Chapter 1: Reaping Day

The morning sunlight hit my sister's face as I watched her slowly get out of bed. Usually the one who wakes up with me before the sun, Maybelle woke up last today. Of course she did. Today was Reaping Day and this year was my first year having my name in the reaping ball. My family was terrified that I would be chosen.

The way that it worked was the districts started a rebellion a long time ago and the Capitol won and as our punishment and forever reminder they destroyed District 13 and had the Hunger Games. One boy and one girl would be chosen from each district and would be put in an arena and would fight until only one boy/girl is remaining. The worst part was that they forced us to watch every minute of it. One year it was so gruesome I threw up even though I hadn't eaten at all.

My mother forced me to eat even though my appetite had been lost a week ago. I was the oldest in my family and would protect my 5 younger siblings even if it meant dying. That was why I had to be strong; for Maybelle, Daisy, Edan, Ulsick, and Sabo. I would blame myself if any of them got hurt.

Maybelle who was 10 and only two years younger than me asked me "Rue, will you be picked?" I honestly didn't know but in order to comfort Maybelle who worried over the littlest things I replied, "Don't worry Maybelle I won't."

Reaping hour came too soon. Mother helped me get into the yellow dress I always wore on reaping day. She brushed my hair and I looked into the glass window. 'I guess this will do' I thought. Then we walked towards the Justice Building and Town Square. My mom squeezed my hand as I left to go into the section where the 12 year olds were supposed to stay. I caught Windel's eye and I crossed my fingers over my heart then Windel repeats that to me. We've done this whenever we needed some luck. Hopefully it'll work because luck is everything I need right now.

The mayor, Mr. Dreets goes on and on about how Panem was formed and I think I might've dozed off because a boy that I recognize from the harvest fields shakes my arm and I notice how the escort, Iza Briedila is spinning the reaping ball for the girls. She grabs a slip a paper and reads the name.

It's as if the whole district has drawn in a breath. Everyone is waiting in hopes that they won't be chosen or they're children won't be.

"Rue Folster?" she calls out. Everyone besides me lets out their breath in relief. I feel like I've been whipped in the chest. I can't breathe and it feels like I'm going blind. Then everything's back to normal except for the fact that I know I'm going to die soon. I hope my death will be painless. Of course that's too much to ask for. I walk confidently up towards the stage in hopes I might get any sponsor. I smile weakly and then Iza is spinning the boys reaping ball.

"Thresh Wilker?" Oh no! My heart sinks even lower. Not him! I know that boy. Or man should I say? He'll win for sure! I watch as the muscly 17 year old boy walks up the stage.

When I was 10 years old I was walking home from the harvest field. I saw a little starving boy who was around 6 years old. Thresh had walked over and given the boy half of his food even though he only had a little. It touched my heart and I think I'm the only one in the arena who will know the real Thresh.

His face shows no expression. Am I mistaken or when we shake hands do I see pity on his face? The "Peace"keepers escort me to the Justice Building where I am greeted by my family. Everyone's crying and I hope I don't start sobbing too. My mom shows me a necklace that has a flower on it. I'm guessing that's what I will take into the arena with me. After a while of silence the peacekeepers tell them they have to go. I hug everyone and then Maybelle asks me "Rue can you promise you'll live?" I don't reply and instead take her face in my hands and say "Be strong."

Next Windel comes in. She pulls me into a hug and starts sobbing into my shoulder. Great I have to be strong again when all I want to do is cry. So we just stand there hugging until the peacekeepers take her away. No one else comes.

Then I'm led towards the train that'll take me to my death place.