Chapter One
Chop. Crash.
I sat on a ancient, decaying tree stump, just like I did every time my brother David and I were sent out to get wood. We had to earn some kind of income, and supply our father since he was a carpenter; only, I never cut down trees - I wasn't allowed. The first time I ever used an axe, about a year ago, I somehow managed to slash myself across my face and knock myself out. Apparently I was in the hospital for weeks, and ever since my parents were always too paranoid to teach me how to axe again.
Crack. Chop.
David was smacking the sharp blade of his axe into weak, half developed trees, yet still managed to make a huge commotion. I sighed dramatically, loud enough so that David would hear me,
"Oh, shut up, Adalyn," he snarled at me.
I, Adalyn Farron, had always acted like a drama queen on that most 'special' of days. Today was the day of the reaping. Everyone from the ages of twelve to eighteen were on the edge of their seats. I couldn't say I wasn't a little anxious, I'd had to get tesserae grain about twice now. Before I could get reaped, David had had to get it all. That meant he had a grand total of 38 slips of paper in the bowl full of names. He was 18.
David began chopping the fallen tree into smaller pieces. On the day of the reaping our parents always made us get a bundle of wood, just in case David got reaped. If he got reaped, my parents would have to purchase the wood. Therefore, our yearly reaping collection was incredibly important to them.
I dragged over the wooden cart I'd helped Dad build when I was 8. David had just turned 12 back then, so that's when our reaping collection began. Even then, David was good with an axe. The squeaky rhythms of the wooden wheels were soothing to me now. For six years I'd been listening to that sound. I let a soft smile play at my lips as I hauled up some wood on to the cart.
After filling the cart up as fully as it would allow, David and I heaved it back to our cosy, log cabin in the centre of District 7, where everyone lived. If you didn't live there, you probably ended up living in a tree. Unless you were a victor, obviously.
Our victor was Johanna Mason - everyone avoided her at all costs. Her deadly tactics in the games she competed in seemed to have horrified everyone - nobody had seen a tribute act so modest and weak, and end up being the most vicious victor anyone had seen in a long time. I kind of admired her. The way she portrayed it all - very skilful. I could safely say I was the only one who thought that in the whole of District Seven
Back at the house, Mom and Dad had changed into some tidy, formal clothes. The Capitol would be filming around District Seven, therefore they wanted their home to look welcoming. In a sort of unattractive way, it was. There was just an abundance of wood shavings everywhere from Dad working about the house.
Putting her hand out towards me, Mom thrust a jade dress into my chest,
"Put this on, Sweets," Mom put on a kind tone for me. If anyone could make reaping day seem a little merrier until the tributes were chosen, Mom could,
"Thanks," I mumbled, beginning to untie the red bandanna I had wrapped around my crimson hair, then headed off to my tiny bedroom. I peeled off my everyday clothes. A simple checked shirt, a pair of jeans, some mismatched socks and a pair of leather boots. They were all slightly grimy, since they hadn't been washed for a few days.
I pulled the green dress over my head, and let it fall into place over my body. It was beautiful, truly. The straps of the dress were wire thin, clinging against my shoulders. The dress itself was quite frilly at the hem, with a ribbon bordering it neatly. I walked over to the one mirror in the house that we owned - placed in my room, since nobody else really wanted the old thing - and stared into it. It was such a shame I wore an elegant thing like that on the saddest day of the year. Unfortunately, I didn't own a pair of shoes that were somewhat pretty. Instead, I slipped on a pair of boots that weren't covered in mud and grass stains, then polished them a little bit more to satisfy myself,
"Ready yet? The reaping starts in about twenty minutes," David walked in, wearing a navy blue shirt and a pair of black pants. Unlike me, David had deep coffee coloured hair, but the same sea green eyes as myself. He had somehow managed to comb it into a neat do,
"Yeah," I never acted like myself before the reaping. Ever since my first reaping when I had seen one of my class mates get chosen and then die in the games, I hadn't been able to stand in the centre of District Seven without feeling slightly nauseous. What was even worse, I could remember his name. Karl Walker. He was in my English class.
I shivered, then began following David and my parents out of the residence. It was mandatory that everyone attended the reaping, even adults. Unless you were actually going to die in an hour or so after the reaping, you had to go. That's how sick minded the Capitol is. How sick minded President Snow is.
The centre of District Seven was always peaceful, apart from today. Long faced teenagers stood in age blocks, a few glancing at their families with dread. Most of these people would never even get reaped, yet they were still terrified beyond thought mentally possible.
Standing in my age block of fourteen year olds, I noticed I was stood next to my6 close friend, Aimee. She looked up at me, her large brown eyes full of horror. She was one of the poorest people in District Seven, her name was in that bowl over 40 times. Mine was in there 8 times.
"Adalyn..." Aimee breathed, taking my hand. She was quivering - she honestly thought she was going to get reaped. I squeezed her hand back, and continued looking around at the other kids. This year, the twelve year olds looked even more shorter, skinnier and scared than normal. I remembered how ridiculously petrified I had been at that age, and even more so when Karl Walker was led to his death. That boy in my English class died in the first three minutes.
I heard a loud clang, it was 2 o'clock. I saw Johanna Mason and the Capitol representative of our district, Gregoire Feninskay, walk up on to the stage. Johanna was giving an icy stare to anyone who had the nerve to make eye contact with her, including Gregoire.
"Welcome, District 7, and Happy Hunger Games!" Chimed Gregoire. His voice was all messed up, it sounded like he'd shoved something up his nose. He showed off his Capitol teeth - perfect, straight and white as snowfall.
I squeezed Aimee's hand tighter as the Panem anthem played, and the same video reminding everyone of The Dark Days was displayed on the huge screens around the centre of the district. I noticed Aimee began weeping next to me, silently, but the tears were visible. When the clip ended, I eyed up the bowl full of names. 8 of mine were in there. Over 40 of Aimee's,
"Well, District 7. Now is the time, let us announce our female tribute for the 72nd Hunger Games!" Gregoire threw his hand into the bowl, making about half of the district flinch. He curled his long fingers around a single slip of paper. Aimee's hand was wrapped so tightly around mine, I could feel my blood flow slowly stopping in my hand.
Silence,
"Adalyn Farron!"
More silence.
That was me.
I couldn't believe it. Did that really happen? Was I about to become like Karl Walker? Was I hallucinating? I knew I wasn't when Aimee let go of my hand, and whispered, "I'm so, so sorry."
My brain told my feet to move, and they seemed to obey. My green dress was stuck to me with cold sweat - I was walking to my death. I knew it. I felt it,
"Up on the stage! Don't look so sad!" Gregoire put on a ridiculously fake smile, and an arm around me. I stepped on the stage, my whole body cold, "Any volunteers?" Gregoire asked merrily.
The crowd was silent. Of course,
"...then let's move on to the gentlemen!" Gregoire forgot my existence temporarily as he dropped his hand into the bowl full of male names. I stared at the floor, hoping the male tribute wouldn't be anyone I knew. It'd be easier that way, "...What's this? David Farron!" Gregoire yelled, "Brother and sister?"
My chin nearly hit the floor. The whole reaping had just gone from grossly appalling to the end of the world. My brother and I - we had to fight each other for our lives.
When David slowly forced himself up on to the stage, practically everyone in the District was at a standstill from horror. I didn't dare look at my parents. I knew that they were going to be in an even worse state than I was. No matter what, at least one of their children were going to die.