Kitty POV
A name has been drawn.
Someone will soon find out that they will be competing in the Hunger Games. Each year the Capitol arrives to District 10 to begin the commencement ceremony and hold the Reapings for the district. Peacekeepers would guard the Town Square from any last minute escapees and our District Escort Collins Vinzent would announce which boy and girl are the newest tributes sent into the arena. Since it's a Quarter Quell this year, the rules are different and the tribute count has been doubled – two boys and two girls – but only one will be reaped from the draw.
The other 16 year old girls in my row can barely look up from the ground. My friends Katia and Henrietta are holding onto each other in anticipation – anyone of us could be reaped this year. From the three of us, my name has been included more times in the glass container for the draw. I opted for the tessarae the last few years and it's only a matter of time before the extra names catches up to me. Neither of my siblings signed up for the order and I've been taking the chance for us to have some type of food for the food. Please don't let this be my year – I don't want to compete.
Collins opens up the little slip of paper and speaks into the crowd...
"The first tribute is... Kitty Bardwell!"
Numb.
My whole body feels numb at this point. Out of all the eligible children of District 10, my name was the one to be called for the Hunger Games. The statistics are unfound and the chances that this would be happening are slim to none but it did and now I must live with it. I'm the first tribute for District 10 and now I must enter the arena with three other people of my choice.
The crowd turns their heads to me and the looks are all the same. No one wants to say it but I can tell: they don't think I'm coming back to District 10 alive. Katia and Henrietta both have the same look on their face; my friends are saying goodbye with their eyes. Thank you girls – I really needed to feel that moment at this time. The Peacekeepers are waiting for me and the girls have moved aside to let me walk to the stage. In those few moments of walking through the crowd and up the stairs, I can't help but think of all the scary monsters, traps and tricks that the Capitol has in store for me and the other tributes inside the arena. I couldn't wish that on even my worst enemy.
Collins extends his hand and he leads me to the microphone. He tries to reassure me that everything will be alright and that the ceremony will almost be over. I look to the side of the stage at one of the chairs and see our current District Escort Gemma Fields. Her fiery red hair and piercing gold eyes are unmistakable – her unique looks helped her land more than enough sponsors in the arena to survive at the top of her game. She's not smiling but I can tell that she's trying to be supportive in her own way by not getting out of her chair to greet me. Collins shakes me gently and redirects my attention to the camera zooming in on us – the Capitol is now waiting for my decision.
"Kitty, you must now make the hardest decision of your life. Three more tributes need to be selected for District 10 and the choice is up to you. Two boys and one more girl must be called to stage up here on stage. Step to the microphone and make your choice."
I look into the crowd and my mind suddenly blanks. Everyone standing below me, from the kids to the parents in the back, starts to blur in the distance and I can't tell any of them apart. I'm not ready to make this decision – I can't decide who I want to send into the arena. A few minutes past and I have yet to announce any of my choices. Collins waits eagerly for me but I can tell Gemma is already frustrated; she scoffs under her breath and I hear her mutter "weakling."
More minutes have gone by and Collins no longer wants to wait, he steps to my side and takes the microphone.
"Kitty, we must have a selection. If you do not make a choice, they will be made for you."
"I... I can't... I don't know..."
"Fine then. Gemma, please select three names from the glass container. We will continue to reaped names until all three spots have been filled. Kitty – may the odds be ever in your favour."
Gemma stands up and flips over her hair. She obviously isn't impressed with me anymore; she might as well have said it directly. She pulls three slips of paper from the jar and walks across the stage, stepping in front of me and ignoring my presence. Gemma may have impressed the sponsors with her likeability on camera but she's self-centered and mean like most of the tributes from the Career districts. She opens the first slip and speaks into the microphone...
"Eve Harper."
Another girl. From the looks at the girls, she must be pretty young since many of the little children are gasping and crying. I'm so sorry Eve.
"Holt Sprouse."
The first boy. I've heard of Holt before and he's another young child. The draw isn't helping me at the moment and none of the stronger teenagers are being selected. I should have just made the choice and chosen the three tributes. Now the little kids are being forced to compete; it's all my fault!
"Henrietta Pasture."
Oh no, Henrietta! I see Henrietta shake in fear and Katia clutch into her; both of them begin crying but Collins taps the microphone. From my internal count, that makes three girls and one boy.
"From the initial draw, we have overdrawn with female tributes. Ms. Pasture, since your name was the last female tribute to be called, you will not be reaped into the arena. Gemma, please select another name."
Henrietta breathes a sigh of relief. She stares at me and I can tell that she's angry; she was so close to being sent into the arena because of me. One of my best friends, if she still calls herself that, could have died because of me.
"Dune Ward."
A boy. He's the last eligible tribute to be called. Now with Dune being called, all the tributes spots are filled and we'll be whisked away to the Capitol. If I were to win, this could change my life for the better but if I lose... I'll be dead. Hopefully this ragtag team pulled together by chance can pull off a long-shot win. We need the sponsors to believe in us.
I have to believe in us.
