Doubled

8) District 8 Reaping

Aquamarine Winter's POV:

My sister and I sit in our room, doing eachother's hair. We both have beautiful brown hair and freckles. I do a waterfall braid on her hair and leave the rest of her beautiful loose curls down. She french braids mine.

We both get dressed in our dresses. Hers dark blue and mine light blue. I put on my necklace. It's half of a heart locket. Sapphire has the other half. it has eachother's pictures in it.

Our mother named us after her favorite jewels, Sapphire and Aquamarine. They were pretty unusual names, but then again, you should hear some of the names in the capitol.

We walk to the kitchen to find our little sister Ruby and our little brother Stone.

"It's time to go girls," says our mother with a worried tone. We hug our siblings and head to the reaping with our cousins, Willow and Mara.

"Hey Aqua, hey Sapph," says Willow.

"Hey," says Sapphire.

We walk in silence until we get there. We've never been in a reapimg, but we've been to one before. Our older sister Emerald got reaped years ago and died while sleeping by a river.

We sign in and walk to the 12 year old section together. The mayor gives a speech and introduces past victors, who give speeches too. Eventually we watch a video and finally it's time to pick the tributes.

Our escort Priscilla Pixie, I know, awful name, walks to the bowl dressed in all pink and picks the first slip.

"Sapphire and Aquamarine Winters," she yells, "what beautiful names, come up here darlings."

We slowly walk up.

"I'm Aquamarine and this is Sapphire and we're 12," I say.

We stand side by side on the stage, hand in hand. I look at my little siblings, not knowing what's happening, and my mother trying to keep it together for their sake. I then look at Willow and Mara, who are now crying.

Suddenly, two names ring out across the sqare.

"Willow and Mara Winters."

I feel sick.

"Oh my, are you related," asks Priscilla.

"Cousins," I answer.

"Mara, 12," says Mara between tears.

"I'm Willow," says Willow.

Eventually after the reaping, we get to see our families. Since we're related, we all share a room. Our families come and give us group hugs, until eventually they have to leave.

"Don't leave me like Emerald. Promise sissies?" Says Ruby as she's taken from the room.

"We promise," we both call after her.