The Fourth Quarter Quell

Reaping Day: District Seven

Jo Stevens Perspective

"Do you think we should go now?" My best friend, Ryan, asked from beside me.

I shook my head. "Nah, they won't miss us." I pulled another one of my shurikens from my hand and threw it towards a tree, severing a branch.

"Jo, you know the Reapings are mandatory attendance, right?" Ryan continued.

I sighed, leaning my free hand against the trunk of a nearby tree. "I've only gone to all four of them in my entire Hunger Games eligibility." I said sarcastically.

"And we're already risking death by being in the woods without a lumber work permit. And with all these Peacekeepers and Capitol alumni in Seven--" Ryan rambled on. I silenced him.

"Ryan, calm down. Our names are never called so we have nothing to worry about. Besides, judging from my knowledge, there's still at least an hour until the Reaping begins." Without looking, I shot another shuriken at a tree trunk.

Ryan winced at the loud noise that came from the contact. "I know, I just think we shouldn't be putting ourselves out there as suspicious."

I retrieved all my weapons and looked at Ryan. His dark brown hair tousled in the light breeze and his blue eyes glinted with worry.

"Okay," I said. "We'll go."

Ryan's shoulders slumped with relief. "Thank you, Jo."

"No problem," I said. "Just one thing."

"What?" Ryan asked.

I smirked and with a turn on my heel, I wielded all fifteen of my shurikens, sending them flying perfectly at the direct centers of the tree trunks around us.

As I went to retrieve them, Ryan spoke up. "You have got to stop doing that out of nowhere!"

"You know you think it's cool." I chuckled as we made our way out of the woods.

•

Much to my dismay, I was waiting amongst the other sixteen year old girls from Seven an hour later. Ryan was across the walkway from me, in the boys of the same age.

I stood on my tiptoes being that I'm a bit on the short side to spot Ryan. I saw his tall stature and once we caught glimpse of each other I mouthed him a message.

"Happy Hunger Games!" I mouthed.

"And may the odds be ever in your favor." He mouthed back.

I giggled but our attention was diverted to the stage. Out walked a new escort. She was young, unlike our past escort who apparently went into retirement. Her silvery hair was in a Grecian style from several thousands of years ago. Her golden dress shimmered in the sunlight.

"Welcome District Seven! Happy Hunger Games!" She said energetically. "I will be your escort! My name is Jacqueline Jenson and I am honored to be the escort for the two lucky tributes of District Seven."

Ugh. Hated her already.

"As usual, ladies first." Jacqueline walked over to the girls bowl and I crossed my arms and smirked. There was no way my name would get called so I'm not gonna panic about it.

Jacqueline dramatically chose a name and unfolded it in front of the microphone.

"Jo Stevens." She said.

My smirk dropped. My muscles went slack. My heart almost stopped beating. How...how could my name have been chosen?

I looked around, silently begging someone to take my place and when no one took the offer, all emptiness within me was replenished. I replaced my worry for anger as I marched up to the stage.

"How old are you, Jo?" Jacqueline asked lightly.

"I'm sixteen." I spat. I glared into the audience until I found Ryan. He was frozen, petrified.

"Now time for the boys!" Jacqueline burst brightly. She plucked the boys slip and made her way back to the mic stand.

"Ryan Harris!" She exclaims. "Where are you, dear?"

My heart stopped. This couldn't be coincidental. Could it? No, it can't be.

Ryan slowly trudged onto the stage and looked at me as he stood on the other side of our escort. We were expected to fight each other to the death. How could I kill my best friend?

"Jo Stevens and Ryan Harris, everyone! This years District Seven tributes!" Jacqueline said proudly but no one says a word.

We're ushered inside and as I wait in the holding room, the door slips open. Ryan enters and engulfs me in a hug. There wasn't a point to be in separate rooms when we only had each other. Best friends since we found each other barely alive in the District Seven orphanage. And we'll be best friends until we're hardly alive in the arena that's made for our deaths.