Chapter 1

It's the day of the reaping all across Panem

I wake up in my tiny sun lit room knowing straight away that today is the day. The day that all the boys and girls in Panem will be holding their breaths for as long as they can until their name is or isn't called out by their district escort. I hate that this is the first thought to come to my mind at the beginning of the day but what else can I think? I live near the beach in the middle of district 4 with my dad and my younger brother Myles who is 11, thankfully not old enough to be reaping age yet. I couldn't bear to see him going through the ordeals of the games. My name is in there 12 times as I have had to apply for tessera to keep my family alive. My name, Jade Tanner is in there 12 times… the odds definitely aren't in my favour

After about ten minutes of lying in bed I look at the small crafted clock on my bedside table, 10:00 AM. Only an hour until the reaping does begin. I pull myself out of bed and aim for the bathroom, the small cracked tiles feeling icy cold against my feet. I jump in the shower and wash myself all over then step out. I look at myself in the full length mirror on the wall of my room I'm quite attractive really, although I would never admit that to anyone. My hair is a luscious blonde colour and reaches down below my chest. It's also dead straight which I'm thankful for as most people in district 4 have crazy curly hair. My body is petite but you can say that I am physically very fit (and mentally I would like to add) I have a few scars on my body from being out on the boats since the age of 11 but none of them are anything against the scar that goes from the top of my leg to the tip of my knee. I remember exactly how I got it. That day had changed my life.

I had been playing with my little brother on the docks one afternoon just as the boats were coming in from their 4 day fishing trip. My brother and I began to run to the edge of the docks to greet them but as we were running I tripped and went falling over the edge of the docks I collided with a trident that was leaning against the side of some crates. The trident slashed all the way down my leg and I ended up falling into the water. I remember being in the water and looking up, I could see the sun bouncing off the water and how clear it was. Then a crimson mist started to cloud my view. I looked down at my leg and realised it as bleeding a hell of a lot. That's when I passed out; the next thing I remember is waking up in the run down district hospital not far from the docks with my father and brother by my side. My father and brother were in tears. I remember shaking my dad's shoulder and telling him "it's ok. I'm fine" he looks at me with the most heart breaking look on his face and pulls me into a hug. Even though I've told him I'm fine he carries on sobbing. That's when I realise… where's mum? The next few minutes consist of my dad telling me that when mum was on the fishing trip there was a catastrophic storm that had taken the lives of many of the crew, her life being one of them. I remember feeling numb, empty inside I just wanted to give up. Then I realised I had to stay strong for dad and for Myles. I started to work every day after that, earning as much money for my family as I could. This wasn't much unfortunately. I became very skilled with a trident even to the extent of being allowed to go on the more dangerous trips because of my skill. I also became fairly good with hand to hand combat as the whole crew would always wrestle while we were on the trips. I was hesitant at first to try but when I did I found I had a natural agility and flexibility that helped me tire out my opponents before hitting there weak spots. For guys this was mainly the crotch shot, guys can never go on after the crotch shot.

Zooming back into reality I realise I'm close enough to being dry so I go into my wardrobe to put on my reaping dress. The dress I pick out is a teal blue with small puffy sleeves which go to the end of my shoulder. The bottom of it flows and reaches to midway down the mid of my thigh.

I walk downstairs to see my Father and Myles sitting at the breakfast table looking glum. I know this is because I'm going off to the reaping, so trying to keep positive I walk In with a slight smile on my face to show that everything is going to be okay. Myles looks over to me gets up out of his seat and charges at me with his arms out for a hug. I kneel down and take him in my arms.

"Do you have to go to the reaping's jade?" he looks at me with a glimmer of hope in his eyes.

"You know I have to Myles, but everything will be ok" I try to say sounding as confident as I can.

"Do you promise?" his voice sounds so desperate. He knows I never break a promise.

"Of course I promise big man, everything is going to be ok" how could I say that? I don't know myself whether it is going to be okay or not. How could I give him a false hope like that? I feel so horrible.

With that he quickly perks up a bit and goes to sit down to eat the rest of his breakfast. I walk over to my dad who is sitting quietly on the chair in front of the table looking dead ahead against the wall the other side of the room. I stand behind him and put my arms over his shoulders and hug him from behind. I feel him lean into my hug we don't say anything but we don't have to. We know that were giving each other reassurance that everything will be fine.

I'm walking hand in hand with my father and Myles to the district square. The amount of peacekeepers compared to the normal amount that is usually around has more than tripled in size for the occasion. The capitol tells us there here to represent the capitol but we all know there here for another reason, and that reason is in case anyone refuses or begins to cause a stir at the reaping they can easily get rid of the problem. This though makes me swallow hard and I realise were now at the square where I have to go and sign in. I kneel down so I'm level with Myles and look him straight in the eyes.

"Now listen to me big guy, you stay with dad until the reaping is over then I will come and find you okay?" again I try to sound as confident as I can.

"Ok jade" is all he says. He's looking at the ground at this point. I know he is afraid for me.

"Hey, no frowns" I say his head bolts straights up at this and looks me in the eyes once more. "If I see any more frowns I'm not gunna take you swimming in the ocean tomorrow" I say with a grin on my face.

His eyes widen and look at me. "Were going swimming tomorrow!" he exclaims. he loves swimming so much but as I'm always busy with work the few days after the reaping are the only days I can take him to the ocean.

"Yes we are, but only if you don't frown" I remind him.

With that his frown changes to a massive smile "I won't frown I promise!" I let out a small giggle at this reply and watch him walk over to the crowd. With that I turn around and go to the signing in station. Here they prick your finger so it bleeds then they take a sample. I wince as the needle prick my finger but the pain vanishes almost instantaneously. I then proceed to walk over to the rest of the 17 year old girls. Were a mixed bunch, some sticky some very slim and then some muscular types. I look through the crowd and see my best friend Alicia. I jog over to her before grabbing her hand and holding onto it for what seems like dear life. She looks over at me.

"Nervous? She asks.

"Very" I answer truthfully "what about you?" I ask her.

"So much, I can't do a thing that would help me in the arena" I hate to say it but I know she's right. She works on the paper work side of things, checks over the files.

The clock strikes 11 and our district escort walks out. Her name is Cinnamon. I know, capitol names are atrocious. She walks to the stage and taps the microphone.

"Uhum hello district four, as you know my name is cinnamon and isn't it such an exciting day?" I think she expects a cheer but the crowd stays silent. How can she think this is exiting? It's sick.

"Now before we find our tributes I have a video to show you all the way from our beloved capitol" she says this with suck excitement it's hard not to laugh at it.

The video begin to play, projected against the mayor's house and I zone out. I've seen it so many times. It covers how the thirteen districts rebelled against the capitol and as punishment district 13 was destroyed and the hunger games born.

After a while the video stops and cinnamon begins talking again.

"Now as usual it's going to be ladies first" her voice is quite shrill but that's not what makes my stomach churn. What makes my stomach churn is that her hands right now could be selecting my name from the big bowl of tributes.

Her fingers grasp a small piece of paper and she scuttles back over to the microphone. She clears her throat so she can announce the victim, I mean tributes name.

"Jade Tanner"

The crowd is silent all the heads begin to turn to stare at me. I feel Alicia's hand grip me even tighter.

Fuck. I'm going into the games.