Chapter 1
Hi. My name is Rue Mellark. I live in district 12 of Panem, previously known as North America. My parents are no ordinary parents. They are two-time survivors of the Hunger Games, an annual occurrence around here.
Their names are Katniss Everdeen-Mellark and Peeta Mellark. You've probably heard of them. They caused a whole lot of trouble around here when they were younger, actually, more like around my age.
They were 16 when they entered the Hunger Games for the first time, and I'm 15 now.
I have a little brother, his name is Thresh. If you've ever heard my parent's story, you'd know that our names are pretty significant. I'm named after a little girl, who reminded my mom of Auntie Prim, who she tried to protect in the Hunger Games, and unfortunately failed. My brother was named after Rue's fellow tribute in the Hunger Games, who saved mom's life, and then spared it, all because of what she did for Rue.
My parents caused a rebellion against the Capitol, which was supposed to abolish the Hunger Games forever, but that didn't really happen. President Paylor was murdered, and one of President Snow's grandchildren took over. He re-established the Hunger Games. For today, is Reaping Day.
Thresh is now old enough to be reaped, and I have been for three years. Since my parents don't need tesserae, Thresh has one slip and I have three (as they are cumulative). The odds are on his side. If anything happens to him, I might die. Mom says I'm a lot like she was.
A new rule has been made with regards to the reaping. After a tribute name is reaped, there will be a three-minute waiting period to see if anyone is willing to volunteer. Those three minutes are like torture. I should know.
For years, the Capitol has been trying to rig the reaping so that all of the old victor's children would be reaped, or those of the ones who were stupid enough to have kids. But every year, the president of the district checks the big glass reaping balls to make sure the correct amount of slips are there.
When I was 12, I was reaped. I was so scared during those three minutes, and finally, an 18 year old girl, who was deathly ill volunteered for me. She had some kind of incurable disease that no medicine in the Capitol could cure, and she had only months to live. That scrawny, weak girl, took my place, and risked what she had left of a life, to save me.
In her interview, she had said that she wanted to go out with a bang. She died in the bloodbath, because she was too weak to run fast. Her noble act saved me, and so I have always felt as if I should volunteer for someone, but I couldn't work up the courage to. It's basically saying "Yes! I want to die sooner than normal!". It's no pony ride.
You're probably wondering what happened to Haymitch. He died three years ago, and so the only victors of district 12 remain to be my parents. The funeral was very odd. Everyone, big or small, got drunk in his honor. He left that in his will. That everyone get drunk for him. I will never understand what went through that man's head. Probably not much.
There is no school on reaping day, so I was wandering around town when I heard the clock on the justice building strike 5. I ran back to Victor's Village as fast as I could, because I knew that the reaping started at 5:30.
I got home, and put on my mom's old blue dress, which used to be grandma's. It's a tradition that the oldest girl in our family wears it to reaping.
We all walked to the square together, but then divided into our age sections. I was lost in a crowd of nervous 15 year old girls, and Thresh was nowhere to be found.
Effie Trinket stood on the stage in front of the justice building for the who-knows-how-many-th time, her hair slightly green this year. She stood beside the mayor, who gave the boring old speech that we hear every year. Then, Effie said those dreaded words in an overly cheerful voice. "Ladies first!"
The crowd of girls quietly moaned, just low enough that the peacekeepers wouldn't hear. Effie reached into the large ball, searching around for the right paper.
Finally she pulled out a tiny slip. She unfolded it, and read the name aloud. "Rue Mellark!" For a moment, it seemed like the world had stopped. They couldn't have called me. No, there's no way. But sure enough, the peacekeepers were dragging me away from the crowd.
I could hear my brother screaming, "Rue! Rue, don't go! Rue!" I knew that he would volunteer for me if he could, but that was impossible.
I stood on the stage, for three minutes. Again. This time, I knew no one would volunteer for me. Not after seeing what could happen if you volunteer. 2 minutes and you could be dead. No one with a brain would risk it.
After the buzzer rang, it was final. I was in the Hunger Games. I could hear my brother sobbing in the crowd, and I wanted to tell him it was ok, but I had to remain silent.
Finally, Effie reached into the other ball. She pulled out a boy's name, and called out "Thresh Mellark!". I fell to the ground, and started sobbing. Loudly, I yelled out "Please, please pick again! Pick someone else! Please! He's only 12, please!" Immediately, a voice called from the crowd "I volunteer as tribute!"
I looked up to see what was happening. I saw the peacekeepers put my brother down, and pick up another boy, who was tall, muscular, and looked about 17. I was so grateful. Someone had saved my brother. Then I realized who had volunteered. Liam Hawthorne.
No, anyone but Liam. Anyone. Liam was my best friend. I could not believe this. I only wish that there could be double volunteering. But then again, what would be the point.
I couldn't bear to see my best friend come. But, rules are rules. After Effie gave a long speech that lasted about an hour, we were whisked away to the justice building.
Thresh came to see us first. He thanked Liam, and then gave me a huge hug. I told him to go stay with dad's brother while we were gone, so he wouldn't be alone. I made him promise to visit grandma everyday, and to bring her bread. I couldn't have her starve. I told him that no matter what happened, that I loved him, and I would try to win, for him. With that, he was escorted out. Next to come was Madge's daughter, Lisa. She had kind of been my friend, but not really. She wished me luck, and told me to be just like my mom, minus the rebellion. Then she told me that her money was on me. I smiled at that, even if for only a second. Having said that, Lisa left. Next to come were my parents. A.K.A my mentor's. That's the great thing about having parents for mentors. Instead if saying goodbye at the justice building, they're there with you until you step onto the hovercraft. They hugged me, and thanked Liam a thousand times. Finally, Gale came in. I hadn't seen Gale in ages. Not since the funeral. He looked sad, yet proud. He whispered to Liam "Don't be afraid to love her". At first, I wondered what that meant. Then, I understood and decided to play along. Cameras were surrounding us, and so to kick it off, I gave Liam a kiss on the cheek, while we were both a little teary.