Chapter 1
"Tori Gallagher!" My heart skips a beat. My name was called on the most dreaded day of the year, Reaping Day. I feel people prodding me and I start to walk to the stage.
"Oh! How beautiful you are! Now, any volunteers?" I hear the escort's high voice pierce through my haze. I hear only silence. This isn't unsuspected, in District 9, volunteering means instant death. No one trains here. It's all me now. I come to my senses and see the escort, Tiff Marifore totter to the boy's reaping ball. She sticks her hand in and when I hear who is called I cringe. Jake Cahill. Great, my day got 10 times better in the span of 2 minutes. I see him slowly walk to the stage and I see the…. the sorrow in his eyes. My heart breaks when I look into those beautiful green eyes. As always, no one volunteers and we proceed to shake hands. I swear I feel a spark when my hand meets his, but I probably imagined it.
We were then ushered into the Justice Building for our last visits. My family burst through the doors and started hugging me while they sobbed. I tried comforting them, but that just made them sob harder. I murmured comforting words until they finally came to their senses. My sister was the first to talk.
"Tori, please take this." She presses something into my hand and I glance down to find the woven anklet I made her 4 years ago. She tied it around my ankle, and when she stood up I encased her in a bone-crushing hug. I soon let go, then my mom came to me. She tilted my head up and looked me in the eye.
"We want you to come home, Tori. All of us."
"You know I don't stand a chance, Mum. Against all of them, 23 other tributes, I don't think I can," I break down crying, "I don't know, could I do it, could I kill someone, someone I know?"
"Shhhhh, don't cry. I'm sorry, I know it's bad, but can you do it for me, do it for us?" I have no idea what to think. Ever since my dad died in a fire in my house, I mostly spend my time with Nikki, my 11 year old sister. It's not that I don't love my mom, I just feel like it was her fault he died. She was cooking when she wasn't paying attention and her oven mitts caught on fire. We were in school when this happened and my dad was taking a nap after working in the fields. She collapsed from smoke inhalation then my dad came and threw her out the door. Then as he was about to get out, part of the roof caved in on him. They tried to pull him out, but it was too late. I don't remember what he looked like, what he sounded like, how he felt anymore. I only want 5 more minutes to tell him how much I loved him, instead of what we had argued about that morning. Some stupid party or other. I feel almost disgusted with myself.
Since then things have only gotten worse. My mom now works longer hours, from 4 AM to 9 PM, while I come back from school then go straight to work from 3 PM to 10PM. I couldn't let Nikki work in the fields. I knew that that would just crush her like a bug. I mostly manage the money, and we just scrape by. I come back to reality and just slowly nod. My mom hugs me when the Peacekeepers come and drag them away. I hear my sister's strangled cries.
"Please! Tori, win!" My sister's last words broke my heart and I couldn't keep myself from letting a single tear slide down my face. I would be strong for her and she knew I would try my best, but deep down I think everyone knew I wouldn't be coming home. My friends visited and I knew they were sad, but their relief that they were safe for another year was showing. The next person who visited came as a surprise to me. Ms. Cahill, otherwise known as Jake's mom. She came towards me, arms outstretched, and I willingly went into them. She gently stroked my hair and hummed a song. I pulled out of her hug and looked at her expectantly. Her eyes are a beautiful emerald green that remind me of Jake's. "So, Ms. Cahill, I didn't realize you would be visiting me."
"Oh, well I had gone to visit Jake and I remembered how fond he was of you so I decided to stop by and wish you good luck."
"Well, thanks a lot, Ms. Cahill. I'm sorry that Jake got chosen. It must be very hard on your family. Especially because of…. Um…" I trailed off uncertainly, not knowing whether they had spoken of Rowan since he was reaped 2 years ago. He was only twelve, but surprisingly lasted up until the top 5. His odds were certainly in his favour since the rest of them were dying from starvation, but when he was sleeping the District 1 girl slit his throat.
"Yes, Rowan. That was a hard time for our family. Well, sweetheart, I wish you the best of luck." She turned to leave but I grabbed her arm from behind.
"What if it's just us left? What can I do, Ms. Cahill?"
"That's up to you, honey. Sorry I can't be of much help." She gave me a small, quick hug before being escorted out of the room. Soon after, the Peacekeepers brought me to the train that would lead me to my death sentence.