Everything had happened in a flash. Out of the thousands of slips in the jar, how could Sheela's be the one chosen? Only one of them was in there with her little sister's loopy penmanship. One thing was clear: the odds were not in her favor. The crowd of adults murmured, as they always did when someone so young was chosen.

Aru looked at Kara, who looked back at her, eyes widened in terror. Aru's own shot towards the twins, who were close to the front. Nikita had clutched her twin's arm, before stepping forward. Something snapped inside Aru as she realized:

Nikita was going volunteer.

"I volunteer as a tribute!"

A voice yelled out. But it wasn't Nikita's.

It was Aru's.

She stood up a little taller as the twins looked back at her. Sheela was furiously shaking her head at both Aru and Nikita, tears springing up in her eyes.

"Oh! Please then! Come onto the stage." Opal clearly wasn't sure what to say. Even she didn't think someone would volunteer.

The others cleared a path out for her, letting her go with ease. Aru shoved down all her emotions as she walked. Her heart was pounding a hundred miles per hour at this point, but she ignored it and focused on putting one foot in front of the other. If she paid attention to the thoughts flitting through her mind, she would probably break down right then and there, or do something equally as embarrassing, like forgetting how to walk.

She felt someone sharply grab hold of her arm. Aru knew it was Sheela before she even looked at her.

"You can't!" Sheela protested.

"Sheels, let go," Aru said. She shook her head. Aru sent a pleading look a Nikita, who was right behind her twin, avoiding her eyes. Anyone's thought and emotions could be uncovered through their eye, she had learned that the hard way. Aru didn't want to cry right now, not in front of the entirety of Amaravarti.

Nikita made no move to control her sister.

"Sheela," Aru said "Look at me.". Sheela shook her head, clinging to her arm even more. "Sheela. I've taken it upon myself to protect you and Nikki. You can't stop me. Let me go," Aru said, trying to pull away from the twin.

Kara approached them and nodded at Aru. Her state had turned unreadable, and Aru was glad for it. She pulled a fighting Sheela away from Aru, pulling Nikita as well.

"No! You don't understand! It's my fault! It's my-!" Sheela cried out. Aru felt her heart break, but she mouthed a quick 'thank you' to Kara before walking onto stage. Don't cry. You can't look weak Shah.

The reaping was going to be broadcasted throughout all of Amaravarti. If Aru looked like she could be hurt easily, she would be targeted. And that was never a good thing.

"Bravo! It's been... quite some time since District 12 has had a volunteer. What is your name?" Opal asked her. She took a sharp breath before saying

"Arundhati Shah." Some people recognize her in the adult crowd. She had traded game with at least half of them in the hob. Aru almost let out a choker sob looking at her mother's devastated face but pulled on an emotionless mask.

She wouldn't allow the other tributes the satisfaction of seeing her weak. "But you can call me Aru."

"Nice to meet you Aru!" Opal turns to the crowd "Let's give out new tribute a big round of applause!". No one claps. Everyone know Aru didn't volunteer for the prize. They knew it was for the twins.

And they also knew and respected her father. A brave man who had one day disappeared in the coal mines. Everyone remember his cherished offspring who had stood on that stage at the age of one and was one again standing there fifteen years later.

Aru was just like Suyodhana.

She stood there, not knowing how to react with the silence, when it starts with one person. Sherrilyn, the woman who Aru usually went to for food in trade of game, holds up the middle three fingers of her left hand and raises it high. Then the surrounding people who are close enough to touch her. Soon everyone has their left hand raised. The symbol of thanks and admiration. The symbol of saying goodbye to someone you love. It made Aru stand a little taller.

What surprises Aru the most is when Subala walks over and does the same as the crowd. He gently puts his other hand on her shoulder, giving her a reassuring look.

Aru looks down at her shoes. With all the cameras trained on the crowd, Aru let out a quiet, choked sob. Subala squeezed her shoulder and took a step away from Aru, and the crowd lowered their arms.

Opal smiled brightly, looking aghast but trying to hide it. "Alright! Now for the male tribute!" She quickly went to jar with the boys names and plucks out a slip of paper.

"Aiden Acharya!" And at that moment, only one thing was present in Aru's mind:

Oh no.