Risking Everything

Chapter 2

Marie's POV

Day of the Announcment

I walked right up to his house and knocked twice on the door as loud as I could so, in case he was sleeping he would be awoken from his nap.

I heard footsteps and yelling before someone came to open the door.

An old, cranky woman with one tooth swung open the door. It was his mother.

She shot me a wicked look before calling him over.

I could see him hobble out of his bedroom and into the hallway.

He looked like he was still half asleep. He probably was.

"Hey, I haven't seen you in a few days. Did the doctor say what was wrong with you?" I closed the door once he was outside and sat down on a boulder nearby.

"What is it? What's wrong?" He asked shooting me a confused look.

The worry in his voice immediately got to me. I couldn't keep the straight face on anymore and burst into tears.

"Hey, it's ok." He rubbed my back as I cried.

"I'm pregnant." I almost immediately stopped crying. It felt so good to get that out.

"Oh my god, is it.... Is it mine?" He asked looking at my belly. Which by now I was starting to show.

I shook my head.

That's when his face turned bright red with anger and relief.

He looked me straight in the eye, tears starting to fall down his face. "Is it Trent's?" He asked even though he knew what the answer was before I could tell him.

I nodded.

He got up and walked away.

~~

"Hurry up Sal, it's starting!" I screamed to my brother from the living room.

The national anthem played as we sat in front of the old T.V.

I heard Sal's heavy footsteps pound down the stairs as he ran up to grab a seat on the couch.

The screen faded into a live video of President Hansley giving the traditional Quarter Quell speech.
Blah blah blah traditions blah.

I never really paid much attention during his "Big presidential speech".
They're always so boring it's like "Get on with it we want to know how people are going to die already."

Finally he opened the small box that held the envelope. The envelope that decided everyone under the age of eighteen's fate.

He slowly opened the envelope and spoke into the microphone.

"This year for our second Quarter Quell all the under-age pregnant girls in the districts will be put in the ballot for a chance to be put into the annual Hunger Games for nine months. The boys will be reaped normally." He smiled happily as he said that.

My mouth dropped.

I couldn't breathe.

I stood up slowly and started walking out the front door. I didn't want to hear the rest.

This couldn't be happening. It's all just some silly dream that I'm waiting to wake up from.

How many girls are even pregnant in District 10 anyways? What if I'm the only one?

I didn't know if it was my pregnancy hormones or the announcement, but I burst into tears.

I didn't even know where I was walking to, but for some reason I felt te urge to run. To run away from it all. All the drama, the lies, the Hunger Games.

The only thing that I knew for sure was, I'm going into the Hunger Games.