Culling

Part I • Chapter IV

Sort what out? A numbness came over me at the thought.

From what I understood, there was no changing the selected tributes unless a volunteer came forward. From the silence of the crowd around me, it was clear that there was no one who was doing so. Once we became an official tribute, after the end of the reaping, it was too late.

Even Maro, with all his bragging about being able to fight, did not come forward.

Khloe lead me up the stairs and I gripped her hand tightly. She looked encouragingly at me and showed me to a space at the end of the line of men.

Instead of moving back to center stage to continue with her announcements and closing remarks, Khloe stayed by my side.

☜♡☞

Afterwards, Khloe ushered me into a small room, told me to relax as best that I could, and that my family would be in for me soon.

Then she left, looking frazzled. Then again picking a female tribute probably left her with a lot of extra issues to sort through. Or something. I didn't pay her much mind.

The room was nothing more than an simple bedroom - with a desk, bed and chair. It was probably one of the rooms that the town rented out to the extremely infrequent visitors that we got from other districts.

I didn't feel like sitting, so I stood in front of its sole window that overlooked the city as I watched the crowd below disperse. It seemed that either people had gone on with their lives or stood around gossiping. They most likely talked about the tributes selected this year, which now included me.

I lost track of time and I had no idea of how long I had been standing there watching people from the window. I wondered if I was in shock.

Probably.

A knock sounded throughout the room and the door opened before I had time to respond.

My mother and Maro walked in and my brother closed the door behind them.

Maro looked uncomfortable, and hovered near the doorway.

My mother... I blinked and focused on my mother. I was almost in disbelief that she was even outside of the house.

Her blonde hair had been thrown into a bun on the top of her head, without a brush ever touching it. She wore large overcoat that mostly hid the fact that she still had her nightgown on underneath. She, quite literally, looked like she had been pulled out of bed in a rush and forced to come here.

Which is probably exactly what happened.

"Sang!" She growled as she stood in the middle of the room, "What kind of mess have you gotten into this time? Are you that desperate for attention?"

I blinked at her, how could she think I wanted this?

"But I didn't...." I started wringing my hands. How could I even explain what happened when I had no idea myself.

I must have done something to deserve this. Had someone seen, and I was being punished for snooping around town? Were people aware that I sometimes went places where I should not be, and listened to conversations that were not mine to hear?

"I never wanted... What should I do?" I looked at my mother desperately, tears filling my vision.

If she ever loved me as a mother, she had to help me! She just had to! In all the world, I only had her. Only my mother would be able to speak up on my behalf.

"You do what you are supposed to do now!" She snapped at me as she crossed her arms. "Completely worthless! Did you know that I was dragged here by county officials? Men came into our home. Do you understand how humiliating that was for me?"