I yawn and stretch as I wake up. Today is Reaping Day. My name is in the bowl forty-two times, but I am not scared of being reaped. I am the only one knows that I am familiar with a few different weapons. I sneak out every night and train in the (forbidden)woods for a few hours. I now excel at knives, and I am acceptable with the bow.
I yawn again and get up from my hard bed (my oh-so-loving family forces me to sleep on the floor, but I made a makeshift bed with pine needles and old clothes).
"Emerald, you scum! We're waiting for you! You're such a waste of time and space." My older sister appears in the doorway, hands on her hips. I roll my eyes, go into the bathroom, and fill up the tub with ice cold water. I slip in and scrub my arms and legs with the dirty loofah provided for me.
When I'm done, I drain the water and put on a second hand white dress. I fashion my hair into a french braid. Then I walk out the door, calling back to my 'family',
"I'm going!" I join the throng and wait in a long line.
The lady pricks my finger and presses the bloody fingerprint onto a piece of paper. She scans it and then let's me go to my age group, the fifteen year olds. I look around at all the others. They all look very frightened. Nobody in my district trains ahead of time for the Games, unlike District one, two, and four.
Suddenly, the crowd falls silent, and Candine Kuku (the District eleven escort)steps onto the platform.
"Welcome, welcome!" Candine says brightly into the microphone. "I wish you a happy ninety-second Hunger Games, and may the odds be ever in your favor!"
Yes, the odds are in my favor. "Now, I have a video brought to us all the way from the Capitol."
The screen behind her lights up. War, terrible war... I cross my arms and tap my foot. Why do they show this every single year? I practically know it word for word. Finally, the video is over, and Candine claps her hands excitedly and beams.
"Hmph," a girl from the sixteen year old section mutters.
"Oh, that video is wonderful! I love it more and more every time I watch it. But now is the time to pick two lucky people to participate in the Games. As usual, ladies first!" Candine walks over to the big glass bowl and reaches in. She swishes her fingers around, then pulls out a slip of paper.
"Please not me," a thirteen year old named whispers.
"Emerald Starlight!" Candine announces. The Peacekeepers drag me up to the stage. I stand there quietly, waiting for somebody to volunteer. Nobody does.
"Now for the boy tribute!" Candine puts her hand in the glass bowl. "Thomas Branapple!" A burly boy walks up from the seventeen year old section.
"Shake hands, you two," Candine titters happily. We obey.
The Peacekeepers whisk us away into the 'Goodbye Rooms'. I am alone. Suddenly, my best friend Juliet rushes in and throws herself on me. She is still wearing her reaping outfit.
"No…" is all she says. She cries a moment, her black hair flung onto my chest and tears dripping from her green eyes, and I allow one single tear to drop onto her shaking shoulder, but there will be cameras at the train station. It will not do to have red eyes. A Peacekeeper comes in, dragging Juliet away. She is screaming and kicking him.
Soon we board the train. An Avox shows me to my room. I try to avoid Thomas. Our mentor has a cold. He stays in his room.
...
I watch the reaping.
The reapings for District 12 interest me. The girl volunteered for her young twelve year old sister.
We go through a dark tunnel just as I finish watching the tape. Then, when we pass through, I see the Capitol. I see the colorful crowd. Many have dyed their skin strange colors, while others have poofy wigs, and the clothing is blinding. They cheer loudly. I wave and blow kisses, while Thomas just scowls.
...
"Wake up, Emerald! It's going to be a big, big, day!" Candine shrieks. I moan and sit up, rubbing my eyes.
"Whatever," I mumble. I change and stumble down to breakfast. I grab a small roll and a few slices of bacon. Our mentor, Chaff Carson has gotten better. He lectures us about sponsors and tells me not to get anything from the Cornucopia.
I nod, but I will not obey him when the time comes.
Suddenly, I am dragged off into a room and scary Capitol people crowd around me. They all start stripping me of all my body hair without even introducing themselves. One waxes my legs, another plucks my eyebrows, and the final one squeals and tries to calm me down. I grit my teeth and bite back a scream.
"Don't fret, dearie!" the third member of the prep team shrieks. "That was the last one!" Another hollers,
"Right, Syena. Now she doesn't look completely hopeless!"
"I agree, Mikel!" the woman (supposedly Syena)replies. The other one joins in.
"I, Athena, totally agree too!" 'Athena' yells. They force me into a paper dress.
"Now it's time for Vidya to work her magic!" Mikel exclaims.
"Yes-let's go get her now!" Athena replies. They scurry out of the room. A moment later, a woman with bronze earrings and silver eyeshadow walks in.
"Take off the dress," she commands. I hesitantly do as she says, and fidget while she eyes my body intently, circling me. "Put it back on now," she says. I slip into it again.
"Erm," I say.
"Follow me," Vidya says. I trail after her into a large room. She sits on a sofa and I join her.
"No apples," I beg, thinking of the earlier tributes of that were dressed up as oranges and peaches.
"No apples," Vidya says, laughing. She walks out and returns with a dress in a paper bag. She takes it out and I put it on.
"And this!" Vidya presents a silver flower crown and places atop her head, giggling.
"Haha," I say drily. I snatch it from her head and put it on mine.
"The very vision of nature!" Vidya exclaims, pushing me towards the door. I see all the other tributes, and spot Thresh dressed up in overalls, with a silver leaf headband. I wave cheerily at him and he scowls at me.
Candine shoves me onto the chariot, and the Capitol anthem starts, prompting the District chariot horses to start trotting forward. The tributes look ridiculous in pink fur capes, but they seem to be enjoying the attention.
The tributes from 2 look striking in ancient Greek dress.
One by one, the chariots head out into streets of the Capitol, then ours starts moving.
"Hi," I yell, and wave. They suddenly start screaming some names-
"Kacey! Kacey!"
"Peter! Kacey!"
"Kacey! Kacey! Peter!"
"Peter! Peter! Peter!"
I look back and see the tributes from lit on fire. Forget about sponsors. They have captured the twisted hearts of the Capitol.