Chapter Text
Chapter 1
“ The Reaping “
The sun seeped into my room, flooding my closed eyes as I woke up. I glanced around the room as I looked outside my window, people are gathering somewhere.
Oh right.
Reaping day.
I looked down at the windowsill as I saw a tiny box with a letter card attached by small string, most likely crafted with grass.
I opened my window, grabbing the box before closing the window and stepping back towards my bed.
I sat down looking at the small wooden box as I lifted it open.
Inside was a green button, a type a button you would see sewn onto a doll’s eye. Beside the button was a string, no the string was in the button.
I looked at the note card wondering who this was from, I took it with one hand as I read it.
“ It’s reaping day, and everyone says to look your best. Well, for being somewhat of a friend to me I guess I can gift you an accessory to wear.
Who knows, you might be picked and this could be your district token. “ I looked at the signature at the bottom, the words were written in half print, half cursive. There’s only one boy I know that writes like that.
Ryūnosuke Akutagawa.
I looked at the bottom of the card,
‘To Atsushi
From R.A. ‘
You’re not fooling anyone.
I sighed as I took the crafted necklace and put it on the bed side table. I set the box down beside it as I got up to change into some clothes that looked decent enough to wear in the reaping.
Atleast when my father died, he had left some clothes that fit me.
Maybe Ma marrying a non seam boy was a good call.
I slipped into a shirt, and pants and tied my shoes as I glanced at the green button necklace.
District token?
I walked towards the table as I took the necklace in one hand and tied it around my neck.
It was a perfect fit.
I slipped the necklace under my shirt, as I walked out of my room.
I was greeted by my 14 year old sister, Kyouka.
“ good morning Atsushi!! “ She said quietly.
I looked at her face, she seemed sad.
Well, I would be sad too if I had a chance of being reaped.
We both had the chance.
She’s 14, I’m 16. Only 2 years apart, but what difference does that make when we both have a chance of dying young.
Atleast one of us will be freed from this hell.
“ Good morning Kyouka “ I replied to her. She looked up at me with a soft smile as I heard mother call out from a distance.
“ You kids get on to the reaping, I’ll follow behind. “ She spoke.
She’s lost her spark when father died, enough to the point where me and my sister starved for half a month until I decided to go hunting with Ryuu.
I will never let my sister go hungry again. I swore to protect her the second she was born, and she has lived til 14, I can’t let her die young.
She still has her life ahead of her.
I hope.
A small hand wrapped around mine, as I looked down it was Kyouka. She was only a few inches shorter than me due to our age differences but I guess her hands never grew.
We both walked out the door, the sun flooding our faces with harsh light.
I squinted to get adjusted but I guess Kyouka just looked around as she pointed to where everyone was headed.
I looked at her,
“ Hey kyouka, how about you head on over, I’ll be behind you I just need to go get something. “ I say as I glance up at someone ahead of us in the distance.
Kyouka looked up at me and then nodded before walking away silently with the other kids.
I walked infront of me, heading towards the boy.
“ So Ryuu, you made that gift? “ I asked.
The boy that was standing in a far distance from me and kyouka was indeed Ryuu.
He looked at me and then with a small frown said, “ Well, you need something to look pleasing at the reaping. For a seam boy, you Atleast look presentable this year.” He would reply.
I stared at him, taking that to offense.
“ Well, as a seam boy hunting doesn’t really get you that far. Are you just acting like this cause your dad married into a family out of the seam? “ I asked.
He stared at me. Just silent, I guess that shut him up.
“ Goodluck in the reaping? “ I said.
“ Goodluck in the reaping. “ He replied.
I looked at him for a second.
“ Hey how old are you anyways?“ I asked.
He looked at me before thinking. “Like, 17. Next year will be my last time going into the reaping. And then, I’ll be free. “ He said.
“ Wow, well may the odds be ever in your favor. “ I put on a posh mocking accent to imitate district 12’s escort Krilla Mayburn.
I glanced up where everyone was going, it was only a few kids left. I guess this is our sign to start marching over.
I walked with him to the area, finishing the process they have us do before standing with kids our age.
I find the group that’s labeled boy’s and find a section that’s dedicated to 16 year olds.
I stand in the line as I see boys ahead of me worry about their fate.
I remember this one girl I knew, her name was May? Mag? Madge. Her name was Madge. She was the mayor’s daughter and I would give her strawberries and squirrels from my hunting trips for any loose change to had to buy my sister gifts.
I remember the last time I did it, I was able to buy a goat off of a man and gift it to Kyouka for her birthday. She started a small business of selling milk for money to help around the house.
Maybe the goat wasn’t a bad idea.
My thoughts were interrupted as I heard the loud feedback from the mic.
Jeez, atleast we know the escort is here.
Her high heels clicked and clacked on the metal stage.
In my opinion, she looked like a fuchsia bubblegum bubble.
Her hair was white, but her clothes were fuchsia and so was her eyeshadow and lipstick.
Her skin was white too.
I guess the theme was shade of
pink and white?
I looked up as she said
“ Now, welcome to the 74th Annual Hunger games reaping! For the girls. “
She reached into a circular bowl. And pulled out a paper.
“ The girl tribute for district 12’s 74th hunger games is!! “
She unfolded the paper to read the name.
“ Lucy Montgomery! “ She spoke.
Lucy? I’ve heard of that girl before. She was in my class, and also is the daughter to that baker. Her mother is a witch, but her father. I have nothing to say about him, he isn’t as bad as her mom.
I felt bad for her.
She was the only child of her
family after her sister was reaped, and was quickly taken out in the bloodbath by a sword.
A career won that year.
Lucy after that looked down in the dumps after losing her sister so quickly.
But soon a year later, she was back to her normal self; as if she wasn’t allowing herself to be sad as death normally happens for district 12. Even if you don’t live in the seam.
END OF CHAPTER 1