." I mumbled under my breath. I twisted the doorknob and exited my house, waving to Joshua as he watched me leave.
The town was loud with the chatter of the Reaping. The worried expressions of parents as they released their children to face their potential death-sentence. I could hear distant cries,laughter, screams, words, all jumbled into one loud buzz. I tried to tune it out as I walked towards the square, but it was useless. The buzz rang through my ears, bombarding it restlessly. I sighed, reaching the town square only made the buzz louder. Though I could start to make out individual phrases,"No!","You can't make me!","Why?". I ignored it, I wondered why people got so worked up, there was such a slight chance out of the hundreds of people who lived in District 7. I made my way to the sea of people, pushing my way through until I reached the station. I got in line to get my blood taken and I couldn't help but notice people staring at me. I smirked at jealous glances of girls and googling eyes of boys.
"Hand?" The peacekeeper asked me. I held out my finger, and they pricked it quickly, pressing my finger to the slip of paper. I heard the machine beep as they scanned it, my name popping up quickly after. "Next." The woman said, and I left the line, moving towards the 16-year-old section of girls. I sucked on the finger they had pricked and wiped the excess blood on my dress, which,too my disappointment, didn't show. I caught snippets of people's conversations,"If you're picked,can I have your shoes?" One girl asked another. I sniffled a laugh, I wasn't surprised, though I still found humorous.
The large stage was wide and skinny, a giant screen standing next to the stage showed the Capitol symbol at the moment and would soon play the video of why we had the Hunger Games. I never enjoyed the video. It was full of lies and twisted words that only made the Capitol sound grand, and killing children to be a fantastic thing. District 7's symbol was engraved on the Justice building, directly behind the stage. There were metal towers in the corners of the square, which was actually shaped more like a diamond, the towers held bright shining lights that shined down on the stage. Though they were unneeded on the bright sunny day. Everything the Capitol did was unneeded.
The escort for District 7 came walking onstage, her tinted purple purple skin covered in glitter as she walked on stage. She was glowing from all the light that reflected off the sparkles on her skin, it was blinding. Her horse-like face grinned a large-toothed smile. Her eyebrows were bright purple, but almost hidden by her terribly long fake eyelashes. I couldn't even begin to describe the makeup that was caked on her face, but it was made me touch my own face, thankful it was clean.
"Welcome!" Della Ainstworth's voice echoed through the square. I cringed at the volume, and the crowd grew silent. The buzz of chatter still echoing through my ears. "To the Reaping for the 68th Annual Hunger Games!" She said, her voice high pitched and squeaky. She giggled, her face bright with excitement, as if she couldn't wait another minute. "Now, a video to remind us, why we hold these wonderful games!" She motioned a purple hand toward the screen and the video started to play, I mouthed practically the whole thing. I had seen it 3 times already in person, and many more from watching at home. The video came to a close, and the anthem played. I stood bored, and I could practically feel the anxiety of others around me. The looks of terror on their faces. I would expect at 16 you'd be mature enough not to shriek. I rolled my eyes and turned my attention to Della again as she spoke. "Well, of course," she giggles her obnoxious laugh and I cringe again. "Ladies first!" Girls clinged to eachother or held hands as Della walked her 5 inch heels to the clear bowl that sat on a pedestal, filled with individual slips of papers. Her hand reached in and she dramatically pulled one slip out, walking back towards the microphone, I wondered how the hell she walked straight in those pieces of plastic they called shoes. She cleared her throat, smiling widely and unfolding the paper. Her eyes scanned over it and she opened her lips to form the two words that would decide who dies.
"Johanna Mason!" I heard my name being called and I laughed. I laughed. People stared, moving aside from me. Peacekeepers closed in on me and I shook my head, still laughing. They put their hands on my back to push me forward and I jerked around,"Don't touch me, I can walk by myself, thank you very much." I said, walking on stage. My combat boots clanking loudly as I walked up the stairs on stage. Della smiled brightly, and made quick eyecontact with me, which I threw a very dirty look at. She quickly stepped to the microphone, avoiding my gaze. "So, your female District 7 tribute!" She motioned to me, quick not to catch my eyes again. "Now, for the boys!" She walked to the opposite side of the stage directly across from the girl's pedestal. She reached in, taking her time and she plucked out a piece. My mind didn't think. Not about the Hunger Games. Not about my potential death. Just curiosity for who my partner would be, not that I had any friends here anyways. Della pranced to the microphone,"Ehem," She cleared her throat again. "Dylan Mallory!" I had no idea who this was. But, I searched the crowd, it was in the 18 year old section. People parted away from him and the look on his face was a mix of complete terror and utter shock. I sighed, and shifted my weight to my right side. I heard a girl scream from the 16 year old section, I realized it was the same girl who made the comment on shoes that I had heard talk behind me. She was cutting through the crowd trying to get to Dylan, but the Peacekeepers held her back and pushed Dylan forward. I suspected it was a girlfriend, or sister. But, I was leaning towards girlfriend from the looks of Dylan, I suspected he had girls all over him. Peacekeepers pushed him towards the stairs and the girl was still struggling, from the Peacekeepers, screaming and kicking. As he got closer I noticed his incredibly green eyes, almost identical to Joshua's. Something caught in my stomach as I realized that Joshua would be grieving in the end, he would lose a sister.
Dylan stood next to me, his face still blank and pale. Della smiled, and nodded for us to shake hands. Dylan held out his hand and I shook it lightly, turning back to the crowd. and dropping his hand. Della stepped forward,"Your District 7 tributes!"