Chapter Two
I can't breathe. My name... out of all the Capitol children, me. The odds are not in my favor, apparently.
The worst part is Katniss's face. She needs to understand that I'm just a thirteen year old girl. I can't survive against eighteen year old buff guys. I just can't. I also can't breathe, because my mouth is hanging open like an idiot.
I walk up to the stage slowly, and look at the other people who's names were drawn. I know a few of the people. I see Amerana, a girl that goes to my school. I've always been jealous of her. The way all the guys drool over her. She is flawless, though. Her hair is dark blue, curly and long. The next person I see is Charlene, another girl. But this girl is like me. Quiet and shy. She has dark skin, and dark curly hair. Her eyes are a dark brown, and beautiful.
The boys I notice are Princeton and Kale. They are best friends, and I feel bad that they might have to kill each other. They're both idiots, but nice.
"The twenty-four chosen tributes, ladies and gentlemen!" Katniss exclaims, gesturing to us with her hand. We all hold hands and raise them in the air. Just as we start to go, people do the signal where they take three fingers and press them to their lips, and hold them in the sky. We stare in amazement at their kindness.
Katniss leads us into different rooms, and I'm thrown into one with velvet floor and chairs. I sit on the chair and start to cry, mostly because I am going to die in the Games. I think Katniss hears my sobs, because she opens the door and walks in.
"I'm sorry you were chosen. You are an innocent girl. But I bet you can win. I believe in you, Caroline," she says, sitting by me. I don't respond, just look at her.
"Your family will be here in a moment. Just so you know, Kale is your training partner. Like Peeta and I were from the same district, you and him are like that."
"O-okay," I say in a shaky and nervous voice.
She walks out of the room, leaving me to myself. After a few minutes, my mother and sister walk in. Of course Callie is too young to understand that I will die, but she still hugs me. My mother cries, of course.
"You have to try to win, Caro," she says, sniffling. I just look her dead in the eyes.
"I promise, I'll try."
We hug for a few more minutes until they are dragged out of the room. They both sob while the people drag them helplessly from the room.
After they're gone, I lay down on the chair. But I'm surprised to see Melissa walk in the door.
"Caro..." She runs up and hugs me. She sobs and buries her head in my shoulder, and I do the same.
"I'll be alright," I say, letting go of her and looking her in the eyes.
She doesn't get to say another word before those awful people come in and drag her away, just like they did to my family. I'm left all alone, thinking of how I would prefer to die.