Authors Note: Hey everyone, this is my first ff, and I don't know if I am going to continue, but PLZ review, is it any good? If I get 10 reviews saying I should continue I will

Chapter 1:Reaping Day

It was freezing, not your standard District 12 June. It was strange. My brother and mother kept saying it was like 60 degrees outside, but I was freezing.

I wasn't sick. It was reaping day. Since I was twelve this has been happening. I hated it, I hated being afraid. 'No, you're scared of a little ball with slips of paper in it?' The kids in my class would laugh.

I wish I had told them that it wasn't what I was afraid of, it was the people I would have to kill because of my name being pulled from that 'little ball of slips of paper'.

"Anika, please go change, 3 more years."

"Yeah, 3 years until Ben goes into the reaping bowl too."

"Don't think like that Ani!"

"Sorry," I muttered as I walked down the hall to my room to put on my usual reaping dress. But, instead I find one that is a little fancier. Mother. It was one of my mothers old ones that she wore to the reapings when she was young. It is hard to think that my mother, Madge Hawthorne, was my age. Though, she was Madge Undersee back then. I carefully put it on, then put my long hair into a nice neat braided bun. I walked out to find my parents, Madge and Gale, and my little brother Ben, who is 9 years old, in their best clothes. My father was smiling sadly on the outside, but I saw through that. On the inside he was angry. With the capital. I can't say that I don't feel the same, because I do, but I am a lot better at hiding it. Maybe if you get into the games you can tell the capital who is boss, a little voice in the back of my head said. Shut up, another said.

"Ani! Time to go. You ready," my dad said. "If we make it through this, I will take you hunting in the morning," he whispered. I smiling and warmed up a bit.

0.o.0.o.0.o.0.o.0

As my family and I walked through the square, towards the center. Ben was skipping with his small hand in mine. I smiled, with a feeling I wouldn't be doing this for awhile.

When we got to the center Ben wanted to come with me, and refused to let go of my hand. We finally got him to let go by my dad picking him up and placing him over his shoulder and. I watched my family walk away, then took a deep breath and got in line. The line seemed longer than usual, but before I knew it they were pricking my finger and marking my name, Anika Rose Hawthorne. The "Peace"keepers jabbed me in the gut trying to go stand with the other fifteen year old girls. They put is in alphabetical order which means I'm next to one of my best friends, Janie Hems.

We were very lucky because we could give each other reassurance when Effie pulled names which scared the heck out of me. When I noticed that there was one person left in the male line, Effie Trinket, the escort stepped onto the stage and tapped the microphone. "Hello District 12," She said excitedly in her funny Capitol accent. "Happy Hunger Games! And may the odds be ever in your favor." I saw Katniss, Peeta, and Haymitch in the background mimicking caught my eye and winked as Katniss mimicked, 'Ladies first'. Janie and I clung to each other and held our breath as Effie Trinket told us the female tribute for District 12.

"Janie Hems. Please join me on the stage."Oh no, poor Janie. I really want to volunteer, but I am just too scared, I thought. I looked at Katniss, and as if she read my mind, she nodded her head. I held my head high as Janie made her way up the stage. I saw her shaking, with tears streaming down her face. "Any female volunteers?"

I took a deep breath, "I volunteer! I volunteer as tribute!" I heard murmurs grow throughout the crowd. THe Peacekeepers came and escorted me to the stage so I could take Janies place. I saw Katniss' face, she looked very proud.

"What is your name, dear," Effie asked in a very annoying way.

"Anika Hawthorne."

"Well thank you for volunteering. Now for the boys." She walked in those very high heels over to the bowl on her left. She reached over, careful not to ruin her really curly hair. She walked back to the center with a little slip in her hands. She read off a name that was faintly familiar.

"Nick Baker, please come join Anika and I on the stage." He walked up with his head held high and a grim look on his face, like father does when he doesn't want to cry, but is upset. "Thank you District 12." I turned to follow effie, but Nick stopped me, I turned around and saw all of District 12's left hands in the air, three fingers pointing up. Nick and I copied them and continued into the Justice Building to say our last goodbyes.

My first visitors were half surprising, Janie came bursting through the doors with her mom (the surprising part), Primrose Everdeen. "Ani! Why did you volunteer for me," Janie asked while hugging me. Oh and she was sobbing too.

"I volunteered for you because you would have for , thanks for coming."

"You're very welcome. I have something for you.

"You didn't have too, Janie please stop crying. You are going to make me cry."

"I-I-I c-c-can't."

"I did. It is the mockingjay pin my sister wore in her games."

"But, I can't it is hers."

"She gave it to me after her second games. I don't think she would mind. Besides, it's one of your family's heirlooms."

"What do you mean?"

"Well, your grandmothers sister was in the games and didn't make it. So her sister, your grandmother inherited it, then gave it to your mother, who gave it to my sister during her goodbyes before her first games, then she gave it to me. I think you should have it in the games. Just like your great-aunt."

"Thank-" I was interrupted by the Peacekeepers to tell us our time was up. I gave both of them a hug as the Peacekeepers pushed them out the room, and my family came running in.

"We would have been in earlier, but we were beat here by someone else. Wait, is that the pin I gave Katniss?"

"Yes Prim gave it too me and told me the story about it. That it is a family heirloom."

"Really, well you will have to tell me that story when you get home."

"Yup," I said as Ben curled up as best he could in my lap.

"Ani, I don't want you to go," he said hugging me.

"I know, I don't want to go either. But I have too."

"I'll come with you."

"No Benny. it isn't safe."

"Why."

"It's complicated."

"Oh."

"I will see you soon though."

"Yay." We sat in silence for a while until my dad spoke up.

"Why did you do you do it? Volunteer for Janie?''

"Because she would have done it for me. I already explained that to her."

"Just come home."

"I will try my best. That reminds me. If I was ever chosen in the reaping I carried this not I wrote when I was twelve. Only open if I am gone and the other tribute wins," I said handing him the note. He nodded. I knew he wouldn't read it. "If both of us di.. are gone then rip it up, or if both of us win."

For the rest of the time we sat together, talked about what was really important, and enjoying each others company. When it was time for them to go I cried so hard. I also had one last visitor. My grandfather. "I will make sure they have enough to eat while your father is in the mines."

"Thank you. And I forgot to tell mother not to stop smiling and singing. No matter what. Will you tell her for me?"

"You got it." We sat there in silence until it was time to go. I hugged him and let the Peacekeepers lead him away. I cried. I cried my heart out, then pulled it together before we left for the train station.

R&R

~Forever Reader