"I volunteer as tribute."
Her voice echoes across the crowd with a strength Dahlia never felt she could have. A thousand whispering thoughts were racing around her head like a tornado, but one was louder than all the others. I won't let them take my sister.
"We have a volunteer." Magenta announces excitedly, clapping his hands together as Dahlia emerges. Her Games have just begun. She knows she must play along if she wants to make it home alive. She can't let them see how afraid she is, instead she must become someone others will fear. Shoulders back and chin raised high, she strides towards the Peacekeepers with no hint of terror on her face.
"Dahlia." Lavender whispers in shock as her sister walks forward confidently. Dahlia's facade nearly breaks at the girl's heartbroken face as Lavender tries to grab her hand. "No! Dahlia!" She screeches out as she is dragged away by a peacekeeper. Lavender fights and struggles in the soldier's arms but she is no match for him. Dahlia remains determined, blocking out her sister's screams and pursing her lips to halt her tears.
Alaric sits up in interest. In all his years, he had never seen a District Five tribute look as menacing as a Career. But here was a girl to prove him wrong. She marched up the steps of the stage like she was already the winner and stood assertively in front of the crowd. Not to mention the dark shade of her dress and hair made her stand out among her peers. Like Death herself had ascended to the stage.
"Now, my dear, what's your name?" Magenta asks as Dahlia stares out at the crowd with an impassive face. She spots her mother and sisters huddling together at the back and has to quickly avert her eyes. There would be time for tears when her face wasn't being broadcast to all her competitors.
"Dahlia Blossom." She replies calmly, despite feeling like she had just placed her neck in the hangman's noose.
"Oh, how noble. Volunteering for a sister. Wonderful." Magenta proclaims as if it was an honour for Dahlia to volunteer to die. He tries to encourage the crowd to cheer by clapping his hands very loudly into the microphone. His audience is less than enthusiastic to comply. "Right, well... Moving swiftly on to the boys." Dahlia stares straight ahead, not turning to watch as Magenta swishes the names around with a grin on his face. Her stomach sinks with the realisation of what she's done and it takes all of her strength not to throw up this morning's meal on the front row. She has to remind herself that the Capitol and the other tributes will watch the Reapings closely. She must hold her nerve and make an impression. "Wyatt Armstrong."
The crowd parts like a wave to reveal a boy, older than Dahlia, with neatly combed brown hair and a horrified expression. He definitely needed a lesson in masking his emotions as he seemed to wear his heart on his sleeve. Wyatt Armstrong's feet refused to move, as if his shoes were glued to the ground. Dahlia could see his trembling form even from the stage as one of the boys standing next to him nudged him forward. Slowly he drags his feet along the gravel, glancing around hoping that someone might volunteer for him as Dahlia had done for Lavender. But no one can bring themselves to meet his eyes.
Dahlia's eyebrows furrow as Wyatt's shoes scuff to a stop and his breathing picks up. Then he does the worst thing he could've possibly done: He tries to run. Shoving a peacekeeper away, he darts back down the aisle as the onlookers back away in shock. Magenta gasps out dramatically at the turn of events but Dahlia ensures her face remains stony. The attempt is futile as he is grasped by several peacekeepers and easily subdued. Wyatt sobs despairingly as the peacekeepers haul him back to the stage where Magenta has to grab the boy's arm to pull him up the stairs.
"Well, we got there in the end." Magenta comments, trying to ease the tension in the area. Needless to say, he is unsuccessful. "Our Tributes from District Five." His arms spread out to present the two unfortunates to the lucky children who have survived another year. Dahlia stands tall and strong compared to the distraught cries coming from Wyatt. "Now, be good sports and shake hands, you two." Magenta roughly turns Wyatt by his shoulders and forces him closer to Dahlia, who already waits with her hand outstretched.
As he reluctantly places his hand in hers, Dahlia grips it tightly. "Pull yourself together." She hisses to the blubbering boy before she releases him and turns to face the crowd with a tight-lipped smile. She knows it's harsh, but this world will beat you down time and time again until you bend to its every will. Dahlia doesn't want to give the Capitol too much satisfaction. If they want a show, she's happy to give them one. As long as they repay her by getting her home safe.
"Happy Hunger Games and may the odds be ever in your favour." Magenta pronounced with a final flourish of his hand. He gestured for Dahlia and Wyatt to step into the Justice Building, to which the girl obliged with regal composure. Wyatt, on the other hand, was frozen where he stood. Magenta, grumbling all the way, had to remove him from the spot and tug him away from the stage.
Dahlia was directed to a large room, furnished with plush black seats which she immediately sank into. Now, with no cameras in sight, she covers her face with the palms of her hands as her repressed emotions flood her body. What has she done? She's saved her sister, but she just might have lost herself. The Hunger Games has a way of bringing out the absolute worst in people, and Dahlia really doesn't want to meet the person she's about to become.
"You're so stupid, Dahlia! Why would you do that?" Lavender yells as her family bursts through the door. Dahlia shoots up from the chair just in time to catch her hysterical sister as she launches herself in her direction.
"I made you a promise, Lav. And I intend to keep it." Dahlia replies, finally allowing the tears to leak down her cheek as she clung onto Lavender. Joule and Rosie joined in on the hug, reminding Dahlia of their group embrace in the kitchen. How she wishes she could go back to that moment. Just a few hours earlier she wasn't District Five's tribute. She wasn't preparing to leave her family for what could be the last time. She wasn't being sent away to fight for her life.
Tears dripping endlessly down her cheeks, Lavender murmurs into her sister's ear, "You have to win."
"I'll try, Lav." Dahlia whispers in between sniffles, not wanting to get her sister's hopes up. Twenty four tributes enter the arena and only one comes out alive. The odds don't seem to be in Dahlia's favour.
"No." Lavender declares forcefully, pulling back from the hug. "You have to win. There's no other option. I'm stuck with you, remember? You have to keep that promise as well."
Dahlia glances around at the faces of her family, trying to memorise every little detail. Her mother, Joule, who works tirelessly to support them and always put their needs first. Her sister, Lavender, who Dahlia knows will do great things one day. And then, little Rosie. The baby of the family and the most innocent of them all. How could she bear to leave them?
"She's right, my flower." Her mother steps forward, cupping the girl's cheek. Joule was barely keeping herself together but she was trying to not let Dahlia see her fear. "You are intelligent and a quick learner. You can win this... And you must."
"I believe in you, Dahlia." Rosie murmurs softly, gazing up at her big sister, her hero, with big brown eyes.
Dahlia kneels down with a tearful smile and embraces the little girl. "That's all I need." She mutters into Rosie's ear, placing a loving kiss on the girl's cheek. She stands up while wiping her tears. "You'll have the bed all to yourself, Rosie."
The young girl shakes her head vigorously as she starts to tear up. "I don't want the whole bed. I want you." Rosie wraps her arms around Dahlia's waist and sobs onto the black material. "Please come back."
"I will." Dahlia mumbles, rubbing Rosie's back while her eyes lock with Lavender. This time she states with more confidence, "I will."
Joule takes deep breaths as she dabs away at her own cheeks. "All they want is a show, my flower... Give them what they want."
Dahlia nods before running into her mother's arms. She feels like a little girl again when she's engulfed by the warmth of her mother. It's a shame that, in this world, little girls don't stay little very long. "I love you, Mama."
"I love you--"
"Time's up!" A peacekeeper announces as the doors are swung open dramatically. Dahlia's heart drops as they round up her family to usher them out. Lavender swiftly grabs Dahlia's hand and squeezes three times. Dahlia repeats the message before their hands are ripped apart and Lavender is, once again, dragged away by a peacekeeper. The door slams shut behind them and Dahlia is left alone. She slumps back into the seat, her nails digging into the leather.
If she stands any chance of winning this, she needs to be smart. Tactics are just as important as skills and she will need to learn as much as possible. But, above all, she must perform for the Capitol. Play a character on a screen. The eyes of Panem are watching her now, waiting to find out who she is.
All they want is a show... Give them what they want.