May The Odds Ever Be In Your Favor!

The Reaped, The Volunteering, And the Volunteering for the Volunteered...

"Miss... Makaly? uh- Mer- Merim.. eth? Makaly Merimeth? Come forward, you lucky, young girl!!"

This 'lucky young girl' doesn't move. No one does. Not many know her, she keeps a low profile, but for those who do, she is that girl who everyone loves. Who is always polite and nice. It couldn't be her. Breaking the silence is her sobbing.
Jaden's best friend, from school. Our other neighbor. A girl with a rough life herself. She had been picked... Guards marched systematically to where Makay stood frozen. She threw her head around wildly, looking for somebody to save her. Once the guards grabbed her arms, she went limp and just cried.

"No!" Somebody screamed.

Who would scream- oh. Me? No, Jaden was hollering. "No! Please, don't take her! Please!! I'm begging!"

The guards turned, glancing back and forth at Christilleny, Jaden and Makaly.

Christilleny said "Well, do you take her place this year for the Hunger Games?"

The guards set Makaly down. Makaly's wide light brown eyes quivered as they glared down Jaden. "Jaden, no, I won- I can do it, I can go." She wimpered. No one believed her. She was a shy girl. Thin boned naturally, and she didn't get much to eat. She was just as poor as us, except she was the oldest child. Only 12 years old.

"I volunteer." Jaden's voice was loud and shaky. Still, no one moved.

It was my turn to scream. "No! I volunteer. Jaden, I am not kidding. You back down now!" That was the rule. The first person to volunteer could be volunteered for, but they had to accept the second volunteer-er would take their place. Jaden bit her lip. She didn't say anything.

Christilleny was shocked. "So, girls, who's taking the glory this year for District 7?"

I spoke loudly, "I will. Jaden, get back, now! I'm not kidding with this!" I looked over, and found Luke. He avoided my stare, instead he shoved his way toward Jaden.

"No! Alex, you can't!! You have to help Luke!! You have to, and you know it! Please!"

Luke grabbed Jaden from behind, holding her back by the waist. He threw one of his infamous, dark glares towards the guards. Just daring them to come closer. "I am her brother. She will not volunteer. She isn't volunteering. Not this year, and not any year."

"I volunteer." I emphasized the 'I'.

"All right! We have our first volunteer in 27 years, and our first double volunteer in 38! This is fantastic, you just may have a champion in your District this year 7!"

A few people did the pity clap as I walked up to wear Christilleny was standing. "So, what is your name?"

"Alex, uh- Alexandra Leison." I stammered. She leaned closer to me so her microphone would pick up my soft voice. Her perfume nearly choked me.

"So, I am assuming that you know the first two girls?" She questioned. "Yes" Christilleny waited for me to go on, and I blushed. "Yeah, uh, Makaly is my sister's friend. And the one who volunteered for her, was my own sister, Jaden Leison."

Christilleny quickly nodded, her wig threatening to throw itself off of her head. "Hmm, I see. Well, next up, the gentlemen!"