The 48th Maze Running Selection Ceremony

[Arrow]

The 48th Maze Running Selection Ceremony

    The day was just dawning when our train finally filed into the station. Upon departure we are ushered into cars and watch as an entire District awakens to the most important day of the year. Some are shedding tears while others are rushing through the streets with excitement staining their skin. A smile spurs across my face as I follow the figures with my eyes, I love this job. A scream, a shout, footsteps running away or towards the sight of our caravan. The Capitol was here to select the next shining star of Panem, Ceasar was undoubtedly preparing to start the show in his studios. Today is going to be a glorious day. 

    Midday soon shines over the skin of hundreds of children glancing at me to discover their destiny. I smile in the light of the sun, "Welcome, Welcome to the annual Reaping. Today we will select two brave souls to travel to the heart of our nation and compete for a chance at unlimited riches and glory. Good luck and may the odds be ever in your favor!" Silence stirs me to my place by the first bowl, would there be any volunteers today? Time to find out who will be my Runners. 

    "Ladies first," My fingers fall and furl around a single slip of paper before pulling it from its place. I pause for a moment of adrenaline induced anticipation and read the first name allowed with a sweet smile. "Julianna Reekie!" I waste no time watching her walk from her place in the crowd. I soon select the slip of my second contender, "Viktor Blackwood!" 

Please reply to this thread with a single post accepting or denying your position in the Maze

[Kaplan]

Rachel Violette
District Two

Her father had always wanted her to volunteer. Although, he wanted her to wait until she was eighteen years old. Unfortunately for him, she'd be going earlier than that. As soon as Julianna Reekie's name was announced, Rachel rose her voice to shout. She wasn't going to let her dear cousin fight a death match that she wasn't prepared for. No, Rachel was much more prepared than Julianna. Julianna was only twelve years old. She couldn't survive such a thing.

"I volunteer!" she yelled above the bustling crowd. Julianna hadn't even made it halfway to the stage when Rachel took her place. Julianna's tears were starting to form, but Rachel couldn't let that stop her. She had volunteered to save a life, even if she were risking her own. Besides, Rachel was a career. She had trained for this. Her father wanted her to fight, even if she didn't want to. He'd just have to let her do it a year early.

Rachel wasn't even sure if she was ready, but she knew she had to volunteer to save her cousin. Whether or not she made it out alive was going to be something she'd just have to find out as it came. If death took her over, so be it. At least it wouldn't take someone she loved. Her brothers, Marco and Jake, were safe at home, and now her cousin could be, too. No one was going to die unless it was her.

[Rachel volunteers as D2F]

[tom]

Vallis Bannister
District Two

Two kids tossing a football back and forth with their hearts at ease. A toothy grin upon his face as he can remember the day that they met one another. All it took was one love of throwing a ball around and poor families to get them together. Careers in their own right, but neither was into it. Instead, they ditched training for long days upon a roof staring into the sky watching clouds pass by. How things seemed to be so simple then and change within seconds in a matter of a year. A kiss was all it took for his heart to break inside. A kiss was all it took to feel like he had found the one like it had been so simple, until the day he broke his heart. A whisper of I can't do this, falling from his lips like an arrow through the chest. And he fell hard until he collapsed onto the pavement outside that day, screaming to no one.

All it took was one whisper to tear his heart out.

A year without Viktor was horrible. A year where he felt like he couldn't breath. Nothing eased his heart as his parents leave him behind for jobs. Alone and a career, training for the day to fight, or as he would know, die. Not many survive the maze and he wouldn't know if he could. He still loved Viktor with all of his heart, but that had ended. A piece of himself was gone with just the few words. A scream to leave his home and Val fell to the ground outside of his home, begging to be freed from it all. This was not the way that he was meant to be freed.

"Viktor Blackwood!"

No. Heart beating with the name of the guy who was his best friend and first love. Deep down he knew what would happen. The whispers of talking what was in store for their future comes to his head. Dreams of becoming something more than just poor families who trained for the maze. Viktor told him that he wanted to be a teacher once he wasn't a career. A teacher of something that they never discussed, but all of that was shattering. In front of his eyes, Viktor climbs up and his heart races a million miles an hour. Feet take over first.

He's running as fast as his legs will take him. Shoving through other children who stand there waiting to volunteer or see who it is. There's a moment where Viktor notices him shaking his head no, but Val pushes on still. Once in front of him, arms wrap around him as he lets tears slip. Viktor speaks up first with a tone that is serious, but he doesn't care.

"Don't do this, Val. Y-You can't."

"I will. You're worth more than I am. Become your dream, Viktor."

Silence before the storm as he climbs forward with a smile. Tears gone away as he knows what he's doing. Giving in to the fate that was meant for Viktor Blackwood.

"I volunteer!"

Silence before everything crashes once again, but his heart still beats as his eyes glance up to catch him.

Become your dream. There's nothing left for me here.

[Vallis Bannister volunteers as D2M]