Chapter 1

"Catherine Rosethorne," the crisp-looking woman in the dress suit that has come to read off the names at the reaping booms over the crowd in her stupid Capitol accent.

My jaw almost hits the floor as I hear my name and realize what is happening. I blink a couple times, then gulp and set my jaw, bracing myself for the worst, as I take the stage.

I see my friend Ember, her eyes wide with fear, biting her lip, the hurt in her eyes. She is fourteen, a past survivor of the so-called "Games" we are all forced to endure. She is the big sister I never had.

I fix my eyes on her, hold her gaze with a look of fiery determination that says, You know me. I won't back down. I'll survive. For your sake.

When she nods and looks away, my breath catches in my throat, and my gaze meets the floor, ashamed.

I'm already making promises I can't keep.

As the Capitol woman with her enhanced features asks for volunteers, I look toward the sky.

Mama... Father... Wherever you are... Please just know I love and miss you more than words can say, and please... Please watch over me... Give me strength.

I look out at the crowd again, my breath catching in my throat again, tears threatening to spill over. No one has volunteered, although there is an unsteady murmur among the District 3 crowd. Of course, I'm twelve, and they don't see it fit for a little one like me to be thrown into an arena to fight to the death.

I quickly wipe my eyes. I can't cry now. Not with so many cameras trained on me.

Then Ember does something truly wonderful.

She begins to sing my favorite song as a little girl, her high-pitched, clear and beautiful voice dancing along the verses. This is why her nickname is "Mockingjay".

"Hear the wind whisper ever softly

Through the sky-reaching pines,

See the leaves gently sway,

Breathe in the fragant scent of lilies

Coming from someplace far away..."

It's very old, really; written way before my time. So as soon as the rest of the crowd recognizes it, they begin to sing along, until all you hear is the sound of hundreds and hundreds of voices united joyously through song.

"These are the joys of today,

So hold them close,

Never allow them to slip away.

These days you will forever remember

The greatest days of your life."

I can't help it; this time I do cry. Only a couple of tears, though. I give a warm smile to the audience."Thank you... Thank you all so much."

Ember smiles in that only-one-corner-of-her-mouth way she has, and I smile back.

"That was my favorite song as a child," I explain, flipping my jet-black emo-style bangs out of my shining emerald eyes.

The Capitol woman looks quite annoyed. "Well, then. Time to announce our boy tribute!" she sings.

I bite my lip. Who will I have to betray? Turn against? Quite literally stab in the back?

She crosses to the boys' ball and produces a single slip of paper from it, glancing at it furtively. "Motris Wolf."

My stomach does a somersault. I'm sure my eyes are as big as golf balls.

Anyone but Motris, my secret crush for about five years now.

His face darkens and he shoves his hands into his jean pockets, making his way to the stage.

Shaggy light brown hair that flopped just the right way over laughing, intensely gorgeous, pale blue eyes; almost clear.

It's him, all right.

I bite my lip and hide my face behind one glossy curtain of my hair, thanking God it was long enough.

Great. Now I have to murder the hottest guy I ever laid eyes on. This will not be easy.