Electrify (A Hunger Games Story)- Chapter 1: The Reaping

  My fists clench up and my chest stiffens. I shakily make my way towards the stage, nearly forgetting not to act scared. I wished I could peel away the eyes that followed my every move, waiting for me to break down, contemplating my odds of survival. The air was silent as I carefully made my way up the steps.  It was almost hostile, the way every sound had stopped and fixed its eyes on me, as if I were prey. From then on, that's how I would be viewed- as prey.
  I stand awkwardly and fearfully as the male tribute is reaped. I could have sworn I had heard someone groan at the sound of the name. Felix Canta was not exactly someone you could bet on bringing your District glory. He was fourteen, a year younger than me, but appeared to be twelve. He had short, spiky black hair, and thick glasses to match. I could almost feel all of the pressure shift to me, as I was now our District's only hope. At least, I was, until the time for volunteering came.

"Here!" A boy my age shot up his hand as if he had waited for this moment his entire life, and ran towards the stage. Felix has met his salvation.

  Cavan Cutler was basically the opposite of a now relieved-looking Felix. He was tall for his age, and had a strong build. While the reaped tribute appeared as if he had never touched a butter knife, Cavan's family actually owned a store that sold knives as sharp as small swords. I had passed by the place once, but the rows of weapons hanging on the walls and the sight of Sean Cutler shouting at a disagreeable customer drove me away with a light shiver. Mr. Cutler was not a man to haggle with, and Cavan sometimes possessed the same obstinacy. Many kids at school were afraid of him and his overpowering muscles.
  With a bit of relief, almost all the pressure seemed to sink onto Cavan's shoulders. However, I realized that this meant no one would consider my survival. I would be an obsolete tribute, one of those who dies in the first twenty seconds at the Cornucopia. And if I had competition like Cavan, how was I to stand a chance? I was merely a skinny girl with a talent for math and botany.

"Let's hear it for Katelyn Fry and Cavan Cutler, our District 5 tributes!" Our escort, Lylac Gleam, awkwardly raised one of each of our arms, her enthusiasm comically contrast to my sullen face and Cavan's serious one.

  But then, it hits me. In the whirlwind of my reaping, I had forgotten something. A promise. But it wasn't mine. I angrily scan the fifteen-year-olds' section, my eyes resting disdainfully on a girl with dirty blond hair and skin a bit on the pale side. Fynn Caster meets my gaze, and my blue eyes pierce into hers expectantly. She was my best friend, and claimed to care about me more than anything. Just two days ago, at school, she had made a vow. She told me that if I were reaped, she would volunteer. She promised. I could see the guilt in her eyes, but there was something else. She was sorry, but not just because I was chosen. She was sorry for feeling glad she hadn't volunteered. I shook my head angrily, and switched my gaze. If I won the Games and came home, I would find a way to get back. I would get my revenge somehow. This, I promised myself.

No Longer the Arena

This is a response to Arianna's writing prompt/challenge!  :D  This is Peeta's {from The Hunger Game} perception.  :)

  I swished my head back and forth as I searched for Katniss.  Where had she disappeared off to?  Was she going against me?  Had she decided only she would have a chance of winning the Games?
  I quickly pushed the thought away from my head.  Why would she only want to win the Games?  It would do District 12 a great deal of good for us both to win, maybe they'd actually have pride in us and themselves.
  I began to venture out into the woods, happy the weather had cleared up.  Katniss was most likely hunting, making the best of the cool air and sun.
  I didn't dare call out her name, didn't dare go anywhere near where I knew the others might hide.  But I did know that I was well, which was a very nice change compared to how ill I had been before.  I could finally move fully.
  Wandering in the woods wasn't my cup of tea, I would've much rather been gathering food, and knowing where that part was.  I didn't know if Katniss had ever been near these parts of woods, but I did know that I hadn't.  Worry began to settle over me when I saw before me an area that wasn't wooded.
  Where in the arena was this?  I'm pretty sure someone would've found this area, but it seemed completely untouched.  I walked a little more into the space, and I could definitely see the trees begin to let up, a road beginning to grow.
  "What the heck," I muttered, not recognizing I was even speaking.
  The road continued to grow, and before I knew it, I was in a normal part of Panem, I believe.  I looked around hesitantly.  Was I hallucinating?  This couldn't have been real, this didn't look like any of the districts, not even the Capital.  It was nice, but strangely so.  Nothing like District 12, nothing like the Capital.  It didn't look like anything in Panem at all.
  I took a few more cautious steps, but nothing blew up, I wasn't captured in a constricting net, I felt oddly safe.  So, I walked a little longer.
  Before I knew it, a person was in front of me, but it wasn't Thresh or Cato, and it DEFINITELY was not Katniss.  This must've been a dream!
  "Who's there?" a girl squeaked.
  I walked a little closer, unsure if I could speak.  I saw a girl that looked to be about my age standing there, holding some sort of rope with an animal-was that a dog?-on the end of it.
  The girl looked startled.  "Who are you and why are you here?"
  "I-I'm Peeta Mellark," I stuttered, surprising myself with the few words I could utter out.
  The girl looked at me with a confused expression on her face.  "Who are you, though?  Where did you come from, why where you in the woods?"
  "It's a long story," I told her.  "Would you mind telling me where I am?"
  The girl chuckled lightly.  "Ah, are you a traveler who got lost?"
  "You could put it that way, I guess," I mumbled.
  "Well, you're in Adams, Tennessee!" the girl gushed over-enthusiastically.  "Welcome!" She stuck out her hand and I shook it gingerly.
  "What's the date?" I queried.
  "July 17, 2012," she replied nonchalantly.
  What? I thought to myself. It was most definitely not 2012 the last time I checked.  We had only heard of such times in school.
  "Why do you have that funny look on your face?" she giggled.
  I batted my eyes, open, close, open, close, hoping I would open my eyes to see Katniss standing over me, waking me up from a crazy dream.
  "I have to go," I grunted. "Goodbye."  I walked away, then, down the rock-like surface of the road.
  "Wait!" the girl called, running back to her house and shooing her dog into the door.  She caught up with me and started walking along with me.  "So, Peeta, I'm Heather."
  I stared at my feet.  "Hello, Heather."
  I wasn't caring about this girl's name, I was caring about how I could get back to Katniss.  She didn't need to be worried sick about me.  Heather rambled on and on about whatever it was she was speaking about, but all I cared was how to get back to the arena, even if it meant that I might die in there, I needed Katniss and Katniss needed me.
  I turned on my heel quickly, leaving Heather behind.
  "Hey!" Heather yelped at my quick turning, making her feel lonely.  "Stop goin' so fast, you need to slow down and enjoy the scenery!"
  I sighed.  "I can't, I know where I need to go, and I need to get back.  Goodbye now."
  Heather's hand brushed up against my arm as I walked off, and I felt her warmth, her distaste for me leaving, but I couldn't stay here.  I needed to get back to the arena, and I needed a way how.

~~

  So, I hope you enjoyed!  I might actually continue this, but I don't know.  Thanks for this awesome prompt, Danielle!  It was so much fun to write!

~Carolyn