The Career districts are all done and we're starting to get into the outer districts now! Enjoy District 5

Chapter 5 - District 5 Reaping

District 5 Male - Bulby Duncan (14)

"Master Bulby, your breakfast is ready"

Bulby grudgingly rolled out of his four-poster bed with its red velvet hangings and stepped onto the soft cream carpet that ran across his large bedroom. One look out the large bay window showed that the sun was already high in the sky. Bulby loved sleeping in. If it was up to him, he'd sleep this late every day, but his mother insisted he see out his education. He didn't see why he couldn't drop out of school like plenty of his classmates.

Bulby made his way to the dining room, his fluffy white robe draped around him. He sat at the head of a long oak table and quickly dug into his breakfast. Three chocolate chip pancakes, five pieces of bacon, three eggs, and a strawberry banana smoothie made up Bulby's pre-reaping breakfast. Every year his parents let him have whatever he wanted on reaping day. He could already smell the apple pie baking in the kitchen for his after reaping celebration later, and of course it would be paired with hand-churned vanilla ice cream.

He finished every bit of his breakfast yet still managed to leave a mess for the butler to clean up. He got up from the table, not bothering to push in his chair, and made his way back upstairs. Bulby groaned when he saw the frilly outfit set out for him. Stifling a groan, Bulby pulled on the bright white slacks, struggling for a moment to button them, and then the light blue ruffled shirt that, in his opinion, had far too many buttons. After struggling to line up the buttons properly Bulby was finally dressed and entered the lavish washroom to do his hair. He gazed at himself in the mirror critiquing his appearance.

Bulby was still on the short side for his age, his mother said he just hadn't hit his growth spurt yet, and it seemed he needed his parents to call the tailor as his clothes were once again tight around his waist. Carefully Bulby combed his platinum blonde hair out of his light blue eyes, making sure to slick his hair back with a decent amount of gel. Finally, pulling on the brown shoes that pinched his feet, Bulby made his way back downstairs and to the car waiting to take him to the square. He wished his parents could take him to the reaping like other kids, but he knew they both had to be there early to prepare and Bulby thought that wasn't a good enough reason to get up early.

As the car slowly made its way through the streets, Bulby rolled down the window taking in the people making their way to the center of town. He made sure to wave and call out to any pretty girl who caught his eye. His mother said that he was sure to be a ladies' man when he grew up, just like his father. Bulby knew that the girls were flattered by the attention from such a rich, handsome guy like him. They were just playing hard to get when they sneered and cursed at him.

Finally, the car arrived and Bulby made his way to the reaping check in, pushing ahead of those waiting, going straight to the front of the line. His finger was briefly pricked, and he walked confidently to the front of the 14-year-old boy section, shoving others out of the way until he was at the front. He needed the best view for mocking whatever poor sucker was chosen this year. Bulby never worried about the reaping, he knew that he was safe. After all, there was no way the mayor's son would be picked for the Hunger games.

District 5 Female - Genesis Jenkins (15)

Genesis was up with the sun, attempting to tame her bushy, brown curls into something presentable. She hated her hair with a burning passion, hated the fact that her two other sisters were blessed with the straight, fine hair of her father while she alone was cursed with her mother's curls. She had asked multiple times if she could cut it off, or straighten it, but her mother had always forbidden it, saying that she should be proud of her 'unique beauty'. Her mother was always saying things like that. How lucky they were that they lived in district 5, how lucky that her father had a great job managing a power plant, how lucky that they had three beautiful daughters. Of course, she never mentioned the other things, the bad things.

Her mother never mentioned David, their oldest and only brother, who had been reaped for the Hunger Games when he was fifteen and Genesis was eight. Her mother never mentioned how David had only lasted one day before being viciously murdered by the boy from one. Her mother never mentioned how the boy from one sliced off David's scalp with a knife, causing his curls, the same curls that Genesis had, to lay abandoned and bloody on the forest floor, or that when his body was returned a closed casket funeral was the only option. No, those things were never mentioned.

Genesis gave up on brushing and instead wrestled her hair into a tight ponytail, hoping desperately the hair tie would hold throughout the reaping. She quickly pulled out a bright yellow skirt and a cream-colored blouse. Quickly she dressed, grabbing a pair of brown sandals to finish the outfit. Looking in the mirror one last time, blowing a stray piece of hair out of her brown eyes, she deemed herself presentable, and stepped out of her bedroom, quickly arriving in the kitchen where the rest of her family was gathered.

"Genesis, you look pretty!" exclaimed her little sister Alexa, who sat at her mother's feet, having her hair braided. Alexa was only 9 and would have a few more years before she would have to worry about the reaping, but their mother still insist she dressed for the occasion.

Genesis forced a smile on her face, "thanks Lexi," she said before her eyes met her mother's. Her mother had her usual smile stuck on her face. Of course there would be extra positivity today. No negativity allowed in the Jenkins' house.

"There are eggs and bacon in the pan, help yourself, but be careful not to stain your clothes!" her mother said, turning back to her little sister's hair.

Genesis got a plate and joined her older sister, Lumi, and her father at the table. Her father ignored his plate and instead seemed determined to ignore all but the paper in his hand. Lumi was pushing eggs around her plate, trying to put on a brave face. Lumi was 18, it was her last year, and then she would be free of the reaping. As Genesis sat down, Lumi shot her a soft smile.

Quickly her mother and little sister finished up and joined them at the table. "Oh, how lucky we are to all be together today!" her mother said brightly. Lucky, hopefully we get lucky today, Genesis thought, and yet a large feeling of dread began to settle inside her.

Bulby D5M (14)

"Get your hands off me! Don't you know who I am? My father will - oof"

Bulby's rant was cut off as he was abruptly thrown into the room reserved for the tributes to say their goodbyes. Didn't those peacekeepers know his father was the mayor? How dare they man handle him, he would make sure his father had them transferred to a worse district, maybe even District Twelve.

Bulby picked himself up before angrily kicking the ornate end table. "OW!" he exclaimed, not realizing how sturdy the table really was. He would get that table removed too.

Before two long, his parents arrived, looking distraught. His mother immediately pulled him into a hug, sniffling into his perfectly gelled hair. Bulby tried to untangle himself, but his mother's grip was like iron. "oh, my baby boy, my sweet baby boy," she whispered, clinging to him.

His father, looking momentarily lost, soon straightened up. "Don't worry son," he said trying to look confident, "we'll get this all straightened out, I'll make some calls. You just enjoy the train ride, we'll have you back in a day, two days tops!" His father nodded, looking proud of himself.

Before he knew it the peacekeepers were back, demanding his parents leave. Bulby watched them go, relieved his father seemed to have things well in hand. Bulby sat back on the couch, finding a small tin of cookies on the end table. He propped his feet up on the upholstery, and began to eat the cookies, getting crumbs everywhere. Well, he thought, maybe this won't be so bad.

Genesis D5F (15)

Genesis let the tears run freely down her face as her little sister Alexa sobbed into her lap. Her older sister Lumi looked shocked, and slightly ashamed, standing aside in the corner. Genesis didn't blame her for not volunteering. She knew Lumi had a boyfriend she kept secret from their parents. Lumi didn't want to get serious until after the reaping, but they were already planning their life together. Her father sat at the end of the couch, looking dazed. He couldn't seem to look at her, and he kept taking sips from a flask she had never seen before. She understood these reactions. She was most likely going to die, like David did. Her father and sisters were already beginning to grieve, and she hadn't even left yet.

Not her mother. Her mother stood before her, looking cheerful as usual. "Oh Genesis, look at how lucky we are! Your sister is safe from the reaping, and you have such an opportunity ahead of you!" Her mother babbled on, her voice taking on a strained high pitch, "and just think, when you get back, you'll -"

But Genesis cut her off. "When I get back? Back from what? I'm not coming back mom, I'm going to die in that arena, just like David!" Her voice got louder until she was shouting. Her mother looked stunned. She blinked a few times, as if orienting herself, before turning and exiting the room.

Genesis sat back down in a daze. She heard her sisters and fathers say goodbye, we love you, and then they were gone, and Genesis was alone. She closed her eyes and quietly began to sob. Finally, she whispered, "See you soon big brother."

I kinda want to punch Bulby in the face. Just a bit. Please review! Any favorites to win?