A Crafted Kind of Games: A Hunger Games Fanfic

Chapter 2

I woke to sunlight drifting through the cracked, dusty, singular window in my room. Glancing at my clock, I pulled back my covers. 12:00 noon. Crap. The Reaping is at two, and I was planning on going for a run before I had to get ready.

Running was a bit of a stress reliever for me, clearing my head and giving me exercise. Too late for that now. I stood, stretching my arms. Walking over to my dresser, I yanked open the bottom drawer. I stared back at two fancy dresses that I've only ever needed for Reapings.

One was a deep purple, and another was a teal-ish color. Choosing randomly, I grabbed the teal one and lay it across my bed.

I shoved my door open, a little hungry. My mom was sitting at the table, and my dad was at the counter, cooking some bacon. "Morning, Skylar." My mom greeted me with a weak smile. "Morning, Mom. Morning, Dad." "Morning, Skylar."

We didn't speak much at breakfast, the dread of the Reaping hanging over us like a dark cloud. When I finished my plate, I set it on the counter and went to take a shower.

Our shower only has cold water, and extremely low pressure. Usually, showers here last twenty minutes. And that's only washing your hair.

In about forty minutes, I was back in my room, slipping on my dress. I hated dresses. Most of the ones here were too frilly and flowery. Unluckily for me, those were the only ones we could afford. I saved up for months, and finally got a dress that I preferred: plain and simple. It was just a simple dress with a long skirt and not-puffy sleeves.

I slid on my white ballet flats-the only pair of nice shoes I had. I glanced over to the left, and saw my boots. My favorite combat boots.

I picked them up and gave them a squeeze, as if I would never see them again. Well, who knew. I may have been right.

I brushed out my hair until it was practically shimmering. That was the way my mom liked it to be. I pulled it all to one side of my face, making it look like a side ponytail with no holder.

I checked my clock before going out into the main room-1:40. I take one last look around my room, and my eyes settle on my silvery charm bracelet. It was a gift from my grandma for my tenth birthday. It had one single charm: a music note.

According to my family, I could sing. I liked to sing, but I'm not so sure I was good at it.

I slid the charm bracelet on my arm, snapping it together. If I went in to the Games, I wanted something to remember home by.

When I walked out the door, I saw my mom and dad sitting on the couch, clearly not wanting to go.

OOOOOOOOO!

The horn signaling the Reaping was about to start went off, and my parents reluctantly stood. We walked out of the door as a family.

When we got to the square, my parents moved to the section for non-eligible people, and I took my spot in line. "Next. Next." The Peacekeepers were everywhere. On the rooftops, lined near the stage, at the entrance. A giant screen is up front, showing us all move through the lines and get to our designated areas.

Soon, it is my turn. The woman pricks my finger with the needle. "DNA matched. Skylar Pather." The same robotic voice speaks through the needle. "Go ahead." The woman smiles. Smiles. Why anyone would smile on a day like today is beyond me.

I make my way through the crowds and find a place in a clump of fifteen year olds. We all exchange terse glances and focus our attention back to the screen.

Julio Darby makes his way up to the stage, his Caesar Flickerman wannabe look looking just as strange as always.

"Welcome, everyone! Girls and boys, ladies and gentlemen, I am proud to welcome you to the 60th Reaping! May the odds ever be in your favor!"

I roll my eyes. Yeah, right.

"Now, the mayor of Ten, blah blah blah ..."

That's all I hear. I've heard the speech enough times. The war, punishments, 13 being obliterated... whatever. Our past victors come out onstage. In the past sixty years, we have had five victors. I would have listened to their names, but I'm uninterested.

At last, the speech is over, and Julio takes the stage again. He attempts to get the crowd's attention, as we've all lost interest in the "ceremony."

"Ok, lets get to what we've all been waiting for! Picking a courageous young man and woman for the honor of competing in the 60th Hunger Games!"

Yeah. It's an honor alright.

"As always, ladies first!"

Julio crosses over to the big glass ball filled with white slips of names. I breath in deeply and hold it, silently praying that its not me, it's not me, it's not me...

Julio fishes around in the sea of names, and finally selects a slip. Holding it triumphantly in the air, he crosses back over to the podium.

"Skylar Pather!"

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Wow. That was unexpected. NOT.