Ember's POV
I stand in front of the mirror and look at my face one more time, my dark brown hair is pulled back so you can clearly see all of my face, mom likes to pull back my hair to look nice for the reaping but I like it because I think it really shows how young I look, how young I still am. I see my green eyes staring back at me and I notice the hints of freckles I have that scatter across my nose and down onto my cheeks, you would have to be really close to me to see them. I hear a knock on the door and my mothers voice on the other end. "Ember? Are you ready?" I take on more look at who I am, just in case I won't be coming home tonight.
"Yes" I open up the door and find my mom in her nice dress, the one she wears most years to these reapings. I nervously hold the sides of my faded purple dress and my mother puts her hands over her face and begins to tear up. "Mom"
"You just look so beautiful" She always gets so emotional before the reaping, being any only child means I am all my parents have, and seeing what Katniss did last year really makes everything seem more possible. We all watched a girl from district 12 win the games and the reality is it could be anyone, it could easily be me. I never thought about how many times my name is entered, how easy it would be for Effie Trinket to pull my name out of the bowl.
"Thank you" She pulls me close and hugs me tight, I close my eyes and try to remember everything about this moment, everything about my mom. There is a whole different feel to this years reaping, I can just feel it, and I feel like I might somehow be apart of this. My dad walks into the room and my mother wraps her arms around him, his face is still, I have never seen him cry and the reapings are no exception, I like to think that it's because he is hopeful. He is dressed nice and holds my mother as she cries.
"It's time to go"
"Okay" I take a deep breath and am about to walk out the door when my father grabs my arm and pulls me into a hug, he doesn't do this a lot either. My mom stands at the front door wiping away her tears. When my dad pulls away he doesn't say anything, but he doesn't have too, I already know everything he would ever need to say. We all walk out of the house and head towards the square, I look around and see all the other families with their children heading towards the same place, it's crazy to think that two people out of all of district 12 could potentially be heading to their death.
We get to the square and I get in line with all the children, I watch my mom and dad walking into the crowd with all the other adults. I find Katniss Everdeen's mom as she stands looking nervous, it hadn't dawned on me that Prim is also entered this year, it could be two years in a row that her daughters are sent to the Capitol. I get up to the front of the line and the peacekeeper takes my finger and prick it, the first two times they did it had hurt, now it's just a slight sting. I walk out of line and to the crowd of the other 17 year old girls and just look to the stage, I see Haymitch and Katniss and Peeta all standing around talking, Peeta is holding Katniss' hand and I can see her engagement ring, the sunlight reflects off it and it looks absolutely beautiful. Soon Effie Trinket makes her way to the stage and she plays the same video she plays every single year, when she is done she begins the same speech she also says every year. "Welcome, welcome to the 75th annual Hunger Games, and may the odds be ever in your favor" I watch as she steps up to the mike to speak again, it's time for her to choose the tributes. "Ladies first" She puts her hands into the large bowl and pulls out a slip of paper, she opens it up slowly and after reading the name steps back up to the microphone to announce the female tribute. "Ember Levan"
"No" I whisper to myself. Suddenly everything has stopped and I can feel the rapid pace of my heart beating practically out of my chest.
"Well come on up" Effie's voice booms over the crowd. I make my feet move one step at a time and make my way up to the stage. Everyone's eyes are on me, everyone is watching me step up to claim my prize, death. I look at my feet as I step up the stairs, when I make it up to where Effie stands she pulls me close to her, I can smell the sweet sent of her expensive perfume, I feel sick. "Let us all clap for our courageous female tribute" No one claps, instead they all raise their three fingers, it's how we say goodbye. Effie looks a little shaken by this and looks around, we all watched how dangerous this symbol was during the tour, people died over this. When peacekeepers don't charge in to stop this she continues. She steps over to the other bowl to pull the name of who will either my ally, or my enemy. I look around and can't help but see the relived face of Katniss, it wasn't her sister's name this time, she can breathe again. I can also see the sadness that is creeping to the surface, I look to Peeta and see the sympathy in his face. I watch as his grip on her hand tighten, they both need each other, they are both keeping each other up right now. Effie has now picked a card and is ready to announce the male tributes name. "Ash Mentra" I watch as he makes he way through the crowd, I know him. He is in my class, he is my age and I have even talked to him a couple of times. He walks up the stairs and I notice a sort of confidence he has, he doesn't look as scared as I know I am. He walks up and extends his hand to me and I shake it.
"Hi" It just pops out, I don't know what really to say, I might have to kill him, or he might kill me. He doesn't respond but looks away, he looks towards the crowd and I do the same, I see my parents and feel a pain in my heart, my mom's face is hidden by the arms of my father, I can't even see her face but I know she is crying. Effie comes over and lifts up my right hand and Ash's left.
"This years tributes" Everyone's three fingers are still up in the air, there isn't a single sound, this is really happening. I am a tribute.
I look over to the couch that sits in the room but can't sit down, I feel so trapped. I pace around the room and try to figure out what the hell I am going to do, I am going into the Hunger Games, this is actually going to happen. The door suddenly opens and my parents walk in, a peacekeeper is behind them. "You have five minutes" He closes the door and leaves the three of us. My mom's face is red and blotchy from the crying I know she has been doing, she pulls me into a tight hug.
"Oh my baby, my sweet sweet baby"
"Mom" It's the only word I can get out, I start crying myself now and hold onto her tightly. She pulls back and brushes some loose strands of hair that have fallen out of place out of my eyes, she kisses my forehead and and then wipes the tears from my eyes.
"I'm so sorry, I'm so so sorry"
"What do you have to be sorry for?"
"That I couldn't protect you" She pulls me into a hug again and I can see my dads face over her shoulder, he's crying. I have never seen my dad cry once in my life, but now that he knows he needs to send his little girl off to fight he can't keep it in. I pull away from my mom and walk over to my dad.
"Daddy" I hug him tightly and he kisses the top of my head, he pulls away and holds onto my arms.
"You need to do everything that you can to win"
"I can try"
"You need to listen to your mentors, they won last year and did something we have never seen before, they can help you"
"Okay"
"Make an ally, it worked for Katniss and hopefully it can keep you alive" He pulls me into hug again and my mom comes up and wraps her arms around me from behind.
"I love you so much"
"I love you too mom"
"We will see each other again" I just nod my head, I can't say aloud promises that I can't be sure I can keep. There is a knock at the door and a peacekeeper walks in.
"It's time to go" My mom hugs me real quick and then my parents are lead out of the room. The door closes and I'm left alone, I feel the material of my dress between my fingers and try and calm myself down, I have to look strong when I go out there, I can't let them think I am weak and an easy target. Soon another peacekeeper comes in and leads me to Effie Trinket, she is already waiting there with Ash, I guess it was a quick goodbye with his family too. I try and study his face to find any hint of emotion, but all I see in those brown eyes of his is calmness. He is completely together, suddenly I am worried that he will be able to tell that I was crying. I wipe my face one last time self consciously as we walk to the train We get on and instantly I am stunned, everything looks so luxurious. There is fine furniture that looks so comfortable from afar, and there is tables filled with food, so much food. Everything looks so good, I have never gone hungry before but I have also never seen this much food before.
"Wow" I just let it slip out, this has been happening a lot lately.
"Isn't it just fantastic? Everything is from the Capitol"
"So where are Katniss and Peeta?" This is the first time I have heard him speak, it's so weird to feel like I am going to be really meeting him for the first time under these circumstances, especially since I already kind of know him.
"They should be joining you soon, you two just enjoy yourselves for right now" She disappears into one of the train compartments and I sit on a couch and look at the window, soon Ash comes and joins me.
"Hi" I turn to face him and see that he is smiling at me, maybe my dad was right, I can make some allies. What better way to start is than with my fellow district 12 tribute, it worked out for Katniss last year.
"Hi"
"Sorry if you thought I was kind of standoffish at the reaping, I just was a little in shock about everything"
"That's okay, I didn't take it too personally, and you couldn't have guessed you were in shock at all"
"Well I was, I never really thought it would ever happen to me I guess. Next year would have been my last year of being entered"
"Me too"
"I was really hoping that we could work together, that we can stick together. I really think this is our best chance of surviving" I am so relived to hear him say all this, he wants to work together, so far everything is going as it's supposed too. At least I have one ally right now, and maybe even a friend.
"I think it's a good idea, so we agree that we need to stick together no matter what?"
"Yes"
"Good" I smile and him and then I hear a compartment door opening. Katniss and Peeta walk in, I can tell Katniss has been crying a little but I would never say anything, I know it must be hard leaving her family again. I push the thoughts of family far away, not wanting to think of my own.
"Hi, I'm Peeta" I stand up and shake his hand, Ash does the same.
"I'm Ember"
"And I'm Ash"
"It's nice to meet you both, not under the circumstances but me and Katniss are going to do everything we can to help both of you"
"Thank you" I can already tell that Peeta is sweet, I know he doesn't like this but I know he will keep the promises he is making to us. I believe he will do everything he can for us.
"How old are you two?" This is the first time Katniss has spoken.
"We're both 17" She puts her hand up to her chest and I see that engagement ring again.
"So are we" It's crazy to think that Katniss and Peeta are our age and have already won a Hunger Games and are getting married, they always seem so much older, never just kids like us.
"Well why don't we have something to eat and then we can talk about some strategy"
"Okay" We all head off to the dinning table and I can feel my head spinning, everything really is happening so fast. Just an hour ago I was reaped, I became a tribute and now we are already talking about different strategy with my mentors. We will be in the Capitol soon, there is no escape from this, the games will begin and I will be forced to find out just how good I am.
Authors note-Hey guys! Sorry for the long wait for an update, I went on vacation and then came back and had to work to make up for the days I was on vacation and I was just really tired, but now I am off for a couple of days and will be updating very soon. I don't own the characters Effie, Haymitch, Peeta, or Katniss, but I do own my OC's Ember and Ash. I really hope you like getting to know them a little better and I will be updating later in this week, anyway I hope you enjoyed this chapter and if so I hope you could leave me a review, and until next time-Izzy