Chapter 11: Names and No Returns

Grantaire was one of the first to get to the town square. He had been so anxious the past few weeks he had ended up being early for everything. Today he wasn't sure what was worse, waiting around at home or waiting around in the square. Either way the reaping wouldn't come any faster, he just wanted it to be over with. Still, he signed in and went to stand with the other boys his age.

There were only two other sixteen year olds there at that time, he recognised them vaguely from around the district. He nodded amiably but said nothing. No one waiting for the reaping would be up for a conversation. They just had to wait until everyone else arrived, and then all they could do, was hope.

'Right are we all ready to go?' Courfeyrac looked at his assembled family, his brave younger brothers and beautiful younger sisters, not long now. Courfeyrac opened the door but a man in a business suit blocked his exit. He looked very wealthy, presumably from one of the inlying districts, but what was he doing here? Courfeyrac waited for an explanation, but the man said nothing. He simply handed over a handwritten letter, and went on his way. It was addressed to Clara.

'It's for you,' he said with confusion, handing over the letter.

Clara clearly had no idea who it was from either, judging by the look on her face. She opened it, and turned very pale.

'Courfeyrac, will Enjorlas be in the reaping?' Cosette asked.

'Yes, he will, but in his own district.'

'Do you think he'll get sent into the games?' she said worriedly.

'I don't imagine so, usually district 2 has volunteers.'

'Why do people volunteer for the Games?' Posie asked with bewilderment.

'That's a very good question, Posie. Clara are you alright?'

Clara, who had looked perfectly fine before, now looked ready to feint right there and then.

'Clara?'

Suddenly, she reverted back to her old self.

'Of course I am, let's go. Come on, the sooner we get there the sooner we can come home,' she said hurriedly, but Courfeyrac noticed something in Clara's eyes that hadn't been there before.

'Right of course, we don't want to keep the Capitol waiting do we?'

'Well that turned out pretty much as I expected,' Enjolras Sr announced to the room as he returned. 'I think District 2 has a pretty good chance this year, Benedict's a fine lad, and Avalon as a certain fierceness to her. Who knows what will happen. It shall be a fine Games, two worthy Careers.'

Enjolras wasn't really listening.

'Still in shock are you? Well it can be pretty stressful, even I got anxious when I was a boy. But don't worry, you'll never have to worry about a reaping again. Your old dad's pretty amazing isn't he?'

Amazing wasn't quite the word Enjolras would use to describe is father.

'Come on, let's have a look at who they'll be up against. I don't think District 11 or 12 have completed their reaping yet.'

'Hello, and welcome to District 12's reaping!'

Everyone looked up at District 12's new escort. Their old one had been promoted to District 5, but no one was sorry to see her go. She had been replaced by a jolly looking fellow named Marcus, a typical Capitol man, who looked rather like Caesar Flickerman. But to be honest, none of the children in front of him were paying particular attention to his appearance.

'Right well, let's get straight to it. Now I know how it's supposed to go, ladies first. Of course, of course that's all very well, but I think we should shake up the tradition this year. What does everyone think?'

He was met by silence, they weren't interested in humouring him.

'Right well, I'll take that as consent. Ladies first, but gentlemen just before,' he said with a wink at the crowd. What did he think he was hosting?

'Are you ready boys?' He went over and picked a piece of paper, sealing the fate of one young man.

'Edwardo Grantaire, what a great name. Isn't it?'

Courfeyrac let out a breath he didn't even know he'd been holding. Harry and Freddie did the same, but they all felt sympathy for Grantaire. He'd always been a bit of an outsider, he spent most time indoors with his mother. Everyone knew of his father antics, and of course of his death. No one knew him very well, it was unlikely that anyone apart from his mother would miss him, but this was a fate you wouldn't wish on your deadliest enemy.

He went up to the front and Marcus turned him to the crowd.

'How about a hand for this strapping young lad? Is he going to be your next victor? I think old Haymitch is getting a bit lonely, aren't you old chap?'

District 12's resident drunk shrugged with disinterest. Grantaire swallowed uneasily, he couldn't look at Haymitch without thinking of his father. He did have other things on his mind though. He looked at the relieved boys and the equally apprehensive girls, he doubted he would ever see these people again. Now he was glad he had never got to know any of them very well.

The atmosphere had changed among the teenage boys of District 12. Courfeyrac couldn't get his head around the fact that this was it. He would never have to go into the arena, he would never have to take part in a reaping again. But Harry and Freddie would, he could see them in the crowd a few rows in front of him. He could see Harry had shuffled forward slightly, to get closer to his younger brother. They were now side by side. Courfeyrac ached to be with them, but he had to wait until a girl had been reaped. Not long now, then they could all go home.

'Well now, what beauty will be accompanying you into the arena, Grantaire? Shall we find out? I remember a District 12 beauty back in my 20s, she was absolutely stunning. We met at the Justice Building when…'

And Marcus continued to tell the story of his love life to some very anxious teenage girls. Grantaire, stuck on stage for everyone to see wanted to avoid the arena by dying right there and then. That's when he caught sight of two twelve-year-olds holding hands.

'Why isn't he just picking the paper out of the bowl?' Cosette whispered to Posie.

'I don't know,' Posie replied, not raising her eyes from the floor.

'This must be the longest reaping ever,' continued Cosette. This time Posie didn't reply.

'Why does he keep saying, 'if you know what I mean'?'

'How long is this story?'

'Do you really think he left her to pursue his career?'

'When can we go home?

'I don't know Cosette!' Posie finally answered. Cosette let go of her hand.

From several rows back, Clara couldn't take her eyes off the two girls far more precious to her than her own life.

'Right, well, I guess we better get on with this.'

And suddenly Marcus looked uncomfortable, he walked over to take out the name.

'The second tribute from District 12 is….' He looked as if he was having trouble reading the writing.

'Is….she is….she's…'

'I volunteer!' a voice emerged from the crowd. Everyone turned to the direction of the voice.

Clara separated herself from the crowd of sixteen year olds. From looking ready to fall to the ground a few moments ago, to looking calm and composed now, she looked up at Marcus.

'I volunteer as tribute.'

Courfeyrac could only watch in complete shock and disbelief, as Clara and Grantaire shook hands.

And Enjolras could only listen to his father, commenting on the rarity of a volunteer from one of the outlying districts.

Finally getting to the Games, this story is taking longer than I thought! Hope your still liking it though :p