141 NINTH BLAST

Her, Aspen and Wylan have been a close-knit trio, causing harmless havoc wherever they so choose, for awhile now, and Wren feels safe and snug in her own life. She has parents who love her, a little brother, and two of the best friends she can ask for. The Reaping is a distant thought, just background landscape to Wren's vibrant life. This is what she believes right up to the moment that they call her name.

Cold, prickly shock settles slowly over her, and she gasps audibly. She stands frozen, uncomprehending, feeling as though if she moved her chilled body, it would snap. But Wren is nothing if not confident. So she smiles gingerly at her friends and swaggers up to the front of the square, right next to the mayor and the escort.