It was finally time for the reaping. Finally. After all the anticipation of this year's Quarter Quell, the time for the reaping ceremony has finally arrived.
This year, instead of just one area to check in, there were two; one for the victors and one for the other people. I was the youngest victor of course. I kept looking for Cato feeling like he should be here instead of me but he wasn't there. I killed him in the arena almost a year ago.
After I checked in, I stood with the rest of the victors. Holt and Azalea were there too. Holt was wearing his hair combed back and a tux from the Capitol. Azalea was wearing a dress but not like any that I'd seen in the Capitol. It must've been made here in District 2.
Once everyone was signed in, I noticed Silver up on the stage. She walked over to the microphone and tapped it to make sure it was on.
"Welcome, everyone," she said with a smile on her face. "Happy Hunger Games!"
"At least pretend you're interested." Holt whispered in my ear. He must've noticed my eyes wandering from Silver.
"This year is a very special year for the Hunger Games. It is none other than the 3rd Quarter Quell! Instead of the usual one boy and one girl tribute from each district, there will be two boys and two girls! But, the extra two tributes aren't just any tributes! They are our very own victors!" Silver announced looking at the group of victors that were in the middle of the girls side and boys side of the area. "Now, it is time to draw the names from the reaping bowl of the victors that will be participating in this year's Hunger Games. Ladies first!"
Please don't pick me! Please don't Pick me! I think to myself.
When Silver draws a name slip out of the reaping bowl, she walks back over to the microphone.
"The female victor chosen to participate in this year's Hunger Games is.... Helena Cruz!" Silver announces. I turn around to see a humble old lady walking towards the stage with her cane. I look at her in pain. I couldn't help but step out and stop the lady from going up to the stage.
"I-I volunteer! I volunteer as tribute!" I yell even though the stage is so close.
"Thank you, young lady, but you really don't have to do this," Helena tells me supporting herself by holding my shoulder. "I don't have much longer to live and I really can do these games again."
"No, you can't. You can't relive the games." I say to her.
"Thank you," she says to me and kisses my forehead.
I walk up to the stage and shake Silver's hand.
"It's nice to have you back, Clove." she said with a smile. I did my best to smile back at Silver. "Clove Kentwell, everyone!"
"Now, for the male victor!" Silver said. I waited as Silver picked out a name slip from the reaping bowl. "Holt Coleman!"
"What! No!" I whisper-yell to Silver so the microphone wouldn't pick up my voice. Silver showed me the name slip and it read HOLT COLEMAN.
Holt walks up to the stage and stands next to me. "What are the odds of this?" He asks me laughing in an upset way.
"Not very good ones." I say back to him.
"Now for the other tributes! Let's start with the boys this time, shall we?" Silver goes over to the male reaping bowl and pulls out a name slip. "Garrison Hart!" she announces. A gasp comes from the audience and I watch as my biggest fear walks up to the stage. He has a smile on his face and laughs while looking at me.
"Wait! Wait!" I hear a boy say. He couldn't be older than Garrison. "I volunteer!" He says running out into the aisle. It was Axel.
"No," I say to myself.
"I volunteer!" Axel says again. Garrison stops and turns around to Axel. He laughs and then walks up to Axel.
"What did you say, you little punk?" Garrison asks Axel.
"You heard me." Axel defends himself. Just as Garrison swings his fist back to hit Axel, a peacekeeper grabs Garrison from behind and injects a drug into him making Garrison faint. Axel runs up to the stage and stands next to me frightened as ever.
"Why did you do that?" I ask Axel.
"I couldn't let you be in the arena with him. I'd rather die than see him kill you." Axel said. My brother actually said that.
"What is your name sweetheart?" Silver asks him. Axel takes the microphone from her.
"My name is Axel Kentwell, and I'm twelve years old." Axel says.
"Are you related to Clove, the girl next to you?" Silver asks.
"Yes," Axel says. "Clove is my sister."
"Well, this will be very interesting, now won't it?" Silver asks. Axel nods at her. "Let's give a big round of applause for Axel Kentwell!" the audience claps lightly half happy that Garrison isn't in the games this year and half sad that at least one of us is going to die in the games.
"I'm sorry, Clove, but I had to." Axel tells me.
"Now, the female tribute this year is..." Silver picks a name slip out of the reaping bowl and brings it back to the microphone. "Serrie Blusk!"
A girl who looked about thirteen walked out of the audience and into the aisle. She was super skinny and didn't look too tough. No one volunteered for her.
When she got up to the stage, Silver shook Serrie's hand and gave her a smile.
"Happy Hunger Games everyone! And, may the odds be ever in your favor!" Silver announced and then led the four of us into the justice building to say our goodbyes. This was not my plan. Nowhere even close to it.
