The Hunger Games: District 14

The sun took longer than usual to peek out behind it costume of wispy clouds and it cast a welcome glow over the District. Today midsummer it was the most anticipated day of the year – the reaping.

“Roll up, roll up, place your bids! Starting bid 3 chickens! Roll up today we are offering places in the 76th games only two places available! Two highest bidders scoop the prize!”

“3 chickens!”

“5!”

“4 and a cow!”

“6 cows!”

“7 cows and a chicken!”

Bids flew around the auction square continually, everybody wanted to be a part of the games, after all – gaining a place granted you automatic heroism.

“Okay, so final bids are: 8 cows a goat and 4 chickens to Arrow Treardweson and 8 cows and a sheep to Bow Treardweson! Looks like this will be a family affair this year! Now unless we have any other bids...”

The auctioneer recoiled as excruciating pain shot up through his scrotum. “Yea, I am making a bet, tell them I bet 7 horses and 6 cows but you are not getting them. Do you hear me; Arrow is NOT going into the games.”

“We have a new high bidder, and the time is up, looks like our tributes this year are Bow Treardweson and Mace(y) Razor!”

Macey patted his flushed pink cheeks – “grow a pair.”  She released her grip and slunk away from the podium not caring if anybody saw or not.

* * * * *

            Mr and Mrs Treardweson - Ivan and Savanah - waited for the trio back at home anxious to hear the results of the reaping. Bow burst through the door with a zest she had been harbouring since her win twenty minutes ago.

            Savanah started crying, she loved her District – the people and the security of not going to war - but the one thing she hated was how children were indoctrinated and now were all bloodthirsty maniacs. The thought of Bow being one of them and paying to kill made her feel physically sick.

            “Guess who’s going into the Games! And guess whose going with me!”

Savanah held her breath, there was no way she could deal with both of her children leaving for the games – one was bad enough. Ivan answered for her,

“My boy! I’m so proud!” In his eyes to prove yourself worthy of the District you had to fight in the Games and win. Survival and killing skills were drilled into students from day one and if the tribute failed – or came home without killing both the tribute and the family were shunned.

            Arrow slammed the front door behind him and stormed off upstairs – Mace(y) followed after him with a devilish glean in her eye.

“You can breathe mum, Mace(y) stole Arrows bid; we’re going to the games.”

Savanah collapsed on the settee with shear relief, it’s not that she disliked Mace(y) but all the anger that the poor girl was concealing had proved to be a bad influence on her twins. “When are you leaving?”

            Ivan left the room for the wine cellar leaving his wife and daughter to talk on their own. He was glad that Bow had gotten a place; he hoped that her seeing brutal deaths rather than just hearing about them would be enough to dispel the carnivorous thoughts from her mind. He pulled a bottle of ale from the shelf then pulled out the cork with his teeth. Before it had the chance to foam over he downed a generous helping. When he returned back upstairs the room was free from kids again, his wife was in the kitchen slamming around with pots and pans.

            “Baby, she won’t be gone for very long and we’ll be too preoccupied keeping Arrow and Cinna amused – they worship the ground the girls walk on. It’ll be a tough time for us but even worse for them, that’s their soul mates fighting for their lives. And I’m thinking that maybe we should ask J’aret to move in, were going to need to keep an eye on him. With his past with Capitol and his only daughter paying to take part in one of their schemes, I don’t think he will take it very well.”

            Savanah dropped her dishes in the sink and moved in closer to her husband. Their bodies were pressed together so tightly she could feel Ivan’s heart beating against her shoulder blade at an unusually high pace. Standing on point she kissed his right cheek passionately. “That’s why I love you,” she whispered suggestively in his ear biting his lobe between breaths.

            “And I love you when you’re not all tense, so I think I’m going to have to do something about that.” He picked his wife up supporting her bottom with crossed arms, serving like a seat. She wound her long legs around him and tightened squeezing them together. She clung to him barely stopping to pull herself up from the slouch she was sliding into. He carried her though to the lounge kicking the door open, all the while not taking his eyes of his wife and lover of many years. “The cellar” she instructed, “We can be alone there.” He followed his wife’s command and kicked the cellar door open. They glided down the stairs effortless not even looking to see if they were going to miss a step of not. It reminded the couple of their youth together; skipping school to make out in the weaponry room, the long sweaty nights under the stars and the cool refreshing evenings under the summer sunset.

            They backed up against the stone cellar wall still locked together as one. She caressed his scalp with her hands and he shifted his arms raising her so that they were the same height as they looked into each other’s eyes. He tightened his arms again so that they were resting against his navel. She stretched her arm out dimming the lights of the cellar and all the tension and emotional pain of losing their only daughter to a world of war faded away.