The 99th annual Hunger Games

District 7 reapings

District 7 reapings

Cordelia Jackson's POV

I watch as the small girl scurries past, singing and clutching a basket of berries, unaware of my presence. I step out from behind the broad, smooth barked tree and follow her. I've had enough of hunting animals today.

I pick up my pace, moving soundlessly through the auburn leaves that she crushes so noisily. We are nearly to the fence. I better hurry up before we get too close, in case someone hears.

I sprint forward, gripping my axe in one hand, and tackle her to the ground. She screams but I shove my arm over her mouth, muffling any sound. Her basket of berries is now scattered across the ground, red and splattered. Like blood. Blood that will soon be spilt.

"Nice to meet you " I snarl, sitting on her torso and pinning her arms down with my knees. "Pity that you're going to die"

"W-what? Please, let me go-" she stutters, staring at me fearfully with her big blue eyes. "Why would I do that?" I demand, "so you can go tell people that I threatened to kill you?" so you can get me punished, killed?"

"No! no! I swear, I won't tell, please, don't hurt me" she wails pitifully, squirming and thrashing to no avail.

I grin down at her, almost laughing.

This is too easy. She is the kind of prey that I love to relish, watch her scream in pain and anguish. But sadly, I have to get back soon, or people will be suspicious.

"Well, that's too bad. You shouldn't have been in the woods. Its illegal you know. Naughty girl" I taunt, as she starts to cry, tears dribbling down her pale cheeks.

I laugh in glee, revealing my axe and dangling it in front of her face.

"W-why are you doing this? let me go! help! help!" the stupid girl screams.

I rip some fabric off my shirt and stuff it into her mouth. "You shouldn't have done that" I grin, lowering my face towards hers.

I head-but her hard, making her choke on the cloth in her mouth and causing more tears to pour down her face.

I lift my axe in the air, and slowly twirl it around, watching her eyes follow my every movement. This is the fun with humans. Unlike animals, they are aware, they cry, they beg for mercy.

With one quick movement, I bring down the axe, chopping her left ear clean off. She jerks around underneath me, wailing through the fabric.

As I raise my axe above her other ear, the town bell rings loudly, indicating the starting of the reaping.

"Oh shit!" I growl, I have to go now, I can't finish her pathetic life as slowly as I would like to.

I lower my axe onto her neck, and slowly press down the sharp blade, severing halfway through her throat.

Her pupils dilate as blood gushes from her neck and onto me.

I laugh as the blood coats my hands, warm and red and bright. I conceal my axe beneath my coat, wipe the blood off my hands onto her shiny blonde hair, turn around and run towards the town square, leaving the dying girl alone.

Charlie Birch's POV

I stand in 15 year olds pen, fidgeting with the stiff, tight collar of the shirt my mother made me wear. The fabric is crisp and white, which is different from all my other clothes, which are faded or stained.

I look up as the boy next to me elbows me sharply, nodding his head towards the stage. A stupid looking lady with bright blue skin is standing by the reaping bowls. Turquoise gemstones embedded in her cheeks sparkle in the sun as she moves around.

I can see her mint green mouth moving, but of course I have no idea what she is saying. I glance around, wondering if anyone else is as unsure as I am.

No, they are all staring at the stage intently, still and silent.

I watch as the woman pulls a slip of paper from one of the bowls, and her lips part to say something before a girl lunges forward from the sea of children. She shouts something and pushes through the crowd.

What's going on? does she actually want to enter the games? I watch curiously as she walks up the steps.

She says something to the lady and then smiles at the crowd, her eyes unsettlingly cold.

I wonder what she is doing, I know some people volunteer, but I thought they were only the strong ones, from districts 1,2 and 4. I shudder at the thought of fighting to death against the brutish and vicious careers.

I wouldn't have a chance, I could maybe make it past the bloodbath, and find a place to hide. But with my lack of hearing, it would only be a matter of time before one of the other tributes sneaked up and killed me.

I go back to fidgeting with the buttons on my collar as the woman approaches the boys bowl.

Suddenly, I feel a hand tugging on my sleeve and look up. Everyone is staring at me, everyone. I swallow fearfully, no, please god no, I can't have just been reaped.

The sight of the escort lady beckoning me up to the stage proves to me that I have. I sigh and step out of the pen, before a couple of peacekeepers grab my arms and drag me up to the stage.

The odds are not in my favour.