Chapter 1

It was just past 8:00 clock in the morning. I stand before our little wood stove mixing a pot of oatmeal for when Max and June get up. It should be bubbling by now, seeing as I have been standing here for a good 10 minutes but it's still a cold, cloudy, mess. I bend down to check the fire. I haven't even lit one. Something must be seriously wrong with me today. I start a good, big fire that should last for at least the whole day. Smoke now should be billowing out of the chimney in our little ramshackle house. Glancing back at our fire wood pile I notice it's looking a little low but it's not a problem. I can tell my father to cut some more, or even I could go out and do it. Wood is in no shortage here because I live in District 7.

What is district 7 you ask? District 7 is the lumber district that provides wood and paper to the Capitol. The Capitol is the ruling city of Panem. That's the country I live in. District 7 is a large vast district that lies on the North West side of the Rocky Mountains in an area of what was once called North America. The climate is cool and rains more often than not, and today is no exception as the rain patters against the kitchen window. The air smells fresh and there's an underlying hint of pine. District 7 is nothing but vast forests of pines, cedars, and other deciduous trees. I hear the thumping of boots coming up the steps and I can only guess at who it is.

The door slams open, "Happy Hunger Games!" Shouts a wet and soggy Corin as he rubs his feet on the door mat.

He stomps over to the kitchen and pulls out a chair, flopping into it. Lucifer traipses behind and stands awkwardly in the kitchen, brushing the hair out his eyes.

This is Corin and Lucifer Evans, two brothers who could not look and behave any more different from each other. Corin, the older of two is incredibly tall and strong, loud and boisterous. Corin is the life of the party. Almost everyone likes him, It's hard not to, because his personality is infectious. Then there's Lucifer, medium height with a head of messy red hair. Lucifer is calm and quiet, he talks often but his voice is always slow and soft. Right now he's standing in my kitchen still fiddling with his bangs, something he does when he doesn't know what else to do. The only way you could tell they were brothers is by their noses, almost in an identical aquiline shape.

"What you cookin' up there?" Corin asks.

"Corin, will you please be quiet! Max and June are still asleep!" I say, waving my wooden spoon at him.

"He's probably already woken them up." Sighs Lucifer, still standing in the middle of my kitchen.

But Lucifer is right; I hear groans of protest as Max and June trudge down the stairs from their bedroom. Max and June are my younger brother and sister. They're twins, and although they look different their personalities are similar. Sensitive and caring.

"Why are you so cheerful anyways?" Max accuses as he lands on the last step. He's staring at Corin with a cranky expression.

Max is correct. It's out of place for anyone to be happy today. Today is reaping day. A day where we're herded into the main town's square where one boy and one girl between the ages of 12 and 18 is drawn to compete in the "honour" of participating in the Hunger Games. I say this ironically, there's nothing honourable to me about the Hunger Games. The Hunger Games is where 24 adolescent competitors are thrown into an arena to fight to the death until one stands alone. It's basically like herding 24 pigs into the slaughter house. So you can see how this would be a solemn day for everybody.

"Sorry." Corin says "I guess I'm putting on a bit of a show, but I'm just relived that my name's no longer in that draw."

That's right. Corin is nineteen so he no longer qualifies as a competitor. I understand where he's coming from. I can't imagine the fear that takes over when a tribute's name is drawn. Lucifer has not said anything but he's looking anxious.

"Last one for us." He says, finally pulling a chair out from the table and sitting down. There is a green tinge to his pale skin.

"May the odds be ever in our favour." I say.

"Soren does it better." Corin says.

Soren Pressman. He's the man that comes every year from the Capitol to our district to draw the names for Tributes and escort them into the possession of the Capitol. Like most people from the Capitol Soren is overly energetic about the whole aspect of the Hunger Games but I guess he's making up for everyone else who isn't. I look at Lucifer, He's already in his reaping clothes. A crisp blue collared shirt and black pants. Simple. He's clean and well groomed, he looks handsome.

Corin looks like he's making an obvious effort to look unkempt. He's wearing an old flannel shirt and his work boots. He always had a bit of a rebellious personality and should have gotten in trouble with the peacekeepers more often than he did. But the peacekeepers here are pretty lax. I'm not entirely sure why, maybe it's because there hasn't been a big offense in years so they've gotten lazy or maybe they've just learned to over look little thing that don't matter all that much. Perhaps we've gotten lucky with our head peacekeeper, Laurent. I don't even know how she managed to become head peacekeeper, she only stands at about five feet but she must be tough. We tolerate our peacekeepers because they could be worse. I've heard that some districts are brutal when it comes to law enforcement.

I turn to Max and June. "I made you some oatmeal for breakfast."

Max thanks me and dishes up a bowl but June wavers, looking from me to Max.

"No thanks, I'm not hungry."

I know she's lying. Of course she's hungry except she's too nervous about the reaping that will take place a few hours from now. June is always like this on reaping days, distant and afraid, only speaking when she absolutely has to. I try and coax some breakfast into her however she refuses by giving me a silent, vacant stare. I give up and go up stairs to lay out some clothes for them. Corin volunteers to eat June's share and Lucifer frowns at him. I tell him he can though, and still to this day I would feel bad refusing him. Lucifer and Corin have been in a care home for most of their lives and I admire both their courage for making it this far, since I know what dim dreadful places they are. Their parents both died when they were around 7 and 8 in a storm. A tree broke and fell through the roof of the house crushing both their parents. I didn't know them either of them until they were placed in the care home in the main village of district 7 where I live. District 7 is big enough that it has a few smaller outlying villages around the main one. Lucifer and I met during school. I asked him on the first day he was there why his hair was so orange. He told me it was because he ate a lot of carrots. We've been friends ever since. It's because of Lucifer that I've gotten to know Corin. Both of them are very dear to me. Thankfully, Corin is no longer in the care facilities since he turned 19 and now works on the lumber teams. He has a small one room hut on the edge of the village.

It's ten to nine right now and I'm wondering where my father is. I'm guessing he got up early to go into town and to do some trading. I tell Corin and Lucifer to make themselves at home while I get ready. They already have anyway.

I wash myself at the wash basin and scrub the dirt from underneath my fingernails. No matter how much I try to maintain them dirt always manages to get under. I slip on the same dress that I've almost always (once I could fit in it) wear on reaping days. A simple floral patterned brown dress. It was my mother's before she passed away. She died when I was 6 of what we suspect was cancer. We never really found out though. I look at myself through the little crooked mirror that hangs on our faded walls. My auburn hair is already drying in waves. I decide to leave it. I look nice enough I guess.

Voices from downstairs travel from downstairs. It sounds like my father is now home. I rush downstairs to say hello.

"Max, June, Wash up! I laid out some nice things for you" I tell them.

"Thanks Sis." Says Max as he and June get up from the table, pushing each other out of the way as they climb the stairs.

"Well don't you look lovely!" My father says, coming over to straighten out my collar. "You look just like your mother in that dress."

I blush and look at my feet, "I doubt that." I mumble.

"I think you look nice." Corin admits shrugging his shoulders and putting his feet up on the table. Lucifer half nods in agreement.

I roll my eyes, "Oh yeah, and I'm supposed to believe anything that comes out of your mouth?" I say a little bit harsher than I meant to. Regardless I add "And take your boots of the table!" before I can reel it back in.

Corin looks a little more hurt than he should and all he tells me is that he wasn't lying. Still, I give him an incredulous look that tells him that I don't believe him. My father breaks the somewhat awkward silence.

"We should probably get down to the town square once your brother and sister are ready..."

I nod and he gives all of us a long, tight hug before we set off. Hopefully it won't be the last.

I squint through the masses of other children crammed into our town square. Since I'm 18 I'm shoved to the very back. Through the masses of heads I can just barely see the two glass globes holding the names of potential tributes. The tall wooden doors of the justice hall open with a groan of protest and out steps Soren Pressman, the escort of District 7. I can see him clearly now, the screens have lit up with his face.

"Happy hunger games!" He says as he steps up to the microphone "and may the odds be ever in your favour."

Like usual Soren looks completely out of place in his outlandish Capitol style. This year he's wearing a lime green tie with matching eyeliner. His hair is the same as always, clipped short and stark white, like a little snow capped hill.

"Shall we get going then?" he asks.

Soren wastes no time with getting the reaping over with and the sooner the better. I can just go home and live out the rest of my life in relative safety. Unfortunately I will still have to worry about my brother and sister.

"Ladies first" He strolls casually over to the first globe. He lowers his hand slowly and paused briefly for dramatic effect. I feel like I am going to throw up. Just pull out a slip already! He chooses his slip from the bottom and walks back to the microphone. He takes one slow breath and announces

"Forsythia Lind".

I don't move at first. Maybe there is some other Forsythia Lind and he is calling her up. Of course it's me though. My whole world has come crashing down because I have just received a death sentence. I knew the odds weren't exactly in my favour but I was happy being oblivious about it. Maybe this is a dream and in a few minutes I'll wake up still in my home, in my bed under the false safety that a blanket provides. Soren repeats my name again and I have to go up. My feet are made of lead as I trudge through the crowd of staring eyes and sad faces. It feels like I've just walked a kilometer once I reach the stage. I want to crumple to my knees and cry but I tell myself not to. I look into the crowd for my father but I cannot find his face. Max and June stand out to me and I find them easily. Max looks so shocked and June has her face buried in her hands. I keep telling myself not to cry.

"Now for the boys!" Soren say as he goes through his whole dramatic pause again before he pulls the boy's name. He opens the slip and reads

"Lucifer Evans".

Someone somewhere must hate us. I can't stop myself any longer and the tears come down like a waterfall, dripping off the end of my nose as I hang my head. How stupid I was, thinking everything could be ok. Now it's twice as worse. My closest friend and I must fight to the death. I can't breathe again and I find myself gasping for air as I watch Lucifer, silently and slowly make his way up to the stage. Corin looks like he might yell or even start a fight but I know he can't. Peacekeepers like the area like a human fence. His face clearly shows pain and frustration. The earlier relief and almost happiness ceases to exist.

The tears have not slowed down at all. I can only imagine what the other tributes will think when they watch the other reapings. I'll be checked off their list to kill right away. Soren puts a hand on mine and Lucifer's shoulders.

"Ladies and Gentlemen I give you the tributes of District 7, Lucifer Evans and Forsythia Lind!"

The crowd gives a short reluctant clap and Soren is pulling us through the doors of the justice building.

Ta-da! The first chapter on my own take of a past hunger games is up! Please tell me what you think! :)