Chapter 3: Reaping Day

8 0 4
                                    

Reaping Day.  I sighed.  The day itself was a massive looming shadow that quickly overtook us.  Normal reapings were bad, but a family reaping would be so much worse.
My mother, my younger brothers, my younger sister, as well as me, all got dressed to go to the mandatory reaping.  I wanted to curl up under my bed and hide, but with that most likely came the punishment of death.  And, I had to be strong for my siblings. 
I dressed in a pale blue dress that had once been my mothers.  It was old and faded, but comforting.  I combed my hair and left it in a cascading fall to my shoulders.
My sister, Ember, who shouldn't have even had to participate in the reaping, was adorned in a lovely red knee length dress that fit her perfectly.  It had recently been her birthday, and we had scraped together the money to buy her a special present.  Today was the first time she had worn it.
My brothers, Cinder and Ore, were identically dressed in long tan pants with button down shirts.  They were each in a similar shade of green with varying patterns. 
We all clustered together in the "living room" and waited for my mother to come.  The door opened and my mouth formed a gape.
She wore a flowing olive green dress that perfectly complimented her hazelnut eyes.  Her caramel colored hair was pulled up into a loose bun, with a few wisps perfectly falling on her face.  I haven't seen her dress up like this since Father died 9 years ago in the mining accident. 
"You look beautiful Mom!"  I said.
My siblings each chorused a similar message.
"I never wear this anymore, but you're supposed to wear something nice..." she trailed off. 
"It's perfect."
After carefully eating breakfast, we decided that we should probably start heading for the square.  They asked for everyone to arrive early, as the finger pricking would take much longer.
The July weather was fair, which I was glad for.
We made the short walk to the square, along with neighboring families.  My mom chatted as we walked, but the rest of us remained quiet.  I knew my mother was trying to act like everything was alright, but we knew different. 
When we arrived at the square, we took a place in a seemingly endless line of people of all ages.  I saw infants in arms and grandparents struggling to stand.  This reaping was just terrible. 
After getting our fingers pricked (owch.) we were told to stand in groups with our family, separated from others not in them. 
After everyone was settled in their place, a flamboyant figure popped up on the stage.  She was dressed in a colorful layered dress with satin swirls.  Throughout the dress, there were little stitched candies.  Her white hair was done up into a swirling cone that was topped with a large sewn cherry. 
"Hello!  Welcome to the 100th annual Hunger Games!  My name is Sugar, and I will be the escort for District 12!  Before we get into all of that fun stuff, let's watch this amazing video put together by the Capitol!" 
A clip began on the screen.
"War, terrible war. Widows, orphans, a motherless child. This was the uprising that rocked our land. Thirteen districts rebelled against the country that fed them, loved them, protected them. Brother turned on brother until nothing remained. And then came the peace, hard fought, sorely won. A people rose up from the ashes and a new era was born. But freedom has a cost. When the traitors were defeated, we swore as a nation we would never know this treason again. And so it was decreed that, each year, the various districts of Panem would offer up, in tribute, one young man and woman to fight to the death in a pageant of honor, courage and sacrifice. The lone victor, bathed in riches, would serve as a reminder of our generosity and our forgiveness. This is how we remember our past. This is how we safeguard our future."*
"That clip just touches my heart!!" Sugar said from the stage, "Although this year is different!  Instead it will be one reaped family!" 
"Yah," I thought, "Like I needed reminding."
She dug her long, jewelry adorned hand into the massive glass reaping bowl and pulled out a slip.  
She dramatically unfolded it then said, "The tributes from District Twelve are... oops!  This slip just reminded me!  Sony Lignite, 15, was automatically placed in the reaping for treason!  Naughty little girl!  She and her father are already at the Capitol!  We were told that we must pick another family as well!  Maybe someone... she knows..."
I felt full of grief and sorrow.  It was all my fault that Sony and her father were in the games.  Half of me just wanted to volunteer for whoever got reaped just so I could say I'm sorry.  But, that would mean sacrificing my family.  I sighed.
"Let's try this again now!  Who will it be?" she pulled another slip of paper out, "Scoria Koalisi, 35, Ash Koalisi, 16, Cinder Koalisi, 13, Ore Koalisi, 11, and Ember Koalisi, 10!  Please make your way to the stage!
"No!  Please no!  Not my children!"  my mother began screaming, "Please!"
This was the breakdown I had been expecting for 9 years.  Now was not the time though.
"Mom, you have to calm down."  I said soothingly.
The Peacemakers were approaching us.
"Please Mom."
She was on the ground, sobbing.  I wasn't sure if she could hear me. 
The Peacemakers were with us at that point. 
"Get up ma'am.  Now."  a tall Peacekeeper ordered. 
Reluctantly she stood, tears still streaming down her face.  Together we walked to the stage.
My siblings all had the same depressing expression on their face, and Ember was silently crying as well.  I went over to her, picked her up, and wrapped her in a massive hug. 
"We'll figure this out together."

*taken directly from the book

Thank you for reading! I was going to make Scoria die... but I spared her.

For now! ;)

The Hundredth Hunger Games; 50 Reaped-1 VictorWhere stories live. Discover now