Into the Flames [Watty Awards 2012]

Chapter 2

I watched through my tears as my sister stepped onto the stage. I raised my hand and stepped forward, “I vol…”

“River Lange”

My mouth was still open, but it was too late. The escort took the hands of Waterlily and River and thrust them into the air. “Please welcome this year’s tributes Waterlily See and River Lange!” I watched as they were led away. Even after they were gone and the square had emptied, I stood there, staring at the stage. It felt like hours I was standing there. I was too shocked to move at all until a hand slipped into mine. “Are you okay?” I looked to my right to find Jared standing next to me.

“Jared? What are you doing here?”

“I came for you.”

“Why?”

“I didn’t want you standing out here all night in the flood waters just staring at the stage.”

I looked up into his deep brown eyes. “Thanks.” I looked down.

“Come on Mist. You can come home with me. I don’t want you staying alone. There is barely anything left of your house anyway.” I sighed and let him lead me to his house on the other side of the district. The only sound in the district was the sloshing of the water beneath our feet. Everyone in the district knew how important Waterlily was to our Rebellion. I couldn’t lead a whole rebellion alone. Everyone knew that. “Mist, I know you are worried about what is going to happen. Everything will be okay. We will just wait for Waterlily to come home.”

I looked back into his eyes. “What if she doesn’t come home?”

“That won’t happen. Waterlily will come home. She has to. She has to be able to fight.”

I nod slowly. I knew what he meant. She had to be a fighter if she was going to lead a whole bunch of grown men into battle against the capitol. “If she doesn’t well…” I trailed off not wanting to think about what would happen.

“Don’t worry about it. She will come back. How else would she be the leader?”

I nod. “She has to come back. If she doesn’t, the Capitol will continue persecuting us.”

“But that won’t happen, because she will come back.” He sounded so confident she would come back, but his eyes told a different story.

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A/N

Sorry about the short chapters. I'm not very good at long ones. I still need some tribute names and a title, so feel free to suggest anything!