Hello! This is my first Hunger Games story! But it isn't my first story on fanfiction! I debated putting up this story but I decided to give it a try. The first chapter a little short but don't worry(: I really hope you enjoy!

Chapter 1

I pressed my forehead to the window, letting out a sigh. Through the window, miners rushed through the rain, every footstep sending up showers of black water. Each of them eager to return to their wife, their kids, their family.

That used to be my older brother and me, jumping anxiously up and down at the window, waiting for our father to come home. But ever since my father was accused of stealing more coal than he was supposed to have. He grabbed the right amount. Everyone knew it, but the peacekeepers refused to hear it. The president himself had come down to witness the execution.

My mind flashed back to that day, that horrible evening.

A young girl about 12 years old stood, forced back by her older brother. A younger girl stood, hiding her face in her mother's dress. A crowd surrounded the Justice building with all of them watching the scene that was happening on the steps. A man stood, on his knees, his back bleeding heavily from the several whippings he had gotten moments ago. His eyes had met the eyes of his family. His wife that he loved very much, his oldest son that would take care of the family, his oldest daughter who always stayed strong in hard times, and last, his youngest daughter who would one day make him proud.

A helicopter landed, whipping the wind through the building. The man's daughter once again, tried to make her way to her father; although the oldest son kept a strong hold on her. A man stepped off the helicopter; a boy around 12 followed him, keeping close to his father. It was the president and his son.

He stood over the girl's father and held up his hand. A gun was put to the man's head. The crowd, including the president's son, looked away as the president slammed his hand down and the gun fired. All was silent until a shriek split the air. Startling her older brother, he lost his grip on the girl. She rushed to her father's side, shrieking at him to stay with them. She held her father's hand as he slowly slipped away. Before he died he mouthed something to her.

Make me proud.

I pushed away the memory. It was too hard to remember that day. I got up from the window and forced myself to go downstairs. My mother was putting dinner on the table. Steam floated from the soup, freshly made bread laid beside it. My older brother, Seth was starting up the fire in the small fireplace we had in our small house. A happy laugh came from the living room floor. I walked over to the archway and watched my sister play with her hideous cat.

"Alizaya, have I told you how ugly that cat is?" I asked my little sister, smiling.

"I think Coal is adorable!" She protested, laughing as the scruffy black cat let out a mew of protest also.

"Of course," I laughed.

Shadow automatically went back to his purring as Ali pet him. His purr sounded like he was swallowing bits of coal. I shook my head and helped my mom ready the table. As Seth got the fire going and Alizaya set down her cat, we all sat down and ate dinner.

"Tomorrow is the reaping…" Seth said slowly, his eyes resting on me. He just turned 19 and was safe from being drawn for the Hunger games. It was either me, who was 16, or Alizaya who was 12. Her first reaping that she's actually eligible to be reaped in.

"Yes… No matter what happens, I love you and I hope that tomorrow night we will all be here, safe and sound," My mom said her voice calm though her eyes told us that she was anxious for tomorrow.

"It will hopefully all go well," I reassured them as well as myself.

There you go! Until next time! That shouldn't be too long away (; R&R!

~Tangleflame