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Post by Katniss Everdeen on Sept 7, 2010 20:28:33 GMT -5
The announcer stood up on the podium, ready to make the announcement of who was picked in the reaping for District 5. As the announcer silenced the crowd, with all the parents watching, knowing that he was sending their children into certain death. Unless they beat the odds.
"Attention" his voice boomed out. He knew that Careers would most likely step up and take spots, but then there was also times that they wouldn't and they'd let little pests get taken care of.
"The two Tributes will have to step up here, Alledra Riddle and Kai" he said as he saw an older teenager walk up towards him. Then the girl made her way up towards him.
"Anyone willing to take either of their spots?" he said as both tributes had finally made it to the platform.
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Post by Alledra Riddle on Sept 8, 2010 7:18:49 GMT -5
The room was silent, as it often was before a Reaping at the Riddle household. While her father was in the other room, readying her brother and himself, Alledra stood in front of the little mirror that was balanced atop an old dresser in the room she shared with seven-year-old Tally. Her sister sat on the edge of the bed, bright blue eyes watching her curiously. Alledra had helped her to dress in the light blue dress that she used to wear when she had been seven. Needless to say, it looked better on Tally than it had ever looked on her. Even now, as she stared at the sapphire colored, floor-length gown in the mirror, Alledra felt out of place and uncomfortable.
She was just tying her mother's horse charm necklace around her neck when there was a knock at the door and her father's face peered inside. Tally smiled, sliding off the bed they shared. "Daddy, look!" Alledra watched from the mirror as Tally twirled in a circle, unaware of the dreadful morning ahead. Despite the circumstances, that today was the Reaping, Alledra couldn't help but smile at Tally's excitement. She rarely got to get dressed up.
Their father simply smiled, but it was a sad smile. Alledra knew he was scared, he was always like this during the Reaping. "You look very pretty, Princess," he said, using her special nick name as he approached her, and hoisted her into his arms. He turned to face Alledra who turned toward him, meeting his eyes for a brief moment. That would be his other reaction, he never looked her in the eye for longer than a few seconds. Not that Alledra was affected by it, she was rather glad, knowing that if they did, both would start to cry. "As do you, Alle. Dill's downstairs, we should probably head out now." There was a trickle of fear in his voice, a sound that made her cringe.
The walk to the center of town, where the crowd had started to gather, wasn't far, and pretty soon, Alledra found herself telling her family she'd see them soon and joining the other girls her age. Licking her lips nervously, Alledra found herself either fiddling with her gown, rubbing the charm on her necklace, or playing with her loose, dark brown curls. Just relax, Alle. You'll make it out of this one and be home in no time. She closed her eyes, forcing herself to repeat these words.
"The two Tributes will have to step up here, Alledra Riddle and Kai." The words sliced through her thoughts like a deadly dagger and Alledra sucked in a breath. Her eyes widened in horror and a chill crawled down her spine. Had they just called her name? She scanned the crowd then, needing clarification, and when she found the eyes of her father, she knew she hadn't imagined it. She looked away before he could see her watching him and forced herself to move.
The walk to the platform seemed to take forever and Alledra wanted it too. She didn't want to walk up those steps, stare into the tearful eyes of her family, and head off on a train to the Capitol where she would meet her end. Licking her lips again, Alledra fought to remain calm, knowing that at any time, she could fall apart. No, she would not, she couldn't. Her family was trying to remain strong, or at least her father was. Tally was still too young and Dill looked as pale as snow. She took her place, glancing down at the boy tribute who'd been called. Kai. She'd seen him around before, but she'd never really gone up and introduced herself to him.
Alledra looked away as the announcer asked if there was anyone who wanted to take their places. She already knew the answer. Sucking in another breath, Alledra found her father's eyes, and for the first time since that morning, he looked her straight on. Despite her urge to hold them back, tears began to trickle down her cheeks.
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Post by Kai on Sept 8, 2010 10:25:34 GMT -5
It was a pleasant, albeit dry day. Today was the day-- Kai himself was moving towards the known area for the reapings to be held. But he always made a stop to an old friend beforehand. He'd smile as he found his way in the arm of an old woman, a cold one albeit humble and modest to herself and others. Truthful in many ways. The woman would smile back. "I have good news, child."she resounded.
"What news?" Kai replied back, his tone seemingly dead. She knew the reason of course; today was the reapings. She understood that this was the day was the one which Kai was most fearful of what was happening to day. But the woman cackled ever so slightly, her face grimaced before speaking. "Of course I'll need to remember it first..." she spoke, holding her hand out. Kai sighed, pulling into his pocket and pulling out a small wad of money, placing it into her hands.
"The reaping this year is rigged." she spoke, her features illuminating pleasure as she spoke, and as this was spoken Kai's eyes lit up brighter than any light or fire imaginable. "And the chance of them picking you...is small. Out of the hundreds of children; meaning you can pull out a LOT of terresae's." by then, Kai had already left with a new found confidence on his shoulders.
When he finally arrived his shoulders were no longer hunched over; when it finally came to his turn he stopped for a moment- he was by himself but when his family recieved what they needed...God would they be thankful when Kai turned back up at home. "I want to pull out 20 terressae's please." his voice sounded confident, much to the fatality of everyone else with widened eyes. Did this boy sign his own death warrant? what made him think he could NOT get picked? But reluctantly, they passed them over and Kai would take his place near the reapings- standing next to the old woman who had passed him the knowledge. He smiled warmly at the woman; he trusted her so much.
But as the silence reigned Kai couldn't help but feel nervous. The announcer just HAD to be silent and hesitate for a few moments, pulling out a piece of paper with the two names. But then the unthinkable happened.
"The two Tributes will have to step up here, Alledra Riddle and Kai" Kai stopped dead. Frozen. Absolutely still. Meagerly would he turn his head to the woman, who looked hurt. "Did you know..?" said the little voice, coming from Kai himself. The woman shaked her head, eyes open wide and not breaking contact with him. But then he'd force himself forward as someone nudged him-- forcing the boy to move forward and begin moving to stand up before he fell over.
He weakly, yet he didn't show of how he felt, you could definitely feel his fear and the like with his irregular breathing pattern, almost boarderline hyperventilating. But he'd take his place, hunched down. Did the woman really know that he was going to be picked...or was she lying? Or did she really not know? These thoughts placed around his head so vigerously. His confidence had vanished from thin air like whisping rays from the sun who had ever so illuminated the crowd- the shadow's having dissapeared from the rays cast by the sun, hidden by the clouds which seemed ready to cry.
"Anyone willing to take either of their spots?"
Nobody moved. Not a single pair of eyes looked ready to take the spot. They were all fearful too. Kai was the exception- definitely nobody would vote for him, after seeing him pull out oh so many terressae's. They mistook his fear for confidence...that was why nobody dared pull up a hand to save him.
"Very well then..."
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