A Victors Beginning

Chapter Three The Reaping

Haymitch stood in front of his dresser looking at mirror. He looked at the clothes his mother choose for him. He adjusts his shirt and looks at his mirror once again.

"At least no one can see the bruises." He whispers quietly. He turns around and walks out of his bedroom.

He sees his mother sitting at the kitchen table in a old grey dress. Her head is in her hands. He coughs and she looks at him.

"Oh hey sweetie." She says as she looks at him. She gets up and puts her hand on his shoulder. "You look so handsome." She says as she hugs him.

"Thanks mama." Haymitch says as he hugs his mother. "All families please report to the center plaza. The reaping will begin shortly." A voice booms all over the town. Haymitch and his mother look at each other and hug."Come on mom." Haymitch mutters quietly. He pulls away from the hug. She looks at him and nods with tears in her eyes.

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Haymitch walks towards the registration line, and watches as his mother walks to the adult group.

He walks to the line and waits. The line quickly shortens as Haymitch watches his mother walk to the group for adults and parents. She takes her place and smiles at the people around her.

"Next." The peacekeeper says in a monotone voice. Haymitch walks to the table cautiously. "Name." The peacekeeper asks while looking at a clipboard.

Haymitch studies the peacekeeper before speaking,"Haymitch Abernathy." "Hand." Haymitch carefully stretches out his hand before the peacekeeper pricks his hand with a device. The peacekeeper puts his finger on piece of paper that contains his information along with the other children.

"Move along." Haymitch walks to the designated area for the boys. Shortly after taking his place amongst the boys a man strutted out on stage. He grabbed the microphone on the stage in such a way that commanded everyone's attention.

"Hello everybody. Welcome to the 50th aunnual Hunger Games." The man had said it in such way that the tension in the air had become heavier than it already was. Haymitch stared at the unknown man with both fear and intrest. This one man would decide the fate of two chosen children.

"My name is Alexander Star. I am the escort for this year's tributes of district twelve." Alexander said excitedly, looking at the crowd. "Now I believe that the time for choosing the tributes should begin." Alexander said as he brought his hands together rubbing then together.

Alexander smiled as the children began to grow uneasy. "Now as always we shall begin with choosing the female tribute." Alexander walked to the left and stopped in front of the bowl that contained all the girls names. He grabbed inside and plucked a paper out from the bowl and retreated to the microphone. Alexander coughed as he read the piece of paper.

"Maysilee Grace!" He said happily searching the crowd got the unlucky child he had called. All of the girls began looking for their friend amongst the crowd of girls. "NOOOOOOOO." Grace began to wail as a circle had formed around her. She shaked her head violently that began sending her brown hair dancing in every direction. Her sobs and wails had broken the tension in air and had replaced it with a deafening silence.

Two peacekeepers began to made their way to move Grace onto they stage. "MAMA PAPA PLEASE HELP! I DON'T WANT TO DIE. SOMEONE HELP ME PLEASE!" As the peacekeepers had grabbed Grace she began crying even harder.

As they began nearing the stage one of the peacekeepers shouted,"Shut the fuck up already!" Soon after the peacekeeper shouted Graces sobs had turned to quiet sniffles.

The peacekeepers lead Maysilee onto the stage next to Alexander.

"Well that was quite the show wasn't it?" Alexander said half heartedly as he stared at Grace. "Well then let's move onto the boys." He said as he walked to the bowl containing the boys names. He quickly grabbed a paper and retreated back to the microphone. He read the paper and then looked at the boys and smiles.

"Haymitch Abernathy."