Chapter 1 – Reaping Day Part 1
Esme's POV
It was finally here. Today. This day. Reaping Day. This year, my chances of getting picked were huge. Last year, my name had been in that giant fish bowl 18 times. This year, I was in there 38 times. It wasn't anyone's fault I had to sign up for Tesserae. It wasn't anyone's fault that my mother, my sister Elia and I were living in slums. If the peacekeepers knew that we were on the brink of death, they would take Elia away from me. I can't let that happen.
Elia is 13 years old. Last year, her name was in once. This year, it's twice. She won't get picked. I won't allow that to happen. She's all we have, me and my mother. Ever since my father died...
I can't start thinking about death today. Not today, not reaping day, when the sense of awaiting death is so thick and heavy it will knock the breath out of you.
I walk from my room, that old room that Elia and I have shared for years. I just turned 17 a month ago, not a big deal around this hell hole. People only care when you're 12. People only care when you're old enough to play in those Games.
''Ezzy, what if I get picked?'' Elia's question breaks me out of my daydream, it breaks me out of my thoughts. ''Elia, you won't. You can't. You're name is in there twice, okay? Twice.'' I tell her calmly. The last thing I want is her to start panicking. ''Okay...well what if you get picked?'' she asks.
Now, I'm done for.
It' not like I have no chance of being picked. My name's in there 38 times.
''Don't you worry about, Elia. Don't...'' It's all I can tell her. I can't guarantee my safety, but I can guarantee hers.
I'll do anything to protect my sister.