Chapter 6
1064 Words
Harvey Willis POV
"Good one, butthead! Your mom made the same face last night!" I called after a boy who made a face at me and ran off. I was used to it. I had a lot of enemies. I don't know why. I'm a decent enough guy. Maybe I'm a little loud, but if you can't take that I ain't got time for you anyway.
It never took me long to get ready for a Reaping. I looked fine enough just rolling out of bed, and my parents generally just waved goodbye and locked themselves in their room.
I found a place in the crowd and catcalled through the speech. That wasn't exactly legal, but I wasn't loud enough for the Peacekeepers to hear. Not that I wasn't trying my hardest. They just had some wicked speakers.
Our escort Otho Tome swaggered onstage in a ridiculous red velvet jumpsuit.
"Looking good! You mug a fire hydrant on the way over?" I jeered. A few kids around me snickered, and Otho glared in my direction.
He sniffed and returned to the bowls.
"Ladies first!" he said as he dipped his hand in.
"Astra Quill!" he called out.
A girl with brown hair and brown eyes stepped onto the stage.
I knew Astra. We weren't in the same grade, but I saw her around school. She was nice enough. She had her own group of friends, so we didn't interact much.
Otho stepped over to the boys' bowl and picked a slip.
"Harvey Willis!"
Me? Now the party's started.
I strode onstage confidently and took my place next to Astra. She looked at me nervously and a flashed a huge grin at her.
Otho took our hands and announced us. I reveled in the sound of our entire District cheering us on. Otho took too long, so I gave him a hand.
"How about a round of applause, huh? Put those hands together!" I shouted. There was scattered applause. Most of it came from Astra's side. Philistines.
Otho looked about ready to chuck me off the stage, but he demurely folded his hands and pressed his lips together while his eyes shot daggers at me.
My parents came to see me off backstage. My mom was crying, and my dad was holding her.
"Don't worry, Mom, I'll be fine," I said.
"Don't go into the bloodbath," she said. "Just stay away from the other kids, okay?"
"Sure, Mom. No problem," I said.
I gave them both a hug and they left.
Okay, maybe a little problem.
I would certainly think about what Mom said. But maybe she was just a worrywart. If there was good stuff in the Cornucopia and the other kids were wimps, maybe I'd take a look. We'd have to wait and see. I wasn't sure exactly what would happen, but I wasn't worried. I had this.
Astra Quill POV
I looked up from the book I was reading and frowned. I was forgetting something.
Oh yeah, it's Reaping day.
I looked longingly back at my book and put it down. It was full of great facts about ancient history, like the Roman gladiators and the first settlers of Panem. I loved books that told me things I never would have gotten to see otherwise. I hoped that maybe someday I'd get invited to live in the Capitol and then I could travel all over Panem.
"Astra, time to go," my dad called as he walked into my room. "Get your shoes on."
"I'm coming, I'm coming," I said. I scampered off my bed and ran downstairs.
I pulled on my shoes and called goodbye to my parents. I ran all the way to the Reaping center, since I was running a little late. The attendant glared at me as I scooted in, but she took my blood and let me pass.
I slid into line just as Otho was reaching into the bowl.
"Astra Quill!" he called.
I froze. The girl behind me nudged me gently and I stumbled forward.
I don't want to go to the Hunger Games. I want to stay here and learn about stuff, I thought as I walked.
I stood on the stage and tried not to hyperventilate as Otho pulled the second slip.
"Harvey Willis!" he announced.
Oh great. Not Harvey, I thought.
My memory may have been the pits, but nobody could forget Harvey. For most people I had some way to remember them, like a crooked smile or a lisp. Harvey was easy. He never shut up. That boy could power and train with his wind.
That's my district partner, and he might end up being my only ally, I thought. I looked over at him and he smiled cheesily at me. Somehow it didn't encourage me.
I sat trembling on the bench backstage until my parents came. As soon as my dad sat down next to me I burst into tears and snuggled into him.
"I don't want to die, Daddy," I said. "Take me home."
Dad held me close and rocked me.
"I love you, Astra. Wherever you are, Mom and I will be watching over you. I love you so much."
Mom wrapped her arms around us both and stroked my hair.
"I love you, my baby," she said.
"Sing to me?" I asked her. She used to sing to me every night when I was little. Then she'd sit in the hall to keep the monsters away.
"Shh, it's okay, honey," Mom said.
"You are my sunshine, my only sunshine
You keep me happy when skies are gray
You'll never know, dear, how much I love you
Please don't take my sunshine away"
She and Dad kept rocking me as she sang. By the final line she was whispering. It was my favorite song, a song as old as the history I loved to read about.
A Peacekeeper laid his hand on her shoulder.
"It's time to go," he said.
My mother let go of me and stood up, and I knew when she left I might never see her again. She stood outside the door and they watched me until it was completely closed.
"I love you, Mom!" I called as I cried. "I love you both! Please don't go. I love you," I said just as the door shut.
Then they were gone, and I cried alone.
- Writer
