tw for vomiting ⠂⠄⠄⠂⠁⠁⠂⠄⠄⠂⠁⠁⠂⠄⠄⠂ ⠂⠄⠄⠂☆ The sun shined weakly overhead, just barely nudging its way through a thick mass of clouds. A stage looms overhead, casting a shadow on a squinting child, sitting on the chilly, uneven stone floor of the plaza and glancing around at random cats who were also waiting. Behind it was what was practically a pile of siblings, all surrounding two imposing dark gray felines with matching suits who simply just stood there stiffly. The Ainami family. “When’s it gonna staaaart?” Ichi asked Mom, pawing at the black velvet encasing her right leg. “I don’t know.” She said firmly, shoving him off. The 10-year-old promptly fell onto another sibling, Uza, who was playing blackjack with Kalis. Aine had been silently watching the whole time. A family of.. nine. She hadn’t seen a lot of them in a while. Especially not Mom and Dad. Suddenly the sound of a microphone turning on rung out from the speakers, screeching in everyone’s ears. That was when the anxiety set in. Aine stood up, legs trembling, eyes on the stage in the near distance. “It’s only your first year being eligible, dude.” Uza said sarcastically from behind it. The cold concrete buildings around the plaza seemed so tall. She could feel sweat beginning to coalesce. /I can’t do this- I can’t do this!! All I can think is that it’s gonna be me!! I have a feeling!! I don’t want to!! Please!!/ It stood there shaking as the announcer went and said a bunch of wish-washy words about the ‘honorable’ Games, a screen behind them playing gruesome highlights from past rounds. Then it was time for selection. Aine swallowed. Some other name. Not hers. It breathed out as they were eventually moved onstage, but there was still fruit left to be picked by these- these insane Capitol people. “Next up, we have…” Suspense. “Aine Ainami!” Dizziness set in as another breath was drawn. Horror followed as everyone around it turned to face it. 12 years old. Going to die. She swayed on her paws, unable to clearly see a foot in front of her, only perceiving a slurry of gray stone and pelts and astounded family. It was all so loud. Its ears rang as what it guessed were Peacekeepers wormed through the crowd to it. /It can’t end like this- Why couldn’t I have just been being paranoid?! WHY?! WHY???/ She felt herself vomit up her breakfast as the Peacekeepers began dragging her to the stage. And it vomited again as it was almost to the first step. A voice she couldn’t make out made some kind of disgusted remark. Plopped on the stage, it tried to collect itself, but couldn’t. She watched the next tribute get selected. She blinked. Only loud noises. She could just barely see pity underneath a few cats’ steely gazes. /It doesn’t matter. There’s no way I can live through this. But- but I want to, so I have to try.. even though I know it’s futile.. but why..? why did it have to be me..?/ Some random bell atop one of the nearby buildings tolled as the next hour arrived whilst the ceremony wrapped up. Life was all a blur. Next thing it knew, it was on the train, all cleaned up. She couldn’t even remember saying anything to her family. It still felt sick. Looking out the window, she watched home fade away. Its reflection stared back at it, still sickly with horror and disgust, mouth slightly ajar. Aine Ainami. 12 years old. One of the District 6 tributes for the Hunger Games. fin
