Chapter 1
"Come on Vivan its time to wakeup," my brother Oak calls.
I fumble out of bed and plant my two feet sturdily on the hard wooden ground. I think for a minute. I think for what is going to come today. Another reaping, another Hunger Games, and another victor. I sturdily get up and walk to the bathroom; which consists of a pump that carries water to our small wooden bathtub and small pail we use as a sink.
After I finish washing myself up I walk back into my room and pull out my finest dress, that used to belong to my mother before the accident. Its creamy white with red sleeves. It's my best dress that I have, and the only dress that I truly care about. I walk downstairs and meet up with my brother. He's lean, tall and has caramel shaded hair like me.
"You alright," he asks, with a straight look on his perfectly chiseled face.
"Fine," I reply with a fake smile.
Oak is 27 he has been taking care of me since I was 6. The accident that I was referring to is when my parents were killed. They died when I was 2 years old and my grandmother took care of us until Oak was 16 and insisted that we live in our own home. I poor myself a glass of water and gaze out the window in behind our table. I see the stretching fields of District 10, and the cows and pigs on our small farm. District 10 is the livestock district.
"Here take this," Oak says.
He hands me a slice of bread and some fresh cheese that Oak traded a liter of goat's milk for.
"I'll go feed the animals," Oak says.
"Do you need any help?"
"No, but thanks, you need your break this morning, its going to be another-" he stops because he can see I know what he means. "I'll reset the snares," I say. We have really bad rodent problems in our house, mostly rats. I know it's illegal to poach animals, but my brother and I don't want disease.
After, I eat I walk back into the bathroom and scrub my teeth and splash water into my face. I look into the mirror and see a 16 year old Vivan Incomstanti stare back. I smile and tie my hair up into a bun.
"It's useless, Vivan," I tell myself. I am right. There is no point of getting myself somewhat presentable, not for them any way. I mean the Capitol. There disrespectful manner, there enjoyment of betting on the tributes, they laugh when a tribute makes a smart remark, they curse when one of the tributes die, it's a horrible concept. I hate them!
I walk back to the kitchen and I scrub the dishes. Our pottery plates and broken and chipped scoops and cups. I look out the window and see Oak; he slips and falls into the mud. I rip my coat off the hook and grab my boots and run outside.
"Are you okay?" I shout.
"Wonderful," he says sarcastically, "I could use some help up though." I walk over closer to him and stretch my arm out. He grabs it and pulls me into the mud.
"You jerk," I manage to spit out because I'm laughing so hard.
"Now I have to go inside and clean myself off again,"
I try to seem serious but he makes this goofy face that makes me laugh every time.
"Okay, okay you had your fun but we seriously need to get ready, you know the punishment for being late for a reaping," I say.
"I know," he says.
The punishment is a whipping in front of the entire district, whether or not you have a reason. I run back inside racing Oak, he has no chance in beating me because; I'm the fastest in my school.
I grab a dampened cloth and start to scrub. Luckily mud is easy to clean and doesn't make a huge stain. I gently stroke my face with the cloth and place it in our hamper. Right then Oak walks in. We both stare at each other, pretending to be infuriated and sickened by the sight of one an other. My frown turns into a smile and his does as well. I run over and hug him. We hug for a mere minute and we here the horn to indicate the reaping is starting soon and you have to be there in 20 minutes. Oak breaks the embrace and runs into his room. A couple minutes later he runs out dressed all fancy, hair wetted, face shaved and nicely clothed. Any girl I think would be lucky to date and marry my brother.
I grab my little dress slippers and pull them on my feet. Oak opens the door and we both walk outside. We see all the neighboring kids walking to the reaping as well. Sad looks crosses everyone's faces in 10. No smiles today, until later when the people whose kids didn't get chosen celebrate, and the people whose kids are chosen hide themselves in shame.
The walk to the reaping is quiet. The only noises you hear are the rolling of the rocks as someone takes a step and the faint moo and whine from the animals.
"Don't worry Vivan it isn't going to be you," Oak reassures me.
"Thanks, I appreciate your concern," I say.
I look up ahead and see the Justice building and the giant television screens, and the stage. Everyone starts to slow down and form a line. I join and Oak's grip gets tighter on my hand.
"Its okay, I'll be fine, just go stand with the parents and others and I'll see you after the reaping," I say to Oak.
"You better," he says.
The line eventually gets smaller as I approach the sign in table. The women in front of me at the sign in table motions for me to approach.
"Next," she says.
I approach the table, she sticks out her arm and I set my hand in her glove palm. She pricks my finger and sticks my finger on a piece of paper, she lifts my finger off and I see the little spot of blood on the paper. "Next," she says as she dismisses me. I walk over to the section with the 16 year old girls. I stand there for a couple seconds cross armed waiting for someone to walk on stage.