Sleep With Your Eyes Open

Chapter One

I sit on my bed and pull my hair up into a bun. I glance at my small nightstand and see the book I had gotten today. It's called, "When a Mockingjay Takes Flight". I has a bunch of poems and songs. Pine scolded me, saying it would make Mom start freaking out. She's done it before. I guess maybe the Games had broken her. "Willow!", I hear my father call. "Coming Dad!", I smile and run out to the dining room. I sit down in my chair and wait patiently, my arm neatly folded as I wait for dinner to be served. Mom passes out plates, smiling the slightest as Evelyn runs down the hall and bounces up onto her chair
********
I sit in front of the TV while Mom watched the news and braids my hair. I read a song in my book. "Mom, do you know this song?", I ask and hold up the book for her to see. She takes a deep breath and reads it. "Yes. Yes, I do know that song", She whispers, "I call it the Meadow Song..." I nod, realizing she didn't want to talk about it. She hugs me after she finishes the braid. "Goodnight sweetie", Mom smiles and get up to sit on the couch. I go to my room and set the book on my nightstand. I lay in bed and stare at the ceiling. After a few moments, I hear the Capitol anthem which means Breaking News. "Hello, to all of Panem", The unfamiliar female voice says, "President Paylor is no longer President. I, Celesta Snow, granddaughter of Coriolanus Snow, is now your President. In honor of my dear Grandfather, I shall start the annual Hunger Games once again! The reapings will be two sunrises from now. One male and female will be reaped to go into a brutal Games. Everyone's names will be in the reaping ball. All ages. This year is going to be...unforgettable." The anthem signals the end of the broadcast and I hear, Mom's loud sobbing. I glance at my open window and crawl out it, throwing myself onto the roof. I sit on the shingles and stare at the stars. I may never see these stars again. I take a deep breath and close my eyes. After sitting there for a while I decide to go to bed. So, I crawl through the window and quietly walk to my bed. I hide under my blanket and bury my head in the pillow until sleep and darkness takes over
********
Today is the reaping. They haven't told Pine yet and they definitely wouldn't tell Evelyn. I sit on my chair and Mom, once standing, now crumples to the floor with loud sobbing. Pine stands in the hallway for a single second until he grabs my arm and yanks me off the chair. I almost trip but I keep walking after him. Pine drags me outside. "What's wrong with her!? Is she having another melt down? Tell me! NOW!", He demands. I look at him. "They are having a Hunger Games reaping today...I was going to tell you sooner but-", He let's go of my arm. "You knew about this! Why didn't you tell me!?", He scowls. "I wasn't supposed to know. I heard it on the television the other night.", I whisper. He sighs
and walks back inside. I follow him. We sit down for breakfast and Mom and Dad tell us about it. They had Evelyn leave the room. They are just going to say that we have to meet at the Justice Building and a "nice" lady is going to call out names. I hear a knock at my door. I open it and see April. She stood there, 5 years ago. She was ten and her face was soaked in tears. Now there are only a few tears. "April...", I say quietly. Before I could say anymore, she hugs me. "Willow", She says quietly. I just hug her tighter. "Don't you dare", She hisses into my ear before shoving me away. I already know what she means. She doesn't want me to volunteer. She starts crying again and stares at the ground. The siren screeches outside, meaning we have five minutes before it's time. She shakes and gives me one, last, hug. She runs down the dirty gravel road. I stare at her and turn to get changed. Mom is standing behind me, holding out a blue dress and blue flats. She nods at me and I grab the clothes. I walk slowly to my room and get dressed.
********
We stand intensely in a separated group outside the justice building. April stands against me, clutching onto my hand. A young lady skips on stage. She has long flowing lilac hair and abnormally large eyes. She looks over the crowd and smiles grimly. I stare at her emotionlessly. She catches my gaze and her smile fades as she instantly recognizes my similar facial features. She slightly tilts her head like an unsure dog. She purses her lips and walks to the microphone. "Welcome, ladies and gentlemen.", She says bubbly. I glance in my mothers direction and she is holding Evelyn tightly, hiding her face in Evelyn's light brown hair. As I stare at the lady, she reminds me of Effie Trinket. My mother kept in touch with her after the war. It's her daughter, Elizabeth. Her brother is Andrew and he is the one helping us survive. After a video plays she waddles back over to the the microphone. "Now, for the tributes! Lady's first", She grins and goes over to the large glass bowl to her left. She glances at the sky and digs in the bowl of papers. She pulls out one slip and wander back over. She clears her throat and looks at the paper. My blood runs cold as I hear the familiar name. Not my mother's. Not mine. Not Evelyn's either. I hear, "April Rosenberry."