District 1- female

Katherine Lynne Saunders

Age- 16

My past is like a bad dream. You know you want to forget it, but it is always there, haunting and torturing you throughout life. I didn't want others to look at me and say 'Hey look! It's the mayor's daughter" everywhere I went. So two years ago I ran away and went to the streets as a sanctuary.

At the time, I was young and inexperienced about living on the streets where the gangs always roamed. Being 14, I was terrified of them. They were bigger, taller, and wielded weapons that could cut someone's throat that pissed them off. I tried to stay away as much as I could, but there was a time when there was no way I could have avoided it.

It was a year after living on the streets and a rough looking guy named Alex was following me. I didn't know what to do, but all I knew was I walking farther and farther away from the city, so no one would even hear me if I did scream for help. I think to myself of maneuvers I have seen people do; kicks, punches and I couldn't think of anymore, but even if I did, it would be useless against him.

I can see the gap between us closing and his pace is getting quickened. I hastily stopped and pivoted so I was facing him. I gathered all the courage I could and screamed at him "What the hell do you want with me? I would rather not be followed by someone like you, so you should go back from wherever you came from." Right after I was done screaming, I turned around and kept walking as if nothing happened, but he still followed me. I whirled around again, but this time I was pissed "Why are you still following me, I thought I told you to go." Surprisingly this time he answered calmly and said "You shouldn't use that tone with me. Do you know who you are talking to?" I do know who I am talking to, but I decide against it to tell him I know who he is, so I act dumb saying "no, I'm sorry. Am I supposed to? Why would I want to know someone who follows people down alleyways?"

The next thing is unexpected, but he sticks his hand in his pocket and grabs his knife and my heart sinks at the sight of the sharp, pointy blade. He comes at me with such speed, I just stand there acting stupid, but after a second I start moving. Alex was huge compared to me, he had to have been 17 years old and his muscles are toned. He was on top of me in a minute with the knife at my throat. We were so close together that I could feel his breath as he whispered in my ear the most chilling words I have ever heard in my life. "You should never talk to me like that. You hear me? You got attitude and I like that, so if you survive this test, my friends and I will come find you and make you one of us." He removed the knife and just as I think he is going to let me go he lowers it back down to my stomach and stabs me in the gut; then he leaves like nothing ever happened.

The pain radiates through my body and I fall to the ground. I look down at where he stabbed me, the wound was already oozing blood and I know that I will only have within the hour to live. I place my hand over the wound and put pressure on the wound hoping to stop the blood. I need to get help, but the only to get help is in the city and I'm far from it. I try to get up but collapse onto the brick walkway again. I try again, not wanting to give up and this time I manage to get up.

The pain is excruciating and the movement will probably make it bleed more, but my only chance for survival is in the city. No one really pays that much attention to me, it's not like they know they are looking at the mayor daughter, they just think I am some poor girl who lives on the street. I get to the gate outside of the city when I lose my footing and I trip onto the ground. When I hit the ground I start to feel the life inside of me fade along with the surroundings. I blink a couple times and slip into a deep sleep.

The next time I wake up, I am in an unfamiliar room in a bed. I take a quick glance around the room and notice a window across the room overlooking the city. I start to panic and think that Alex got me, but that thought ends when an old lady walks into the room. Her checks were rosy and I got this feeling I could trust her, but I'm not sure why though. She walks close to me and sits on the bed, patting my knee. I try to sit up but the pain from my stomach was too much to bear. "You gave me quite a scare. What's your name darling?" her sweet voice says to me. I think I can trust this lady and I tell her the truth and say "I'm Katherine Saunders." I guess she knows who I am because she gasps and then quickly asked "Wait are you the mayor's daughter that ran away?" So I nod my head yes in response.

After about a week later the old lady let me leave and I was glad, but I will never forget how kind she was to save me. I would have died if not for her. I walk throughout town as if nothing happened even though everything under the sun happened this past week. I got an apple and some bread and head back to my little shack that I found abandoned. I stop short when I see a tall, dark figure in the shack. I'm not sure what to do but once again I gather my voice and state "What do you think you are doing?" The familiar voice answers "Well I told you I would be back didn't I?" and he turns around and my heart drops. Alex is in my shack going through my stuff and this causes a spark inside of me to ignite.

Unable to find any words, he finally speaks "Well I see you are quiet today, aren't you? I also see that you are perfectly healthy." This time I am quicker to find my words and answer "well I don't owe any of that to you now, do I?" mocking his tone from before.

I don't care for this game he is playing and just straight out ask "ok, now why are you here?" He looks up at me and laughs "hey I could use someone like you with me and my friends. I saw the way you limped all the way into town. I want you with us." I couldn't even think of me being one of them. The thought repulses me.

"And if I object?" I ask now curious to see what he has to say. Alex comes close to me, which is a little too close for my liking and whispers "well we will have to kill you." I step far away from him so I can see him clearly and say "Fine. But just so you know I don't know anything about knives and fighting." He steps closer to me and says "that's ok; we teach all of our newbie's." I laugh and ask "what do you stab them all too?" He laughs at it and say quietly so I can only hear it "I only do that to people I like" and with that he was gone.

It's been over a year and the gang is like my family. I moved out of the shack and into the gang house. I guess it's cool and it's better than being called the mayor's daughter so I like it. Everyone here in District 1 is going to be preparing for the Hunger Games and I can still be entered but I don't think I want to because I like where I am now. It's just too bad we all have to go to this long drawn out ceremony. It's about 11 am and we all have to be there at 1 pm so we have time. I take a shower and get dressed into my favorite jeans and top. I didn't think it matter that much what I wear because it's not like I'm going into the games. I throw on my tennis shoes and my jean jacket and head out the door.

I walk to the group of 16 year old girls and feel under dressed but I don't care. I try to find the other gang members in the crowd but it's really crowded to see anyone. The crowd goes silent a bit and this year's escort walks onto the stage with our mentor Sue Maryfield. The escort starts talking about how it is an honor to be given such an amazing district. I zoned out half way through the speech and I didn't care because it is not like I am going into the games. I see some girl with a broken arm and a lame leg walk up onto stage. The sorrow and guilt fills up my chest for the poor girl. I would probably stand a chance but… I'm just not sure. Some feeling inside of me makes me want raise me hand though and scream and take the girl's place, so I could save her.

So I follow my gut feeling and shout "I volunteer!" All the people in the crowd look at me and I feel like I made a mistake, but it's too late now to take it back. When I walk up each of the steps to the welcoming arms of the escort I see Alex and he is shaking his head. I can imagine what he is thinking 'Kit. You could never keep your mouth shut, and now look where it got you' or 'Kit; you are an idiot for volunteering. You should have let the poor girl die.'

The escort asks for my name and I say it softly but she hears me. I think about the possible ways to win this game and all I need is one single thing… a knife.

Sponsor Points Questions-

Who is playing Joanna Mason I Catching Fire?- 10pts

Who plays Katniss, Peeta, and Gale in the Hunger Games? – 10pts

ok so that was the first reaping!yay! well it took really long to write. please review(YOU GET POINTS BY REVIEWING) Oh and please pm me the answers to the questions if you want to get the points.

- annie