Stone Cold: A Hunger Games Story

Chapter 2

           Thump. Thump. Thump.

          My heartbeat pounded in my ears as it rapidly began to accelerate. The words echoed in my head over and over as the world went quiet "The female tribute is... Georgia Paratore."  My heart felt like it was going to explode as Johanna squeeze my hand.  I could only stand and think about how she was feeling. Was she scared? Was she angry? I couldn't tell. All I knew was the capital wanted a reaction... the female tributes always gave big reactions when selected. I refused to give them the satisfaction of me breaking down. As I clenched my jaw, my eyes shifted my my normal soft look into a cold gaze. I took deep breaths to try and calm my heart rate down to keep up my act. I could hear Jo's mother crying a few rows behind me and it broke my heart to hear her scream out that she was sorry she couldnt protect me. As the peacekeepers grabbed my arms aggressively and begane to walk me from my spot in the crowd to the stage all I was concerned about was making myself numb. I wanted to be seen as a threat.

          I heard my shoes crunch against the gravel then the crunch shifted to a clicking noise when I started walking onto the stage. The escort looked too pleased with herself as she extended her hand to me. I ignored her hand and stood next to Riggs as he looked at me with concern. I knew in order to make it back to Jo I had to be feared, I had to be ruthless. It was scary the thoughts running through my head, I knew being a tribute and wanting to make it home meant killing other people...killing other kids, and unfortunatley I was ok with that. 

         "Lets give it up for your District seven tributes! Riggs Abelforth and Georgia Pararore!" The escort spoke into her microphone in the most irritaingly pearky voice I've ever heard. the district went quiet in solidarity knowing one or both of us would die in less then three weeks. We stood in silence for a moment before getting escorted back into seperate rooms where we would say our goodbyes. I waited a few minutes before Johanna and her mother burst through the door. Jo wrapped her arms around my waist as tight as she could as she tilted her head up to look at me. 

        "Gia, you have to come back...I can't lose you." Her voice broke as tears welled in her eyes. this is what I was afraid of, Jo getting hurt...Because right now her mom was shutting down on us. She was sobbing so hard I thought she was going to throw up.

        "I'll come home I promise Jo, I would never leave you alone in this world. Ever." My words were firm as I spoke and looked at her mother. "Juniper you can't shut down on me, you have to be present to take care of Johanna and your sons." I looked at her and pulled her into a tight hug. 

         "But I broke a promise to your parents, before they died I promised I would protect you..." She paused for a moment "It was your last year.. your birthday is in a month." Her hands were cold as they touched my face. Her thumbs caressing my cheeks as I relaxed a bit.

          "I promise I'll be ok...Juniper you have five children and then you've taken me in it was bound to happen once. I'm glad it was me and not Johanna." My breath was shaky as I heard the doorknob move I regained my cold appearance. I would never let anyone outside of the Mason family see me weak. Two peacekeepers entered, one to force Johanna and Juniper out of the room and another to grab me and force me onto the train. I was not happy and my cold gaze and resting bitch face definitely portrayed that. 

*Author's Note* 

Hey, sorry for the short chapter I have some personal stuff going on I'll have a longer chapter for you guys on wednesday!