Baird's girl

Chapter 9

May 1st, 2018
District 12,

As Amber and Joana approached the place where the reaping was held, Joana, in her third year, was stressed: she was less so last year, but what happened to Lucy had changed things inside her. Amber held the hand of her young cousin, advancing slowly when Joana stopped abruptly, Amber turned to her: Joana looked terrified and didn't want to move forward, Amber headed towards her and they stepped aside, she placed her hands on Joana's shoulders and knelt before Joana said:
"I don't want to, I don't want to go Amber"
Amber then tried to calm her:
"Hey, look at me. Joana, listen to me"
Joana was still petrified, Amber then insisted:
"It's going to be okay, right? You're going to place yourself with people your age, we'll wait for the names to be drawn, and when it's over we'll leave"
Joana replied:
"But what if my name is drawn?"
"It won't happen, there are more than 200 papers Joana you won't be chosen"
"I don't want to go," said Joana with tears in her eyes
Amber then opened her hand, where there was a brooch and handed it to Joana:
"Take this, it will protect you"
"What is it?"
"It's a brooch that my mentor gave me last year before I entered the arena, I want you to take it now, you will keep it for as long as the reaping lasts and it will go well"
Joana hesitated, then she took the brooch
"Now go join the young people your age, I'll wait for your sister and then we'll leave together"
Joana nodded and found herself next to the other 11-year-old girls.
Amber, for her part, looked for Maude with her eyes when she saw her coming towards her. Amber headed to the side of the girls her age, Maude, she, slipped to her side and asked Amber:
"How is she?"
"She's terrified"
Maude felt bad, it was at that moment that the mayor began the draw.
The first two names came out:
"Hailey Perez"
"Adrien Perrin"
Hailey was 19 years old, when she heard her name, she closed her eyes, reopened them, then headed for the stage.
Adrien, who was Amber's age, was petrified but still headed for the stage.
The mayor then drew the third name:
"Joana Baird"
Amber petrified, she then turned, looking for Joana with her eyes, when she finally saw her, she saw the terror on her face. Joana began to move forward, Maude then said:
"It's not possible, it's only her third year, there are too many names, why did it have to be her?"
Amber squeezed her cousin's hand, they were both afraid for Joana.
Amber then saw Joana pass by the 18-year-old girls, she looked around, thought quickly, before slipping out of the line of 18-year-olds, and then shouted:
"I volunteer"
Joana turned around and murmurs crossed the crowd, the mayor was jubilant inside, the girl who had humiliated her niece last year, found herself volunteering. Amber ran to Joana and took her in her arms, Joana then whispered to her:
"I don't want you to go for me, not again"
"It's going to be okay I know what I'm doing, you're going to go find your sister"
"No, you can't, I don't want to lose you too"
Joana didn't stop crying, Amber gave a brief look at Thomas, who joined them and took Joana in his arms and joined Maude, before leaving he whispered to her quickly:
"Listen to your mentor this year you can't die"
A few seconds later, she replied:
"I'll try"
Then, she turned around, and headed for the stage.
The mayor then called the other names:
"Jackson Meyer"
"Evelyn Aubry"
"Hugo Millet"
"Anna Guerin"
"Damien Payet"
"Sarah Perrot"
"Alexandre Martinez"
The ten tributes then headed towards a train car that would take them to the Capitol, arrived at the station, moved to another car, and found themselves in a room where all their mentors were present.