I don't get to see the other tributes, and I'm glad, I don't want to watch the people I'm going to have to kill be torn away from their families.
I sit, staring blankly at a wall, until the door opens and my little brothers come running in, tears still streaked down their faces. They both jump on me, clinging, and my mother comes in after them, wrapping her arms around us all.
"Promise you'll come home Tana?" Eddy asks eyes wide. He's eleven, he understands the games, he knows I'll have to kill to come home.
"I promise." I tell him, because what else can I say? I can't leave them, how will they afford to eat, to cloth themselves?
We talk a little more before the peacekeepers take them away. I don't think I'll have any more visitors but Mrs Everdeen comes in, sits down across from me.
I stare blankly at her until she speaks. "I won't let them go hungry, don't worry." I drive from my seat and wrap my arms around her, muttering "thank you" over and over until the peacekeepers return.
We're whisked away to the train after that, April trying to make small talk but I can't listen to her. I keep seeing my brothers faces, everywhere I look.
They show me to my room, and I sink down onto the bed, placing my head into my hands. I sigh then lean back, and suddenly I'm exhausted.I peel off my dress, not bothering to look into the drawers for the pyjamas I know are stored there. I climb under the covers and I'm asleep before my head hits pillow.
The next morning, I'm woken by April rapping on my door, and shouting for me to wake up. I drag myself from the bed and look in the drawers for something comfortable. I pull on some loose fitting pants, and a tank top and leave the room, meeting April outside. I nod politely at her, and she takes me to the dining chart, where a tv is set up.
"You both went to bed so early last night, you missed the rest of the reapings. So you'll watch them now sweetie." Her tone leaves no room for argument, but I still scowl. "We've just gotta wait until your hunky counterpart gets here." I grimace when she says that, and she notices but doesn't say anything.
Jesse walks in 5 minutes later, followed by Sue. Sue's looking as frightening as ever, dressed in a red training suit. I swear these are the only clothes she owns.
People are flitting around us then, and I eye them wearily as they place food in front of us. April picks up a remote and flicks on the television. The Panem national anthem blares and the usual starting things happen as I shovel some kind of flat cakes and syrup into my mouth, I've never tasted food lie this, and since I'm probably going to die soon, I might as well enjoy it. I stop shovelling when I see our town square on the screen. I see my face on screen, and see my brothers screaming, but it still doesn't feel real. When Jesse's name is called, I swear I see him smirk for a second before his face becomes a mask.
District 11 is next, and they call the girl first, she's short, and her name is Mercedes, which is kinda weird. She steps on the stage looking frightened, and the boy, Azimo, is pretty much the same. He looks tough though, probably brawny from working in the fields all day.
District 10 shows a large girl, who looks like she hasn't worked a day in her life, and a scrawny ginger boy who looks like he might burst into flames if he goes into the sun, he's so pale. District 9's tributes aren't gonna last five minutes, the both look like they're so scared they'll practically crap their pants, the boy looks like he couldn't hurt a fly. The girl though, she's so small she looks like she could disappear. My heart lurches a little.
When district 8 comes on the screen, I stop eating when I see the girl on screen. She's beautiful even though she looks so confused about what's happening, she's still smiling, her name is Brittany. The boy comes on screen and he looks fierce, wrapping his arm protectively around the girl. The whole town looks as though it's crying, and I can't blame them.
The tributes from district 7 are the polar opposites. The boy is huge, and burly, and he actually looks happy about being chosen. The girl however, is small and shy, and her glasses keep sliding down her nose, fastened together with tape.
The two from district 6 are so emancipated they look like they've never had a meal in their lives, they're probably stuffing their faces on the train right now. They're both small and dark, and look so similar they could be twins.
I'm not paying attention to district 5, until I hear gasps, and look up at the screen to see two people on the stage, clutching at each other. April sees my confusion and leans over, whispering "they're getting married" in my ear. If I wasn't feeling so numb, my heart would be tearing in two. I carry on shovelling food into my mouth as district 4 comes on screen. The boy is massive, shadowing over their districts escort. He looks proud at being chosen. The girl preens and smiles, while the mayor, Al Motta, looks on proudly. She must be his daughter. In district 3, the boy looks angry, but he's huge, although not as big as district 4's boy, and his head is topped with a stupid Mohawk. The girl is so tiny next to him she looks like she'd like to disappear. He looks protectively at her. The crowds in the first two districts are practically jumping at the chance to volunteer, which I find pathetic. When it settles the tributes for district 2 are two very short looking kids about my age. They look almost the same except the girl has darker skin and eyes.
District 1's tributes are brother and sister, which the crowd in the capital will love. They're both very blonde, and very attractive, although the boy's mouth is huge, they smile and preen for the crowd of jealous teenagers. Sitting behind them is last year's victor Quinn Fabray. She's my age, and her face is set in a cold mask. She didn't volunteer, and no one took her place, but she won.