The Fighter

The Reaping

"Ariel, honey! It's time to get up" my mother yells into my room.
    "Alright mother! One second!" I yell and jump out of bed. It's the reaping for the 66th hunger games. Last year, my "friend" won. We were friends, then the Capitol changed him. Turned him into an arrogant, cocky, asshole.

     I put on a dark blue dress with diamonds lining the top. I also get a pair of white crochet flats and I put on my anchor necklace given to me by Eric, my brother. Well, he did before he went into the games. Don't get me wrong, he won. But he acts like he doesn't even know me. He acts so high up, even though he isn't. He barely won his games with glory. Yes, he killed the female from 1, but his last kill was surprisingly the female from 11, because she hid during the games.

    I walk into my bathroom and put on same makeup. I also brush through my wavy blonde hair before walking back into my bathroom. My mom walks in and looks at me sadly, I look prettier than I have for the past reapings, and she knows why. I smile at her and walk over and give her a hug. Then Eric walks by, this is the first time he has looked at me with feeling since he won the games 6 years ago.

    "Ariel let me do your hair" mom says, and I oblige. She makes me stand in front of a full-length mirror and does a mini side braid on both sides of my head, wrapping the remaining hair around the connected braids, kind of creating a braided crown type thing. I look at myself in the mirror, and I look beautiful. I smile for real and hug my mom once again.

    "I love you" I whisper, my voice cracking. I'm about to cry, but I won't. I'm going into the games and proving myself to Eric.
     "I love you too, Ariel" mom tells me and a tear falls out of her eye. After that, we walk downstairs and I see Eric eating already.
"Ariel" Eric says, warningly. Like he knows what I'm doing. I'm volunteering. I have to prove myself to him and show that I'm strong.
"Eric" I say firmly. I'm doing this and I'm coming home. I sit down and start eating the eggs that my mom put in front of me.

My mom is beautiful, she's what you would expect out of a distilling 4 citizen. She has tan skin, blue-green eyes, and bronze hair and she's tall and slim. I have my mother's eyes and build while I have my dad's hair and personality. Strong and stubborn. Eric looks like my mom, tall with bronze hair and blue-green eyes. My entire family looks like a normal district 4 family, other than the fact that Eric hates swimming. It has something to do with his arena, because the arena was basically made of water and on the last day there was a storm that made a lightning blot hit the water and electrocuted all but one other tribute. Then Eric pushed the girl from 11 in the water and won.

We eat breakfast in silence, and then the horn at the square blows. I get up from the table and walk out, Eric runs up behind me and my mom is just sitting there. She can't move, her daughter will go into the games.
     "Ariel. You don't have to do this" Eric says, begging me not to volunteer.
    "Yes I do. I want you to be proud of me" I tell him, sheepishly, "I also want Finnick to notice me again" I mumble, but Eric hears.
     "Odair? Finnick Odair? Your old friend?" Eric asks, shocked. I bet he thought I hated him after he left me.
     "Yes. I know the games change people. But I never wanted the games to change the people I care about" I tell him, and sigh. The games change people. I know, but j want to have a proud brother and I want Finnick to stop being too good to be associated with me.

   I realize that this is the first time Eric and I have had a deep conversation in 5 years. I just want him to be proud of me, it's all I've wanted since he won. Same with Finnick. I miss him, and I want to become a victor so he wouldn't be too good for me. Why is my life like this? Why is society messed up? Whatever. I separate from Eric and he walks to the Justice Building and I walk to the table where they take blood to see if you're eligible to compete. The peacekeeper grabs my wrist and jabs the needle into my finger. The screen comes up, saying 'Ariel Castel. 15 yrs. 6 mos.' and I get the 'Ok' to walk to the 15 year olds.

     I wait for this torture to start. The reaping is just a way for the Capitol to say "Hey, look at us! We're taking tour kids and killing them and there's nothing you can do about it!" and it's true. No one does anything, no one will do anything. 23 teenagers will die every year. There will be 1 broken teenager every year. I hear screams from Eric's room every night. He's broken. I'm snapped out of my thoughts when my best friend Crystal stands next to me.
     "Hey girl!" Crystal says, trying to be happy. But she's also broken. Her sister died in Eric's games to the girl from 2. Serena and Eric were allies, until Eric went hunting and 2 snuck up and stabbed Serena in the throat. Then Eric killed her, then the girl from 1, then the girl from 11.
      "Hi" I say, quietly. My attention is somewhere else. Well, on someone else. My used-to-be friend who is too good for me now because he's a victor and I'm only a victor's sister. Nothing.
    "P-" Crystal starts, but is sit off by a shrill voice.
    "Welcome, welcome. To the 66th annual Hunger Games reaping. Before we do anything. We have a very special film brought to you all the way from the Capitol!" Petunia says, excitedly.

     The video plays, but I tune out after "War. Terrible war" because it's the same stupid video that is played every year. A scream interrupts my thoughts, and Eric jumps up. Why? Then I hear another scream. Mom. Then a gunshot is heard and I'm frozen. Why? What happened? Was that mom? So many questions. I stay still and then the video ends.
    "Wasn't that just lovely. Now, time for the selection of one brave male and female to represent District 4 in the 66th annual Hunger Games. As usual, ladies first" Petunia says and walks over to the bowl, her lavender heels clicking obnoxiously against the wooden stage. Her outfit is so... loud. She is wearing a bright purple wig, a lavender blouse with big, puffy flowers, and a zebra print skirt.

     Petunia sticks her gloved hand elegantly into the glass bowl and reached around until she picks a slip. She clacks back over to the microphone and unfolds the slip.
     "Crystal Owens!" Petunia shrieks, and Crystal stiffens up. No. No! This can't happen. I thought I would take the place of a younger girl. Not my best friend.
     "I VOLUNTEER!" I scream and run out into the open isle. I still volunteered nonetheless, but I don't think it would be this hard to leave. Crystal is crying, begging for me to back down  and her to leave. This can't happen.
    "Crystal. Crystal. Look at me. I'm fine, you're like my sister and I don't want you to leave and go through that. I'm going" I tell her, calming her down.
    "Ok. Stay safe" Crystal says and walks back to the 15 year old section.

    Petunia looks excited that I volunteered and she also looks entertained. Wow. Just wow. Nonetheless, I smile and walk up to the stage. Almost falling, but no one sees. I see Finnick staring at me, and I smirk.
    "Well. That was just eventful! What's your name dear?" Petunia asks me.
    "Ariel Castel" I say confidently. And Eric stands up, but Mags holds his wrist.
    "Now time for the boys!" Petunia yells and just shivers her hand into the bowl and pulls a slip out. She walks back over to the microphone and unfolds the paper.
     "Julius Odair!" Petunia says and Finnick falls out of his chair. Two siblings of two of the most favored victors in Panem. This'll be a good show. Everyone will want to watch, and to get home, I'll have to kill my "friend's" brother. I didn't know Julius much anyways. He's 18. He's lived. He can die.

    The peacekeepers shove us into rooms where we can say goodbyes. Crystal comes in, crying and I almost let a tear slip. Stay strong Ariel. Strong people win. I think and that helps me. We say nothing, but we hug each other for the next minute, then a peacekeeper walks in.
    "Time's up. Let's go" and shoves Crystal out of the room.
    "Bye Crys! I'll be home soon!" I yell out after my friend.
     "Bye Ari. You ether come home" Crystal says before crying again. Then the peacekeeper grabs my wrist and we walk to the train.
     "Do I have any more visitors?" I ask, because mom didn't come. I thought she would say goodbye. I guess she won't.
     "No one else. Sorry" the peacekeeper says, and he pushes me onto the train. There are cameras everywhere. Then someone hugs me from behind.