The Shepherd and The Seamstress

Chapter Two: The Seamstress

Delanie Cordei- District 8-
Chapter 2: District 8

I jump awake from my nightmares about the hunger games. I've recently been having them a lot since the reaping is coming up... in fact, it's today.

I have nightmares because 1) it's the hunger games, and 2) Last year, my older brother Aureus (seventeen years old) got chosen to participate in the games, and was shamelessly murdered in the blood bath. I cried for months.

Ever since then I've been so worried for this day, pacing back in forth in me and my sisters room in the middle of the night, waking people up from my screams, and even sitting on my moms lap again... Which is really strange since I'm fourteen. Probably one of the many reasons I don't have any friends.

Aurra, my ten year old little sister who shares a bed with me, isn't in the room with me, and either is my fifteen year old sister, Tetra. I probably would've laid in bed all day, thinking about how much life sucked if it weren't for the reaping. There's a rumor you get your head cut off if you don't go... I'm hoping it's an exaggeration.

I find that my mom has ironed a dark blue/green dress for me and hung it on the bedroom door. I strip my clothes off and slip on the dress. Then I tug on my blue flats. I crouch onto my knees and look underneath my bed for my little brown chest. Once I find it through all my junk under there, I pull it out.

My grandma gave me this chest before she died. It has all of her nice jewelry in it. I pop it open and grab a thick diamond necklace. On a normal day I would be honored to wear such an expensive accessory, but today I don't even smile when I look in the mirror. I even have to wipe away a stray tear.

I walk out of our room and into our small, family bathroom, and pull a comb through my bright blond hair. I look at my bright blue eyes, then brush my teeth. Then I walk into the kitchen for breakfast.

I see Tetra, Aurra and Mom sitting at the table eating oatmeal, all of them silent, but mom putting a fake smile on for us. My dad and my mom are divorced, so that's why there's no dad in this family. He was abusive towards my mom.

My mom's a weaver so we have a pretty good income. We can afford a house with two bedrooms, a bathroom, and a kitchen.

My mom stands up and fixes me a bowl of oatmeal, and I sit down glumly. I hate oatmeal, but when she sets it in front of me, I start to eat it slowly.

Tetra finishes a good ten minutes before me, and she starts to do my hair. I don't even complain once. Today I'm going to be the perfect child in memory of Aureus.

I keep seeing him die. The memory pausing and rewinding itself in my head. When it happened we were in the town square. I had screamed in front of everyone, and then ran back to the house to sob. Him and I were so close!

After Tetra finishes my crown braid I stand up to clean my bowl out, then put it in the cabinet. "It's almost eleven," my mom says, startling me. We haven't said a word this morning. My face droops, and I pull mom into a hug. Fresh tears glisten on my face as she rubs my back. "I love you," I whisper to her, "I love you more, honey." she says back. I hear Aurra talking to Tetra, then I hear them hug.

I sniff as I pull away, and wipe my face with my wrist. Then I crouch and give Aurra a hug while Tetra hugs mom. "I love you, sweetie pie." I say, the slightest hint of a smile on my face. "I love you too." She says, squeezing tighter. I'm sad that she knows what the hunger games is really about - entertainment.

The horn blares outside, telling us it's time to go to the reaping. I feel like crying again, but no tears come. We walk outside onto the porch. Tetra straightens my dress, then hugs me. "I love you, weirdo." She laughs, and I chuckle. "I love you too."

We pull apart and start walking towards the town square. It's a ten minute walk, but it sadly goes by really fast. I get my blood drawn, like every year, then they tell me to go ahead. I tell Aurra, Tetra and mom that I love them (again), then go to the fourteen year old section.

The girl to my right looks like she's going to have an aneurism, and the girl to my left keeps glancing at me, and shifting her weight on her feet.

Arula, our district spokesperson, joyfully bounces on stage. Her spiral golden heels match her bedazzled gold and silver dress, but her hair is bright pink, and is a mob of curls invading her whole head.

"Well, well, well!" She chirps. "Good to see you all again!" She says. Hmph. As if we had a choice. "But looks like we're missing two people!" She laughs as I realize she's joking about last years dead tributes. My mood changes to venomous. "She has the nerve..." I say under my breath, but stop abruptly when I notice the girl to my left is looking at me again. I act like I don't notice her.

By now, our yearly video about why we do the hunger games is over, and she's walking over to the woman's bowl of names. My name's in there three times. "This years female tribute is..." She sticks her hand in, the whole crowd holding their breath. "Ina..." I start to breath out relieved it's not me or Tetra when I realize she looks confused.

"Ah!" She smiles. "I was holding it upside down!" She giggles at herself and turns the paper over. I bite my lip in suspense. "Delani Cordei" she says, and I scream.
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VOTE FOR ALL CHAPTERS, EVEN THE ONES WITH DELANI'S POV BECAUSE ONLY VOTES ON THIS STORY COUNT FOR GINETTE NOT ON fictionallegacy 'S
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