The 50th Hunger Games, Second Quarter Quell

Chapter Two

When Haymitch got back home, his Mom had set him a meal of rice which he scoffed down. Then he had to get a bath and dressed. His Mom combed his hair for him. She then hugged him tightly.

"I love you so much, Haymitch." She said.

"I love you too, Mom." He said back.

Anth got dressed as well then all three of them made their way to the reaping.

"I'll see you... After." His Mom said once they arrived. Haymitch nodded absentmindedly and joined the queue to sign in. This required getting his finger pricked and marked down before being allowed to leave again. Haymitch allowed this to happen then went to join the boys standing on the left side. Girls were arranged on the right. As Haymitch took up his position in front of the stage, he tried to see Coleen. He gave up after the stage in front of the children started to fill up with people. There was the Mayor of District Twelve, a peacekeeper (there were more around the children and adults) then a Capitol woman. Haymitch remembered her from the past two reapings. Every time she arrived, she got a little more desperate. This year she was dressed all in light blue, everything from her curled hair to her fluffy high heels was light blue. Even her lips were painted light blue. Claudia Lebell.

"Welcome all to the Fiftieth Hunger Games and the Second Quarter Quell," She paused for dramatic effect. No one cared so she moved on. "I have in this envelope," (She produced a gold envelope) "The theme for this year's Quarter Quell. I shall reveal it before choosing the names of this year's tributes." Claudia said. She used a blue painted fingernail to slit open the envelope. She took a piece of parchment. Her eyes widened. Whether intentional or not, this also did not cause much interest. We were probably going to have to volunteer somebody again...

"So the theme for the second Quarter Quell is four tributes must be offered up from every district, two boys and two girls must be reaped," Claudia had to raise her voice to be heard over the gasps, the shouts of protests and more. "This is to represent the two rebels who died for every Capitol citizen back in the Dark Days." Haymitch looked behind him where his mother was with his younger brother. He couldn't see Anth over the sea of heads but he could see his Mom. She was crying in horror. Haymitch still couldn't see Coleen but he dreaded what was going to happen now. It was twice more likely that either of them or both of them would be in the arena this year. The girls were pale, trembling and crying. The adults were shaking their fists up at Claudia while the peacekeepers were trying to keep everything under control. The boys were all pale and fidgety, clenching their fists and shuffling about anxiously. This was the end. What if both tributes of both genders were young?

When some form of peace had been gained, Claudia moved to the glass ball in front of the girls. There were two glass balls, one was filled with the names of the girls and the other was the names of the boys. Claudia pulled her hand into the glass ball and took out the first slip of paper. She unfolded it.

"The first girl tribute will be Poppy Flatworth. Poppy?" Poppy was a thirteen-year-old girl. She had coal black hair in pigtails, a green dress and was quite small. She was sobbing at this point. She joined Claudia on the stage and stood there with her face in her hands continuing to cry. Claudia patted Poppy on the shoulder and put her hand back in the glass bowl.

"Joining Poppy will be our second girl tribute... Maysilee Donner. Where is Maysilee?" Maysilee was fifteen years old, the year below me in school. Her parents owned the sweet shop. She was smart and slim, a little tall for her age. She was pale but her face was set as she marched up on the stage and took her position next to Poppy. Claudia smiled at Maysilee's courage and moved onto the boy glass ball.

"Our first boy tribute will be... Clay Wilde." Clay was eighteen. He looked furious. He clenched his fists as he marched onto the stage. He stood on the stage looking above the crowd. Clay was a massive guy. He had brawn behind him, height and anger. Much anger. Claudia was now pulling out another name.

"Finally, our last tribute to join Poppy, Maysilee and Clay will be... Haymitch Abernathy." The boys close to me stared at Haymitch with pity and sympathy in their eyes. Haymitch stood frozen to the spot. This had to be a dream. A joke. Anything but the truth. There was no way he was being reaped.

"Haymitch? Come on up." Claudia called. Haymitch had no choice but to move his very solid legs forwards. He walked up the steps and onto the stage. With a pang, he could see Anth only too well now. Anth was sobbing. Their mother was clutching Anth and not moving her eyes off Haymitch. Haymitch could see Coleen. That was worse. Her pale cheeks were stained with her tears but her eyes were hard. She kissed three fingers on her hand and raised her hand high into the air. Other people followed Coleen, including Haymitch's mother and brother. The Peacekeepers bustled the tributes into the Justice building behind the stage before Claudia could start her ending speech.