I woke up, feeling sick. Today is the day. I'm going to volunteer for the Hunger Games. I'm volunteering for a death match. I'm volunteering to never see my family again. I'm going to volunteer to die... That was a pretty terrible thought to have. To be perfectly honest I'm terrified but, I have to volunteer. I'll end up saving another girls' life. Even if it's costing my own.
I brush my teeth and hair. Getting ready was simple for me. Kevin, my twin didn't tease me today. He knew better than to do that. Instead, he didn't bother me at all. Not one word was passed from him to me.
I looked down at my dress. It was short and dark blue. On a normal day, I'm just a plain girl in the background. Blending in with the rest of the district 5 girls. Not today. Today I'm beautiful and unique. I refuse to have that taken from me.
My dark brown hair will not curl and, I didn't like braiding in so, I put up in messy bun. I put a bow in that matches my dress in too.
Since my family's on the richer side, I can afford a dress like this. It was such an honor to even be wearing something like that. Especially since so many girls couldn't even afford to come anywhere near to something like that.
I sit down but, I don't eat. I feel too nauseous. The guilt that I am feeling is killing me inside. My parents don't know I'm volunteering. Neither does my brother but, he can read me like a book. I didn't even have to say anything and he knew.
"Emma? Can I talk to you?" Kevin asks.
"Sure." I say as we make our way upstairs.
"Are you insane?! You CAN NOT volunteer!"
I didn't try to hide it, he knew. "It's not your choice! I want to save a life!"
"By having someone take yours?!"
"Listen, I'll make you a deal, okay? If the tribute is my age or older I won't volunteer but, if they're younger. I'm volunteering, okay?"
"Fine! I just don't want you to do something you regret."
"I know. I know."
We make our way back down stairs to find our mom and dad at the table.
"What was that about?" My father asks.
"We needed to talk." I say without including the reason.
"About?" My mother chimes in.
"The reaping." Kevin says.
My parents stop dead in there tracks. "No. You're not volunteering!" My father says while my mother nods in agreement.
"We're not! I promise." Kevin says.
"Yeah. We're not." I add quietly.
My dad looks at his watch. "Time to go guys."
I look at Kevin. I hug my mom and dad. Kevin does the same. Then we make our way to the town hall.
I walk up to a desk. They prick my finger and tell me to stand in a certain area. I obey.
I start thinking. Life is worth so much more than this. There are still things I wanted to do. All that could be shattered by two small, simple words- I volunteer. I'm not volunteering. I can't. I can't do it. I have a life to live.
A lady approaches the stage. She wears bright pink with a yellow hat and wig.
"Why, hello district 5! Let's get started! Ladies first!" They woman said with a cheerful and slightly annoying voice.
She reached her delicate snow white hand in the jar. I bit my tounge and held my breath so the words 'I volunteer' would not poor out.
"Emma Stoll!" The lady shouted.
I looked up. It was inevitable. I was going to be in the games if I wanted to or not. Why not make the best of it? I smile and make my way up to the stage. I hear crying. I look for the person responsible for it. It was my mother.
"Now for the boys!" the lady said.
"Emma! No!" A voice that I recognized as my brothers shouted.
He started to run up to the stage but before he got to the first step, the peace keepers got him. They carried him away from the reaping. A few moments later there was a booming sound that came from where they took him.
My mouth went dry. Did they kill him? Was he shot? The peacekeepers returned without my brother. I just stood there in shock. I couldn't speak or cry.
The lady proceeded with calling the male tribute as if nothing had happened. I didn't even look at the guy. I looked off in the direction where my brother lays. Probably dead.
I have to win now. For Kevin.
