" I volunteer!" I shout again.
" No, you can't! Michelle, you're too young to die!" Shouts Steph, with tears in her tears.
" So are you Steph! I'm doing this and you can't stop me!" I respond.
" But Michelle, you can't! I was reaped, not you! It's my responsibility to be tribute!" She shouts to me.
" The rules state that whoever volunteers has priority. May the volunteer come up here please, you are our newest tribute!" Shouts our escort Josephine.
Steph frowns but looks quite relieved that I took her place despite what she said. She wouldn't even survive the bloodbath let alone the entire games. But I can definitely win this thing, no doubt about it.
I smirk and make my way to the stage to be greeted by our foolish escort.
" What's your name sweetheart?" She asks me.
" Michelle Ha" I answer confidently.
" I must say you look very young for a volunteer. How old are you darling?" She asks me.
" 12 years old, never too young to love the games" I say.
" How brave and courageous! Do you know that you are the youngest volunteer we have ever had?" She asks me.
" Wow pathetic, other 12 year olds are so wimpy. This is a huge a honour" I respond.
" That's the spirit! Now give it up district 2, for our youngest ever volunteer!" She yells excitedly.
I get a large applause but not everybody claps. I find Steph in the crowd, still crying. I give her a reassuring smile and mouth it's okay. She nods and gives me a sad smile.
" Now for the boys!" says Josephine excitedly.
She walks over to the bowl marked boys and plunges her hand in. She swirls her hand around in the bowl before finally picking a slip of paper. She walks back to the microphone and reads the name," Johnathon G-"
" I volunteer" Interrupts a deep voice.
I watch as a large, muscular boy makes his way up to the stage. He cheers as he jogs up and high fives people on his way. I roll my eyes as he takes his place next to me with a triumphant smile on his face.
" How lovely, another volunteer!" Says Josephine.
" What's your name and age?" She asks.
" Phoenix McGill, I'm 18 years old and in a few weeks I will be district 2's newest victor!" He says cockily.
" Ya right!" I respond with a laugh.
" Oh yeah? Well who is going to stop me?" He asks me smiling evilly.
" I am. Mark my words, you will not make it past the bloodbath." I respond grinning.
" You are only 12 years old, what could you possibly do? Why don't you go back to the 12 year old section and let someone more qualified volunteer." Says Phoenix.
Anger surges through me and before I can stop myself, I kick him in the stomach, hard. He clutches his stomach and coughs out blood. I smile victoriously.
" You little devil! What the heck was that?" He screams angrily.
" Here is a piece of advice, don't you dare underestimate me because I won't go so easy next time." I say smiling.
" Okay enough of this you two. You will have plenty of time to fight in the arena." Says our mentor, Calvin. I didn't even notice him until now.
Calvin was reaped last year at the age of 12. Strangely, no one volunteered for him. Calvin never trained and had absolutely no experience with weapons. We were good friends, I remember visiting him with tears in my eyes but he stayed strong.
