Chapter 1- Marina's POV
Today's the reaping. I'm terrified. My older sister, Alliqa, was a contestant in the 56th Hunger Games. She came second. Meaning, she died. My parents have tried to prepare me my whole life for the games, but I'm not a violent person. I, Marina Coral Blanquette, have always been the Can't-Stand-To-Kill-The-Fish type. I never was really trained exclusively in combat. I'm scared my name will come out today. I never have the best luck.
We file into the District Four square. I see other girls in my category. I'm fifteen, so was Alliqa. A woman takes the stage, she calls herself Ramona Blossom. I swear, the names in the Capitol are awful. She gives us a stupidly long speech about how two people will get the honour of competing in the Hunger Games. Blah, Blah, Blah.
"Ladies first." I hear the words, but they don't really register. This is the moment. The moment when I will figure out if my fate will be like my sister's. My sister, who died three years ago, when I was twelve.
Ramona fishes around in the bowl for a moment, and then comes up with a single slip of paper. She opens it, and steps up to the microphone. I hold my breath, only to let in out in a strangled gasp.
"Marina Blanquette." She scans the crowd. I slowly step forward. I can see heads turn towards me. All of the must be thinking "her? Why her? She can't win" I want to tell them to stop. To just leave me alone, but I can't. I cannot speak. I never could.
"Ah, there you are dear. You look like another tribute a few years ago, are you related?" So all she can think to ask me is if she was my sister. I nod. Ramona waits for more, but when she receives none, she simply turns and says "And now for the boys."
She scoops up another sheet of paper. Again she steps up to the microphone, and speaks the name of the boy who I might know, who I might have to kill.
"Christian Wave-Crest."
Could my day get any worse? It feels like everything is repeating itself. Christian Wave-Crest's older brother went into the arena in the same games as my sister. He was seventeen. So is Christian. I also happen to know that Christian is a fearsome fighter. He is one of the most looked up to people in the village, all because he can throw knives.
It seems that this year, the odds are not in my favour.
Please review. I need help figuring out what I'm doing well and wrong.