The Never Ending Stories of Panem

My name is Grace and I live in district 3 (that's electricity). Every year there's a Hunger Games and every year I sit with my family at the table the day of the Reaping eating bread, cheese, roast and an apple before heading off to face my fears in the rope that holds me close to kids my age, some older and some younger, as we wait to hear our faith. This year is the 73 Hunger Games and my third time in the reaping. The reaping isn't for a month but seems as if every day I become more and more terrified. Terrified that one of my 15 names will be called, terrified of leaving my mother, father, and brother alone to sob over my dressed up body in a Capitol casket, terrified of how strong President Snow can really be, and terrified of how my whole life has been wasted away as just another district girl that has no value to anyone. This is my story a small girl that grew up to fast because of the Capitol. The never ending stories of Panem.

It's a hot Monday morning as me and my younger brother (Trey) set off to school. As I drop off my brother in his computer class I can't help over hear some girls talking about this guy who just moved here from the other side of district 3. He now goes to my school and now all the girls won't stop talking about him its annoying. But I can't judge considering I have never met him. Trying to forget what I just heard I walk to my computer hacking class. Here in district 3 almost every class has to do with computers and I'm good at it, I can hack into a computer in 2 minutes in my class that's a new record. I take my sit in the front of class to the right were the computers so it's easier for me to get first dibs on the good computers. As I wait for the bell to ring I go through my homework, I never got to do it last night cause I was too busy working in my Aunts bakery working on her website, then cleaning, then baking my cookies that everyone seems to enjoy. Trying to do as much as I could the bell rang and I ran out of time. Sometimes I wish I could just stop time completely. My teacher Mr. Mellers walks in with a gross yellow shirt with matching shorts and a black belt that is hidden by his belly fat sometimes I think he might be the worst dressed teacher in the world. Trying not to laugh was hard considering the whole class was laughing at his summer wear and Mr. Mellers was not happy he scowled us then lowered his voice to say, "OK class lets meet our new student, he's been here for a 3 weeks but now he's in our class, meet Riley." O.m.g. Riley has to be the cutest guy I have ever seen with brown wavy hair that falls over his aqua blue eyes make him irresistible. As I stared at his full lips that are perfect size I think he would be a good kisser. Riley doesn't just have a cute face but he's also tan, he's muscular and he's tall with long legs and big hands. All the girls seem to shrink when it finally hits me this must be the new kid that everyone is talking about. As I daydream about how the girls always talk about him I get a tap on my shoulder. I jolt back to reality to find out that it was Riley asking me if he could sit next to me, "Hey, you mind if I sit here I like to get first dibs on the computers," I can't believe he wants to sit near me. I replied, "Go ahead it's the only reason why I'm here to get first dibs on the good computers." Riley just laughed showing a beautiful smile, can this guy get anymore cuter, and when he stopped laughing leaving his smile he sat down and took out his book. The book was titled "Hacking: Level 82". Riley must be really good at hacking considering I'm on level 84. Riley looks at my book then at me, "So, you must be Grace," he says with a giggle. How does he know my name? "Yea, how do you know my name?" "Oh, everyone has been talking about a girl named Grace who's on level 84 in hacking the highest level in school so figured it was you." What? People talk about my level in hacking, hardly anyone talks to me about hacking I guess it's a big deal. Before I could say anything else Mr. Mellers told us to start on hacking computers. Riley and I head to the only two computers that never freeze and we get to work. As my hands type away I can't help but think he's staring at me but I'm too focused to look and he's looking at me cause I'm going fast so I don't want to stop, "Done," I scream louder than I wanted to but then I hear Mr. Mellers, "Good job that was 1:59 new record Grace." Everyone claps but Riley who is still just looking at me like he spaced out. When he finally opened his mouth to talk the bell rang and he grabbed his stuff and ran out the door.

Trying to forget about Riley I went straight home but then realized I had to go to work in 6 minutes so started to run. The bakery is a mile away but because I'm fast I made it just in time to check in and grab my apron. While I catch my breath and made sure my heart was still beating I heard the bell on the top on the door ring. "Hello can I help y..." Why is the Mayor in my Aunts bakery only he's servants come to get baked goods never has the Mayor come in here well not that I know of. "Umm, Hello Mayor can I hel-ll-pp you?" I'm so awkward right now. "Yes, is your Aunt around? I need to talk to her right away its important!" My Aunt, what is he doing talking to her? "Yes, she's in the back would you like me to get her?" I started to head to the back when he yelled, "No, I'll get her." What is going on with my Aunt and the Mayor, and why is it so important? About 5 minutes after the Mayor walks to the back my Aunt comes out telling me to lock up and leave early I didn't question her but couldn't help but stare at her to try and find out if she's happy or afraid. Which didn't work her face was emotion less. So I left and didn't look back. At home I finished my homework ate some bread and fell asleep. My dream that night was a nightmare.

"Grace Megers," ME, no it can't be, I can't be going into the Hunger Games, this is impossible. I'm in the arena with blue ocean water all around me and a boat not that far when the gong goes off. I dive into the water and head for the boat when I hear a young man scream his voice so familiar. I reach the boat when I see Riley lying in a pool of his own blood struggling to breathe. What is he doing here he didn't get reaped for the game? He grabbed my hand and then whispered, "Nice work on that computer keep it up my little hacker," and then he went silent. As I tried to shack Riley awake I heard someone from behind me. I turned to see President Snow yell, "Say hello to Riley and your family for me won't you," I was shot with an arrow that jolts me awake. I was shaking and sweaty from my nightmare. Running to the bathroom to splash water on my face I got a look at the clock (4:45). Why did I have that terrible nightmare? All these thoughts went through my head but stopped when my little brother walked in rubbing his eyes. "Why did you kick me?" Oh yea I forgot my brother sleeps next to my bed on the floor I must have kicked him when I made that mad dash to the bathroom. "Sorry, just go back to sleep everything is fine." But everything isn't fine I'm still shacking and sweat is tripping off of me from that nightmare.

Finally after everyone was awake I was able to eat and take a deep breath. Not once did I mention my nightmare to my family for they will surely freak so I keep my thoughts to myself. School that day was endless. Computer class seemed like it was 4 hours long because every time Riley wanted to talk to me I would see his dying face and motion less body pop up in my head and had to look away. Riley would always look hurt when I looked back, I didn't mean to hurt him I just couldn't stand the nightmare flashing in my head. After work I went home, forgot about my homework, and just went start to bed. Luckily tonight wasn't full of nightmares.