Hetalia Hunger Games

Chapter One

I'm going to die.

I'm going to die.

I'm going to get Reaped.

That terrifying thought races through my head all day. Today is the day of the Reaping, the annual event where the Capitol chooses 2 tributes from each district. Then they throw them all in an arena to fight to the death. It's absolutely horrible. 

Thing is, I've got an ominous feeling I'm going to be one of District 10's tributes. I'm not a good candidate or anything. I'm a weakling, a crybaby, and I don't stand out at all. I would probably die first. But I can't get this feeling out of my mind. My name is only in there once, not multiple times like some poorer folk. So why do I fear this?

Simple fact is, I really don't want that deadly outcome. I get this feeling every year. I'm 16, so this is one of my last years to be able to be Reaped. I sure hope I can last long enough to get to adulthood without being chosen. 

But as it appears, that's just not the case.

I check in and wait. I wait for many long, awful minutes. I'm not sure how long it takes; I don't own a watch. But eventually, the announcer from the Capitol struts up to the stage. She looks ridiculous, as do all citizens of the Capitol. Her hair is huge and neon green with too many decorations to count. And don't even get me started on that hideously poofy designer dress that looks like it's devouring her. 

She clears her throat and taps on the microphone, a sign for everyone to quiet down. And then the most agonizing moment of the year begins.

"Welcome to the Reaping for the 110th annual Hunger Games! I'm pleased that everyone is here to attend such a special event. 10 years ago was the 100th Hunger Games, so this is going to be an interesting year, I'm sure. I know you're all very excited to hear who will be the stars of this year's show, so I won't keep you waiting any longer. Let the Reaping begin!"

She walks over to the bowl labeled "District 1" and slips her hand in. She shuffles the small slips of paper around before finally settling on one. She carefully unfolds it and smiles. "Our first tribute is from District 1. Roderich Edelstein."

A prim and proper boy smirks and heads over to the stage. He actually seems somewhat...satisfied? Weird. Then again, in the first few districts it's considered an honor to be part of the Hunger Games and not a burden like in the later ones. Capitol Lady shakes his hand and returns to the bowl while Roderich takes a seat on a chair set up. It's under a sign that reads "District 1".

"For our second District 1 Tribute, we have..." Capitol Lady takes out another name, "Vash Zwingli." A stoic boy separates from the crowd and shakes her hand. He has a completely neutral expression as he sits down next to Roderich. 

"Exciting, exciting! Let's all give a hand to our tributes from District 1, Roderich Edelstein and Vash Zwingli!" There is a pause and then applause. "Ah, this really is quite thrilling. Who will be our lucky tributes from District 2? Let us find out!" My heart pounds. One district down. 9 more until it is mine. 

Capitol Lady moves over to the next bowl and moves her hand around inside. She picks out a slip of paper. "Our first District 2 tribute is ‬Ludwig Beilschmidt!" A tall strong-looking boy is mostly expressionless as he shakes her hand. I notice his lips form into a twisted grin. He makes me feel uneasy.

"And next for District 2 is Alfred F. Jones!" Everyone turns around as somebody whoops and cheers. It's the thrilled boy rushing up to the stage. He looks ecstatic. "Ah, excited are we? I like that in a tribute."

When he sits down and everyone claps for District 2, I gulp. 8 more. I unintentionally tune out the next few Districts out of nervousness. I do catch everyone's names but don't get a good look at them.

"Kiku Honda of District 3!"

"Eduard von Bock of District 3!"

"Lovino Vargas of District 4!"

There's a shriek after that one and Lovino has to be forcefully dragged onstage by a security guard. 

"Antonio Fernandez Carriedo of District 4!"

"Arthur Kirkland of District 5!"

"Lukas Bondevik of District 5!"

"Francis Bonnefoy of District 6!"

"Tino Vainamoinen of District 6!"

There's loud sobbing and Tino also has to be dragged up. 

"Berwald Oxenstierna of District 7!"

"Mathias Køhler of District 7!"

"Yao Wang of District 8!"

More screaming.

"Ivan Braginski of District 8!"

Only one district left before I figure out my fate of this year. My heart beats faster.

"Sadiq Adnan of District 9!"

"Elizaveta Hedervary of District 9!"

The creators removed the gender restrictions of tributes a few years back, so there can be 2 of the same gender for each district nowadays. They said it would make the Reaping more exciting or something stupid like that. Elizaveta is the first girl of this year's Hunger Games, and she's a fighter. She's kicking and screaming and insisting they can't make her participate. But she is eventually forced onto the stage and watched over by a guard. 

Now it's time.

Time for District 10.

My district.

I gulp.

Capitol Lady struts over to our district's bowl. She has a smile on her face as she swishes her hand through it. She scoops up a name from near the top of the bowl and unfolds it. "The first tribute from District 10 is ‬Heracles Karpusi!" I sort of recognize Heracles. He's in my grade in school. I have a few classes with him too. His family runs a big farm that our milk comes from. We don't talk much though.

He seems terrified as he reluctantly shakes Capitol Lady's hand. He's shaking all over. I know Heracles well enough to know he is not usually a violent person. He won't be able to bear with killing anyone. Poor guy. I wouldn't be able to do that either. I mean, I'm-

"Our second District 10 tribute is...Matthew Williams!"

I shriek at the top of my lungs. My heart pounds so hard I feel like it's going to burst out of my chest. I can't control my body anymore as I collapse onto the ground. Is this real? I wasn't even paying attention when she was choosing the second tribute. Did she really call my name? Is there some other Matthew Williams in District 10? I pray that's the truth. 

Of course it's not. A security guard picks me up. I'm curled into a ball and practically having a panic attack in front of all of Panem. I'm carried to the stage and the guard grabs my arm and shakes Capitol Lady's hand with my hand. I can't really manage to move any part of me myself.

 I return to my curled up position in my chair. Heracles looks at me with a sympathetic gaze and gently squeezes my shoulder. "Good luck," he mutters under his breath. I barely hear the final few tributes.

"Emil Steillson of District 11!"

"Lilli Zwingli of District 11!" Capitol Lady then adds, "No known relation to Vash Zwingli of District 1." Lilli is a very small girl. She's almost definitely just 12. What rotten luck to get reaped on your first year.

"Toris Lorinaitis of District 12!" 

"Feliciano Vargas of District 12! No known relation to Lovino Vargas of District 4."

There's sickening applause and then silence. Capitol Lady continues speaking. 

"Thank you all for attending the Reaping for the 110th annual Hunger Games. I'm sure you can't wait to meet these lovely new tributes. Stay tuned in the coming days to see more about them and of course, the actual Hunger Games. Remember...may the odds be ever in your favor."

I feel like I'm gonna throw up.