I am already awake and by the orchards before 5 in the morning. There are a few others in the field I recognize, all fragile and exhausted like I am. I know hardly anyone could sleep last night, despite our fatigue.
Today is the day of the Reaping.
I shouldn't worry, or I would worry my siblings. But my name would be entered for the first time in the reaping ball. After convincing my family, I had entered my name six more times in exchange for tesserae. Two tesserae for Aven and Rowan. Two tesserae for Indigo and Venus. Two tesserae for Ash and Mama.
The chances of a twelve-year-old getting selected is low, though it depends on how many times you add your name. The chances of a twelve-year-old winning the Games is much, much lower, nearly microscopic.
I know Mama would want me home to get dressed for the Capitol. I stand up, sing a special tune for the mockingjays, and head home.
Hours pass. The one thing distracting me is that every second, the time of the Reaping gets closer and closer.
"Rue, you look so pretty." My nine-year-old sister, Indigo, smiles at me and brushes her fingers against the fabric. After three forced baths and a comb that ripped through my stiff hair, I finally looked decent enough.
My other sisters try to beam too, but their smiles twitch.
"Don't worry about me. You guys are my good luck charm. The odds are definitely in my favor," I assure.
Mama hurries into the room holding a bracelet. I immediately recognize it, the bracelet Papa gave her before he died. She kisses my forehead and inserts the bracelet around my wrist. "Even if you do get selected, you fight for our family. Our district. The Capitol. Make us proud. You're brave and smart, and very resourceful. Make me proud, Rue."
I nod, feeling the bracelet made of wood. Then I swallow hard.
The chances of a twelve-year-old getting selected is low. But never zero.
Make me proud, Rue.
After leaving my family and walking towards the Justice Building, I head into the reaping area and sign in. I'm familiar with most of the grim faces.
I try to ignore my hammering heart while the Capitol escort, Cassia Fairwood, bounces onto the stage in three-inch stilettos and a coat of lapis blue makeup.
"Welcome, welcome everyone! Happy 74th Hunger Games! And may the odds be ever in your favor." Cassia's smile broadens. I let her speech drift from my mind until she plays a tape about The Dark Days and the Treaty of the Treason. Some probably had the tape memorized.
Fairwood starts to speak in her enthusiastic, Capitol accent. "And now, it is time to select two lovely tributes to represent District 11 for the annual Hunger Games! Ladies first, as always." She sticks her hand in the ball and all I can think about is how six of those names are mine. I take the bracelet off my wrist and twiddle it between my fingers. For luck.
She clears her throat, studying the slip of paper for a few seconds.
"Rue Embersail!" Fairwood announces.
Everyone turns to me out of pity. I drop the bracelet.
"Would anyone like to volunteer for Rue Embersail?"
I don't dare look at the crowd. The silence is the only thing I need to hear. I close my eyes and accept the wind, touching my wrist.
My wrist. The bracelet. I had dropped it.
I'm sorry, Mama. I open my eyes when I hear a faint sound of mockingjays in the distance.
Thresh, about seventeen or eighteen, was also chosen. I'd seen him before, helping Mama in the fields and saving Ash from tracker jackers. He glances at me and nods. I know he is kind.
The district starts whistling my special tune as the Peacekeepers take us away.
Tears sting my eyes; this isn't fair. But Thresh is tall and brawnier than most. He has a chance.
I don't. Because the odds were never going to be in my favor.
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