THE BALLAD REBORN | Hunger Games

ONE

The sky was finally becoming visible as all the curtains open so they could relay on natural lighting during the day. The sun set on my face as I woke up. "Cordelia you better be up we have to go to the market for tonight feast"  Ahhh yes the feast we make every year after the reaping. It was only day of the year were we all parents celebrated their kids not being reaped well except two parents. Those parents would shut their blinds and morn in silence it's was a custom of the people from district five to gift the mourning family food before the others head to the celebration.

Today was the day of the reaping for the 61st Hunger Games and to say I was relaxed would be a big fat lie. My mother Celeste made sure I knew how to handle myself if I was ever put into the games as my grandma Lucy did the same for her. She was a doctor here in our district most of the time the injury people get are from working at the power plant or the electric dam. Growing up I only had my mother in my life after my father died in powerplant explosion.

My grandmother was Lucy Gray Baird, she was the female tribute from District 12 in the 10th Hunger Games. Her mentor was Coriolanus Snow, a top-performing student at the Academy however now he's know as President Snow. She was the victor of the Games, and was a Capitol favorite. You may be wondering why you don't remember her well that's because her games were erased from the archives and only those that were around would remember them. Coriolanus left her for dead in the forest but lucky Maude Ivory found her and rescued her along with a few of the covey members. It's turn out she was pregnant so she packed up her things and moved to district 5 were she changed her names and her hair so that other wouldn't recognize her. Lucy always told me the story of her games and the people she met while she was there. She died when i was nine to the flu that swept across the elderly here in 5.

We began walking to the market to pick up a vanilla cake decorated with Katniss flowers it my favorite cake to eat but this is the only time of the year we allow ourselves to buy as cake are an expensive here in the district. My best friend David parents owns the bakery we buy from. We've been friends since we were kids and we were inseparable. He always told me that if I ever went in the he would follow and

"I'm having a bad feeling about today" Celeste snapped her head to her daughter before gently grabbing her face. Every mother goal is to shield their kids from danger and in this case it was the games.

"You are going to be okay the odds aren't in your favor you haven't take any Tessera" my mother was right we come from the wealthier side of five were we have the luxury to afford our lifestyle compared to most other in the district.

"Okay but that fealing hasn't gone away and it won't until I'm eighteen"

We finally entered the bakery as the bell rang David comes running into the room and immediately runs to Cordelia. When she steps into the room it's like his world lights up and everyone can tell as he always smiling when they are together.

"Delia I was wondering when you get here" David says kissing her forehead and Cordelia face becomes immediately red. Our parents stared at us with a smile.

Mr newton walked over to us with our cakes box. "We will see you at the feast" he asked us and we nodded to him. "Of course Jim" Everyone was smiling but we knew we were all just playing along to the emotion because we aren't safe until the reaping over.

Usually the career district are the one know to dress up as if they are attending a ball. It's known that the best looking tend to have the most sponser and everyone always made sure their children look as if they are covered in wealth. Every year it was know that David and Cordelia would have matching outfits for the reaping. In five no one really cares about the reaping as most of the tributes always die in the bloodbath we've only had two winner.

Porter Millicent Tripp winner of 38th Hunger Games, however due to a spinal injury she received on the last day of her Games, she had to wear a neck brace on the entirety of her Victory Tour.

Colin Throne won the 39th Hunger Games. He killed his own district partner in the bloodbath but everyone in our district as an acholic. From what we gather he not the best mentor as he often would just be drinking. What ever he suffered in the game followed him after.

Everyone gather in the square outside of the Justice Building. The square is decorated with banners of Panem, with cameras crews set up around the perimeter of the square to both capture the event as well as the reaction of the crowd and selected tributes, as it is televised live for both the citizens of the Capitol and the nation.

This year Cordelia was wearing a white babydoll dress embroidered with flowers on it while David has a white button with the same print wearing black slacks. The district always admire the their outfits as it seems to brighten their day. In a seas of beige and blue the pair in white stuck out like a sore thumb.

"Now, the time has come for us to select one courageous young man and woman for the honor of representing District 5 in the 61st Annual Hunger Games." Stella who was rocking a blue wig that look as those she was gonna fall over said into the mic. Stella was our escort and every year she come her outfit get more bizarre, last year her outfit was a snake like form on human skin.

"As usual....ladies first." She dug her hand deeply in the crystal ball, pulled out a slip of paper, walking back to the mic. It was so quite all you could hear was the bird chirping.

"The District Five girl tribute is Cordelia Gray Baird," Stella said into a mic. Everyone looked over the crowd of blue and grays and those in the capital gave a surprised expression at the sight of her.

Me

I could feel everyone eyes on me when my name was said. All I wanted to do was hide in the shadows but I couldn't. Play the game or forfeit your life. My grandmother word entered the my head. I dropped my scared form and walked out of my spot with confident and smiling as if it was a great honor to represent my district when in reality it wasn't.

"Well look at your confident my dear" Stella says grabbing my hand as I made my way up the stage smiling and waving at the crowd as I made my over to my spot next to the female ball. "Any volunteers?" The crowd remained silence. The rule is that once a tribute's name has been pulled and after they made their way onto the stage then they can volunteer.

"Now for the boys" Stella reaches into the boy crystal ball she reached all the way into the bottom before pulling out a slip. "Reed Tanner" The boy was so small he looked to be only twelve meaning this was his first year being in the reaping. The odds certainly weren't in his favor. I wanted to frown at him but I couldn't because I knew the capitol was watching.

Reed slowly made his way up stage shaking with fear as he got into his spot. "Any volunteers?" Stella ask once more before she finish a voice spoke up.

"I volunteer as tribute" David spoke up that when a sob could be heard it was his mother. The people in the captiol gasped at his outfit as if was the same as Cordelia and also the fact that five was not know to volunteer

David like me made his way confidently up the stairs replacing the boy in his spot. What was he thinking I can't kill him if it comes down to it I just can't."What's your name young man?"

"David Newton" he said into the mic.

"Lovely my boy" Stella clapped as she new this game would be amazing.

"Now shake hands" but we didn't instead we grab each other hand as we bowed to the crowd with smirks on our faces.

"Wonderful. The tribute from District Five, Cordelia Gray Baird and David Newton"