Reapings

District Four

Oceane Cascade (17) D4F

Isla backed from her promise. She said it didn't matter. I couldn't understand how she could say so. Isla and I were best friends, and she was my only friend in all honesty. When we were eight, we had given a promise to each other that we would volunteer when we would be elder. Now she shrugged off the promise, saying that we had said that when we were children, when we didn't understand better. She tried to dissuade me from volunteering too but I couldn't back down. It was my year and a promise was a promise.

"You don't have to do it," Isla said again as she munched on a cheese sandwich. I raised my brows at her.

"Oceane, it's dangerous. You can die in the arena!"

"Thanks for the encouraging statement."

"You know it's true."

"I can't not do it. Everyone knows I will volunteer."

"So?"

"I am requesting you Oceane, let it be. Some other girl will take your place."

I didn't say anything. Nodding slowly, I pick up a sandwich and look up at Isla. Eleven years of friendship had brought the two of us very close. Closer than friends usually are anyway.

"Did you do your homework, or did you think that since you had to volunteer you might as well put it off?"

"Obviously, I have not completed it," I scoffed, "Who would waste their time on homework?"

"Good point."

"What about the male? The Academy did not tell us who is going to be the male volunteer."

"I have heard it's Daniel Firaht," Isla answered.

"Him?" I asked in surprise, "He's popular, yes, but he's been chosen?"

"That's what I heard from my friend."

Leaning back in my chair, nibbling at my sandwich, I thought about Daniel being my District Partner. He was very loud and pushy. Really focused as well.

"Nice," I muttered softly and Isla glanced at me nervously.

"But why would you care?" she said, trying to brush off the thought of me volunteering, "You will never do anything irrational."

"Of course," I answered, "Of course I won't."

Isla kept staring at me suspiciously and then I raised my brow at her again. "Stop staring," I said in a somewhat irritated voice. She grinned at me.

"I know you are angry with me for trying to dissuade you," she said, "So let's cheer you up. You feel like swimming?"

She knew I always felt like swimming. There was nothing I loved more than feel the water wash over my body, the strokes, the joy of being in the sea. I also liked fishing, since my parents had a fishing business. Tilting my head, I smiled at Isla.

"Okay, let's go."

We had arrived at the sea-shore ad tired ourselves that day. The sun was pretty high and the two of us were kind of basking then. The sand felt soft against my body and I could see many people fishing or swimming. A cool breeze was blowing and I was enjoying it.

Enjoying it enough to tell Isla the truth.

"Isla," I said, looking at the sky and trying to avoid her gaze, "I'll have to do it."

"But-"

"I can't back away. Not now. Not today."

"But why?! Ugh, Oceane, you were eight when you promised that! It doesn't mean a thing!"

"It means a lot to me!" I snapped at her angrily, "Why can't you understand?! It's about a goal! I knew I had to do and that's why I decided it so long ago. I have spent years training for this day! I can't not take part in the Games! It's my fate!"

"That's nonsense!" Isla almost screamed, "Why are people here so stupid?! A lot of 'trained' tributes go into the Games every year and so many of them die Oceane! I don't want to lose you!"

With that Isla got up and left, not looking back once. I felt bad about being so mean to her. Even when I was trying not to be mean, it often happened that I was. Looking at her retreating form, I sighed and pulled myself to my feet. I just hoped this decision would not make her hate me. I had only one friend in the world; I didn't want her to leave me too.

Victory Fervaix (16) D4M

I was a failure. Peril's smiling face swam in front of my eyes whenever I had free time. I didn't like free time. If only she were alive. It didn't really help that it was partly my fault that she died. Not that it wasn't going to happen, but it was my fault it happened before the time it was supposed to.

Peril, my cousin, being only thirteen at the time, was training at the academy. She and her rival were fighting in a pool at the training centre, and there were rocks in there for simulation. Everything was well and good until her opponent pushed her in too much, which resulted in her spinal cord getting damaged. When she was taken to the hospital, we found out her respiratory system was failing. There were no medicines available, the expenses were too high and we could never afford to get her treated completely.

I felt like crying but I didn't. I never cried.

The doctors had given us the date she would die. Four days before that, I visited her.

My cousin and I were very close. She was my best friend, my secret keeper, someone who understood me very well. She was lying in her bed, all sorts of weird equipment attached to her, and it wasn't a pretty sight. But we didn't bring up her situation while we talked. We conversed about the training centre, our friends, school, anything. Time seemed to have passed by too quickly and I got up, knowing it was time for me to leave. I wasn't crying even then, for it just didn't feel like Peril would leave me.

"Victory?"

Hearing her voice, I turned around to look at her. "Y-yes?"

"Before-before you go, can I ask you for one last thing?" she looked as if she had accepted something. She looked…determined.

"Sure. What do you want?"

Peril closed her eyes and sighed deeply. It seemed as if she was content.

"I want this to be my last memory."

My eyes widened at that and the earth seemed to be trembling slightly just as she uttered those words.

"W-what do you mean?" I asked anxiously.

"Will you detach this cord for me? Please?"

"NO!" I bellowed, "Why would you want that?! Have you gone mad?! This is stupid!"

The cord was what was supplying her with oxygen. If it detached, she would die. Why would she want that?

"Vic, I know about the expenses. Everyone tries to keep it from my eyes but I know. Just not breathing right." She tried to chuckle but failed.

"I know I am going to die soon. I have heard them talk outside this room. I'm a hopeless case, Vic. This is the only thing left."

A tear trickled down my cheek. For the first time in my life did I cry.

"Why-why me?" I asked in a broken voice, "Why not your parents? You friend Alyss? Why n-not them?"

"Because you are the only one who will understand. Mom and dad will start fussing and ask me to be sedated. Alyss is too selfish to do it. If I could, I w-would have done i-it myself but I can't even m-move. You're the only one."

"No…"

"I want to die by my own choice Victory. Please. And I won't die immediately. It'll take a- a day."

My senses, my heart, my soul were screaming at me to not do it. But my hands started moving of their own accord. Trembling too much, they still managed to detach the cord. Peril smiled.

When she was dead, her security cameras were checked. They found out it was me. Nobody understood anything. I was shunned by everyone, my parents and siblings grew cold towards me. I was an outcast.

That was two years ago and my situation was pretty much the same.

And now, my friend was about to volunteer. What if he died? I didn't want to lose Daniel, after all, ever since my family shunned me, Daniel and Elle were all I had. Elle was kind of a therapist for me. I told her everything and she carried my guilt with her too. She knew me well but it had been a while since we met.

Meanwhile, Daniel was trying to teach me how to use weapons. At the moment, it really seemed to be the only focus of his life. I didn't mind, because the rigorous training helped me take my mind off Peril.

While I was sulking in the shady corner of Daniel's room, my friend seemed to be going through his closet. I was financially poor, and my parents wanted nothing to do with me, so I didn't really hav anything decent to wear to the Reapings.

"Here," he said, producing a pair of denim jeans, a white T-shirt and a denim jacket. I looked at my feet to notice that my sneakers were blue. Maybe that's why Daniel chose everything blue for me.

"Thanks," I said and smiled at him.

At one time, I hated taking anything from anyone. But I was not in that position anymore. I was used to taunts, to humiliation and everything. So when someone wanted to help me out of the goodness of their heart, I considered it to be a blessing.

I combed my curly brown hair that was angled and tousled and plain weird. My eyes were pale blue and dull, more like robin's eggs than actual eyes. My nose was crooked towards the left and I had a tan. I looked nothing against most of the people there.

Daniel and I were soon in the Square. We were waiting for the escort to come up and I was hoping he wouldn't volunteer. Not that I didn't have faith in him but I just didn't want to take a risk.

"And now for our female tribute-"

When did the escort come on the stage? What was I doing the whole time? How come I didn't notice this beautiful lady get on the stage?

"Isla Crest! Isla Crest, please come on the stage!"

A seventeen-year-old girl started walking ahead confidently but I could see she was scared.

"I volunteer as tribute."

The voice was crystal clear and a beautiful girl with long wavy brown hair and beautiful blue eyes started walking towards the stage confidently. She had a tan like me and she was not very tall, standing at around five foot three only. But she was pretty.

"Your name, young lady?"

"Oceane Cascade, and I will bring victory to my District."

Oceane Cascade (17) D4F

The crowd applauded loudly as I looked at them in a steely way. Isla was looking at me as if asking me why I had done it. I looked away from her.

"And now the male! It is Victory Fervaix!"

Nobody moved. I looked at Daniel, who just stood on his spot as if he had a new and amazing idea. A boy, most likely Victory, leaned back and whispered something in Daniel's ears.

Daniel just smiled. "No," he said. It didn't help they were standing right in front of the line, everything was pretty audible.

"What are you saying?! It's your year to volunteer!"

"Not if I want you to go into the Games," Daniel replied. Nobody was doing anything; the escort, the mayor, the Peacekeepers, none of them understood what was going on.

"DO YOU WANT TO KILL ME?!" Victory screamed. I felt horrible for him. Daniel…

"No! I'm getting you to learn how to use weapons!"

I face-palmed. I knew Daniel was irrational but this was too much! Learn how to use weapons! Hwat did he even mean?!

A few boys opened their mouth but Daniel gave them a cold glare.

"It's Vctory's year. Nobody will volunteer! Nobody!"

With that he gave Victory a gentle push and the boy started towards the stage. He wasn't crying but he looked close to tears. He made a sniffling sound and then just stood next to me.

"Y-Your tributes this year! Oceane Cascade and Victory Fervaix!"

The audience clapped while we shook hands. He looked so gloomy…

I looked at Daniel in the crowd, cheering on his friend. Suddenly I felt blessed that he wasn't going to be my District Partner…

District Four is here! I hope you enjoyed this chapter. I know it was sort of late but…

And thank you all so much for your reviews! Each one of them means a lot to me.

Have a good day!