Reaping of District Five
Sleep threatened to take over again as he sat up in bed. This wasn't a morning he was looking forward to getting up to. Sure the sun was glowing, and the birds were singing, but a shadow fell over everyone.
"Sammuel?" A small voice whispered. He looked up to see his younger sister cowering against the doorframe. She was shivering, and her knees looked like they were failing to hold her up. Under the shade of fear she became very weak.
"Rosemary?" He got up from the bed, and made his way to the blonde girl. Her eyes were red. She had been crying for quite a while now. "It's okay." Sammuel whispered, helping Rosemary to the ground so she could sit. The wood floor was cold and calming.
"Will I die?" He almost stopped breathing as she spoke. Her, the most quiet, and sweetest girl speaking of death. It made the situation unfold further. Yes, it was possible for either one of them to go off to the games. As the mayor's kids they were not given rights above all else.
Hesitantly, he forced a slight smirk of a smile. "Not if I can help it." Seventeen and sixteen years old. Anything could happen. "Stop thinking about it, alright? Let's go get some food" Rosemary nodded, and got up. She wasn't hungry, but she craved to clear her mind.
~Dinner Table~
"Sleep well?" Sammuel asked, trying to fill the silent void. She looked up at him, her clear eyes glistened with pain.
"No really." Rosemary's voice cracked. "You?" His response was a shrug. He didn't sleep well either. All night haunted nightmares fogged his sanity. The evil of the Capital was attacking him. "I know you said not to think about the games, but I wonder how long will they last. Maybe this will be the only one!"
Sammuel dropped his gaze and stared at the eggs on his plate. "They said this was the first annual Hunger Games. There will be more. In two years though you won't have to fear it." Two years, that was a long time from now.
"I have to go get ready." Rosemary spoke up, as she got out of her seat. He watched as his little sister left the dinning room. She won't be taken away by the capital.
~Rosemary~
She pulled on her white reaping dress and looked in the mirror. Always pure no matter what. She looked like herself, she acted like herself, so what was the capital going to change? Nothing, hopefully.
Bells rang in the distance, beckoning them to come to the center. Rosemary wanted to think of every excuse to refuse, but there was none. Sammuel would be with her. He would protect her. Hopefully she would be able to come home today.
Her stomach tightened as she turned to the door. She wanted her parents, but they were already there. It would only be her and her brother walking to the center.
"Are you ready?" Sammuel asked, pushing open the door. He was all ready, dressed in a pure white suit with his blonde hair brushed back. "You look beautiful, as always." She smiled, as she walked up to him.
"Yes, I am ready."
~The Reaping~
They didn't have time to say anything to their parents. Right away they were pushed into the check-in line. Rosemary, held onto her brother's arm as long as she could before they were split apart.
"Be brave, dear sister." Sammuel whispered into her ear. "You are stronger than anyone." Not physical strength, but mentally she was indeed strong. Death was not an uncommon thing to hear about. It was nothing anyone had ever feared. Not for a while anyway.
The siblings were split apart. They could still see each other, but barley. Both were prepared to be killed, but there was something terribly different. Neither of them were prepared to kill. Hopefully it wouldn't come to that, even if one of them was chosen.
Sammuel relaxed and cleared his mind. He knew inside, that something tragic was going to happen. Right now was the moment to decide his fate, he knew what he would have to do.
"Welcome!" The man shouted. "I hope all of you are excited for the first hunger games. We will be selecting one man and woman to fight to the death. Whoever the tributes are: may the odds be in your favor." He slowly picked up a slip and opened it. "Rosemary Faith."
Taking one deep breath, she walked to the stage. Her parents watched her get onto the platform. There all could see the mayor's daughter, ready to die. Just this morning she couldn't move out of fear. That had to be changed.
"Mars Halesing" The boy was young. He was so sweet. So shy. Why him?
"I volunteer." A voice shouted from the crowd. "I will take his place in the hunger games." Mars turned to look at the boy that saved his life. He couldn't believe who it was.
The volunteer made his way to the stage. "What is your name?"
"Sammuel Faith." Rosemary looked to the ground. What was he doing?
"You want to fight against your own sister?"
"No." He responded. "I am her older brother. I must protect her from harm. If I can't do that then I won't let her face the horrors alone." Rosemary smiled at her brother, but on the inside she began to die. Her hope was to die on the first day to get it over with, but now what was going to happen? Could they die at the same time?
"District five, may I present to you the tributes for the first ever hunger games." As they walked into the train, they passed their parents who looked paralyzed. Their only kids were being taken away from them.
~Sammuel and Rosemary's goodbyes~
"Why?" Rosemary asked, as she curled into one of the chairs. The capital was kind enough to let them be together as they said their goodbyes. It was a better chance for her to talk to Sammuel.
He shrugged. "Before they called anyone's names I made a vow to be with you. You are my little sister, I can't just watch you die." But there was nothing he could do about it anyway. One of them was going to die at least, and she silent prayed it was not her.
Their parents entered to room, and they hugged each in turn. Their mother was crying. She was unable to have any more children so this was very hard for her.
"I will not be making it back home." Rosemary said. "I refuse to kill anyone. I will miss you deeply."
"I thought you didn't want to die." Sammuel responded, anger rising in his voice. "I came with you to get you out alive."
She shook her head. "I don't want to die, but I couldn't stand living when I see so many young teens pass away." The games were going to leave the victor with guilt and fear. No one will ever really win.
"We love you." Their mother spoke, holding her daughter tight. "Both of you. Don't be scared. That is all I ask of you."
Their father sat silently as he watch the scene unfold. A mother and her children. Comfort and pain. The Capital was taking everything from them, and they knew that for a fact. This is the last time he would get to talk to them, and he is at a loss of words.
"Don't change for them." He spoke. The two teens looked to their father.
"We won't" They answered dryly. That marked the end of their conversation. The end of their children's voices
