It was the day of the reaping in my district and I was going to volunteer as tribute. My mother was brushing through my straight bright blood red hair as I twirled the rings on my finger.
"Do you think that-" she began but I already knew what she was talking about.
"I honestly don't know but I can hope." was all I managed to get out. It was a tough subject with me and always has been.
"Well if not your father has already set aside money so that we could go back and find him. So just...make sure to win." she advised me. I smiled ever so slightly as I looked down at the rings I was previously twirling. They were gold but they were simple enough they didn't need to be. I was dressed nicely as was required but I was dressed fancier than usual because I knew I was going to be the tribute.
I was wearing a sea foam green lace dress which had full length see through sleeves and some brown leather strapped heels. This only complemented my bright blood red hair which made me different.
We just stayed there in silence both in different worlds till we heard the door squeak open. I can tell my mother turned around to look at him with a sad expression.
"It's time." was all he said. They both weren't entirely happy with what I was going to do but they understood why I was doing what I was doing.
"I want a few moments alone. I'll be down soon." I whispered still looking at my rings. They both exited the room quietly and left me there. I left out a quick sob and covered my mouth. The thought of it got to me and that was the only moment I would let it. I quickly pulled myself together and looked into the mirror.
I quickly stood up and left the room and my thoughts behind. It only took a few moments to get to the Districts center where the reaping was always held. My mother and father went in a different direction then I as I headed towards the check-in where they pricked my finger and I was allowed to continue. I stood among the other seventeen year old girls in my district. Soon enough one of our mentors came out onto the stage; her name was escaping me at the moment but it didn't matter.
"Welcome the the reaping in District Four! Happy Hunger Game and may the odds ever be in your favor! Now we'll get straight to the point. Ladies first!" She said in a high voice and as she began to walk towards the container with the girls slips of paper I calmly walked out to the center aisle.
"I volunteer as tribute." I spoke loudly and clearly moments before she reaches into the container to pick a name. Everyone is startled at my decision since I've only lived here for less than a year.
"Well then come up on stage dear." She spoke returning to her original spot. I was surrounded by peacekeepers as I walked up to the stage and up the stairs. I reached my spot next to her and looked straight forward with no emotion in my face. "What's your name dear?" she inquired.
"Kainna Brimstone." I spoke.
"Well congratulations! We now have our girl tribute! Now for the boys!" I tuned her out after that. I kept my end of the deal and that is all I cared about right now. My mind wandered to him. He was all I cared about and why I volunteered in the first place.
I was snapped out of my thoughts as a hand was placed on my shoulder turning me towards my fellow tribute who I would most likely end up killing in a few weeks. I shook his hand as was custom and we were ushered into a building behind us. We were to say our goodbyes to anyone who came but I knew no one was coming for me. I had already said my goodbyes to my family the night before and those are the only people I knew here. It was a long hour for me and soon enough we were walked from our separate rooms to the train that would stop at districts one, two and three then off to the capitol; not necessarily in that order. I had a few hours till I saw him again...if he carried through with it.
"Now we'll all both of you in a few hours to have our first talk but after that your on your own unless called upon." and with that she left us in a random car. I said nothing to my fellow tribute and left to find a room in hopes of getting a few hours of sleep. I walked through several cars; of which was the bar car and the main food car. I then found a room for me to sleep in.
Every emotion finally hit me soon as I closed the door. I felt angered, sad, happy, agony, everything and I just collapsed against the door and sat there. I didn't cry I just sat there shocked for what seemed like hours on end. Eventually, still shocked, I got up and found my way to the shower and stripped off the clothes I wore. I easily figured out how to use the shower and turned the temperature up to the hottest I could stand it to be at. I washed my hair quickly and after I finished I just stood there letting the water run over me.
After two hours of just standing in the shower I walked out and dried myself off and walked into my actual room grabbed a pair of pink shorts and a white strapless sports bra with a zipper detailing in the center. I let my hair dry naturally as I lay down in the bed and dozed off.
I finally started to wake up but I kept my eyes closed. I could register that sun was hitting my face and warming it. This made me think that I had only slept a few hours and that it was only sunset so I let my eyes flicker open and rest there for a few moments. Slowly but surely I slowly got out of bed and didn't bother changing clothes seeing as I was just going to sleep again in another two hours or so. I opened my door and looked out seeing no one and made my way towards the food car. As I got closer I began to hear voices and they weren't of adults they were the voices of tributes. I got right up to the door and opened it looking at the ground while I did so. All the voices stopped and I felt eyes on me. I looked up while rubbing one of my eyes and saw the tributes from Districts Three and Two. The District Three guy tribute had a bowl like hair cut and girlish like lips and the girl tribute had tanned skin and dark eyes. District Two had a girl who had dark skin and a scowl on her face...I knew her...her name was Clove. My eyes finally came to the District Two guy tribute...I knew him too and I was speechless as I could be. I barely whispered out one word.
"Cato."
