Chapter 3
Reaping day; the day that every kid between 12 and 18 years of age dreads. Everyone was given off work for the day, so Danielle and Ms. Robin were able to join Klarissa and me. They went off to where the parents were standing, while Klarissa and I got signed in. We stood in our places with our age groups. We waited just a few minutes before Effie Trinket came out with her usual introduction. I didn't register anything she said, too absorbed in thought and fear.
"As usual, ladies first," Effie said and I was brought back to reality. I looked back at Danielle, who mouthed "It will be ok." I stared back at Effie to see her draw a card from the bowl. I dug my fingernails into my palms as she slowly unfolded the card.
That's when she read the name off the card. "Aviana Jennison," she said into the microphone, and my heart froze. I don't know how I made it up to that platform, everything was simply a blur. I didn't register the shouts of "No!" from Klarissa, or the shouts of "Ana!" from Bri. Only one thought was going through my mind; I was going to fight in the Hunger Games.
I was snapped back to reality as Effie asked me, "Choose a sister to join you as tribute, dear." I immediately locked eyes with Danielle. No, I thought, no, no, no.
I shakily stepped up to the microphone and took a deep breath. I closed my eyes, and before I would allow myself to think, I blurted out, "Danielle Fleming." I stepped away from the microphone, turned my back to the audience, and buried my face in my hands, and began shaking with sobs, it taking everything in me not to collapse to the floor. All I remember after that was Danielle wrapping her arms around me and a tear falling into my hair.
The next thing I remember is being brought into this room with Danielle. Danielle knelt down in front of me, and started to say something when a door opened and a peacekeeper say, "You have 5 minutes." I turned around and saw Klarissa and Ms. Robin walk in, Bri being on Ms. Robin's hip.
I immediately pulled Klarissa into a hug. "I'm so sorry," is all I could say to her. I then walked over to Ms. Robin and hugged her as Danielle took Bri. "Thank you for taking me in, and taking care of Bri. And I'm so sorry." I then took Bri from Danielle and held her close. She didn't pull away from me, she simply returned the hug. She seemed to know that something serious was happening.
I turned when Klarissa said, "You guys need to try and win. You could do what Katniss and Peeta did last year." I looked at Danielle who looked back up at me with a look of dread.
She knelt down in front of Klarissa and gently held her wrists. "Baby, that's not going to happen. The Capitol wasn't happy about it last time, and they aren't going to make the same mistake again."
Klarissa shook her head and said, "No, no!" Danielle pulled her into a hug and whispered something to her, as I hugged Ms. Robin again, still holding Bri. I saw Klarissa nod as Danielle wiped her tears away and stood up.
A peacekeeper opened the door and called for Ms. Robin and Klarissa. I hugged and kissed Bri one more time before handing her back to Ms. Robin. She proceeded to turn and reach and squirm for me, yelling, "Ana! Ana!"
I ran over to Danielle crying. She hugged me as I said, "One of us has to make it home. For Klarissa and Bri."
"And one of us will," Danielle said, stroking my hair, "I'll make sure of that."
Then a peacekeeper opened the door and said, "It's time to head to the train."
"No one else is here to say goodbye?" I asked, desperately wanting to say goodbye to Peeta. The peacekeeper shook his head as one grabbed Danielle's arm, and another grabbed mine and lead us to the car that would take us to the train. In the car sat the male tributes and Effie.
"Hello girls," Effie said, giving us a smile as we climbed in. She began rambling on about Capitol stuff and the train and whatnot, but I couldn't hear any of it. All I could think of the fact I was certain that I would never see my best friend again.