Timber

Chapter Nine: The Reaping

With the first light of dawn piercing through the curtains, Hazel found herself wide awake, a rarity in her ongoing battle with insomnia. Today, however, her internal alarm had triumphed over her sleep deprivation; it was the day of the reaping. She lay in bed for a few moments, her gaze fixed on the ceiling, her heart thudding with a nervous anticipation that clung to her like a persistent shadow. The sound of the twins stirring in their bunk bed reached her ears, their movements sluggish and reluctant. Breaking free from the grip of her bed, Hazel made her way to the small, shared bathroom. The mirror reflected a girl with disheveled red hair and wide, anxious green eyes. She splashed her face with cold water, a futile attempt to wash away the sleeplessness and dread that had become a part of her very being.

The atmosphere in the kitchen was heavy. Fern moved around the space with a forced efficiency, setting out plates of simple fare for breakfast. Oren sat at the head of the table, his usually strong features etched with lines of discomfort. The twins, Lily and Linden, ate silently, their usual bickering absent. Rowan kept glancing at Hazel and Silus, his expression a mix of worry and stoic resolve.

Hazel noticed a bandage wrapped around Silus's hand. "What happened to your hand?" she asked, her voice barely above a whisper.

Silus glanced at his hand as if he'd forgotten about the injury. "It's nothing. Just a scratch from yesterday," he replied, avoiding her gaze. His evasiveness only added to Hazel's growing sense of unease. She didn't remember him getting hurt at work in the forest. Maybe it happened at the paper mill? She wanted to press further, but the tightness in her mother's jaw told her this was not the time.

As Silus casually dismissed Hazel's concern, she couldn't help but notice him favoring his hand slightly. The bandage, a tan gauze, wrapped around a large portion of his palm. She observed how he subtly adjusted his utensil grip, avoiding pressure on the bandaged area. The way he held his fork was awkward, unnatural for someone who was usually so sure-handed.

As they ate in strained silence, each bite tasted like cardboard. Hazel could feel her stomach churning with nerves.

Hazel stepped out into the bright sunlight of the summer day, feeling a significant contrast between the beauty of the day and the dread that filled her. The air was crisp, the sky a brilliant blue, and the trees of District 7 swayed gently in the breeze. It was too beautiful of a day for this.

Hazel felt out of her element, dressed in her dark green skirt and simple top, cinched at the waist with her warm brown belt. She was more accustomed to the practical attire of a lumberjack—sturdy boots, durable pants, and shirts that allowed for ease of movement. Today, her clothes felt foreign, too delicate for her liking, adding to her unease. She fidgeted with the hem of her skirt, trying to find comfort in the unfamiliar fabric.

Her family, too, was dressed in their best, even the adults. Her mother, Fern, wore a simple but elegant dress that brought out the blue in her eyes, while Oren looked sharp in a neatly pressed shirt and trousers. Silus stood tall and somber, wearing a clean, dark suit that made him look more mature than his years. His expression was severe, his usually playful eyes clouded with the day's weight. Rowan, slightly more relaxed, sported a neatly tucked-in shirt and dark pants, his hair combed back to look presentable, though his usual youthful energy seemed dimmed.

Lily wore her maroon dress, its color complementing her cheerful personality, though today, her usual brightness was subdued. Linden was in a red shirt paired with dark pants, his outfit a sharp contrast to his usually carefree demeanor. The clothes seemed almost like costumes.

Sage clung to Hazel's hand, his chestnut eyes wide and filled with an unspoken mix of fear and confusion. He was dressed in a neat, buttoned shirt and trousers, looking the part of a young boy forced to grow up too soon. Hazel offered him a reassuring smile, trying her best to hide her apprehension. Her heart aching for the innocence they all had to forgo on this day, she squeezed his hand and gave him as reassuring a smile as she could fake.