Chapter 1
The sun beat down on me. But I could only feel the shivers going down my spine. The reaping was never a good time for district 7. Not like it was for district 1 and 2. My family doesn't come from the good part of 7. My mother works in the factory with minimum wage. Not enough to support me and my older sister, not even close. My dad passed away when I was 8, it's been quite a while, and I'm 15 now. But I don't like to call my mother and sister and family, they don't treat me like it, Mother doesn't love me as much as Jenna, my sister. Jenna's name is only in the reaping once. Mine is there 43 times, Mother only wanted me to get tesserae. I guess it is better me than Jenna. A capital escort walks down the stage. She has green, sleek hair down to the ground behind her. She's wearing a bright orange dress, down to her knees, with green fringe going down the sides to her ankles. I can never understand the capitals outfits. The escort walks up to the microphone and introduces herself, "Hello everybody! I'm district 7's escort this year! My name is Alijah!" Alijah smiles and bats her inch long eyelashes at us. Escorts don't usually talk this much; she must be a new one. "Let's get down to business. Ladies first, right gentlemen" she asks, with no response. She reaches down into the bowl, pinches a slip of paper and pulls it out, "Jenna Haze" she calls out. This surprises me, Jenna rather than me? I watch her walk up, holding in tears. Mother looks at me sternly, and mouths something to me. I get the hint. I solemnly raise my hand, with dull eyes I shout out, "I volunteer." Alijah looks at me with surprise. I push my way through the crowd and walk up the stage. Jenna looks at me gratefully; I look away, ignoring her she walks back down to Mother. "And what's your name?" she asks. "Lida Haze." I answer. "Lida Haze is the tribute for district 7!" she calls out, into the microphone. "She reaches into the other bowl, for boys. She quick reaches in and pulls out the name, "Aron Little "Aron walks up the stage, flustered, he didn't expect to get chosen. He looks around helplessly, though he knows no one will volunteer for him. Alijah speaks into the microphone nicely and tells the tributes family's to visit the town hall from 1:00 to 2:00 to say goodbye
I stand in the room Alijah put me in from now to the tome we leave. I ease onto the bed, I want used to such luxuries. The bed is soft; it feels like I'm floating on a cloud. I almost fall asleep when the door to my room creaks open. My mother and sister walk inside. I sit up on the bed and let my mother walk near me and hug me. I don't hug her back. She backs off of me, "Win this, ok? Then we'll live in a nice home." She walks back to the door and lets my sister walk up to me. "Thanks" she whispered to me, still flustered about the thought of herself going into the hunger games. I nod my head, not wanting to see them anymore. Not when they don't give a crap about me leaving and going head first into a blood bath. Jenna whispers goodbye and they walk out the door. I lay onto the bed. Anger surges through me, I've made my decision, I'm, not going to die, and I'm going to win this year's hunger games.