"Pixel, Perl!" My twin brother, Zen, shouted from the bottom steps. I smiled at his feeble attempt to get two girls to stop preparing for such an important day. Perl looked over at me and rolled her dark eyes playfully.
Yes, my brother, sister, and I are orphans, but it's nothing terrible. I don't see why everyone is so sympathetic about it, to be honest. I actually think that it's much better that my parents don't have to suffer through what we have to. In a way, I'm happy for them. Also, it's not like we are alone, we have our aunt, Ada. Ada comes and goes as she pleases, but she spends majority of her time in the bar getting into bar fights with every other person.
My brother, sister, and I don't stand out in the crowd; we are considerably average. Dark hair, dark eyes, average height, we're the usual District Three. Zen and I have braces, these annoying contraptions used to straighten teeth, but that's all that really stands out about us. That, however, is what may draw one of the three of us into the dreaded Hunger Games.
Perl is thirteen so this is her second year. This will be Zen and my fourth year. Perl has her name in twice, the usual for a thirteen-year-old. Zen has his name in eight times, four more than what a normal fifteen-year-old would have. I have my name in twelve times. Zen and Perl think I have my name in only eight times, but I knew that we needed extra help. Zen tried to take extra, but I wouldn't let him.
"Pixel," Perl says from behind me. I turn to see my little sister wearing my first Reaping dress with her dark hair perfectly curled. She would have worn my first Reaping dress last year, but I was much taller than her at twelve. I smile at her, and she smiles back. Zen and I don't treat Perl like a little kid because she acts like she's our age. We even let her hang out with our friends.
"You look better than I do," I joke. It's true. I look bland in the loose dark blue shirt and the overly tight black skirt. My long hair won't cooperate, so the curls keep falling out and go straight. Perl walks over and tries to fix my hair, to no avail.
I hear thumps on the staircase and Zen soon bursts through the door. Perl looks startled at first, but then realizes that we are not getting robbed and settles down. Zen runs around the room looking for…whatever it is he is looking for. I smirk at him, for Zen looses everything. He's a scatterbrain, but he has the making of a true genius.
"Where is Dad's watch?" Zen shouts. Our father's silver watch is Zen's District token if he were to be reaped. Perl has a silver bobby pin with crystals that our mother worn for her wedding. I have a long pewter locket that has tiny opals and a small crystal in the middle, unfortunately there is no photographs in the locket. Finally, Zen finds the watch in his drawer, where he had left it last night.
Ada's slurred voice calls up to us, reminding us about breakfast. I almost don't want to eat. The nerves are bound to get to me and I'll probably throw up in the square. That would be beyond embarrassing. However, I decide it would be best to eat something, so I head down the slim staircase with Perl and Zen.
Our breakfast is nothing extravagant, just eggs, toast, and apple juice. In the middle of our conversation about school, the house speaker came on. The man on the speaker declared that is time to group up in the square, for the Reaping would begin promptly in thirty minutes.
Perl lets out a nervous squeak and drops her fork onto her plate and tries to run to her room. She did the same thing last year, so Zen and I had anticipated the action. Perl tries to run around Zen but she instantly slams into me. I grab hold of Perl's arms and Zen grabs her legs and we carry her to the door.
"Let me down! I won't run, promise!" Perl pleads. Zen looks over to me, and I subtly shrug. As we lower Perl to the ground, I notice that she is looking for an escape. I grab her and smirk at her.
"Not getting away that easily, kid!" It doesn't take long to arrive at the square to check in. The Peacekeeper yanks my hand and stabs the needle into my forefinger. I'm aware of a small shriek I let out from the pain, and apparently so are the people around me. They all stare at me like I have grown a third eye. I smile nervously at them and walk into the fifteens group.
"Pix, Pix, Pixel, Pix Arson, Pixel Arson!" A female voice yells to my left. Suddenly, the owner of the voice yanks me. Of course the voice belongs to my best friend, Beta. Soon, Beta is on a rant about how she thinks these games will have one of our friends as tribute. I tune her out because I don't want to think about that happening. That would just be too dreadful.
Thankfully, the mayor starts talking about the Dark Days and whatnot. I try to tune that out as well, simply because I am in no mood to listen to it. The mayor hardly listens to himself because his children's names are in the dreaded Reaping ball. The mayor has two children, I think. One is twelve, a girl, named Vala. The other is in all of my classes, a boy, Apollo.
Unfortunately, the speech ends and the mayor introduces our District escort. She is new, and I can tell by the way she shakily walks in her hot pink stilettos. Our old escort must have been bumped up to a better District, or retired. The new escort introduces herself as Corma Korvac. Her layered, pink dress seems almost dangerous to every ones' eyes. Her powdery-blue skin is an obvious Capitol trait, as is her spring green hair that is in perfect ringlets.
"Welcome," Corma's shrill Capitol accent rings through the microphone. "Today we shall select one brave male and female to graciously represent District Three in the 71st Annual Hunger Games!"
Everyone glares at Corma and I feel a little bit bad for her. She has never done this before and we are being so rude. I feel the sudden urge to clap for her, but I manage to restrain my self from looking like a fool. I just settle with smiling at her. Corma seems to have caught my eye because she smiles back.
"Alright, I believe it is time to pick a female tribute!" Corma exclaims. Not Perl. Not Perl. Not Perl. Not Perl. Not Perl.
It's not Perl.
"Pixel Arson!" Every bad word runs through my mind. My life is over, I will never see District Three ever again. "Come on up, sweetie!" Corma trills.
I shakily begin my way to the steps. I trip over absolutely nothing and tumble to the ground, scraping my knee on the way. Great! I've managed to make a complete fool out of myself already. Look out, it's District Three!
"Pix!" Perl yells and sprints up to me, brushing past the Peacekeepers. "I'll volunteer, Pix!" She says to me. I grab her shoulders and shake my head.
"No, go to Zen! I will come home, Perl, I swear!" I tell her with much force in my voice. It sounds like I'm parenting her, and that's what hurts me most. Zen runs and grabs Perl by the waist. She is sobbing and I have tears down my cheeks as well. I try to be strong but it just isn't possible.
"Well, I suppose it is time to choose the male tribute!" Corma exclaims awkwardly. Anyone but Zen! Anyone but Zen! My mind screams. If I go in with Zen, then only one of us would exit. Please, please don't be Zen! "Apollo Jarvis!"
The mayor's son! Why did it have to be the mayor's son?
Apollo awkwardly steps onto the stage and his father is practically falling apart in his seat. That's when I notice the mentors, Beetee and Wiress. They are sadly shaking their heads knowing at least one of us won't be returning.
"Shake hands, dears!" Corma shrieks. I look at Apollo and he looks at me. His hand extends mere seconds before mine. As we shake hands he squeezes mine. I look into his deep brown eyes.
He wants me to live.