Reapings

District Eleven

Aspen Rust (17) D11F

Lee wouldn't know what hit him. As I awaited the moment when I could implement on my plan, I couldn't help but giggle a bit. I could already imagine his expression, the one of utter fury and amusement.

He rounded the corner and I turned around to conceal my face.

"Aspen, I've been looking for you!" my brother said, spotting me finally.

I didn't respond but I was itching to. It would be so much fun. But I couldn't. Not then.

"Aspen…?" Lee's voice had faltered. I could vividly imagine the expression on his face, his features creased with worry.

I started trembling violently. "ASPEN!" he cried out in worry and ran over to me, grabbing my shoulders and turning me around.

"AAHH!" he screamed and jumped back in fright, his eyes as wide as his mouth as he stared at me up and down. And just as I had imagined, the expression changed from fear to fury and a very reluctant amusement.

Staring at a person, your sister at that, whose face is covered in mud with twigs sticking out, and her medium brown hair covered in leaves from the front could terrify a brother. His hazel green eyes, that so matched my own, held a twinkle even though his face was red.

"I can't believe you fell for it. Again!" I laughed but then quickly stopped and closed my mouth, embarrassment overcoming me.

"And why aren't you laughing now?" he asked in mock fury.

Shaking my head, I smiled at him, taking care that my teeth didn't show. Lee sighed and then approached me. Attempting to wipe the mud off my face, he got it all over his shirt but it didn't seem to bother him.

"Show me your smile," he said.

I shook my head.

"A grin? Come on!"

And with that he tickled me so hard that I burst out laughing.

"S-stop! Stop i-it!"

"My little girl looks so beautiful when smiling," he said as he stopped.

"Only you think so," I replied.

It was true. I had prominent buck-teeth, and I didn't like them. Sometimes people teased me when I was younger but they had become more considerate later on. However, I still didn't like revealing my teeth all that much. But Lee didn't mind. He was the best brother, friend and rival in the world and I just loved him so much.

"Let's go home," he said.

"I'll race you there," I challenged.

With a roll of his eyes he shrugged. "Okay, sure. You're going to lose anyway."

Flipping my hair, I winked at him. "Let's see."

The two of stood side by side and then he said, "Get set go!"

"Who says that so quickly?" I asked, "There should be a pause after 'get' and 'set' and the 'go' should be long."

"Shut up," he muttered and repeated, this time following my instructions.

We set off.

Sadly, he overtook me very soon and left me behind. "No!" I cried out and then forced myself to run fast and almost caught up to him. I refused to lose. That was just unacceptable.

My legs were aching but I forced myself forward and overtook Lee just as we reached home. I had to win the race anyhow. Ultimately, I threw myself forward so that for a few seconds I was flying and then landed right in front of the main door. Lee came running exactly four seconds later.

"Y-you l-l-lost," I panted, gasping for breath.

"Uh no," he replied, "Getting home first would mean entering the house first."

He opened the door and stepped inside.

"And as you can see, I did it before you."

And with that and a little grin he shut the door. And I just stared.

"I can't lose!" I cried and then ran inside. Lee laughed and I joined him when I saw dad approaching us. Seeing him, the two of us went silent abruptly.

"You two are making so much noise," he said irritably, "And what is this Aspen? Where did you get all that mud from?"

I lowered my eyes and Lee spoke up, "She fell down."

Dad glared at us and then walked past me, his shoulder brushing against me. Lee turned to look at me and then smiled lightly.

"Hey don't worry. Let's get you cleaned."

My mom had left when we were young and the two of us were raised by dad. Lately, he had been ignoring us, except when he had to tell us off, and we certainly didn't like it. Lee and I were always competing to get his attention but neither was really successful. We worked in the fields and tried our best to earn as much as we could to impress dad but it didn't work.

Splashing the cold water on my muddy face, I felt a bit refreshed. Hot water was something we couldn't afford but cold water was also good. After being cleaned up, I went to my closet and pulled out a dark brown knee-length dress. It had been my Reaping dress since a few years and I was very fond of it.

"Lee!" I called out.

"Coming."

As my brother walked over to the door, I linked my arm into his and the two of us walked out. I only hoped that neither of us would be Reaped. That would be terrible and I knew that neither of us could live without the other. We were more than the ordinary siblings; we loved each other more than anything or anyone else in the world.

I just hoped we could always live together.

Fynn King (17) D11M

Jealous.

That's what dad felt. My cousin won the Games when I was young. Comforts, luxuries, fame, respect, they all accompanied his marvellous victory. Apparently, my uncle became a little too proud and it didn't go well with dad so he tried to make me prepared to volunteer.

My story was strange for someone from Eleven, and I knew it. Well, I was glad about it. Being different only highlighted that I could in fact win it all. And anyway, to escape a father like mine, it was not a very big price.

"Fynn, you're ready?" mom asked. She had supported dad and my decision in a way that scared me.

"Of course," I replied smoothly.

And I was. The family had worked so hard to provide for my training. Hand-to-hand combat, and as much weapon training as could be available. We weren't very well off. But it didn't matter.

The weather was too sunny for my liking. There were small birds flying high above everyone in circles. How dare they fly above me! I walked out of the house and stared at them again. Picking up a stone, I hurled it at them. The stone hit one of the birds and with a cry of pain it started falling towards the earth.

I smiled as the injured bird landed right at my feet.

Picking it up, I examined it as it squirmed in my grasp in vain. The wing was cut and the little thing was bathed in blood. With a satisfied smile, I flung it on the ground and crushed it under my foot. The bird stopped moving and I lifted my foot off it. that was how I was going to crush the tributes in the arena.

"Stop showing how mighty you are. Killing a poor bird isn't the same as killing a person. Anyone can kill a lowly creature like that."

With a dramatic sigh, I turned to face mom, who was wearing a rather sober expression.

"Can't a boy have fun?" I asked, raising a brow.

"Have fun in the arena."

Shaking my head, I kicked the dead bird away and stormed into the cramped house.

I was a sadist, to say the least. After watching so many past Games, the brutal murders and the foolish friendships, I was convinced that being sadist wasn't particularly wrong. The Careers were usually blood-thirsty jerks and they usually won.

"What are you still doing here boy?!"

Groaning internally, I turned to face my dad. His eyes were bloodshot and his face had the same angry expression that he usually had when he was drunk.

"There's still time," I muttered.

In an abrupt motion, his hand struck me so hard that I fell on my back. Holding my smarting cheek, I got to my feet and glared at him.

"Don't you dare look at me like that."

I wanted to shove a knife down his throat in all honesty. However, that had to wait, despite the temptation. I just went into my room and slammed the door shut in his face. If I won, then I would not let them live with me in the Victor's Village. No, I would disown them. Especially dad. He was always mistreating me and I didn't like it.

With a sigh, I approached the very old mirror in my room. Tanned complexion, very dark brown eyes, chiselled features. I smiled at my reflection. Unlike most people in my district, I wasn't exactly dark skinned but it didn't bother me.

"Fynn! Get here quick! You're getting late!"

"Maybe if you stop yelling so much," I muttered, "Your voice is annoying."

Taking my time, I lazily pulled out a black tuxedo. Although we weren't rich, I had it stitched just for the occasion. Putting it on, I admired myself once more in the mirror and then headed out.

"Let's go b-"

Before dad could complete the sentence, I had shut the door behind me and started the tedious journey to the Square along the must dusty road. I was slightly worried about my clothes but nothing too much. After all, the cameras would want to capture my handsome face. A volunteer from Eleven. It was quite unheard of recently.

The queue was not too long but I didn't want to wait. Pushing my way through the line, muttering apologies, I went in front and got my finger pricked, even as the worthless people behind muttered obscenities for me. I would see to them later, after returning as a victor.

"Ladies and gentlemen, it's an honour to be here!"

That was a lie.

"District Eleven is one of the best Districts in Panem, with some of the loveliest people and tributes around."

Another lie. It had been more than a decade since any of our tributes had even been in top eight.

"Without further ado, let's choose our female tribute. Are you ready?!"

No reply. The people here were a miserable crowd. That's why we were all so poor. Had they been smarter, we would have been rich and respected like the Career Districts.

"It is-" the escort, looking at the crowd with a childish enthusiasm, "Aspen Rust!"

For a while there was no movement anywhere. Then all of a sudden, a figure was seen moving away from the Square. There was a cry, the Peacekeepers caught her even as she ran as if her life depended on it, and they started dragging her weeping self to the stage. However, soon she was walking towards the stage herself and when asked to address the crowd, she just gave them a shaky thumbs-up and winked. Interesting, but she wouldn't last long. I knew it.

"And now for the gentleman who'll represent us," the escort said, "Cherry Steele."

"I volunteer as tribute!"

Aspen Rust (17) D11F

I was still very shaken up when I caught Lee's eye. He looked as if he would faint on the spot. As the male name was called out, I saw him open his mouth. Horrified, I was about to yell at him to not do so when I heard another boy say 'I volunteer as tribute!'

To say that I was shocked would be an understatement. I just couldn't understand what was happening. A tall, handsome boy from among the seventeen-year-olds mounted the stage, trying to appear calm but he gave me psychotic vibes. He scared me.

"A volunteer! How amazing! What's your name, dear?!"

"Fynn King," he replied, "And District Eleven, you'll soon have a victor amongst you."

"That's confidence! I'm sure you'll do brilliant!"

Fyn smiled at the crowd and I frowned, my tears already dried up. This was not good.

As he shook my hand, a very strange smile crept onto his lips. I smiled at him shakily, but I could already tell that I didn't want anything to do with him.

The applause was mild. Sad. But maybe people were hopeful, because at least they had clapped and cheered us. Or just Fynn.

Maybe he could be the victor Eleven had been waiting for…

Before anything else, I want to say that these tributes weren't really submitted to Eleven. So yes, that's it.

I am personally not very pleased with this chapter, maybe because it was written at around midnight. So, who do you like better? Fynn or Aspen? Who do you think will do better?

Thank you for all your kind reviews. They really encourage me to get the updates out. I hope you enjoyed this.

Have a good day!