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𝙋𝙍𝙊𝙇𝙊𝙂𝙐𝙀 —𝘥𝘪𝘴𝘵𝘳𝘪𝘤𝘵 7, 𝘱𝘳𝘦𝘴𝘦𝘯𝘵 𝘥𝘢𝘺—
"𝘾𝘼𝙎𝙀𝙔 𝙅𝘼𝘾𝙆𝙎𝙊𝙉," 𝙍𝙀𝙀𝙉𝘼 had said carefully, her Capitol accent seeping through her teeth.
I remember her voice so vividly that it pierced my ears, the memories seeping into my head like a bullet. It had hurt, but it was over before I could fully comprehend what had happened.
I couldn't deal with anything in that moment- it was almost as if my whole world was being ripped apart in front of my own eyes. And as for my mother— well, I couldn't even think of her reaction.
Her screams had rung through the air like sirens, the loudest I had ever heard. I was almost sure that all of District seven had heard her. She had fallen to the ground in hysterics as I had walked to the stage calmly.
My best friend had pulled my mother into her embrace as soon as it had happened, soothing her in whispers that I couldn't make out. I had begged myself to save the waterworks for the train, knowing that it would be the last time I saw my mother and best friend.
Reena had yanked me to the podium, and had me repeat my name clearly. And after that, she had dropped the piece of paper that held my name— onto the stage to be stepped on and trampled. I had clenched my teeth then, watching as she stepped over to another glass bowl, and shuffled her gloved fingers around the many pieces of paper inside.
My mother had still cried, her hands covering her face. Even though her sobs were silent, I still couldn't bear looking in her direction, fearful that my nerves would rip from their seams.
"And now for the boys," Reena had continued on, pulling a single piece of folded paper from the clear bowl. She unfolded it gently as though it might rip, and read off the second tribute's name. "Aspen Paylor."
I glanced to the boys' section, only to see a brown-haired boy step out, seemingly not caring, and walk to the stage. His hair was tousled from the light breeze, and my breath caught in my throat as his chocolate-brown eyes met mine. I averted my gaze quickly, and clasped my hands together in front of me.
"Well, well. There you have it, District seven! Your tributes for the seventy-fourth Hunger Games, Casey Jackson and Aspen Paylor!"
Claps arose from the District citizens as Aspen and I shook hands awkwardly, me not looking up from the ground.
And with that, we were drug away from our home and families without a second glance.
