Reaping
...
Fifteen years old. Four slips in the reaping for the 79th hunger games.
That's me. Lilith Syte. District 6.
Truthfully, I should be more worried about my brother Ryan. He's seventeen, and he takes tesserae, so he has thirty slips with his name on it. But still, I am in the ball, so I could very easily get reaped.
Maybe both of us might.
Don't think about that, I tell myself. Neither of you will get reaped. There are least four hundred papers in there!
"See you in a bit Lilith," Ryan smiles, then walked away. My parents hug me, then I go over to the fifteen-year-old section and join my friend Kendall.
"How m-" she starts, but I put my hand over her mouth.
"None of that," I warn.
Kendall nods.
"Time to pick a girl tribute!" Our vain escort, making a big show of herself, grabs a slip halfway into the ball in the fanciest way possible. She twirls it in her hand before reading the name.
"Lilith Syte!"
I am so disgusted by her vanity that I don't even realize I was reaped. With a gulp, I manage to give Kendall and weak smile before forcing my feet one in front of the other to walk to the stage, regretting every step.
"Are you Lilith?" The escort asks.
I nod, my face pale.
"Very well." She goes over to the boys' reaping ball and does exactly the same thing. I'm too frightened to be annoyed.
"Jonah Jackson!"
Jonah Jackson? He's only twelve!
Jonah comes up to the stage a minute later, looking a lot more unstable than me.
"And here are the tributes for District 6 this year, Lilith Syte and Jonah Jackson!"
I let the peacekeepers drag me into another room.
My parents, Ryan, and Jonah's family shove their way in barely a minute later.
"Jonah!"
"Lilith!"
"Oh, I'm so sorry!"
"Don't give up!"
"You can do it!"
"At least try!"
I don't even know who's saying what, or which words are meant for me and which are meant for Jonah.
"You are strong Lilith," my mother bends over me. "You are right in the middle of the age group. No one will see you as weak, and no one will fear you."
I nod.
"Make us proud," my father tells me. "I hope beyond hope that I'll see you again."
I try very hard not to cry.
"You know I won't be coming back," I choke out.
"Oh, Lilith," Ryan wraps his arms around my shoulders. "Don't be so negative. I know you can win. You just need to have faith in yourself."
I nod. "I'll try as hard as I can," I promise.
We all group hug.
"I love you all so much," I whisper. "If I die, my last thought will be of all of you."
"Time's up." the peacekeeper comes to drag them back out.
I want to scream after them. I want the peacekeeper to bring them back, give me just one more minute with them. But instead I catch my mother's eye one last time. And I don't hesitate to believe that maybe this isn't the last time.
I need to stay strong. I won't go down without a fight.
...
May the odds be ever in Lilith's favor! Remember to review!