Her Victory, Their Life| F. Odair

1. The Reaping

Everyone was up early the next morning, getting ready for the reaping. They had to look their best. They were on display. "Emory!" Her mother called as she was eating breakfast. "I laid out your outfit on your bed, you too Elliot."

The young boy groaned, "I can dress myself."

"Not today you can't," his mother told him as she laid a kiss on his head. Their father and uncle walked through the door, holding some rolled-up paper.

Cameron sat down and took some of the food that was already on the table. "Hey, Karla, don't forget the proposal is due in two weeks." He slathered some jam on a piece of toast before remembering something. "Oh, also, tomorrow I have to go into the dam, they've been having some backups, I've got to take a look at it."

"Do you think I'll get reaped today?" Elliot asked and everyone stopped what they were doing, looking over at the young boy.

His father looked at his son, "No, you won't. They won't do that."

Elliot looked at his older sister for a translation. She avoided eye contact and watched her fork intensely as she played around with her food. "What are you guys not telling me?" Elliot asked, placing his fork down.

"We can't tell you until your last reaping," Cameron told his nephew. Elliot sighed and crossed his arms. "It's for your safety. Now, finish eating and get dressed."

"I'm done," Emory said, getting up from her seat and putting her plate in the sink. She walked to her room and there was a soft green dress waiting there with shoes and a hair pin.

Emory got dressed before her mother came in to help her with her hair. She gave her a little half-up/half-down held in place with the pin. She looked in the mirror. She looked like an innocent little girl, almost too young to even be in the games. No one younger than 14 had ever won and the average was 16.

She walked with her mother out of her room, meeting with Elliot who was wearing a cream shirt with black pants to match his father. Emory grabbed his hand, and they met up in the living room where the rest of the family was waiting. "Let's go," their father announced, opening the door for his children.

They were close enough to the reaping center to walk there. They joined the crowd of people, keeping their hands together. Emory walked with Elliot while Cierra walked with their uncle and their parents walked together. There were buses dropping people off at the town center and their mother turned around to talk to Emory and Elliot. "Go join your lines. We'll find you after the reaping, I love you," she hugged both before joining the adults in a separate line.

"Elliot, where's my line?" Emory asked her older brother, not being able to see with all the people around them. Elliot kept his hand enclosed around hers.

"Here let's get out of the crowd of older kids first," he said, pulling them towards the check in line. He pointed to a line with other 12–14-year-old girls. "That one is yours. I'll be the closest when you get out of there okay, so come find me or I'll find you." They hugged each other before Emory ran off to join her group of kids. She got in line.

It slowly progressed with each kid. "Next," the girl in front of her went forward, saying her name and got her finger pricked before she walked off. "Next!" Emory walked forward. "Name."

"Emporia Falkum," she said with barely any emotion as she looked around. The peacekeeper flipped the page and Emory held her hand out. They pricked her finger and put it on the paper.

"Next!" The peacekeeper called and a different peacekeeper led her to where she was supposed to stand. She was closer to the front than her brother who was further behind and on the opposite side of the center.

The movement died down and everyone was placed where they needed to be. Falle Mortar, the escort for District 5 came out on stage in an over the top get up with what looked like lightning bolts on her dress, with the two victors from District 5, Porter Millicent Tripp from the 38th Hunger Games and Evan Cornly from the 46th Hunger Games. Falle tapped on the microphone, and it could be heard around the town center.

"Welcome, Welcome!" She said in a cheery tone which didn't match the scenery. "Happy Hunger Games. And—May the odds be ever in your favor. Now, before we begin. We have a very special film. Brought to you all the way from the Capitol."

The video started playing on the screen behind her and she turned around. It started with videos of the rebellion decades ago and a voice over from President Snow.

"War... Terrible war. With those.... Orphan.... and a motherless child. This was the uprising that rocked our land.

"Thirteen districts rebelled against the country that fed them, Loved them. Protected them. Brother turned on brother until nothing remained. Then came the peace. Hard fought. Sorely won. The people. Rose up from the ashes and a new era was born. But freedom has a cost. And the traitors were defeated.

"We swore as a nation we would never know this treason again. And so, it was decreed... That each year. The various districts of Panem would offer up in tribute One young man and woman to fight to the death in a pageant of honor, courage and sacrifice. The lone victor.... Bathed in riches.... would serve as a reminder of our generosity and our forgiveness. This is how we remember our past. This is how we safeguard our future." The video ended and Falle turned back around with a smile on her face.

"I just love that. Now, the time has come for us to select one courageous young man and woman. For the honor of representing District 5 in the 66th Annual Hunger Games. As usual.... ladies first." She walked over to the bowl and the girl next to Emory grabbed her hand. Emory looked down and grabbed the hand of the other girl next to her.

Falle swirled her hand around in the large bowl of names before picking one out. She slowly walked back to the microphone and opened the card. Elliot sighed, trying not to be too stressed. He didn't want to be in the games, and he didn't like how sure his parents were that he wouldn't be.

"Emporia Falkum," she announced and both girls let go of her hands and they looked at her. Emory just stood there looking around. She slowly walked forward as she could hear her mother crying in the background.

Elliot looked at his little sister walking down the aisle between the children. "She looks so tiny," the guy next to him said.

Emory made it to the front and looked at Falle like she was scared of her. She had to make a decision. Was she going to act confident like she knew she was coming back– or was she going to play this like most kids. Emory didn't really have a choice in the matter, as soon as she got to the stage and saw the sad look on her brother's face. Emory's face grew red, and her eyes teared up.

Falle hurried and grabbed her hand, placing her in front of the microphone. "How old are you dear?" Emory wiped her tears.

"13," she answered hesitantly.

"Let's have a big hand for Miss Falkum," Falle said, starting the clap as people started clapping along with her. "And now.... for the boys." She went and walked over to the bowl as Emory looked for her parents in the crowd. She found her sister before seeing her mother standing next to her. All of them looked at her heartbroken. "Coran Hermin." He walked up to the stage as well.

"How old are you dear?"

He moved closer to the microphone as instructed, "17."

Falle took over again, "Here we are. Our Tributes from District 5. Well, come on you two. Shake hands." Emory turned to face him as Falle backed up. He grabbed her much smaller, shaky hand for a quick handshake before they dropped it and turned back to the crowd.

"Happy Hunger Games. And let the odds be ever in your favor."