When The Canary Sings

Wait For Me

First Person Point of View: Becca Blue: 

* 

Katniss and I stand in a roped off pen to the side of the reaping stage. Haymitch and Peeta standing in a similar one to our right. Effie comes out, and lacks her usual personality, even though she is shining in gold. I twist the ring on my finger and fiddle with the B pendant on the necklace Will gifted me last year.

Since Twelve is obviously last, we get reaped last. I think of the other victors who already got reaped and are watching this live. I wonder if any of them are staring at their screens feeling sorry.

Effie's hands claw around the bowl until she pulls out the first name.

"Becca Blue!" She says, I step up to the stage confidently. Staring the camera down and giving them my signature smile.

"Katniss Everdeen!"

What. A. Twist.

Effie moves over to the boy's bowl. Her hands hovers over the two slips, then picks the one on the left out. She chokes a little bit before she says it, and that's how I know Katniss's plan has gone to shit. Her whole plan of Haymitch volunteering for Peeta, that's down the drain!

Haymitch's name is barely out of Effie's mouth before Peeta volunteers. I knew it was gonna happen, I mean, with the drama that this is creating in the Capitol, I'm sure Haymitch's name was in there twice.

Just like that, Panem's three latest victors are all standing on the stage together, about to be sent off for slaughter.

Thread grabs Katniss and starts ushering her into the Justice Building, next to go is Peeta. Before someone can grab me, I see Will, climbing up the stage. Not even caring what is going to happen to him.

The cameras are still on, and Will finds the courage to grab me by the waist and dip me, pressing his lips to mine. In front of the whole country. As he dips me, my hair falls from over my shoulder, revealing a hickey right on my pulse point.

The kiss is interrupted quickly, with someone in the crowd pulling Will away from me and hiding him in the crowd. A peacekeeper, the woman from Katniss's house, grabs me and pins my arms to my back, and starts to tug me into the justice building.

Just as they are about to pull me into the building, I scream in a panicked voice, "wait for me!"

"I will!" Is the only thing I hear back.

As the doors shut, I see a red light turn off, and that's how I know that what I just did was broadcasted live. My own little act of rebellion. The big doors slam in my face, but the woman doesn't unhand me. Instead, she marches me right to the train, and practically throws me on, then slams the door. Once the door is shut, the train wheels start to turn. As I stare out the window with Katniss next to me, watching Twelve grow smaller and smaller, the reality of my situation sinks in. I've been doomed since I was born, I think, born to die.

~~~

Dinner was full of the one thing I hated most. Silence. The only sound was the clinking of dishes as they were removed or placed down. I kept my head hung low so no one could see the tears that fell from my eyes.

At least Peeta and Effie try to make it bearable.

"I like your new hair, Effie." Peeta says.

"Thank you." She hums, "I had it done especially to match Katniss's pin. I was thinking we could get you a gold anklet and Haymtch a gold bracelet and Becca a gold earring so we can all look like a team." She says, and I am reminded of the B necklace around my neck.