District 5 Reaping

Celesta DeLuna:

"Celesta, wake up, sweetie." I slowly opened my eyes sleepily, beautiful sunlight streamed through the window behind my mother, framing her beautiful but tired face as she slowly coaxed me into a sitting position. I smiled raising my arms above my head in a stretch as I breathed in the musty smell of the attic.

"Momma..." I laughed a little, happy to see her crystal blue eyes looking into my own. She stroked my long flowy blond hair and I sensed a nervous tension within that brief movement.

"What is it Momma?" I asked, unhappy to see any emotion but happiness in my mother.

She bit her lip as if she wanted to say something, but just couldn't bring herself to. "Honey, you know what today is, don't you?"

I looked down, a bit uncomfortable. Today was the reaping, my first, I hated the games, they always made me cry, to see people pushed to such extremes that they hurt each other. I know none of them really want to kill each other, nobody is really a killer at heart.

"You're going to have to go. I don't have a choice, believe me if I could it would be me standing there in the crowd waiting to have my life determined, but I can't." My mother said barely above a whisper beginning to cry. I hugged her, throwing my arms around her trying to comfort her.

"Momma, I'm not scared for me." I said honestly, a bit odd as it sounds I had no concern for myself. "I'm scared for whoever gets picked."

Her grip tightened a second before she let go, sighing as she wiped the tears from her eyes. "Look at me, a wreck, getting all worked up about nothing at all. You'll be fine, your name is only in there once." She said, more towards herself than me. "Get dressed sweetheart, I let you sleep late, you don't have long. I laid your clothes out on the chair, when you're done come downstairs. "Momma abruptly stood up and wiped her hands on her apron, turning away from me and disappeared as she slowly climbed down the rickety ladder.

As soon as she was gone, I slowly removed the blanket and swung my legs downward, wincing as they hit the cold wooden floor. I moved toward the chair, much faster than I had gotten out of bed a few seconds earlier. I tried to ignore the unpleasant stinging of the freezing floor as I looked at the clothing my mother had laid out.

Draped over the chair was a beautiful blue dress I had never seen before. My breath caught in my throat as I looked at it, it couldn't be new could it?

My hand slowly reached forward grabbing the slightly coarse material that shone brilliantly as I held it up and it caught the light. The dress was about knee length, it had short puffed sleeves, a pretty ruffled collar, and  a beautiful satin ribbon was tied around the waist. It took my only a second to recognize my mothers stitching, when had she done this? It must of taken ages!

Without another thought I slipped it on, it fit absolutely perfectly! I twirled around the room a few times, feeling absolutely beautiful.

I climbed quickly down the ladder, jumping the last few feet and ran over to where my mother was getting breakfast ready and threw my arms around her. "Momma! It's beautiful! How did you manage?!" I exclaimed elated.

A small smile plays on her face, momentarily masking her worry lines. "It took some work, but darling it was worth it. You look so grown up!" She said handing me some toast with a little butter on it. "Careful not to get that on your dress." She warned as she guided me over to the flimsy set of table and chairs and sat me down. I felt her fingers start to comb my hair into braids as I slowly bit into my toast, savoring every last bite of the buttery goodness.

Bread was common here in district 5, so common that people often complained. I could never see why though, we had bread, why not enjoy it? We might not have it tomorrow.

When my mother was finished she patted my head affectionately and grabbed my beat up black maryjanes from on the mat near the door, she bent over and began to put them on my feet.

"Momma..." I smiled in confusion "I'm 12 years old... I can put my shoes on." I giggled a little as she looked up, sighing.

"I can put your shoes on if I want to. I'll always be your mother and you'll always be my little girl." She said lovingly, adjusting it on my foot.

I smiled, hugging her as she finished putting on my other shoe.

My mother looked at the small coo coo clock that hung in the corner of the room, realizing we had a few minutes before we had to leave.

I remember when daddy first brought the clock home. It had been a wintery day, back when I was 10, and I had been sitting at this very table when the door had flown open. The harsh wind from the open door had sent jitters through my entire body as I turned around and saw my father bundled up holding the clock. At first I had no idea what the strange box was, the curiosity has taken over me as I jumped from where I had sat and ran to him. He had explained it was a thing used to tell time, though I had been much more fascinated with the little bird that came out on the hour. I would sit for hours and watch the little bird.

Sometimes when I really miss daddy I sit down and watch the bird, remembering the days that he was still here....

I must of zoned out because the next thing I knew Momma was gently pulling me to my feet and guiding me towards the door.

We walked together, through the solemn crowd who moved so slow, it reminded me of glue dripping down the side of a paper. We were all silent, as if it was an unspoken law that no one was to say a thing. It took us only 10 minutes to reach the square, my Momma bent over and hugged me tightly, whispering something to me that got lost in the dull murmur of other people wishing their children off.

I walked numbly over to the check in desk where a man sat, I nodded at him, trying to smile, but he intimidated me greatly. He glared at me coldly as he barked "Name?"

I paused a moment, unable to answer. It was like a bad nightmare where no matter how hard you try you can't scream.

"Name?" He barked again, this time harsher and crueler than the first.

Suddenly my brain started working again and I was able to talk. "Celesta DeLuna" I said, trying to make it come out strongly.

He grabbed my hand suddenly, unsure of what was going on I tried to pull away. "Stop squirming." He hissed, gripping my wrist tighter.

"What- Stop- I don't understand!" I said haltingly, still trying to pull away.

"You don't need to! Now quit squirming!" He screamed almost, making the confusion I felt only double. What was he going to do?

I suddenly felt a hand on my shoulder, and twisted my head enough to see tall dark boy behind me who whispered "It's ok, he's just going to prick your finger."

I forced myself to stop squirming, flinching as I felt the needle dig into my skin. After taking my fingerprint, he waved me through and told me to go to the 12 year olds pen.

I saw my best friend, Brooke already there, standing off to one side. I quickly made my way over, thankful for the familiar company. As I rapidly drew closer I realized that my friend was shaking, she looked toward me, her bright green eyes were filled with worry as she twisted her finger through her already curly black hair. I ran over to her and threw my arms around her, my heart absolutely melting for the poor girl.

"It's ok." I whispered into her ear as she began to cry, once again I was perplexed. Who could do this to so many people? Why would anyone want hurt them like this?

Suddenly I heard the clop of shoes on the stage, I pulled away from Brooke to look towards the almost soothing sound. The footsteps sounded so familiar, so harmless, so normal, however the person who made the clopping, was none of these things.

She stood a full 4 feet high, wearing her short black hair in a sleek bob. She had eyes that were enlarged by the thick lenses of a set of goggles. She had a large nose and a terrifying grin upon her squarish face. She wore huge pumps that must of been supposed to make her look taller, but while elevating her height, just made her short legs look shorter.

"Hello, hello darlings!" She called impassively, with a accent that I was unable to identify "Welcome to the 39th annual reaping for the hunger games! Really darlings, it's a pleasure to see you all here today. I can tell you're all about as excited as me.." She paused as she realized that none of us were excited, but she shrugged and continued. "Well I guess you aren't excited, but I am, so without further adieu lets watch the film from the capital!"

A large screen flickered to life as a film began to play.

“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.”

I watched it, a tear streaming down my face, how was killing kids safeguarding anything?

"That was beautiful." She said, thought couldn't help but notice their was a hint of uncaring in her harsh voice. "Now onto the main attraction!" She exclaimed, her formally uncaring voice exploded with a mixture of enthusiasm, excitement and sheer enjoyment.

My stomach flipped. Why? Why was she excited to choose who they would kill? How could anyone be thinking like that? I clenched my teeth and looked downward at my beat up mary janes that my mother had taken such care to put on my feet earlier, then I looked back up. The woman was smiling, stirring the mixing bowl, making us tense with nervous apprehension.

Finally she plucked one free, and with a dramatic flip of her wrist she read it.

"Electra Will" She read, announcing the name with all the joy in the world.

I let out a small breath of relief. I didn't know her. I looked around, only to see a small girl in the 14 year olds pen began to sob, my heart twisted as soon as I saw her, she was so scared she trembled as she slowly began to walk forward.

'I didn't know her.' I remembered my reaction to her name being called, just because I didn't know her didn't mean she didn't have a life, friends, and a home.

The girl moved like sap dripping out of a maple tree towards the stage. I looked at her face and instantly felt all of her pain and misery. Tears began to stream down her face, I reached up to my cheeks and felt the same tears dripping down my own cheeks.

"Your Electra, darling?" The woman asked smiling at the girl, who stood trembling before her, completely unaware, or perhaps simply uncaring of the girls feelings.

"Yes." The girl choked.

"Anybody want to volunteer for Electra here?" She asked, her rough accent standing out more now. "No?"

The girls eyes flickered across the crowd.... Desperate..... Pleading..... Then her eyes fell on me.

"I volunteer!" I said, choking on the tears that ran down my throat. At first no one heard me, so I screamed it. "I volunteer!!! I volunteer!!! I volunteer!!!" The pain of what I was doing impacted me like a rock that was being pounded into my skull.

Everyone was silent.

No one spoke.

I slowly moved from my place and towards the stage, looking around at the completely frozen crowd. It was almost like someone had stopped time for a few seconds, and then it was back to life. Everyone moving, screaming, talking, as I was pushed up onto the stage.

"It appears we have a volunteer... And by the looks of it you might be our youngest volunteer ever! Was that your sister?" The vicious woman who now stood before me asked eagerly looking upwards, almost resembling a dog begging for a treat.

I numbly shook my head, the tears starting to completely blur my vision, making the world around me look like a watercolor.

"Your friend?" The woman asked, slightly less eager now.

I shook my head again, closing my watery eyes and hanging my head.

".....Then why did you volunteer?" The woman asked, utterly perplexed as to why someone would do something for someone they didn't know.

I lifted my head and looked out at my district, my home in which I had lived in for so long. I saw familiar faces scattered among the crowd, my mother was on her knees her hands clasping her face as she cried. No one could describe the pain I felt. "I-I couldn't let you hurt her." I finally forced the words out of my mouth and look back towards the woman.

She paused, a moment, thinking. For a second I almost thought she would set me free, but her face tightened and she said grinning "That was very brave of you! What's your name?"

"Celesta DeLuna." I uttered, looking back down at my feet, suddenly feeling ashamed for the tears that I shed.

"Pretty name. Now onto the boys!" She said heartlessly, trotting over to the second bowl leaving me standing there awkwardly.

I didn't bother to watch as she chose the boy who would be sentenced to the same fate as I, I couldn't, I think I would faint.

"Braven Larka!" She screamed, I didn't know the name, I had never heard the name before. I'm sure he felt the same way as me. I'm sure he was looking at me already realizing how easy I would be to kill.

"So your Braven? Your dad was a victor wasn't he? Think you can live up to his standard?" The woman shot the questions at the tribute that I couldn't bring myself to look at.

"Maybe." I heard whoever it was choke out. Even though his voice was strained I could tell he was older. "Maybe not. You'll have to wait and see." He added, slightly less strained than before.

The woman laughed, "I like you already! Go shake hands with your partner so we can get on with the day!"

I heard the footsteps approach me, I was too sacred to move though, I felt a gentle hand on my shoulder and I looked up. The boy was tall, about six feet, he had warm chocolatey brown eyes and silky brown hair to match, his hair I noticed, had one thick white streak that confused me, streak or no streak I almost instantly felt safe. He reminded me so much of my dad.

We stood like that for a few seconds before he smiled comfortingly, "It's going to be ok Celesta, think of it like a vacation." His smile grew, though I could tell he was masking another feeling, "In a few weeks you'll be back home, forgetting this ever happened."

I hoped he was right.

Ok! I hope you guys liked this reaping! It was written by me, I realize I forgot to write an 'Author's Note' last chapter, I was really tired, LOL. So if your reading this (Thank you) it would mean a lot if you gave me advice on getting better, or if I'm doing something wrong, how to fix it.

Next chapter will be up Saturday.

~ A.K.A Anonymous