Chapter 1: The Reaping
The air in our usual easygoing District had changed that day. Everyone was tense and so was the air. An eerie silence hung over us all. All of the eligible feared the worst and no one wanted to talk about it. The boats where coming back in earlier that day so that the fishers could get prepared for the Reaping. I was there to greet Fir when he got off the boat and noticed that he wasn't his usual happy-go-lucky self. That day, he had a grim face on. He always got this way on Reaping day. He had himself convinced that he was going to get selected as male tribute and he didn't want to leave anyone behind.
"We've survived six years without getting selected, what's to say that this year will be different?" I said to reassure him.
"Our names are still in there L, we have a chance." He said dully.
"We are 18. We just have to make it through this one year and then we can be together forever. We won't have to worry about the Hunger Games ever again. Ever, okay?" I said.
"But Laurel, what if one of us gets selected?" He asked.
"We won't okay? The odds are ever in our favor, remember?"
"I sure hope so," Fir said quietly. I squeezed his hand and smiled.
"Just think about all the good times we will have after these stupid Games end." I was referencing the wedding that I was hoping to come soon. We had talked about it but there was no formal agreement. He walked me back to my house where we parted ways before the Reaping so we could prepare ourselves. We met at our favorite tree right outside the District Square, where people were beginning to assemble. We got into the line where the people with their names in were to sign in, using our blood. We stayed together and held each other's hand, our bodies pressed to each other. Even I was getting nervous now. My name was in with the other girls and I had a chance that it would be me. When Spikelet Selkirk walked out, District 4's ambassador, the low murmur of chatter stopped and eerie silence replaced it.
"Welcome to the 74th annual Huger Games!" she called enthusiastically. "And may the odds be ever in your favor!" I glanced up at Fir and smiled sarcastically. He looked down but couldn't even manage a smile. All the color was gone from his face and fear was written in his eyes. Spikelet rolled a video sent from the Capitol, reminding us why we even had a Hunger Games. When it ended she said,
"And now to choose District 4's very own tributes! Ladies first of course!" She wobbled over to the bowl with all the girls' names in it. She reached in and I squeezed Fir's hand as hard as I physically could.
It will not be me. It can't be. I repeated over and over in my head. Spikelet's voice brought me back to reality.
"And the female tribute is…Laurel Naysmith!" My stomach sank.
No. No. NO! How could this be happening? I can't be tribute, I can't! I felt my heart rate increase and my throat thicken. Everyone turned to look at me.
"Come on up my dear, there is nothing to be afraid of!" I heard Spikelet say in the background. I took a step forward but Fir pulled my arm. I turned to him; the peacekeepers were beginning to come towards us. I leaned up and kissed his cheek.
"It will be okay," I told him letting go of his hand. "Don't worry," I was choking up now. I turned away before the first tear fell down my face. I walked up to the stage to stand alongside Spikelet.
"And now to choose our male tribute!" she said smiling. I searched the crowd for my parents. My dad was holding my hysterical mother tightly in his arms, trying to hold back his emotions too. I found Fir again, but avoided eye contact. He was crying too and his eyes were trying to find mine. They were pleading with me, like I had chosen to be up there. If only I could have chosen. I brought my attention back to Spikelet. She was putting her hand into the bowl fishing for the male name. In that moment I wanted more than anything to be back by Fir side, squeezing his hand.
"Fir Rollo!" Spikelet said cheerfully.
No. No. This couldn't be happening. I would not do it. No peacekeeper or sponsor or member of the Capitol could make me. I would not go into the arena with him. I would not kill him.
He walked up and stood next to me. I automatically grabbed his hand in mine and looked into his beautiful green eyes. They were full of fear; surely he was thinking the same thing as me. That this could end in nothing but a tragedy.
"Well here they are folks! Laurel Naysmith and Fir Rollo, your proud tributes!" Spikelet said and the crowd was silent. Everyone knew that we were together, and most everyone knew our parents. We were hurried out the door and back into the Hall of Justice where we were sent into separate rooms. That was the last thing I wanted, to be separated from him. My mom and dad came into visit me for an hour. We talked about how much we loved each other and my dad tried to give me the best ways that I could stay alive. My mother left crying and telling me that she believed in me. I didn't want to leave my parents. I wanted to go back to that day when I was nine, when the biggest worry I had was when my dad would get back. Now I had so many things to worry about that I couldn't function.