life, love and hunger games

the reaping

tay's POV

we awoke to the smell of smoke, my eyes fluttered open and I adjusted to the blinding light pounding through the windows, there was a small red light in the center of the room, I looked closer, it was a flame I instantly patted it out with my hand,

"where...?" I looked at the window then at the black patch on the floorboards then back to the window, I looked at the themometer on the wall, the room alone was 30ºc and outside was 40, I realised that the fire was started by the light being concentrated through the window glass and burned the carpet, I shook prim and she moaned, BANG! BANG! BANG! it was the front door, I heard someone open it,

"everyone up! its time for the reaping!" a peacekeeper burst through the door, he pulled prim off the sofa and picked both of us us up by our collars, we didnt kick or scream, we just went on with it, we were thrown outside onto the ground, Michael helped us up, as we were lined up there were trembling kids and teenagers everywhere, there was about 50 peacekeepers just off the top of my head, we were lined up in front off the stage, petunia walked on with her usual afro but it was silver with a minature silver bird cage sticking out of it, her dress feathered out like bird wings and her shoes were so high she looked two feet taller than me,

"welcome all to the reaping of the 80th hunger games, may the odds be ever in your favor," she curtsied "as always, ladies first," she walked slowly towards the glass bowl containing our names, when she reached it she placed her hand inside and hovered, I closed my eyes and hoped, for all my friends and family, and myself,

"please," I pleaded to myself, "please don't let it be us," petunia pulled out a piece and unfolded it, I lowered my head, "please," I whispered,

"Taylor Haydes!" my head shot up and I covered my mouth in disbelief, I staggered, then headed out of line and down the path to the stage, I stumbled up and saw everyone, of all the people, everyone, it was me, what were the chances, whatever the chances were, it had happened, nothing I could do about it, it was too late, petunia stuck her hand in the mens glass bowl and pulled out a piece of paper,  she unfolded it

"sky demmar!" I didn't know him, I had never heard of him, but I was stuck with him for the games, he walked up fearlessly, not even frowning at the choice,

"you may say your goodbyes," petunia waved us off, prim got to me first, she collapsed into me and started crying in my shoulder,

"you... you can't leave me," she sobbed,

"I... I'm so sorry," I sobbed back, we pulled away and both Michael and Joey hugged me together, joey leaned down to my hieght,

" be strong, we'll always be right here cheering for you, you can win this, if you put your mind to it, I love you my sweet li'l sister," I just nodded at him,

"I love you too," he kissed my forehead, Michael hugged me again,

"be strong tay, you can do this... I love you," he hadn't said that in months,

"I love you too," Michael wasn't a soft one, he prefered to keep his emotions hidden, but obviously not today, he kissed my forehead too,

"goodbye tay," I walked away, my vision was blurry from my tears but I could just make out their teary faces,

"there, good, we have our tributes, Taylor Haydes and sky demmar," I remembered everything the capitol had done to my family and friends and I knew it was now or never, I stood up straight, kissed three fingers and held them up while whistling the mocking jay tune again, prim, Michael and Joey joined in closely followed by the rest of district 4, the sight made me smile, I hope that there is a rebellion, I hope we win and overall I hope president snow pays, peacekeepers ran to us and dragged us through the large oak doors which slammed behind us,

"right, enough of that," I was slapped around my face, hard,

"let's go,".