Chapter 1: The Reaping

"Scattered 'cross my family line, I'm so good at telling lies..."

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Emme looked in the mirror in her private bathroom connected to her bedroom, fixing up the ugly horrible bruise around her eye, left by her menace of a father. Oh she hated calling him that. It never felt right but, again nothing really felt right about her so called "Family" did actually feel right. She finally finished fixing it and applied on the rest of her makeup before getting changed into a simple elegant black dress with lace sleeves (photo at the top). Quickly said goodbye to Mrs.Figgs before making a beeline to the door in order not to deal with her parents or her older sister.

  Once, Emme was far enough out the door as well as the gate, she finally let out a breath of relief for not having deal with any of her family that early in the morning especially Today. Where 24 kids will be reaped into a disgusting awful twisted game. Plus, who gets the prize. She would usually wait for coroyo but the big things like this especially the plinth prize he was most likely at or almost at the academy already so she trenched along to school by her self. Well that's until she heard an all to familiar voice..

"Well well Emme. What a coincidence." She looked over to see none of other than Ash Warren.

"Warren. What are you doing here? Shouldn't you be having your driver take you to school?" She asked, as she continued walking.

"Oh you wound me Em." He replied, putting his hand over his chests in a fake hurt. She laughed briefly before rolling her eyes.

"Anyways. I gave him the morning off since it's a good day for a walk and I get to bump into you." She rolled her eyes at the brown haired boy before smiling slightly.

"How are you doing by the way?" She asked. He looked at her for a moment.

"Same thing as the day before. How have you been?" He asked looking straight.

"Oh you know same old same." She replied, giving a light smile. He looked at her before hesitantly putting his arm around her, giving her a side hug.

  One thing you should know about Ash Warren, he only had a soft spot for her and only her. Emme was the only one that he showed any kindness or affection too. They had an understanding between each other nobody could really understand.

  The rest of the walk the talked and joked about different things until they were in front of the academy.

"Well Shall we?" He asked. Hanging out his arm for her to take.

"Really you sure? In public? Must have a soft spot for me Warren" she teased, before taking his arm. He rolled his eyes before they entered the academy arms linked.

———

  "We all know his mother oh I'm sorry Ma." Festus Creed along with Archane Crane and felix rainsteil gossiped equally making fun of the plinth boys mainly Sejanus. While, Coriolanus and Clemmsia listened. Though Coriolanus was mainly thinking about where Emme was.

"Oh, look they make quite a pair." Archane nodded her head towards the entrance of the haul.

  The rest of the group turned slightly their heads to acknowledge Cranes remark. Coriolanus's blood ran hot with "slight" jealousy as he saw his Emme's arm wrapped around Ash Warrens. They were about to walk past the group. Before Festus had the courage to say something.

"Well, Emme you look Devine." He said. Emme turned around trying not to roll her eyes at obnoxious boy.

"You don't look half bad yourself Festus." "Yes, if pigs could were suit and tie." Warren commented. Emme pursed her lips trying not to laugh or smirk and it seems Coriolanus hesitantly trying to do the same thing. "Warren pleasure as always..." Festus muttered.

  Before the group of the Snobs went back to gossiping.

"Did you see his mother's outfit?""Sorry, his "Ma's.""Oh." Felix said as he chuckles.

  Ash and Emme rolled their eyes.

"Dress a turnip in a ball gown, and it'll still beg to be mashed." Coriolanus Said.

  They all laughed. He made the wrong mistake looking at Emme who looked back at him with disappointment. Making him slightly regret what he had said.

"Don't do that. We all know that you like him. Not to mention his menace of a brother." Arachne commented.

"I don't like him, Arachne.—I tolerate him.— He's district." Coriolanus said. Ash was about to step in to say something before Emme pulled him back to her side giving him a look which surged a bolt of jealousy through Coriolanus.

"Tolerate him." Festus asked.

"-Just don't encourage him.""-Okay. Sure."

"I hear one more time, how immoral theseHunger Games are, I'll put him in the arena mys--"  as Emme and Ashe both exchanged looks as they had enough, until they heard Felix say. "Sejanus. Marcus."

"You both made it to the Reaping for once."

"And you made it, to graduation, Festus. -We're both shocked." Sejanus commented, Snow, Warren, Marcus, and Emme chuckled.

"Em. Ashe." The plinth boys greeted with a slight smile.

"Spill it boys. Who won the prize?"

"Oh, no, I'm not gonna ruin our father's big day. No one here actually likes him, but they do love his money." Sejanus replied.

"You know what that's like, don't you, Arachne?" Marcus asked. Earning a smirk from Ash as well as a slight one from Clemmsia. And a snarky look from Arachne.

"Funny." She said.

  After that they went their separate ways and started going to the classroom.

"I'll see you after. Good luck." Ash said before, Giving Emme a quick kiss on the cheek, before walking off. Leaving the girl with a tint of red, quickly rolling her eyes.

"Didn't know you too were so close." Coriolanus who ended up beside you on your way to your seats said with a hint of jealousy.

"We're not. Just a friend. Plus, why do you care much anyways? I could ask you the same about Clemmsia." Emme remarked. Turning her head slightly to look at the boy.

"Clemmsia and I are friends or merely a more tolerable person to be around." "Is that how you see me?" Em teased slightly.

  Coriolanus rolled his eyes slightly at the girl. Before taking her hand to bring her to their seats. Coriolanus next to her, then Sejanus next to Corio.

"Hey, listen. Um, I know you have high hopes for this. But there is no prize today. Not anymore.-I'm so sorry." Sejanus leaned in to whisper to Coriolanus. Emme saw Corio go pale.

"What?" He questioned. He caught a glimpse of Emme's concerned look and whispered "theirs no more prize." Her eyes widened in shock and empathy for the boy.

Before they heard Dr. Gaul Laughing on the Mic.

"How tantalizing to see all your shining young faces on this auspicious day. I am Dr. Volumnia Gaul, your humble Head Gamemaker, in charge of the war Department and all its affiliated concerns. I've broken free of my laboratory today, to examine you. The leaders of the next generation."  Emme cringed at the last sentence.

"I won't be around forever, after all." Laughs erupted from the crowd of students, but there was nothing funny about this.

"And now to that end, I am honored to introduce to you the creator of the Hunger Games themselves. Dean Casca Highbottom."

"Uh..." Dean Highbottom clears his voice.

"Select students, faculty, and, of course, Dr. Gaul,I have summoned you all here today for the 10th annual Reaping Ceremony in which we choose two children from each district to throw into the Capitol Arena to fight to the death in the Hunger Games." He explained. Emme's blood ran cold. She hoped that this sick game was not to have them mentor the tributes.

"I can't believe they still allow him to speak in public." People whispered.

"And here sit... our own 24 top prospects all waiting to hear the results of hard study in thisprestigious institution. Eager to learn who's won that Plinth Prize, no doubt. And a golden future.However, I am here to tell you that there has been a change this year. One final assignment to prove your worth. Because..."

  Emme paled as her fears came true for where this was heading. Coriolanus saw and grabbed her hand hidden away from people's sight to help calm each other down.

"The esteemed citizens of the Capitol have grown bored of the Games and simply aren't watching anymore. And if the Games are to continue at all, there must be an audience." Afew students laugh at this.

"So, Head Gamemaker Dr. Gaul has stepped in to... incentivize patriotic values with her own unique flair, starting with you. The Plinth Prize will no longer be determined by who has the best grades."

"Excuse me?" A random student said.

"But by who is the best mentorin the Hunger Games." Students began exclaiming.

"This is a brand new role. As the Reaping progresses live, I will allocate each district tributea Capitol mentor, behind the scenes, one who must just persuade them to perform for the cameras. Obviously, the best mentor will be the one whose tribute wins the Games."

"What if I get a pathetic runt girl from one of the poor districts, like 8 or 12? They're just gonna diein two minuteslike they did last year and the year before." Arachne complained.

"Your role is to turn these children into spectacles, Ms. Crane. Not survivors. Victory in the Games is only one of our considerations. Your entire future rests on this last project.Oh, and I must tell you that anyone caught cheatingto give their tributes an unfair advantage..." a few people chuckled before turning back into seriousness.

"will just have no future at all..." Their was few seconds of silence before the music began entering the tributes:

"-Oh! Here we go. Let the Reaping ceremony begin!"

"District 1. Boy goes to Livia Cardew."

  Livia Gasps, Exclaiming afew applause for her luck.

"Girl goes to Palmyra Monty."

"-District 2 boy..." More CHEERS, APPLAUSE.

"How apt. Boy goes to Sejanus Plinth." Dean said looking at Sejanus. Emme's heart ached for Sejanus looking at him with pity. While other people applauded.

"You got the pick of the litter." Coriolanus remarked. Emme wanted to smack him upside the head at times for inconsiderate he can be.

"You forget. I'm part of that litter..." Sejanus said, sadness dripping from his voice. Emme looked at him with sincere concerning look.

" 4, boy, Persephone Price." -[APPLAUSE]"Girl, Festus Creed."(APPLAUSE]

"District 7. Girl, Pliny Harrington."[LAUGHTER]

"District 8. Girl, Hilarius Heavensbee." Emme's heart broke looking at the little girl on screen the youngest out of the lot.

"Dirstrict 10. Domitia Whimsiwick. Mmm. Girl, Arachne Crane. District 11, boy, Clemensia Dovecote. Girl, Emme Reinswood."

  Emme's throat went dry looking at the little girl on the screen her heart stopped aching at the already sick little girl who looked about the same age as wovey. She looked at Clemmsia who they both gave each other a comforting smile.As Slight Tears began to prick up into Emme's eyes. Before she looked down Coriolanus gave her hand a reassuring squeeze. Before she took a deep breath looking back to here the rest of the reaping.

"-Lysistrata Vickers."-[APPLAUSE]

"Oh. You'll be happy about this, Ms. Crane.. The "runt girl", from District 12.. she belong to Coriolanus Snow. Lucy Gray Baird..." Every started murmuring. Emme looked at corio to see that he was in fact pissed. She slightly brushed her thumb against his hand to help calm him as best as she could, he gave her a slight smile. Before they turned back to the screen.

"Sing your way out of this one, Lucy Gray." A red headed bitch said.

"What is that dress? Is she some sort of clown?" Archane Commented.

"Lucy Gray. I-I didn't know- I didn't know. I'm sorry." A boy stuttered. Which caused a few students to laugh.

  Then suddenly, the red head girl gasped and started screaming. Making Coriolanus let go of Emme's hand and stand up.

"My daughter! Help her! -Help her! Help her!" The mayor shouted."-Get it off! Get it off!" She screamed.

  As Lucy gray walked up to the stage before getting struck by the mayor.

"That's enough. Leave her be." A peacekeeper said, while two other peacekeepers help the May back. Lucy Gray Grunts in pain. Before two peacekeepers went to get her up. She put up a hand stopping them.

"Just give me a minute, boys."

"♪ You can't take my past♪ You can't take my history♪ You could take my pa♪ But his name's a mystery" a girl from the crowd started to sing.

  Lucy Gray looked towards her before getting up and started to sing.

"♪ Nothing you can take from me

♪ Was ever worth keepin'

♪ Nothing you can take"

Students started talking.

"♪ Was ever worth keepin'"

"Singing? Is she out of her mind?" Arachne again making a snide comment.

"♪ Can't take my charm♪ Can't take my humor♪ Can't take my wealth"

"Capitol says keep rolling." A camera man said. As Lucy Gray kept singing.

  Emme looked at Coriolanus and saw the way he looked at her.. like she was the only girl in the world.. in that moment she knew he would never look at her that way and it hurt but how can she blame him? His songbird was definitely intriguing...

LUCY:"♪ 'Cause it's just a rumor♪ Nothing you can take♪ Was ever worth keepin'♪ You can't take my sass♪ You can't take my talkin'" she paused, before shouting.

"♪ You can kiss my ass! ♪"  Students started laughing at the girl as Coriolanus smirked as he looked around noticing Emme was not their his brows furrowed confused. The Mic thuds as it drops to the floor.

"Come on, boys." Somebody said. And the LIVELY CHATTER began.

"Well, she's mentally ill." Arachne remarked.

  As Casa clears his throat and speaks up towards Coriolanus.

"Proud, I see. Like your father. Yes. He and I were best friends. Once. Enlighten me, Mr. Snow.What are your plans after these Games?" He asked.

"I hope to go on to the University, sir." Coriolanus replied

"Naturally. And if you fail to winthe Plinth Prize, what then?" The Dean pushed.

"We'd pay the tuition, of course."

"Look at you. Your makeshift shirt and your too tight shoes. Trying desperately to fit in when I know the Snows don't have a pot to piss in. Good luck with that poor little songbird." Dean Highbottom said before walking away. Leaving Coriolanus to his thoughts.

  Once, he got the courage to move he got up to go find Emme. To no surprise he found her in her usual 'get away spot'.

"You okay?" He asked her.

"Yes. Just needed some air." She replied. He leaned on the podium next to her.

"He's sabotaging us. That girl's not gonna win these Games. You saw her. She's underfed, unstable." Corio said. Emme looked at him.

"The Dean said, it's not just about winning. But I kn-" "Everything is about winning Em. If not the Games now, then the crowd. Lucy Gray won't survive a minute inside that arena. So that meansI have to make every second before then count.I'll get her to sing again."

"First of all you don't know that coryo. She maybe tougher than you think. I mean look at what she did to that girl and on stage. Also, if I was her I wouldn't sing a note for you if I was her. I wouldn't do anything at all... Unless I could trust you. I have to get going but hopefully you can figure it out." Emme said, before taking the dreadful walk towards home. Coriolanus watched her leave. Slightly disappointed she couldn't stay little while longer. Before thinking about what she said letting her words sink in as he took his departure too.

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(A/n: Ahh!! First chapter is complete!! Hope y'all like/will like this series, I am very excited to bring all of you on this journey with me! Also things are going to pick up between Coriolanus and Emme but also with Ash and Emme as well. And I think you all know why I said love square.. or at least I hope you!:) )