District 5 Reapings!

The District 5 escort steps up on stage and smiles with blindingly white teeth. She starts speaking in a high pitched voice, "Welcome everyone to the Reapings! Today one young man and woman will be chosen to participate in the 28th Annual Hunger Games!" She steps up to the big bowls containing the names of every child in the district, from 12 to 18. Her hands hover above the bowls for a second, as if deciding something. "Now then, Ladies first!" she says, and reaches into the bowl filled with girls names...

.:The two tributes "Evie Northwood" and "Chase Tobias" had been chosen for slaughter, all that would be left would be to cart them off for their grand appearance in the Capitol. "Now then, are there any volunteers?" The escort asked as their two tributes joined them, on stage.

Rhea stood in the crowd and watched as Evie walked up to the stage. She looked to her brother who was a friend of Evie's and saw the sadness in his eyes. She tried to get his attention, but it was impossible. He was in the situation, totally engrossed in his own thoughts. Rhea thought back to only a couple weeks ago when her and Roe sat in their usual spot, behind an abandoned power plant.
"I have a crush on a girl, don't be mad." He said to her. The words still echoed in her mind. "I have a crush on a girl..." She was brought back to reality only when she raised her arm.

"I volunteer as tribute. I volunteer..." Rhea stood there as the faces turned to face her. She looked to Roe's horrified face and stepped out towards the aisle. She nodded and gave him a small smile trying to reassure him. She walked to the stage and climbed up the steps where she met eyes with Evie. She smiled with sad eyes as she passed the girl who won Roe's heart and took her place in the center of the stage.

Rhea could only give Evie a little smile as she walked off. She mouthed to her "please make sure he is fine," but in all the confusion she wasn't sure if Evie saw her request. The confusion that Rhea saw in the girl's eyes said it all, she didn't know how Roe felt. But it wasn't like Roe was one to talk about feelings, he was reserved and shy so she shouldn't be surprised at all about it.
Rhea looked in the crowd at the faces looking at her with horror in their faces. But then again, why shouldn't they look that way. Rhea had basically just signed her death sentence in their eyes. She knew that she might not be able to kill anyone, actually she knew for a fact that she may have a hard time doing so but maybe just maybe she could win the hearts of some generous sponsors. Than maybe, she stood a chance.

Before she could even think about it to much she felt herself being pushed into the Justice Building behind her. It was as if she were in a daze, the world around her was moving so fast and it was like her mind was working in slow motion. She found herself alone in the room in the building, the window showing all the families now leaving the town square and returning home with their children still at their sides. She heard a knock on the door and turned to find Roe standing there. His eyes were holding back tears until the doors latched and she ran to him wrapping her arms around his neck so tightly that she was afraid he might suffocate. "Sorry we didn't come right after, dad needed to get something for you." He whispered in her ear and she looked up to see her father's solemn face. He moved to her, silent and arms outstretched. She melted into his arms in a way she hadn't done since she was younger. She cried into his chest. He grabbed her chin and tilted it up slightly to face him as he opened his hand to reveal a beautiful silver chain with a silver leaf trinket on it. "This was mom's" she said as she took the necklace into her hands. "But you won't see this again, are you sure?" He simply nodded and smiled then pulled her in for one more hug before the peacekeeper came to summon the two men to leave. Rhea grabbed Roe once more and whispered in his ear, "take care of yourself....I love you."