The first thing I can think to do I glare over my shoulder to Lianna, who is already crying. I shake my head, vigorously and she nods, she won't be volunteering. I nod back and the crowd parts for me, I hug my Skyler and manage to move my legs to walk to the stage where I can see my Father shaking his head, hand over his mouth. He thought it would be Li. My heart is pounding and I have a lump in my throat, but I can't cry. I won't. I reach the stage, flogged by peacekeepers and climb the three steps to reach the top. Sintia greets me with a flashing smile and announces to the crowd, 'Kitra Evok everyone!' A round of applause reaches my ears, which is probably worse than no applause at all, because the tears are threatening to make an appearance again.
'Boys turn!' Sintia says shrilly. She picks a slip of paper and shouts, 'Zeeke Eltron!'
I rack my brain, trying to think if I know him, I recognize his face and the name sounds familiar but he was never in any of my classes in school, so I think I'm safe, I'm almost positive I don't know him, which would make it easier if I was made to kill him. We shake hands and face back towards the crowd.
The crowd is muttering with disapproval but I don't quite know why. Zeeke isn't young, he must be about 16 or 17, so what is it about? I turn to face my father and he looks at me sadly, then cocks his head to his left where the Mayor is standing. The Mayor! Zeeke is the Mayor's son! Oh no, the odds are defiantly not in my favor. With Zeeke as the other District Three tribute, all the silver parachutes filled with gifts will go to him. The sponsors will fall over each other to get to him, at least, the ones from district three will, wanting to please the Mayor. My dress flutters around my knees and I look down at it, so I don't have to face the solum crowd.
The peacekeepers now have their hands around my arms and they're marching me toward the building so I can say goodbye to my family and friends. I don't have to say goodbye to my father, he'll be coming with me, it's Lianna and Mother and Skid I must say goodbye to. I am shoved into a room and almost five seconds later my family bursts in.
My mother has never been the strongest, she always cries when the tributes from district three get killed in the Hunger Games. She is crying now and holding my face in her hands. I'm blinking back tears because I know even if I stop before I go out, the tears will show on my face when the cameras are at the train station.
'You can win,' Skid says, softly. 'I know it.'
I break away from my mother and kneel in front of Skid, 'and I will. I'll win Skid.' He hugs me and I pat him on the back, while he cries into my chest.
I move on to Lianna, I kiss her forehead and take her hands in mine, 'Take care of them Li. Ok?'
She blinks fiercely and nods.
The peacekeepers are here.
I hug each one of them again and cry, 'I love you! I love you!'
But they're gone before they can hear it.
I'm convinced no one else will come and see me, when Skyler pops her head around the door.
'Sky!' I yelp and hug her.
'Oh, Kitra...' She trails off with tears in her eyes.
'Skyler, don't you dare cry,' I warn her, 'I've had enough of that already.'
She gives a choked laugh and shakes her head, 'I thought it would be Lianna.'
'I didn't,' I say quietly. 'It wouldn't have mattered anyway.'
'Why?'
'I was going to volunteer if she was reaped.'
'Oh, Kitra,' She says again.
I look up to the ceiling, blinking back tears. The very stubborn tears that won't budge from under my eyelids. I breathe in shakily and look back to Skyler.
'Tell the others I said goodbye.' I'm referring to our small group of friends at school. The four of us are usually always together. They won't be coming in though. We'll be gone before they get the chance.
She nods and once again the Peacekeepers are here, one group to take Skyler away, and one for me.
'Bye Sky.' I say, it was something we would say when we were little, we thought it was hilarious, the rhyme.
'In a bit, Kit.' She says back, a sad smile on her face.
She's gone.
