Aaron Weaver POV District 8

"Cotton Weaver!" said the escort.

"NO! Please let me volunteer for her. Please!" I shout, running towards her.

"Sorry, those are the rules. Only an eligible girl-" he got out.

"NO! You can't take her!" I said wrapping my arms around her. The peacekeepers yanked her from me. Then they were at the bloodbath. They gong ran she ran but not quick enough. The male from District 1yanked her hair. She shrieked and fell back, he lifted his sword…

I woke up shouting my little sister's name. I was panting and my heart was racing. I looked at the clock and I had five more minutes before I had to get up. I got up since I wouldn't be able to go back to sleep until the reaping is over. It's not my safety I'm worried about it's my sisters. This is her first year and I'm ten times more scared for her than she is. I got up to wake Cotton up only to find that she was already up. Her eyes were red and puffy.

"Why are you up?" I asked. She jumped and looked at me. She ran and wrapped her arms around me.

"I- I-I I had a dream th-th-that you were re reaped." she hiccuped.

"Cotton I haven't been reaped yet, so why would I now?" I asked petting her long blond hair.

"Your name is in there s-s-seven times." She cried out.

"I'll be fine, it's my last year. It's you we have to be worried about." I said hugging her.

"Aaron, Cotton breakfast is ready!" Mom called.

"Kay!" we both shouted. She wiped her tears away while walking out of the room. I cleared my throat that was fighting to keep the tears down. I hate it when Cotton cries because I always want to cry. I cleared my throat one last time then walked to the kitchen. We try not to worry Mom. She single handedly raises us kids so we keep our problems to ourselves if possible.

"We're having scrambled eggs and toast." She says handing me my plate. Cotton eyes were puffy and Mom noticed. "Cotton your going to be fine. And so is Aaron."

Cotton nodded sniffing. Mom looked at me and laughed.

"We'll cut your hair tonight or we can have Cotton braid it." Mom said.

"I'll braid it!" Cotton all but shouted.

"No we'll cut it!" I shouted over Cotton.

"You better hurry up or you'll be late." Mom said laughing. We both walked slowly to our rooms hoping we never make it.

…

I stood in the eighteen-year-old section feeling Cotton's eyes on my back. I listened to the mayors speech all the while praying Cotton's name won't be chosen. He then introduced our escort Basical Green. He went to the mike, we all collected a huge breath and he read the name-

"Jalia Lumerwell!" someone in the bystander section squeaked as a seventeen-year-old girl walked to the stand. Basical Green then went to the boys bowl and another hush went through the crowd. This is it after this I'm safe! I thought.

"Aaron Weaver!" shouts of protest came from my mother and Cotton. Walking up to the stage this was the only thing I could hear. Basical asked for volunteers.

Of course there was none.

…

"Wow Cotton, I guess you really could tell the future. You can make a fortune!" I said trying to make her tears stop. It just made her cry harder.

"It's m-my fault! I-I-I jinks it!" she cried out.

"No. It's my fault," Mom said tears running down her face. "I should have done more."

"What could you have done, Mom? Bribe the officials?" I looked at her. The door opened and in stepped a peacekeeper telling them to go.

"H-h-here. It's a-a anklet." Cotton handed me a a homemade anklet. She spent days working on it.

This almost sent me to tears but crying meant being looked over by sponsors and to win I'll need all the sponsors I can get.