Chapter 1
Rapunzel's point of view
As I walk around District 8 I feel everyone's eyes on me. I sigh; I can't even take a walk around town without everyone staring. When I reach the market I'm immediately happier. Sandy; the man who works there is welcoming me with a smile. I grab some white cloth and head to the counter. Sandy is mute so he is the only one who understands being an outcast.
I try to pay for the cloth but Sandy shakes his head no. I put the money back in my pocket. I know why; it's because of the reaping. This year is a quarter quell; that means that anything can happen. The last quarter quell was that all of the previous victors went back to the reaping. I'm 17 so that means that I'm eligible for the hunger games.
The hunger games are a competition where children kill each other for the capitals enjoyment. There are 11 districts and one capital; there used to be a district 12 but it was destroyed out of rebellion. The capital sends a boy and a girl between the ages of 12-18 from each district. Once you are 12, your name gets put into a bowl where they pick people for the hunger games. You can also get your name put in again to get extra food or if you get caught doing something against the rules.
My name has been in there 38 times because I get extra food and give it to children who can't hunt. I mostly live on berries because I don't like killing animals, when I do get meat it's because I pay for it.
"Thank you" I say to Sandy who nods in return. I shoot him a smile and put the cloth into my pocket.
I walk out of the market to get greeted with stares again. I make my way over to my house. Once I get there I put on a smile as the smell of flowers fills my nose. My house defiantly stands out against the others; it's a dull grey colour but covered in vines and flowers. Everyone thinks I'm odd because I'm always happy, have super long blond hair and wear colour. I make my own clothes from white cloth and dye them with berry juice while everyone else just wears brown or black. The other districts can't afford the darker cloth so that's what sets us apart.
As I walk up to my house I pick a Nightlock berry; very poisonous but beautiful colour. As I pick the berry I prick my finger on a thorn surrounding it. Luckily, I didn't get any juice on my cut or else I would be dead in ten seconds. I go into my house, drop the Nightlock into a bowl and sit down on the couch. I take the end of my braid and wrap it around my finger.
I start to sing a song. My hair starts to glow strand by strand. My hair can heal the sick or injured which is another reason why people stay away from me. I feel a slight tingle in my fingertip as the cut starts to close. Once I'm done my song I unwrap my finger; good as new.
Every quarter quell the capital announces live on video what this year's challenge will be. I already have my monitor set up but the announcement doesn't start for a while. I stand up and grab my mortar and pestle, I also grab my bowl filled with Nightlocks. I sit back down on my couch and drop a berry into the mortar. I only crush one berry at a time so I can remove the seeds and skin to get a more even colour.
I start to mash the Nightlock with my pestle. It's a long process; making the juice but it will all be worth it in the end. The sweet smell of the Nightlocks is almost hard to resist, that's what makes them so dangerous; people are attracted to the berries and eat them. As I start on my last berry, the holographic TV starts.
"Ladies and gentlemen, this is the 100th year of The Hunger Games" says a man with lime green hair; Caesar.
"And it was written in the charter of The Games that every 25 years, there would be a Quarter Quell to keep fresh for each new generation the memory of those who died in the uprising against the Capitol" Caesar says with his famous almost fake smile.
"Each Quarter Quell is distinguished by Games of a special significance" Caesar says while opening a yellow envelope with a red seal.
"And now on this the 100th anniversary of our defeat of the rebellion" but he never mentioned the rebellion 25 years ago.
"We celebrate the 4th Quarter Quell as a reminder that even the strongest cannot overcome the power of The Capitol" Caesar must get bored, repeating this every quarter quell.
"On this, the 4th Quarter Quell Games" I look up from my Nightlock; here it comes.
"A male or female tribute will be reaped and brought to the games alone from each district; without a mentor" Caesar smiles.
"Happy Hunger Games". Then the screen retreats.
It took a while for the information sink in. No mentors that's probably because there are no mentors; after the rebellion and district 12 was destroyed all of the remaining victors went to district 13 which was destroyed again out of rebellion. Then they didn't have the hunger games for a couple years because of a girl and a boy; Katniss Everdeen and Peeta Mellark. They were killed after starting the rebellion. But then they started up the games again once President Stoick became in charge.
President Stoick is all in for tradition; he also has a son around my age, I feel bad for him because it's just a matter of time before he goes to the games. But why one person per district? Maybe it was because we're so low in population right now; but why would the capital care about that? Maybe I shouldn't have put my name in so many times. I push the thought to the back of my mind, both boy's and girl's names will be in the bowl so it's a lot slimmer chance.
I walk over to my pure white dress beside me. Grab a paint brush from a jar and dip the rabbit hair into the berry juice. I smile; a blank canvas. I start to paint the cloth and put on more coats in some places to make the colour darker. I end up with a beautiful light purple dress with a darker colour bottom; there were strips on the sleeve and flower patterns on the skirt. I attach some lace around the edges and stand back to observe my work.
It looks good, really good but something is missing. I take some string and dip it in the remains of the juice, as I let it soak I poke some holes in the dress with a knife. I take out the thread and ring it out. I lace the cord through the holes and tie a bow at the top. Now I am satisfied; the perfect reaping dress.
The next day I wake up on the couch. I stretch my arms and look up at the clock; 11:30. The reaping's at noon! I quickly wash myself and get my new dress on. I pull my hair into a braid and check the time 11:55; perfect timing.
I walk out the door and join the crowd heading towards the center. The center is the middle of the town with a huge stage where Tooth; a bubbly lady picks names for the hunger games. Everyone has to go to the reaping, even parents. On many occasions parents, have been shot trying to prevent their kids from going to the games. I don't have any parents that I can remember but I wish I did.
Before you enter the center, guards from the capital take a blood sample so that they know you have attended; if you haven't you will be shot.
"Next" says a woman dressed in a pure white suit; as if she was trying not to catch an illness. She grabs my finger, pricks it with a needle and rubs it on a piece of paper.
"Next" she says harshly as she releases my hand from her grip. I smile at her and walk away. I make my way over to the other 17-year old's. I stand beside two other girls which both flinch and move aside. I sigh, just think, after this you only have one more year to be eligible.
"Welcome, welcome" says Tooth. Tooth was wearing a colourful dress that was shorter in the front than the back and covered in blue, green and purple feathers. She was also wearing a feather head piece with gold in the middle.
"Happy Hunger Games and may the odds be ever in your favour" She says with a capital accent. The capital wanted to have their own accent to set them apart from the other districts.
"Now, before we begin" here comes the annual video.
"We have a very special film" I knew it.
"Brought to you all the way from the Capitol" the film starts playing but I tune it out. I look closer at the bowl; it's three times the size as usual, I wonder which pieces of paper has my name on it.
"I just love that" Tooth says with obvious excitement.
"President Stoick declared that this year there will be no volunteers". Confusion strikes me why would he do that.
"Now, the time has come to select one courageous young man or woman" Tooth says with a smile.
"For the honor of representing District Annual Hunger Games" Tooth says and claps expecting people to clap back. Tooth frowns slightly.
"Let's do this, shall we?" Tooth then walks up to the bowl and stirs her hand around. Finally Tooth picks one, everyone holds their breath.
"Rapunzel Corona" Tooth says putting down the paper. My breath catches in my throat, I feel like I'm dead, I'm very lightheaded, my eyes well up in tears. Out of everyone in the district; it's me; I'm going to the hunger games. All eyes fall on me again, but this time it's different; this time everyone was looking at me with sympathy.
"Well come on up, don't be shy" Tooth says trying to encourage me. I start to hyperventilate as I walk down the aisle and up to the stage. I settle my breathing and try to stand tall.
"Happy Hunger Games and may the odds be ever in your favour" Tooth says. Soft tears roll down my cheek. Everyone looks at me with griefful eye; as if I'm already dead. Sandy, who was standing in the back looked angry and shocked; he knew he couldn't do anything. If he tried to stop them then he would be shot.
The guards come up on and lead me to a room backstage. The second the door closes behind me I run over to the corner farthest from the entrance. I sit down and pull my knees tight to my chest. It's me, I'm going to the Hunger Games with no help. I'll be the first dead and everyone knows it. The door swings open and in comes Sandy.
"You have three minutes" says a guard. Sandy nods and the door closes. Sandy looks at me with concern and approaches the corner.
"I can't do this Sandy, I won't have any help from mentors and I don't even kill animals so how can I win the games" I say as my voice cracks. Sandy puts his two hands together trying to tell me something.
"Allies?" I say. Sandy nods his head.
"I don't know, what if I pick the wrong people" I say with a worried tone. Sandy points to me and then to his head; you'll know. I smile a little then look down. Sandy reaches into his pocket and pulls out a golden bracelet with a flower pendant.
"It's beautiful, is it real?" I ask wondering where he got such a thing. Sandy smiles and drops it in my hand.
"Thank you" I say and hug Sandy. The guards burst through the door and pry Sandy off of me
"No, no Sandy!" I yell as he is dragged out the door. I try and open it but it's locked. I walk back to the counter and sit down. I put my head on my knees and cry. That is the last time I will ever see Sandy.