"Trixie Thames!"
Trixie's heart sank. She looked to her big sister, Isys--just "Sys" to her family--who returned a face of utter horror. Trixie's name was only in the drawing one time. Only once. And that, apparently, was all it took.
Trixie bawled, and her sister comforted her.
"You can do this," she reassured her. "You have a shot just like everyone else."
Trixie knew she was lying. After all, what shot did an underfed 13-year-old girl really have? The Games were still enigmatic to the people of the districts, but she knew that in a fight, she wouldn't have a chance. Nonetheless, she didn't want to worry her sister, and knew she only wanted her to be brave. She wiped her tears and paced her way to the stage.
The escort, Sassy West, strutted over to the boys' side and read the next name.
"...Shea Valentine!"
Shea exhaled, and his shoulders drooped. And almost immediately as he accepted defeat, he collected himself and walked calmly to join his fellow District 6 representative. Folks in his district knew him as the boy who never cried, and that held true as he stood there onstage, arms interlocked behind him and legs spread in a steep arc. His mother said when he was born, they believed him to be dead because he had no heartbeat. And as near as she was to accepting her son's stillbirth, his eyes snapped open. Ever since birth, he was devoid of emotion.
"What a lovely pair we have," Sassy remarked. "A handsome young man and a cute, shweet wittle tween!" Sassy pinched Trixie's tear-streaked cheek and wiggled it. "As much as I would hate to see them replaced, I must follow the new standards of the Reaping. If any of you would like to volunteer in their place, speak now."
The crowd was silent. Trixie looked to Sys expectantly, but she didn't say anything. Sys was praying for a brave young girl to step forward and save her younger sister from an inevitable death, but no one did.
"I guess it's final, then! Our tributes from District 6: Trixie Thames and Shea Valentine!"
Sassy led the two tributes arm-in-arm to the double doors that led them offstage. In minutes, they'd be aboard one of the high speed trains that were manufactured in District 6, speeding toward the Capitol at 250 mph.
"Wait," Sys said, breaking out of the crowd of District 6 girls that were now walking away from the Reaping venue. "Wait!" she repeated, louder this time, but even still, she couldn't get the attention of Trixie or the prissy Capitol escort that was pulling her away. A Peacekeeper intercepted Sys and shoved her back.
"Can't I at least say goodbye?" she shouted at the Peacekeeper.
She knew there was only way she could capture their attention. The words escaped her in a flood:
"I volunteer as tribute!"
i dont think sys will make it far in the game, she seems to ve pretty coward tbh, however shea... he wont have any problem with killing and i think he'll be one of the most dangerous characters
