If the Capitol Returned (A Hunger Games Spin off)

Chapter 2- Prep

It was the day of the reaping. My first one. Although there was a small chance of me getting picked, I was still insanely nervous. If I got picked this year, I would be one of if not the youngest tribute. My mother had told me how children of victors were often picked. The audience loved it and it added some spice to the arena. And the youngest person who ever won was a good friend of my parents who died in the war. His name was Finnick Odair and was 14. Devlin brushed through my long, thick blonde hair. I began to bite my nails. I began to taste the strong, metallic taste of my own blood beginning to seep through my tender skin.

"It will be okay," coaxed Devlin. He patted my shoulder. I sighed.

"Come on, time to get ready," yelled Hagan from the other room. I got up off the wooden stool and went to the bedroom. My brother had laid out my mother's first reaping outfit. It then was my aunts. Now it was mine. It made me nervous because of the unluck it had brought my family. Devlin came in. He had on a grey button up shirt and brown slacks. His brown hair was slicked back and his soft olive skin was unusually clean. His green eyes sparkled. All the girls always were after my brothers in school. They were all tan and handsome.

"Rosemary, I know you are nervous. But everything will be fine. I promise you, that I will make sure you will be okay, always," Devlin explained. I nodded.

"Time to go," said Taddeo. He came in the room, wearing something similar to what Devlin was wearing. His blonde hair was shaggy like my fathers. His green eyes sparkled. He came over to me and pinned something into my shirt.

"It was your mother's," said Taddeo. He brushed his fingers through his sandy blonde hair. It was a gold pin with a Mockingjay. I hugged him. Taddeo was always like a best friend to me.

"Thank you," I whispered.

"Let's go Hagan," shouted Devlin. Hagan came out quickly, his light brown, somewhat long hair messy as always. We all left, holding hands. I was directly in the middle. It made me feel so protected. When we got to the square, I saw everyone was in lines, wearing their best clothing.

"What is happening," I whispered nervously to Hagan. I squeezed his hand tighter.

"We have to get a small amount of blood taken to check in. Barely hurts at all," he said softly. I nodded. I had to be brave. We got in line and it seemed to be dead silent. The Peacekeepers escorted us up through the line to keep us moving. Taddeo and Hagan held my hand, which were sweaty and clammy.

"Everything will be okay, I promise," Taddeo explained. I nodded doubtfully. After a while, I was at the front of the line. The lady took my hand and pricked it with a white tool I was unfamiliar with. I felt a sharp sting in my finger, but you couldn't see where the needle had been injected into my skin..

"Go ahead with the girls in front," she said. I waved goodbye to my brothers, praying the next time I saw them would be at home as we celebrated that none of us had to going into the arena.