Kallaba Queltole District 10

I woke up with a stretch and a yawn. I laid there till my little brother, Krew, came to get me.

"Time to get up." He told me as he flung my covers off. "Get ready. Mom and Dad we'll be here soon."

"Kay." I replied walking to the bathroom. I grabbed a brush and ran I threw my long, thick, wavy red hair. I then washed my face. I have wide set blue eyes and bright red lips. I walked back to my room and threw on my blue skirt and my white shirt. I grabbed my token before I walked to the kitchen.

"Krew! Help me with this." I said holding out my token or my charm bracelet he gave me for my birthday last year. He put it on for me and then went back to the stove to stir the eggs.

"We're home!" Dad shouted walking through the door with Mom. They both looked exhausted as they usually do when they get home from work. "We'll be ready to go in minute."

"But I'm not done with breakfast." Krew said.

"We'll have to eat after we get back then." Mom said.

…

I stood there in the fourteen year old section with the others. Everybody was talking except for me because I am so shy. I looked around for Krew and saw him standing next to Mom and Dad. I then thought about how next year he will be in the bowl with the rest of us. What if he got chosen? What if nobody volunteered for him? What if he dies?

I forced myself to listen to the mayor's speech so I didn't have another anxiety attack. Then it was time for the escort to introduce himself.

"Welcome everybody as you well know my name is Lukad Calbs and I will be your tributes escort!" He said bowing. When nobody clapped he seemed quite put off about it. He walked over to the female bowl pouting. "Kallaba Queltole get up here!"

It took a minute for me to get my feet to move. I got up on the stage and saw that my family was shouting and crying but I couldn't hear a thing. My chest was killing me and I couldn't breath. I got dizzy and then everything went black.

...

"Is she dead?" Someone asked.

"No she's fine. Actually she's waking up." My mom answered them.

"Okay five minutes." The first person said then a door closed. I blinked and sat up.

"Kallaba are you okay?" My dad asked it was only then that I realized he was holding me. Not that it would've been hard for him saying how I'm barely five feet and extremely thin.

"I don't want to die." I sobbed out letting the tears pour.

"We don't want you to die either, that's why you have to fight." Krew said holding my face.

"How? I don't have a chance." My chest started to ache again and I began to gasp for air. "I don't want to die."

"Then fight!" Krew shouted. I cringed away from him. He never has raised his voice before. The door opened and the peacekeeper said they had to leave.

"Fight Kallaba, fight so you can come home." Krew said as the door shut. I sat on the couch and put my head between my knees and silently promised him that I would try.