The Capitol's Darling - The Hunger Games

three: the reaping

It was the day of the reaping.

I never thought that I would have to be back on that stage again.

I wasn't scared to go back in the games, I was scared to go up against the people I loved and eventually watch them die.

As long as Brutus, Enobaria, Johanna, and especially Finnick didn't get reaped, I would be ok.

District 1 and 2 had lots of victors so there was little chance Brutus and Enobaria would get reaped. Johanna however, was from district 7 and district 7 didn't have any other female victors.

Once I was finished getting ready, I walked downstairs to see Mags, Annie and Finnick also dressed and ready. Beside them were four peacekeepers ready to escort us.

Every once in a while, I thought of escaping Panem. Not because of fear, but just for the adrenaline of it.

But when I told Finnick he told me that it was the dumbest thing that I had ever come up with.

"You look gorgeous Kat." Annie said, being the first to notice me. I replied with a 'thank you' and smiled at Mags and Finnick before we were escorted by the peacekeepers out of the house and to the area where the reaping took place every year.

We walked through the middle all the way to the stage and positioned ourselves so us females were standing on my left side while Finnick and the other male victor stood on my right side.

We waited a few seconds before Pam our district escort arrived, bringing all the attention to her.

I liked Pam, although she was from the Capitol, she was nice and caring. She admitted that she found the hunger games entertaining and enjoyable but just didn't like that it was kids being put in the arena.

"Welcome ladies and gentlemen, to the 75th Annual Hunger Games, and the third quarter quell!" Usually Pam would do her introduction with an enormous grin on her face and body full with excitement, but today there wasn't any excitement in her voice and she was barely showing her teeth as she smiled which was unlikely of her.

I tuned her out as she continued the same introduction she always does, ending with her making us watch the same video every year which I payed no attention to.

My attention is brought back when she cleared her throat after the video had ended. "This time, we will pick the male tribute first."

I bite the inside of my cheeck as Pam walked up to grab a name from the reaping bowl before walking back to the mic.

"The male tribute for District 4 is..." She opened the paper and sighed quietly before announcing, "Finnick Odair."

I gulped as I heard my brothers name being called out. I watched as he had a grin in his face as he interacted with the crowd, but as his sister, I knew he was panicking in the inside.

Great. My worst nightmare just came true, how lovely.

I didn't show how worried I was, as I didn't want to look weak so instead I smiled as I watched Finnick.

Finnick raised his hand as people from District 4 clapped and cheered out his name. He stepped forward to stand beside Pam who was also clapping.

"Now for the ladies."

Pam slowly walked to the giant bowl that contained our three names in them. I felt Annie tense up next to me as Pam picked one up and walked back to the mic.

"The female tribute for District 4 is..." She starts as she opened the paper. "Annie Cresta!"

As soon as those words came out of her mouth, Annie broke down into Mags' shoulder, letting out loud cries.

It pained me to see her like this. I saw Mags shake her head and attempt to raise her hand signing that she wanted to volunteer.

My eyes widened when I realised what she was doing so I immediately grabbed her arm pulling it down and shaking my head repeatedly at her. Before she could raise her arms back up again, I quickly spoke up,

"I volunteer as tribute!"

The crowd was shocked at first but then turned into cheers as I walked closer to Pam as well, smirking and raising my hand as I did so.

The crowd cheered loudly for us as me and Finnick intertwined our hands and held it up confidently, huge smiles spread across our faces.

"Ladies and Gentlemen, your male and female tribute from District 4!" Pam finishes as she turned around and walked out, me, Finnick, Mags and Annie right behind her.

Once the door closed, Annie is grabbed by a peacekeeper and is roughly dragged out of the room we were in.

"What? No! We haven't said goodbye to her yet!" Me and Finnick protested, as we were ushered into the train already.

"Change of plans, you're going straight to the Capitol." One of the peacekeepers said, pushing us into the train.

"No! That's not fair!" I yelled out at him as Annie was no longer to be seen.

No that's not fair. I didn't get to say goodbye to Annie.

Finnick didn't get to say goodbye to Annie.

What is happening? Why is everything happening so fast?

Me and Finnick sat on the chairs next to each other as Mags sat across from us.

Mags got to come because she's our mentor, but Annie wasn't allowed to do any mentoring due to her PTSD.

The whole train ride to the Capitol was silent, the only sound to be heard was the sound of the train tracks.

We sat in silence. Ate dinner in silence. Sat in more silence.

Mags excused herself from the room saying she was heading off to get some rest and me and Finnick just smiled at her and nodded our heads.

District 4 wasn't far from the Capitol so we would arrive there in about 2 more hours so I decided to scoot closer to Finnick and lay my head in his shoulder.

He placed his arm around me bringing me closer to him before I drifted off to sleep.

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1029 words!