Hello!

First of all, I already wrote this story and posted the first chapter but I had to change some things first. I just remembered that Katniss wrote in present tense so I had to delete it. And secondly, unlike what I said before, the chapters will neither be consistently long nor short. It just depends on my mood, I guess. Lastly, I know that the summary sucks but I just won't tell the whole story yet.

P.S. This is very, very, VERY AU. Almost all of the events did not happen in the book.

P. P. S. Some characters might be OOC.

Read and Review,

Maria

"Primrose Everdeen!"

For a moment, the world stops. For a moment, I'm being paralysed with shock. This morning - had it only been this morning? -replays in my mind.

I wake up as a high-pitched scream fills my ears. I bolt upright, look around and see my little sister, Primrose, thrashing and clutching the pillow in her sleep. I gently shake her until she opens her eyes. They are wide with fear and the rims are red.

"Prim? Shhh... It's okay, you were just having a nightmare -"

"It was me. It was me," she says, her voice shaking.

Of course, it's the day of the Reaping. Getting your name chosen for the Hunger Games is the worst nightmare of all. But my little sister shouldn't be thinking of that. She only had one slip, after all. One amongst thousands. The odds are in her favour.

"Prim, your name has only been there once. They're not going to pick you. Go back to sleep."

"But Katniss -" she starts to cry but I cut her off.

"Shhh... They won't, little duck. They're not going to pick you," I repeat until she falls asleep.

They're not going to pick you.

My own words ring inside my head as reality dawns on me. They did pick her. My little sister, the only person that I love in this horrible, cruel world. And I'm going to lose her.

Prim starts walking towards the stage, her hands tucking in the tail of her shirt. No, she doesn't deserve this. She has her whole life ahead of her! She will not be sentenced to death.

"Prim!" I shout frantically but she's not turning around. "No! I volunteer!"

I try to reach her but two Peacekeepers come to restrain me. I'm not going to give up that easily. I shrug them off until they release me and say, this time, with a strong voice, "I volunteer as tribute."

The District Twelve escort, Effie Trinket, beams and chirps, "I believe we have a volunteer. This is so exciting! Come up on stage, dear."

I'm about to, when Prim puts her arms around my waist. "No, Katniss! Don't do this! You can't! No!"

She continues to scream until a strong pair of arms pry her away from me. I look up from where my little sister was before and into the grey eyes of Gale Hawthorne, my best friend. They are full of sadness, concern and hopelessness. He has not only been my hunting partner for years, but also my close confidante. I care about him a lot and him me. It takes all of my will not to cry then and there. I'm about to let my shoulders sag in defeat when I stop myself. No, I will not let my opponents see me as a weakling. I want them to see me as a threat because I'm coming home to my sister no matter what.

Gale pulls Prim to the sidelines and stayed there with her and my mother. Even when I know that she's safe for now, anxiety still doesn't leave me. I have Gale to worry about. He has 42 slips in that bowl, so the chances of him not getting reaped are pretty slim. Also, he has a younger brother, Rory, who has the same age as Prim. I wouldn't have worried about him too much but seeing that the odds aren't dependable of late, I wouldn't be sure of it.

"Now it's time to choose this year's lucky male tribute." Effie continues in the same silly voice that doesn't seem appropriate for what might be a person's vigil.

As if things couldn't get any worse, one of the things that I dreaded the most comes true.

"Gale Hawthorne!"

His head whips around to face Effie, making sure that he heard right. This is not happening! Who would provide for his family? Who will make sure that they don't starve to death? And who will make sure that Prim is in good hands with our less-than-capable mother? Before I could finish these thoughts, a clear voice rings out.

"I volunteer!"

My eyes widen and I search the crowd for whoever said that life-saving phrase. I follow all of the people's gaze and my eyes settle on a certain blond boy with blue eyes. It isn't someone I expected.

It's Peeta Mellark.

I will be posting chapter 2 shortly.