POV District 11 Delmosskelmer Nonyt

I was sitting on the couch, with my little sister curled up beside me. Her head was slumped against me, completely asleep. I was reading through a paper left on everyone's door in the District, saying there wouldn't be work in the fields on the day of the Reaping - today. They churned these things out every year, but I still read them. I had to turn the page and tilt my head to read the page, trying to see through the light brown strands of hair drifting into my eyes.

I jerked my head as someone started knocking at the door. "Who the hell is that?!" My father screamed. It was quiet, but in the even quieter silence gripping the house - and the fact that the man was always getting drunk while he already had a hangover - it must've stood out to him. I looked over to see my sister, sitting straight up. I could read her eyes, and I always knew that she could read mine. Pure terror was in hers.

I got up, leaving the letter on the couch. I had to sprint to the door, praying the whole way they wouldn't knock again before I got there. When I did swing open the door, the girl there had her fist in the air, about to knock again. "Hey Del," She said, sounding exasperated.

"Hey, Asessu." I gave her a confused, tired look. I hated it when she called me that anyway. She was lucky I didn't use my nickname whenever she called me that, or called my sister by her nickname she gave. I could understand, even though saying someone's first name doesn't make a greeting formal, my name sounds like five full names. "Hey, Delmosskelmer." It would never sound quiet right, but "Del" didn't either.

"I came to help you and Samundirban get ready for the Reaping." I smiled at her. I almost wondered if my father was drunk when he named us too, but I knew that wasn't true. Mom hadn't died yet.

"We're all ready," I said. She gave me a look. "Well, she is, though he hair's a bit messed up because she fell asleep on the couch after I did her hair...and the fact that I did her hair. I'm just going to put on a jacket, you can help her on the way, I don't plan on being too formal."

She smiled at me, and then past me. I turned to see my sister skipping over to us. "So, you guys ready to go?" Asessu asked.

I nodded, but Samundirban's smile turned. "But what about dad?"

"Oh, he'll be following right after us," I said quickly, cutting off Asessu before she could even take a breath. That got me a look from her, but I didn't let it show. "Come on."

Asessu led her out while I grabbed my jacket. I closed the door quietly behind me, and I didn't let the door latch behind me, though I knew that would mean the door wasn't locked. I put it on as we walked, watching as Asessu pulled out a comb from a pocket in her dress and completely redoing the mess I had made. There was a pounding in my head like big drums. My father wasn't coming. Unless I went back for him, there was no way he'd get off his couch. Unless he passed out between now and when peacekeepers game barreling down our door...I couldn't even imagine what would happen to him.

But what would be worse is if he came. I knew he had plans for ruining something. Last time I had tried to cut him off and found him sober, he had gone on and on about how he would save Samundirban, keep her from going into the Reaping. The week before the Reaping, he started smuggling alcohol in our own home, and I gave up. Getting himself drunk enough to block every part of his brain except his plan to overthrow the Capitol single-drunken-handedly.

Once we reached the Town Square, I let Samundirban get signed in before me. I wanted to go back, to save him. But at the same time I knew I'd get in more trouble for ditching the Reaping myself, and no doubt Asessu would want to help me. Then all three of us would get sucked in. There was no going back now. I was throwing my own father under the bus.

"What's wrong?" Asessu asked, noticing my tenseness.

"It's just...it's Samundirban's first Reaping," I lied. I watched after her, but after pausing, I turned back to her. "I'll do anything to protect her. But now I've got three to worry about in these games." Her eyes softened with sympathy. She didn't say anything, but she pulled my towards the desks. When Samundirban moved along towards the twelve-year-old girls. I had to bite my tongue harder. Asessu waved at me before she went to her section. Finally I had shuffled to the front of the line, and I complied to the peacekeeper silently.

Once I got to my spot, the anthem started to play, as if on cue. District 11's escort, Hyjary Canary, came trotting out of the Justice Building. Like her name, she always came out dressed as a bird. This time, she was dressed in teal and black like a blue jay, with a feather covered hat over her matching dyed hair. I watched her throughout the presentation, half-expecting her to fly off once she finished. "And now," She had a voice like a bird too, and I wondered if it was real or not. For all I knew, the Capitol gave her a fake voice. "We'll start with the girls."

She had tall black heals, that made a chirping sound across the stage as she walked over to the bowl. She even began whistling - like this was a happy event - as she picked out a name and squeaked her way back center stage. Her eyes were painted blue, but her irises were black. I wonder if they were supposed to be like a bird's black eyes. Or if her soul had drained out into her "wings". "Asessu Osar."

My heart stopped. My hands clasped over my mouth, tears starting to drip over my hands. I had to stand on my tiptoes to see over the crowd. I could see her making her way through the crowd, her head low, tears dripping off her cheeks. Of course the one time I have two to worry about, one of them gets Reaping. And then My heart was thumping in my throat, my brain vibrating in my head. There was a girl, at the very front, who was slowly raising her hand. I couldn't see who it was, but I had a feeling. I could see the tops and backs of their heads. This girl was two close to a curly-haired blond girl. "I volunteer!"

Asessu stopped dead, and I saw her eyes widening before she turned to the girl. At first, nobody stepped out. Then the peacekeepers got there, ushering Asessu back, though instead of across from me with the seventeen-year-olds, she was with the fifteen-year-olds, where she had stopped. And the girl ducked under the rope and quickly cut across to the stage. I was shaking my head, choking on my breath. She got to the middle of the stage, and turned around. She was far away, how could I know for sure? "What's your name?"

"Samundirban Nonyt."

Well, now I did know. None of the other guys around me gave me a look, they knew exactly what was going on. My little sister had volunteered, in District 11, for my girlfriend. There was too much wrong with that. It would've made more sense if I volunteered for her, and of course I couldn't. "And now, we'll move onto the boys." Hyjary's voice was sickening now. But Samundirban looked brave on the stage, even as she was left completely along while Hyjary picked out the name of the boy who would go up against my little sister. She leaned towards our escort as she undid the name, but instantly looked away, her face growing pale.

My hands dropped. What was she afraid of? Then all my muscles tightened again. No. It wasn't possible. It wasn't. "Delmosskelmer Nonyt." Hyjary said it like a fact. I don't know how long I stood there, staring in horror, before the peacekeepers had to grab my arm and drag me out. I still didn't react, keeping my eyes locked with Samundirban. They had to drag me up, and my gaze only wavered to catch Asessu's eyes as I passed. I was forced to walk up the stage myself, and when I got a shove, I was alive enough to move again. But I locked eyes with Samundirban up on the stage, refusing to look out.

Hyjary had us shake hands. We were telling each other good luck. It wasn't a real handshake, neither of us treated it like that. Samundirban gave my hand a squeeze, trying to comfort me, before she turned back to the crowd. I followed her gaze, only to instinctively find Asessu. Hyjary had to grab me by the shoulder and turn me around by force, but I kept looking back at Asessu, even after the big wooden doors clamped behind me.