User blog:The Targaryen of District 4/My Story - Deanna Henshaw (Chapter 1)

Author's Note
Ok, I've decided to write a story on Deanna Henshaw (true name: Louisiana Roxen). Along with my created tributes, she is a part of a story universe that I intend to create. If you end up disliking the story, then tell me in the comments section so I know whether people like it or not. In addition, the Hunger Games written in the story was not an actual Games created by any of the users on here, it is a fictional one.

One half of the entire story will be on her Games and the other will be on her mentoring a new pair of tributes.

Chapter 1: Reaping Day (10 Years Ago)
Location: The Square, District 5

Reaping Day. Possibly the worst day of every year. Children from the ages of 12 to 18 line up in individual sections in the square. As a 16 year old, I was near the back. Fortunately for me, I wasn't interested in watching any of the Capitol propaganda or the reapings.

Everything about this day is horrible. Even the oil from the nearby power plants knocks me sick.

Looking around me, I could see that everyone was dressed in their best clothes. It was apparently a tradition. Yet when I look at myself, I was dressed in a leather jacket, plain white shirt, cargo pants and black boots. How about that for breaking tradition and being rebellious then?

The atmosphere is silent until...

Clack clack clack..

The annoying sound of Cladella May's high heels. I just managed to get a glimpse of her when a 15 year old moved her head to the side.

"Hello, District 5. You know what day it is today, right?" She asks us. We nod instead of speaking out loud as when we speak, she makes boring remarks.

"It's Reaping Day! Wooo!" She cheers.

"Hey Cladella, not being mean or anything but you look terrible in that dress. The hat is just stupid. And those high heels are too big on you. Let's just hope you don't fall." The voice had come from the 17 year old males section, which was on the opposite side of us.

In unison, everyone had laughed. I giggled a little because I agreed with whoever it was.

Cladella was wearing a rainbow coloured satin dress with a ridiculous hat that looked like a multi coloured strip of bacon. Her high heels were also multi coloured and 10 inches high.

"Oh just shut up and watch the video." Cladella replied as she turned around to see the same propaganda that they showed every year. The same 15 year old was now fixated on the screen the propaganda was playing on so I decide to observe everyone.

My best friend Diane was three rows in front as she's 13. Poor girl still had 5 more years of reapings to attend. I had 2 left.

All I could hear was the voice of President Maysall, talking about how the Hunger Games were re-established after an incident regarding District 13 and 2. 13 and the Capitol was now forced to enter the Hunger Games. Just thinking about the other districts made my skin crawl.

10 minutes later, the video had finished.

"Now ladies and gentleman, it is time to pick our tributes! Boys first." Many years ago, it would have been the females that was reaped first but ever since the Games were re-established, President Maysall wanted boys to be picked first. I don't know why he wanted this to happen.

Cladella walked over to the male reaping bowl. She fiddled around with the various amount of small white envelopes until she picked one out.

"Claudio Fullerton!" She shouted. It turned out to be a 14 year old with striking blue eyes and blonde hair. The boy made his way to the stage slowly.

"So Claudio, how do you feel about getting reaped?" She asks him, moving the microphone to his mouth.

"Horrified knowing that I'm going into an unnecessary bloodbath." He replies. Smart kid. I feel the same way.

No one wanted to volunteer for him.

"Well, tough. It's the law, kid." She says as she storms off towards the female reaping bowl.

"And now for the girls." She does the same thing again, rummaging through the white envelopes. Eventually, she picked one.

My heart was thumping. I was desperately hoping that it wasn't Diane or myself.

"Diane Wright."

My heart had shattered into a thousand pieces. I started to consider whether I should volunteer. Soon, I run out of the section I was currently in. Peacekeepers immediately detected me.

"I volunteer as tribute!" I shouted. Everyone was staring at me. Diane's big green eyes were looking at me with worry.

"No! Lou, go back into your section!" Diane shouts.

"No Diane, I'm not watching you get slaughtered." I break away from the Peacekeeper's grip.

"Wow. A volunteer. Come up here, young lady." I make my way onto the stage, where I met Claudio and Cladella. All I could see were more than a thousand depressed faces and Diane having a wrestling match with the Peacekeepers. The Peacekeepers win.

"What's your name?" Cladella asks me as she moves the microphone into my face.

"Louisiana Roxen."

"Well there you have it, District 5. Your tributes. Louisiana Roxen and Claudio Fullerton."

Cladella makes me and Claudio join hands. It apparently signalises district pride. To me, it signalises unwanted attention.

"Now, you both have three minutes to say goodbye to your loved ones." Cladella announces as she escorts us into the iconic Justice Building. I was led into a room, which looked like a small library.

Diane bursts into the room, rushing to hug me.

"Thank you, Lou. For saving me. But I don't want you to die." Diane cries as she hugs me tighter.

"I'm not gonna die. I'm gonna win. And I'm gonna win for you." I promised her.

"Oh, I have something for you in case you get lonely in the arena." Diane pulled out a headband of her's and placed it in my hand.

"Have it as your token."

"Diane, you don't have to do this for me."

"Yes I do, Louisiana. My best friend is going into The Hunger Games and I must repay her for everything she's done for me." My eyes started to fill up with tears.

"I love you like a sister, Diane." I said as I hugged her again.

"I love you too, Lou."

Peacekeepers barged into the room and took Diane away.

"I'll be watching you every step of the way." The last thing I heard from Diane.

Now I know that my life is about to change forever.