I heard Harlequin scream. My eyes flicked open. There she was, thrashing about and screaming her head off. I'm surprised my parents didn't come and calm her down. So I ran to her side and started to calm her down. She sat upright faster than a bolt of lightning.
"It was you. You were in the arena, and they cut you into pieces and you would never come home alive to me." She cried into my shoulder, leaving tear stains all over my bed clothes.
"Harlequin, I'm 13. The odds are against my going in. My name is only in that reaping ball twice."
She doesn't let go of me, and I sigh.
"Would you like to come and help me and Whitley set up the square?" I asked my sweet sister, praying for a yes.
"Okay." She replies, and lets go of me so we can get changed.
When we're both ready, Harlequin gets nervous. She gets to see how 13 year olds set up the square for the reaping, a task she will have to do when she's of age.
I'm a tall-ish small-ish person, but it's still hard for Whitley to find me. When she does, I'm greeted by a warm hug and a whisper in my ear.
"The odds are not in our favour. Come with me and I'll explain it, but drop Harlequin off with Hawkins. He'll take care of her, and I don't want her freaking out before the reaping."
Hawkins was happy to take Harlequin, and offered her a job she would be allowed to do.
"Why are the odds not in our favour?" I demanded once we were out of earshot.
"The Capitol is angry. They want young blood, the 12, 13, and 14 year olds all have thier names in 25 more times. That means you and I have our names in 27 times."
"But all the other children have their names in more times."
"I know, but we have a higher chance of getting in."
It took me a while to let the news sink in. I could be in the arena. But then I realised all the other children have their names in more times, so I'm able to rid of the thought. For now, anyway. Harlequin and Hawkins walked over, they had finished the job, and were heading over here.
"Look, Lily, look! I made a banner shine! I fixed the wires!" Said Harlequin proudly.
I looked in the direction the banner was in. It read 'The 76th Annual Hunger Games!'. Why Harlequin would be so excited about that, I don't know. I dropped the thought. The reaping was in half an hour. Might as well get ready for it now.
At my home, Mother and Father were waiting for us. My Father set up my clothes while Mother helped me bathe myself. Body, face, hair. All I was doing was washing away the grime for the Reaping. Why? I don't plan on going to the Capitol. I heard a noise outside. The deaf girl that lives next door to me, Kyler, is being hit again by her father. I don't like him at all.
My friends Whitley and Alder Puckett were waiting for me in the square. Whitley was wearing a flowing white dress and Alder.... He was in his black top and casual jeans. I laughed at him, he could be so weird sometimes.
"Meant to be fancy." I said giggling.
"Meant to be scared." He said seriously to me, and I stopped giggling.
I felt so flimsy in my purple dress and black shoes. I wondered why everyone had to be dressed nice in the presence of Sylvia Lockhurst. She was so... Capitol couture.
When she mounts the stage, we get a good look at her baby blue dress and face tattoos. Ugh, blue blue blue. She is the blue queen. Blegh.
She begins with the whole "Happy Hunger Games! And, may the odds be ever in your favour!" In her squeaky, annoying voice. I don't like her. Hell, I don't know who does.
