The 67th Hunger Games

The Reaping

I woke up with an excruciating headache and saw my mom and dad sitting together with the twins. We were back in my house and in the living room. It looked like my mom and the twins had been crying. I couldn't seem to find Fredrick. But then again everything has been really fuzzy and I can't really see straight yet. Maybe he was in his room, that's where he usually is. I do my best to get up but i can't really find the power to lift myself. I place my hands on my head to try and massage my headache and my dad finally notices I'm awake. He places me on the couch upright and asks me how I had been feeling. I tell him about my headache out loud but ask him about the rest of the family quietly to him. He looked at me with this sort of sadness I had never seen him with before. It was like he was hurt and felt danger.

He looked at me and said, "You've been out cold for about 6 hours now." After he said this, I was still sort of confused as to why he looked so sad and depressed.

"So as you know, the reaping was this morning. You slept through it." Oh no. No. This can't be happening. I looked at my dad and started to tear up. So did he.

"Your brother...." He couldn't finish his sentence. At first I didn't believe him. He always used to play pranks on me. But then again, this would be one cruel joke and my dad never went that far. I didn't even get to say goodbye. "Was it because of me?" My dad looked up, confused. "What? No. How could it be because of you?" "I attacked a Peacekeeper, dad," I told him. Tears started coming down my face. I could barely talk. I knew it was my fault. I knew it was. My dad said, "No, no, Jonathan don't think that. It wasn't you. I saw the reaping, they didn't just say his name without picking from the bowl. How would they even be able to do that. It literally happened 10 minutes after you punched him."

I looked at him and said, "They have their ways."

{Fredrick's POV}

The Peacekeeper knocked Jonathan out cold. At least that's what I heard. I was knocked out cold myself. I'm pretty sure I woke up about 15 minutes later because the riot had gone down and I found myself being rushed to the reaping with my dad carrying me over his shoulder. I told him i was awake and he let me down. He looked at me and asked if I was sure. I nodded and he looked at the bruise above my right eye. I couldn't really see at the point so I couldn't tell you how bad it was. But I sure as hell can tell you how bad it hurt. It hurt like hell. That's about it. It was this sharp pain in my head that didn't help with my already nervous stomach because of the reaping. I walk over to my age group and stand there, feeling everyone's eyes on me because I was late and because of the huge bruise on my forehead. But no time for that, time to pick two innocent kids to go into a group of other people who are out to kill them :) So we stand there and wait for the Capitol-person (I don't know what to call them) to call the names of the two unfortunate tributes. She finally comes out with this purple, sort of spiky hair and goes up to the microphone. They play the video from President Snow and she continues on with the ceremony. "Ladies first!" She goes over to the large bowl and pulls out a name. "Portia Lancastor." She slowly made her way up the stairs and onto the platform with... Lana Fluman! That was her name! The Capitol lady is Lana Fluman! Glad I found that out. Well anyways, Lana made her way to the other bowl. At this point, I was struck with nervousness. This whole time I haven't been paying attention to what's been happening. That poor girl was just chosen to go into the Hunger Games and I'm here worrying a out some stupid Capitol person. I felt guilty now. I would never get to meet her. Never get to say hi.

"Fredrick Peterin"

Nevermind.

I slowly make my way up the steps and stand next to Lana and Portia. The only thing going on in my head - Where's Jonathan? Will he be up in time to say goodbye? The Peacekeeper hit him pretty hard. I was just quiet from the shock. Before I knew it, Lana led me and Portia into different rooms. I was the only one in there. It was dead silence. The door quickly bursts open about 30 seconds later and my mom, George, and Lily were all in the room. George and Lily jumped on top of me and they both start crying. I was just shocked. My mom and I met eyes and she started crying. I didn't know what to do. George looked up at me with his small little 9 year old eyes and said, "I love you Freddy don't go!" I told that I had too and he just started crying more. I just now noticed that my dad wasn't there. I understood given the fact that he was probably with Jonathan. I wish I would've gotten to say bye. My mom said, "Honey, I am so sorry you father couldn't be here-" and that's when my dad rushed in through the door with the unconscious Jonathan over his shoulder. He set Jonathan down on the small couch and he came over and hugged me. "I love you, son." My mom came over and so did the twins. We all stood in a huddle for about 20 seconds and just cried. "I am absolutely sure that Jonathan loves you too." That's when I started to cry. My dad picked up Jonathan and it hit me that that might've been the last time I ever see them. The Peacekeepers rushed in and swept my family away like they meant nothing. But they meant everything to me. Everything.

{Jonathan's POV}

I went into my room, devastated that I never got to say goodbye to my brother. I never realized how much I cared about him until this point. I just couldn't get the thought of it being all my fault. Because of MY actions he's going to die. I just didn't know if I could stand it anymore. The guilt made me stay in my room for weeks. I would have to come out eventually to watch the Games but I didn't want to. Nobody wanted to. I thought about how disgusted I was with the Capitol. I just wish this thing they called games was over with. But who knows, that might not happen for years. I just don't think someone would have the guts to do that, you know? It's sad to think about really. We're stuck in this "society" that pins kids against each other to fight to the death. It's disgusting. All because the people didn't like how things were working in Panem all but 64 years ago. They blew up and entire district for it! I just hope Fredrick is making allies that he can trust. I just want him to make it back. I did this to him. If he doesn't make it... I don't know what I would do. I haven't been out of my room in 2 weeks and the Games start in 4 days.

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