Chapter Text
“Welcome to reaping day!” A false voice presented. “This is your chance to shine, young ones.” A man dressed completely in gold (including gold hair) strutted on the stage. Carmilla looked around for familiar faces: Perry, Laura, Danny, Laf, anyone. But they were lost in the sea of people.
“The 25 annual hunger games!” He took a deep breath in, almost as if he were smelling their fear. “Quite exciting, really!”
District 11 was never the happiest group on reaping day, but then again, only 1, 2, and 4 were. The rest of them were scared shitless.
“Who will be the lucky tributes this year? And a special year at that.” He pulled out an envelope.
“Here is the twist for this year. Shall I read it?” He extended his his head and looked into the crowd.
“Don't be too excited now!” He joked. No one laughed.
“Well alright. The twist for the 25 annual hunger games is…. ‘ Each district will instead provide two girls instead of one boy and one girl. Enjoy your death.’”
He didn't really say the last part, but he didn't need to. Carmilla’s eyes widened at the news, and this time, she looked really hard to see her friends.
“Oh! This is interesting! Well, I will now pick the lucky winners!” He moved to the glass bowls. He reached his hand inside, and opened the slip.
“Laura Hollis!” He called.
No.
Laura whipped her head straight up and looked at the stage. Looking smaller than ever, she stood, shivering.
No.
“Shall we read the next one?” He reached his hand and pulled out another slip.
“Lola Perry!”
“I volunteer!”
Who said that? Carmilla looked around.
Oh. She said it.
“A volunteer? Oh.. This is new.” Carmilla walked up to the stage, and her brain was overwhelmed with thoughts.
Perry can't- At least I can protect Laura- But what about me-No. Think about Laura only.
“The tributes for District 11! May the odds be ever in your favor!” He called out. Laura looked at Carmilla, sorrow painted on her face.
*
“What the frilly hell Carmilla?” Perry stormed into the room.
“I’m sorry I-” she interrupted her with a hug.
“I’m so scared for you Carmilla.. What are you going to do?”
Carmilla pulled out of the hug and stared at her.
“I have to protect Laura.”
“But you’re going die!”
“Does it matter?” Carmilla yelled. “She means the world to me… and so do all of you.. I couldn't let anyone die.”
Perry rested her hands on Carmilla’s shoulder.
“Please… just.. Be safe. Don't do anything stupid.”
“You know me.. Its bound to happen.” Carmilla said with a small smirk.
She looked at Carmilla sadly.
“Seriously Carmilla. Come back. Alive.”
“We’ll see…”
*
Train to Capitol: 12:47 pm
Laura sat next to Carmilla on the train.
“Carmilla?”
“Mhm cupcake?”
“Why did you volunteer?”
“To protect you.” Carmilla said without thinking. Damn.
“What? To protect me?” She laughed quietly.
“Yeah.. I can't let you to die.”
“But that means you are gonna-”
“I know what it entails.”
“Carm.. You need to think about yourself once in your life.”
“How can I think about myself when you are threatened? It’s impossible.”
Laura rested her hand on Carmilla’s.
“Well.. Thank you for caring about me.”
“You know that I do.” They were both a little shocked at what Carmilla had said.
*flashback brought to you by creampuffs*
They were sitting on the bench in front of their school.
“Carm?”
“Yeah cutie?”
“Thanks for sticking up for me back there.”
“No problem. They were bitches anyways.” Carmilla said. Laura laughed, and Carmilla’s heartbeat quickened.
“Yeah, I guess they were.” They sat in silence for a little bit, when Laura reached over and took her hand. Carmilla’s heart flew up to her chest, but she only held Laura’s hand tighter.
*flashback over flashback over*
“Carmilla? Carmilla!”
“I’m sorry what?” Carmilla asked. Where were they? oh yeah.. the train.
“We’re here…”
Now, Carmilla had never been afraid of anything that could not hurt people, but at the moment, she had become terrified of colors. They were everywhere, on hair, on nails, on eyelashes. People were even wearing eye color changing contacts. Her eyes hurt just looking at it all. She felt someone grab her hand.
“Hey?” Laura said. “It’s gonna be okay.”
For you. She thought.