Chapter 1-
“Skylar Cohen” the announcer’s voice rang through the silence after he unfolded the paper and spoke into the microphone. I gulped and shook a little nervously. The eyes of the crowd turned towards me and I took a deep breath. I slowly stepped out to the center aisle and tried not to drag my feet as I walked towards the stage. Sweat slowly ran from my forehead and neck.
“Well hurry up. We don’t have all day” the man who called my name stated angry. I had never bothered to remember his name. I had always called him Cane though because of his tall and very thin figure. I hated the Capitol and everybody from it. I shot him the dirtiest look I could manage as Peacekeepers accompanied me up the aisle. I slowly walked up the steps and took my place. Then I looked towards the crowd.
My eyes caught on Scott, my best friend. He was all I had. I didn’t care too much that I had been called for the games. I didn’t have a family or friends. I had been an outcast my entire life. I was always scavenging for food and trying to find work or somewhere to live. I never had anything though. Nobody wanted me. It was Scott who saved my life, taught me everything and gave me a home and food. I had met him when I was only 12 years old.
Flashback-
I reached for the bread I saw that laid on the table. It was hard sneaking into the Justice Hall but I knew that they were having a huge feast today. The table was set up and it would be at least an hour before a Peacekeeper came in or so I thought.
I grabbed the bread and hid back under the table. I ate slowly and savored every last bite of it. As I was about to crawl out from under the table, something moved by the tablecloth. I inched back a little bit and held my breath. A terrifying dog stuck its head under the table and growled. I jumped up and tried to run when it jumped at me and bared its sharp teeth.
As I made my way to the door a man caught me and the dog retreated. “You brat! Stealing food?!” he yelled. I struggled to get out of his grasp but he had me in a tight grip. “You know what this means don’t you?” he asked in a very excited voice. Of course I did. It meant being whipped in the districts center. I whimpered a little when the door opened. A boy about 14 years old walked in with a sack over his shoulder, an axe and bow in hand and arrows slung over his shoulder. He stared at me for a while. “I have the deer you asked me to catch. Its outside” the boy said to the man but didn’t take his eyes off of me.
The Peacekeeper nodded his head and said “I’ll have somebody bring it in. Let me get your pay.” The boy shook his head and said “No. I don’t want money” The Peacekeeper stopped and stared at him. “I want the girl and all her charges dropped” the boy said looking at me. The Peacekeeper shrugged and threw me to the ground. “Take her” The boy nodded and practically dragged me out. “Nice to know I’m only worth a deer” I mumbled under my breath. He laughed and said “You’re worth at least 10 times that” I couldn’t help but grin.
End Flashback-
Scott’s eyes looked at me concerned. I used up all my energy to give him the best smile I could manage. He didn’t buy it though as he just stared at me. “Now it’s time for the boys and then we can all happily go home” Cane said. He didn’t hesitate to pull a paper out of the bowl with the boy’s names. My eyes didn’t move from Scott’s at all. He suddenly smiled deviously at me and I raised an eyebrow in question.
“Michel Smith” I heard Cane call out. “I volunteer!” somebody called. My eyes widened as Scott practically ran up the center aisle to the stage. I was more terrified now than I had ever been in my life. The only thing that ran through my mind was; only one of us would survive. That is if we were that lucky.
Scott had a huge smile on his face though as he walked up the steps and onto the stage. I was frozen in my place as he walked up to me. “Looks like me and you are going in huh?” he grinned happily. Then he turned and gave a huge grin to everyone in the crowd and waved stupidly.
“Y-you idiot” was all that came out of my mouth in a whisper but I knew that he had heard me. “Well there you have it folk. This year’s tributes for District 7” Cane called and raised one of my hands up and one of Scotts. The crowd just stared at us, no applause and no cheers.
I still couldn’t move or take my eyes off of Scott. My eyes were still wide and my eyebrows had nit together tightly. A frown had taken a permanent place on my face and I knew I was shaking slightly. I couldn’t get over the fact that he had just voluntarily entered the games.
“Let’s go” Scott smiled at me and grabbed my hand as he led me into the Justice building with the Peacekeepers and Cane. He was pulling me forward and thank goodness too because I knew that in that one moment I didn’t have what it takes to move on my own.
“Get them a room so visitors can come and see them” Cane dictated. “Don’t bother. Nobody will come. Let’s just head for the Capitol” Scott told them. Cane shrugged. “Fine suit yourself” he mumbled. “Well I’ll head out to the car to see if they are ready then” he told us then walked off leaving us standing in the hall.
“Well that was an interesting turn of events” Scott chuckled beside me. He leaned against the wall and stuck his hands in his jeans pocket. I just stared at him still frozen. “Why? Why the hell would you happily volunteer?!” I yelled furious. “Well I couldn’t let you have all the fun” he said with a wide grin. “Scott, you idiot!” I yelled and punched him in the jaw. He was a little shocked and taken back by my action but I didn’t care.
I spun around and stormed off towards the door. I threw it open angrily and marched to the shiny black car that waited outside. The Peacekeepers didn’t bother stopping me as I threw the door open and sat annoyed on the soft leather seats. Cane was already in the car and Scott walked around the back and entered on the other side not long after. The drive to the train was short and full of an awkward silence.
“We’re here. Get out” Cane demanded. Scott grabbed my arm, as I reached for the door handle, from beside me and looked me in the eye. “Sky, please listen to me. We’re going to do this together ok? Please” he begged. “Scott you should be home safe right now! Not about to board the train!” I screamed angrily. He held my shoulders tightly and said “Look ok? I have no home in District 7! My home is you. I wanted to do this together. Please Sky” he begged as his hazel eyes scanned mine wearily.
We heard somebody tap on the glass window and Cane gestured us out of the car. I sighed and turned my head back towards Scott who sat beside me, to my left. “Ok. We’ll do this thing together” I smiled slightly. He pulled me into his chest and sighed relieved. “Good, because if you had said no I wouldn’t have even bothered trying in the games” he whispered in my ear.
I smack him playfully and smiled “Oh you’re trying alright!”
Cane threw my car door open and grabbed my arm. “What part of get out don’t you understand?!” he hissed in my ear and dragged me out of the car. Camera’s flashed and people screamed around me. I tugged my arm away from Cane and growled “Don’t touch me.” Then I walked towards the train myself. Scott followed and walked alongside me. “I go in first” he remarked. “No way!” I yelled. We stared at each other for a moment then ran to the train door like little kids running to the playground.
“Ladies first!” I screamed shoving him out of the way as I tried to get in. “Age before beauty sweetheart!” he laughed and shoved back. “You’re only 2 years older than me!” I laughed. “Well 18 beats 16 so I go first!” he fought back.
People stared at us confused as we fought playfully at the train door. “I know how to settle this” Scott laughed as he held me in a headlock. “Well tell me quick before I die from lack of air” I laughed and he let go of me. “We go in together” he smiled. “Ok then let’s g-” I didn’t get to finish because Scott threw me over his shoulder and carried me into the train. I laughed and he set me down once we were inside. “Check it out” he grinned. The train was full of all kinds of food. We stared in awe as Cane walked in and pushed past us mumbling “Rotten brats”
Scott grabbed a glass of what looked like orange juice and a loaf of bread. He threw himself onto a sofa chair nearby and ate and drank happily.
I watched and promised myself that no matter what I would protect him in the games. I would make sure Scott won and that he got home safe. I wouldn’t let him die out there because I knew I couldn’t live without him if he did and his life was worth far more to me than my own.
He tossed bread at me and I smiled catching it. “Eat up! We have to meet our mentor soon” he yelled and grinned at me. I laughed and ran to him grabbing food along the way. We sat together and ate as the train took off.
