District 9 3/4

1

I ran through the woods of my District, 9. I had come across a forcefield a few day ago, and i was trying to figure out why it was there. I picked up an apple and threw it, hard. It bounced backwards, singed. I laid out her pile of sticks I gathered to form a slightly curved line. "No crossing." I muttered to myself, and ran back through the woods to our small cottage. "Dad! Sarah! I'm home!" I yelled, but there was no response. I went into my room, and saw the bright pink blouse and grey skirt laid out. My reaping outfit. My reaping... "Oh my gosh!" I yelled, swiping up the outfit and slapping it on. My first reaping, and I am missing it! I thought, as I ran out the door. I ran up the cobblestone streets, and passed the endless fields of grain. I then ran to the center square. The reaping woman, I didn't know her name, was already reaching her arm into the giant bowl full of slips. I ran up to the 12 year olds, praying no one noticed I was late. The woman approached the mic. "Sarah Woodson!" she yelled, and my stomach dropped. Sarah. Suddenly the world seemed to turn upside down. My older sister. She was really the one who cooked, and kept the house clean. I couldn't do all that! Not when I did all of the hunting! My Dad worked in the fields 24/7. I suddenly became very dizzy, and fell into the stomach of the person behind me. She let out an outraged growl and shoved me forward. I fell on my face against the cobblestone and felt warm liquid underneath me. The ground tipped and I rolled over. The sky was shaking violently, so I shut my eyes, counted to 10, and sat up. I was a little shaky, but at least the world wasn't spinning. "Sarah..." I muttered, standing and stumbling forward. My sister was standing on the stage, her face solemn. "Any volunteers?" asked the strange Capitol lady. "Me! Me! I'll volunteer! Me!" I screamed, running forward. "No!" My sister screamed quite seriously, and guards had to hold me back. "No! No! I volunteer! I volun--" I was cut off by a Peacekeeper clamping his glove over my small mouth. I was soon embraced in the strong arms of my father, and he was kissing my forehead. "No... No..." I muttered, crying into his shoulder. "She'll win. I promise baby." he said, patting my back. I glanced back up at my sister, now accompanied by a strangely 12 year old. He looked terrified, while my sister looked actually ok with the Hunger Games. Every year, we watched innocents getting killed by their allies and their enemies. Now we would have to watch Sarah's death. How could our family survive if she didn't? How? "... And may the odds be ever in your favor!" she finished, but I didn't hear the first part. I didn't care. "Sarah!" I yelled loudly, but my dad dragged me away. Once we were home, I changed back into my normal clothes and cleaned my bloodied face. I brushed my hair and searched Sarah's room. I wanted her to have a token to bring with her. I grabbed her book. It was the only book we could afford, other than school books. It was a cooking book. I started tearing out pages, one by one. I found out sewing materials and sewed a small handkerchief. It was blue with a bright gold piece of grain in the middle. I stuffed it with the torn up pages, and sewed it shut. She could take this as a token.