My chest restricted my breath as I attemted to catch it. Icy sweat prickled against my skin and ran down in. I put my head in my swaet envoloped hands. It was only a dream. A nightmare actually. I look around as my chest finally starts working with me again. Robin was asleep on the floor next to Iris, his twin sister. My eyes scanned everywhere for Blade. I slowly rose from the chair I had fell asleep in and walked on our cool wooden floor. I whipped some sweat off my face as I looked for Blade. A smile crept on my lips as I saw him snoring peacfuly by the door.I grabbed my bow and slipped out the door. Rain kissed my skin as I ran through it. My feet pounded and splayed water out of their security places in the street. I made it to town and slowed down. Running is natural to me. I love the feeling of the wind in my hair. It feels almost free. But today is buisness, not pleasure. Soon I came to the butchers, my first stop.'' Hello! Have you brought anything for me today?'' The butcher askes as I slowly open the door. I smile and listen to the door slam behind me before replying.'' You know I cant on reaping days Sal. I just dropped by to see if tomorow you had anything in mind you wanted.'' He ran his fingers over his blonde mustache as he thought. I listened to the soft patter of the rain against the roof.
'' Actualy I do. Two deer, and if you can three wild boars.'' He nodded to himself, seeming contempt with his list.'' Sal, thats a small order. Are you going soft on me?'' I asked with sweatly narrowed eyes filled with laughter.''Not many people here can afford it anymore Speeds.'' He replied. I grinned at the use of my town nick name. Speeds. Everyone calls me that.
'' Ok. Tomorow mornin.'' I say as I slip out the door leaving his cloudy grey eyes to follow me out.'' Hey Speeds.'' I grin at one of my best friends.'' Yue, I cant talk. I have to go and get everyone ready.'' I say with a frown. Her brillient brown eyes darken.'' Were only twelve. Start acting like it.'' She begged. I stopped dead in my tracks. Twelve. Thats right. Thats my age. Nothing older. I shook myself as a bone chiling shudder rippled along my spine.'' I'm all they got. I cant.'' I deny as I race from her side. Tears weld up in my eyes. I'm quick to whip them away so the kids wont spot them.
They fall from my face as they flail at my side. I stop at the door and breath deeply. Running doesnt affect me, crying does. I may be young, but Im the primary care giver for all my siblings. I stare at the knob to our door. My gaze hardens as I remember how that knob got there.
'' One more screw and it'll be set.'' My father says. I quickly turn the screw into its place. He smiles down at me.'' Speeds your the most amazing builder I have ever met.'' He smiles more with eah word. Pride swells up in my chest as I look at him and the knob.
Our door openes and Blade stands there. I looked t him. The gaze had nothing in it. It was just empty. He ran to me and I wrapped my arms around my little brothers small frame. His breathing was warm yet troubled as it blew against my stomach. I released him and took him into the house. Its been hard for all of us. Me the most. When my parents died from a peace keepers wrath we lost our little house. The only thing I took from it besides my siblings was that little door. Its all we have left. Now we live in a hunting shack the butcher and his son used to use for hunting trips. They gave it to me in turns for my hunting skills. Innocent but strong, they'd call me. '' Hi swissy'' My little sister Iris gurgled. I smiled and picked her up. She was only four and barley weighed anything. I almost crinnged. I swept a small auburn lock of hair behind her ears and her bright green eyes got even brighter.'' Are you going away?'' She asked me.'' Why would you think that?'' I asked tensivly. Panick rose in me.'' Bwuber told me.'' She replied.
'' Blade!'' I glared at my ten year old brother. '' I just told her there is a small chance for you to go away.'' He put his arms up in defince. I felt the hairs on my neck rise in anger at him. It bubbled inside me, but I ignored it.'' Get dressed. Reapings in half an hour.'' They left and went to the little room they all share. I sighed deeplyin my chest and pulled my box of clothing from under the table. I pulled out a dress that was short on my mother, but long on me. It was a deep shade of green that fit alittle baggy, but looked fine to me. The dress was only two shades lighter then my eyes, is what mother would tell me.
At times my eyes are so dark the iris isnt visable. But most of the time they are. I brushed through my curly auburn hair and slipped my boots I had on this morning back on. No one will be able to see it under the dress. The thought made me grin. My brothers, Blade and Robin walked out in their best shirts and jeans. My sister had a nattural yellow skirt and a brown shirt. I smiled and took each of the twins hads and walked out. This is the first year I can be reaped. I took sixteen Tressere. Tresssere is a whole years worth of grain and oil for your entire family. How much you get depends on how many times you enter your name. I took fifteen. The other one was for my age. Every year one boy and one girl is chosen for the Hunger Games. A brutal fight to the death. Winning is fame and fourtune. Loosing is certian death. Its all our punishment. Only one out of twenty four comes out alive. We only have two victors here anyway. We arrived at the square. I waved good bye to my siblings as they raced over to Youes mother.
I took my place in line next to her in the female twelves as our announcer stepped up. Her name is Ranie Totori. I absolotly despise her in every way possible. Discust rose inside me as her capitol accent rang out in the air. I felt like putting me hands over my ears, but decided against it. The peace keepers here are vile. She read the Treaty of Treason, which I tuned out.'' And now without further ado.'' She reached into the bowel for the girls. My breath caught in my throat. It cant be, not me.
