Vignette Cawthorne, 18
District 1 Female
I was up long before the sun rose. I was always an early riser, but today I was up while the sky was still dark and filled with stars. I walked to the window to look up at them, then touched the small tattoo behind my left ear; a supernova. A small energy that built up until it exploded with beauty and power.
The stars over District 1 weren't like that. They were beautiful, but they were constant. They'd change with the seasons but their intensity was always the same. Like me. I grew slowly. The Hunger Games were my chance to burst free like an exploding star.
A light flashed across the street, making me squint and look away. I held up a hand, all five fingers on display. Taylor knew what it meant. I'd be outside in five minutes.
Since it was dark and no one was around to judge my clothing, I dressed in a pair of comfortable leggings and a jacket. Then I slipped downstairs and out the front door, making sure to close it quietly. Taylor was waiting for me by the gate.
"Are you really doing it?" he asked when I reached him. I just shushed him, taking his hand instead and leading him down to the end of the street. The roads in our neighborhood all circled around a small park. This park was where Taylor and I met, and where we continued to meet.
"Are you volunteering?" he repeated once we were settled on a bench under a tree.
"Yes," I said. "It's my last year to be eligible and I need to do this. I need to make my own name."
"You can make your own name without volunteering," Taylor argued. "You're one of the most talented musicians in Panem. Perform without your father. Take off the red makeup and stop carrying your mother's death."
"I have to carry her with me," I told him patiently. "I am nothing without her, and I was nothing without my father. But I am something now. I will win in honor of my parents, but then I will forge my own path."
Taylor sighed.
"I'm worried about you," he admitted. "You're strong, but so is every other Career."
"I won't underestimate anyone," I said. "Not even the outliers. Everyone has strength. But I am volunteering. You can't convince me otherwise."
"I know," he said quietly. "But you're my best friend Vignette. I'm going to worry about you no matter what."
"And I will miss you," I told him. "But you need to understand - I want my life to be my own."
"I do understand," Taylor said with a nod. "And I will support you."
As the sun rose over the park, I gave him a hug.
I made it back home before my father woke up. He'd been up late last night drinking and I knew he'd be hungover. I served myself a simple breakfast of toast with jam and set out a glass of water and headache medicine for him.
When he stumbled down the stairs, he frowned at me.
"Why aren't you dressed?" he asked.
"I wanted to make sure you were feeling alright," I said calmly. "I made toast and got out some medication."
"Very well," he said. "Thank you. But you must go get dressed now."
Upstairs, I opened my closet to reveal my Reaping Day dress. It was sleeveless and made from golden chrysanthemums. No one would look more stunning than I did today. I put on the dress and a pair of golden sandals and then selected my favorite formal jacket. It was a dark wine color that complimented the vibrant flowers perfectly.
My father knocked on my door, informing me it was time to leave. I took a moment to look around my room, taking in the familiar scene, before opening my violin case and removing my bow. It would be my token in the arena.
The drive to the Justice Building wasn't long, but the anticipation made it drag out. I held my bow in my lap and sat silently. I was excited, but there were nerves too. It was normal though. I was about to be on the biggest stage in the world.
When we arrived, I handed my bow to my father. He would give it to me when we said goodbye. I was about to walk away when he reached forward and tucked a strand of hair behind my ear.
"Just like my Valenna," he murmured. I forced a smile.
"I'll make her proud," I said.
"I know you will," he replied.
Several girls started whispering to each other when I joined the line of teenagers checking in. I smiled politely at them and two of them flushed and turned away. I wasn't an intimidating figure, but my role as the volunteer gave me a different image.
Once I was signed in, I went to stand near the front of my designated section. I wanted to be ready to announce my intention to volunteer as soon as our escort selected a name. District 1's escort, Adele Grace, was still fairly new to the job. Her first year was the 70th Hunger Games, when Annie Cresta had her odd victory.
I didn't have to wait long for Adele to make an appearance. She looked lovely, dressed in a long white gown with black fabric flowers attached to it with pearl pins. Her makeup was dark and smoky, which was a stark contrast to her ivory skin and pale blue eyes.
Our district's mayor, Mayor Gabbana, stood onstage next to her. He was an older man with thick glasses and crooked teeth, but he was a fair leader based on what I knew. When he went up to the microphone the square fell silent.
"Today we celebrate the reaping for the 72nd Hunger Games!" he said. The echo of his voice was cut off as the crowd cheered. I applauded as well. He welcomed our past Victors next and I watched them with a smile. Elegance Harper would be my mentor this year, which I was happy about. She was a kind woman who was always patient with the trainees.
Next, Mayor Gabbana read the Treaty of Treason. I found the history of our country quite interesting, but hearing the abbreviated and biased version wasn't the same as studying it in history books. But I listened all the same.
Finally, Adele Grace stepped up to the microphone stand.
"Hello everyone," she sang. "It's so good to see your beautiful faces again. This is just so exciting, isn't it!" The crowd cheered wildly and Adele grinned.
"We have a short film to watch first, but we'll get to the good stuff soon, I promise!" She pressed a button and the little documentary we watched every year started playing. Again, I watched politely. It had an inspiring message, but it got dull after a while. I clapped when it was over, both out of respect and relief.
And then it was time. I straightened up and rolled my shoulders, working out any tenseness. Adele gracefully plucked a paper slip from the glass bowl and read the name aloud.
"Crystal Valle!"
"I volunteer as tribute!"
My voice was soft but strong. The girls around me cleared a path and I stepped into the aisle. I knew every camera was on me so I smiled gently and walked as gracefully as I could. When I reached Adele I nodded to her.
"It's so lovely to meet you," I said.
"I'm always pleased to meet a beautiful young lady," Adele said. "What is your name?"
"Vignette Cawthorne."
Next, Adele went over to the other glass bowl. She repeated her graceful selection and announced the name confidently.
"Spectacle Romero!"
"I volunteer!"
I watched Christopher weave through the crowd of 17-year-old boys with his hand raised in the air. He was dressed in a pale pink summer suit that complimented my jacket quite well.
"Hello handsome," Adele said when he was on the stage beside me. "Would you care to introduce yourself?"
"My name is Christopher Jewel," he said. "But 'handsome' works too." He winked at Adele.
"I'll remember that," she giggled.
Christopher smiled and then turned to me. I held out my hand and he took it gently. Then he lifted it and kissed the back of it. I smiled and curtsied a little. Christopher knew how to play the game. Luckily, I did too.
"I give you the District 1 tributes: Vignette Cawthorne and Christopher Jewel!"
Anahira Wero, 18
District 2 Female
I was nauseous when I woke up. My sleep had been spotty and filled with nightmares and nerves. Part of me wanted to cry and part of me felt numb. I wasn't sure if I wanted to go through with volunteering, but I knew that I would. Everyone was expecting me to and I couldn't let my trainers down.
I pulled my blankets over my head, wishing I could hide from the world. But then there was a knock on my bedroom door and my dad spoke through the wood.
"Anahira. Breakfast is ready. And your mom and I would like to talk to you." I stayed silent. I wasn't ready to face reality yet. But my dad's worried voice came again.
"Anahira? Are you alright?"
I pulled the blankets down and squeezed my eyes shut.
"I'm okay," I said. "I'm just tired. I'll be up in a moment."
"Okay," he called back. I frowned at the hesitancy in his voice, but summoned the courage to kick off my blankets.
I showered quickly and brushed through my thick hair before tying it up in a bun. My reaping dress was hanging in the front of my closet and I put it on with shaking hands. It was a beautiful dress but I wished the occasion for wearing it was nicer.
It was a green off-the-shoulder dress with swirling patterns inspired by traditional Māori art. It was soft and comfortable too, which I appreciated. My mom had it made specially for me. I slipped on a pair of white sandals too before going into the main room.
My mom had made hash browns and squeezed fresh orange juice, which was one of my favorite breakfasts. I choked back tears as I sat down at the table.
"Thank you for making this Mom," I said. She smiled at me.
"Of course! It's a special day." She picked up her own plate and sat down.
"Anahira, are you sure you want to do this?" Dad asked. He sat down too, folding his hands on the table and leaning toward me.
"Yes," I said without thinking. "The Academy chose me."
"I know," he said. "But ultimately, the choice is yours."
"I'm going to volunteer," I said. "I can't let someone untrained get reaped when I stand a chance at victory."
My dad nodded and took a sip of his juice.
"Alright," he said.
"We'll support you no matter what you decide," my mom added. I smiled a little.
"Thanks."
Once the dishes were done we headed out. We lived in an old concrete apartment building near the quarries, where the poorer citizens lived. We had a car, but we would have to take the bus to the Justice Building due to the distance. Every space would be taken by the time we got there.
On the bus I received plenty of stares. Most of the people in our apartment block were Japanese or Māori. It was the two main cultures that the Capitol let District 2 preserve, so I knew the stares were because of my Academy status, not my appearance.
When the bus stopped we all filed off and I turned to my dad.
"I brought this as my token" I said, holding out my tattered sketchbook. "Can you hold onto it and give it to me inside?"
"Of course," he said. He gave me a quick hug and I squeezed him tightly. The nerves were back in full force but I did my best to fight them back. I hugged my mom as well before joining the throng of teenagers waiting to sign in.
I got my finger pricked and then went to stand amongst the other girls my age. Some of them gave me strange looks and some of them looked envious. I did my best to ignore all of them.
As I waited for the Reaping to officially start I let myself think about volunteering. I knew that I would, even though I was afraid. I was trained and it would be completely unfair to let someone without any fighting experience go into the arena. I would do what I had to do to get home. I knew that too. I didn't want to take lives, but I would grit my teeth and do it.
I saw one of my neighbors out of the corner of my eye and a new thought came to me. Victors had access to the Capitol that ordinary citizens didn't. They were also expected to demonstrate some sort of trade or craft once they won. If I was a Victor, I could learn more about my heritage. And I could learn about other cultures too. There was a whole world outside of Panem and I would be allowed to learn about it, and maybe even teach others.
Mayor Greene came out of the Justice Building and walked to the microphone stand in the center of the stage. He tapped it twice, the sound reverberating around the square and making everyone wince.
"Good morning," he said solemnly. "It is a wonderful day and we are honored to be able to participate in the 72nd Hunger Games. But before our tributes are chosen, I want to welcome our past Victors."
I clapped alongside everyone else as our Victors walked onstage. We had ten Victors; the same amount as District 1. Our district had a rivalry with them, with each of us competing to produce a new Victor and take the lead.
After they were all seated, Mayor Greene introduced our escort, Vivi Garcia. She'd been our escort since the 60th Hunger Games and wasn't showing any sign that she wanted to retire. It made sense though. District 2 adored her.
"Hello lovelies!" she called as she skipped onstage. Her pink-and-purple-streaked hair flowed behind her as she moved and her white heels clicked loudly. She was known for wearing pantsuits and today's outfit fit the theme. It was a neon green color that somehow didn't clash with her hair.
"Am I so excited to be back! It's been forever, hasn't it?" The crowd roared their agreement and Vivi beamed. "I know we're all dying to find out who our tributes will be, but we've got a little movie to watch first."
I winced at her word choice but looked up at the big screens. I'd seen the propaganda film many times and it no longer made any impact on me. I mostly tuned it out, and I didn't listen when Mayor Greene read the Treaty of Treason either.
But when Vivi walked over to the glass bowl containing the girls' names, I regained focus. All of my muscles tensed as she selected a slip of paper and read the name aloud.
"Bailey Quartz!"
Wherever Bailey was, she didn't move. She was expecting a volunteer. I tried to speak but my mouth was dry. I just stood there, mouth open, frozen with fear.
Then the girl next to me elbowed me in the side.
"What are you doing?" she hissed. "Volunteer!" Eyes wide, I nodded. I wove through the crowd to the aisle that led to the stairs.
"I volunteer as tribute!" I said.
I could almost feel the crowd relax around me. I squared my shoulders and walked quickly to the stage to stand beside Vivi.
"A volunteer! How exciting!" Vivi gasped, as if District 2 didn't have volunteers almost every year. "What is your name?"
"Anahira Wero," I said.
"What a beautiful name," Vivi said. "Now, shall we find out who Anahira's partner will be?"
Again, the crowd roared their approval. Vivi chose another slip and announced the name loudly.
"Joseph Silver!"
"I volunteer!"
Blue's deep voice rang across the square. He stepped out of the group of 18-year-old boys and walked confidently to the stage. He smiled smugly at Vivi when she asked his name.
"Blue Amata," he said. "Your next Victor."
Cheers rose from the audience, but I knew they were mostly for Blue. Still, I smiled politely and turned to shake his hand. His grip was firm as he looked me in the eyes, but he didn't seem hostile. I nodded to him, still smiling as Vivi spoke into the microphone again.
"I give you the District 2 tributes: Anahira Wero and Blue Amata!"
Cypher "CT" Torres, 15
District 3 Male
The blaring of my alarm clock startled me awake. I reached out from my blanket to silence it and pressed my face deeper into my pillow. I didn't want to get up. I wanted to close my eyes again and sleep forever.
But that wasn't an option. Today was Reaping Day and attendance was mandatory. The Hunger Games were far from my favorite spectacle, but I understood why the Capitol implemented and enforced them, and I trusted the Capitol. The Games were a necessary evil.
I finally summoned the energy to sit up and kick away my blankets. I walked over to my dresser and combed my hair to the best of my ability. My tight curls didn't like to cooperate with my hairbrush.
I chose a black button-down and black slacks as my outfit. Wearing all black felt appropriate, like I was ready for a funeral. District 3 had the fewest Victors of any district. It was likely that whoever was reaped was heading to their death.
Death. It followed me wherever I went. It haunted my dreams and settled in the depths of my mind. This year would have been my cousin Callie's final reaping. But she was already gone.
I heard my mom's voice downstairs and the whistle of a tea kettle. I didn't want to go down, but the lure of hot tea was too appealing. I pulled on a pair of socks and went downstairs.
My mom was humming to herself as she fried several eggs. The tea kettle was loudly making its status known and I went over to remove it from the stove.
"Thanks CT," she said. "What sort of tea do you want?"
"Chamomile please," I said. She smiled.
"Good choice. I think I'll have chamomile too."
She was in the middle of pouring our tea when my dad walked into the kitchen. My shoulders tightened and quickly took a bite of my eggs to avoid a conversation. But he didn't make an effort to speak to me. He just thanked my mom for breakfast and began to eat.
I could see the sadness in my mom's eyes as we ate in silence. I knew she missed how things used to be, and she wondered why they had changed. My dad made me swear to never tell her about the accident. But when she looked heartbroken like this I was tempted to break that promise. But then again, knowing the truth could be even worse.
So the silence persisted. My dad quickly did the dishes and then we headed out. In District 3, the richer people lived near the center of the district. The further out you were, the poorer you were. For us, it was a five-minute walk.
When we arrived I spotted my friend Roma in the crowd. I whispered a quick goodbye to my parents before heading over to him, waving so that he'd see me.
"Hi CT!" he said cheerfully. Roma was the goofball of our friend group. He was the type of person you couldn't help but smile around.
"Hey," I said, joining him in the line to get checked in. "Have you seen Adrian yet?" Adrian was my other best friend. He and I bonded over being the class outcasts. Adrian was a genius with computers and I knew he'd go far in a tech-related career.
"I haven't yet," Roma said. "Hopefully we'll spot him once we're signed in." I nodded and fell quiet, listening to Roma babble on about a prank he played on his sister. Roma was just as much of a genius as Adrian and I, but he used his mind for chaos rather than learning.
Once the grumpy Peacekeeper drew our blood and verified us, we made our way to the section for 15-year-old boys. Roma's eyes lit up suddenly and I smiled a little. I knew he spotted Adrian.
I followed Roma over to him and Adrian grinned when he saw us. He clasped my hand and pulled me in to pat me on the back before doing the same with Roma.
"How are you guys?" he asked.
"Fine," I mumbled. Roma grinned and immediately started recounting his prank story while Adrian nodded along.
But he was cut short when Mayor Xabie and our district's escort came onstage. Our escort, Hiro Nishidake, clearly took his name very seriously. He wore a dark blue jumpsuit with tall red boots and a flowing red cape - a full superhero costume.
"Welcome everyone," Mayor Xabie said. "Thank you for your attendance. We are once again waiting with baited breath to see who our lucky tributes will be. But first we must welcome our Victors!"
Vizio Packard led the procession. He recently celebrated his 80th birthday, but he still looked strong. He walked with a cane but his back was straight and his eyes were sharp. Beetee Latier seemed subdued though, and Wiress looked confused. I remembered that Beetee lost his adopted son in the 69th Games. Reaping Day must have been especially hard for him.
They took their seats and then Mayor Xabie read the Treaty of Treason. It was long and boring, but I listened to it. I knew it was an important part of our history and I wanted to honor that.
When she finished, Hiro Nishidake stepped forward.
"Hello District 3!" he said. His voice was strong and regal, as if he was commanding an army or directing people during a disaster.
"As Mayor Xabie implied, today is a very special day. Today, we will select the two tributes I will guide to victory! We do have a short film to watch though, so please direct your attention to the screens."
The film was just as boring as the Treaty of Treason, and included multiple of the same lines. But I watched it all the same. The Capitol did so much for us and my family worked hard to help them. Paying attention on Reaping Day was the least I could do.
Roma repeated the narration in a ridiculous voice but I ignored him. I didn't want to look like I was causing trouble and I didn't feel comfortable mocking the Capitol. But it ended quickly and Hiro proceeded with the scariest part.
"How inspiring!" he gushed. "But it's time to choose our female representative!" He strutted over to the glass bowl filled with girls' names and plunged in a hand. He swirled the slips around before pulling one out with a dramatic flourish.
"Louise Tao!"
Roma gasped and my eyes widened. Louise was a grade below us in school but she and Roma were equally chaotic and often planned pranks together. I heard someone in the crowd start to cry and guessed it was her triplet sister. Louise was the youngest of a set of triplets.
But Louise wasn't crying. She looked ready to face the situation head-on. Her hands were clenched into fists as she came to stand beside Hiro.
"Would you like to say anything to the crowd?" Hiro asked her. She opened her mouth but then changed her mind and shook her head.
"Time for the gentlemen!" Hiro sang. Again, he took his time selecting the slip before finally choosing one and reading the name aloud.
"Cypher Torres!"
My heart stopped. My breath caught in my chest. It was like my entire body paused itself. And then my mom's frightened gasp reached my ears and my body remembered to function.
I sucked in several large, deep breaths while Adrian rubbed my back. I could feel his hand shaking and I knew I was trembling just as badly. I thought things couldn't get any worse. I thought I was bound to a life of guilt and secrecy, but I had a life. Now I was going to die.
I stepped into the aisle between the sections and began the long walk to the stairs. My eyes met Hiro's and he smiled encouragingly. Then my gaze turned to the Panem flags decorating the Justice Building. This was my duty as a citizen of Panem. I should stand tall and accept my death with honor, knowing my sacrifice would ensure my country's safety for years to come.
By the time I was onstage next to Hiro and Louise I felt better. Not good, and still a bit numb, but better. Death awaited me, but so did possible redemption. All I could hope was that my life was a sufficient price to pay for the ones I'd taken.
Louise cleared her throat and I realized I was supposed to shake her outstretched hand. I grabbed it and gave it a timid shake, which she returned with a violently tight grip. It took all my effort not to wince. But we turned together to face our district as Hiro announced our names.
"I give you the District 3 tributes: Louise Tao and Cypher Torres!"
Dahlia Cruz, 16
District 5 Female
Mornings in our house weren't usually loud, but this silence made the others sound like screaming matches. Sometimes Dad would talk about his work or Arianna would brag about a good goal she scored. I'd tell Dad about what book I was reading while Arianna teased me for being a nerd. Then someone would end up spilling something and we'd all laugh.
But today was different. The Reaping was just over an hour away and we had no idea what would happen. Rich kids rarely got reaped, but District 5 was one of the smallest districts. There was a chance I'd know whoever was selected. And it was Arianna's first year. It was natural that Dad and I were worried.
And so breakfast passed silently. I didn't have much of an appetite but I ate my eggs and toast anyway. Dad didn't like to waste food and I'd picked up his habit.
After we ate Arianna and I went upstairs to get dressed. Dad offered to do the dishes, which I could tell Arianna was relieved about. Dishes were her least favorite chore.
Regardless of my nerves and the dark undertones of the day, I wanted to look nice. So I put on my favorite white sundress and heeled sandals. I took a moment to examine myself in my mirror and frowned. It was hot out and I was going to end up with a nasty sunburn if I didn't cover up.
"Dahlia! We have to leave!" Arianna called from the hallway.
"Just a second," I shouted. I grabbed a cropped denim jacket and slipped it on before quickly tying my hair up in a bun and leaving my room.
Arianna was wearing a black dress and flats, which suited her really well.
"You like nice," I told her as we walked downstairs.
"You both do," our dad said. He was standing by the door and fiddling with the car keys.
He leaned down to kiss the top of Arianna's head and she grumbled in protest. When he came for me, I ducked under his arm and opened the door. I ran to the car and called out to Arianna over my shoulder.
"I call shotgun!"
Dad laughed as Arianna gasped indignantly and ran after me. She was fast, but I had a head start, so I reached the car first. I got in and stuck my tongue out at her. She pouted, but I could tell it was all an act.
We parked a few blocks away from the Justice Building and walked the rest of the way to the square. Crowds of people had already gathered and were getting into line or signing in. Dad wrapped an arm around each of us.
"I love you," he said quietly. "And I'll be waiting right here when it's over. Don't be scared."
"We're not scared," Arianna said, but she hugged Dad anyway. I did too, and then we got in line. The wait wasn't too bad and I wasn't squeamish about needles, so it was an easy process. Arianna was unbothered by the finger prick as well.
Once we were in the roped-off area I pulled Arianna aside.
"So, the youngest kids stand near the front," I said. "Stay in your section and I'll come get you when it's over."
"I know how it works!" Arianna snapped. I winced a little and she sighed.
"Sorry. But I know what to do."
"I know. I'm just worried," I admitted. Arianna nodded in understanding.
"How about I meet you by the stairs afterward?" she proposed. I nodded, but then frowned as I spotted someone in the crowd.
"Sounds like a plan. But I'd get to your section if I were you. A certain damsel is in distress."
Arianna whirled around and I suppressed a smile. My sister was crashing hard on her best friend Jane, who was currently caught in a conversation with Tamara Wyatt.
I watched her stomp off and then went to find my friends. There were hundreds of girls, but luckily, Yvette was easy to spot.
My friend was just shy of being six feet tall and had fiery red hair. She stood out from the crowd wherever she went and she loved it that way.
I saw near the front of our section and made my way over to her.
"Hi!" I called when I was close enough. She saw me, smiled, and waved.
"Have you seen Luna or Maria?" Yvette asked when I reached her.
"Not yet. It's so crowded!" Yvette nodded and then straightened up and looked to the stage.
"We'll have to find them later," she said. "It's starting."
I took a steadying breath and turned to look at the stage. Last year our escort Cassius York was promoted, so we had a new escort this year. His name was Verne Filibuster, and he looked relatively normal. He had dark skin and thick dreads woven with golden beads and his eyes were bright green. And he was wearing a dark green suit with gold accents that matched his hair accessories. He looked like a fairy king who ruled over an ancient forest.
"Hello District 5," he said. His voice was deep and warm, and surprisingly comforting. "I am grateful to be here as your escort, and I promised I will not take this honor lightly. I will strive to bring home a Victor year after year."
We all applauded, some out of obligation and some out of actual respect. I was in the second camp. Capitol escorts didn't always care about their tributes or take their roles seriously. They'd rather brag about being an escort than do the actual work. But Verne didn't seem like that.
He introduced Mayor Michaelson, who was the sourest looking woman I'd ever seen. Every year she seemed grouchier and grouchier. It made me wonder why she was still the mayor.
She read the Treaty of Treason and then introduced our district's Victors. We had four, which put us right above District 3 as the district with the fewest Victors. Even 9 had more than us, after their victory last year.
I bit down on my lip, knowing my least favorite part was coming. The video we watched every year always made me sick. It was so violent and condescending; I hated it. I understood why the Capitol hosted the Hunger Games. I didn't understand why they enforced viewing it.
Yvette held my hand throughout the video and I focused on her palm against mine instead of the bloody images flashing across the screen. When it was over, she squeezed my hand reassuringly.
"Now it is time to select our brave tributes," Verne announced. He walked over to one of the large glass bowls and carefully selected a slip from the top of the pile.
"Dahlia Cruz!"
My heart stopped and my mouth fell open. I felt Yvette's grip on my hand tighten but everything else was fuzzy. Tears sprang to my eyes as I pulled away from Yvette. My body was moving without consent from my brain.
Rich kids don't get reaped, I thought to myself again. I used to believe it was true. But now I was walking toward my death because it was my name on the slip still in Verne's hand.
As I walked past the 12-year-olds I heard someone gasp my name. I turned to see Arianna standing at the ropes, tears in her eyes. Jane was holding onto her, keeping her from running to me.
Seeing her tears stopped my own. I had to be strong for my sister, and for my dad. So I dried my eyes on my sleeve and climbed the stairs to stand next to Verne.
He nodded to me politely before going to choose another name. Again, he picked quickly and from the top of the bowl.
"Ivan Hall!"
Someone in the adult section cried out as a stream of swearing began to flow from the crowd of 12-year-old boys. A tan boy with brown hair and a baseball cap separated himself from the others and stomped up the stairs, still cursing. I smiled awkwardly when our eyes met. His were dark blue and full of fear.
I held out my hand and Ivan took it. His handshake was firmer than I expected it to be. But I held onto his hand as Verne announced our names.
"I give you the District 5 tributes: Dahlia Cruz and Ivan Hall!"
Hi everyone! Wow, this chapter got LONG. Sorry about that. I think I may switch to just two POVs per Reaping chapter, unless you all want to read longer chapters like this. I definitely had fun writing it, so that's a bonus! I know it might be a little repetitive, but hopefully it's not too bad. Also, I realized Adele might have gotten a little creepy... Oops.
Please leave a review, if you can, and let me know about the POVs! I don't want to overwhelm people with massive chapters but I also don't want to spend a billion chapters on the Reapings. So, feedback please!
QUESTIONS
1) Is Vignette going to be able to make a name for herself?
2) Can Anahira get her head in the game?
3) What do you think of CT's mindset?
4) Will Dahlia's kind nature prevent her from being a competitor?
Have a nice day, be kind to each other, and never stop reading!
- Fiona