Don't Stop Believing

The Reaping: part 1

A/N
Hello people. Im just letting everyone know again, that the districts I assigned everyone was completely random. It's just so hard to decide who goes where, when there are so many of them.
I'm not spending too much time on the reaping part though because that can get kind of boring especially since I have to do it 12 times. Enjoy my first chapter!

District 1:
"Hello citizens of District One! Welcome to the 83rd annual Hunger Games! I am Holly Holliday and I am here as your past victor to pull the tributes for our district, and then mentor these brave children to victory! Ladies first."
District One, one of the few districts consisting of career tributes. Careers are kids who have been training for these games their entire lives. It's even seen as an honor to have your name pulled. Many kids dream of having the opportunity to go and fight to the death. But that's not how it is for all. And that's exactly why our first tributes family is heartbroken to see their sweet, innocent daughter being called to the stage.
"Brittany S. Peirce."
A sweet, blonde young lady looks up towards Holly and then to her parents.
"Don't forget to feed Lord Tubbington when I'm gone." Brittany turns slowly on her heel and makes her way to the stage with her head down not completely comprehending why everyone is cheering for her. Brittany may not understand most things but she does understand this. Being called up here on the day of the reaping, means being sent to your death by all of the mean capital people.
It happened last year when a boy her age, Rory Flannigan, had his name called from the bowl. He never called Brittany stupid and she'd almost consider him a friend. Until after many months of waiting, he had still not returned home. She hoped to see Rory again soon.
Holly spares a quick, almost sympathetic glance at Brittany before returning to the bowls.
"And now for the boys."
Holly sticks her hand into the bowl and twirls it around until she catches one small slip of paper among the hundreds that surround it.
"Sam Evans."

District 2:
"Ah ha, who do we have here? A Ms. Mercedes Jones. Everyone give it up for Mercedes!"
District Two's past victor Carl Howell attempts to hype up the crowd as he announces the first tribute. Considering District 2 is another one of Career tributes, Mercedes proudly makes her way to the front attempting to conceal her fear growing within. She had to look strong for her district. She had to make it clear that she is one not to be messed with. But inside, she was horrified about what was going to happen.
"From our gentleman's pool we have," Carl pauses as if he is trying to build suspense, "Mike Chang!"
Mike and Mercedes lock eyes as Mike pathetically shoves his way past his applauding family. Everyone joins in as Mike joins his partner on stage for their final farwell before heading off into the capital building.
"Give it up for this year's District Two tributes!"

District 3:
The crowd is quiet and this year's mentor Ken Tanaka stands between the two bowls of names filled with children preparing to die. Well not exactly preparing since District Three is fairly poor and doesn't waste time training their kids to become careers.
"Let's just get this over with," Ken slurs. Most Victors do turn to alcohol once they return. Most become alcoholics, addicts, or just go plain crazy. And Ken over here is the perfect example of why it is almost better to die in the games, then return to a life like this. To have your only comfort be alcohol. And arrive at reapings completely shit faced.
He reaches a bloated, stubby hand into both pool of names simultaneously, not bothering to lighten the blow for these tributes and their families.
"Jesse St. James and Lauren Zizes."

District 4:
He sat on the roof of his and his mother's home, looking out over the lake. The morning fog still hung low in the sky giving everything an eerie feeling.
"Finn honey, are you out here?"
Finn heard his mother, Carole, call for him from the front door. He hurriedly wiped his nose with his sleeves and tried to rub the puffiness from his eyes.
"Yeah, I'll be down in a minute." His words came out quieter and more broken then he expected. Finn heard the front door close and knew his mother had gone back inside.
He stood up but didn't make an initiative to move just yet. This could be that last time he saw district 4. This could be the last time he saw the lake, saw his mom, his childhood home.
He couldn't get chosen, he couldn't die in the games and leave his mother alone.
His father died in these games. He died the year Finn was born. Carole got pregnant as only a teenager. But a few months after Finn was born, his father was sent into the games where he died. He could have won because this is a career district after all. Instead he died the first night, stabbed in the back by his own ally. Literally.
Finn sighs and takes a deep breath before climbing down from the roof, possibly for the last time.
~~~
The most recent district four victor, William Shuester, mounts the stage and approaches the microphone.
William won the games the year after Finns dad had died. Finn obviously doesn't remember these games since he was still young, but he's heard enough stories about it over the years.
"Good morning District Four. I am William Shuester, you can all call me Will. Let's get started shall we? How about we start with the gentleman this time."
The crowd doesn't react and they just look questioningly around the square.
"Okay I guess not."
No one is amused at Will's attempt to change things up a bit. They are even less amused now than they were when he tried to present his opening speech in the form of a rap.
Will realizes his mistake, again, and makes his way over to the pool of girls names. He extracts a small slip of paper and his face falls as he reads the first name. Maybe he isn't some psychopathic killer who enjoys these games after all.
"Rachel Berry."
No one makes a sound as a girl that everyone clearly recognizes heads towards the front. No one cheers or claps, or even cries.
"Congratulations Rachel," Will smiles in an attempt to conceal his sadness before reading off the next name.
Time seems to stop as Will unfolds the slip of paper and reads off the neatly printed name.
"Finn Hudson."
Murmurs errupt all around him but one voice stands out over them all.
"No! Please, you can't do this to him! MY SON! FINN!" Carole falls to her knees in heart rattling sobs. "Please Finn, promise me you'll come back."
Finn turns to look at his mother one last time and blows her a kiss. He can't make that promise he knows he can't keep.