Chapter 1
It’s the day of the reaping. I look around trying to find Magnus over the boy’s section. He’s nowhere to be found. I tried walking around, squeezing myself through the girls’ crowd, I give up. I’ll probably see him after the reaping. The anthem begin, everyone looks at each other not sure how to react, one of us, no, two of us, are to be selected as tribute to a fight to death in the arena designed by the Capitol. Everyone stares at the stage where a woman dressed ridiculously, stood. We stare at her, either in fear or wonder. For a moment I let my mind wander around. What would happen if I got chosen?
I hear gasps snaps me out of my trance; I look around, everyone’s staring at me.
‘Etha Dunbryll?’ the high pitch voice repeats.
Etha Dunbryll, the voice rang through my mind.
Then it hits me, I got chosen as tribute. I get to fight in the arena. Someone nudges me, probably Liba. I slowly make my way up to the stage not before one of the peacekeeper pushes me with his gun urging me to walk faster, I turn around, ‘I can walk by myself’ I hiss at the man in the white uniform.
I walk with my chin up high; confident is how I have to act. I catch a glimpse of myself on the big screen. I bet I don’t look half as appealing as the Careers from District 1 and 2.
The woman smiles and gives out her hand for me to hold onto. I smile a smile that doesn’t reach my eyes, she can see it to; the woman I mean.
‘How old are you dear?’ she asks.
‘15’ I reply.
‘Now for the boys,’ she let her fingers move around the box.
Not Magnus, please not Magnus. I plead.
And it’s not Magnus, it’s Hadrian.
Guess I won’t be coming home then.
