Hey guys! Sorry for all the short chapters before, those were kind of to see if anyone was actually going to read this (: This one is mostly a filler chapter on what's going on, I promise the next will be longer! - Lauren
Rue Mellark POV
I stare around at the District. Our neighbors, friends, and enemies. I try to search for Mom and Dad and Finnick. No such luck, all I see is pained and scared faces. I have no idea what's going on, all I know is that I'm right next to Caleb Heeter. He is a nine year old boy from my class, he's nice and cute, but all I know is he has the same dumbfounded look as I do. I finally see Finnick, a small smile crosses my face as I see he is with Haymitch, and he seems to have the same expression as everyone else. Pain. At least Finnick is safe.
My attention is turned to a woman with bright pink bubblegum hair as she walks onto the stage. Her hair seems to almost be falling off her head. A wig maybe, I can't tell for sure. I take a deep breath and prepare myself for what must be coming.
Katniss Everdeen/Mellark POV
Peeta and I are finally released from the prison, and we walk out, hand in hand, into the town square. I immediately squeeze Peetas hand, willing myself to be strong as all the memories flood back. The Cornucopia, blood bath, tributes, survival, the final victor. I spot Rue a few rows up from us, and I start weaving my way through the mass of people.
"What's going on?" I demanded to the people that surround me. All eyes turn to me as I break the uncomfortable silence. Effie looks up from the microphone and I almost crumble right then and there. Effie is back to calling names for the reaping. "We decided we weren't going to do this again!" I shrieked. Effie's bottom lip quivers as she is forced to speak into the microphone.
"Let the next Hunger Games begin!" She shrilled in an all too squeaky voice. "We will choose one boy and one girl tribute from the ages of 8-13, now let's begin." She mumbles in an unsure voice.
I can't believe what I'm hearing. Why are we doing this? Rue could be going in there!
"And for the boy tribute…" She trails off as her hand roams the bowl for a slip of paper with the name of an unfortunate small boy. "Alex Kirk." I see a boy; around 12 slowly walk up to the stage. He has light brown hair and creamy brown eyes. His skin is very fair and he is shaking although he looks like he is in shape and healthy.
"Again, for the girl tribute." She again searches the bowl for that unlucky tribute, she picks up the tiny slip of paper and reads over the name in nice handwriting over again before she shakily takes a breathe. She reads off the name, "Rue Mellark." Her eyes rim with tears as she looks towards me and then to Rue.
I blurted, "No! No!" I grab her wrist and pull her back towards me, not letting her be taken from me as I feel the Peacekeepers close in on us. This isn't happening! Why do all of the bad things happen to us? Why?