The Reaping

Katiaa Silx is the current District Five escort. She stands out like a sore thumb in the district. I don't know much about fashion but I could swear she was wearing a shower curtain as a dress. She has diamonds implanted in her face and a long curly hair. I dread the part where she begins talking because her voice is very squeaky and highly irritating. Sort of how it might sound if a mouse was being choked. I usually start to zone out. I'll look at some of the younger kids and how terrified they are, remembering when I was there age. Back then I would zone out as well, watching the clouds pass by. Imagining if I could ride on one of those clouds and leave District Five. Leave Panem. Explore the world. I begin to feel a slight jealousy of the clouds and their freedom, and then laugh in my head quietly at the idea of being jealous of clouds. Well two more years until I can work. Work hard enough and the possibilities are endless. Maybe someday I will go to the Capitol like my father. As I look down from the clouds and see everyone staring at me. I snap back to reality. My name couldn't have been called...

"THALES FRANKLIN", I hear Katiaa squeal.

I laugh out loud at the irony. My best friends look at me but are at a loss for words. Seems my wish to go to The Capitol will come true sooner than later. I begin to laugh hysterically as the peacekeepers grab me and shove me towards the stage. Surely, everyone in District Five must think I'm crazy. I try to compose myself as I wipe a tear from my eye. Not from sadness but from some other place inside me. Maybe I am crazy. I catch a glimpse of the female tribute. She shoots me an evil stare. Katiaa Silx rushes me to center stage.

"Ladies and Gentlemen, you're District Five tributes, Addis Madina and Thales Franklin.

Why me? I think as I sit alone in some room inside the City Hall building. I desperately need to see my friends and am relieved when I hear the door unlocking. Unfortunately, it's not my friends, it's my mother.

"Why are you here?" I scream at her.

I hadn't seen my mother in about two years. I truly believed she cared more for her new family, which made me not care about her.

"Well I know your father is away and won't be able to say his final goodbyes", she explains.

I cut her off, "Final goodbyes? Are you killing me in your head already? Really, why are you even here, what do you care?"

She looks down at the ground, I'm assuming because she can't look me in the eyes.

"I didn't mean it like that, but I came because I do care about you and I wanted you to meet your baby sister before you go" she says as she lifts up her shirt.

I can see now that she is pregnant but this only gets me madder.

"Seriously? You are coming to show me at a time like this! Get out!"

And she does, but before she walks out she whispers,

" I only wanted you and your sister to meet, if only just one time."

The door closes but is flung back open. The guys tackle me to the floor. It's Zak, Eben, and Johan.

"You can't go this isn't fair!" cries Zak. Snot is running from his nose.

The atmosphere suddenly gets tense as Johan begins to speak.

"No matter what you must do or who you must kill, even if you have to sell your soul to the devil, make sure you come back to us!"

Johan is usually so care free, but he is kind of scary when he's serious. I give a fake smile. I can tell Eben and Johan are being tough for my sake but I don't think that is something they can decide for me. Can I really do whatever it takes to win?