The light pours through the cracks of my curtains, rousing me from my uneasy slumber. I couldn't account for much sleep, three hours perhaps? I look over to the digitalised clock at my bedside, the numbers 5:32 flashing in my face mockingly, teasing me that time was running out. It was only a few hours until the reaping for the sixty seventh Hunger Games is scheduled to begin.
I felt betrayed by the light, I felt the reality hit me that I had woken to a nightmare. The odds are never in our favour.
I don't bother trying to fall back to sleep again, I have enough experience with the reaping to know that it's impossible, however, on the off chance that you do catch a wink of sleep, it's flooded with the horrors of the games.
I hoist myself off the warm mattress and hunt for some comfortable clothing, I might just as well spend as much time as possible in the comfort of a pair of trousers and a lightweight teeshirt before the reaping begins when I'll be forced into a dress.
I try pulling my wavy locks into a ponytail, but the small pieces around my face refuse to be tamed, so I leave them. I have more important things to think about than the state of my hair.
Once my boots are comfortably on my feet, I soundlessly tiptoe my way downstairs and out of the front door.
There's no doubt that my parents will be awake, they're just as worried on reaping day as I am. Most parent are. Though in our house the games aren't dared to be talked about, because of my younger brother, Charlie.
Charlie is as sweet as seven year olds come, he's sinless and pure. His hazel eyes are crystal hazelnuts, wide spaced and curious about everything. His biggest worries are how he's going to present his next magic trick. He wants to be a magician when he's older, and maybe he will become the first magician in District Four, if the odds are in his favour.
Outside is undisturbed, like a ghost town, no one goes out on reaping day. Most stay securely inside, spending what could be the final mornings with their loved ones.
District Four is a place of peace and tranquility when The Hunger Games aren't contaminating our television screens. It is definitely one of the more beautiful districts. The waves of water sparkle under the sun and stars alike, the crystal blue is endless, like the wandering thoughts and escapism. I love the water, it's a subdue place I can run to in times of desperation. The glittering crystal always seems to calm my anxieties.
"Whatcha doing out here all on your own, Evelyn?"
The sudden voice shocks me, making me sharply turn my head to look at the subject in question, though I relax at the sight of my best friend, Joshua Nicholls.
"Can't sleep" I clarify, though I'm sure he knows that already deep down.
"Me neither, but I figured you'd be here, so I came" He tells me sheepishly, looking down as he runs a hand through his short blonde hair, refreshing the style he had made earlier this morning.
His slight embarrassment makes me smile. If there's anyone that can make me smile, it's Josh. The Hunger Games is like Satan's word in a church in my house, but outside by the crashing waves, Josh and I will rant for hours about our abhorrence and hatred of President Snow, the citizens of the Capitol and their sick idea of entertainment.
Most would be disgusted by our hatred of the games because District Four is a career district, meaning most of us have been training for the games illegally since we were able to walk. I didn't escape this wrath, I was pushed into training at the age of five by my father, 'just in case' he would always say.
"You're nearly out, Joshy. This is your last one" I say.
He nods, but his expression is still grim. "I know, but anything can happen... After Odair's victory two years ago less and less people seem to be volunteering here" he observes, and I don't want to believe it, but it's true... No one volunteered at all last year.
"Come on, Eve. Let's go to the rocks" He changes the topic, making me nod in agreement.
As we walk, Josh stuffs his hands in his pockets. He's attractive, there's no doubt about that, no one could resist the sea blue of his eyes and the way the corners of his lips shift upwards to a smirk. He rarely smiles, unless he's with me and the water, or his family, the ones he holds close. Not many people get to see last his illusion of arrogance, his 'I'm above everyone here' facade. I think he would make a good career, I don't have the heart to ever tell him this though. Soon enough, we approach the rocks and we climb until we come to one high enough that we can sit on and dangle out legs over the rippling waves of the river.
"So Eve, we haven't had a spar in a while, well have to whip out the swords when the reaping is over" He says, lightly grinning.
"I've done my fair share of training, besides, I'm sure Corina would be happy enough to take my place"
"She's not as good as you"
"No, but she does have the hots for you"
"Who doesn't have the hots for me? Let's be honest here, I'm fabulous"
"I don't have the hots for you..l you are fabulous though, Ill give you that"
"Pfft, don't tell my dad that, he wants me to ask for your hand in marriage one day"
My heart pauses for a second, and I curse the sudden falter in my speech as the air gets trapped in my throat. I look down at the water, catching my reflection in the clearness of the water, my green eyes staring right back.
"We're too young. Besides I don't love you like that"
"You don't love me?"
"I do love you, but I'm not in love with you" I clarify, I don't look at him, but I see him look off in the opposite direction from the reflection of the water, and I can't help but notice the twitching at the corner of lips as they turned up slightly. There was something he wasn't telling me...
"Love doesn't matter anymore, Evelyn. You want the peaches and the cream but you don't even get the peaches. If love existed, The Hunger Games wouldn't"
He had a point, "I suppose so"
The carefree atmosphere is suddenly shattered when I enter through the front door of my house a few hours later, so I decide to avoid all conversation by dashing upstairs to my bedroom.
On my bed is a perfectly laid out dress. The dress is as black as the night sky, and along the middle is a navy blue belt that ties into a big bow at the side. On my bedside is a box that contains a pair of black heels and a necklace. The necklace is a baby blue crystallised stone that emulates the sea.
I pick up the clothes and make my way to the bathroom at the end of the hall.
The water in the shower is warm, but I only have twenty minutes before the water will turn stone cold. I take my chances though, savouring every second, as if it is going to delay the reaping.
Once I am deprived of the soothing warmth that eased my bones, I got changed into the clothes that my mother had left out for me. Last year I wore a dark emerald dress. Dark dresses seem to the the following theme, perhaps it was my mothers way of defying the Capitol, not conforming to their bright colour schemes.
The kitchen has an eerie sense, my mother is making breakfast and my father is reading the morning newspaper, his crestfallen eyes weren't following any worlds, only staring at the title that reminded him the reaping was upon us.
"Where did you go this morning, dear?" My mother asks as she places a bowl of cereal before me. I'm not hungry and I have a horrible feeling that if I eat, it won't be long before all comes back up.
"I went to the rocks with Josh" I tell her simply, making her smile as if a thought or memory crossed her mind.
"That reminds me actually, you'll have to go and catch us some fish, John. Your catches are always the best" my mother says, smiling directly at my father. He looks up and smiles back.
"They're only the best because of the way you cook them"
I watch my parents, the way they look at each other, they got the peaches and the cream.
"Welcome, welcome! Ladies and gentlemen, boys and girls" District Four's escort, Flora Leigh beams at the gathering crowds at the town square. This is the only part of District Four I despise.
My expectations of Flora's appearance isn't faltered. She looks just as ridiculous and our of place as she did last year. This year shes wearing a tight pastel purple corset with what looks like tissue paper for a skirt, the tissue paper- like fabric only just about the covers of the tops of her thoughts in the rainbow coloured sections.
Behind her, the two previous victors of District Four sit either side of the mayor. Mags is the oldest victor alive today and despite her beaten down features, she looks incredibly good for her age, though it is rumoured that she has a speaking impairment, I'm not too sure I believe that. Beside the sweet old lady is Finnick Odair, the youngest tribute to ever win the games at fourteen. He's sixteen now, like me. But age seems to be the only thing me and Odair share in common, because like Mags, Finnick has rumours, his being the slightly more severe. He's charming, though and I'm memorised by the way he scans over the crowd, a gorgeous smile on his lips. His eyes are unfocused though, and it makes me wonder what really goes on behind his closed doors - other than the rumoured activities.
As the girls gather on the left side around me, the boys gather on the right. I look around, trying to catch a glimpse of Josh, but there is not a chance of spotting him now, with each second, I'm getting more and more claustrophobic.
"Welcome!" Flora repeats, "Welcome to the reaping for the sixty seventh annual Hunger Games! Isn't this exciting? I can't wait to see out two fresh faced tributes this year, we might be in for a win! Anyway, let's hop to it, shall we? As always, it's ladies first!"
She totters to the left side of the stage, her heels clicking loudly like the ticking of time, wishing some poor souls life away.
She dips her hand into the bowl, and all I could feel was my heart twisting painfully with each flick of her wrist. Once she picks out a little slip, she totters back over to the microphone and opens the folds.
"And our female tribute is... Evelyn Barnes!"