#task:reaping

"Malia!" the door of my bedroom swung open with a loud bang that made me jump out of my own skin. Tossing the blanket from above me I turned around to find my sister dressed in a red dress. My eyes diverted from her and headed for my window; I hadn't noticed that the sun had already risen. "Dad will be furious if he finds out you stay up all night reading that book of yours!" my sister finally added. Gulping I thought of only one thing, shit.

I had been so into the book I had let time fly pass me. On a different occasion this wouldn't have worried me but today was reaping and I couldn't afford to be late, let along have father furious at me. Jumping to my feet I rushed to the shower, throwing my words at her as I passed by. "Please don't tell him, I'll be right down!"

Jumping into the shower I took the fastest shower of my life. I barely let the water touch my skin before I was already standing before my closet. I took a shower every day so it's not like I would stink and if I did, then oh well. The people of district twelve would have another reason for hating me. 

Today I was going to be among all the kids of district twelve, the last thing I wanted to do was stand out. To my right stood the dress my sister had laid out for me the night before - because she cares so much for how we look - but the dress was just too much. Biting my lip I shoved that dress to the back of my closet and instead put something that wouldn't make me stand out. All I wanted to do was fit in. Putting my hair in a tight bun I took one look at myself in the mirror before heading down to find my whole family was waiting for me. Though instead of hearing about how I was late the first thing I heard from my mother was. 

"You are not wearing that Malia."I looked down at my clothes and honestly I didn't think I looked that bad. I honestly didn't know how to respond to my mother without being rude but to my surprise my father came to my rescue. "she's already late, get going child. We'll talk when you get home."

Nodding I rushed out the door and into the empty streets. Picking up my skirt I rushed down the streets, glad no one was around. Arriving I noticed the line was short due to my lateness. My breathing came out heavy as the woman in white pricked my finger. Not even waiting for her dismissal I rushed towards my section. 

I was still trying to catch my breath as I stood in my section. Everyone around me was silent and not even my presence among them could make them talk. Right now I felt like I was standing in a graveyard and everyone around me was already mourning the unlucky two that would be reaped today. I had watched every hunger games since I was born, not a single tribute from our district had ever made it out alive in those sixteen years. Even though we knew it wasn't impossible to win due that we had three victors already, in fact we even have the only love couple to ever make it out of the arena, but the odds were rarely in our favor. And I mean very rarely. 

Eventually the silence was broken by a man walking into stage and everything about his appearance shouted, 'look at me, I'm from the capitol'. I heard he had once upon a time been from our very own district, stood among us but that obviously was in the past. What had once been normal skin was now bright yellow with a huge star in the middle. No one even remember his name anymore, everyone simply knew him by his capitol name; stardust. How horrible must it be to lose oneself like that but then again, maybe that's what he wanted. I shouldn't judge him.

The same routine that I had experience for the last sixteen years happened again. Before I knew it Stardust was letting out a sigh as he rubbed his hand together like he had just seen the masterpiece of his life. To be honest I don't believe he had ever been from here. "up first, the ladies." he finally shouted into the microphone which made me cringe. Every girl in my section held their breath as Stardust made his way towards the bowl. I closed my eyes and held my breath along with them. "please, don't be me." but I spoke too late.

"Malia Augustine." My eyes remain shut and I let out the breathe rapidly that it shook my body. Slowly my eyes open and I found every girl looking at me but they weren't looking at me with eyes of sympathy. The whole female section was filled with small smiles and silent laughter and I was standing right in the middle of it all. 

Taking a deep breath I remember something my mother once told me when I was still in training with her; 'shoulders down, neck long, think murder' and that's exactly what I did. The girls in front of me parted as I made my way to the aisle. With my head held high I walked with confidence even though instead I was screaming. I was an Augustine after all and we Augustine never falter in the face of fear. 

What felt like an eternity later I was standing beside Stardust. I looked out at the crowd but I wasn't searching for smirks but for my family faces. Far behind I could see them and none of them wore expressions of sadness. Not a single trace of emotion. It was like they didn't care at all. Raising my eyes I looked into the distance tired of looking at the faces of my emotionless family. The things I would say right now and I think a part of me would have said them but instead Stardust called out another name.

"Pachenko Gilles" usually our reapings are quiet because we would never dare rebel against the capitol - or at least not make a commotion. Until today. My eyes snapped back to the aisle before me when I heard a tall male shout on top of his lungs "I'm here assholes!" I had never seen a drunk man in my life but I think what I was seeing before my eyes was exactly that. I clenched my teeth as the commotion unfolded before me. One minute everything was fine and the next the guy was throwing punches at the peace-keepers. He definitely needs to sort out his priorities.