CHAPTER 1

Katniss POV

It is the Day of the reaping and I am not comfortable with this day. My name is in the Bowl 27 times for tesserae. There is a new district found one week ago and if I get chosen I may have to kill 26 people for prim and my mom. Effie Trinket steps up to the movie star mic as Haymitch one of the only two district 12 Victors trips and slides dizzily around and finally plumps down in his seat.(He is Drunk) The other Victor is dead by now but she fought a brave battle. "Hello everyone!", Effie's annoying Capitol accent is spoken into the mic "Welcome to the 74th annual Hunger Games! And May the odds be Eva in your favor!" Her Voice is even more annoying than any other year I think as she continues on.

"A video has been sent to us from the capitol... It is about a new District in Panem found by a little girl named PB... Um if you didnt know PB stands for Princess Bubblegum!", She says with delight. I'm about to throw up at her voice. "Anyway let's begin our 74th annual Reaping. Now if your a new child to this you should need to know that The Hunger Games is not something to laugh about...well except for maybe Ceaser and the Gamemakers when someone dies but we don't laugh.", she said very serious. I was kinda getting scared but I've done this a couple times already. "Ok let's watch our video now." she said as she pointed a remote at the screen held by peace keepers at the top of the Justice Building and pressed play.

~~~~~~~~~~~~The Video Starts~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

District 14, is a world filled with wonder and beauty...a town small like yours. Filled with many lovable characters such as Finn- a Human- who has a lovable personality but a fighter, a tough one. He has been chosen to be one of the tributes this year. But watch out he will do anything to survive...Anything. His main weapon is a sword. Any sword really but his favorite is a golden sword his parents gave him. The second tribute is named Jake-a dog- He is a magical dog. He has powers that let him morph into any shape possible. So watch out districts 1-13 The Hunger Games is going to be a lot more interesting.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~The Video Ends~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

As the video ends Effie mouths the last few words as she usually does... "The Hunger Games is going to be a lot more interesting." She whispers as the video continued. "Oh I just love that!", She says enthusiastically. ( prob. spelled wrong) "Let's begin picking our 2 lucky Tributes. As always Lady's First!" She says very happily as she sashays over to the girls bowl full of paper. My name is in there like 27 times I am so freaked out! I am not too scared on prims part though because her name is only in there once. "Ok!", Effie says as she puts her hand inside the oversized fish bowl. She swirls them around a little before she grabs the bottom piece of paper. "Ok The Girl Tribute for the 74th Hunger Games is...", She is making me more and more nervous as she slowly un rolls the little piece of paper. It's probably me, but I still have little hope it's no one I know. "Katniss Everdeen!", she yelled as people slowly backed away forming a circle around me.

I slowly make my way up to the stage as everyone stares at me.I knew it was going to be me, I think to myself as i stumble over someone. "Wait Katniss!", I hear a voice from the crowd. I turn to see prim running towards me. "I can't let you go Katniss!" She whispers as she squeezes me to death. "Oh prim!", I try to keep the tears from rushing out of my eyes. But as fast as Prim is with me we are pulled away from each other! "No, No, No!" Prim Screams! I start to cry quietly as they carry me up to the stage next to Effie by my arms. "Well it looks like that was your little sister?" She asks me. "Ye-ye-yes.", I manage to get out. "Ok well now for the Gentleman!" She said sounding actually excited. She let her hand slip down the inside side of the bowl and slowly picked up a name. I see all the boys staring at me and I know why. It's not for looks or them loving me. It's because everyone knows me and they don't want to kill me. They know me because my dad was one of the Men who died in the mines. "The Everdeen Family" we are called.

"Ok The Boy Tribute for the 74th Hunger Games is..", she pauses for dramatic effect. "Gale Hawthorn!" She said with a tweek in her words. I looked over to Gale and he just look's shocked. He is shocked at being picked. Even though his name is in the bowl like 46 times, way more than mine. "Come on sweetheart, hurry up now!" Effie urges Gale as i run up to him. "Your fine Gale.", I try to knock him out of shock. His face just keeps looking forward. I am scared for him but I know he could win this if he wanted to. "Gale snap out of it.", I urge him, but it's no use. He will never remember me. Then suddenly Gale snaps back to reality and picks me up and runs to the stage, where he stands and waits for Effie to continue. "Well, I present to you the Tributes participating in the 74th annual Hunger Games!", She anounces. "Well shake hands!", she encourages. But before I could put out my hand to shake he plants a kiss on my lips and my world changes. "Well then..lets go!", Effie says as she trys to grab our wrists as we jerk away. Gale reaches for my hand and grabs it. We hold hands as we walk into the justice building.

I await my visitors as Gale and I refuse to be in seperate rooms. Sooner than later Prim, my mother, Rory, Vick, Posy and Hazelle (Gales mother) walk in. "Oh Prim!" I begin to cry! "Katniss!", Prim replies also begining to cry. "Please win for me!" Prim continues. "What about Gale?", I wonder. "I want you both to come home but...if only 2 victors could be chosen!" Prim cries harder. "I know!", I agree. "Gale!?", Posy asks Gale. "Yes!?", Gale Answers. "Please win!"Posy says. "I will try my best little posy!" Gale says. "Helen!" I say sternly as my mom stares blankly at me."You will not tune out on Prim! You got me!?", I ask. "Yes Katniss. I won't tune ou-", she starts but I cut her off "No you won't tune out on her. She isn't me. She can't take care of herself! She needs you to help her. If I don't come back you will NOT tune out on her!", I say. "Ok I won't!", she assures me. "Ok." I reply to her assurance. "I will miss you both very much!", my mom says as she starts to cry. "No don't cry.", I demand. "I will not let you fall like you did when dad died.", I comanded. "Come here all of you group hug." I say as I try to top the tears from flowing. Then the peace keepers opened the door and practically have to pry Prim out of the group hug. Everyone cried as they were dragged off by the peace keepers and the door slammed shut.