Rue's Games

The Reaping

There I was, standing alone in the 12 year old group, waiting for the reaping to begin.

I felt a soft nudge against my left arm, and I quickly turn my head to see who it was.

It was only my friend Maverick. His skin was darker than mine, and his hair was black. I loved his eyes, for they were a beautiful shade of green and brown. He had stunning muscles, even though he was only 12 ; yet he had to work a lot in the fields.

That's what we do here in District 11.

We grow crops. It's almost like a plantation, or so my feeble mother would say.

"Scared?" He joked. I just rolled my eyes, this is not a laughing matter.

"I wouldn't be too happy...someone's going to get picked, you know."

He shrugged, not caring.

"This is our first year, we have our names in once! Most people have their names in more than five times," Maverick pointed out. He did have a point....

All of a sudden an orange and pink haired lady came up to the lonely microphone on the wooden stage. Her cherry red lips were pursed together, and her dress looked very uncomfortable. She wobbled in some wacky shoes, but she managed not to fall.

"Happy Hunger Games! And may the odds be ever in your favor!" She chirped out. Her voice was high and squeaky, but it some sort of fancy tone to it.

And thats when the gruesome video played, and I tried not to watch. I looked at some of the older kids. Most of them were saying the exact same words as the video. It send chills up my spine.

I felt a familiar hand on my shoulder.

"You okay Rue?" Maverick whispered.

I nodded, trying to get hold of my nerves. Finally the video ended.

"Wasn't that...lovely?" Her bubbly voice echoed throughout the district.

There was complete silence that made me feel uneasy. I guess it made the escort too because she looked around, about ready to choke on her own words.

She walked over to a glass bowl, and the only sound you heared was the clicking of her shoes on the stage. The escort walked so very carefully because the old stage groaned under all the weight on it. I was afraid that someone was going to fall through.

"Lets see who our lady tribute is for District 11!" She dipped her right hand into the bowl of names.

She swirled the cards around, creating suspense that was about to kill me. The lady picked up a name from the very bottom, the card was half-open.

She walked back over to the microphone, opening the card. "Rue Woodensdale!" She squeaked. My jaw drops.

That's me.

I turn Maverick,who was about ready to cry, and give him a big hug, but it got cut short. I felt hands gripping on my shoulders.

It was the Peacekeepers. I reluctantly let go and walk up onto the stage. I look out to the hundreds of faces, one of the faces was my mother's. She was sobbing.

I looked away. I couldn't watch her cry or else it'll make me cry. I can't cry, it'll show weakness to the other tributes.

The escort calls another name, but this time it's for the male tribute. All I heard was "Thresh." I couldn't catch his last name.

I watch as all the faces turn and stare at a brutal looking man. His face looked so intense as he grumbled his way up to me.

"Excellent! Lets give a round of applause to our two tributes from District 11 for the 74th Annual Hunger Games!" Our escort pipes out.

Nobody claps. I stare out into the distance, looking at all the beautiful crops that are ready to harvest. This just might be the last time that I see my home.

Thresh and I were quickly pushed into the train without saying goodbye to our families. The train started it's way to the Capitol, and I walked to my room. I just really needed to figure out what to do, what my strategy will be.

I lay on the silk covered bed, running my fingers on the bed sheets. I am really good at climbing trees, but I'm horrible at swimming. So pretty much if the arena is water then I won't survive very long.

All of a sudden a hear a loud knock on the door. The voice was very unfamiliar to me, it was so deep.

"Rue? You in there?" The male's voice questioned me. It was Thresh.

"Yeah. Come in," I sit up, leaning back against the jungle green wall.

Thresh comes in, quietly shutting the door behind him.

"Rue...I just want to say that I want us to be a team in the games. We need to protect each other." He looks at me.

I narrow my eyebrows, "You mean you want to protect me?"

He shrugs and confesses, "You look like my older sister when she was 12. She got reaped when she was 12 too...she died in the arena. I don't want to see that happen to you."

I nodded and tried to understand as well as I could. "Allies then?"

He smiled. "Allies."