Byke's POV
Punch. Block. Kick. Push. Repeat.
A fist came towards my face and I didn't have time to block it. I stumbled back a bit before I regained my balance. It might have broken my nose but I don't care. My fist practically flew to Leon's face after that. All around me I could hear the other students shouting "Fight!" over and over again. The same thing each week, maybe even each day.
"Stop it!" I could hear from behind everyone but I didn't listen. I continued to fight Leon and I wouldn't stop. Then arms grabbed me from behind and started to pull me away. I tried to fight them. The same thing happened to Leon.
"Again, Byke?" I heard from the man who had grabbed me. It was my teacher. I stopped squirming away from his grip and let him drag me into the principal's office.
"You need to stop this pointless fighting!" Care yelled at me. She had just fetched a bag with ice for me to hold on my black eye. I rolled my eyes at her and she noticed. She sighed loudly and sat down in front of me.
"What was it this time?" She asked me with an annoyed voice. I looked down on the ground, not wanting to answer her. What difference does it make if I attack someone in the games?
"Byke! What was it?" She asked me again, growing impatient.
"He called me weak. Said I would never survive in the games." I answered her after some hesitation.
"Byke-" She started before I interrupted her.
"No! You don't get to tell me again! I will volunteer!" I did not want to volunteer because of glory or because of killing. I want to volunteer because once I win-and I will win-Cara won't have to work as much as she is doing right now. I have 5 siblings, one of them being Cara. She is the eldest. After her it is me, then 2 girls, 1 boy, and another girl. The youngest, Alda, will be one year old in less than a month. My younger brother has a disease we can't cure on our own. We need medical supplies, which are expensive. Our parents are dead. My father died in a train accident almost two years ago. Our mother died when she gave birth to Alda. Cara is now 20 and works day and night at the train station. Not the best job but it brings us food at our table. We need more, though.
"Which is why you have 20 tesserae, and Hanna and Ila have 10 tesserae each. You will not volunteer!" Cara practically screamed at me.
"Rion still needs our help, though." I said quietly to her before leaving the room. Our house only has 3 rooms; the kitchen, the bedroom, and the bathroom. I entered the bedroom to see Rion, my younger brother, sleeping peacefully. He is too young. He is only twelve. He will be forced to attend the reaping tomorrow. It's not right. If he doesn't die while fighting in the games this year, he will definitely die in less than a year because of his fever.
I skipped dinner and went straight to bed. I can't stop worrying about tomorrow. What if Rion does get selected? He has only been entered once, meaning me, Hanna, and Ila will have to get even more tesserae. I'm not complaining. I just hope they choose me tomorrow. Better me than my siblings.
The grey clouds above district 6 hints that it will most definitely rain later during the day. Hopefully not during the reaping. I have no idea how long I will have to stand outside but if it rains, I will get soaked.
Our new Capitol escort, Tatiana, stepped up to the stage. Her face is really pale and she wears a curly, red wig. She has ruby red lips and purple eyes, probably lenses. Her dress is tight and stops above her knees. She must be freezing. I am wearing 2 layers of clothes and even I am freezing. I just don't understand the Capitol. Better to look good than to feel good, I guess.
"Welcome!" She greeted us with a cheery voice once all of us were assembled. She starts her speech about the Hunger Games. Quite boring, in my opinion.
A couple of lines behind me stood Rion. He looks even paler than Tatiana, and he's not even wearing make-up. I feel bad for him. On my right are the girls. I see both of my sisters; Hanna and Ila. They are twins and a year younger than me. I do hope that they don't get selected either. Although blood and gore doesn't scare Hanna, she is more of a healer than a fighter. Ila would never even kill a fly. I am the best chance of survival in this family. I scan the crowd and see Cara holding Alda in her arms. Cara is staring right at me, like she is telling me not to volunteer, or rather begging.
"Ladies first!" Tatiana exclaims. She moves to the girl's reaping bowl. I now stare at my sisters rather than Tatiana. It is like I am making them stay with just my will. My breathing becomes faster and faster.
"Demica Selkirk!" I let out a sigh. They are safe for another year. A girl, looks around my age, with flaming red hair walks up. I scan the crowd as well to see if her parents are there to see her leave. My eyes set on a middle-aged woman being held by a man who is probably her husband. She had parents. If she had any siblings, I don't know. If she has any other siblings who are here as well, they are hiding their emotions. Just like Demica is doing right now, I see. Her face holds no emotions at all. She might be destroyed inside but I don't judge her.
"Now, the gentlemen!" Tatiana says as she approaches the bowl with all the boy's names. Now I need to decide wether or not to volunteer. If I win I will get a lot of money for us all, especially for Rion. If I loose I will leave them forever. They've already lost a mother and a father. They wouldn't want to loose me too. I will stay with them.
"Ajorn Selkirk!" Tatiana says. Selkirk. It is Demica's brother. Once I see him, I realize he is also her younger brother. Probably only twelve years old. They can't be in the games together. Siblings should live together, not die together or leave the other to die.
"I volunteer as tribute!" I yell. I can't believe I just said that. I risked my life for a boy I've never met just to save at least one of them from a fate of loosing someone they love. By doing so, I've also risked my siblings of loosing someone they love.
I walked up to the stage. Tatiana didn't even have a chance of asking my name before I said "Byke Keenwing. My name is Byke Keenwing."
"Well, that was thrilling!" Tatiana exclaims. I already hate her. Thrilling? More like depressing. To think that people actually enjoy these types of 'Games' is just an example of how sick the world has become.
"The tributes for district 6 in the 67th annual Hunger Games: Demica Selkirk and Byke Keenwing!" She is expecting cheering but nothing comes. Those types of celebrations only occur in the richer districts. District 6 is on the verge of becoming poor, like district 7.
I've already said goodbye to Hanna and Ila. Both of them cried. They were obviously thinking the same that I was thinking during the reaping. Hoping for each other not to get selected. Now it was Rion's turn.
"Byke, if you volunteered because of me-" he started.
"Rion, stop it! I did not volunteer only because of you. I volunteered because all of us need help. You are just the one who needs it the most." I explained to him. I left out the part about Demica's little brother and how that was the biggest reason why I volunteered. I hugged Rion and let him wait outside with his sisters. Now it was Cara's turn. She is still holding Alda, who seems to be sleeping. I told Cara the entire thing. About Demica's brother and how I thought it was unfair.
"I understand." She says once I am finished. "But that doesn't mean that I am not crushed!" She tried to scream/whisper because she didn't want to wake Alda. I nodded at her and looked down on the ground shamefully. I should have stayed with them. But if I were to die they would have a lot of money because they don't need to feed another. Maybe that should be for medicine.
I hugged her goodbye and made my way to the car which would take me to the train station. I actually imagined myself working there one day. Now I am heading there to say goodbye to district 6, maybe even forever.
