I wake up to be blinded by a ray of light shining through my window. "Wake up Sleeping Stupid" a voice teased overhead. I blinked away my sleepiness and looked up. It was Evelyn my half sister.
Both of us had the same father but different mothers. I never cared much for him. He left both of our mothers without so much as a good bye. Even after all that my mother still loved him and talked about him in such a caring way you would have never guessed what he had done to her. Evelyn's mother loved our father so much that she went crazy when he left. Evelyn came to live with us after her mother –nicknamed Cookoo Cathi- was sent to go live in the local asylum. I guess Evelyn looked down on her mother for that because she felt that Cathi had abandoned her as well.
Evelyn stood over me in a silk blue dress with a green sash staring at me impatiently. Why was she wearing something nice? Confusion and sleepiness clouded my thoughts. Usually she wore a bathing suit with shorts. Then it hit me. Today was when the Capitol chose its contestants for the Hunger Games. Today is the Reaping.
"Percy get up. Now" Evelyn ordered. A half smile formed on my face. "Fine little sister I will do what you say because I wouldn't want you to blubber" I said sarcastically. She looked at me a moment before punching me playfully in the arm. "I was born 2 years before you. I was trained in the martial arts. The only reason I got kicked out was not because I was weak like you said but because sensei thought I was there for the wrong reasons. I believe he used the word 'bloodthirsty'. And you do not want me to practice a round house kick on your face" she growled jokingly. "Now get dressed or you will feel the fury of my foot!" She then turned with a chuckle and left my room.
I grabbed a white shirt and some black slacks from my messy closet. I changed into them and slipped out my room to the kitchen where I devoured some eggs and toast before I heard my mom yell "Percy!" I sprinted out the kitchen and ran straight into Evelyn. "There you are!" she scowled before pulling me towards the front door.
When Evelyn saw my tie less shirt she handed me a spare out of a drawer. I shook me head "Help?" She rolled her eyes then helped me put it on. She was the best sister. But even this thought didn't vanquish my terror. Seeing my fear she lifted my chin until I was staring into her green eyes. "Be strong little brother. You may get chosen and and" she cut off and hugged me close. "Evelyn Percy we must be off" Mom said sadly. Evelyn nodded and stood a little straighter. "Lets go" she gripped my hand tightly and dragged me out the front door and towards the plaza.
Be strong little brother. Her words echoed through my mind. How can I? I screamed mentally at myself. Evelyn is the brave one not me! I must be strong! I argued with myself. I must be strong for Mom and District 4!
I started walking trying to keep up with Evelyn's pace. "Hurry up!" she yelled, "It's starting!" I quickened my pace and soon we were at the plaza. Before we headed off in different directions (to the left boys and to the right girls) she bent down ad whispered in my ear "I love you" before walking over to the 18 year old girls group. I took my place in the 16-year-old boys group and waited for the announcer Magenta Hadimik.
Magenta Hadimik has been the announcer for District 14 since as long as I could remember. She always spoke in a perky high-pitched annoying Capitol accent. She is known for her crazy out-of-this-world outfits. This year her magenta hair –oh the irony- was shaped like a star with green jewels embedded into it. She was dressed in a poofy short purple dress with plastic spikes sticking out of them and she had white fluffy shoes with hooves that looked like goat feet. On her face she had glued colorful buttons near her eyes and her lips had a wacky rainbow design on them. Her electric blue eyes sparkled with excitement at she slipped her hand into the glass ball that had Evelyn's name on 32 pieces on paper.
"Bonnie Mons!" she announced into the microphone. A gasp escaped the crowd. She was only 12! A slight, auburn haired girl stepped out of the crowd and started walking timidly towards the stage. When a strong voice rang out "I volunteer! I volunteer for Bonnie!" Bonnie let out a sigh of relief but I wasn't watching her. I was searching for the person who volunteered. To my terror I saw a familiar girl walking towards the stage. "Evelyn!" I yelled but she didn't hear me and continued to advance. When she reached the stage Magenta patted her on her back, congratulating her. Then Magenta pulled a piece of paper out of the boy's glass ball.
"Percy Jackson!" she called out. My knees turned to rubber and I slowly began walking towards the stage. "Percy no!" Evelyn let out a strangled scream and tried to run to me. The Peacekeepers held her back while she fought and kicked screaming "No no no! Not Percy!" When I got to the stage Evelyn stopped fighting realizing it was hopeless. Magenta who was looking a bit shaken said "Shake hands you two". I stuck out my hand and Evelyn grasped it tightly almost crushing my fingers. Magenta turned back towards the microphone. "Our 74th Hunger Games District 4 contestants are Evelyn and Percy Jackson!"
Just before the guards escorted us away some of my schoolmates saluted us with 2 fingers. The rest of the district followed their example. The salute gave me courage. It meant good luck my friend. Having the entire district do that really boosted my morale. I walked away with my head help high and didn't look back.