It was a chilly day, despite the sun shining.
Somehow I didn’t think I was nervous. I wasn’t crying like other children, or shaking like some eighteen-year-olds who might just be lucky enough and get away from all this madness; I was still.
It was the same for the past three years: Stand, wait, and go back home. And I didn’t expect this year to be any different.
After this year, I’d be over halfway through the reaping stages.
I wanted to get the reaping quickly over with─dad was going to show me his new project from work after this! He said there needed to be something good once in a while. I couldn’t hardly wait after he told me.
I never thought that I wouldn’t get to see it.
I was half out of it when they called my name─Rena.
In a snap, a hundred heads turned to me, and I haphazardedly looked up, ignoring the whiplash that hit me in the neck.
It took me more than just a second.
Before I even knew it, there was a yell─a shout. I wasn’t even comprehending the fact that I was a tribute for the 100th Hunger Games when a boy─no, man pushed forward. He had black hair, like mine.
It was hard to tell who said it louder. I reached out to stop him, but a few Peacekeepers stopped me. There were several on my brother as well.
“No,” he was repeating, “No! Take me instead!”
No, you can’t volunteer, the thought ran through my head. Brother can’t because he turned nineteen a few months ago.
As if she read my mind, the escort on stage smiled that sickenly fake smile, with caked white powder falling everywhere, and denied my brother, “Sorry, you’re no are no longer eligible to participate in the Games. The opportunity goes to your sister!”
How did she know he was my brother? I guess it was the black hair and similarity traits. Jumbled, useless thoughts were running through my mind, as I stared at the white-gray grainy pavement on the floor. The Peacekeepers were holding me by the arm, next to the armpits. It hurt, but I didn’t let it show.
“Opportunity?” My brother’s shaking voice jolted me to look. “As if this a gift or something. The Games are nothing but─”
No. Why are you so stupid, brother? You’re supposed to be the smart one. I opened my mouth to shout at him, to prevent him from continuing, but a Peacekeeper simply clamped his mouth shut and brought his arm down.
“Well,” the escort said. “Rena, will you come to the stage?”
I barely glanced at the Peacekeepers at my arms. I was hanging against them, like some kind of dead weight. These thoughts ran to me in less than a second. I couldn’t afford to look weak or hesitant.
Instead, I stood up straight, and kept my chin high.
I walked to the stage as strong as I could. My legs felt like they were shaking and about to give out, and it was all I could to hope that the District didn’t notice that.
The rest of the Reaping came by like a blur. Maybe it was because I had tears in my eyes. I didn’t know. My mind was so hazy. Where was mom, dad? I didn’t know. Is brother okay? I didn’t know.
The Peacekeepers pushed me into a room on the stage. I knew now it was where I had to say my goodbyes. I had no chance of winning, I knew, so I should make the best of the numbered minutes I had left.
She had tears streaked down her face, her black hair stuck against her cheeks. I rushed forward to hug her and wounded her arms around my torso tightly.
“Mom.” It came out choked, harsh. I wish my voice didn’t sound like that.
“Shh, shh,” she said, stroking my now wet cheeks. “You’ll be fine.”
It was a lie, and she knew it.
I shook my head, but nothing came out. Instead, I tried, “how’s brother?”
“Lyan’s fine. The Peacekeeper didn’t hit him too hard so he’s outside waiting.”
We just sat there, hugging each other. She was stroking my hair like she did when I was little, though soon after I got annoyed for being babied. Why did I push her away?
“Time’s up,” a Peacekeeper interrupted.
Mom gave a broken sigh and one last squeeze before she pulled away. Her eyes were filled with tears, but they didn’t fall.
“I love you, too,” I replied. We said it often, but it was the most heartbreaking thing I said now.
When dad came in, I was in shambles. He didn’t even hesitate, even less than mom. In the midst of our short reunion, I said, “I’m sorry I won’t be able to see your new project. I bet it’s wonderful.”
That’s when dad broke down, I think. He’s always trying to be strong, trying to be the head of the family.
“That’s okay, Rena,” he said, laughing quietly. “That’s okay.”
After a long minute, he pulled away and exhaled.
“You should see your brother.”
When he came in, I nonchalantly glanced towards him and sighed impatiently.
“Well, finally. I was wondering when you were going to show up. Lazy as always, huh?”
His face didn’t betray any emotion. His skin was unusually dark in this lighting, as if he hadn’t slept in days. He probably hadn’t.
After a long silence, he finally sighed out of exasperation and put his hand to his head. “Why do you keep joking to the last moment?”
I stood up from the chair and placed my finger on his forehead and tapped it a few times until his eyes lift and meet mine.
“Because of that,” I replied, pointing to his eyes. I point back to mind and continue, “Your eyes. They’re dull. Not like dull as in ‘I haven’t slept in days because I’ve been engineering way too much’ but ‘my little baby sister is only sixteen she can’t do anything.’ FYI, big bro, I ain’t the baby sister you took care of anymore.”
“You’re still the sister I need to take care of, though.”
It hurt, that sentence. However, I just smiled widely and said, “I won’t be your responsibility anymore, huh?”
Maybe that was too harsh. But Lyan needed to face the truth─I’m not coming back.
My brother broke through his facade and rushed forward to hug me in the most bone-crushing embrace I’m sure I’ll never get again: not from mother, not from father, not even from a possible boyfriend or husband.
I placed my hands on his shoulders and cried. It was silent because even then, I didn’t want to look weak.
“You can win, Rena.” That only made me sob harder. Brother’s embrace tightened. “You can. You’re smart; you can analyze situations. Wisdom is more important than strength.”
I didn’t say anything, but maybe I didn’t need to.
Finally, the Peacekeeper came and took my family away.
My last image before I boarded the train was my brother.
He was pointing to his brain.
Thank you! The Gamemakers have awarded you 9/10 points!
