I stood in the crowd of girls, waiting. For the first time in my life, I was going to a reaping, a reaping where the annoying Effie Trinket drew names out of a bowl, naming who would die. Effie talked about the rebellion seventy-four years ago, and finally got to the part everybody came to hear. The drawing of the names. The death sentences. The reaping.

"Ladies first!" came the cry in the annoying Capitol accent. Her hand entered the glass bowl, fished around inside, and grasped a name. She pulled her hand out, opened it up, and read. "Primrose Everdeen!" Everybody stared at the tribute. Everybody stared at me. The entire district was silent as I started walking up to the stage, to the place where that annoying Effie would make me shake hands with a boy who might kill me.

Before I could take a step, an unmistakable voice from behind me cried out, "I volunteer!" My sister. Katniss.

"No." My voice was barely audible, but it made it's way to Katniss's ears. I mustered my courage and said it again, louder. "No, Katniss, you're not going. I am going to the Hunger Games."

Silence. That was the only thing that the crowd gave. They wanted to see what would happen next, however nerve-wracking. They wanted to see who would die.

Ignoring Katniss's screams of denial behind me, I made my way up onto the stage. Effie was smiling her cheesy smile, but I could see from the look in her eyes that she was troubled. Only I could see it, because I was the closest, but it was still hard for me to see it because the hint was small, although clear.

Truthfully, it made me even more scared. Anybody would be, being sent off to kill 23 other kids or get killed, but seeing fright in Effie's eyes changed things for some reason. Maybe it was seeing a 12-year-old go into that willingly.

It was the boys' turn. Effie reached her hand into the glass bowl containing the names of the many games. I desperately hoped it would not be Gale. His family needed him, but he did have lots of tesserae. Also, he could help my sister. "Peeta Mellark!"

I recognized the last name. I think that was the surname of the baker who has given my family bread in times of need. I couldn't remember hearing his first name before though. Peeta walked up, a bit frightened. Suddenly, I knew exactly who he was. I had seen him throw hundred-pound bags of flour over his shoulder like they weighed nothing. He, unlike me, could survive the Games.

Nobody volunteered. He shook hands with me, and we were whisked off to the Justice Building.

My mother and sister came in first. "Why…" Katniss started to ask.

"Mother needs you," I replied, gesturing towards our mother. "Without you, neither of us would have enough meat, or money, or anything. And I wouldn't be able to live without you, even though you'd probably come back. But the chance was too great that you'd die." I looked her in the eye. "Take care of Buttercup for me, okay?"

Katniss nodded as her arms encircled and cradled me where I stood. I hugged her back, tears streaming down my face. I wiped them off as she let go, but they kept coming. There was nothing I could do to stop it. "I'll miss you, Katniss."

Her reply came, weakened, since she had been crying as well. "I'll miss you too, Little Duck." I walked over to hug my mom and talk to her.

"I promise, mother, I'll be back. I love you, mommy. I need you." I was going to say more, but a Peacekeeper came, and took her away from me. Katniss quickly came up to me and pinned something on my chest. A mockingjay pin. I hugged her, and she was dragged away as well. All three of us broke into tears again.

"Come back!" I screamed, but the Peacekeepers didn't even give me a second glance.

Next, came in my best friends, Aliant and Ocarina, who were twins, along with my other friends, Phox, Lavern, and Avonne. I hugged them all, but we all knew that our time together was short. We cried together, and I told them I'd never forget them and I'd wait for them anxiously if I went to heaven. When they told me not to think like that, I whispered something in each friend's ear. A private message from me to them.

I started with the twins. I told Aliant that I had on the bracelet she made by herself for me. Her smile and tears said everything I needed to hear. I told Ocarina that every time I saw a berry I would think of her, since she had almost eaten one of the deadly nightlock berries. After this, she nodded sadly and comforted her sister.

I told Lavern that I would respect the dead, since her brother had died in the games a few years ago. "Rest in peace, Raymond," I added on to the end. Tears welled up in her eyes as I mentioned his name, and I hugged her before I went on to Avonne.

I told Avonne that I would try to ally with District 3, and if I couldn't create an alliance with them, spare them once. Other than her immediate family, the rest of her family was in District 3.

And finally I told Phox that if I got back, I wanted him to go out with me. He smiled, and in response to that, kissed me on the forehead. "I would never turn down an offer like that from you, Prim."

Right after I finished talking to my new boyfriend, a Peacekeeper came in from the door. "I'll win for you, guys!" I cried as the Peacekeeper guided them out of the room.

The Peacekeeper opened the door once more, but I didn't see anyone come in. I looked down, and saw Buttercup walking over to me. I picked her up and cuddled with her, crying into her fur. "I love you, Buttercup. Try not to kill Katniss, okay? She's not going to do anything to you." But faster than the others, she was taken away too.

I hated the Peacekeeper right then. He had taken away everyone that meant anything to me. He took away my family, my friends, even my cat! Why, oh why, did these visits have to be so short? Why did they even have to end?

I left the goddamned Justice Building and met with my mentor, Haymitch Abernathy, and the District 12 escort, Effie. It was time for the train ride.

So, that's it so far. If you liked it or have anything useful to say, please review!

–mAdz1824