Reapings

District Six

Aileen Romeri (18) D6F

"Hey calm down."

"I can't calm down," I snapped at Eris. He sighed and I let out an exasperated breath. Recently I had been taking all my anger on him. He gave me a tight hug and I started to relax in his embrace, even though my mother's words echoed in my head so clearly.

"Come on Aileen," he said, "It's been happening since years. There's nothing we can do about it."

"I still don't understand why she blames me Eris. In fact, she sounds so certain that I have started suspecting myself."

"Don't think that way. You did nothing."

"I loved them! I admit I was a bit jealous but I still loved them. I was five! Five!"

"I know dear."

Releasing myself from his grip, I reached for the bottle of alcohol to take a swig but he knocked it out of my hand.

"What the hell are you doing?!" he said, shaking my shoulders hard.

"Don't try to act like mother," I replied softly, "This is needed."

"Stop it Aileen."

Eris forcefully shoved me into a chair and knelt down in front of me. Taking my hand, he squeezed it gently and I smiled at him.

"You always care for me so much."

"Of course. You're my best friend. Mother should realise now that you weren't the culprit. She is being too hard on you."

Eris was born my father and another woman and then my father married mother. She hated Eris and when I was born she wasn't too nice to me. I got along well with Eris when we were children and mother didn't seem to like it but she wasn't very vocal about it at the time. Then I turned four, and my parents were blessed with twins. They brought so much joy to the household, the perfect twins for a perfect couple. Mother started neglecting me, because she didn't like me all that much and the twins were much more loved. I didn't hate them either and I tried my best to look after them and cared for them. Sure, I was a little jealous of the attention they received but it wasn't that bad.

And then they turned one when everything changed.

Both of them died due to pneumonia. There was an unspeakable gloom in the house and then suddenly mother had a new idea. I was jealous of the twins, I was friends with Eris, maybe I had killed the twins.

She blamed me, beat me up, yelled at me, cursed me and I didn't even get what was happening. I was myself too shocked and unable to understand why my sisters weren't moving. I cried and pleaded and asked what was happening but they didn't answer me with anything other than accuses.

It had been continuing ever since. And now, listening to the certainty in her voice, a part of me wondered whether it had been me who killed my sisters. It was a horrible thought and one that I needed to drive away but it was just so overpowering…

During all that, Eris had been with me. When I had cut myself on my fifteenth birthday, he had saved my life. He supported me, and many times had taken abuse for me. Mother hated both of us and she hated our relationship. I didn't see Eris as my brother; I loved him and he reciprocated the feeling. Nobody liked it but that couldn't be helped. We weren't there to please people.

And that was when mother walked into the room.

"Why is there alcohol in my living room?" she demanded.

Brushing Eris' hand off mine, I took another swig of the said liquid, its warmth calming me down.

"This is who I am, mother dearest. I think I should thank you for that."

"You insolent ba-"

I ran out of the house before she could complete her sentence, Eris following in tow. I tried so hard that she would love me but no. Just no. It wasn't worth it, worth any of it. I wanted to scream so hard right now, even as Eris grabbed my hand and pulled me back. He brushed my dark brown hair out of my face and looked into my eyes, which were as blue as his. It seemed strange that, as a child he used to tower over me, but now we were both almost equally tall.

"Don't worry, she's just-"

"Don't try to justify her," I said sadly, "It doesn't matter. I will volunteer."

"YOU WILL NOT DO THAT!"

"I'm tired of this nonsense, Eris. I really am."

Despite his many pleads and requests, I stood by my decision. Because I really was tired of all of this. And staying quiet and bearing it all was certainly not worth it.

Oren Harper (16) D6M

"Hover, have you seen my jacket?"

"I am not your secretary," my friend muttered.

"Well yes, you aren't," I replied, rummaging through the larder for my jacket. Sure, jackets and food weren't supposed to be together but seeing that it was mine, it could be anywhere.

"By the way," I continued, "There is dirt on your nose."

"Not fair! I don't point out your faults!"

"Fine. Just go out in public with that dirty nose, and when everyone will boo at you don't come running to me."

"I fight the bullies at school," he argued back.

"Yes, but I invoke them. If I don't do that, who will you fight?"

"That's not a valid point!"

"That is pretty much a valid point. And now, stop being a lazy git and help me find my jacket."

"What if I don't?"

"Well then, you don't. I'll tell your mum that you didn't complete your homework and were yelled at for it."

"That's unfair!"

"I know," I replied, resuming my search for my blue jacket, when suddenly something hit me on my back. I looked down to see my blue, weirdly shaped ball made of what was my jacket. Picking it up I tried to straighten it but the creases remained.

Hover laughed.

"Well there Oren, I helped you out."

Glaring at him for a few seconds, I joined him in laughing too. That's why we were best friends. We picked on each other, I bossed him around and he made everything difficult for me but we loved that. We fought and argued and then laughed at our own stupidity and how fun it would be.

Making a ball of the jacket, I hurled it at him and it hot him square in the face. Looking at me with disdain he threw it back and I dodged and then it soon turned into a game. Hardly ten minutes had passed when the jacket was quite unrecognisable. Covered in dirt, crumpled like a useless piece of paper and being tossed around like a ball, it hardly looked like my favourite piece of clothing.

"Wow…"

I looked at mum, startled, and the ball hit me on the ear. I scratched the back of my head sheepishly and Hover lowered his gaze too.

"Uh, hi mum," I said.

Mum crossed her arms across her chest and raised her brow at me, making me gulp. Then she laughed out.

"When will you two grow up?!" she said and then grinned at us.

"Oh, so you're not angry?!"

"Well, obviously I am, seeing that I will have to clean that jacket, and it will take some effort."

"Sorry Mrs. Harper," Hover apologised.

"Children, it doesn't matter. This is your age to play and have lots of fun! A dirty jacket means nothing."

I grinned toothily at mum, my slightly crooked teeth showing. We looked quite alike, with the brown hair and blue eyes that were slanted. My one eye was slightly more slanted than the other though and we both had a big nose. The only thing different was our heights. I was five foot seven; she was slightly shorter.

"Let's listen to some music while your mum gets us some snacks," Hover said.

"Yeah, I love looking at colours."

"I know."

There was a very old record-player with an equally old tape. It was always set and I played it. instantly, the air was filled with the beautiful, mesmerising sound of a flute. Royal blue shades appeared in the room and turned into figures, dancing on the slow music.

"Which colour do you see?" Hover asked.

"Royal blue. There are figures that just sprang to life and they are dancing. They are dancing in a rather beautiful manner."

"You know what? I wish that I could see colour like you too," he remarked.

"Yeah, it's fun. Although it does make me different…"

"There's nothing wrong with being different."

"I know."

The thing was, I was diagnosed with synaesthesia. When I heard music, I could see colours. Different colours for different instruments. Flutes showed me either royal blue or sky blue. Trumpets showed me golden hues.

When I was young, I thought that everybody could see colours on hearing music and so I kept silent. Then, when I was in fourth grade, I was called to the board to compose a short melody. Melody equalled colours in my view, so picking up the coloured chalks, I started drawing until the teacher yelled at me for wasting her good chalk. And I was so confused. Then she told my parents about it, who took me to a doctor and I was diagnosed with synaesthesia.

One would think that it would be a big problem if one could see colours but really, it wasn't. it was in fact beautiful ad I considered myself lucky to be able to see such beautiful things. It brought me joy and I really had nothing to complain about.

"Here children, have some cookies!" mum said as she brought in the tray. Both Hover and I leapt at it and within minutes, it was all gone. Mum laughed.

"You two know how to eat," she said fondly, "I wish Finnley did too."

My sister, Finnley, was too quiet and shy. We didn't talk all that much but it didn't mean we hated each other. She was just too shy and reserved even among family members.

"Yeah, I wish so too."

"Come on Oren, put on this green jacket instead," mum said as she handed it to me. Putting it on, I ran my fingers through my hair. Yeah, I was ready.

"Okay mum, see you later!"

"Oren-"

Before she could say anything, the two of us were out of the house. We jogged over to the Square. All around us, the atmosphere was one of gloom but I was not too worried. I was certain it wouldn't be me. How could it be?

We broke all the lines and got our fingers pricked first, shouting our apologies, and then ran over to the sixteen-year-old section. It was a while before Lance showed up.

"Hello District Six!" he called out and was met with a mild applause.

"Today, as you know, two of you will represent your district in the annual hunger games. Whatever happens, please know that will remember you for your bravery and we'll be proud of you. And now, let's choose our female representative."

No playing around with the chits. Nothing.

"Amanda Chase."

"I volunteer as tribute."

A very strong voice rang out. It seemed as if the very air had gasped in shock. A volunteer? From Six? How was that even possible? Was she mad?!

Dark brown hair, tall frame and a determination to rival everyone and everything. There was huge smirk on her pretty face and when she mounted the stage, she flipped her hair and winked at the crowd.

"Wonderful," Lance said, as if it was not wonderful at all, "What will your name be, young lady?"

"Aileen. Aileen Romeri," she replied, her held high.

"Beautiful name. and now, for the boys."

Lance pulled out a chip. He unfolded it and suddenly I felt my heart beating too fast. Why? It couldn't be me…

"Oren Harper."

Aileen Romeri (18) D6F

The crowd seemed to be stunned by my decision but I regretted nothing. No, I could do it. I had it in me. I would win and Eris and I would never have to tolerate such abuse again. I would make sure of it.

"Oren Harper."

I scanned the crowds for the Reaped boy and found him almost in the front. The boy was on the ground, crying almost hysterically.

"I don't want to die. I don't want to die. I don't want to… This can't happen. It's a dream."

With that he pinched himself but the poor boy soon realised that it was not a dream. Wiping his tears, he started towards the stage shakily, with very slow steps. When he was on the stage, he refused to say anything.

It might make me sound cruel, but I was glad that he was not very strong, and that he was young. I didn't want too many strong tributes and although he seemed like a good boy, being weak would enable me to kill him without much problems if it came to that.

His grasp was weak as we shook hands and in the end he was sobbing again although he was trying not to. I didn't offer him any encouragement or reassurance because we both knew that only one could come out alive. And I'd rather it be me.

"Give it up for Aileen Romeri and Oren Harper!"

A lot of things had to be changed about Aileen but I hope it wasn't that bad. Only one more to go now!

Anyway, who did you prefer? Why? Who do you think will make it further?

Have a good day!