The Quater Quell: 50th Hunger Games

Chapter 4

          "For our first male tribute, Larten Pasteur." Everyone knew Larten. He was an orphan that's been in and out of District 10's Jailhouse. Stealing, fighting, and not showing up for work. I was sure that if he kept it up, the Capitol was going to make him into an Avox. Larten walks to the stage out of the 17 year olds station. He was thin and sickly looking. He appeared drunk and laughed as he walked to the stage to join Cicero. "Excellent!" Cicero gleamed. His excitement was starting to annoy me. "The next tribute to represent District 10 in the 50th Hunger Games will be...." Cicero waves his hand over the bowl and pluck a name sitting on the top. With a squeal and a hiss, Cicero reads "Dean Oaks."

         Oh no. Not Dean! I close my eyes and bow my head. He was Walts cousin and his best friend. He was only 15 or 16 years old. I look up to Walt. The color has drained from his face but he seems to keep it together. Poor Walt. Dean walks to the stage with a little to much false bravado. He trips going up the stairs and stares blankly into the crowd. Cicero grabs the boys' hands and lifts them into the air. "Give it up for our male tributes!" A few measly claps and a lot of sadden faces ring out amongst the crowd.

      "Now for the Ladies!" gleams Cicero. He reaches his green tinted hand into the bowl and squishes the names around. He digs and picks a handful up and releases it. With a final swish of names he crams his hand into the middle and pulls one out. "Maizey Cohen." A small black haired girl wiggles out of the 13 year old. She looks like she hasn't hit womanhood yet. She still looks like a child. "Come along darling, over here by Cicero." Cicero guides her and holds her hand. She is remaining strong but tears fall from her eyes and drip down her chin. They stain her light blue summer dress. I can't help but to feel sorry for her.

        "Raven Blackshire." Cicero announces. Raven Blackshire. I was safe another year. Wait. I think. There is no one by the name of Raven Blackshire in District 10. "Blackmire! Raven BlackMIRE. My apologies. What a nitwit. He got the name wrong. I chuckle and then stop when everyone turns around and stares at me. Whats your problem? I want to ask. Then it hits me. He got the name wrong. It wasn't Blackshire it was Blackmire. Raven Blackmire. Me.

        I hear my sister cry out and I can see Jade crying. My parents are pale but are as still as statues. I walk down the aisle and up the stairs. My feet feel like bricks. "Over here dear" coo's Cicero. I stand next to Cicero and he grabs my hand and raises it above our heads. "Let's hear a round of applause for our TWO female tributes representing DISTERICT 10 and our FOUR tributes who are heading to THE HUNGER GAMES to represent DISTRICT 10!" No one claps and everyone stares back at us in pity.

         I find Walt in the crowd and to my surprise he looks like he was fighting tears. Jade and Robin are holding hands. A few Peacekeepers push me into the Mayors house to say our last farewells. Mom ,Dad and Robin visit first followed by Jade. I don't cry. I just stand there as they all hug me. They tell me to be strong and are then whisked away by the Peacekeepers. A random girl I went to school with even stops by and gives me a good luck. Walt is the last to visit.

         "Hey Raven..." Walt whispers. He walks over to me and embraces me. He smells so nice. He scratches my back and whispers "Sorry I didn't get to take you on that date." That's when I begin to cry. I don't want to die. I don't want to kill anyone. "Its alright. Im kinda boring anyways. Who knows maybe ill make it back somehow and I can take you up on that date." "Yeah. Maybe." I can see in his eyes he is thinking of Dean. "Times up kid. Lets move." A peacekeepr orders and grabs Walt by the arm. Walt yanks his hand back and caresses my face. He smashes his lips against mine and even slips his tounge in between my lips. I let him and for a quick second, I forget that im about to die. "Stop!" the Peacekeepers shouts and attempts to drag Walt away. Walt shrugs him off and walks himself out of the door.

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