It's reaping day in the poorest district, District Twelve. Evie is putting on her best dress and pulling up her long, dark hair. She makes her way to her mother and they silently stare at each other. They both know it could be the last time. "Evie, I love you so very much." whispers her mother.

"I know." is all she can make herself reply. Evie's mother embraces her for a long moment. They start walking to the town square, preparing for what is to come. All of the adults stay in the roped off areas as the twelve to eighteen year-olds go to their marked sections. The streets are filled and TV's are mounted everywhere. Evie keeps thinking about her chances in being drawn to compete in the Hunger Games, a brutal fight to the death. Her chain of thought is broken by her best friend, Clove. "Hi, Evie." says Clove.

"Hey, Clove. How are you so positive? You know what today is." Evie tells her.

"Well, the way I think about it, we may as well try to enjoy it. Yes, I know it's terrible, but if we do get drawn, there's no sense in wasting our last days." Clove replies out of character.

They stand there in silence and wait for their mayor to come out on stage. Within a few minutes he does and starts to speak. "As you all know, the Hunger Games were created because of the rebellion that took place years ago. We tried to over-throw our gracious Capitol and, as a reminder of our mistake, we must send a boy and a girl to compete. Now our escort, Effie Trinket, will draw the names." he says in a strained voice.

The crowd stays silent as the pink-haired woman walks out on the stage, smiling and as bouncy as ever. You can tell she is from the Capitol. "Hello everyone! Happy Hunger Games and may the odds be ever in your favor!" she announces to the depressed crowd. Effie launches into a speech about the Dark Days, which was when the rebellion took place. She then explains the rules of the reaping. She states that a boy will be drawn and a girl will be drawn from two separate pools. Anyone from the ages of twelve to eighteen may volunteer as tribute, after their gender is called. Before anyone knew it, she was walking to the reaping bowls.

"As always, I will draw the boy's name first." Effie exclaims. "This year's tribute is... Peeta Mellark!"

A blonde haired blue eyed boy walks up to the stage. He has a scared look on his face, even though he is sixteen. Silent tears roll down his cheek as he tries to suppress them. Effie has an almost fake happiness plastered on her face. Within the crowd, many are sighing in relief of their children's life being preserved. Others are crying their eyes out knowing this is most likely the end of their friend, Peeta. "Now, please give me your attention! The girl tribute for this year's Hunger Games is... Primrose Everdeen!" Effie exclaims. The crowd falls silent in shock as a twelve year-old girl starts walking up the steps.

"No! Prim! Prim!" an older girl yells out. She grabs on to Prim and a black haired boy takes Prim back with him.

"I volunteer as tribute!" the girl says. The crowd gasps in unison.

"Oh, how exciting! A volunteer! Why, this hasn't happened in District Twelve for years!" Effie gushes. "And what might your name be?" she asks the brown haired sixteen year-old.

"Katniss Everdeen." she chokes out.

"Ah, I see. A sister! How interesting!" Effie says.

Effie finishes the ceremony and the tributes are taken back with her. Evie sighs in relief and starts to cry. She runs to her mom and they both hug. "Oh, honey. I'm so happy I have you!" her mother says. They cry together as their worry has been lifted from their shoulders for another year. All Evie can think about is how blessed she is.