The 275th Hunger Games

~Reapings-Districts Four and Five~

Jacklyn Eversea - District Four

"Jacklyn, we're going to be late!" My mom yells from downstairs. "Sorry!" I shout back.

I play with my hair a bit more. "Jacklyn! Are you ready?" My younger sister, Jemma, asks. She appears beside me in the mirror. "You look nice," she says. "Thanks, Jem," I say, even though I know it is not true. I look at Jemma beside me and see that she's about to cry. "Oh Jem," I comfort her. "Don't cry." I pull her tight against me. "Everything will be okay," I tell her. She nods. I give her one last hug, then take her hand and lead her downstairs.

My mom and siblings are waiting for us. I have five siblings: Jemma: 12, Tommy: 13, Jenny: 13 (they're twins), Jackie: 14, and Travis: 16. I am eighteen, so this is my last reaping. I really hope I do not get picked, that would be annoying since it's my last reaping. But I hope my siblings do not get picked either.

This year is the 275th Games, so it is a Quarter Quell, and this year there will be three games: one with 24 girls, one with 24 boys, and the six survivors from each Game will compete in a Games of twelve people. So only Jemma, Jenny, Jackie, and I will be going to the reaping. And Mom will be coming too. Also, this year, this is a new rule, it is there is no Careers because the Capitol decided not to have them for some reason. I am glad about that though.

"Okay girls let's go," my mother says.

We say bye to Tommy and Travis and head to the square. I walk over to the eighteen year old section in the back. I stand beside my best friend Daniela. "Good luck," I tell her, giving her a hug. "You too, Jacklyn," she says back. The mayor ends the speech. The escort for District Four, Florence Flynn, steps onto the stage. "Happy 275th Hunger Games, and may the odds be ever in your favour!" She exclaims.

She happily walks over to the glass ball filled with thousands of girls names. "Let's pick the names!" Florence trills excitedly. I roll my eyes in disgust. I cannot believe she is happy about sending kids off to die in the arena. It is sick.

Florence curls her perfectly manicured pink nails around a paper slip, snatches it, and reads it in a loud voice.

"Jenny Eversea." I immediately feel sick to my stomach. No, Jenny cannot go into the arena. I will not let her suffer.

"I volunteeer! I volunteer as tribute!" I gasp. Kids make a walkway for me. I walk through into the aisle. "What did you say, sweetie?" Florence asks.

Great. Now she is making me feel like an idiot. "I volunteer as tribute!" I repeat, still as loud but now annoyed. Jenny goes back to her spot. I walk up to the stage. I pass Jackie, Jenny, even little Jemma as I walk up. I feel tears forming, but I wipe at them angrily. I swore I would not be picked! But I couldn't let Jenny be in the Games. I've never told anyone this, but when I was twelve, my mom made me swear to keep a promise. That was to always protect my siblings. And doing this is doing the promise.

"Come on up," Florence tells me. I stomp up and sit down angrily. "Got some fire in us, now do we?" Florence whispers. I roll my eyes. Stupid escort, stupid Hunger Games, stupid Capitol. Everything is so stupid.

"Next lady," says Florence. She picks another slip and calls out the name. "Maude Cravis." A girl with flaming red hair and glimmering green eyes slowly walks up. I know that girl from school! She's my age!

"I'm eighteen," she says quietly. "What was that dear?" Asks Florence. "I'm eighteen," she repeats harshly.

I agree with her. This escort is so stupid. This whole thing sucks. I give Maude a look of sympathy as she sits down. I know how she is feeling. I hate this.

Elayne Jenners - District Five

"Baby you'll be okay," I tell Rowan. My daughter's lower lip trembles. "Mommy what if I get picked!" Rowan asks sadly. She begins crying.

"Bun don't cry," I say. I give her hugs and kisses. My other daughter, Flora, joins us. Flora is nineteen, so she is too old to be in the Games, but she is still coming with us to the reaping this afternoon. "Rowan it'll be okay," Flora tells Rowan. "Come on, let's eat breakfast," I say. Flora and Rowan join me at the small table. "I got bread from the bakery," I tell Flora and Rowan. "Yummy," they both say. "And goat cheese," I add.

I cut thin slices of bread and add a chunk of goat cheese to each piece. I hand a piece of bread to Rowan and another to Flora. We eat in silence.

After breakfast, Flora heads out to the forest to hunt for lunch and dinner, while Rowan and I garden. I dig up our carrots and beans while Rowan picks flowers for the house. When we finish, Flora is home, and it is 1:00. We eat carrot and bean and chicken soup for lunch, and dinner will be wild turkey and more soup.

Around 1:30, we get dressed in reaping clothes. Rowan gets dressed in a frilly skirt and a blouse, and Flora puts on a green dress. I pick out a simple dark blue dress and shoes.

At 1:45 we walk to Rowan's best friend Maeve's house. We hurry to the square with Maeve's family. Rowan and Maeve head to the twelve year old section. Flora, Maeve's parents, and I go to the back where the parents are. We listen to the mayor and then Clementine Leroy, the escort, comes out, looking bright and cheerful. She's dressed in a blue poufy skirt and a blue top, with a pink wig braided and big. We listen to her "Happy Hunger Games" and "May the odds be ever in your favour!" Finally, she starts drawing the names.

The first name is Coral Kellian. She is a fifteen year old with strawberry blonde hair and a tall build. She looks pretty but not happy as she walks up. Time for the next name.

"Rowan Jenners," Clementine reads loudly.

"No!! Not my baby!!" I scream. My Rowan will not go into that horrendous arena. I will not let her suffer. Rowan runs out into the aisle. "Mommy!" She shouts. We run to meet each other. I hug her as tight as I can. I will not let her go.

A few Peacekeepers march towards us. They take Rowan from my arms. I stand there, yelling and sobbing as they take Rowan up to the stage. They place Rowan in a seat and get back in their positions.

I break down. I fall on my knees. I sob and choke through tears. Flora walks over and helps me up. I walk back to our spot with her. "Oh Elayne, it'll be okay," Maeve's mom says to me. "That was my baby girl. They took her away," I whisper, wiping at my eyes. "Rowan will be okay," Flora tells me, giving me a tight hug. I nod and hug her back.

Clementine says, "Well, give it up for the two girls of District Five, Coral Kellian and Rowan Jenners!"
Not a single soul standing in the square claps. I keep crying. My heart aches for Rowan. I miss her so much. This is not fair.