A/N-More reviews, favorites, and people on the alert list means faster updates. I'm trying to be faster, but life is busy. The story may be going pretty slow right now, but I assure you, there will be a lot of drama later on.*cough *cough District Nine cough* cough*
It was the same as always. My dad coming home from work. My mom fussin' 'bout how I need to eat more. Same as always. Except somethin' was different. The girls were getting' ready for the Reaping. Mom puttin' little bows in their hair. My dad was lookin' off in the distance, lookin' at my late younger sis. She was younger than me by a year, and got pulled into the mess of the Hunger Games. She was smart, and clever. She avoided everyone long enough to get into the top six, but then died. We watched her die, her red hair spread out like a halo. My grandmom said she reminded her of Foxface, one of my ancestors. She was killed at the hand of a merciless dagger.
I straightened my dad's tie, and he snapped awake. He looked down at me and smiled, like he did every reaping. Then his eyes clouded again, and I know he was gone again. I was eighteen now, this was my last year. After this, I'll be out the Hunger Games forever. Then came a whimper from behind me, and I turned to see Little Mary.
"Why do we do the Hunger Games?" I smiled, a smile without mirth. My smile came into a grimace. She was four-she didn't understand. Lily saw me troublin', and she called Little Mary over by her.
"Come over here, Little Mary. Little duck," She said, tucking the back of Little Mary's small blouse in her skirt. Lily. So mature for her age, considerin' she only thirteen and a half. My mom linked her arm with my dad, pullin' him along. I grabbed Little Mary's hand and started walkin'. Mr. Sharkin bumped into me and Little Mary went flyin' through my fingers. A group of Peacekeepers almost walked over her, but I grabbed her wrist and yanked her out of danger. I then ran to the square and dropped Little Mary off with mom. They had already announced two girls, and now the third boy. It was almost done. I relaxed, then a chill ran up my spine.
"Darrel Jerion!" My blood turned to ice as I trekked to the stage. I looked at Lily's face which had turned to worry and sadness. Two voices then rose above the whispers.
"Where is Darrel going?" Little Mary.
"Darrel will be going…away…for a while." Mom. I looked at dad, who was hyperventilating. He was already so fragile, since she died. I stepped up to the stage and didn't even bother to get in the conversation. I was in shock, thinking how if my dad lost another child his fragile ego would shatter. They announced that me and some girl would be going into the Hunger Games.
District 6
I walked along the trail, avoiding paths like Keri Street and Meri Street. Many morphlings were running past me toward Keri Street, where all the new commotion was. Meri Street was old, several years old, but it still had ash blanketing the ground. Many paintbrushes were scattered on the ground. I knew what the people in Keri Street were doing. They were painting 'Capitol Goes Down' in spiny, red letters. I ran past Margery without even knowing she was there, and then she called to me.
"Hurry to get to the reaping?" She yelled behind me. I turned around, then, with relief, hugged her.
"I'm really testing the chances this time, Margery." She patted my shoulder comfortingly.
"How many times?"
"Fourty-seven." Margery whistled.
"Well, there's a plethora of people in the District. I bet you won't get picked. Let's get to the reaping." Margery said. When we finally arrived at the square, I checked in and went to the girl section. The escort's color was orange, I noticed nervously. I looked back at Margery, and she winked. Margery was nineteen, and she just got out of the mess of the Hunger Games. I was busy mouth-talking to Margery when a name got called out that turned my blood to ice.
"Lacy LeBlanc!" I turned to Margery to see if it was real, and it was. Horror was written all over her face. Then another girl stepped up.
"I volunteer!"I whipped my head to see who just saved me, and there she was, three feet in front of me. Hailey Stone. My second best friend. My friend after Margery. She turned to face me and smiled. I shook my head No, you can't go for me. It's my responsibility. I mouthed to her. A couple of minutes later, she had went with the escort with Alex Trebener.