Chapter 1

A/N- So, this is just a little story that wouldn't leave my head so I decided to post it to see what you guys think. Let me know please. :) I have Carlynn's Reaping outfit on my profile if you wish to see it. More will be posted for later chapters.

-DISCLAIMER- I own nothing but my character and her mom.

Life has always been hard for my family. Hell, I'm sure life is hard for everyone else in this god-forsaken district. It's all because of how far we are from the Capital. You'd think that maybe they would treat us better since we provide their coal for whatever it is they need it for. I guess you figured out which district I live in by now, if not I'll tell you since you seem to be too stupid to comprehend it. No offense or anything. I'm talking about the lovely District 12. Let me tell you about my life.

I live in the Seam, the less fortunate side of the small district. Now, most of the Seam residents detest the Merchants because of how much they have and how better of a life obtain. I think their reasoning is a bunch of bull. Why give a shit about what other people have? Most, if not all, were born into that life. They have no control over that. I'm not saying I actually like the Merchant children, because most of them I don't, I'm just saying that that's not a reasonable explanation to ones hatred.

That said lets continue. I really only have five friends here; Peeta, Primrose, Gale, Madge, and lastly Katniss Everdeen. Surprisingly she and I are the closest. We have more in common. We both are generally natural survivors, we both hunt, both of our dads are gone, and once our dads had gone our 'mothers' had gone into a depression. However her mother had been able to overcome it.

Today is the most famous day of the year, The Reaping. Of course, none of us in this district are excited. We haven't had a victor since Haymitch and he's a drunk. I dress in my nicest clothes, which is a plain white dress and black sandals, and walk out of my small bedroom. My sickly looking mother sits on my dad's favorite chair and stares into space. That's all she ever does. I guess she could have been beautiful once. Her dark hair cascading in curls that I inherited, high cheek bones that I had also inherited. Our only major differences are our eyes. While hers are a dull grey that used to contain warmth and happiness mine are a dark sapphire blue that I had gotten from my father. She only eats twice a week and even then it's just a small slice of bread. I walk over and tap her shoulder, but she never even looks my way. Just sits there.

I leave her in her dream-like state and make my way to the town square. I pass Katniss's house and she wordlessly falls instep beside me. That's the best thing about our friendship. No words need to be spoken, we just understand each other. Her little sister, Prim, on the other hand loves to talk. We step foot in the Town's Square just as she finishes telling us about what she learned in school the other day.

As we go to the entrance desk Prim freezes up. I look into her line of sight; she saw one of the Peacekeepers pricking a young boy's finger. I go to stop too but my dark-haired friend lifts a hand letting me know I can go. I nod to them both and step in line. The female Peacekeeper grabs my hand, draws blood with the needle and squeezes it on the paper. She uses her electronic device and scans the blood, MOSHA, CARLYNN appearing on the small screen. I swiftly move through the crowd of nervous teens and stand in the sixteen-year-old section. Katniss quietly slips in beside me and I grab her hand reassuringly.

"Welcome! Welcome!" Our district escort, Effie Trinket, cheers, her false smile getting larger. "Happy Hunger Games, and may the odds be ever in your favor." Her accent getting more prominent at the end of her sentence. "Now, before we begin, we have a very special film brought to you all the way from the Capitol."

War, terrible war. Widows, orphans, a motherless child. This

was the uprising that rocked our land.

Thirteen districts rebelled against the country that fed them,

loved them, protected them. Brother turned on brother

until nothing remained. And then came the peace, hard fought,

sorely won. The people rose up from the ashes and a new era was born.

But freedom has a cost and the traitors were defeated.

We swore as a nation we would never know this treason again. And so

it was decreed, each year, the various districts of Panem would offer

up in tribute, one young man and woman, to fight to the death

in a pageant of honor, courage and sacrifice. The

lone victor bathed in riches, would serve as a reminder of our generosity

and our forgiveness. This is how we remember

our past. This is how we safeguard our future.

"I just love that." She breaths out, her fake smile returning. "Now the time has come for us to select one courageous young man and woman for the honor of representing District 12 in the 74th annual Hunger Games. Now, ladies first." She wobbles over to the glass bowl in her ridiculously high heels and pulls out a small card. When the microphone is close to her mouth she announces the name, "Primrose Everdeen!" No.

My heart rate speeds up and it's so quiet I'm sure everyone can hear it. Blood starts pounding in my ears when I see Katniss try to move through the crowd to reach her sister. I make a split second decision that will either change my life forever or end it. "I volunteer!"