❝ Oh darling, she's a survivor. ❞
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Athena Hawthorne is just your average fifteen year old girl from the Seam. Petite and skinny, olive skin and dark eyes. Gale Hawthorne's younger sister. When the seventy fourth games come around, she finds herse...
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❝You'll be okay, Athena. You can do this. ❞
— Gale Hawthorne
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IT TAKES ME a while to process that the name is mine. I stand there, completely shocked. I'm paralyzed with fear, and I can't move. I can't accept that I'm going to die. I'm going to an arena to fight to the death. Me. Athena Hawthorne.
"No! Athena! No!" My mother screams, and I turn my head around. Gale pulls her into a hug, concealing her cries. Seeing her cry makes me want too. I refuse to let myself. I can't look weak for the Capitol already. Gale looks at me with glossy eyes. He had to watch his best friend go in last year, and now he has to watch his sister.
"But mommy, that's Athena's name," Posy tiny voices rings. Vick is crying, but Posy is confused. She doesn't understand that I'm heading to my death. "Athena! Athena!" Rory voices yells, pulling rushing through the crowd of boys to try to get to me. Two peacekeepers pulls him back, and I'm still paralyzed with fear.
Effie is completely embarrassed by the scene. "Athena. Athena Hawthorne, please come to the stage."
Peacekeepers come around me and start to pull me towards the stage. "Do not touch me!" I snarl, glaring the peacekeeper down. "I can walk up to the stage by myself!" Surprisingly, the peacekeeper lets me go, and I began my walk to the giant stage.
Every single person is looking at me, and my family. I clench my hands into fists, my nails digging into my skin. I look up at Katniss, and she looks like she's going to be sick. Peeta has a poker face, and Haymitch is sitting there silently.
Soon, I will just be another dead tribute. Nobody will remember Athena Hawthorne. I'll just be another fallen district twelve tribute.
The walk to the stage is only about fifty feet, but it feels like an eternity to walk up there. My ears are ringing with my mother sobs. I can still sense that my family is in tears. Everything I do from now on is strategy, so I need to stay strong. This means hiding my emotions, which I've always been good at.
