Sweat ran down my body and I worked my way through a tree with an axe. My twin brother, Chance, chopped with his axe on the opposite side of the tree. Chance was only three minutes older than me. We are our District's strongest and fastest workers, despite our age and size. With one last swing the tree fell down on the forest floor.
I glanced toward the sun. It was time to ring the Dinner Bell. The Dinner Bell marked the time when the workers could stop working and head home for dinner. Chance and I raced toward the tower in which the Dinner Bell hung. It was our duty to ring the Dinner Bell because of our excellent skill to read the sun like a clock.
I urged my feet to move me faster as Chance raced alongside me. Trees flashed passed as we expertly dodged them. The trees thinned as we made it to the edge of the forest. The roofs of familiar houses could be seen in the distance. The stone outside of the Dinner Bell's tower quickly approached. Despite my efforts of pushing my feet harder, Chance still raced beside me.
I slapped the cold stone wall of the tower and looked to my right. Chance had beat me by a hair. He raced up the concrete steps of the tower, with me following his heels. When we made it to the top, Chance stood next to the bell, with me on his left. The bell was a dull golden color, but it rang as well as any. A large rubber mallet hung beside it on a hook, but we never bothered to use it. Any normal person would though.
"Here goes." Chance said. He pulled his arm back and quickly brought it toward. His arm connected to the bell and it rang, echoing throughout the district.
You might think that after punching a large metal bell, that his hand would hurt. We were experiments from the Capitol. They had wanted to find a way to make a human more powerful in every aspect, but they failed—or at least they thought they did. They threw us out, at the age of eight, deeming us useless. A couple from District 7 seven adopted us, and took us in. They were the parents were never had.
Chance and I are now fourteen. Our enhanced abilities appeared at the age of twelve. Our muscles are more powerful than strongest of men. Our minds are enhanced allowing us to solve any problem or memorize any book you throw at us. We finished our education early and spend our time helping out with collecting lumber. Our agility also improved. We are more nimble than cats and are easily able to walk along small unbalanced surfaces. Our instincts are faster and we react with more speed than any other human. We could hear a mouse on the other side of the forest floor if we focused. And if we wanted, we could smell it. We could read a sign from far away and could taste the individual flavors in any dish.
We keep all of this a secret though. Well, most of it. Citizens only know of our high IQ and our superior strength and speed. They don't how much we can really lift. We don't lift a wagon's worth of lumber in front of others, but when alone in the forest, Chance and I are chopping machines. Mom and Dad both know our secret, having us grow up in their house. They helped us learn to control it. We l decided it would. We better if we kept our abilities a secret, in fear of being taken away by the Capitol.
Chance and I walked down the steps of the tower and met Dad at the bottom, waiting for us. As we walked home we home talked to passing citizens as we walked through town. I opened the door to our little house and Mom greeted us with a smile. "Welcome home!" She ran over to us and hugged us. Then she leaned over our heads and kissed our dad on the cheek. "Destiny, I want you to go buy some eggs and milk for tomorrow morning." She said looking over toward me. "Chance, I need you to go buy a loaf of bread at the bakery. Mrs. Deneen (the baker's wife) also has a delivery for us." She handed us some money and we headed back to town.
We walked along a dirt road, passing the school and the church. The dairy store was to the left of the road, and the bakery was to the right. Chance and I split up, heading to the different stores.
"Good evening Mrs. Brown." I greeted diary store owner.
"Hello there Destiny. What do you need?" She asked.
"I need a dozen eggs and half a gallon of milk." I replied. She handed me the items and in exchange, hand her the money. "Thank you."
"Your welcome sweet child. Run along home. It'll be dark soon." I nodded and joined Chance in the middle of the street. He was holding a small paper bag and a box. Tbe box was not very tall but was five inches in its length and width. I knew that the bread was in the bag, but the contents of he box were a mystery.
"What's in the box?" I asked.
"No clue," Chance replied. "We'll find out soon enough."
We walked home balancing the food on our heads. We could walk the entire length home without it falling. I opened the house door with the milk balancing on my head. I walked into the kitchen. Chance followed behind me.
"Destiny be careful!" Mom warned. She grabbed the milk from on top of my head and got he rest of the food from Chance.
"You know it won't fall though." I replied.
"Kids these days." She muttered under breath.
"We heard that!" Chance and I replied at the same time.
"Your the one who raised us!" I retorted.
She laughed, "I know, I know. Wash your hands and sit down at the table. It's time for dinner."
A honeyed ham sat on top of the table. Beside it was a bowl of broccoli and green beans. "Fill your plates up." Mom said. We cut ourselves some ham and dumped a spoonful of veggies on my plate. "More vegetables both of you," Mom stated. "Don't you want to grow up big and strong?"
"Mom." Chance complained. "Aren't we already?"
"Yes, you are. I guess I have to find another way to get you to eat your veggies. It used to work when you were little."
"Kids," Dad addressed. "Listen to your mother." Chance and I unwillingly scooped some more vegetables on our plate.
"Mmmm," Dad wiped his face with a napkin. "Who rang the bell today?"
"I did!" Chance answered.
"He only beat me by a hair!" I informed.
"You had quite a streak going too." Dad said.
"Yeah." Chance laughed. "Until today."
Dinner continued happily. Dad cracked jokes and we replied with our smart-Alec comments.
The fun and happiness wouldn't last forever though. The Reaping was tomorrow.
The Games would soon start.
