Amy Hunter POV

I woke up and stretched. I looked across the room and saw my two younger brothers sleeping peacefully on their cot. I didn't like it.
"HEY! GET UP GET UP GET UP!" I yelled. Josh Hunter, the youngest one at only age 8, jumped up and screamed. I laughed as he tried to punch me weakly in the gut. "Oh no, it hurts. Stop. Please." I said sarcastically. He seems to buy it and stops. I look him in the eye and we both know what to do.
"WAKEY WAKEY! RISE AND SHINE!" We both yelled to Grady Hunter, the 10 year old. His eyes flutter open and see our faces in front of his. He lets out a little yelp and hits his head on the wall. Me and Josh laugh our heads off while Grady rubs his head.
"Ow!" He said, half laughing half angry. This is what it's like at my house every morning. "I'm hungry."
"Yeah, hungry," Josh complained. "I need food."
Grady slugged him in the arm. "I think we all know when you're hungry you need food, idiot."
Josh slugged him back. "I don't think ALL of us know." The two started fighting while I went to the kitchen to fix us something to eat. In a few minutes the smell of toast filled the air. "TOAST!" The two cried in harmony. They rushed into the kitchen and sat down.
"Here," I said, passing out plates. "Careful, they're hot." I put toast onto each of their plates. They ignored my warning and ate it fast. I was pouring the orange juice when I heard their cries.
"HOOOOOOT!" Josh called. "SO VERY HOT HOT HOT! WATER! NEED WATER!"
"OUCH OUCH OUCH! YOW THAT'S HOT!" Grady yelled. They both grabbed the glasses out of my hands and chugged. When they were finished, I was just starting.
"Off to school with you two. Go, go." I shooed them out as they grabbed their coats and headed out. I finished eating breakfast and cleared the dishes. Suddenly there was a knock on the door. "I'm coming!" I yelled at the door. I opened it and found Bert standing at my door. Bert is 16, just like me. We've been best friends ever since we were little. But lately it felt like we were more than friends. Both of our parents died during the Dark Days, about 3 months ago. That was a bond that was never broken between us. We both ditched school since our parents weren't there to keep up the shops. Bert owns the Fruit Mart, and I own the local bread store. Usually we close the shop often just to see each other.
"Hey, Amy." He planted a kiss on my cheek. "You ready to get to work?"
"As ready as ever," I smiled. I took his hand in mine and we walked over to the local market place. "Ever think that the Capitol will do something to us? I mean, after the dark days?"
"Nah," he shook his head. "Nothing bad happens in District 12. Besides, they can't do much more. I mean, the west side of 12 is already burnt and destroyed. The east was bombed. The south is in a never-ending illness. We're lucky to be in the north, where it's safe."
Bert was right. 3 months ago during the Dark Days, the Capitol tried to bomb us and kill us off like in District 13. Unfortunately our parents were on the rebel side and was visiting 13. That's when the bombs hit. I shudder at the thoughts.
"Well," Bert said, stopping short. "We're here." The market place was spread out before us. There were plenty of stores and, if that wasn't enough, stands were set up in various places. I work at a rather smaller building while Bert worked at the large building across from me. I rather prefer my cozy little shop than his big business store. But his store is O-K I guess.
"Bye," I say. "See you at lunch break." I gave him a quick peck on the cheek and left.
The day was slower than usual. I only had 14 customers. I was stuck baking loaves of bread for the invisible people. But near lunch time is when the crowd hits. Usually a lot more show up in the morning, though. I decided to close the shop and walked over to see Bert.
"Hey," I say as I walk in. "How's it going?" I notice an unusual look in his eye. "Everything OK?" No response. "Bert?" It's like I'm not even there. At first I begin to worry. "Bert! Listen to me! Are you OK?"
Bert snapped out of his trance. "Oh, uh, sorry." He apologized. "I'm just seeing... well, that." He pointed to the large window. I turn my head.
"Oh," I said. Large groups of people are gathering out front in the Square. "Come on. Let's see what's going on." We walk to the Square with the rest of the crowd when I spot my brothers walking in line with their classmates. I think I see Josh stick his tongue out at me but I'm not really sure. I grab Bert's hand as we move further.
"Welcome, welcome," a cherry voice says. "Please get into your age sections. 11 or under and 19 or older, please stand by the sides." I look nervously at Bert. He seems scared too. "Please get into your age sections," the voice repeats.
I found a sign that said 16. The whole thing was practically one big rectangle with sections divided by rope. Bert unhooked the rope and let me in like the gentleman he is. Then he stepped in, too. In about 15 minutes all of District 12 was either in sections or off to the side. I scanned the crowd to see if I could find my brothers, but they were no where to be seen.
"I see that we all are accounted for," the voice said. The speaker was a woman about 21 years old with dark blue hair. She must be from the Capitol. She hands the microphone over to our Mayor. He starts us off with how Panem once was 'North America' and the disasters that happened. Then he hands the microphone back to the girl.

"My name is Miffline Corket. Today is a very special day. It is the day of the reaping!" She expected applause, but no one does. She cleared her throat. "I am proud to announce the two young tributes who will enter the Hunger Games.

"The Hunger Games are games created by the Capitol itself. It happens once every year. Two tributes, one girl and boy, must face each other against 22 other tributes from the other districts. You will fight each other to the death, until only one remains standing." A loud gasp comes from the audience.
"What if we don't want to?" A voice rose from the crowd.
"Well, you don't really have a choice." Miffline said patiently. "Anyways, you will have time to train for these Games. Please be aware that you will be televised in the arena and will be broadcast to every TV in Panem. Your district will celebrate the Games, no matter what. If your district's tribute wins, they will be come a victor and live at the Victor's Village where they will be immune to all reapings." She pointed to a hill where they were building houses. "Your district will be rewarded with prizes for winning.
"If you somehow win, you will go on a Victory Tour around the Districts. There's a lot more to these Games, not only for entertainment, but you should all know that this is what happened during the Dark Days." The Dark Days. Of course. How else is the Capitol suppose to kill us off? "And now," she continued. "I will pick the name of the tributes from these glass balls." She showed us a two large glass bowls filled to the brim with paper. One was marked 'Girl' and the other 'Boy'. "If you are 12, your name goes in once. If you are thirteen, your name goes in twice. An so on until you are eighteen and your name goes in six times. You can also sign up for tessera, which means your name goes in an extra time for a small supply of oil and grain. Volunteers can volunteer for people as long as they are the same gender.
"And now for the moment we've been waiting for. District 12's tributes are..." She sticks her dainty hand into the large bowl with all of the girl's names in it. Then she makes one swift motion and picks out a name. Since I'm sixteen, my name's in there 4 times. At least my brothers aren't old enough. "Amy... Amy Hunter!" She cries.
"Oh no," I mutter. Mine in thousands. Two Peacekeepers walk up and force me onto the stage. I take a glance at Bert's face. Completely horrified.
"No!" I hear Josh yell. He steps forward and I can see tears in his eyes. "Amy!" He yells as a Peacekeeper picks him up and carries him out of the square. I take my place next to Miffline.
"And the boy tribute is..." She pulled out a slip from the boy's bowl. "Sean Bowler!" Sean only has a shocked expression before some Peacekeepers pick him up.
"Wait! I volunteer! I'll take his place!" Bert says. The audience looks at him like he's mad. He ignores the rude stares and mount the stage. "I'll never let you go alone," he whispered in my ear. But I'm not worried about me going in.
It's both of us. I will have to kill Bert.