I'm finally back from my sister's house and from work, and a long overdue chapter is finally here.
Valerie Lenn POV
There was a charge in the air at the Reaping. Our escort, Philomena, was still there, but everyone seemed nervous. It was the first Games since Snow became our new president, and everyone was on edge. The Peacekeepers at the front of the Reaping tent frisked me for weapons as they took my blood, like I was itching for a repeat of what happened to Galba. I might do some pretty crazy things, but I wasn't about to do anything like that. First of all, I'd die. Second of all, I wouldn't be able to volunteer for the Games. I wasn't sure which was worse.
Philomena was wearing the latest in Capitol chic: a bulletproof vest and a helmet. She nudged the bowl with one outstretched arm before she stepped closer, like it was rigged to explode. She fidgeted throughout the Anthem and the video, which dragged on for longer than usual.
"Hello, District One!" Philomena said when the video was finally over. "I hope everyone's ready for another great year of Hunger Games! I'm sure this will be the greatest one yet, and I'm sure we're all very excited about our wonderful new leader, President Snow!" There was an outpouring of unenthusiastic applause. Outside of Two, no one really cared who the president was. So long as he carried on with the Games, it didn't matter.
"I'll start with the ladies today," Philomena said. "Glitter Dyea!" A girl with pink hair and a multicolored dress walked onstage beside her. She picked at her nails and tapped her foot.
"Do we have any volunteers?" Philomena asked. Glitter looked up disinterestedly.
"I volunteer as Tribute!" I yelled. Glitter hopped off the stage and I took her place. Philomena stepped aside like I was going to bite her. Silly woman. If I wanted to kill her, I could. The Peacekeepers would be all over me, but I could get her before they took me down. She asked me my name, and I told the crowd.
"What a brave young woman. And now for the boys! Let's have a big hand for Ombre Evans!" Philomena called. The boy stood beside Glitter, glancing nervously at the Peacekeepers watching them hawkishly.
"Do we have any volunteers?" Philomena asked again.
"I volunteer as Tribute!" Hiyas Tonto announced. It was no surprise to anyone in the Academy. He was the chosen volunteer. It was all a matter of routine.
"What a courageous pair of citizens," Philomena said. "Let's hear it for Valerie Lenn and Hiyas Tonto!"
I waved at my brother in the crowd as everyone cheered. Jason thought I was super cool, even if he pretended he didn't. We fought together all the time, and he was aiming to be One's volunteer as soon as possible. If he could have convinced the Academy to pick him, he'd have been going into the Arena with me even though he was only thirteen. Sometimes I worried about him. He was almost as reckless as I was.
Theo Kasius POV
There were a lot of goodbyes before I even volunteered. I'd already seen my best friend Crimson. We weren't supposed to have to say goodbye. She was supposed to be going with me, but something terrible happened. The trainers said we shouldn't rely just on fighting to win the Games, so we tried to learn some other things too. Crimson and I were up on the ropes course, which apparently wasn't a high priority for the Academy. One of the ropes broke and Crimson fell twenty feet to the ground, smashing both her legs. In Two, it's survival of the fittest, and our hospitals are a joke. Crimson refused to give up, but the braces on her legs as she limps along make it clear she's never going into the Arena. I'd never tell her, but I'm glad it happened. She's the only person in the world I couldn't stand to see die.
There was someone else I didn't want to say godbye to, either. Suki wasn't a person, but she was the best dog in the world. I got her when she was a scared little street puppy, as a reward for being the Academy's Most Promising Student of the Month. Now she was a gray old dog who couldn't run quite so fast or jump so far as she used to, but she loved just as hard.
She knew something was up as soon as I got out of bed. Whether it was the purpose in my actions or the excitement in my heart, she wouldn't leave me side. She got underfoot as I tried to get dressed, and I almost tripped over her going down the stairs. She yipped and nosed my leg as I ate breakfast. After I put my shoes on, I stopped to address her. I knelt down and petted her head. She shoved her nose past my hand and put both paws on my chest like she could hold me in place.
"It's okay, girl. I'll be back. We'll have to move then, but you'll like our new house. It will have a big yard so you can run around. No more city house for us," I said. I knew I could win. Valerie was good, but she didn't have that extra Victor factor. The kids from One were always spoiled, and everyone else was too busy running to stand and fight. I didn't have to be overconfident. I was good enough to just be confident.
I stood up to open the door and Suki scuttled in front of it, whimpering. I hated to see her so sad, but she'd be okay when I got back. I just hoped she didn't miss me too much. I shooed her away and opened the door. I slipped out and shut the door behind me as she tried to stick her nose into it. As I walked away, I heard her scratching at the door and barking. After all my friends and all my family, that was still the hardest part about saying goodbye.