When we get to the reaping, Mom tenses up and collects herself in my Dad's arms. Rye and I walk to registration, where we wait in a long line. Rye is rather calm when he goes through the process, but I can see right through him. He is terrified underneath. Then it's my turn I walk to the peacekeeper.
"Name?" She asks.
"Willow Mellark." I say, bravery lingering in my voice.
She pricks my finger, which only hurts for a second, and sets it on the paper under my name. She read my blood which check that I was not lying. She let's me go, and I walk to the 16 year old girls section.
I stand towards the end, where I can see my best friend, Finn. He had to stand in the 12 year old section because Rye doesn't want to stand alone. I've known Finn my entire life and we were hardly ever apart. Rye, stands directly in Finn's shadow. His face shows fear, and I mouth to him that he is fine. When every child in District twelve files into the area, Effie Trinket walks onto stage.
"Welcome. Welcome. Happy Hunger Games! And may the odds be ever in your favor." She trills into the microphone, her voices sending screeches across the area.
The Effie's reaping routine passes, her little comments, blah, blah, blah.
The new rebellion video shows up on the screen. This one, is about the recent rebellion, the one my mother started. It repeats it's annual speech, it's annual shots. My mother shows up a few times, which her viewing is quickly followed by the three-finger-solute. The video ends and Effie stands.
"Well, wasn't that just lovely! I always love the ending!" She says in her squeaky capitol voice, yet has faded in time.
"Now, ladies first, we must mine our manners!" She trills and walks over to the ball holding the name of the unfortunate person going into the arena.
She spins and twirls her hand in the bowl before reaching down and snatching up a slip. She takes it out and opens it.
"Cala Brind!" She trills.
No. Not Cala. The sweet little girl that lives in the seam. I befriended her long ago. I was sitting under a tree eating a slice of bread and reading an old book when she walked up to me. She asked me my name, and we were instantly friends. I gave her my bread and went home. That was four years ago? She must be 12 now. The same age as Rye. I should be happy I wasn't chosen, but I'm not.
She steps to the center of the crowd. The peacekeepers surround her and start to walk her up to the stage.
Before I could even think, I speak up.
"I vollenteer!" I scream and brake through the crowd, "I vollenteer as tribute!"
YOU ARE READING
The Mockingjay's Daughter
FanficThe rebels won. But forgot one thing, their president could turn on them at any moment. The games were brought up yet again, and the president may be hiding something else. Something far worse than any Hunger Games... - Willow Mellark had just turne...
