The Sixty-Fifth Hunger Games

Reyna

"Hylla, we're going to be late for the reaping." I can practically hear her rolling her eyes.

"No one's going to notice if a couple of teenagers are five minutes late." she calls from the bathroom. I groan.

"Well, those 'couple of teenagers' could get reaped." Hylla snorts.

"Please. There's thousands of people in District 2. Neither of us is going to get reaped. Plus, I lost my hairbrush."

"If your stupid hairbrush is more important than the reaping, then fine. I'm leaving without you." I say as I slam the door to our house, probably chipping some of the stone bricks. Not that either of us really cares. Neither of us have really cared too much about neatness, not since Mom died in a rebellion in District 8. She definitely would've. She was a 'neat freak', to say the least. It had probably been drilled into her during her Peacekeeper training.

I step out into the breezy weather that masks the otherwise boiling heat. I shake my long, dark braid out of the way so I can see better. If I do get reaped, I'm going to have to cut it off. No use for a slightly-obnoxious braid in the Hunger Games. It's kind of sad. I've been growing it out for almost five years.

Behind me, I can hear Hylla scrambling to join me. I knew she wouldn't want to let me go alone. She's always been overprotective of me.

We walk down the cobblestone path in silence, neither of us wanting to acknowledge what could happen today. Unlike many others in District 2, Hylla and I have never been too terribly excited about the reaping. We've both been training since childhood, but we never really considered that it could actually happen. Neither of us have any tesserae, since District 2 is considerably better off than most other districts.

We reach the square, along with thousands of others waiting for the reaping. Hylla and I separate into our respective lines, me in the line for fifteen year olds, and Hylla in the line for eighteen year olds. She shoots me a reassuring smile. I don't return it. Reaping day is not one to smile. I don't think there's much that can be done to reassure me, anyway.

We watch the other district's reapings. There are a few notable ones. A girl with blue eyes and spiky black hair from District 5. A boy with blond hair and blue eyes from District 11. Then, a tall, thin woman with canary yellow hair steps up to the stage.

"Welcome to the 65th Annual Hunger Games! My name is Octavia Birde, and I will be the escort for the tributes from District 2." Her birdlike smile makes me want to punch her in the face. I settle for a glare, instead. "The lady tribute from District 2 is..." She digs her hand into the glass ball and plucks out a paper slip. Her beady eyes scan the page."Reyna Ramirez-Arellano!" What? How? I don't even have any tesserae! I hide my shock behind a perfect mask. It's how I handle my emotions. Showing any emotion other than obedience could result in disaster. Hylla, on the other hand, does the exact opposite. Her horror is evident on her face.

"I volunteer for Reyna." No. Hylla, you cannot do this.

"No. I can do this, Hylla." No, you can't. I don't look at her as I push through the crowd to get to the front. I ascend the stairs, keeping my focus firmly on the ground. Do not display any emotion. I grit my teeth.

"Well, don't you look eager." The woman turns to face the crowd. "And the male tribute is..." Once again, she fishes out a thin paper slip. "Luke Castellan!" I bite my lip in an attempt to hide my scowl. First, I get reaped, and now Luke Castellan, a total jerk, got reaped with me? Unbelievable. Maybe I should've just let Hylla take my place.

A pair of Peacekeepers lead me into the Justice Building to say a quick goodbye. I'm seated on a plush velvet couch in one of the waiting rooms when Hylla enters.

"Reyna?" I try my best to blink back my tears as she rushes towards me for a hug. "Why didn't you let me take your place? Then you would be safe." I step back and look her in the eye.

"I'm not losing you, too." Hylla frowns, but a single tear escapes her eye.

"I'm glad at least one of us is strong like Mom."

Everything about the train just screams Capitol, from the oddly soft couches to the carpeted floor that is so different from the stone of District 2. I take a seat on one of the stiff couches. I'm glad for the discomfort. I need to stay alert. I can't afford to fall asleep. Nevertheless, I stretch out on the couch, propping my feet up on the glass table. I pluck a grape from the ornately sculpted ceramic bowl, and place it in my mouth. I scrunch my nose a bit.

Everything about the Capitol is too rich compared to the roughness of District 2. We might be one of the better Districts, but we're a far cry from living in the lap of luxury. I yawn, and then immediately pinch myself. No falling asleep. Although my stretched-out position probably isn't helping.

I hear footsteps behind me, and turn around to see who it is. My eyes narrow. Luke.

"What are you doing here?" He smirks.

"Same thing as you, Ra-Ra." I snarl at his use of my childhood nickname.

"Do not call me that, Castellan." He shrugs.

"Whatever. Anyway, I came to tell you something." My eyes narrow. What could Luke, of all people, have to tell me?

"What is it?"

"Don't be so hostile, Ra-Ra."

"Just shut the hell up and tell me what it is already!" He rolls his eyes.

"Fine. I spoke with my mentor, and he wants us to team up with the other tributes from 1 and 4." I groan. It's the same strategy District 2 has employed for the past sixty-four years. So predictable.

"Well tell your mentor that I said no." He shrugs.

"Whatever you say. But Kronos is not going to be happy about this." I frown. Kronos? I don't recognise the name from any of the previous Games. Must've just forgotten about him. I decide not to dwell on the thought. I don't need any more distractions. Luke leaves me in the main room, probably to go to his own, and I don't notice that I'm drifting off to sleep until it's too late.

This was written by me!

-Toodles!