District 5 Reaping

Arin Gilli DF5 15

I'm sitting outside of Kassidy's house, on her front porch, looking at the sky above. The sun has yet to rise, and I find myself wide awake, unable to get even a wink of sleep.

Kassidy invited me to have a sleepover, to help me calm down just before the Reaping that will take place hours later. She has invited me every year ever since I turned twelve and I've only accepted her invitation this year. And only because I have a particularly bad feeling about this year's Reapings and because the community home will probably be noisy— it's noisy every year when the date of the Reaping approaches. Most of the younger kids cry and the older ones try their best to comfort them.

I hear the shuffling of feet behind me, and I turn to see Kassidy leaning against the doorframe. It's evident that she just woke up.

"You know," she drawls, closing the door behind her quietly, "when I invited you to a sleepover, I expected you to sleep. It's a miracle you're not up that damned tree right now."

She takes her seat beside me, and I manage to give her a weak smile in response.

"I couldn't sleep," I say quietly, "I feel like something bad is going to happen."

Suddenly, I'm enveloped in a warm hug. Kassidy's arms are wrapped firmly around me, and she rubs her hand against my back in circular motions.

I hesitantly rest my chin on her shoulder and bury my face in her auburn hair.

"Nothing bad is going to happen, okay," Kassidy whispers, and I hold onto her voice like a lifeline. "It's going to be just like last year. You and I'll be safe and sound. After the Reaping, we'll both be okay. Okay, Arin?"

"Yeah," my voice barely audible, "we're going to be okay."

After a while, Kassidy finally lets me go and I shift my position so that my head is resting on her lap.

We talk about a lot of things, anything and everything. Last week's lesson in school, Mayor Henwick's horrid mustache, Kassidy's dream wedding.

Oh right, I forgot to say that Kassidy is already engaged. She wasn't until last month, and she's been the happiest ever since. She's engaged to a guy named Marko Ackenhill and they're hoping to marry next year, just a few months after Kassidy turns nineteen.

This year is her last Reaping, and I can't wait until it's over so that all she ever has to worry about is the dress she's going to wear the type of cake they're going to serve at the wedding, and if she's going to name her son Archer or George, or if she ever has a daughter, she's going to wonder if she's going to name her Alexandria or any other name she'll come up with.

Kassidy continues to talk, and I find myself getting lulled to sleep by the sound of her voice.

—

The sun is already up by the time Kassidy decides to shake me awake.

"Arin, come on," she pokes my cheek, and I can hear the smile in her voice, "it's time to get ready, sleepyhead."

I open my eyes and I'm greeted by Kassidy's smiling face. I don't even bother suppressing my yawn as I get up and stretch my arms.

My sister in everything but blood and name stands up and lazily shuffles her feet to the door. She goes inside and I follow suit after her.

She pauses in front of me right after I quietly close the door. She turns around to face me with a grin on her face.

"Happy birthday, Arin!" Kassidy closes in for a hug and I graciously accept the warmth of her embrace.

She pulls away, but her hands remain firmly against both of my shoulders.

"Do you have anything in particular that you want?" She then turns around and maneuvers her way through the house, with me awkwardly trailing behind her like a baby duck with its mother. "Maybe we can stop by the bakery later after the Reaping or maybe—"

"You don't have to get me anything," I cut her off. And she sharply turns to face me. "You've already done a lot for me, and I haven't thanked you enough as is."

Her face immediately softens, but I can tell that she won't stop until I give her an acceptable answer.

"Fine. Give me until the end of the day to think about it."

Brax Henwick D5M 17

When I wake up, I feel a warm body snuggling beside me. It's a body that I'm very familiar with, especially whenever the day of the Reaping grows near. Judging by the light in the room, I can say that it's already early morning. I turn my head to the left and see my younger brother, Brendan, sleeping peacefully beside me. I find myself unconsciously stroking his black hair. A smile makes its way across my face, but it immediately dissolves as a single thought enters my brain.

Today is the Reaping Day.

Today will also be Brendan's first reaping, but I'm not particularly worried about him. His name will be amongst thousands of others, and it will only be entered once. I'm not even worried about my name, as it will only appear six times.

What I am worried about is all the others I know that will have their names there thrice the amount of my own, to those with family members to provide for and sign up for tesserae. And a couple of faces come to my mind. Some I know from school, while some I know from the dam.

I snap out of my thoughts as I feel Brendan stirring from sleep. I push the thoughts to the back of my head while I ruffle his hair.

"Morning, little monkey," I greet him and he groans in reply to the nickname. I snigger at his expense and pinch his cheeks.

Mother and I started calling him monkey after the tree incident that had happened a few years ago. We were playing in the backyard with our mother watching over us. Mayor Henwick— I refuse to call that man my father—was away when it happened, lest he'd probably try to hit Brendan, but I wouldn't let him even if he tried.

Anyway, Brendan and I were playing near the oak tree when the rabbit came from behind the tree. Brendan didn't know what it was at first, so he was terrified, he scaled up the tree in a matter of seconds and I still don't know how he did it.

He couldn't go down by himself— well, more like he didn't know why. Mother and I were laughing at him and he suddenly started to cry. When he did, I sort of felt bad about myself for laughing. Mother had to get someone to get a ladder and help him get down. She called him a monkey and I guess the nickname stuck around.

"Stop calling me that!" Brendan tackles me and suddenly we end up having a halfhearted wrestling match, laughing and screaming about.

"I'll stop when you stop climbing trees." I have him locked in a vice grip and then I start tickling him. Brendan starts shrieking and laughing, asking— no, begging me to stop in between his laughter.

A knock breaks us apart.

The door opens to reveal my mother, dressed in an expensive and fancy, pale pink dress. Her auburn hair is in a neat bun. She smiles when sees both of us having fun. Brendan and I stand up and rush to her.

Brendan plants a kiss on her cheek and hugs her midsection, whereas I give her a brief hug.

"Good morning, boys," she greets us as she returns our hugs and kisses. "Now come on, we'll have breakfast and then both of you will have to get ready. Especially you, Brendan, run along now."

Brendan hurries off and then my mother turns to face me.

"If Brendan gets reaped, you'll—"

"I will," I reassure her. We've talked about it several times. And I didn't hold it against her when she first came to me with the same topic. "I'll do it, you know I will."

That if ever Brendan gets reaped, I'll volunteer to take his place. Even before Mother approached me about it, I knew in myself that I would volunteer myself a thousand times over just to make sure he didn't have to step on that dredged arena.

But then again, his name will only appear once amongst thousands, so I don't worry that much.

"Thank you." She pulls me into an embrace that I return and then lets me go after a few seconds. "Now off you go, Brax."

I smile at her and exit the room, following after Brendan to eat breakfast.

Arin Gilligan

Kassidy and I walk together on the way to the district square. I see familiar people pass by, looking all dolled up for the Reaping.

Kassidy and I are, as well. She's dressed in a pretty, sleeveless, white dress with a blue, velvet collar and a pair of brown doll shoes. Her mom applied a light amount of makeup on her face and offered to do the same for me, but I refused. She insisted that I do her hair, and now her hair is fixed in an intricate fishtail braid with a golden ribbon tied at the end of it.

I, however, am wearing a hand-me-down white, cotton dress that Kassidy outgrew. The dress was at least one size too large for me, reaching past my knees, but I'm thankful because I at least look presentable, even if it's only for today. I'm also wearing a pair of worn boots that Kassidy let me borrow, and my waist-long hair is fixed into a ponytail.

By the time we reach the square, there are already a lot of people sorted into lines according to their age. Kassidy tries to look for Marko, her fiancé, and she finds him near the stage talking to Mayor Henwick's son, Brax, I think his name.

Before Kassidy and I even get a chance to walk over to them, the mayor calls for order. And both of us are separated into our respective lines. Kassidy sends me a reassuring smile and I return it with an uneasy smile of my own.

My heart started pounding loudly against my chest as I tried to maintain an indifferent face. I drone the mayor's voice as he delivers the same speech from last year, trying to calm the erratic beating of my heart.

The video about Panem and the history of the game plays, and my eyes frantically search for Kassidy. I don't see her anywhere.

The district escort stands up from her stage to greet us, to which she gets nothing from us in response. My eyes are still trying to search for my best friend, my palms are becoming sweaty as I swallow the lump in my throat. Uneasiness floods over me.

The girl beside me grips my arm, and I remember her from school, Klara Glosser. I must've been so nervous that I almost lost my balance. I mutter a small thank you and then turn to face the stage, just as the district escort pulls out a name from the females' glass ball.

My breathing gets harder, I feel sweat trickle from my temple down to my neck.

Suddenly, my eyes meet Kassidy's blue ones, and I feel relief.

It's okay, I can almost hear her voice soothing my nerves, everything is going to turn out fine.

The district escort reads out the name: Kassidy Vern.

My heart stops. Kassidy's eyes widen in shock, and then a look akin to horror.

No! Not my Kassidy. I hear shouting, I turn around to see Marko trying to get away from the peacekeepers who are subduing him.

And then suddenly I'm running. Running towards Kassidy, who is still standing in her spot. People make way for me, and I hasten my steps when I see peacekeepers already pushing her toward the stage.

"No!" I shout, desperation oozing out of my voice. "Kassidy! No!"

Peacekeepers flank me in a matter of seconds, already holding both of my arms, stopping me from coming any closer.

"I volunteer!"

Kassidy, who is already halfway up the stage, sharply turns her head to meet me. Suddenly, she's shouting as well, but I can't hear her, the irregular beating of my heart drowns out everything I hear.

I shake off the hands of the peacekeepers and make my way to the stage. They follow shortly behind me.

I look at Kassidy, and all the memories we've shared come rushing through my mind.

All the laughter we've shared, that one time I tried to teach her how to climb a tree but she ended up failing miserably every time, the time I first cried in her arms, when she first told me her crush on Marko.

Marko. Kassidy and Marko are going to get married next year, and then they're going to have a son named Archer, or a daughter named Alexandria.

I can't let Kassidy enter the games. She has so much to live for, and so many people who will miss her, whereas I have none. No one except for her.

My mouth opens, and louder this time, I shout, "I volunteer as tribute!"

The peacekeepers behind me flank me once more as they escort me up the stage. I pause as I pass by Kassidy.

"Earlier, you asked me what I wanted for my birthday," I will myself not to break my indifferent mask, "this is what I want, please, let me have this. Let me do this for you."

I see her nod, and the loud thumping against my chest lessens slightly. I continue my way up the stage and to the right of the district escort.

"What's your name, dear?" The lady asks me, but it feels more like a demand than a question.

I stare at her unnatural features, at her bright costume and her awful wig. She waits patiently for my answer.

"Arin," I clear my throat with a cough. "My name is Arin Gilligan."

"How wonderful," the escort smiles at me, and then she turns back to face the audience. She grabs my hand and thrusts it upward, "May I present to you, the female tribute of District 5, Arin Gilligan!"

Brax Henwick

I watch as Kassidy's friend runs her way to the stage, to Kassidy. And I already find myself admiring her. It has been several years ever since someone last volunteered for someone who was reaped. From what I can tell, the girl— Arin and Kassidy aren't even related, they must've been close or something.

I watch as the district escort— I think her name was Nixa or something— grabs the girl's hand and raises it.

"May I present to you, the female tribute of District 5, Arin Gilligan!"

Someone starts clapping, and then another follows after, and then another until the applause becomes deafening.

My eyes catch Marko consoling a sobbing Kassidy at the side of the stage, and then they return to Nixa, was it? I'm not sure, but I don't care.

"Now, for the male tribute," she struts to the side of the stage where the males' glass ball was and I can't help but pray to whatever supernatural being or god, that it isn't me or my brother. Nixa pulls out a folded slip of paper and hums to herself.

Please, may the odds be in my favor? Please, may the odds be in my favor? Please, may the odds be in my favor?

"Brax Henwick."

I stumble as I make my way up to the stage I look at my brother. The color on his face is drained.

I look over my shoulder to see the peacekeepers already behind me. I see a flash of pink, and a few seconds later my mother is already hugging my brother tightly, tears ruining her makeup.

Nodding at the peacekeepers behind me, I start making my way towards the stage, my strides long and proud.

"Henwick!?" Nixa hums to herself in thought, "Oh! The mayor's son. How lovely."

I look at my fellow tribute, Arin, and see that she is already staring at me.

"Shake hands, you two," Nixa tells us both to do, and it takes a couple of seconds before I take a step closer to Arin and offer her my hand. I watch as she hesitantly puts hers on top of mine.

We shake hands, and right after, I give her a reassuring squeeze.

Delighted, Nixa prattles on and on. I do not even notice that both Arin and I have not yet let go.

After Nixa's speech, Arin lets go of my hand, and we are ushered into the main district building and separate rooms.