Not Just Another District 7 Tribute

The Reaping

Chapter 2 - The Reaping

Once we arrive we get our fingers pricked, after coaxing Axel with the help of Amber, we make our way to our designated age areas. I walk with Axel to the back till I arrive at the 13 year old section and show him towards the 12 year old section. I make my way through 13 year old girls till I find my only two friends, Ava and Rowan. Their twins so if one of their names are called they're both going to the Hunger Games. I say a quick 'hello' and have a small conversation but give up after the 'how are you's' because it is just too painful. It was never nice on the day of the reaping.

The smell of leaves fill the air as we wait. The square is the centre of district 7 with all the needed shops. The Justice Building stands in front of us covered in vines and moss. The marble stand out at bare parts and makes me wonder what it used to look like. After waiting for everyone in district 7 - who isn't working in the nearby forests - to arrive the district escort finally arrive. She sits down and the mayor comes and gives his speech about the dark days and the second rebellion followed by the video they show every year. The worst part of it is when they show the public executions of the rebel leaders. Some of them look no older than 20. The mayor mentions a girl in his speech and says she was the mascot for the rebellion.  

Afterwards the district escort walks up to the microphone. She looks like a giant leaf with because of what she's wearing and reminds me of one of Mazie's dolls back home. 'Welcome everyone to the 150th annual Hunger Games reaping' she says in her capital accent that projects into the microphone. 'Now when I call a name can the tribute please come up and call out their siblings names who, after being called, will make their way to the justice building. Now ladies first,' she says with a smirk that reaches from ear to ear, literally, I think she had it altered at the capitol.  

'Amanda Diffle' says the district escort and a 16 year old girl comes up trying to look strong. I can hear a little girl crying in the 12 year old section and wonder why but when the girl reaches the stage I know why. 'Can you please call your siblings name out' says the district escort. The girl reaches up to the microphone and says 'my younger sister, Penelope' that's when the sniffling red faced girl steps out of the 12 year old section. Theres a woman wailing from the crowd but she is taken away by peacekeepers.

The district escort is still smiling and I find it very hard to suppress a scream at her. 'Now the boys' she says. She makes her way over to the bowl filled with boys names and reaches her hand in. It's excruciating the time she takes to pick one small slip with all the names in there. It's felt like hours till she opens the slip and reads out the name.

'Axel Fury' she says into the microphone still with that incredibly large smile on her face. I just stand there taken aback as I figure out what this means. 

I have a feeling to scream awful things at her but I am too stunned. Axel, who is 12 with one slip in it, has been reaped. Out of all the slips in there she chooses Axel. At this time he has made his way to the stage and the escort has given him the microphone. He seems too stunned to say anything but then he finds his voice. 'my two sisters Ebony and Amber and my brothers Barker and Ash' he finishes. The two sisters on stage seem terrified at the increasing odds of not making it home with our incredibly large family. Even the entire square hasps at the number of children. When Amber, my brothers and I have finally made our way to the stage we all shake hands and walk into the justice building. 

************************************ 

Hey glorious readers, it would mean a lot to me if you followed me on Instagram - @miss_mockingjay - seeing as I only have ghost followers. Anyway hope you liked it. 

Comment, Vote, read on, whatever you wanna do :D 

~S