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I
t is always cold in District Two on reaping day.
And with that being said, it could hardly been said that the district was ever warm enough. The harsh winds that blow off the permanently snow-capped mountains around the district has always carry them with a bitter taste of winter, even in the warmer summer months. That day was no exception, with the wind gusting intermittently across the square in front of the Justice Building. This hasn't stopped the citizens from putting on their usual display of finery.
The doors of the Justice Building are swung open and she shivers as the wind barrels into her - the new escort has enough to know about the former escort's humiliation (her wing were blown off by the wind, but that story is for another time), so one hand flied up to her plum curls are still in place. They are, so she fixed her photogenic smile (or, at least her most award-winning smile she had in mind) on her face and makes her way out into the platform.
The crowd cheered at her, though there was something odd about their cheering, she thought as she waved back to the crowd in delight as she reached the platform, and blow a kiss to the crowd for the cameras. When she had reached the podium, which is slightly taller than she is even with her heels, there was already a few people lining up - boys and girls were separated by their rightful side, all of them were lean and tall (though their was a few being packed with muscles she hadn't know that could exist that much in a body), sporting smiles and smirks their hand was drawn to their back to create a tidy military style.
"Hello, District Two!" Her voice echoed around the building before they were drawn out by the cheers of the crowd. "Come on, let's try outdoing One today - you should've heard them this year!" She had been told many times that it had do the trick every year.
The roar of noise from the crowd sentenced the advice she received, and so she could see some of the older boys stomping their feet to the ground. The rivalry between the districts is always high - not minding how the tributes would almost always ends up as allies, but that also means a lot of Two's tributes being killed by One's and vice versa, and the rich history of both means that competition for who can have the most winners is inevitable - thus, currently, One are ahead by two.
The crowd shuffles restlessly as she read; they've all heard it many times before. She was almost to the end when the cruel wind whipped the paper off her hands and carried off over the square, a flake of snow in the autumn air. The crowd didn't turn to watch it go, keeping their sharp, intimidating eyes fixed on her.
"Well," she starts - there was no denying that the stare had pushed her nervous button, "I guess that's the end of it. And you know how it ends, don't you?" She tried to joke off the heavy atmosphere.
She wobbles over to the velvet draped bowls that holds the names of all the girl. Odd, she thought as her eyes scanned the papers and the crowds. The crowd leaned forward slightly. You can almost hear them creak.
She sighed when she saw the name - she swore she had heard it somewhere in the Capitol for the new trend that's been going on a few years back and the last name of a tribute from the last Hunger Games year. She paused in her words before announcing the name of the female tribute for the Seventy-Five Hunger Games:
"Athena Sevina!"
There was utter silence before they broke into a massive cheering, and seeming from the crowd's gesture, Amber thought she wouldn't have to wait for a volunteer to emerge. The girl's quick stride brought her a few feet behind Amber, her face glowing. There's an air of utter confidence about her, with more of an hint of superiority; you can see it in the way she looked down her nose at some people as she scanned her electric eyes around. She moved gracefully to stand beside the escort. Amber didn't feel any better for the fact she noted that Athena is a few inches taller than her. Though that isn't including the tall heels the escort had - she'd learn that it was better to be taller than your tribute.
Amber hurried over to the boys bowl before the cheering can die down, reaching and grabbing the first name she touched. "The male tribute this year is -" she stopped herself. The crowd leaned forward as one of her gloved hand moved to cover her mouth.
Get onwithit! The stare of Athena's cold eyes seemed to make her twitch. She cleared her throat with a cough.
"Uh - Ares Sevina!"
There was a collective gasp from the crowd, and even Athena's sneer slipped for a moment. The boy pulled himself forward with the same graceful steps his sister have, his face looking slightly pale, although there's the same look of determination and confidence that both of them had. Twin sister, Amber managed to correct herself. She realized, taking in the creamy complexion, the small and lean, almost doll-like features, mirrored exactly in almost each other's face.
The escort felt slightly disconcerted at the look of his blue eyes that seemed to spark electricity ever so slightly. She could see that they would've win no matter what it takes if it wasn't for one another. They're not bad looking either - gorgeous, even. Just wait until the prep team could get their hands on them.
They shake their hands, smiling at each other, but neither of the smiles reached their identical eyes. There's an odd stiffness lingering between them, no warmth in the handshake, an intense version of sibling rivalry crackling in the air between them.
The Hunger Games brought their sibling rivalry into another level they couldn't have imagined before.
They drop their hands as soon as they can, and without looking at each other, they were ushered back to the car and to the train station. There was no "goodbye's" to be said as both were left to see their home passing away in a blur of unidentified merge of color.
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This is one crappy chapter. Glad that this is done! By the way, have you checked the chapter before this story? I have updated it into something more meaningful, at least, that's what I thought beforehand.
