Like a Lamb to the Slaughter
District 8
Day before the Reaping
Ezme McVernon, 14, District 8 Female
Keith wiggled in my hands, trying to escape. I carefully held him, trying not to touch the injured wing. The small bird chirped, and squirmed, so I gently put him back in his cage.
"Ezme!" my mother called. "Lunch!"
I gave Keith one last pat on the head, and then headed into the kitchen. My mother gave me a smile. "Not much today, just some leftover stew."
I sat down across from my brother, Cole, and my mom placed a bowl in front of me. Cole was already eating, slowly lifting the spoon to his mouth with a faraway look.
My mother glanced at my clothes. "You really shouldn't wear that while eating. You might spill something on it."
I was wearing an old dress I had found in my mother's closet. She generally didn't wear nice clothes anymore, so I had taken to wearing them. Mom hadn't worn nice clothes since Dad died.
"It's fine, Mom," I replied. "I'll be careful."
My mom pursed her lips but didn't say anything.
The kitchen went quiet, and I searched for a topic to talk about. Without thinking, I said, "Do you think anything exciting is going to happen at the Reaping?"
Cole fumbled with his spoon; my mom gave me a disapproving look. The Reaping was a subject we all avoided, for Cole's sake.
4 years ago, Cole had been reaped for the 134th Hunger Games. He was saved by his best friend, who volunteered for him. That friend died early on in the games. After that, Cole had not come out of his bedroom for 3 weeks. He had barely touched the food we had set out for him. We were sure he was going to die. Finally, my dad had convinced him to come out of his room. He had made a recovery but thinking about the Reaping made him go all silent and closed off. It was always a bad time of the year, because of all the constant reminders of the Reaping, and then the Games.
Cole stared down at his stew. Mom looked at me, then nodded her head in his direction.
I sighed. "Sorry, Cole."
He gave me a weak smile. "It's okay. I'm fine."
He obviously wasn't fine, but neither me or Mom said anything.
We went back to an awkward silence. I ate my stew, occasionally glancing at Cole. He stared into space, his stew left untouched.
Mom was the one to say something. "So, Izzy, what are you and Gemma doing for the project?" she asked in a strangely bright tone.
I smiled, relieved for something to talk about. "We're looking at Peacekeeper uniforms. It's actually kind of interesting."
At school, our task was to, in pairs, research types of clothes District 8 manufactured. Each year we had a project, and at the end, the parents would come and watch us present.
My mom nodded. "Sounds good. Excited for the presentation?"
"Yeah. But it hasn't been the same since Dad-" I cut myself off before I could say anything more, but the damage was already done.
It was now Cole's turn to give me a disapproving glare. My mom took in a shaky breath, and turned away from us, focusing on the task of cutting up a carrot.
I winced, scolding myself. I was doing great today. In 5 minutes, I had managed to bring up the two forbidden topics, the Reaping and Dad. Why was I being such an idiot?
I swallowed the lump in my throat. "I'm going to feed Keith." I stood up and scraped the last little bit of stew into a container for another time.
"I'm going to pick some strawberries," Cole said quietly, and joined me in saving the food he hadn't eaten. Mom didn't look at either of us, just stared down at the floor.
I headed back to my room, which I shared with Cole. I heard the door slam as Cole left. As soon as he had left, I heard Mom start sobbing.
Ignoring the horrible feeling in my gut, I opened Keith's cage and picked him up. He seemed to pick up on my distress and chirped softly. I stroked his head absent-mindedly, cursing myself for ruining the day.
Colliner "Cole" McVernon, 18, District 8 Male
I headed towards the strawberry patch, trying to clear my head. Try as I might, I couldn't.
Memories swirled through my brain. Dad helping me with my homework. Stitch rating the girls in our class on their looks. Dad telling me and Ezme a funny story at dinner, laughing heartily. Stitch punching a guy who was teasing a little kid. Dad tucking me into bed each night. Stitch greeting me with a big grin each morning. I tried to push them down, but they kept on coming back, making me feel sick. I didn't need to see it. Not now.
I reached the strawberries, and promptly threw up. I felt slightly guilty at eating that stew only to throw it up again when we could have saved it. But it was too late now.
I couldn't help but think about the day I got reaped. I had been so sure I was going to die. I had stood there, willing myself not to cry, as the other boys had stepped away from me as if I had some sort of disease. And then Stitch had volunteered, looking scared but determined. Later, when I asked him why he had volunteered, instead of letting me die, he just gave me a weary smile. "You have a family you have to look after," he had said. "I don't have anyone who will miss me."
I had told him I would miss him. He laughed. "You'll probably be the only one, mate."
He was right. No one really cared. Of course, people felt bad for him, but no one actually cared. His father certainly didn't, and he didn't have any other friends apart from me. No one in the Capitol did. No one in any of the other districts did. No one in District 8 did. He was just another tribute, just another boy doomed to die.
I was the only one who remembered when he died. He hadn't grabbed anything at the Cornucopia and was facing the icy wasteland with no supplies. He died in his sleep. Hypothermia. I remember hearing his cannon go and feeling numb as the hovercraft took his body away. I didn't cry. I just felt empty.
I tried to bring myself back to the present. I couldn't go back home like this. Mom was already upset enough, and I couldn't do that to Ezme.
I filled my basket with strawberries, and headed back home, avoiding the square, where I would be reminded of the Reaping. Pushing open the door, I didn't hear anything but soft snores.
I found Mom asleep at the table, her cheeks tear-stained. I gave her a soft kiss, and headed into my room, leaving the strawberries in the kitchen.
Ezme startled when I walked in, then looked guilty. She was still beating herself up about it, I could tell. I hated seeing her upset. We had never been extremely close, but after Stitch had died, she had become my best friend, even though I wasn't hers.
Right now, I didn't feel like talking though. I lay down on my bed, facing away from her, and tried to get rid of the bad memories plaguing me.
Reaping Day
Ezme McVernon, 14, District 8 Female
I got dressed as quickly as I could, not wanting to face Cole or my mother. I still felt guilty about yesterday.
I rushed out of the house and was greeted by my best friend Gemma. Her curly orange hair was forcibly pulled back into a bun, which made her look quite strange. I grinned. "Very posh, Gem. How long did it take to do that?"
Gem smiled. "Only about a couple of hours."
We both laughed, and headed to the square, Mom and Cole on our heels.
When we arrived and got checked in, I glanced at Cole. His face had gone very pale, and he looked like he was reliving bad memories. I put my hand on his shoulder. "Cole? You alright?"
Cole startled, but when he saw it was me, he put on a grin. "Yeah, I'm good. See you after, okay?"
Before I could reply, he was off into the crowd.
Me and Gemma found our place in the 14-girl's section just as the mayor tapped on the microphone.
Colliner "Cole" McVernon, 18, District 8 Male
I wiped my sweaty hands on my pants as the mayor started his speech. I felt close to fainting. This never got easier, coming here. I banished the thoughts of Stitch volunteering from my mind, and tried to focus on what the mayor was saying, but I wasn't taking anything in. After not very long, the escort, Ajax, had the microphone in his hand and was reaching into the girl's bowl. With a dramatic flourish, he pulled out a piece of paper and read it out.
"Ezme McVernon."
My heart stopped.
The girl's parted, and Ezme came into view, looking as shocked as I felt. She wasn't moving, just staring at the escort with wide eyes.
She looked at Gemma, who was staring at her in horror. Slowly, she took a step out, and made her way to the stage.
Reality sunk in. I felt my breath catch in my throat. "No! Ezme!"
She looked in my direction, fear in her eyes. I couldn't just stand there.
I tried to get to her, but there were people everywhere. I called out again, louder, "Ezme!"
A peacekeeper grabbed my arm, and I struggled to get free of his grasp. Another grabbed my other arm. "No! Ezme! EZME!"
I kept on calling her name, trying to get to her. I couldn't let another person I loved die. Stitch, Dad, and now Ezme.
Ezme stood next to the escort, looking like she was going to faint, but not crying. Ajax reached into the boy's bowl and called out a name I didn't recognise. Before I knew what I was doing, I screamed "I volunteer!"
The crowd went silent. The peacekeepers let go of me, and I practically ran up to the stage and enveloped Ezme into a hug.
"I'm not going to let you face this alone," I said softly. She nodded against my chest, breathing unsteadily.
Ajax looked unsure of what to do. Eventually he settled with asking me what my name was.
"Colliner McVernon," I replied shakily. I could hear my mom crying.
Ajax grinned. "Ah, so this is your sister! Couldn't let her take all the glory, I suppose!"
I glared at him in response.
"Give a big round of applause for your tributes!"
There was a bit of half-hearted clapping, and then we were escorted to the Justice Building. To my dismay, they put me and Ezme in different rooms.
"Can I go see my sister?" I asked the Peacekeeper guarding my door.
"No."
"I won't try to escape, I promise. You can escort me there, if you want."
The Peacekeeper looked at me warily. "What if someone comes to visit you?"
"They won't." That was true. Stitch had been my only friend, and now that he was gone, I had no one.
"Fine then. But no funny business."
I complied as he grabbed my arm and lead me there. "Three minutes, I suppose."
I rushed inside. My mother was already there, hugging a sobbing Ezme. When she saw me, she leapt up and hugged me.
Ezme came up and hugged me too, and we stayed in our tight hug for a while. When we broke apart, Ezme wiped her eyes.
"I'm going to die," she whimpered.
"No you're not," Mom and I said at the same time.
"I'm going to make sure you come home," I told her. "I promise."
And that was the truth. I was going to do everything I could to get her home. I would fight. I would kill. I would make sure she was safe.
But that means you'll die, the little voice in my head said. And you don't want to die.
Shut up, I told the little voice in my head. Unfortunately, it was true. I didn't want to die. I wanted to live the rest of my life. But if Ezme was to live, it meant I had to die.
There was no other way.
Ezme McVernon, 14, District 8 Female
Mom and Cole left so she could say goodbye to him in private. I took a deep breath to try and control my nerves.
This was so unfair. I was going into the Games, and to make it worse, Cole was coming in with me. Only one of us could survive.
I hated myself for hoping it was me.
The door opened again, and Gemma came in, looking tearful. She wrapped me in a massive hug, and I returned it.
When Gemma pulled away, she said "You've got to win. You've got to come back."
I doubted it. I didn't think I'd make it past the bloodbath. I didn't say that, just replied "I'll do my best."
Gemma squeezed my hand. "You can. I believe in you."
I wished I believed in myself.
The Peacekeepers went away, leaving me to my thoughts.
I knew Cole was trying to protect me. He volunteered for me. I knew he would want me to live.
I hated myself for even thinking it, but I thought that if we both worked together, we might be able to get me home. I didn't want him to die, of course, but it didn't look like I had a choice. Only one of us would be able to go home. And Cole wanted it to be me.
It was the only option.
I didn't want to die.
A/N: Hello! If you are still reading this, I'm very impressed since I'm such a lousy person and haven't updated in a few months. Thanks for being patient with me!
Thanks to PopcornAndFanfiction for both Ezme and Cole! I hope you like them as much as I do.
Also thanks to Veronicaiscool for reviewing. When I'm having extreme writing block, all I need is someone to review, and I feel motivated again. It makes me remember that there are people who are reading, because sometimes when there's no reviews for a while, I forget and lose all motivation. So thanks for reviewing! It made such a big difference!
Stay tuned, and make sure you review!
