Field of Innocence

Chapter 2

The town square is already crowded. Fathers pat their son's back one last time and mothers hug their daughters proudly, wishing them luck. A combination of grins and glares spread across district two's potential tributes. In district two it was shamed to not have pride in your skills. Reaping day was the day everybody looked forward to. The only people that got out of the reaping were people that were incapable of participating in the Hunger Games, which included my mother. When my mother was seventeen years old she was reaped for the 41st Hunger Games. It was the first time in twenty years that nobody volunteered to take her place. I've been told this story a couple of hundred times from people hanging around the square. She walked up on stage with a flush tone in her face. Peacekeepers immediately grabbed her by the arms and dragged her away from the podium because she was seven months pregnant. Seven months pregnant with me and unfit to fight in the games.

As a kid I witnessed people spit on our doorstep. Even the Peacekeepers whisper at the sight of my mother. My mother hasn't left the house in four years. She isn't frail like she used to be though. Her frame is tall and built. She wears her hair in a tight bun and is a complete hard ass. Even though she's now strong and independent, our family name isn't. Until today. Today, the day I've trained my entire life for. Today's the day I volunteer for the 74th annual Hunger Games.

In about half an hour the entire square will be entirely filled with all of the district's kids ages twelve to eighteen. Peacekeepers greet me with a nod as I walk past. Most Peacekeepers know me because my father is one. He's been raving about my skills with a sword since I was old enough to pick one up.

My house is directly next to the town square and training center, Its now being covered with the large sign that reads "Capitol masonry."

When I walk into my house the first thing I see is my sister, Mara. Her hair is twisted into a messy ponytail on the top of her head and she's wearing one of our mother's grey jumpsuits. Mara was poised and polite. To me she was useless. She has no skill with a weapon and she's a hopeless coward that spends her training time in the resource room.

She's about to speak but I run up the stairs before she has a chance to. I put on a plaid button up over my training uniform and brush through my hair with my hand. The entire reaping will be televised for all of Panem to see.

When I get to the reaping district two's escort, Sheario Wallbrooke is dressed an elastic rubber body suit talking to Lyme on the stage. The two shake hands and Lyme walks to the podium. She reads the same slip of paper she always reads, She tells the stories of fires and explosions, children dying and thousands killed. She talks about a place that was once known as North America, until the dark days. She goes on and on about how the districts tried to rise against the Capitol, that these games are our punishment

After that she announces all of district two's victors over the 74 years in alphabetical order. Brutus, Ceylon, Cajun, Enigma, Enobaria, Gladius, Lyme, Mace. The list goes on and on. Next year, my name will be added to the list.

Sheario takes her place at the podium. "Greatings ladies and gentlemen!" The microphone screeches and sounds almost as terrifying as Sheario's wardrobe choice. "I think we have all waited long enough! Its time to select one honorable young lady to fight in the 74th annual hunger games!" Sheario walks to the large fish bowl, that's technically called a "Reaping bowl "and pulls out a slip of paper and smoothens it out.

"Clea Cohen."

"I volunteer!" a voice from the crowd yells out. Its Clove Kentwell. The closest person to a friend that I have. Its silent as she walks onto the stage. A twisted smirk appears on her lips. She smiles straight to the camera to show all of Panem her beautiful arrogance. I need to kill Clove Kentwell.

"Now, to draw the boys." Sheario walks to the second fishbowl and pulls out another slip of paper. "Briar Kentwell." Clove's expression drops to stone. I lunge my body forward "I Volunteer!" Simultaneously, a boy from the 18 age group calls out the same half a second after I do. This is my spot.

"A sixteen year old is not taking my position. Get out of here kid." The boy says shoving me. Without any further thought my fist clashes against his face. His nose is bleeding but I've done worse before. He takes a few steps backwards and blends back into the crowd. Nobody would want to go into those games after being publically humiliated on the replay of the reaping. The sponsors would view him as weak after taking a hit to the face.

I step onto the temporary set up stage and join Sheario and Clove. "Whats your name?" the Capitol man asks. "Cato Hadley" "Wow that's the spirit of the games!" Sheario exclaims "How about a round of applause for our two volunteers!" Everybody applauds , the district's population, a couple of peacekeepers, even some of the people from the Nut that usually bid on tributes clap for us.

When we go into the justice building we are offered the chance to say goodbye to our families. Clove takes the offer, but I go straight to the train. I didn't want to deal with Mara's crying. My parents would understand, they are probably proud too. Before I walk towards the train Clove grabes my wrist stopping me. "Thank you Cato, for volunteering for my brother." I release my arm from her grip "I didn't do it for you."