Chapter 2

           Onetime,whenIwasinablindinatree,waitingmotionlessforgametowanderby,Idozedoffandfelltenfeettotheground,landingonmyback.Itwasasiftheimpacthadknockedeverywispofairfrommylungs,andIlaytherestrugglingtoinhale,toexhale,todoanything.

           That’showIfeelnow,tryingtorememberhowtobreathe,unabletospeak,totallystunnedasthenamebouncesaroundtheinsideofmyskull.Someoneisgrippingmyarm,aboyfromtheSeam,andIthinkmaybeIstartedtofallandhecaughtme.

           Theremusthavebeensomemistake.Thiscan’tbehappening.Primwasoneslipofpaperinthousands!HerchancesofbeingchosensoremotethatI’dnotevenbotheredtoworryabouther.Hadn’tIdoneeverything?Takenthetesserae,refusedtoletherdothesame?Oneslip.Oneslipinthousands.Theoddshadbeenentirelyinherfavor.Butithadn’tmattered.

           Somewherefaraway,Icanhearthecrowdmurmuringunhappilyastheyalwaysdowhenatwelve-year-oldgetschosenbecausenoonethinksthisisfair.AndthenIseeher,theblooddrainedfromherface,handsclenchedinfistsathersides,walkingwithstiff,smallstepsuptowardthestage,passingme,andIseethebackofherblousehasbecomeuntuckedandhangsoutoverherskirt.It’sthisdetail,theuntuckedblouseformingaducktail,thatbringsmebacktomyself.

           "Prim!"Thestrangledcrycomesoutofmythroat,andmymusclesbegintomoveagain."Prim!"Idon’tneedtoshovethroughthecrowd.Theotherkidsmakewayimmediatelyallowingmeastraightpathtothestage.