One time there was a moment when I was hanging in a tree, waiting for some animals to pass by and I got so hung up in trying to catch some game to trade in at the black market, I dozed off and fell down planting hard onto my back trying to stand up but I was blind for that one second, I tried to wake up but it seemed I was as stiff as I could ever be. The sudden wisp of air came crashing down and I felt like I could not breathe anymore, it was hard to get my breathing in order that day. That's how I felt right now, that moment reminded me of now and how stiff I was and hard to inhale it was. My heart sunk to the pit of my stomach and I was about to throw up even if my name wasn't called.
My face showed complete horror as Lily was walking up to the podium with quivering hands and shaky knees, the color paling away from her rosy cheeks. You could see it from here. She slowly put her hands behind her back and tucked in the hem of her blouse…my little duck. I wasn't going to let this happen. I walked out of line.
"Lily!" The cry screeched out my throat. I suddenly became alive, my muscles started functioning again. "Lily!" Peacekeepers grabbed my arms and started to push me back into the crowd. I couldn't take Lily being in the games, being helpless as she tried to fight the other warriors in the battle. I forced my way through the Peacekeepers and I screamed and my voice was chalky. "I-I-I volunteer!" I could feel stares of complete and utter shock burning into my back.
"I volunteer as tribute!" I gasped. Everyone was gaping at me, surprised and confused and shocked. Everything I was feeling too. "I volunteer as tribute." I repeated through a whisper.
Effie suddenly looked astonished and trotted to the mayor. "Mr. Mayor, I believe we have a volunteer!"
Lily ran to my sides and hugged me with sobs. "Lily, you need to get out of here, you need to get out of here." I felt my eyes almost turn into slips of salt water but I forced them back because sponsors would see me as a weakling and I would look idiotic.
"No! No!" Lily shouted her voice hoarse as she disagreed to my directions.
"Go find Mom!" I say trying to keep my tears away.
"No! No! I won't!" Lily shouted again with tears flowing. "Lily, go find Mom right now, I am so sorry." I said. My throat was becoming dry each second.
"No! No! No Ally!" Lily was screaming. She hugged me at my waist and gripped, hard. Dallas was coming and before I knew it, she was being carried away by Dallas, crying hysterically as well as pounding against his back.
"Up you go, Ally." Dallas says before walking away, with a struggle to keep a squirming Lily on his shoulder blade.
"A dramatic turn of events here in District Twelve." Effie says ignoring Lily's yelps for me.
The Peacekeepers, about four of them lead me to the podium. I can't believe what just happened…Lily was one slip in thousands! How could the odds of this be happening?! The odds are not in my or Lily's favor today, well they never are, not on reaping days
"District Twelve's very first volunteer! Bring her up." I walked up the stairs in a daze, everything was blurry and I felt dizzy. "Come on dear." Effie reaches for my hand and I let her. Her hands move to my shoulders and she puts me by the girls' glass bowl, on the left.
"What's your name?" Effie asks me.
"Allyson Dawson." I answer quietly.
"Well I bet my buttons that was your sister, wasn't it?"
"Yes." I reply dazed. I look around so confused and shocked.
"Let's give a big hand for our very first volunteer, Allyson Dawson!" She pats her fingers against her palm creating a small clap. Then everyone does something so unexpected, they start to kiss their first three fingers and raise it into the air. First one person, one line, one group and then slowly, everybody in the district was raising their fingers. Okay, if this wasn't national and going across the country for everyone to see, I would be crying. This means a goodbye to someone you loved and cherished, I didn't even know everyone knew who I was! And here they are saying they will miss me. I felt angry but I couldn't enforce my anger over my terror and sadness.
"And now for the boys." Effie announces.
She walks to the other glass bowl, her heels clacking and her hand just snatches a paper from the middle. When she gets back to the microphone, I could see Dallas's face tense up. "Austin Moon." She says and I sigh in relief because I won't have to be in the games with Dallas… but it quickly turns into a groan as I let his name sink into my mind. Austin Moon…no. I feel like I just never stop owing him, and I hate that feeling.
Austin looks around completely bewildered as everyone clears the isle for him to go. Some Peacekeepers lead up to the podium as they did with me. I glance at Austin seeing his features, he has a stocky build, and bright blonde hair combed back, tall figure and hazel eyes. Fright filled his face, but agitation filled mine.
"Our tributes from District Twelve!" Effie smiles and we meet eye contact. I look at him and think of back then. My starving days, it was the time when my father had died. Austin is the baker's son, when I was in the rain that day, his mother ordered Austin to take out the bad baked bread and feed it to the pigs. Well I guess he seen me, felt bad and tossed me some loafs of bread. Before my eyes, he was gone and there was two loafs of wet, muddy, warm bread in my hands. That helped me, my mother and Lily survive, and that's what gave me hope. I remember that night, I ran home, using my energy to give it to my family, and we garbled the bread down and went to bed full. It gave me energy for hunting and look where I am now. He's in the Games with me. And I have to murder him.
"We'll go on you two, shake hands." Effie giggles, snapping me out of my thoughts. Our eyes meet again and the memory flashes back, the rain, the pigs, Austin's mom, and the warm loaves in my hands. Austin reaches out his hand and I blink staring at it. Finally we shake hands and Austin looks at me scared and terrified only because he was chosen, nothing else. He doesn't feel anything about this; I bet he doesn't even remember when he did this and when he rescued me from dying from starvation.
"Happy Hunger Games! And may the odds be ever in your favor." says Effie and then walks us into the Justice Building for our goodbyes. I get shoved into a room. I wait at the window, tapping my fingers against the frame anxiously waiting for what's to come after this.
Sorry this was a short chapter I have really nothing to say about this except…I have to leave for some random excuse… *runs off into the hallway but then comes back to say review comments*
Oh yeah. I didn't forget you guys, well here's my replies…
Trying2StayHopeful: Yes! I am TOTALLY on Peeta's team. Everlark and Auslly 4 ever! :D
ausllylovestory: Thanks! I just thought that it would be cool to do this and you make it even awesomer if you love my story! Thank you!
xxx All You Need Is Love xxx: Me too! The Hunger Games and Austin & Ally rock and thank you! You are an amazing author as well! :D
Allygurl101: I think I will just make this story and end it. I hope that's what you mean haha! :P And true, the second and third book aren't the best but I will still see the movies :)
PurpleKitty18: Thanks! :D You rock. (=
Well thanks guys for supporting my story! I love you. Seriously. I was happy to update this chapter! You guys deserve a hug, a virtual hug. And again, I am sorry if I got anything wrong, those of you who love to criticize other stories ;) Sorry didn't mean that in offense.