âAre you ready?â Aurora inquired, her voice soft and relaxed as she expertly fixed her husbandâs tie. David smiled, glancing at their children running around the living room. If they were to be reaped, it would be because of him and he didnât think he would be able to leave with that. âShould I come with?â He nodded, kissing her forehead, before walking with his family to the Justice Building.
After hugging his wife and children, David walked towards the stage, finding Narcissa screaming at who he guessed was her assistant. He knew better than to intervene in her business, climbing the stairs on the stage. A crowd was starting to gather and David was starting to feel a similar kind of nervous as the day he volunteered. He hoped he didnât have to mentor any careers but then again, mentoring by itself was already something he didnât look forward to.
Sitting down, staring at the crowd, David gripped the armchair tighter, gulping as Narcissa took the mic. He didnât intend on looking tense or worried as he faced the crowd - it was rare that he knew so many of them, between previous victors, family members of some of his fallen tributes and his own children, he knew the Reaping would be more devastating than ever before.
As the escort went on and on, David pinched at the skin between his eyebrows - she was obnoxious, clueless and a downright prototype of the Capitol. Her heels stumped to one of the bowls and, as she announced the girlâs name, David immediately recognized that last name. He remembered Pierson well. What he didnât expect was the uprising that rose through the crowd when Fabienne removed her cloak. âBe quiet,â he shouted from his chair, glaring at Narcissa with a darting look for her inability to control the audience. Was it not enough that the poor girl was being sent to her death?
David found himself muttering under his breath for the woman to hurry up as she reached for the slip with a boyâs name. Looking to meet his sonsââ eyes in the crowd, the only thing he knew was that neither of them was picked. However, David didnât have much time to dwell on this good news, as the boy he was to mentor was running from Peacekeepers like there was any way he could escape. Standing up, David raised a hand, instructing the Peacekeepers to let the boy speak. He knew the story well, as he guessed everyone did. He understood too well that victorsâ relatives had a strange ability to always stand under the spotlight. It was better to let the boy speak, even if he would have to be the one to deal with his mentoreeâs actions in the near future. As Buggie stood in place, finally letting go of the mic, David didnât bother to sit down. Looking over at the District Four mayor, who stood in absolute shock and what he could only describe as disgust, he sighed.
âFollow them!â He had to order the peacekeepers as they seemed to focus on the crowd who didnât seem to stand behind neither of the tributes. âMake sure Narcissa is alright before bringing her to the train.â Watching someone finally running to escort Fabienne and Buggie to the Justice Building, David allowed a peacekeeper to drive him to the train station and hand him the information the District had on the two, which he planned to read while waiting for his future mentorees in the main carriage.Â
