Shipwrecked

Co-written by Little Flipendo and this-is-izzy

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Chapter Three

District Four was one of the larger districts in Panem. It was off the east coast, where the water was warm and the fish were plenty. As there were plenty of fish, there were plenty of kids in the district. Most families had two or more children, meaning there was a huge reaping pool. We all stood with our age group, girls on the left, boys on the right. I was in the middle of the crowd. Parents and those who weren't able to be reaped stood around us. Yes, it was mandatory for them to be there but to support us.

Surely someone else would be picked out of the many of us. I felt bad thinking that but I couldn't lose my family. Everyone else would be thinking similar thoughts. It was different for a victory's sibling. I didn't want my family to have to go through the stress once again. I knew what it was like. The constant worrying of if they are going to survive. The horrible pain of seeing them suffer. I couldn't let my family go through it again.

I stood next to my friend, Belladonna. Her blonde hair rolled down her back and her blue eyes were full of worry. Our clasped hands were between us, our nerves making them shake. We didn't speak words, no one did, we only held on to each other for support. We have been friends since we were in our first year of schooling. She sat right next to me and Kai sat on the other side of me. She asked for a crayon and it just started a tidal wave into friendship.

Our friends were all around us, standing close to one another for comfort. Ivy, Moza, Orabelle and Thora all stood the closest; each one of them a dear friend of Belladonna and I. None of us wanted to be chosen to compete, selfish, but who would really want to compete? We didn't want each other to be Reaped either.

The crowd fell silent as our escort walked onto the stage. Our mayor, Mayor Nettle Madder, had already given his speech; the history Panem, the Dark Days, the uprising of the districts against the Capital and the Treaty of Treason. Madder was a reasonable enough mayor, harsh with the laws as he was firm follower of the Capital, but he was fair with most of us. Our escort was a short man by name of Pierrick Azium. He had a bright smile plastered on his face. To me it almost looked a bit forced. His hair was bright red and his skin was almost snow white. His suit was a lively pink.

"District Four!" he greeted us. "Merry, merry Reaping Day and happy, happy Hunger Games. Today we have two of the district's lovely children chosen to represent us in the Hunger Games! What a high honor. The two Tributes will go to the Games and one of them will bring honor, respect and a win to District Four! Let us begin and may the odds be ever in your favor. "

Wasting no time, he walked right over to the huge glass bowl that held every girl's name between the age of twelve and eighteen, some more than others. There were many poorer people in the district. My family was never quite poor, though, we were close to being poor before my brother's win. My name was only in there one time thanks to Finnick. There was no way I was going to get pick. No, I was determined not to get picked. I would live through the next three Reapings, Kai would move back and we'd live happily ever after—or that's what we hoped.

Pierrick's hand dove in to the bowl of names and I hoped he'd get a paper cut. He didn't as he grabbed onto a name on the white sheet of paper, no blood tainting his snow skin or the white paper. He pulled it out slowly, a joke of a grin on his face. He looked down to read it, the grin dropping.

"My God…" I heard him whisper as he read the name. He looked up, searching the crowd before speaking again. "Narissa Odair…"

My heart dropped.

No, no, no, no, no, no. No! My heart didn't just drop, it stop beating. No one moved, no one dared to. I heard my mother dissolving off into sobs, crying loudly as her second child was chosen to be sent off to the Games once more. Belladonna was crying next to me, hugging my side tightly. Almost dream like, I stepped out of her embrace. Everyone around me parted.

My slow steps to the front are tortuous. The Peacekeepers swarmed me as I walked, two behind me, two in front of me. This couldn't be happening. Tears slowly started forming in my eyes. I was a family member of a district winner. We are never selected as Tribute! My eyes were large as they connect with Finnick's from where he stood on the stage, having sprung up from his seat when I was called. Mags sat in the chair next, shock written across her old face. Annie was sitting on Finn's other side, crying softly as she saw me be Reaped.

Finnick looks like he just witnessed my death. I guess he had. Being selected as Tribute is a death sentence.