The mayor stands on the stage, reading the treaty of treason and I look over to the sixteen year old girls section. I see Katniss staring blankly up at the stage and wonder how many times her name is in the reaping bowl. I know she has had to take out tesserae for her. I'm snapped out of my daze as our ridiculous looking escort Effie Trinket comes out in a bright pink wig. How do those capitol people find that attractive, don't they know how stupid they look. Effie goes on about what an honour it will be for the two lucky tributes chosen to represent our district. "ladies first" she calls in her high pitched voice. Everyone watches carefully as she digs her hand deep into the bowl and walk over to the microphone with a slip of paper in her hand, a slip of paper that could end someones life. She opens the paper and I'm praying for Katniss' safety. Effie reads the name in a clear loud voice and my heart almost stops.
It's Primrose Everdeen.
How, How could this happen, Primrose would've only had one slip in there, Katniss would never let her take out a tesserae, but it doesn't matter, because no matter how many slips you have, no one is ever safe from the games. I watch as Prim slowly makes her way to the stage when I hear someone yelling. "Prim!" I turn to see Katniss calling for her sister "Prim!" she cries again, people parting to let her through. Katniss reaches Prim and pushes her behind. "I volunteer!" she gasps "I volunteer as tribute!" There are murmurs from the crowd, district twelve hasn't had a volunteer in decades. Effie is looking somewhat confused but quickly regains her bubbly attitude "lovely!" she says. Behind Katniss, Prim is shrieking hysterically, she wraps her arm around Katniss "No, Katniss!, No! You can't go!" Prim shrieks, clinging to Katniss. A boy I recognise as Katniss' friend comes out of the eighteen year old section and lifts Prim up and carries her away. Katniss slowly mounts the steps to the stage where Effie is "What's your name?" Effie asks in a bubbly tone."Katniss Everdeen" she replies, sounding bored."Well then, Lets give a round of applause to our newest tribute!" Sequels Effie. No one in the crowd claps, instead every one of them, including me, raise their three middle finger to their lips and hold them out to Katniss. District twelve has never seen anything as brave as what she just did. Effie, looking confused, tries to bring the crowd back in "Now it's time to choose our male tribute!" she shouts.
She walks over to the boys bowl and quickly dips her hand in, taking the first slip she encounters. My stomach knots as she takes small quick steps over to the microphone. I draw a deep breath and hope that it's not me. But hope is never enough.
"Peeta Mellark!" Effie calls and I almost stop breathing. Me, that's me, I feel like I'm going to pass out. I see heads turn toward me and slowly make my way up to the steps and onto the stage. How could me name have been drawn, there are boys with twice as many slips as me, but it's too late now, because I have just been chosen for the 74th hunger games. Why me? Why now? how, out of every girl in the district, I am going into the hunger games with the one I've loved since the first day of school. Effie motions for me and Katniss to shake hands. I give her hand a reassuring squeeze, because I am going to do everything I can to get her home. My family doesn't need me, hers does. There is one thing I'm sure of as we walk into the justice building to say our final goodbyes.
Katniss is coming out of the arena, and I am not.