Chapter 1
I woke up with a jolt. It was my 15th birthday. I was happy, wanting to see my friends and run around District 5 all day. But then I remembered. There wasn't any party today. Today was the reaping.
What better day to have to reaping? I told myself silently. For all I know, I could be selected. My name's in there 30 times. Well, I could win. Or maybe a friend would volunteer for me. Hopefully. But let's not get to that. Let's just face the facts.
I shuffled down the stairs to see my little brother, who was 7, crying at the table. I poured some dry oatmeal and looked into his face. "What's seems to be the problem?" I said with a smile (which is very hard to do, if you haven't noticed, on the day of the reaping and it's your birthday.) He looked into my face solemnly and said, "Last night Gabey died." Gabey was his little hamster. It was actually 5 years old, which is pretty long for a hamster here, but still, my brother had loved him. "Don't pout," I said, and without another word I ate and got dressed.
Optimism. That's how I got through loads of things- school, bullies, even Peacekeepers. I was probably one out of 3 kids whom the Peacekeepers liked, and definitely the only boy. As I buttoned my polo, I said to myself, "This could be it. Everyone has a similar morning to this in the morning, right, Terrance?" I folded the collar. "And two people out of all of those same people go in anyway. Nothing's gonna change that." I buckled my silver belt. "And then…Only 1 will come out, and chances are it's not us. I tied my shoe laces and stood up, ready for the reaping. I looked at my reflection. "Reaping," I murmured, "Here I come."
I scanned the crowd of kids as I walked into the single-file line of people getting their blood tested. Soon enough, I was up. "Finger," the Peacekeeper said. I held it out and waited for the little stabbing sensation. "Terrance Bouvale. Go ahead." I walked into the sea of 15 year old boys and stood next to my friend Brennon. "Hey," I said. "Hey Terrance. Happy 15th…Birthday." He said. I knew he was about to say '3rd reaping,' but today wasn't about jokes. It was about whether you were in the Hunger Games or not.
Five minutes later, our district escort, Roselia Marinson, walked with her 4-foot-high heels and Capitol hair onto the stage. "Welcome to the 71st annual reaping!" She said with too much delight, as always. And nobody responded except for a few 12-year-olds who nodded.
"Let's begin with a small video, shall we?" She said in her high-pitched voice, and pushed a button to turn on the screen. A short clip about the Dark Days and how the Hunger Games started, etc., was displayed and then Roselia got straight to the horrid business. Many of the kids in District 5 didn't have much food. We were all even. Even I had a chance of definitely getting in. "Ladies first," she exclaimed, and walked over to the giant China-glass bowl next to her. After 15 seconds she pulled out a name. All the girls tensed, I could feel it. She opened up the envelope. "Hadley Eatonton!" she called. A 12 year old. A few of her friends hugged her then backed away. Her boyfriend wasn't far from here. Maybe he'd volunteer for the boy. Maybe I wouldn't get in.
"Now, boys, shall we?" Roselia took her hand out of the jar and tore the seal. I tensed, like always. Except I stayed tense longer this time. "Terrance Bouvale." My eyes were squeezed shut. I knew that everyone had a fair chance. When I opened my eyes, everything had the tinge of blue. I stared at Brennon. All he could manage was lipping 'Good Luck,' and I was on the stage.
I was dragged with Peacekeepers I hadn't seen before into a little grey room. My mother and brother came in. My brother was in tears. "Gabbey died…And now you're gonna die too!" he whimpered. It didn't really help but I still managed to hug him. I looked into my mother's eyes. "Just…Stay safe. Save enough food to manage. Hopefully…Hopefully, I'll see you later." With that the Peacekeepers came in and took them away.
