This is my first fanfic, so it might not be very good, but I hope you enjoy it anyway! Sorry if I'm a bit slow at posting more, I'm really busy with homework, so.. :D please Read and Review, thanks :D


Now I'm not saying that I'm superstitious, but I doubt the odds being in my favour this year. It's the 13th annual Hunger Games, I'm 13 this year, I was born 13 days early, and my 13th birthday is on the 13th, which is the day of this year's Reaping, which is tomorrow. The number 13 has always been considered an unlucky number. That superstition just got worse after it was district 13 that was destroyed. It got so bad at one point that on the 13th of every month for a year it was considered bad luck to leave your home. But that was a long time ago. All we have to remember the Dark Days by is the Hunger Games. And tomorrow is the second time my name will be in the Reaping bowl.

I live with my older brother Wolf, my little sister Aimee, and my Dad. But we don't generally count Dad, because he hasn't really done anything since Mum died. He won't eat. He won't sleep. He won't speak. We're surprised that he's still alive at all. Luckily (or maybe it's unlucky, I'm not sure) Wolf had just turned 12 when Mum died, so when Dad had his mental breakdown and stopped working; he could sign up for tesserae, which meant that your name went in the Reaping ball extra times, in exchange for food.

Last year, when I turned 12, he refused to let me sign up for tesserae. But he turned 19 this year, so now I have to. I could never let Aimee do that. I could never risk it. So this year, my name is in 10 times. I suppose it's a big step up from once. But we need food for all of us. I know you don't get much: just a meagre supply of grain and oil, which is supposed to support one person for a year. But it does help.

My mind is suddenly brought back to now when Wolf touches my shoulder and whispers something in my ear that I can't quite make out. I think it's something about Aimee and the Reaping. I look around me and see Aimee curled up on my lap and I carefully pick her up and carry her to her room. Once she is safely tucked in, I fall into my own bed, and Wolf comes in to say goodnight. We are all surprisingly calm, considering that tomorrow is Aimee's first, and my second Reaping. It's probably for the best. Worrying about it won't make it any better.

By this time tomorrow, 24 more children will have been chosen as tributes to be put in an arena and expected to fight to the death, whilst we have to watch them die. Knowing that only one can survive, and be crowned Victor. And meanwhile, the people of the Capitol will be celebrating and enjoying the death. Cheering and hoping for another drop of blood to fall. And we can't do anything about it. The only thing we can do is hope that our names aren't called.

It's the morning of the Reaping, and I'm more nervous than ever. Today is my birthday, and all of Panem will be gathering today to pick the tributes for this year's Games. At midday, we will head for the square. Where the rest of District 11 will be waiting. So this is what I get as a birthday present. To watch 23 children get murdered in an arena, for the entertainment of the Capitol. What a wonderful gift?

We eat our breakfast in silence, watching the time go by. A piece of stale bread, mashed up and mixed in with hot water. Not the nicest meal in the world, I have to say, but all we can afford at the moment, saving the best for tonight. We don't have much of an appetite anyway. We get washed and dressed into our nicest clothes. We manage to get Dad into a worn out, second-hand suit. Aimee wears a blue and white dress, with flowers in her hair. Wolf, a pair of clean trousers and one of Dad's old shirts. And I put on a pretty cream dress, and a butterfly hairclip that my Mother gave me when I was little. So we're all ready to go.

After what feels like days of waiting, it finally turns 12:00. We walk to the square and there we all sign in and separate. Me and Aimee head off to the areas marked 12 and 13. Right at the back. Everyone stands in silence and I can see families standing around the edges, holding their breaths and clinging on to each others hands tightly, waiting to see if it's their child that gets picked. There are also those who have no one they love at risk. They make their way through the crowd, taking bets on who they think will get picked and how people will react to this. They are despicable people, who no longer care about the lives of innocent children.

I look to the temporary stage that stands in front of the Justice Building. There are two glass balls, one for the boys' names, and one for the girls'. There are three chairs at the back of the stage. In one, sits Mayor Small. And his name says it all, really, he's a short man, with grey hair, and for some reason always has an unforgiving expression on his face. It sends shivers down my spine whenever I see him. Next to him sits our first and only Victor: Thriston Storm. He is the Mentor for the District 11 tributes. I personally think it's a stupid name, but a few girls in school seem to think differently. In the last chair, sits Angelinetta Locket, the District 11 escort. With her purple hair and contact lenses that turn her eyes pink, and her florescent yellow dress that is practically see-through, you can't help but hate her. You can't help but hate everyone from the Capitol. They've never been at risk of having to fight to the death, or starve, or just be uncomfortable with their lives in general.

I'm finally brought away from my silent complaints when the town clock strikes one and the Mayor steps up to the podium. He talks about the history of Panem. We've heard it all before. I find myself thinking about my Mum, and I feel a single tear slide down my cheek, but I wipe it away almost instantly. The speech is over, and Angelinetta Locket jumps up and practically sprints to where the Mayor is stood.
'Welcome!' She exclaims, as she shoves the Mayor to one side. 'District 11, and Happy Hunger Games! I am so glad to be here today. It's a great honour. Well, shall we begin?' She doesn't wait for a reply before she shrieks 'Girls first!' with a massive grin on her face. She is really starting to scare me now.
But all I can think of as she reaches her hand into the girl's ball is "please don't be Aimee, please don't be Aimee, please don't be…"
And then she reads out the name, and it's Aeyia Farr.

And that's my name…