Today

Two

No, no, no, no. This isn't happening. My mind races to say something. I'm scarred this will be one of the last times I see her. What do I say? What can I say? She can't fight. She won't fight. She isn't good on her own without support. She is barely strong enough to run a brush through my hair, let alone fight out twenty-three people who will fight for their lives.

Ina squeezed my hand and before she can let go, I squeeze it back. A pathway becomes visible as the other girls are glad it's not their lives being risked. Ina releases my hand and I look over at her sunken face. Tears are on the edge of her eyes. She gives my one last glance as if to ask for permission to cry. I shake my head. She looks to the floor then gives me a quick nod. Ina takes a deep breath before she begins to walk to the stage.

She makes her way to the steps when she trips on pebble and lands on her side. Her tears that she is holding back flood from her eyes. I quickly turn my head to see my father standing along side Ina's father. My father catches my eye. He quickly looks away.

When I turn back to Ina, she is in the sand on her knees sobbing. A Peacekeeper brings her to her feet. My feelings overwhelm me.

"Ina!"I yell, instantly regretting it.

"Opal!".

Ina immediately begins to try to reach me. No, no, no. They'll hurt her. Do something Opal.

Ina manages to get a foot before she is stopped by the same Peacekeeper who got her to her feet. I walk down the pathway that remains. Standing at the bottom of the stage.

Flicker looks down at me and turns her head in confusion.

"I volunteer." I say as clear as I possibly can.

"I'm sorry?" Flicker says.

"I volunteer!" I yell up to her.

"Well, there's no need to shout. Come up on stage then." She says.

There is complete silence as I walk up the steps to the stage and stand along side Flicker. District Four gets volunteers but, this year doesn't seem to be one of them.

"We have a volunteer. What's your name Miss?" Flicker says.

My mind still must not be in the right place because the fear is replaced with regret.

"Opal Reed." I pipe out as confident as I possibly can.

I try my hardest to not cry. I know cameras are everywhere, catching everyone's reactions to everything. If I cry I won't get mercy. I'll be seen as weak. And weak is not an option.

Fear fills my body and the feeling of inevitable death is all I can feel. Did I just do that? I did. I really did? I had to have. Oh no. There is no getting off this stage. This is the last time I will ever see District Four. Yesterday was the last time I had my father's fish. This was my last Reaping. My last time defending the one friend I actually managed to make.

I block out Flicker's small speech on why we pick the girls' names first. I'm numb as I search the crowd. I find Ina. She is in pure shock. My father places his hand over his mouth and then places both his hands over his face. I know he wasn't happy when Ina was picked but, he was happy I wasn't.

"Now, for the boys." I hear Flicker say, snapping me back to the real world.

She runs her nail along the names and snatches on up before reading it aloud.

"Strike Wood." She clearly announces.

I'm taken back as the pathway lets a muscular boy, no less then eighteen, walk to the stage. His short hair slicked back to the best of his mother's ability. His shocked face is the only thing that stays on his face as he makes his way up.