When I wake up the next morning I explain to my parents everything that went on at school the day before, except for Professor Ivory’s story. “Professor Ivory should not be at the academy! I’m talking to your headmaster today!” My mother says seriously. “Please, don’t do that. I know she won’t do it again.” I say. “You have no idea that she won’t!” Mother argues. “Because she explained to us, yesterday, why she did it.”
My parents ask me to explain it to them. I’m very hesitant because if they don’t know what happened to Professor Ivory then I don’t want to be the person that tells them. “If you don’t tell us now I’ll leave and go straight to the academy!” Mother says.
I slowly explain everything that professor Ivory told us yesterday and when I finish my mother is shaking her head. “Is everything okay?” I ask her. “Yes, I’m just disappointed in myself for not realizing who she is.” She tell me. I stare at her questioningly.
“Michiru and I were best friends until she went into the games with her brother. I’d never seen her kill like she did in the games, it scared me so I stopped trusting her.” She says.
“Weren’t you eighteen like her?” I ask her. “Yes, but I was never into training and I couldn’t believe that kids I’d see walking on the streets here, kids that I had class with, kids I joked with were killing innocent children that had families back in their districts. I told myself that I’d never volunteer and if I’d get reaped I’d die during the initial bloodbath.” She explains. “You, young lady, have to get to the academy now!” She adds, seriously.
I run to the academy and I’m exactly on time for Knife Throwing class but there is a new professor there. “Where is professor Ivory?” I ask. “She’s taken a break. I’ll be your professor until the next reaping.” He says. “And what is your name?” I ask. “My name is professor Averis and my first name is none of your business.” He says.
I go and stand next to Cato while he talks about knife throwing. “Finally.” I mutter when he releases us.
Cato and I start to throw knives but he hasn’t gotten any better. “Why haven’t you practiced at all?” I ask him. “I haven’t had time because-“ He begins but he’s cut off when our headmaster makes an announcement. “I want to remind all of the students here that the reaping is in a week so if anyone wants to have special training so that you can volunteer, come and see me when the day ends.” Then the announcement ends.
“I can’t walk home with you today.” Cato says when Knife Throwing class ends. I stop in my tracks and ask him, “You aren’t going to volunteer are you?” There are tears in my eyes. “I’ve planned for a long time to volunteer when I turned eighteen but I just really want to go in this year.” He says.
I run off home crying because who knows how old the tributes from One will be.
