Altheny "Ahlyce" Pham POV District 5
I woke up and sat there for a minute or two. I stretched trying to drag out the time. I did not want to do anything to sleep. Four more years then I'm out of harms way but fifteen years till my little sister is safe, I thought. I wouldn't even be able to volunteer for her. I stood up depressed as I usually am on reaping days (I am easily ticked off but on reaping days my emotions are everywhere). I pulled my long black hair with copper highlights into a ponytail barely looking at my face in the mirror. I only acknowledged my piercing dark eyes that were darker than the ocean (according to others, I couldn't care less). I grabbed my knives and set out to get breakfast.
…
I came back with a couple of squirrels, something my teachers call a skunk (they weren't kidding when they said it stunk) I'm hopping that once I skin it, it will loose the smell, and a few chipmunks. I walk in the house covering my nose a holding the stinking carcass at arm length. My seventeen year old cousin Briyana, thirteen year old cousin Derek, nine year old cousin Cahlye, six year-old cousin Eriel, my twin five year old cousins Fraustina and Gasiel, four year old cousin Hunter, and my three year old sister Iyana all jumped up complaining when the got a whiff.
Derek took the meat, also covering his nose, and franticly started skinning them as quickly as he could. I guess the smell rubbed of on me because she literally threw my in the bath ( I was amazed, I may only be fourteen but I was tall for my age). After three baths, two bars of soap, and a bottle of rose smelling perfume we ate and got ready.
I put on a blue dress that Briyana and the twins made for me and brushed my hair. I grabbed my hopefully- won't- need- it token, a necklace my parents made before their death, and we set out.
…
After dropping off Iyanna in the adult section with our neighbors, I went and stood in the fourteen-year-old section. I paid no attention to the mayor's speech (as if anyone did). Once our escort took the mike my heart started racing. She said her name was Biannca or something but I couldn't concentrate. My head kept flipping to look at all of my loved ones. There are so many of them. They odds we definitely not in my favor.
"Briyana Pham!" a voice shouted. Did I shout her name without realizing it? No. Did one of my cousins? No! Please tell me I imagined it.
"NO!" I shouted. "I volunteer! I volunteer! I volunteer!" I kept shouting. It kept repeating in my head until we were rushed into the City Hall.
…
"Why?"
"What?"
"Why?" All of them kept shouting. Except Briyana. She just held my hand. We knew that I could, would come back. I looked at her.
"They need a mother. I can't be that. You can. Protect Iyanna for me until I get back." I said. She nodded. My eyes locked on Iyanna on my lap. I loved her eyes. Her cute little Asian face.
I knew if I did die in these games, that's the last face I'll see.