Another Tribute

Laurel - The Reaping

My feet shuffle across the uneven stones that lead to the square. My brother, Aspen, walks alongside me, matching my pace. I'm walking much slower than usual, but Aspen understands why. We have to go to the reaping and nobody ever wants to do that.

This year I don't have to worry about Aspen being reaped. I guess that's one thing I can be confident about. Because Aspen is nineteen now, he is finally out of the reaping. Unfortunately, I still have to stand shoulder to shoulder next to the other girls from District 7 while we all wait for the reaping to end. I am sixteen this year, and I have my name in the bowl twenty-one times. I would have more, but my first year Aspen didn't let me take out any tesserae.

Aspen hasn't said a word to me since we left the house this morning. I know he is dreading the moment he has to leave me alone when he has to go stand behind the ropes with mom and dad. The check in line is only a few yards away.

Aspen stops and looks me straight in the eyes. "I will see you when this is all over. I love you, Laurel." He gives me a quick kiss on the forehead.

"See you soon Aspen. Love you." I respond in the same terse tone. He gives me a solemn look and then walks away before I can define the look in his eyes.

I pivot on my heel and continue towards the line. As I approach the line, I notice two camera crews perched along both sides of the line. The line moves fast, and I make it to the front quickly. There are seven peacekeepers sitting at one long narrow desk four feet away from the end of the line. I approach the open peacekeeper. She is beautiful. The Capitol must have chosen her specifically for the sake of the cameras.

The peacekeeper says, "Finger." I oblige.

"Name," the woman says laconically.

"Laurel Beech," I answer quickly.

She nods sharply once, and then uses two fingers to motion the next child to step forward. I hurry away from her; there is no need for me to get any more screen time in the Capitol. I go stand next to my neighbor, Saffra, she has her long brown hair pulled up into a bun and her brown eyes are framed with long black lashes. She is wearing a lilac colored dress that must have been one of her mother's old reaping dresses.

It won't be much longer until our mayor, escort, and victors come onto the stage. Saffra and I don't speak, most people don't; there is always so much tension in the crowd. I can faintly hear someone betting on the games nearby.

Mayor Perthshire walks onto the stage followed by the always exuberant Katri Krystal, our escort. After Katri finally sits down, our victors walk to their seats. Johanna, Blight, and Fir walk across the stage with a morose look in their eyes. Mayor Perthshire gives the same speech about the Dark Days that he always does. Katri looks like she might spontaneously combust from excitement as she waits for him to finish. She practically dances across the stage when it is her turn to speak. Katri gives a short speech expressing how grateful she is for being here. She finishes her speech, and I swear you can hear a pin drop. Everyone knows what comes next.

Katri announces "Now it is time to choose this year's tributes!"

"Ladies first!" She saunters over to the large bowl full of names. She picks one up and rushes back to the microphone.

"Laurel Beech!" She screeches with excitement. I stand rigid with fear. I have to be in The Hunger Games. I walk to the stage mechanically, unable to show any emotion. I make it onto the stage and turn to see thousands of relieved girls. I pick out Saffra's sorrowful face from the crowd. I hear Katri mumble something about me, but I ignore her.

"Time for the boys!" Katri announces. She hurries over to the boy bowl. "Soren Meadows!" A boy, who looks to be about 16, walks to the stage with a blank look on his face. He is tall, almost 6'2" and has dark brown hair. As he comes to stand on the other side of Katri, his piercing blue eyes land on me.