The Boy from my Dream

Chapter 3

Hope you like it :)

                                          *********************************************************

When my mother and I go downstairs My father and two sisters are dressed. Everyone looks a bit on edge. 

"You look beautiful." My father says and squeezes my shoulder. We walk out of the house and down to the town square. There, Peacekeepers in their white uniforms are stationed at every corner. Cameras are scoping around capturing everyone's moves and displaying them on big screens. All the kids have blank faces. Parents are hugging children reassuring them and keeping the tears away. Any type of sorrow at the reaping is a sign of weakness.

On the stage are four chairs. One for the mayor, his wife, and daughter, and one for Haymitch Abernachy. Haymitch is the only victor of District 12 still alive. It's hard to imagine him ever winning the Games considering he looks out of shape, depressed, and in need of a good bath. You can tell he is drunk as usual, by the way he walks to his chair, swaying at every step. 

In the middle of the stage is a large podium and next to that a big glass bowl with lots of little folded peices of paper; The Reaping bowl. In there is the names of the two tributes that will fight to the death in this year's Hunger Games.

I hug my two sisters and my mother. When I hug my father he says "You're going to be ok." I nod my head showing no emotion. I'm very good at hiding my fears. They head towards the area where the familes stand and I get in line with the other kids my age. 

Once I'm at the front of the line a woman wearing a white peacekeeper uniform asks for my name. "Nicholina Willowsmith." I say my voice a little shaky. I give her my hand and she pricks my finger smearing blood on a small box by my name.

"Next," She says. I move out of the way and join my age group on the girls' side of the square. I greet some friends from school until everyone is quieted by a person walking across the stage. A woman with big, bright magenta colored hair and a matching suit walks to the podium. Her eye lashes are the same color as her suit and hair and her lips a golden color. Her powder is so white it looks as if she's never seen the sun. Her name is Effie Trinket and once she opens her mouth you know she's from the Capital. 

"Welcome, Welcome, Welcome." she says with a high shrieking voice. Her Accent is very strong and even at this serious moments manages a chuckle out of me. She presents us with a video "All the way from the Capital." It talks about the uprising against the Capital and why we must have the Hunger Games to keep us "united."

After it's over she calls Haymitch to the podium. He gets out of his seat with dificulty. As he starts to walk over to Effie he sways a bit too much and doesn't  catch himself before he tumbles off the stage onto the ground. Effie gasps as Peacekeeps pick him up and carry him into the Town Hall. I keep myself from flat out laughing. 

"Alright then." Effie says smoothing her skirt. "As usual ladies first."

As she walks over to the bowl my stomach starts to churn. I have nothing to worry about! I calm myself. She puts her hand in the bowl and movies it around until she is satisfied with a piece of paper. She takes it out and walks back over to the podium. Once there she unfolds the tiny paper and takes what seems like years to read the name:

"Nicholina Willowsmith."

The name echos through the square. I almost forget who it belongs to. Everything is still. I hear no birds, no animals. Only the sound of my breath. But I do feel something; the eyes of the kids surrounding me. I finally make my legs move and two peacekeepers grab each arm and walk me to the steps of the stage. I make my way up to the podium and once there the faces of my district        bore into my soul.

My eyes feel dry and I realize I havn't blinked once. I try to but I can't get my lids to close. I am too in shock. 

"What a lovley dress." Effies says in a sing-song voice

"Thank you." I manage to choke out. 

"Now for the boys" she says heading to bowl. What is happening? I keep expecting that fimillar fire to come and swallow everything up and take me away from my nightmare, but it never comes. I try to look for my father but i can't seem to find him. All the faces blend together into one big blur and I can't tell anyone apart. 

All of a sudden I feel a hand on my shoulder. It belongs to Effie. 

"Ladies and gentleman our tributes from District 12."

What? I didn't even hear her call another name.

"Shake hands you two." she says. I turn to see my fellow tribute but what I see must be a delusion. It's Peeta Mellark. the look on his face is not the one he usually has in the bakery. This shows how scared he really is. His hair is combed back and he's wearing a nice shirt and kackis. 

As he grabs my hand chills run up my arm and down my spine. The warmth in between our hands calms the chills. Did he feel that too?

"Our tributes Nicholina Willowsmith and Peeta Mellark." 

So it really is him. Soon we are escorted into the Town Hall. And seperated into two rooms where we wait for our families. So many emotions race through my head. I think back to swimming at the Pond this morning. It seems so long ago. I wish I really did drown. Then this wouldn't have happened. 

My thoughts are broken by the opening of the door.

                                         ****************************************************

Let me know what you think :)