2: The Reapings

Percy

"Marina Jackson." What? My brain felt numb, as my little sister walked up onto the stage, trembling from head to toe. Reyna smiled at her and then walked up to the bowl of tributes that contained the boys.

"And now for the boys." She reached in and plucked a card from the pile.

"Jacob Stile-"

"Wait!" I yelled out, pushing through the crowd of sixteen year-olds. I stared at the stage, my fists clenched, my mouth in a firm line. Reyna locked her dark eyes with me, begging me to go back.

"I volunteer." My voice said for me. I didn't even know why I did it. Maybe it was the love for my thirteen year-old sister driving me to protect her, maybe it was--

"Very well." The words echoed around the walls of the town square. I managed to make it up to the stage and stand next to my sister. She looked at me with wide eyes, as if to say: Why did you do it? I shook my head and turned back to face the Poseidon district.

My mother quietly sobbed in the corner, being held by a man who I recognised as a teacher from the school. I think his name was Paul Blowfish or something. [don't correct me, I know it's Blofis]

I just wanted this day to be over already.

Annabeth

"Taylor Smith." Juniper spoke into the microphone. The girl that had bullied me for years was making her way towards the stage, her black hair swaying in the slight breeze.

My mother's words came back to me. I forsee that something will happen in the next games. You will be involved. I knew what to then.

"Move!" I yelled at the mob of kids that I was in the centre of. The stepped aside so there was a clear way to the stage. "I VOLUNTEER!" I screamed at the top of my lungs.

Taylor looked at me like what? but I was already pushing past her to the stage.

"And what is your name?" Juniper asked me when I got to the stage.

"Annabeth Chase." I said clearly. My eyes scanned the crowd for my family, and I saw my dad shaking his head, my brothers jumping up and down, and my stepmother smirking.

They wouldn't care if I died. I thought miserably. No one would.