METANOIA ↝ THE HUNGER GAMES [1]

[3]

"Alright, we'll just be right over there." Ivy said as the two Darrow siblings stood near the line of children waiting to check in for the reaping. "We'll come find you afterwards, okay?"

Aspen nodding, taking a deep breath and trying to fight the nerves that kept entangling her stomach in knots at the thought of the upcoming reaping. She hugged her sister goodbye before watching Ivy hurry off to join Grover, Jack, and their father and Aspen took another deep breath, stepping into the line with the rest of the kids eligible for the reaping.

As Aspen approached the check in desk, she held out her finger, and was instantly met by the sharp prick of the Capitol's scanner on her pointer finger. She watched as a drop of blood began to bloom on the tip of her finger, and the woman pulled Aspen's finger down onto a sheet of paper, smearing the streak of blood and running the scanner over it, in order to identify the newest arrival.

Darrow, Aspen. Age 18.

"Go ahead," the woman told Aspen, motioning her forward, and Aspen nodded, moving past the table and searching for the waiting area for her age group.

For the spectators of the reaping, the eligible tributes were gathered in the front, starting with the youngest at age twelve and moving backwards as the groups got older. Boys on one side, and girls on the other. Behind the eligible kids stood the rest of the district, all gathered to watch the fateful decision of which boy and girl would be chosen to represent District Seven in the 73rd Annual Hunger Games. A row of chairs positioned on the stage seated the district's past victors, in the front row Johanna Mason and Blight Jordan, that year's mentors. In the middle of the stage stood the microphone for the escort, and on either side, a large glass bowl, filled near to the brim with the entries for the reaping.

Aspen found the area for the eighteen-year-old girls, quickly finding Cedara, who was already waiting for the ceremony to begin. Aspen moved to stand next to her, barely making it before the opening chords of music from the speakers began to play, signaling the start of the Reaping.

"Just remember," Cedara reminded her, taking her hand and squeezing it gently to comfort her friend. "It's our last one."

Aspen nodded, eyes fixed on the stage as District Seven's escort, a woman by the name of Sabrina Sovereign, made her way across the stage in her tall heels, and instantly conversation in the crowd ceased as the residents of District Seven waited anxiously for that year's reaping to begin.

Sabrina Sovereign was a tall woman, made five inches taller by her shoes and covered head to toe in bright green, including, but not limited to her hair and makeup. Her green tresses fell in ringlet curls down her back, cascading over a long sleeved dress of the same shade of neon green that went down to the middle of her thighs, and covered in sequins. She surveyed the crowd of District Seven residents with an excited smile, in an attempt to lift their spirits and make them equally as excited for that year's Hunger Games.

"Welcome!" Sabrina exclaimed into the microphone. "Happy Hunger Games, and may the odds be ever in your favor!"

"Oh, give me a break." Cedara sighed, rolling her eyes.

"Before we begin, we have a very special treat for you," Sabrina said, gesturing to a large screen set above the edge of the stage. "all the way from the Capitol!"

"Oh, here we go again," Aspen murmured, mentally preparing herself for the video they were subject to watching every year before the names were chosen.

As it played, the video detailed the Dark Days and how, thanks to the Capitol, Panem was able to rise from the ashes and form into the country that it is today, keeping the districts in line and never forgetting the loss of District Thirteen by hosting the Hunger Games every year for one courageous young man and woman to represent their districts and take part it for a chance to become that year's victor, and be showered by gifts and adoration from the Capitol for the rest of their lives.

"Isn't that just something?" Sabrina mused as the video came to an end, clapping her hands together before turning back to the crowd, her eyes flickering between the residents and the glass bowls. "Now, the time has come to choose one courageous young man and woman for the honor of competing in this year's Hunger Games. As always, ladies first."

Sabrina reached into the first bowl, rummaging through the slips of paper before plucking one from the bottom. She pulled the slip of paper from the bowl and unfolded it, holding it up just in front of the microphone so she could read the name printed in the center.

"Aspen Darrow,"

Aspen's heart leapt into her throat as Sabrina's voice reached her ears, and she could just hear Cedara's breath catching over the sound of her blood beginning to pound in her ears. She looked up at her friend first, watching the girl's horrified expression as she stared at her, before looking around to see all eyes in the close vicinity trained on her, each teenager looking as though they were seeing a ghost.

Aspen took the first few steps out of the roped off area for the eighteen-year-old girls, willing her feet to move forward and not collapse from under her as a group of Peacekeepers surrounded her, escorting her to the stage so the girl wouldn't have a chance to run away. Sabrina caught sight of the girl as she neared the stage, giving her a friendly smile and gesturing for her to climb the stairs and join her.

"Come on, dear." Sabrina said as Aspen willed herself to climb the short set of stairs, taking her place next to the escort.

Aspen willed herself to stand tall, looking out at the crowd beyond her with an expression like stone. Amidst the enormous crowd she first caught sight of where Cedara still stood in the roped off area with the rest of the girls, an eerie space lingering between them where she had once stood only moments prior, though she'd already felt as if an eternity had passed between the girl standing behind the ropes and the tribute up on the stage. When she broke her gaze from the girls, she found Ash next, on the other side of the stage with the boys, nodding his head encouragingly in her direction.

"You've got this," he mouthed.

Finally, Aspen looked to the back of the crowd, her eyes darting frantically around until they found where her family stood, wearing horrified expressions as they watched her standing on the stage. Jack had hidden his little face in Ivy's shoulder, who looked as if she was fighting back tears. However, her father watched her with a strong face, trying to hide the horror that kept threatening to creep onto his features.

"And now, for the boys." Sabrina announced, and Aspen watched from her peripheral vision as Sabrina reached into the next bowl, retrieving a name placed near the top.

"Alder Forrest," Sabrina read this time, and Aspen's eyes anxiously scanned the crowd until they landed on the boy emerging into the center aisle, where the Peacekeepers waited to escort him to the stage.

Alder Forrest was a name Aspen knew vaguely from school, though, as the boy was two years younger than she was, she didn't know him very well. He was tall, with a pair of broad shoulders and a head of wavy dark hair and eyes to match. The boy climbed the stage and took his place on the other side of Sabrina.

"And here we have it!" Sabrina clapped her hands together excitedly. "Your two tributes in this year's Hunger Games, Aspen Darrow and Alder Forrest! Good luck, and may the odds be ever in your favor." she smiled, looking between the two teenagers. "Well, go on, you two. Shake hands!"

Aspen turned to face Alder, and their eyes met for the first time. While she tried to maintain her stony expression, she couldn't help the fear that flashed in her eyes at the thought that, while they were district partners now, in a few days they very well may be trying to kill each other in the arena.

As the two shook hands, Aspen's hand clasped tightly in Alder's, Sabrina clapped, thanking everyone for joining them that afternoon as the two tributes were ushered back into the Justice Building, awaiting their goodbyes before being shipped off to the Capitol.