Safe and Sound (The Hunger Games)

Chapter 2-The Reaping

When I walk through the door my mom sees my wet hair and clothes. "Out with Elliot again? Well, he is a nice boy. Come on, go upstairs and get in a bath. Then we will get you all prettied up!" I rush up the stairs and into the bathroom. 

After I'm all freshened up, I get out of the bathroom with a towel wrapped around me and walk into our bedroom, where I find Brent on his bed combing his light brown hair with a blank look on his face. I walk in with a big smile on my face and act like today is like any other day. "Oh hi Brent! You look amazing!" 

"Well you know..." He gets up and goes downstairs, probably to go cry again. 

My mother comes into our room and does my hair after I get into my dress and sandals. In the mirror, I watch her steady hands place each piece of hair in its place. My mother finishes the hairstyle by putting in my golden starfish clip in my wavy hair. 

"Oh, just beautiful!" She says. I thank her, and we walk downstairs. 

As I grab my plate from the counter, my father walks in with a depressing look on his face. 

"Ah, reaping day. The best day of the year!" He says with sarcasm. He then storms out the room probably with the thoughts of his brother. 

After I finished eating, I look at the time. We have thirty minutes to get there. Luckily the square is only five minutes away, so I tell my parents I will meet them there in ten minutes to meet up with Brent. 

I wander around the shops, seeing if I can find anything for Brent, something to calm him down. He loves seashells, so I bought a bracelet made of seashells. I find my parents, and I put the bracelet on Brent's wrist. He gives me a big hug and takes my hand as the two of us walk towards the children. 

I tell him what happens. They prick our finger, then we get settled into age groups and gender, we watch this horrible and boring movie, then they pick the girl and boy, and then we go home. He doesn't question me at all, instead he holds my hand even tighter. 

When we pass the prick finger station, he holds me tight until the peacekeeper pulls me to the girl's side. Luckily Elliot is a few spots behind us so he walks Brent to his spot. 

When I reach my spot where all the other sixteen year old girls are, my eyes search the crowd for them. I catch eyes with Elliot, as he mouths He's okay to me. I nod back as someone taps the microphone, and I snap forward. The anthem plays, and then the movie. The mayor of District four presents this year's escort, Flishia. Her hair color imitates the color of the blue ocean's water. 

She walks over to the ball of names and politely says "Happy Hunger Games! And, may the odds be ever in your favor." They say that every year to give us some hope that we aren't picked. "Ladies first!" in her stupid Capitol accent. I now can only think positive, only five of those strips of paper has my name on it. Please don't be me...please... and it is. "Kaya Walson" Flishia announces. I stand there in shock, disbelief, and trying to aprehend what just happened. The girls nearby step back and make a path for me to walk to the isle. Four peacekeepers surround me and march me up to the stage. My surroundings around me are fuzzy, and I feel dizzy. Luckily, Flishia takes my hand and walks me to the middle of the stage. 

"Now it's time to pick our boy tribute!" She walks over to the other bowl in her tall high heels and searches for a slip of paper. I think I am more nervous than I was before. She pulls the "lucky winner" out of the bowl and walks up to the microphone. Flishia clears her throat, and takes a double look at the slip of paper. "Brent Walson"