97th Reaping [District Nine]

The crowds line up; white and pure uniforms as far as the eye can see. Dana Lheureux had dreamt of once becoming like them; pure and stern. A building block of the community as she had once believed, but they'd become venomous in the past year. She'd always hated the Keepers for taking up position in Nine. The new home of the Peacekeepers in Panem; a riot having long since died. Perhaps she'd always been destined to become what she hated. An explosive final burn out into nothingness; she always wanted to help people, but now she's just cold. Joining the Keepers would've been perfect, no starving on the streets with her poor mother. A perfect place to be able to sleep comfortably, survive comfortably, but it all came back to that. The life before she joined the academy.

Too many years spent in comfort; finally finding out who she was only a year ago with a new name on official records. The process had been too long. People stared at her differently, but she'd always stood with her head held high. A smile on her lips as if she's invincible to their stares. In her mind, she was, but not everything in her mind was the truth. Standing in the groups with other kids, she can feel her final breath releasing. Relief at the first name not being her own; one more year left. Just one more reaping before she can figure out a way back into the peacekeepers academy.

The summer's heat always settling in at the very end of the reapings; a dull wave of uncomfortable air. Dana's hands sweating with the perspiration of her own anxiety settling in. Head held high, she breathes out for a hope that everything will change from here. The Keepers had kicked out the worst of the worst in their faculty after her stunt. Mr. Firman seemingly having chased this to the end; no one had figured out her plan. A story spread across the rooms of the academy. Her smile had been the biggest that day, but now she rests with a blank canvas of a face. A silence settling in as the short escort seems to be reaching into the other bowl.

A past she'd long since cried about catches up.

The years of hunger filling her mind.

"Dana Lheureux!"

The name change seemed to have finally reached the top; tesserae having finally caught up to her. Too many slips in the bowl; she could feel her dreams drifting from her fingertips. Anger bubbling in the center of her chest. Vendettas beginning to burn. Was there strings pulled? She wouldn't ever know what the truth was. Dana could only feel her fists tighten as the other girls move; everyone seemingly watching her with wonder. It's the first year she'd joined the girls side of the reaping groups. A laugh on her lips. Venom in her veins, she struts up in the pretty dress she made sure to wear; swishing the fabric as she moves. If she's going to be at the center of attention, she might as well serve.

"Hello, that'd be me."

Her eyes linger towards the escort, her district partner, and then the victors.

Everything falls through her fingers; a dream swept underneath the ruins of herself.

"Make sure to root for Nine this year."

A friendly smile; a swish of her dress.

Confidence would be all they see; inside, she's terrified.