I woke with a start, shooting up in bed panting. Over the past few years nightmares had became a normality and this is how I would usually start my day. I pushed my midnight blue hair off my sweat laced forehead and tried to normalise my breathing. I looked to the side of me and Manon was still fast asleep. I lay back down next to her and started to sing as I stroked her dark chocolate locks.

Deep in the meadow, under the willow.

A bed of grass, a soft green pillow.

Lay down your head, and close your eyes.

And when they open, the sun will rise.

Manon opened her eyes and smiled at me. She'd obviously forgotten what today was, then she grasped me into a vice like hug. I could feel the droplets of water falling from her eyes onto my night blouse.

"Hey ... little duck, I promise nothing is going to happen to you. Remember you're only in the reaping bowl once." She nodded her head slowly at me but I know she didn't believe a single word I just said. I looked into the caramel orbs as they glistened with tears. "How about you put your pretty dress on and then I'll do your hair in the plaits you like?" She slowly nodded at me then climbed out the bed making her way to the bathroom to start her morning regime.

I walked along the hallway and found my mothers door open.
"Mama?" Mother was sitting on the edge of the bed holding a picture of herself, my dad and me. I couldn't be more than 4 years old in the picture and the happiness radiated out to the audience. I walked closer to her so she'd look up to me.
"I need you to hold yourself together today. Not for me but for Manon. She'll be petrified that her ma might be calling her name. You need to be there for support." She nodded at me and I embraced her into a quick hug before I started to leave the room.

"Marinette," I stopped in the doorway but didn't turn round.

"Yes Mama?"

"I'll do some of your favourite croissants for breakfast." I turned to look at my shell of a mother.

"That'd be really great thanks."

As Manon went into the bedroom to put on her reaping outfit I headed to the bathroom. As I took off my night clothes and stepped into the shower I let my weakness overtake me. Putting one hand on the wall to keep me up straight I looked down into the bath tube. I could no longer tell whether the water was just water, or tears.

Once I'd finished in the bathroom I headed over to mine and Manon's bedroom and began putting my reaping outfit on. I buttoned up my red blouse before tucking it tightly into my knee length black skirt. The red was slightly bold for this district, however I'd been experimenting with the dye from fruits and fell in love with this alluring colour. Luka told me I was careless to wear it to reaping ... that was until I explained to him I don't give a damn about what the Capitol think.

I walked downstairs hairbrush in hand ready to style Manon's hair only to find it had already been done. My mother walked into the room and stopped looking down at her feet.

"I thought I would give you a chance to take a little bit longer getting yourself ready." Manon looked between my mother and I, you could tell she felt uncomfortable. I walked over and put my hand over the delicate weaving on Manon's head.

"It's beautiful little duck." I looked over and gave a small smile to my mother.

"Please can I do your hair Marinette."

"Of course Mama." My mother walked over and started to brush down my long locks.

"I can't believe how much this has grown dear." The last time my mother had done anything to my hair it was just past my shoulders. It now reached my waist. She took her time gently plaiting it before pulling it over the crown of my head and gripping it in place. It looked beautiful.

"Thank you Mama," I said as I gave her a kiss on the cheek. Suddenly we were all brought to our feet by the siren sounding. "That's our cue to go. Come on little duck, see you there Mama." Giving my mother one last hug we both made our way out the door grasping onto each other's hands and made our way to registration.

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Registration was split into different genders and ages. The boys to one side; girls to another side. I saw Luka in the crowd and gave him a quick nod before leading Manon over to her friends.

"Stay strong little duck. Luck will be with you." She squeezed me to her as we said our last goodbyes and I made my way over to Chloé and Sabrina at our registration desk. We gave each other a quick hug then went to have our blood sample taken. This gives our identity to the Capitol to make sure all eligible are at the reaping. I would hate to think what would happen if you weren't.

Boys and girls were separated into two sections with an isle down the middle. Akuma's were placed on either side to make sure no one tried to make a quick escape, or cause trouble. I looked around and saw Manon. I gave her a wave before turning my attention over to the tall, dark haired boy on the opposite side. He spotted me staring and blew a kiss over to me. I smirked to myself before blowing one back. He was trying to mouth something to me when suddenly Nadja's voice came through the speaker.

"Ladies and gentleman, welcome to the 74th Miraculous Games and May the odds be ever in your favour," she gave herself a little clap suddenly stopping when no one joined in. District 12 were not in favour of the Capitols ways. She continued, "before we start the excitement of the reaping and choosing the tributes here's a little video from the Capitol."

The screen above Nadja's head lit up and the pounding voice of President Hawkmoth could be heard through the sound system.

"This day, 74 years ago civilisation changed.
The battle of the Miraculous took place and with the will of our people and the hard work of our armies we were able to beat our opposition and take their un chartered power.
This year we will be holding our 74th Miraculous Games in the Capitol and we invite a male and female teen to come and take part in this momentous competition." Suddenly Hawkmoth's masked face appeared on the screen in its full purple glory. He was sporting his silvery purple headwear and light purple suit. He continued his speech. "As a reminder of what we went through, these selected few will sacrifice themselves in return of the greater good."

Nadja walked back up to the podium clapping her hands excitedly. A small man next to her was swaying, he went to step forward and ended up falling off the stage. The man was known for being a complete drunk.

"It looks like Mr Fu has taken a little tumble again. So for today I will choose both the girl tribute and the boy tribute." Every year this guy ended up doing something embarrassing. Apparently he had won the 50th Miraculous Games, but if you saw him you'd wonder how he was still alive. My attention turned back to Nadja as she announced in her sing song voice.

"Ladies first" I felt my heartbeat throughout my entire body.

Not Manon, please not Manon!

I kept my eyes straight in front of me looking for any indication from the escort. Suddenly I saw it. Her hand lifted out of the bowl and her already white face turned transparent.

It can't be ... please it can't be!

Nadja looked straight at her little girl before verbally swallowing something. With a broken voice she spoke ...

"Manon Chamack"

My eyes locked dead with Manon's as she looked back at me, tears rolling down her face. My heart broke. I can't let this happen. I need to find a way. As the akuma's led Manon to the stage I tried to break out the military lines they had us pinned in.

No! No! NO!

"No!" I pushed as hard as a could and broke into the isle only to have akuma's grab me and pull my arms behind my back. "I volunteer!" I shout at the top of my lungs. "I volunteer as tribute!" The akuma's let go of my arms and I run forward to grab hold of Manon pushing her back towards her place in the pen.

"But Mari ... no!" She was shaking her head and trembling all over. I gave her one more quick squeeze.

"Just go little duck." The crowd was silent as I made my way to the stage.

"It seems we have a volunteer. I think this is the first." Nadja's voice sounded like a rollercoaster ride. Obviously she was happy her daughter wouldn't be tribute but I can hear the emotion of seeing me step up onto the stage.

"The girls tribute this year is Marinette Dupain-Cheng." I tensed as I heard my name. This was it. The moment I had dreaded happening since I turned 12. My thoughts were swirling in my head about kwami's, powers and how I am going to make it out of this alive. Suddenly I was ripped from my thoughts when I heard the boys named being called.

No, it can't be ...