Chapter One, The Reaping
"Daisilee Alicia Mayfair". The Capitol accent sounded funny announcing her name. It sounded funny in general, causing her to laugh and sob at the same time. It wasn't like she hadn't expected it but the blow felt heavy all the same. She had her name in 39 times since the fishing season was bad, the worst district 4 had had in over fifty years the news reporters had said. She wouldn't let Hayden take any. He was young but strong and could earn more fishing than she could doing anything else.
People were looking at her. They thought she was mad. "GO ON THEN! VOLUNTEER!" the words were out of her mouth before she could stop them. It was a career district after all. "Damn my luck," She thought "The year I get picked no career wants my spot!"
She heard a sob from behind, turning to see Harry and Matt at the front of the audience. They didn't understand. She had made sure of that. For them it was a game that older children got to play, they got picked to eat sweets and play with new toys in the Capitol and liked it so much they didn't want to come home. "It's alright" she mouthed, her eyes becoming teary "This year I get to play!". This way they wouldn't miss her. If she… If she didn't make it back.
She could see the peacekeepers making they're way towards her. She had to move, she was not going to let the last thing her brothers saw of her was being dragged onto stage by the enforcers. Taking one step her feet carried on, tears stinging her eyes as she plastered a fake smile all over her face. One step, two step, three step. The wooden boards creaked below her feet as she moved next to the stupidly dressed tall man in sea foam green. His hair was in a ridiculous quiff, his hand on her shoulder hurt he gripped it so tight. "And for the men we have... Sandy Holmes." A boy no older than 14 burst into tears, the silence breaking. A loud shout rang out from the older boys section, "I volunteer! Vice Williams, I volunteer!" He was massive with rippling muscles, his shirt so tight around them. Great a career! She thought, A career, against me?