Chapter 2: To Avenge Her Brother

Emily Halberd, District 2 Reapings

Emily Halberd missed the good old days. Her childhood days, where everything was hunky dory. She missed lazy afternoons hanging out at the pool with her brother. She missed joking with him, watching him play with the ants in the yard. She even missed him poking fun at her, making her the butt of his jokes. She missed having him around, missed having a brother. She missed him, that was what it boiled down to. Dragan had been her only friend.

Her confidant.

He had protected her from the bullies at school. He had made sure that no one but him made fun of her. He had been the only person who actually cared about her.

Now he was gone, dead, forever and ever. He would never come rushing in the front door and give her his floppy smile. Emily was alone in the world. Even her friend Diana was drifting away, being called into the world of popularity. Emily had never felt truly alone in the world until after the death of her brother had finally sunk in.

Emily wanted revenge. For the death of Dragan, for the betrayal of Diana, for the un-interest that her parents showed her. Dragan was gone, Diana was popular, her parents had never cared.

School was getting worse by the day, bullies picked on her endlessly. The teachers treated her as if she was an abandoned cat that would be better off dead, drowned in the river or something. Fingers were constantly being pointed at her, rumors burned around the campus like wildfire. It hadn't taken her long to figure out who to direct her anger at.

Jael Cross.

Sadie's older sister.

Sadie had killed Emily's brother and Sadie was dead as well. Emily figured that Jael deserved to die as well. Which was why Emily was going to volunteer. There was no one left to stop her.

She left her house with a determination that no one would be able to stop. Hurricane Emily was on a war path and everyone in her way would be destroyed. She stood off by herself at the reapings as the mayor read the stupid mandatory speech. No one wanted to stand by her, she was Dragan's sister and pretty much everyone in the District hated Dragan. Therefore they hated her by association; the younger sister of the monster that they claimed he had been. He protected her when he was alive, now he was dead, and she no longer had protection.

Traitors, they should be hating Sadie, she's the one who turned on her fellow District partner. But no, in their eyes, Sadie was the saint. They were wrong. Sadie was no saint, just a cold blooded murderer.

Yvonne Heart stepped up to pick names. Emily thought that choosing names was pointless in the career districts because there were almost always volunteers. Although, strangely, last year no one had volunteered for Sadie Cross.

Emily wished that she had a time machine so she could go back and convince someone to volunteer. Because she was one hundred percent certain that Dragan would have won if it hadn't of been for Sadie. Emily used to look up to the Cross sisters, but no longer.

"Emily Halberd," Yvonne called out. The name took awhile to register in Emily's mind. It finally sank in. Well, that would save her the trouble from volunteering. She would be very put out if another girl tried to steal the glory form her. She had no doubt in her mind that one of the girls from her year would try to volunteer and she was determined not to let that happen. Emily Halbred would be going, her name being chosen was a sign that it was meant to be.

Yvonne's hand reached into the boy's bowl and called out a name that Emily didn't recognize. Forth Handervilt headed up to the stage to join Emily. She sized him up, he was small and weak looking, not typical for her District. He would be replaced. But if he wasn't, he would be an easy kill.

Volunteers were called for, ladies first. Whimsical Darling and Sapphire Hills both wanted the glory.

"NO," Emily shouted for all to hear as Whimsical and Sapphire argued it out. "My name was called, mine; not yours Whim, not yours Sapphire, but mine. I'm going."

"No Emily, the Halberd's had their chance last year; give someone else a go," Whimsical shot back. Emily had always hated that girl. It was a mutual hate. Whimsical had been the one to throw Diana into the throes of popularity. Diana now worshiped that girl. Emily couldn't see why, Whimsical was a very unpleasant girl. She could think of several words to describe Whimsical, but her mother had taught her to be lady-like. Ha.

"Girls," Yvonne warned, trying to resolve the conflict and return the peace. She turned to the Mayor. When there were several that wanted to go then the Mayor had to choose.

"Since Sapphire is only seventeen, she can try again next year," he told the black haired girl. Sapphire looked extremely disappointed but she didn't fight it. The mayor was right, she had another chance next year. She had been given a whole more year to train and get ready. It was a good thing that she did try to volunteer this year because she had more of a chance of going next year if someone else decided to volunteer as well, then she had the higher chance of being chosen by the Mayor.

"Whimsical and Emily are both eighteen, since Emily was chosen it is up to her on if she wants to go or not," the Mayor said as he met Emily's eyes.

"I'm going," Emily replied evenly, even though she wanted to jump up and down in triumph. She had finally beaten Whimsical in something.

"Very well, it's settled. Emily Halberd, you're Two's female tribute for the Hunger Games!" Yvonne clapped happily.

"And are there any takers for the boys?"

There were three. Emily knew them all. They were all eighteen and very muscular. They were bigger then she was, stronger, cunning. She didn't think that she could take on any of them and live to tell the tale. She realized what she had gotten herself into and she felt small and insignificant. She almost jumped out of her chair and ran away, giving up the opportunity to Whimsical. But revenge kept her glued to the chair.

The newest male tribute, Traxxton Arrwood sat down next to her. He was kind of handsome. Usually, Emily would rate him from one to ten in the looks department, but that was something that she used to do with Diana. They actually had rated him before, Diana gave him a nine but Emily only gave him an eight.

Girls from their District would drool over Trax as he walked down the halls in school.

Rumor had it that he had slept with over fifteen girls, breaking the previous record of thirteen. That one had been set by a boy called Duncan Hiney. Go figure. Parents really had to be careful with what they named their children nowadays.

Her parents Nemesis and Vladimir were the only two who came to say goodbye. Her only friend Diana didn't bother to show. Emily didn't dwell on it.

"Don't embarrass us," her mother advised as she sat on the couch tall and proud, still as a board. "Remember, don't slouch."

Emily rolled her eyes, it was her most frequent action when around her mother.

"Dragan had more of a chance then this one," her father said gruffly.

"Vlad," Nemesis scolded him. Emily left the room, she couldn't stand another second with them. She was escorted to the train where they were fed an elegant meal.

The recap of the District one reapings were shown. The television screen showed the typical careers volunteering. Ivexonna starred the cameras down with her blue eyes. Her long black hair billowed around her in the wind, outlining her heart shaped face. Emily was jealous of her looks. Ivexonna was wearing all black and seemed to be a force to reckon with. Emily didn't want to be on the girl's bad side.

The boy tribute was an eighteen year old by the name of Laurant Peddler. He was gigantic, probably weighed four times what she did. He could probably eat her for dinner and still have room for dessert.

There was a short recap of her district. Her eyes scared her, they were full of anger and rage. The screen showed a side of Emily that was rarely seen, the Scary Emily. That image would give her the edge that she needed. Emily knew that she was definitely in with the careers. There was no doubt in her mind that the tributes of the other Districts were already frightened of her. Her reputation as a badass would get her sponsors.

District three was a non career district, and as such, the tributes were small, tiny, pale. A short skinny girl was chosen. She tripped three times on her way to the stage, falling flat on her face the third time. Her nose was almost flat, as if she had fallen on it one too many times. She would be an easy kill. Meleana was joined by Virus. He was nothing special, very ordinary looking. Emily gave him a five in the look department. Diana would have given him a four. The reapings for District four appeared on screen.

To avenge her brother, she had to go into the arena.

Trivia: Who said "Well, if you're after a kiss?" I would appreciate it if answers were PM'ed. Thanks!

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~*Misty*~