Chapter 292
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The reaping seemed to have occurred without incident. Twenty-four children, ranging in age from twelve to eighteen, had been chosen. They would fight to the death in an arena outside the sector on Febuary 8th. According to the propoganda, they were taken away in a train with their oun suites and good food. They also got to stay in hotel suites with their own showers and televisions, complete with video games while they trained. True or not, it did little to placate the guilt of their parents. The date had likely been chosen because it was the day of the final departures for the Arks, inside and outside the sectors. Perverted loyalists needed some entertainment to compensate fot their loss. On Febuary 3rd Eve and Jamal attended a meeting together. Mr Barnes seemed to have taken over for reverand Jenkins. Tonight he said that something needed to be done. They'd been passive too long, foolishly believing they could defeat the devil through peaceful means, through negotiations. But they couldn't negotiate with evil, they had to destroy it.
They set the date for rebellion for Febuary 8th. After the last departure buses left. Eve understood why this date. The sector guards who were chosen left on these buses, better for the rebels to be battling fewer guards. People would be angrier after the departures, more sympathetic to rebellion. That night also marked the night of the real Hunger Games began. That was suppossed to be broadcast live. Few in the sector planned to watch, but it would make people angrier. Those who'd put their children's names in this lottery were overcome with shame, more than a few went to the mercy clinics. Barnes seemed to think they could be convinced to join their side. At least they'd be doing something useful before they met the Maker. Until then Eve was suppossed to use her job to keep the new rebels informed, particularly about potentil raids on their safehouses. Eve had always been uneasy about fighting in the collective army, never entirely sure where she stood. But now, fighting against oppression in the sector, against the murders of children, she felt a part of something greater than herself. This was a cause worth dying for.
Working in the police station the final week, Eve sensed little danger. There were no rumors of rebellion. Sector guards seemed less willing to investigate people who tried to escape. Not much chance they could get legitimate work outside with their tattoos so most saw no point. And as long as the sector was peaceful, they didn't care about people escaping. Particularly guards who were scheduled to leave on the 8th, they didn't want to take unneccessary risks so close to freedom. There was the rumor about governor Jenkins kidnapping his brother, people speculated about whether he'd be returned. Mayor Ford seemed to believe this might placate potential rebels. Eve was hoping the reverand would help lead the rebellion. What he might be willing to do against his earthly brother, was anyone's guess. Some rumors said that the governor murdered their own father to get the inheritance to bankroll his political career. Another said he'd been murdered for refusing to participate in child pornography, they then extorted this politician into selling them the business. One rumor that interested Eve was that the governor found Anne, offerred to rescue her from forced prostitution in exchange for his brother abandoning this fight Eve couldn't blame the preacher for taking such a deal. As dedicated as she was to Jesus Christ, she'd make the same deal to protect Hope from just that kind of horror.