A Deadly Game of Chance: A Hunger Games Fan Fiction

Chapter 2: The Reaping

 Finally, the day had come. The Day to End All Days, as Tarrent put it.

I was petrified, terrified, shocked, emotional and I was feeling a lot more. Dreading the day to come, I got up out of bed early, slipped into some thin clothes and snuck out of the house.

The sun was almost fully in the sky once I reached my Dad's place; taking a deep breath first, I knocked on the door. No-one answered. I waited for several minutes before turning on my heel and walking away.

I found Tarrant by the Lake an hour later. He was skimming rocks, a deep look of concentration sketched onto his face.

"It's today," I said and he bowed his head. "I know. I hate this." He murmured, chucking another stone which skimmed four times before sinking to the bottom of the lake. "Are you alright? You name is only in twenty times," I asked, joining him by the water. He shrugged, and without looking at me, said "Something like that."

"Deina's in ten times. She just had to go in and take out some tessera," I moaned, picking up a stone and skimming it myself; it skimmed six times before sinking into the lake.

"She is support your Dad too though," he said and I dropped the stone I was holding. "She what?!" I asked, shocked at this piece of information. Tarrant shrugged. "She is supporting other people too. She didn't want the burden to fall onto you again this year and Amelia is still a bit young to understand."

I sighed. Without thinking, I stripped into my shorts and sleeve-less top and started walking into the deeper part of the lake. "What are you doing?" Tarrant yelled and I laughed.

"Swimming!" I yelled. I took a deep breath and plunged into the frezzing water. The water was cold, yet refreshing on my skin, and I couldn't believe that I had forgotten the sensation I got whenever I swam. I could hear Tarrant laughing at me, even with my head under the water, and moments later, I heard a splash which meant he had joined me.

"I thought you didn't like to swim," I teased as I reserfaced, swimming up to him. He shrugged but grinned all the same. "Maybe somethings change," he said in a tone very different to his usual cheeky one. I smiled and he swam closer to me. His nose was centimetres away from mine.

"I am going to protect you Sophia," he whispered.

"And I will protect you Tarrant. Even if it is from yourself." I whispered back.

And he kissed me.

It was mayhem once I got back home; Mamma was fuming:

Deina had locked herself in her room and was ignoring our mother.

Amelia was sick and had be crying all morning for Dad after a sleepless night.

Mamma didn't know where I had been and complained at the sight of my wet hair.

The shop hadn't been open all day and we had no money or food.

Great.

I ran upstairs and tapped loudly on Deina's door. "Deina. It's me!" I yelled through the door. "Let me in! Please!"

I could hear the bed-springs squeak and seconds later I was staring at Deina's pale green eyes. She opened the door fully and let me in to our room.

"What's wrong?" I asked as she shut the door. She shrugged; "I'm scared." she said half-heartledly. I wrapped one arm around her a squeezed. "It's alright. You haven't been in there much; they won't choose you." But she shook her head. "Soph, I just have a horrible feeling that I'll be chosen. Or your. I'm just . . ." She never finished her sentence as tears started to form in her eyes. "Deina, you won't be chosen. Nor will I." I took her hands in mine and squeezed them tight. Deina shook her head, turning away so I couldn't see the tears falling down her face. "What about the Curse?" she asked, and I could tell she was trying so hard not to choke up. I turned her face so she was staring into my eyes. "Hey, Deina. That's just a joke. It's not true, it's not real. It's just people trying to make you feel insecure. And scared." Tears still fell from her eyes. I smiled at her as I wiped away the tears. "Deina, don't cry. It will be alright. You don't want bloodshot eyes." She smiled at me. Deina was beautiful, even though she was still crying. She has a small face, with high cheekbones and slightly pale skin. Her nose was short and turned up slightly. Her eyes were like emeralds, and glimmed brighter in the sunshine. Her hair was long and curly, and was almost light brown. She was prettier than I would ever be. 

 "Come on," I said, pulling her up from the bed. Deina smiled, stemming the tears. "We have to get you all 'dolled up' as Miss Shaw says."

We stood side my side in front of the mirror, thirty minutes later. Deina's fair hair fell around her shoulders, and her eyes seemed brighter. She bounced on the balls of her feet, as her light green dress swayed around her knees. She looked beautiful. I stood next to her, stiff, my blonde hair tied in a messy bun, my blue dress plainer and  slightly faded. My eyes looked tired, and my skin was paler. But my mother didn't notice this.

 "My girls! You look beautiful!" Mamma said as she came in with Amelia, who was dressed in a pale pink frock. Mamma hugged out shoulders as I picked Amelia up. "You are really pretty, sisters!" She squealed. I smiled at her. I wasn't sure whether I was glad that Amelia was so blissfully aware of what was going on, or not. I don't know what would happen to her whether Deina or I didn't come home that afternoon.

I wiped away a single tear as Mamma took Amelia out of my arms. "Come on, girls." She said, swallowing hard. "Let's go."

I watched the fair-haired lady swirl her finger around one of the balls. "Hmm, boys first, hey?" she asked, her voice high and artificially-sweet. My heart was pounding and it felt like my stomach was in my mouth. The other fourteen year old girls looked as nervous and scared as I felt, and one of them looked like she was going to throw up. I glanced at Tarrent, but he was staring at the escort, his Adam's apple bouncing up and down. He was petrified.

She reached in, her red nails glinting, and swirled around the cards. Part of me was yelling Hurry Up Already! But another part of me was whispering Don't.

She picked one.

She unfolded it.

She smiled, her fake teeth shinning pearly white.

"Seth Astin!" she applauded. The on-lookers clapped slowly and the boys let out a sigh of relief.

Seth Astin was a tall, good-looking boy - a year older than me - with lush browny/blonde hair and sparkling grey eyes. Everybody loved him. And I mean everyone. All the girls had crush's on him, and who could blame them. Other than good-looks, he was good at everything. He was smart, strong, he had a great body (apparently) and he wasn't that much of a jerk. I couldn't agree, however. 

All the boys wanted to be him, or at least, be a part of his crew. I even knew a few of them who wanted to be in his pants. 

"Any volunteers?" the escort asked, eagerly. No one said anything. A smile flashed across the escort's face. "Ah, well. Never mind."

"Now, the ladies." she called out, beaming. I felt like I was going to throw up. I could be me, or Deina or one of my friends like Fredia or Octavia.

"Sophie Windling!" She called out. I froze. Me? I gulped and shivered, realising the sudden coldness of the day. Everyone was staring at me and I watched as a Peacekeeper gestured towards me to come up. Gulping again, I ducked under the rope, and shook violently as I walked up the steps. The Escort was smiling at me but the Victors sitting behind her were frowning. I stared towards the boy's section right at Tarrant. He looked pale and clammy and his mouth was gapping. I'm sorry, I mouthed towards him as I looked up at the Escort. I was close enough to see that she was wearing a name tag that said Nicholia on it. She smiled at me before asking the question again.

"Any Volunteers?"

Nobody said anything.