Claire tilted her head as she looked at her reflection in the fountain water. Her stormy eyes were outlined in a dark eyeliner with her lashes thick and long due to the mascara her mother had put on her. Her pink lips were now glossy and full. Her tan face was flawless, no spots in sight. Her blond hair was curled to perfection, except for this one strand, it was slowly pulling itself straight again, she sighed and curled her finger around the strand in an effort to make it curl.
"Next," the lady who was taking the blood held out her hand impatiently. Claire jumped, embarrassed to be caught musing over her reflection.
She held out her hand and felt the pinch. Then reality set in. Claire stopped in her tracks. She was going into the Hunger Games. She was going into the Hunger Games. She took a deep breath, taking control of herself before going to stand with the other girls her age.
She closed her eyes and took another deep breath. She couldn't back out of volunteering. Not now, not ever. A couple years ago when a boy never volunteered... well, let's just say he became target practice for the archers. Claire shuddered, that would not be her.
Claire looked up, startled, when the District 1 escort tapped on the microphone," Welcome District 1 to the reaping of this year's Hunger Games!" There were cheers and shouts. Claire couldn't help but smile a bit. The escort went about talking for a few minutes before showing the annual video, Claire could recite it by heart, she mouthed the words along with many other of the boys and girls as she straightened her light blue skirt, it flowed around her long legs like water, hitting her mid-thigh. The creamy blouse reached her elbow and tucked into the skirt, making her staggering height seem even taller. Her shoes were simple flats the same shade as the blouse.
"Now let us see who our lovely tribute from the ladies will be," Claire's eyes shot up on stage, she watched as the manicured hand waved over the bowl of names before selecting one. The escort cleared her throat before looking dramatically over the crowd," Jackie Ley!"
Claire stepped out, raised her hand and in a clear, pure voice," I volunteer as tribute." It took a moment to settle in as the Peacekeepers escorted her onto the stage.
The escort didn't miss a beat as she promptly grabbed Claire's long arm and brought her to the mic," Your name dear?"
"Claire Swan," Claire looked over the crowd, her vision blurring, not from tears, but from the pure adrenalin.
"Well congratulations Miss Swan. Our courageous volunteer from District 1!" There was thunderous clapping and cheering, Claire blocked it all out," now for the boys!"
"Next," the lady who was taking the blood held out her hand impatiently. Claire jumped, embarrassed to be caught musing over her reflection.
She held out her hand and felt the pinch. Then reality set in. Claire stopped in her tracks. She was going into the Hunger Games. She was going into the Hunger Games. She took a deep breath, taking control of herself before going to stand with the other girls her age.
She closed her eyes and took another deep breath. She couldn't back out of volunteering. Not now, not ever. A couple years ago when a boy never volunteered... well, let's just say he became target practice for the archers. Claire shuddered, that would not be her.
Claire looked up, startled, when the District 1 escort tapped on the microphone," Welcome District 1 to the reaping of this year's Hunger Games!" There were cheers and shouts. Claire couldn't help but smile a bit. The escort went about talking for a few minutes before showing the annual video, Claire could recite it by heart, she mouthed the words along with many other of the boys and girls as she straightened her light blue skirt, it flowed around her long legs like water, hitting her mid-thigh. The creamy blouse reached her elbow and tucked into the skirt, making her staggering height seem even taller. Her shoes were simple flats the same shade as the blouse.
"Now let us see who our lovely tribute from the ladies will be," Claire's eyes shot up on stage, she watched as the manicured hand waved over the bowl of names before selecting one. The escort cleared her throat before looking dramatically over the crowd," Jackie Ley!"
Claire stepped out, raised her hand and in a clear, pure voice," I volunteer as tribute." It took a moment to settle in as the Peacekeepers escorted her onto the stage.
The escort didn't miss a beat as she promptly grabbed Claire's long arm and brought her to the mic," Your name dear?"
"Claire Swan," Claire looked over the crowd, her vision blurring, not from tears, but from the pure adrenalin.
"Well congratulations Miss Swan. Our courageous volunteer from District 1!" There was thunderous clapping and cheering, Claire blocked it all out," now for the boys!"