*Authors Note*
So I originally posted this story a couple months ago, but I've edited a bit more, and I'm going in a slightly different direction. So bear with me as I edit and re-upload each chapter. As always... Review please!
- AvidReader3752
My heart pounded as I waited for the escort for district 4 Sealle, to read the names of the District 4 tributes for the 46th Hunger Games.
I was more worried for my brother than myself because he had 7 entries and I only had 1. Every time I thought he might possibly get picked I reasoned with myself that many kids had twice as many entries as he did because they were desperate enough to sign up for tesserae and the odds were unlikely.
My family was lucky enough to have enough food not to apply for tesserae. My 18 year old brother says that he's worried about me because if I'm reaped than there will be no one to volunteer for me. I told him that the same was true for him but he ignored me, Brothers.
When my dad gave me a big hug and mother kissed the top of my head gently before we left the house I knew that they were concerned, my dad was never affectionate. That was a little while ago and now I am standing in Main Square my heart pounding away.
"Ladies first, Now…Mercilli Grant" called out Sealle. Her voice was ringing in my ears. Mercilli Grant… Mercilli Grant… Wait! That was me! I'm Mercilli Grant!
The crowd slowly backed way for me as I made my way up to the stage. Everyone looked at me as if I had some sort of disease and didn't want to be anywhere near me. I heard a noise that sounded like a strangled sob and I turned around to see my mother weeping and my dad comforting her whilst being held back by peacekeepers.
My brother was silently crying and had a look of sheer horror on his face. Sealle congratulated me and then walked over to the other ball filled with paper. I hated how genuinely excited she was about the games. It was sick. She pulled out a slip of paper, read off of it the name Blaine Scroll, whose name I vaguely recognized as one of my brothers schoolmates, before the peacekeepers escorted us to the Justice Building of District 4.
Once I was inside I tried to calm myself by breathing in and out slowly. My parents walked noisily into the room along with my brother as we all wept. My brother gained control and said that he loved me and wished me luck. My parents did likewise and my mother started weeping into my already messed up stringy blonde hair. By that time the peacekeeper had come back all too soon and made my family leave.
As I watched my family exit the small room, my brother and I made eye contact. The question of why he didn't volunteer for Blaine crossed my mind, but I let it slide. I didn't want the last time I saw my brother to be angering. I knew that they didn't expect to see me in person again. A few seconds after the thick door had closed, someone else burst through the door and I felt relieved. It was Ally, my best friend.
"Hey" she said as she walked toward me with a watery smile. I could tell she had already cried many tears.
"Ally!" I gasped as I threw my arms around her neck. "What are you doing here?"
"Coming to say see ya' later of course." she replied solemnly as she knew that it wasn't true. I could tell she was trying to make me feel better but It wasn't going to
work.
"Ally, you know I'm not coming back. Don't even pretend. It just makes it worse." Ally nodded and we hugged each other tightly before the peacekeepers came back to escort me to the train that would take me to the Capitol. My journey was beginning and I couldn't be more nervous for the end.
