BEEP BEEP BEEP BEEP BEEP BEEP BEEP
My alarm clock screamed at me to get out of bed. I obeyed, swinging myself across the floor to the clock and switching the power off. Time for this years last training. I walked myself over to the table where I had layed out my clothes the night before. I shimmied into the black tank top and leggings and slipped on the matching shoes. The door to my bedroom creaked as I opened it. Attempting not to wake my parents, I slowly tip toed down the long hallway to the stairs. I took each step one by one, holding my breath so not to make noise. I made it down the stairs to the kitchen, where I grabbed myself an apple. I bit into the hard, juicy fruit and the taste overcame me. I grabbed a pen and an old piece of paper and wrote a not for my parents.
Mom & Dad,
Went to training.
Love,
Arrow xoxo
I grabbed my army green bag and took my apple to the front door, where I quietly flipped the latch and turned the knob. The door opened, so I snuck out quietly, closing it behind me.
Outside the streets were bustling. Children rushing to get to the market before one another, adults trying to slow them down, and teenagers, like me, trying to dodge around them to get to training in time. I pushed through one of the groups of kids to get to the teens, one teen in particular. Mallika Parsil, my best friend, one of the only 12 year olds, including me, in the group. I smiled to her and waved. She waved back, but no smile. Then I remembered. I wasn't going to training today. I was going to the reaping.