The peacekeeper who had accused me of stealing forced me to the ground and put a gun to my head.
"You deserve this, you filthy wretch," he said, and pulled the trigger. I felt the bullet go through my head and felt myself collapse to the ground. I felt my little sister shaking my dead body and asking me to wake up with tears running down her face.
I screamed and sat up in my bed, sweat running down my forehead.
"Melany?" my mom whispered. "You okay?"
I breathed in and out, trying to slow my breathing.
"Yeah," I said. "What happened?"
"I heard you screaming," my mom said. "Nightmare?"
"Yeah," I said. "It was just a nightmare."
"Honey, I know that nightmare probably took a lot out of you, but it's time to get dressed for the reaping," my mom said.
"Oh," I commented, realizing that it was reaping day. "Right."
"You sure you're going to be alright?" my mom asked.
"Yeah," I said. "I'll be fine. Thanks for waking me up."
"Sure," my mom said, walking out of the house an outside. I rubbed my eyes and washed my face and hair. Then I slipped on my dark brown dress and pulled my wet hair back behind my ears. I said goodbye to Becky, Lance, Manda, and my mom and headed out the door with Elissa. I looked up at her and she looked down at me, smiling slightly. I didn't smile back.
"Hey, it'll be okay," she said, hugging me from the side as we walked toward the square. The peacekeepers took our blood and then I waved at Elissa and headed toward my age group; 14. Effie Trinket headed onto the stage as soon as everybody was in the square.
"Welcome, welcome!" Effie said in her cheery voice. "Here's a video all the way from the Capitol!"
The familiar Capitol propaganda played and I rocked back and forth on my feet, nervous. After it ended, Effie Trinket smiled and looked at the crowd.
"And now the time has come to select one courageous young man and woman for the honor of representing District 12 in the 72nd Hunger Games," Effie Trinket said. That was a mouthful, I thought. Effie Trinket headed over to the girl's reaping bowl, moved her hand around in it, and pulled out a slip of paper. She headed over to the microphone and read the name out, loud and clear.
"Ellisa Ellint," she read into the microphone. My eyes widened and I felt close to tears. My worst fear had come true: Ellisa was going to the games. Ellisa slowly started to walk toward the stage.
"Are there any volunteers?" Effie Trinket asked. I could volunteer. I started to push through the crowd shakily and started to say the familiar words when Effie Trinket walked over to the boy's reaping bowl. I was too late. I couldn't volunteer anymore. Ellisa was going to the games, and there was nothing I could do to stop it.