Treacherous

The Quell

I stared at the deer lying dead on the ground. My mother and father stood there, wide-eyed.

"I couldn't do that until I was 15." My mother whispered.

"I still can't do it." My dad said.

I walked over to where the deer was. My father picked it up and we started walking back. At exactly 2:00 President Prince would announce the Quarter Quell on live TV.

We creaked the door open and ran to the living room where a single and dusty television stood. It had one giant crack in the middle.

Suddenly, the Panem symbol appeared on the TV. President Prince's face flickered into view.

"Welcome to the announcement of the 4th Quarter Quell!" He screamed. Mi.lions of people in the audience cheered.

He strutted over to a huge glass bowl where over 100 envelopes stood. He dug his rather puffy hand into the bowl and grabbed an envelope.

"This year for the Quarter Quell," President Prince began, "three times as many tributes will go in, thats six for every district..Since there are 72 tributes participating, mentors will choose 'teams' for their tributes.  Citizens will vote on their favorite tribuutes and the top four will get a 9 second headstart. Then the next four, and so on.And, to have a little fun, the age limits will now be from 8-16. May the odds be ever in your favor."

Just like that the TV shut down.

I stood up and my mother hugged me.

We silently ate our dinner of stale bread and deer then went off to bed.

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2 DAYS LATER

Reaping Day. I had to wake up at 4:00 in the morning and we didn't even have time to go hunting. I ate breakfast (if you could call it that.), took a shower (if you could call it that.), and then got dressed. My dress was a gorgeous dark blue dress with lace on the top.My mother did my hair into a french braid. 

As a family, we rushed to the Justice Building and went to the sign in desk.

"Next!" A pink skinned capitol lady screeched.

I stuck out my finger and she quickly pricked it then scanned my blood.

A group of Peacekeepers escorted me to the thirteen year old section.

I found myself next to my 13 year old cousin, Bryanna,

"It's okay." She told me, but I saw tears in her eyes. I knew she wasn't crying because she was afraid of being picked.  She was afraid of her 9 year old sisters, Layla and Jaycee being picked.

I heard heels clink across the stage.

"Welcome!" Screamed Cici Trinket, our Capitol Escort.

"To start us off lets watch a quick video of Panem's past." She said.

Quick. Yeah right. It was a 30 mintue video that was as boring as you could imagine.

"Okay! Ladies first!"

She walked over to one of the glass bowls that were similar to the ones at the Quell

"The first lady tribute is, Izzy Pines!" Cici yelled.

A 15 year old girl walked up on stage.

"Welcome Izzy!" Cici said. Izzy just glared at Cici. If looks could kill.

Cici dug her hand into the bowl again.

"Bryanna Jades!"

Bryanna gasped. She slowly walked up to the stage and sat down next to the other girl.

Cici slowly stuck her hand in for dramatic effect. She even more slowly opened up the paper.

"Layla Jades!" Cici yelled.

I heard three screams at the the mention of her name. The first was Bryanna. The second was Jaycee, her twin sister. The third was Layla's.

I looked around for Layla. She was screaming and crying as Peacekeepers brought her up to the stage.

Bryanna was fighting the Peacekeepers and screaming "SHE'S ONLY 9!"

The thought of watching little Layla on TV, fighting to the death made me start to cry.

Before I could think, I screamed, "I VOLUNTEER!"