I've Been There

one • the reaping

Ahhh yes, the Day if the Reaping. A day all kids and teens from ages 12-18 cry when they wake up and then cover it up with a nice outfit, head down to the Hub of there town and wait to hear the name called of the one to go suffer in a deadly arena. So fun. Every year, a boy and a girl from each district are chosen to go battle it out in the Hunger Games. I'm sure you all know, the legend with Katniss and stuff. Ya, she and Peeta won about 100 yrs ago. Yes, the Hunger Games are still here. And today is the 170th reaping of the 170th Hunger Games.

Well maybe I forgot to introduce myself. Hi, I'm Ivority. Yes yes weird name, we all have them. I mean what is Peeta...? And Katniss...? See I'm not the only one with a awkward name. Anyways, I'm 15 years of age and at this time I'm waking up on The Day of the Reaping. I'm also very poor and live in District 12 where Peeta and Katniss were from. So let's get to it.

I woke up, and slid out of bed. I put on my slippers and rushed out to to make sure my little brothers and sisters were eating there breakfast. None of them are old enough for the Hunger Games yet, so I'm the only one I have to worry about. I want to make sure they have enough food because in sure they'll all be crying more than me, as they stand outside of those ropes, all of us 12-18 yr olds trapped inside. All 12-18 yr olds from District 12. All. But I won't be worrying, my name may be in there 16 times out of.. What? Maybe 1500 slips? And that's only the girls, but still. So yah, I'm in there 16 times, from taking tesserae for bread. But it's a slight chance I'll be called... Right?

Anyways, all three of my little siblings were at the table with... A HOLE LOAF OF BREAD? WHAT? When could we afford that?!? My face light up in a surprised / happy look.

"Mom! How could you afford this?" She was at he end of the table smiling.

"Sold some of our left over squirrel meat to a neighbor, in return have us this for good luck at The Reaping,"

"Woah," I said. Mom gave a piece to everyone and then sat down. And helped herself to one. "Where's dad?"

"Mining," she replied. (District 12's industry is mining coal, so almost every man here does it)

"On the Day if the Reaping? The work him today?!?" They never mine on The Day of the Reaping. Ever. They have to be there usually.

"They gave him a pass," replied my mother. A pass is a slip for when someone isn't at the Reaping on Reaping day. You have to be at the Hub of town without a pass. Only people with one don't have to be there.

"Oh," I replied. A went to my room and put on a off white tank top with a see-through grey blouse over it. A grabbed a high wasted, black, silk skirt out of my dresser and slipped that on as well. I brushed my hair and put it up in a pony tail.

I put on some white socks with ruffles at the top and some black shoes. How do I have all this and am pore...? Well it used to be my moms and Idk how they got it.

We all started out to the Hub, my little sister Daisy, ten yrs old, holding my hand tightly. Water, dripping from her face. It was a gloomy day, she was the only one old enough to know that I might be gone soon. I might cry soon. I might be taken away to a death arena soon. I might die soon.

The two youngest boys weren't old enough to know the die part, but both knew I could be taken away and that it was a sad day, considering they've been here each at least three times in there life. We got to the Hub, my family found there way to the front row behind the ropes that separated kids and teens from their parents. I signed in, them pricking my finger for blood to verify it was me. I went in and stood next to my friend Nala. She was my BFF all my life.

I had another best friend as well, Blaine. He was a boy so he was on the other side of the Hub. I also had another friend, Pandora. She moved to another District though. District 11, so I haven't seen her in 2 yrs. I miss her, but I will probably never see her again.

Once everyone was gathered in the Hub, and only people with Passes were out, District 12's manager Effey took the stage, (don't ask how she's not dead over 100 yrs, capital magic lol) with two glass bowls filled with tags with names on them. One for girls, one for boys, about 1500-2000 slips in each. 16 slips with my name on it. 10 with Nala's. 23 with Blaine's. This could be bad.

"Welcome, welcome, welcome, to the 170th annual District 12 reaping. I am here to help these special two tributes who are chosen, to battle to the death, and hopefully, in 3 weeks time, come home alive. One of them atleast." She started.

"So anyway, we've decided to change it up this year and do men first, thanking these young boys for there work their work in the mines. So here we go!" She finishes, reaching her hand in the glass bowl. Everyone was tight, not a word or sound could be heard. It was liked everything, even time, stopped, except for Effey's hand reaching for a slip. A slip with one unlucky boy's name on it.

She gently pulled out a slip, unfolded it, and opened up her mouth to start saying the name. I was tight. So so tight. I couldn't breather or move. What if it was someone I cared about? There isn't many at this point.

"Ahh," she started. "Blaine Rosenhier,"

I was tight. Emotions everywhere. How could this happen? I would never see Blaine again, I bet he can't win. He never had any experience with weapons or anything. I couldn't watch the Hunger Games with him there, I can't see him die. Or suffer. I can't. I felt Nala twitch at his name as well, but if we started crying we'd likely be killed by a Peace Maker.

Everyone stared at Blaine, and they cleared a path for him to walk up to the stage. Wow, this was it. The last time I'd see Blaine, on this stage. Or on tv being repeatedly stabbed by someone. I wouldn't watch that though, I'll be crying in my room by that point.

He walked slowly to the stage. Once he was up there and stood by Effey, she started talking again.

"Ah, our tribute male from District 12! What a lucky young man! Can we get him an applause?"

When she says applause she means dead silence as she claps to herself, because if any of us clap we will be shot dead by a Peace Maker.

"Now for the girls," she stated.

I wasn't as worried now. there was no way on Earth me and Blaine would go.. Atleast I don't think. Or Nala, oh Nala. You can't go either.

Effey cleared her throat. I was so tense, I couldn't move, I couldn't speak, I couldn't breathe.

"Ah, and our tribute for the girls is.." I seriously couldn't move. I felt like I was going to pass out. "Ivority Grandhart!"

What.

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WHAT? Lol so yep. My new story. I suggest you know what the Hunger Games is and have read the book or watched the movie because yah.. It might not make sense. But if you are a Hunger Games addict like me you get it. C: so yah... CLIFF HANGER

•Hannah Marie•