The Mockingbird and the Jabberjay
Jul 8, 2011 6:06:26 GMT -5
Post by ali on Jul 8, 2011 6:06:26 GMT -5
Alika POV
A great amount of dread flooded over me, as sun light filled my small shack. I stared up at the ceiling as the dust danced around the light beams of the sun which was bursting through the dirty window. I sat up looking round the room, my itchy brown blanket covered my legs sprawling out across the floor. My stomach growled ferociously so much it hurt. Clutching my stomach I closed my eyes. Today was the day. The day that killed me inside, the day that killed everybody inside. Today was the day of the reaping.
I heard the clock strike 7am. 1 hour. That's all the time I had left til it began. 2 hours until myself and 1000 other children aged 12-18 would be walking to the justice building. 2 of those children would be walking to a death sentence.
Meredith POV
I stirred as sun light passed through the window along with the waves breaking against the beaches edge. Today was the day, the day my family dreaded the most since almost a year ago to this very day. I opened my eyes and looked round my crisp white room. The smell of fish and salt wafted through the halls. I sighed as I glanced across at the empty bed. Untouched since that day. The pain was growing inside me. I knew that the weight on my shoulders wouldn't be lifted until 4pm this evening which was 8 hours away. Even so, this could be my last reaping if the odds were not in my favor.
I stood and looked out my window over district 4. The sea lapping at the waters edge. Birds crying out swirling in the breeze without a care in the world. I only dreamed of being that free. Free from the pain, free from the hunger games. Free from life.
Alika POV
I stood among a group of children, half of which I didn't even know the names of. The peacekeepers stood either side of the stage, in their crystal white suits which no doubt I most likely help stitching together. I heard a cry from above, a bird flew over head. I sighed. I dreamed of being able to fly among the birds and the clouds with out a care in the world. Our Capitol mentor stepped up onto a podium. The crowd fell silent.
“Welcome District 8 to the 30th reaping of the hunger games!” he grinned
The audience gave a slight applause but there was no reason to be happy.
“I'd like to remind you of our past winner.....Erik Olson the winner of the 26th hunger games. He will be mentoring this years tributes through out the games. Now onto the picking of our first tribute. May the odds be in your favor!”
I watched as he walked over to a large glass dome, filled with dozens of small blue paper squares. With a dozen children's names scrawled on. I felt the atmosphere reach its peek as he drew the first tributes name from the dome.
Meredith POV
“Bobbin Hoslaw” said the man on the television
I watched as a small ginger headed boy, only about the age of 12 walk towards the stage. I could hear someone sobbing. Another mother mourning the death of her child which hadn't even died yet. I looked down. He must have a family out there. Someone who cares for him. A mother, a sister a father.....a brother. I frowned as the man on the TV spoke again.
“Congratulations Bobbin would anyone like to volunteer to take his place?”
No one moved.
“Alright then.......Now for our female tribute”
I watched as he walked over to a second dome, reach inside and pull a piece of paper out. He squinted as he tried to read the writing. Everyone was silent.
“Alika Thins...”
I heard no sob or cry, as a blonde girl around the age of 15 began to walk through the crowd.
Alika POV
“Alika Thins...” the mentor called
At that moment the world began to spin. Some how I felt my feet drag themselves towards the podium. As I reached the steps I was greeted by the mentor. He took my hand pulling me onto the stage. I stumbled forward.
“Any volunteers? No? Well then.....District 8...I present you with you tributes for the 30th hunger games!!!!”
I heard the minority of the crowd applaud before the peacekeepers yelled at them to get back to there jobs. I watched as they all left, no one was left behind in the square. Myself and Bobbin were then whisked inside the justice building. I had never been inside the building before I had only seen the outside at the time of reapings and executions. Neither of which were a good occasion. Though inside was beautiful, the floor was marble grey and painting hung on the walls. I gasped as we were both lead to a elevator. It went so fast to the second floor, I swear my stomach was left behind. The peacekeeper gestured for me to sit on the couch and so I did. Not that anyone was going to come say goodbye. I guess that was the only positive thing about the games. No one would miss me and I would miss no one. Soon the hour came to a end, and I was escorted by the peacekeepers to the train station.
I had never been on any type of transport before, so I was nervous about getting on the train. Not that I had much choice. Once inside I was shown my room, which was nice. It was extravagant like the justice building. The bed was soft unlike my one in my house in district 8, which was to be honest nothing more than a flimsy pillow and a sheet. There was also a chest of draws, which held valuable clothing. As I rummaged through the contents, I discovered many items of clothing I didn't know what they were despite working in a clothing factory. After trying many things, on I finally walked into the main compartment. Bobbin was there watching some of the last reapings of the day I think they were in district 4 now. I had just sat down when the male tribute was called.
Meredith POV
“Meredith Coin” the capitol mentor called.
The whole crowd erupted with cheer. Clapping and yelling deafened me as I walked to join Italia who was the other tribute. However, I wish they hadn't begun clapping and yelling. It just reminded me of what happened last reaping day. Our mentor held our hands thrusting them into the air causing the crowd to go wild as we were led into the justice building. I had been inside before. Last reaping day. Though nothing really impressed me. It was all the same in our district. I went up the elevator and sat in the same room as I had been last year. Soon after my parents joined me. They both hugged me tightly telling me they loved me and would miss me if anything happened. I sighed and told them I loved them too. My father handed me something to take into the arena, a small shell. I clasped it tightly. Time went too quickly, and my parents were dragged from the room. Tears running down my mothers face. I waved weakly to them as they left. I was soon forced onto the train, and my journey began.
I wasn't looking forward to this. I just wanted to jump off this train and die, but I knew that wasn't possible. The doors were padlocked, and breaking a window in this thing would be impossible. By the time dinner came, I could barely swallow my food. I was to distraught. I glanced at the TV as the Panem's seal appeared. The woman began with the usual speech in her extremely annoying Capitol accent.
“Hello Panem. Your president, President Collic.” she smiled
The president appeared on the screen with his grey hair, lips and dark eyes.
“Thank you Panem. For joining me on this special occasion. Today was our 30th reaping for the years Hunger games. May the odds be in your favor” he grinned as the screen returned to the woman.
She began listing this years tributes in reverse order. I watched as she read out district 8's tributes.
“Bobbin Hoslaw is 12 years old and the female tribute is 15 years old and named Alika Thins.”
The girls face appeared on the screen beside the boys. I got a closer look at her now. She was thin faced with thin lips and crystal blue eyes. Sea blue eyes... Her hair was golden like the sand. She reminded me of the beach in district 4. She was beautiful. I couldn't help but stare at the screen until her image disappeared. I bit my lip excusing myself from the table as the train sped towards the Capitol.
A great amount of dread flooded over me, as sun light filled my small shack. I stared up at the ceiling as the dust danced around the light beams of the sun which was bursting through the dirty window. I sat up looking round the room, my itchy brown blanket covered my legs sprawling out across the floor. My stomach growled ferociously so much it hurt. Clutching my stomach I closed my eyes. Today was the day. The day that killed me inside, the day that killed everybody inside. Today was the day of the reaping.
I heard the clock strike 7am. 1 hour. That's all the time I had left til it began. 2 hours until myself and 1000 other children aged 12-18 would be walking to the justice building. 2 of those children would be walking to a death sentence.
Meredith POV
I stirred as sun light passed through the window along with the waves breaking against the beaches edge. Today was the day, the day my family dreaded the most since almost a year ago to this very day. I opened my eyes and looked round my crisp white room. The smell of fish and salt wafted through the halls. I sighed as I glanced across at the empty bed. Untouched since that day. The pain was growing inside me. I knew that the weight on my shoulders wouldn't be lifted until 4pm this evening which was 8 hours away. Even so, this could be my last reaping if the odds were not in my favor.
I stood and looked out my window over district 4. The sea lapping at the waters edge. Birds crying out swirling in the breeze without a care in the world. I only dreamed of being that free. Free from the pain, free from the hunger games. Free from life.
Alika POV
I stood among a group of children, half of which I didn't even know the names of. The peacekeepers stood either side of the stage, in their crystal white suits which no doubt I most likely help stitching together. I heard a cry from above, a bird flew over head. I sighed. I dreamed of being able to fly among the birds and the clouds with out a care in the world. Our Capitol mentor stepped up onto a podium. The crowd fell silent.
“Welcome District 8 to the 30th reaping of the hunger games!” he grinned
The audience gave a slight applause but there was no reason to be happy.
“I'd like to remind you of our past winner.....Erik Olson the winner of the 26th hunger games. He will be mentoring this years tributes through out the games. Now onto the picking of our first tribute. May the odds be in your favor!”
I watched as he walked over to a large glass dome, filled with dozens of small blue paper squares. With a dozen children's names scrawled on. I felt the atmosphere reach its peek as he drew the first tributes name from the dome.
Meredith POV
“Bobbin Hoslaw” said the man on the television
I watched as a small ginger headed boy, only about the age of 12 walk towards the stage. I could hear someone sobbing. Another mother mourning the death of her child which hadn't even died yet. I looked down. He must have a family out there. Someone who cares for him. A mother, a sister a father.....a brother. I frowned as the man on the TV spoke again.
“Congratulations Bobbin would anyone like to volunteer to take his place?”
No one moved.
“Alright then.......Now for our female tribute”
I watched as he walked over to a second dome, reach inside and pull a piece of paper out. He squinted as he tried to read the writing. Everyone was silent.
“Alika Thins...”
I heard no sob or cry, as a blonde girl around the age of 15 began to walk through the crowd.
Alika POV
“Alika Thins...” the mentor called
At that moment the world began to spin. Some how I felt my feet drag themselves towards the podium. As I reached the steps I was greeted by the mentor. He took my hand pulling me onto the stage. I stumbled forward.
“Any volunteers? No? Well then.....District 8...I present you with you tributes for the 30th hunger games!!!!”
I heard the minority of the crowd applaud before the peacekeepers yelled at them to get back to there jobs. I watched as they all left, no one was left behind in the square. Myself and Bobbin were then whisked inside the justice building. I had never been inside the building before I had only seen the outside at the time of reapings and executions. Neither of which were a good occasion. Though inside was beautiful, the floor was marble grey and painting hung on the walls. I gasped as we were both lead to a elevator. It went so fast to the second floor, I swear my stomach was left behind. The peacekeeper gestured for me to sit on the couch and so I did. Not that anyone was going to come say goodbye. I guess that was the only positive thing about the games. No one would miss me and I would miss no one. Soon the hour came to a end, and I was escorted by the peacekeepers to the train station.
I had never been on any type of transport before, so I was nervous about getting on the train. Not that I had much choice. Once inside I was shown my room, which was nice. It was extravagant like the justice building. The bed was soft unlike my one in my house in district 8, which was to be honest nothing more than a flimsy pillow and a sheet. There was also a chest of draws, which held valuable clothing. As I rummaged through the contents, I discovered many items of clothing I didn't know what they were despite working in a clothing factory. After trying many things, on I finally walked into the main compartment. Bobbin was there watching some of the last reapings of the day I think they were in district 4 now. I had just sat down when the male tribute was called.
Meredith POV
“Meredith Coin” the capitol mentor called.
The whole crowd erupted with cheer. Clapping and yelling deafened me as I walked to join Italia who was the other tribute. However, I wish they hadn't begun clapping and yelling. It just reminded me of what happened last reaping day. Our mentor held our hands thrusting them into the air causing the crowd to go wild as we were led into the justice building. I had been inside before. Last reaping day. Though nothing really impressed me. It was all the same in our district. I went up the elevator and sat in the same room as I had been last year. Soon after my parents joined me. They both hugged me tightly telling me they loved me and would miss me if anything happened. I sighed and told them I loved them too. My father handed me something to take into the arena, a small shell. I clasped it tightly. Time went too quickly, and my parents were dragged from the room. Tears running down my mothers face. I waved weakly to them as they left. I was soon forced onto the train, and my journey began.
I wasn't looking forward to this. I just wanted to jump off this train and die, but I knew that wasn't possible. The doors were padlocked, and breaking a window in this thing would be impossible. By the time dinner came, I could barely swallow my food. I was to distraught. I glanced at the TV as the Panem's seal appeared. The woman began with the usual speech in her extremely annoying Capitol accent.
“Hello Panem. Your president, President Collic.” she smiled
The president appeared on the screen with his grey hair, lips and dark eyes.
“Thank you Panem. For joining me on this special occasion. Today was our 30th reaping for the years Hunger games. May the odds be in your favor” he grinned as the screen returned to the woman.
She began listing this years tributes in reverse order. I watched as she read out district 8's tributes.
“Bobbin Hoslaw is 12 years old and the female tribute is 15 years old and named Alika Thins.”
The girls face appeared on the screen beside the boys. I got a closer look at her now. She was thin faced with thin lips and crystal blue eyes. Sea blue eyes... Her hair was golden like the sand. She reminded me of the beach in district 4. She was beautiful. I couldn't help but stare at the screen until her image disappeared. I bit my lip excusing myself from the table as the train sped towards the Capitol.