We stand at the Reaping, my little twin sisters hugging my sides, gripping my hands so tightly I worry the only way anyone's gonna be able to separate us would be with a knife.
District 4's escort, Carla Rosewater, all big smiles and ridiculous outfits, steps forwards. "Happy Hunger Games!" She beams. "And may the odds be ever in your favour!"
"It'll be alright," I tell the twins, kissing the tops of their heads, and they squeeze me even tighter.
"Ladies first!" Carla dips her hand into one of the giant glass bowls filled with names. "Mary Sands!"
The twins go still, and my heart pounds, the name falling on deaf ears.
"Come up, dear, don't be shy!" Carla prompts, and Mary, the quieter of the twins, unpeels herself from my side, walking stiffly through the crowds.
Lucy, the other twin, screams, tears falling. "MARY! MAY-MAY!"
"Oh, is that your sister?" Carla asks, as the crowd creates a large circle for us, revealing us to the cameras.
Mary nods mechanically. She's so pale, so small, eyes wide, that I push Lucy away and rush to the isle between girls and boys, Peacekeepers trying to hold me back.
I elbow one and step forwards.
"I volunteer as tribute!"
Carla blinks, and Mary's eyes slide to mine. "Well then, what's your name? Come on up, then, don't be shy."
I force myself forwards and pull Mary to the steps of the stage, where she rushes back, looking to me once and whimpering. Lucy crushes her in a hug. "Who are you, dear?" Carla asks, and practically shoves the microphone in my face.
"Anya Sands," I say, cursing myself.
"Was that your sister?"
"Yes."
"Well then, that was very brave of you, volunteering," Carla praises, then turns back to the crowds. "Onto the boys, shall we?" She pulls out another name. "Ochre Rune!"
Ochre Rune is a small, quiet 12-year-old, with mousy hair and big buggy eyes. He hides behind an older boy, but a Peacekeeper shoves him onstage. He's shaking madly, whimpering. We wait, but no-one steps forward as I did.
"And there we are! Our tributes from District 4 for this year's Hunger Games!"
We head inside the Justice Building, an impressive thing I've only been inside twice, shells embedded in a line along the walls. I'm shoved into a room alone, for the goodbyes.
My sisters and father enter first, and they wrap me in a family hug, unspoken words read clear as day.
"Anya, why?" Father sobs. "I'm so… proud, and so mad at you."
"I'm sorry, but would you rather Mary have to enter the Games?" I snap back, but hug him tight. Then I pull back and grip the twins' shoulders. "You two, listen to me. No matter what you see on those screens, don't cry, don't worry. Be there for each other, go to school, keep your heads down, yes?" They sniff, gripping me and each other.
"Don't go," Lucy pleads quietly.
I wipe the snot from her face. "Hey. I'll be back, and we'll all be safe, you got that? I'll be fine." I raise my eyes to Father's. "Make sure they eat, and help wherever you can. Keep an eye on Ochre's family too. He has a younger sister, make sure she's okay."
Two Peacekeepers begin to pull them away, but my sisters refuse to leave, begging me not to leave and crying hard. Lucy screams as she's forced away, and the sight breaks my heart. Mary reaches for me, quiet and broken. I press my fingers to my lips, then wave goodbye, blinking away the threat of tears.
The walk to the train station is short, but filled with cameras and crowds. I make it onto the train, Ochre at my side, and as the doors slide shut, I decide to lead him away as we begin to leave the station.
"Come on," I encourage the boy. "You hungry?"
He sits, while I stare out the window, committing every detail of 4 to memory. The way the sunlight shines off the ocean, the beautiful city, and the beach. "Here they are, my stars!" Carla chirps as she enters the room, and I lean against a wall, arms folded. "Hello, hello!"
"Where're our mentors?" I ask her, but she waves away the question.
"Later, later, they're busy. Now, we only have a few hours until we enter the Capitol, so enjoy all this."
She rushes off, and I watch Ochre, eating silently. Let the Hunger Games begin, I brood. Let's hope I make it long enough for my family to know I go down fighting.