District 2 Reaping

Malcolm Jackson:

"FASTER JACKSON!!!!" My coach screamed in my face, his spit hitting my face as I ran on the treadmill, the spit quickly becoming one with the sweat and tears already pouring down my face. "DID YOU HEAR ME?!!! ARE YOU DEAF?!!!" He screamed again "FASTER!!!!"

I tried to nod as I forced my legs to move faster despite the agony it caused me. I closed my eyes for a brief second, trying to block out the screaming of my lungs.

Faster.

Faster.

Faster.

Don't stop.

You can't stop now.

My head felt incredibly light.

How much longer could I keep this up?

I was dimly aware of my coach screaming curses at me to run faster as my legs give out from under me. I fell to the ground next to the running machine. I lay there panting, my head swimming as black dots danced before my eyes. After a few minutes I felt blindly for my water and grabbed it clumsily, pouring it into my mouth, completely forgetting the fact I was lying on my back. The water splashed out of my mouth and  down my cheeks, but I didn't pay mind as I drank greedily.

"Malcolm Jackson." My coaches gruff voice came from above me.

Oh dear crud, he was going to kill me. I must of done terribly, prolonged sprinting was never a strong suit of mine.

"Yes, sir?" I asked quickly swallowing my mouthful of water and looking up at his harry face attentively. He frown purposely as he made a note of checking his ever present 'clipboard of death' as I like to call it.

"You managed to sprint at top speed for sixteen minutes, you lost speed after that but managed for another six. You made it just under 5 miles." He looked at me, the all to familiar glare penetrating me. "Sadly, you passed by the hair on your neck, I would recommend that you try harder next time. I expected more from you."

I felt a lump in my throat. This was my entire life, training for the games was my entire life, and this monster always made me feel like I was a failure. "You always expect more from me." I mutter bitterly under my breath as he walked away from me to yell at some other poor chap in my class who was still on his treadmill.

With inhuman speed my coaches head snapped around to face me. "Excuse me, Mr. Jackson?" He asked hostilely walking over to me aggressively.

My eyes widened, startled. I hadn't meant for him to hear, I was so stupid sometimes. "I- I said I like your shoes." I uttered unable to think of anything else to say.

Collin, another guy training with me made a loud 'ooooohhhh' from a few treadmills down.

I hate that loser.

"Jackson, I wear these shoes every day." My coach said sarcastically, for whatever reason he was grinning- but not like a friendly grin, more like a 'I'm going to eat you alive' grin. "Now, tell me what you really said."

My heart must of been racing at 1000 miles per hour at that second. I had never been in trouble with Coach Jonoson before, I was generally only insult him when I knew it was safe, but I had seen what he had done to kids who had messed up in front of him.

"Uhhh." I laughed nervously rubbing the back of my head instinctively. "Look, I didn't want to say this aloud in front of the other boys, but you're the best coach ever and I aspire to be like you one day." I lie, hoping the flattery will save me.

Coach Jonoson looked at me for a long time, I became aware everything in the room was silent now. The last boy had finished his run..... I could tell they were all looking at me.

Suddenly my coach reached forward with no warning, grabbing my ear and twisting it. I flinched in pain, resisting my natural career urge to fight him. That would only gets into more trouble at this point.

He yanked me into the center of the room and threw me to the ground. I hit the cement floor on all four, refusing to collapse entirely like the weakling this man thought I was.

I wasn't weak.

"This is your last chance Malcolm." Coach Jonoson said, I noticed he addressed me by my first name for once. "Tell everyone what you said, or face consequences."

I sigh starting to stand up, I was going to get into trouble one way or another. I was doomed no matter what I said. "I said 'You always expect more from me.' I mean no matter how hard I work its just never good enough for you is it? You--" I was quickly cut off by a fierce slap to the face, my brief moment of bravery gone.

"Shut up." He snapped his anger practically radiating off of him, he turned to face the rest of the class. "You are NEVER to cross your superior, no matter what you feel. As careers and future peacekeepers you must NEVER let emotion drive you. You have one purpose in your life; and that is to serve your country. If you step outside your line, you will be severely punished." I was holding my breath, forgetting to breathe. I had heard this speech a hundred times..... I knew what came next.

"Killah, bring me my whip." Coach said, Killah nodded eager for some action. I felt sick as I watched him trod over and pick up the whip, still bloody with the last boys blood, then grab the grimy rope that had been used to hold countless victims while they screamed in pain and tried to break loose. My face burned with humiliation at the thought of it.

Killah handed my coach the whip and walked over toward me, to tie me up but I pushed him away roughly. "I don't need the rope. I'll hold myself up." I snapped at him, he looked at Coach Jonoson uncertainly. To my relief he nodded "Very well, but Jackson, if you try to run your punishment doubles." He growled

I nodded grimly, as I slowly removed my shirt and bent over, taking as long as possible- as if that would help me. I gritted my teeth and let the quaky word escape my lips, "Ready."

Pain exploded in my back as I felt the whip cut into my flesh, I bit my lip to keep from crying out.

Again.

Again.

Again.

How long was this going to be?! The pain was killing me, I could feel my myself breathing hard. I almost wished I had swallowed my pride and had been tied up, then at least I wouldn't have to support myself. No, I stopped myself, I was above this. I was stronger than this. I wasn't weak.

Time seemed to fuse together as the whip dug into my skin again and again. My head swam and my vision dimmed so I squeezed my eyes shut, making sure that never once did I cry out.

Then someone suddenly shoved me forward, I lost my balance and fell face first into a pool of something wet. I slowly opened my eyes..... Blood. It was blood. I closed my eyes again, dimly aware of coach talking to the other boys about something..... The reaping. That's right the reaping was later on! That's when my brain started working again and I realized how pitiful I must look right now.

I force my eyes open and get to my feet, a towel is suddenly thrust into my hands. Coach Jonoson glares at me "You're up too fast.... Maybe 15 wasn't enough.... Either way clean up your mess and before you head to the reaping and make sure you've got the bleeding stopped before you leave this room. Don't want you dripping blood all over the place." He grunted leaving me standing there dumbly, still trying to process what he had said.

It took me about 10 minutes to get the blood from gushing down my back, it still soaked through my shirt a little but it wasn't really dripping that much. I quickly wiped up the floor and went to the boys locker room. It was empty except for my friend, Brawny, who stood alone in a corner, undoubtedly waiting for me.

Brawny just about anything but brawny, it was a small wiry kid who was literally the runt of district 2, but for what he lacked physically he made up for with his brains. The other boys teased him for being a nerd, so I had stuck up for him a few times and what do you know, I have a friend for life.

"Are you ok?" He asked in his trademark soft spoken manner, stepping out of the shadows to reveal his freckled face and his blue eyes that looked at my back with concern.

I nodded curtly, my face burning a little. I hated being the subject of pity, I hated looking weak, I hated this. I took off my workout shirt as fast as I could, replacing it with my blouse for the reaping, not allowing Brawny to get a good look at the wounds that still stung terribly on my back.

I could tell it annoyed him, but it just hurt my pride too much. I was fine and that's all he needed to know. I finished buckling my blue jeans and forced a smile at him. "You ready to go?"

He nodded as he pushed open the locker room doors and I followed him. "Do you know what I love about district 2?" He asked as we started down the training centers long, now empty halls.

"Quite honestly I didn't know that you liked anything about 2." I said, taken aback a little, Brawny was always complaining about everything in district 2. As soon as he turned 18 in a few months he wanted to move to 3.

"I hadn't thought about this angle of district 2 before; there is absolutely no chance I'll get reaped into the hunger games if I live here. Their are too many stupid careers who want to throw their lives away!" He giggled a little too happily.

I frowned at him, "Stupid? It's an honor to represent your district in the games. I'm going to try to volunteer this year." I say dryly

"Then you're stupider than I thought, the hunger games is basically mass murder!!! Think of it this way, we celebrate 23 murders and a killer!!!" Brawny's voice rose a few notches

I felt a familiar spark of anger, "Brawny. That is the most treasonous, unpatriotic, uneducated thing I've ever heard out of your mouth!" I shove him backwards and his small frame hits the floor. I felt bad as I looked at him there, I had never hurt him before, without thinking I offer him my hand. Brawny took one look at it and slapped it away, "You're just like all those bullies who picked on me!!! And to think I thought you were different!!! I thought you were my friend!!!"

I grunt and use all the self control in my body not to kill him. Honestly, Brawny could be so overly emotional sometimes, it was one quality that pushed me over the edge. I hated feelings, they were weaknesses, for whatever reason Brawny seemed to think throwing a temper tantrum was completely normal for a 17 year old guy.

I suddenly lash out at the wall punching it with all my might. My fist throbbed, but I felt a little better. I turn on my heal and storm off, leaving Brawny in the dust. I threw open the doors and stepped outside into the sunny day, feeling more certain than ever this was my year.

The streets were packed as I walked purposely down the street, weaving in and out of the crowd not really focusing on anything or anyone. I was lost in my thoughts of myself as victor of the hunger games..... Yes.... There was no doubt in my mind that I would come out on top.

Suddenly I was zapped out of my daydreams as someone hit my back with all their might, taken off guard by the pain, I let out a cry and brought my fist around with all the force in my body.

My fist made connection with someone as they toppled over. I looked down to see my friend Sloan sprawled out on the ground with an alarmed look in her eye. "What the hell dude?!!!" She uttered rubbing her arm where I had hit her.

"What the hell yourself!!! You don't just sneak up on people and hit their backs with all your might!!!" I glared at her even though I felt a little bad. She glared back, and we just kind of stayed like that for a few moments before she burst out laughing. "Awwwww you got in trouble didn't you?!!!" She grinned devilishly, I suppose she was finally happy not to be the one who had gotten beaten for once.

"Ha ha." I said dryly "You know I take training very seriously, I'd never get in trouble." I grab her hand and hoist her to her feet.

"LIYAH LIYAH PANTS ON FIYAH!!!!" She laughed dancing around me in a circle. "Theirs blood in your fingernails and you can see the blood soaking through your shirt!!!" She sang teasingly, annoyance started to bubble inside me.

Don't get me wrong, Sloan was one of the funest girls around, but sometimes she was just downright obnoxious.

Luckily, just then Sloan's best friend came by, a huge, gorilla-like, dark haired girl who's name escapes me. "Sloan. Cut it out and come on, we'll be late!" Sloan nodded and ran off, but not before giving me a huge wink.

I rolled my eyes and kept walking, reaching the square without further incident. It was empty by the time I got there, all the other kids were eagerly waiting inside. I walked up to the desk where a female peacekeeper sat looking at some papers. "Malcolm Jackson." I said loudly, to get her attention.

She jumped and looked up, quickly stuffing the papers she had been looking at into her pocket. She smiled nervously at me and grabbed my finger, roughly jabbing a needle into it. She dripped the blood from the needle on to the paper then pressed my finger in it. I watched as my fingerprint appeared and she waved me through.

I walked quickly toward the seventeen year olds pen and took my place inside. Brawny was standing there and he grabbed my wrist as I entered. I wondered how he had managed to arrive before me, but I didn't say anything. "Look Malcolm! I'm sorry for calling you stupid earlier! I didn't mean it! I was just worried about you! I know how you feel about the games, but you have to listen to me! I know you're not a killer even if--"

"Shut up, Brawny." I growled, he sounded just like Coach Jonoson! 'You're not good enough', 'You're no killer'-- Didn't anybody realize how hard I worked for this?!! How bad I wanted it?!! Even my own friend was putting me down!!! I would show them. I would show all of them!!!

"WELCOME WELCOME!!!!" I turned my attention to the stage, ignoring the hurt that Brawny had caused me. Our district escort stood there, rather resembling a watermelon of some type, but I didn't say anything. If the capital man wanted to look like a tropical fruit, that wasn't my business.

"Today is the day that we shall elect one courageous young man and woman to fight to the death in the 39th annual hunger games!!!" A loud cheer erupted from the crowd and I let a smile play on my face, because I knew who that young man was.....

"Look as much as I would love to skip the capital video and get right on with the reaping, we can't." Our district escort said apologetically. I groaned, I practically had the stupid film memorized.

"War, terrible war......" The drab voice began, and I knew that it wasn't going to shut up. I appreciated my country's history and all, but the film was just torture to sit through year after year.

Suddenly someone poked my back, pain exploded as they dug their finger into my open wound and I had to keep myself from crying out. I spun around furious, who the hell would do that?!!

Oh that's right. Collin.

He stood with his friend Cameron giggling, the giggled harder when I spun around. "If. You. Do. That. Again. I. Will. Murder. You. In. Your. Sleep." I whispered angrily, knowing I couldn't make a scene here.

Collin made a stupid face clasping his hands together, "Awwwww he so cute when he's angry....." He whispered, Then he cracked up again with his buddy laughing too.

I didn't say anything and turned around to face the stage.

"The lone victor bathed in riches....."

I felt Collins finger poke me again, I spun around again, I swear if we weren't surrounded by a bunch of peacekeepers I would of killed him.

"One. More. Time. I dare you." I whispered venomously, putting my most frightening face on.

Collin smirked "Tripled dog dare?" He whispered snidely

I was about to reply when I realized I was missing the reaping, "Later." I mouthed as I turned my attention back to the stage. A girl had just volunteered, I recognized her as Sloan's friend. She put her hand on her hip confidently as she lumbered up onto the stage. "And what's your name, beautiful?" The watermelon asked, in a lame attempt to hit on the hawk faced girl.

"My name," she faced the audience with a exhilarated look on her face "Is Acadia Rosen."

"A pretty name for a pretty girl." The watermelon giggled, moving over to the boys bowl and drawing a paper.

Ok..... Get ready..... I thought clenching my jaw, Brawny squeezed my wrist and mouthed 'Don't', time itself seemed to slow.....

"Killah Iron---

"I VOLUNTEER!!!!" I yell, half a second before ten other boys yell the same thing, I look toward the stage as I see my face appear on the screen. It seemed so unreal, as I strode up onto the stage, some of the boys who had attempted to volunteer giving me dirty looks, but I didn't care.

As soon as I set foot on the stage, the watermelon smiled at me, bouncing across the stage, holding the microphone to my mouth. "And you are?"  

"Well," I grin cockily "I'm district 2's next victor."

So there's district two everyone! Don't forget to tell me what you think! Even if you don't, just knowing your reading this it means so much.... Lol, Sorry I sound like a broken record.

My friend (She's trying to pick out a pen name) finished chapter three so that will be up in a few minutes!

Stay turned,

~A.K.A Anonymous