The Fourth Quarter Quell

Reaping Day: District Four

Mike Samuel's Perspective

With a huff of my breath, I turned off the Capitol Update on the television. It's time for my district's reaping, District Four. We've had a good amount of victors and publicity, what with Finnick Odair a while back. However, we still are a career district. Hopefully, if I'm called, a career will step up in my place.

"Mike, are you ready to go?" My mom asks, walking into our mediocre living room.

I look at myself through a mirror perched on the wall. I was dressed for the Reaping in nice clothing that made it seem like choosing kids to fight to the death was a formal event.

"As ready as I'll ever be." I sigh and follow my mom out the door to the Justice Building.

I kept my eyes down a majority of the walk there. We live a good distance from the town square, where the Reaping is, but the downside is the long walk there. That, and you know, the possibility of getting killed by other kids.

Alas, we came up on the area the whole of the district was to wait in. I stepped in line and waited to get identified. The Justice Building was close to the sea so I closed my eyes. If I tuned out the sounds of cameras and people shuffling in, I could almost imagine I was waiting in line at the beach for a surfboard.

My imagination was cut short, however, as I was next in line for identification.

The guy in front of me shuffled off towards his area and I stepped up to the front of the table. The Peacekeeper pricked my pointer finger and dabbed it onto a sheet of paper. Then, he placed a scanner over it and when the name Samuels, Mike came up, I was good to go.

I walked towards the 15 year old boys section and waited. There wasn't much for me to do but wait until the Reaping got started. I started thinking of tactics. If I was Reaped or if a friend of mine was chosen, I would be in the Games. I'm good with analyzing situations and making deals with people. I guess that would help with making alliances.

I'm busted out of my thoughts as our escort walks up to the microphone. I looked around and saw that I had tuned out the entirety of the mayors speech. Wow.

"Welcome, District Four to the Reaping of the Fourth Quarter Quell! I bet you're all very excited to see who will have the honor of representing this district in this years Games." Our escort, Cleo Caster, said.

Her eyes darted across the crowd, spotting for careers. "Now then, let's get started. Ladies first!"

Cleo perfectly made her way to the girls bowl without tripping over her eight inch heels. How do these Capitol people do it?

Anyways, she dunked a hand into the names and the small amount of noise in the girls section goes to mute. Back on stage, Cleo picked a name and strides back over to the microphone.

"Aria Reynolds!" Cleo exclaims into the mic.

A yelp of alarm echoes over the crowd. A small twelve year old girl emerges from the entirety of them. Then, from behind her, a girl about my age runs up.

"No!" She shrieked. "I volunteer as tribute!" The girl sprinted up to the younger one, hugged her tight, and sent her away to her mother. The new female tribute grimly trudged up to the stage.

"If I'm correct, that was your sister, wasn't it?" Cleo asked the girl.

"Yes," the girl stated.

"Well, what about you? Tell us about yourself!" Cleo said.

"I'm Annalise Reynolds and I'm fourteen." The girl who has curly blond hair said humbly.

"That has to be the youngest volunteer we've ever had!" Cleo said in mock awe. She looked at the crowd again. "Now for the boys."

Here we go. Everything could change now or I'll be safe for another year. Maybe a Career will volunteer as soon as she lifts the name. Maybe---

"Mike Samuels." Cleo read from the slip.

My heart fell to my stomach. I could hardly breathe. This actually was happening and from the looks of it, no one was volunteering for me. I knew everyone, including the whole country, was watching so I needed to be ready to win at this very moment. I paced up to the stage and stood next to Cleo.

"I'm fifteen." I said brusquely into the mic.

"Someone has a little attitude." Cleo joked. "Are you prepared, Mike?"

"I'm ready to win and come back. I hope that answers your question." I shoot back.

"Well, there you have it! This years tributes! Annalise Reynolds and Mike Samuels!" Cleo said. She placed a hand on our shoulders and led us inside the Justice Building.

When I got inside and awaited my mother to tell me goodbye, that's when I got overwhelmed and the ground met my face.