" Hurry Maya, you don't wanna be late for the announcement!" Katy exclaims.
" Oh yeah, because who doesn't want to be late for a ceremony when you could be sent to your death?" Maya says sarcastically.
" Mmm - hmm. Remember what happened to dad?" Laya, Maya's sister agrees.
"Of course, I do." Katy imagines the screen she watched as Shawn Hunter vanished from their lives, he was killed by a mad man.
" Don't remind me." Maya gulps.
" Let's just get going, kids." Katy packs a bag full of rags.
" What ever." Maya scoffs, running out of their shack with her little sister's hand in hers.
" I don't wanna die." Laya says to her sister as they run towards a gigantic crowd of people.
" You won't, Laya, I will protect you." Maya assures her sister, looking her in the eye.
" I know." Laya hugs her sister warmly.
" Girls, wait up!" Katy calls out.
Maya rolls her eyes, " Then hurry!"
" Excuse me." a tall blonde man says as he tries to get passed Maya.
" Oh, sorry." she moves out of his way.
" It's fine, short stack." the man chuckles, tipping his hat and walking away.
" What did you just call me?" she snaps.
The man walks towards her again, " Short stack. Sorry, is that a bad thing?"
" Well, it's mean." Maya tells him.
" Don't get all defensive. It was JUST a nickname." the man laughs.
" It was just a nickname." she mimicks.
" Back off." he scoffs.
" Oh, I'm sorry. Are you going to arrest me now, Ranger Rick?" Maya asks sarcastically.
" Sorry, you're just right below the height restriction." he teases.
" Joke's on you. 'Cause that's not a thing." she giggles.
" Neither is a hobbit. But I found you!" he snickers.
" Oh, oh, that's funny! Did you use your moral compass?" she shoots back.
" Sorry, it only finds people with morals." he snaps.
" ALL BOYS ON LEFT SIDE AND GIRLS ON RIGHT!" a voice shouts.
" I'll get you back, huckleberry." Maya glares at him.
" I look forward to it, shortstack." he coughs, walking towards all the boys.
" Ugh!" Maya huffs.
" Don't listen to him sis, you're great!" Laya chirps.
" Thank you, Laya." Maya wraps her arm around her sister's shoulder.
" Hello? Testing, testing." a paled skin lady taps on the microphone on the stage.
" Her again?" Maya whines.
" Ladies and gentlemen, hello. I am Effie Trinket. I will be choosing the unlucky TWO people to see sent to the Hunger Games. Now, shall we begin?" Effie shuffles her hand around in a bowl until she unfolds a card from it. " And this year's male is... LUCAS FRIAR!"
" No!" a woman gasps from the girls' side.
" Dang!" the blonde man walks up to the stage as Maya recognizes him.
" Ranger Rick." she whispers.
" Now little boy, any last words?" Effie asks as she put the mic to his face.
" Yes. I hate you," he points to a man," you, you, you, AND you."
" Wow, that a LOT of people." Effie laughs.
" Well, I have my reasons." Lucas sighs.
" Now for the girls' side," Effie shakes her hand around in another bowl until she picks a card, " this year's female is... LAYA HUNTER!"
" No!" Katy cries out.
" Maya?" Laya looks up to her sister weakly.
" Come on up here, girl." Effie grunts.
" Bye mommy." Laya walks halfway to the stage before something big happened.
" I volunteer!" Maya shouts.