Evelyn's POV
Chapter 1: I walk through the dirty streets of the Hob looking for something I can bring home to my family. My parents sent me out to get some extra food to celebrate with tonight. People are much nicer to children today. Reaping day. "Hey little girl, don't you have enough food at home? Shouldn't you go to your big house with your wealthy parents and eat all you want?", a man with dark skin and eyes asked. "Good luck even though you don't need it", he added sadly.
I sigh. No doubt he's from the seam. I am daughter of the mayor's assistant. So I live in a wealthier part of town. The people from the Seam just don't understand that my families still battle from starvation. The mayor provided us with a big house but no food. The pay isn't much either. That's just the way of life here in district 12.
I walk home ready to get ready for the reaping. The reaping is obviously rigged. Those from the seam get reaped all too often. Two children from a household getting chosen isn't uncommon. Everyone seems to believe that I will never get picked. You never know. You can never get too confident.
As I walk through the door my father hugs me warmly. One thing we have great here in district 12 is all our families are close. We love each other so much. My stomach ties in knits imagining my brother, Evan, getting picked. I shudder. He is 16 and I am 13. He and I look the same. We have blond hair and piercing blue eyes. I see him and smile. He is dressed up already and he flashes a smile. I can't help but smile back. Suddenly I feel like crying. I'm scared for the reaping. Not only for me but for my worst nightmare. Seeing my brother in the games. I want to talk to him. He is so calm. He knows just what to say to make me feel better. However, I don't want him to think I'm weak.
"Are you ready?", my mother asks. I look in the mirror. I have on my nicest outfit. A white blouse and black skirt. I love how it brings out my eyes. I nod even though I will never be ready.
Evan's POV
I look at my little sister. She doesn't look a day over ten years old but she is thirteen. Last year was her first time to be put in the reaping. That day was the worst day of my life. I didn't even care if I was picked. Just the thought of my baby sister, the little blond girl with curly hair and big blue eyes, made me throw up. The Capitol is sick.
My mother and father have the same blond hair and blue eyes. I know that they are just as scared as I am about the reaping but they won't say anything. I look over at my father who is crying into my mother's shirt. They have never acted like this on a reaping day before. It scares me. I go over and ask," what's wrong?" My father looks at my mother an she nods. He takes me outside. "Son. I messed up. I messed up really bad." What could he have done? Why is telling me? He says,"At the mayors house last week I was talking about how awful the games were and unfair the Capitol is. I will spare you of what I said. It wasn't pretty. It turns out President Snow was visiting district 12 to talk to our mayor. He heard every insult I said about him. I know my punishment will be one of my children will be in the Hunger Games." He leaned down and hugged me and we both cried. "I'm so sorry! It's all my fault!" he cried. I had to be brave and I prayed it wouldn't be Evelyn. It can't. It won't. Right? We both walked inside. I can't tell Evelyn I can't scare her. I'm scared enough for the two of us.