"Time to get up Lu," I woke to a soft, kind voice whispering in my ear. I opened my eyes, smiling at my mother, Belle Warwick. She had her chocolate brown hair in a bun, and her green eyes had a warm glow. She smiled back, and brushed my hair out of my face with her thin, gentle fingers.
"It's Reaping day, Miss Lucia," she said, her smile faltering, "You should get ready. Come down for breakfast after you get dressed. I put your clothes on the end of your bed." Mom left with that, probably going to wake Harry. I knew she was scared. We all were. When Mom was only ten, her older brother Robin had been reaped at fifteen for the annual Hunger Games. He had made it pretty far, the final four in fact. Just when Mom had dared to hope he was coming home, the boy from District 2 found him, and tortured him with a slow and painful death. The worst part was that that same boy had ended up winning the games. There was no justice for Uncle Robin.
I shook my head, clearing my head. I stood, and went into the bathroom across the hall. My father, Oliver, had been the victor of the 46th games, and we lived in the Victor's Village of District 5, the district of power. I showered, and changed into a grey dress that matched my eyes. I pulled on black leggings, shoes, and pushed my stringy blonde hair back in ponytail. I then put some beautiful gold earrings in. Mom had given them to me when I turned twelve in honor of surviving my first Reaping. I smiled at my reflection, then went downstairs.
"Hello sweetie," Daddy greeted me, drinking his coffee. His blond hair and dark grey eyes were like mine, and I smiled at him. Caroline was sitting at the table as well, eating pancakes. My fifteen year old sister had Mom's silky hair, but grey eyes like Dad and me. Mom was wearing a yellow apron, flipping some more pancakes.
"Look out!" I quickly moved out of the way as my twin brother came down the railing of the stairs right past me.
"Harry! You could have killed me!" I yelled at him. Harry just laughed and sat at the table. He was wearing a crisp white shirt with black pants and shoes. He was also holding a tie.
"Can you help me with my tie, sweet Lucia?" he asked, his grey eyes twinkling. I sighed, and smiled. My twin brother was such an actor! We looked too alike for me to tell people he was an alien from another galaxy. Our eyes and hair were identical, and our pale skin was the same too. I helped him with his tie, then sat beside him. Mom served us pancakes, and we dug in.
Far too soon, Mom took away our plates and told us to wait a moment while she helped Dad into the bedroom. Dad had trouble walking and was a little sick in the head. The Hunger Games can do that to anyone. After Mom helped Dad, she opened the door and walked with Caroline, Harry, and me to the Reaping. I saw that Caroline was wearing her gold necklace, and Harry his gold pin. I immediately made sure my own earrings were still in. We all would need our tokens to help our nerves.
We got our fingers pricked, and a Peacekeeper led Caroline to the fifteen year old section while another led us to the thirteen year old section. I grabbed Harry's hand, and he squeezed it gently. We waited there until Harry's friends Eric Morris and Lukas Abate walked over to us. Harry quickly let go of my hand, and went over to stand with them. I watched him leave, a little upset, but I knew he meant no harm.
"Hey Lucia," I turned around to see my best friend Brooke Lottero. I smiled at her faintly, and held her hand to help her stop trembling. Soon after, our other friends Amber Cruz and Bella Acker came to wait with us.
After a few more minutes of silence, Amber's dad Mayor Edward Cruz walked up to the microphone, and started the usual speech. I tuned out; I didn't want to hear about the games that had killed Uncle Robin so I would never meet him. When he was done, a woman wearing a dress with many peacock feathers, a long train, high green heels, and peacock feathers in her natural brown hair.
"Welcome, I am Violet Peacock, and may the odds be ever in your favor! Girls first!" she said, not sounding overly enthusiastic like last year's escort. That woman had passed away. Violet walked over to the bowl of girls' names. I held my breath, and squeezed Brooke's hand tighter. Brooke whimpered, but out of fear instead of pain. Violet opened the paper, and spoke loud and clear.
"Brooke Lottero!" I froze. Brooke's hand disappeared from mine. I watched in a state of shock as she began to walk toward the stage, looking as if she was trying not to cry.
"Brooke! Brooke, no!" I ran toward her, but two Peacekeepers stopped me. Harry ran toward me, and grabbed my hand and began to tug me back. Brooke stopped and looked back at me. I met her bright blue eyes, and knew what I had to do.
"I VOLUNTEER! I VOLUNTEER AS TRIBUTE!" I screamed with all my might. Everything went quiet. Harry stared at me. I pulled my hand out of his grip, and ran past Brooke onto the stage.
"Lucia, no!"
"No!"
"No, don't!"
Brooke, Caroline, and Harry all started yelling, and Peacekeepers took them away. I watched them go, not crying, refusing to cry. I had to look tough. I had to look confident, so I wouldn't be put out of the picture.
"Well, well. A brave young girl. What's your name sweetheart?" Violet asked me. I looked up at her, and realized that compared to this woman in those heels, I was pretty small.
"Lucia Warwick," I said. I heard a gasp go through the crowd as they heard my last name. My dad was a popular victor. Violet smiled at me, and turned back to the crowd.
"Brave girl," she repeated, "Well, now for the boys!" She walked over to the boys' bowl, who knows how in those heels. She plucked a name, came back, and opened it.
"George Dawson!" Violet said. A tall boy came walking out of the eighteen year old section. He was muscular, dark skin, short black hair, and brown eyes. He walked onto the stage, and stood on the other side of Violet.
"Well, here you have it! The tributes of District 5! Shake hands," Violet said the last line to George and I. We shook hands, and were led into the Justice Building.