Reapings

District Five

Sevarian Vaask (16) D5M

My feet hit the ground as the gang ran back to hideout. The security was catching up on me and my legs were aching now.

"George!" I called out to the other member of the gang. He turned around and saw that the security guards were not too far away. One of them grabbed my arm and I punched him square on the jaw while George came up to me and fought off the other guard. We saw more of them gain on us and headed out, diving behind a trash can and then crawling from there into a broken down building. I stood up and saw that the building was so old and weak that I got scare that it might fall on us.

"Come on," George said and pulled me along further into the building. We ran up the staircase and were soon on the rooftop. The guards had disappeared. There was another building right next to this one and we both ran towards it, taking a daring leap from the edge.

I thought I was going to fall but forced myself to not scream. Managing to grab the edge of the wall of the other building, I pulled myself up onto the roof. George and I ran down, past much surprised women and children, and then out onto the street.

Finally, we arrived at the hideout, just as the other members appeared there too, all of them panting, sweating, cursing.

"That was close," George muttered.

"Too close," Will grumbled. We saw that his arm was cut and was bleeding too badly. The boys looked at each other and then rank for the first aid kits, carrying him first into the hideout.

"But it was fun," I said with a slow grin creeping onto my face.

We didn't do anything wrong, or that's what we said. The gang just roamed around in the complex facilities, or power plants to just check how well the workers there would deal with…problems. Usually our deeds didn't harm power production so the security didn't bother us. That day, however, we almost blew up the generator. It was an accident of course but the security didn't think so. Honestly speaking though, even if a few of those people died it wouldn't matter to me much. Five could do without so many people. After all, killing was no stranger to any of us.

Blake slapped my back and then smiled at me. "So ready for the Reapings?"

"Yeah, it will be fun to see the pig who would be slaughtered this year," I replied with a smirk.

He laughed and the other boys joined in. We were all very uncaring about everything but we were attached to each other. All of us were either orphans or children who were ignored all our lives. I had three elder brothers and a younger sister. My parents had fine jobs. I was the odd one out and they always gave more attention to my siblings. I had observed that ever since I was young. My brothers often got new, better toys. My sister got new dresses. I was given the old things, things that my brothers were bored of using. Needless to say, the relationship between my brothers and me wasn't very nice. However, I did get along with my sister better than with my brothers. Then I met George and Blake, who were so similar to me that for the first time I felt that I belonged somewhere. Slowly, our gang formed and expanded and now we were a second family to each other.

"We need to get ready," Blake said and then kicked at the ground.

"I don't want to move," Will groaned, holding up his injured arm.

"It's not that you have to walk on your hands," I said, patting it slightly. He winced in pain and I chuckled lightly.

"Man up, Will," George said.

Will glare at the two of us and the boys launched into another banter. I excused myself and went to the bathroom. I was too sweaty and stood under the shower when the other boys started banging on the door.

"Going to take the whole day?" George yelled.

"Shut up."

I brushed back my short black hair that certainly did not go with my green eyes or thin physique but I still managed to look just decent enough.

"Took long enough," Blake said and then went to change. Just then, Razor fell in through the opening of the hideout and all of us drew our knives.

"Oh, it's you," I said, lowering my knife. Razor glared at me and then turned to Will. "What happened to you?"

"Nothing."

I rolled my eyes. Razor and I never got along well. In fact, we hated each other and a part of me would be very glad if he were Reaped. He kind of reminded me of my eldest brother and I was not very fond of the said person.

"I am heading out," I said.

"Wait-" Razor said, blocking my way with his arm but I slapped it away. His arm had turned red where my hand had hit it.

"Never try to stop me from going anywhere. I have told you so many times. Do you enjoy being humiliated?"

And that's when all the boys laughed and I walked out, knowing that Razor was seething behind me.

Cecelia Vertigo (18) D5F

Climbing trees was an effective way to remain fit. I needed to remain fit. Sure, I worked out quite a lot just for the fun of it, but this was something that I could do in the garden of my house.

Sitting on the branch, I looked at the grey sky. It was always grey and I found it depressing sometimes. It reminded me of my own situation, which wasn't the best. Any time my parents could find out my truth and they would shun me if they did. Disown me even. I didn't want to think about that.

In fact, I started working out only to distract myself from my troubles. It helped me at school too though and soon I was an athlete there. My parents were content. And my mind was off my problem.

No, the problem was not with me. The problem was that my parents had trouble accepting my kind. I had been raised to hate such people and now I was one of them. It came as a blow for me but if I told them…

My eyes travelled to a beautiful girl walking on the street. She had large, brown eyes and a really good physique. She was very attractive, to say the least. I turned red at the very thought. If I told my parents that I thought like that about another girl…

See? That was the problem. I found people of my own gender attractive. My parents found a person like me weird and our lifestyle to be horrifying and unnatural. I was raised to hate people like myself. How was I supposed to tell them?

I wished I didn't have to hide it though. Why couldn't my parents just accept me the way I was? I was their daughter, for goodness' sake! I had not committed a crime! I tried so hard to get in their good books. Trying my best to win the competitions at school, trying my best to be at the top of my class. They were always pressurising me, without actually saying anything very bluntly. I felt miserable.

Stop, I thought, your gender preferences don't define you.

But listening to my parents bantering about my kind did not really encourage me to think that way.

"Cecelia! Cecelia!"

I sighed. Mom was calling for me. Jumping from the tree, and realising only too late that I should not have jumped, I managed to land on my feet and then toppled forward, falling face first. That was embarrassing.

Picking myself from the ground, I walked into the house to find mom choosing a dress for me. It was a blue frilly thing that was gleaming too brightly for my liking. It was an ankle length dress and was accompanied by four inch heels. How was I even supposed to walk in high heels?

"Cecelia! My girl! What happened to you?" mom asked.

"I slipped," I answered dryly.

"Oh well, you better wash up before the Reapings. And here, I bought you a new dress!"

"Thanks mom," I replied, picking up the dress gingerly.

"Go get ready, sweet heart," she said, "My daughter should look her very best."

And then she was gone.

Sighing, I went to my room to change. After washing up I combed my long brown hair that were the same colour as my eyes. I was tall and well-built and I wondered why I needed these heels. These would only make me look awkward. And the blue dress just wouldn't go with my tanned skin, or my light freckles on the cheeks. But I knew this was expensive.

Having made sure that I looked as perfect as I could, I left the house without telling anyone. I needed to meet my friends. They knew my truth and it would only be right if I told them what I planned. I just could not live like this; being feared that I wouldn't be accepted, that what I would do would never be enough and especially the fear that people wouldn't like me despite all my efforts. There was no point of living if that failed. I liked things to be perfect and that's exactly what it wasn't right then.

Delilah and Annabell were waiting outside the Square for me. I grinned at both of them since they were the only ones who understood me. Delilah gave me a hug and Annabell punched my shoulder lightly.

"Looking very pretty," she said with a smirk. I laughed.

"Seriously? I didn't even want to wear this."

"And very tall as well," Delilah added. I shrugged.

"Okay girls, I have to tell you something."

The two looked up at me and I clenched my fists. I had to let them know. I had to share it. Come on Cecelia! But I couldn't. They would try to dissuade me from doing this. I knew it was not only risky but also foolish. But I had to go ahead with it.

"If something ever happens to me," I said, "Tell mom and dad about my truth. And tell them that I have always loved them and respected them."

"Why are you talking like that?" Annabell asked sceptically, "You aren't…?"

"She is!" Delilah exclaimed, "You can't do that Cecelia!"

"There is no choice!" I screamed, "I want to be accepted. To be loved despite my-my condition and for that I need to prove myself to my parents. This is the only way!"

"It's not!"

"It is!"

Annabell just stared at me as if she was seeing me for the first time. I locked eyes with her, trying to tell her to understand. She shook her head.

"Just try not to die," she said slowly, as if she was regretting her words even while uttering them. I nodded. Delilah looked at her incredulously.

"Are you mad?!" she cried, "Cecelia is talking about volunteering herself for a death-match!"

"Talking won't change her mind," Annabell said, "And sometimes, you just have to fight."

Delilah looked at me then at her and then back at me in bewilderment. She continued to stare at us like that even when we got our fingers pricked and parted ways; she went to the Seventeen-year-old section and I joined Annabell among the eighteen-year-olds.

"And now, our female tribute is-"

When did Carissa come? What was I thinking all this time?

"- Elle Shawns!"

My resolve hardened when I saw that Elle was only thirteen, and very frightened indeed. She wasn't going to die.

"I volunteer as tribute!"

Sevarian Vaask (16) D5M

The volunteer introduced herself as Cecelia Vertigo and she was a much determined woman. And much stupid too. Who would actually go in the Games willingly? Not me.

"And the male tribute is," Carissa paused for effect. My heart was beating wildly against my ribcage. Hurry up woman!

"Sevarian Vaask!"

"What?!" I cried. I was Reape. I was Reaped?! Me?! Out of all the people me?!

"Please come up on the stage."

I couldn't move, I was too stunned for that. Somebody shoved me from behind and I glared at him but he only looked at me apologetically. Slowly, I started forward, my legs screaming at me to run from there. I looked around, hoping someone would volunteer for me too. No such luck. My District Partner looked tough.

Carissa gave me the microphone. "I'll try to give you a victor this year," I said, trying to sound as confident as I could without it sounding fake.

Cecelia had a steely look while she shook my hand. But I could manage. After all, killing was no stranger to me…

I know I have messed up these two. Hopefully, it wasn't as bad as I feel it is. But I loved writing for these two. I'd love to hear your opinions on them.

Have a great day!