Chapter 1
The Reaping.
My Name is Aurelia Ralein. I am 16 years old. My home is district 1.
Today is the Reaping. Many people have been waiting for this since they were 5. That's when your eligible to start training for The Hunger Games, a televised fight to the death. I started training when I was 4, because I was so good with a Bow and Arrow. Also Throwing Knives and tree climbing. Now I'm in the 17 year old age group. This is fine I get to be with my best friend Adrian who is handy with a sword. I get up, make my bed. After that I go ahead and take a shower. After about twenty minutes I realize that I have to get out so I can have some training time. I walk out of the bathroom but on my sports bra, and my training uniform. My uniform has my last name and my level on the back. I walk slowly in the hallway trying not wake my 13 year old sister Sapphire and my 14 year old brother Bryce. But I can see that they're both awake because I can smell breakfast. When I reach downstairs I see my mom reading on the couch watching Capitol News, and my brother eating breakfast in his training uniform. Huh guess I'm not the only one who wants to get pumped today. I love Bryce so much. I reach over and give him a hug. He smiles awkwardly. "No matter what happens today Bryce, I still love you." He looks like he is about to puke when he says "okay. I'm going to go train before 10". He says. "I'll bet you in a sec Bryce". I scream. "SHUT THE HELL UP!" my mom yells she slams her bottle to the ground and curses. I can't stand to leave Sapphire here, but I have to. I ignore my mother's words, grab my water bottle and head outside. It's a pretty good day for a reaping day. Nice cool breeze. When I reach the training center, which is a good 5 minute walk. I head to the elevator and punch the number 7. When the doors open I see Bryce throw a spear into the dummy's heart from 15 yards. "Wow you're really good" I say. He must have not known I was here because he turned around and knocked over a set of old torn killed dummies. "Thanks if I'm going to the Arena this year I want to know how to kill and dominate the training score." He says "yeah that would come in handy.' I say. He shrugs and continues on killing dummies. I head over to the archery station. I grab a silver bow and one silver arrow. I pull and release….Bulls eye! I never miss. All the sudden I hear clapping behind me. I quickly turn around to find Adrian. I look for Bryce but he must have gone to another level. "That was amazing' he says. 'Well I am a pro". I say walking over to the knife station. I pick up a knife with a big cruel curved point and hit a button that makes the dummies move. A singe light comes on over a dummy and I throw my knife. Right in the dead center. "Gosh I wouldn't mess with you in the Arena" Adrian says. I giggle and say "Yeah I'm pretty lethal". I joke. Surprisingly Adrian comes over and gives me a huge bear hug. He breaks free and says "good luck today Aurelia". All I can think of to say back is "You to". We train together till about 12 o' clock. When I get home the floor is dripping with blood. Probably my mom's I think. But when I see blood going up the stairs I panic. I race up the stairs and head up to Sapphire's room. She is sitting in an old rocking chair. When she looks up her face is all bleeding and swollen. Anger rushes through me as I climb down the stairs. "You Bitch!" I scream at my mom. "What did you do to her!" Out of the corner of my eye I see Sapphire wrapped in Bryce's arms crying on the stairs. "I gave her a dose of her own medicine"! She says. "BY BEATING HER!" I lost control and slapped her hard across the face. Big Mistake. I quickly backed up as she threw a knife across the room. I screamed it hit me scraped my skin. A pool of blood starts to form as Sapphire is screaming but Bryce is calming her down. I quickly run upstairs and grab Bryce and Sapphire. "Listen to me!" I say "Go in your rooms and get your Reaping clothes". They obey, about two seconds later they return with them. I quickly but Bryce and Sapphire in my room and lock the door. "Put your clothes on now." I tell them. They obey. I put on my dress on as well. And open the window and tell them to go out and go to Adrian's. They do so and so do I. when we reach his house. I bang on the door and he answers. I tell him what happens and he quickly patches me up. Once that's done we head to the square. This is the year of the 67th Hunger Games. Hopefully I don't get picked. Now I am stuck between to snobby 16 year olds. When the capitol escort comes up with her purple hair and green dress I nearly fall asleep. But finally it is time for the name drawing. "As Usual" our escort says. "Ladies First!" she crosses over to a glass bowl and pulls out a simple white folded piece of paper. " Aurelia Ralein!"
No.
This has to be a mistake! My name was only in there 4 or 5 times!
I slowly walk up the stage. In the distance I can see Sapphire fixing to just cry. "Now for the boys" she says. In my head I'm thinking please don't be Adrian please please please please! "Quentin Blake!"
Ohhhhh he is not so bad. We only ever talked once and I learned he has a crush on me and I have a crush on him. I see him as he walks up to the stage. "Well go on you two shake hands". Our escort says. When we shake hands I stare up in his big blue eyes of his as he gives me a smirk.
I smile at him.
I'm standing In the Justice Building when my first visitor comes in- Bryce and Sapphire. You could tell she has been crying. My mom is not in here but I can hear her arguing with a peacekeeper say that I'm going to die anyway. Sapphire says "Please just come home"! "I will" I say" I promise." She gives me a hug. Bryce looks up and says "Will you take this as your token?" he holds up a diamond ring then slides it on my ring finger. "Of Course." I say "It's your promise to use that you're going to win" he says. I nod. We just hug until the Peacekeeper says it's time for them to go. I scream I love you when the walk out the door. My next Visitor is Adrian. "Look at me" he says I obey "I will take care of them take them away from her". I nod tears start to stream down my face. "Listen you're going to win this" he says "You're a killing machine, you got this". All I can do is nod he gives me another one of his bear hugs and leaves. I will truly miss him. After all the goodbyes we go to board the train to take me and Quentin to the Capitol.
END OF CHAPTER 1