HUNGER GAMES & OTHER SIMILAR ITEMS BELONG TO SUZANNE COLLINS.

Reaping Day

I jumped awake to a roar of thunder. I sat up in bed for a moment then remembered it was Reaping Day. Great,I thought, Reaping Day, I'm definitely gonna need more morphling for this.I got up out of bed, made it, then went to get dressed. I pulled on baggy, denim jeans and a black shirt. I pulled on a black hooded sweater on too. Most people get all dressed up for the reaping, but if I'm gonna die, I'm going to dress comfortably. I went to the mirror to fix my hair. My name is Kris, or Kristen, Ward. I'm a 16 year old girl, and secretly on morphling. I live in District 6 in Panem.

I went into the kitchen and looked in the cupboard. All we had were mint leaves, one and a half loaves of bakery bread, half a chunk of cheese, two loaves of homemade bread made out of tesserae grain, and a few apples. I grabbed a knife and sliced a bit off of the homemade loaf. I ate it and went back into my room. I listened for a moment to make sure no one was up. All I heard was silence so I lifted up a loose board on my floor and grabbed a vial of morphling and a syringe. I filled up the syringe and pulled up my sleeve. After I was done, I put the syringe back and replaced the board then went over to the window. I opened it and chucked the vial out. If my mom found out about the morphling, I would probably be safer in the Hunger Games. If my younger brother found out, he would probably tell my mom or blackmail me with it. He might also tell Jonathan about it. Jonathan is my best guy friend. He is 19 so his days of the reaping are over. He'd also kill me if he found out about the morphling.

I walked back out into the kitchen to write a note. I grabbed a napkin and a pencil and wrote: Went out. Be back before reaping.I put on my shoes and looked in the bin next to the door. It contained clothes that would neither fit me or my brother to trade for morphling. I saw a few shirts and pants. I grabbed two shirts and a pair of pants. Just as I was walking out, I heard my brother say, "Going to get more morphling Kris?"

So much for secrecy from him. My brother's name is Jimmy and he is 14 years old. "What are you talking about Jimmy?" I asked feigning ignorance.

"I'm not stupid Kris," he replied tiredly. "You don't act this calm or happy for anything."

"Whatever," I said walking out the door. I walked outside and pulled my hood up. It was raining and thundering. Kind appropriate,I thought. I looked up at the clock. It was 11:30. I ran to the only candy shop by me and went behind it. I nearly ran into Tristen or as I call him, Morphy. "Hey," I said.

"Hi," he replied plainly. "What do you have?"

I held up the shirts and the pants. He reached into his bag and pulled out four vials of morphling and handed them to me. I handed him the shirts and pants and thanked him. I put the vials into my pocket and walked away. I was walking down the path past the factory they made parts for hovercrafts in. It was silent since it was Reaping Day. As I passed the Justice Building I started to thinking about the three tesserae I have taken out. Jimmy was never allowed to take out tesserae. I forbade him to do so.

It was still raining when the clock stuck noon. I was still in deep thought that I ran into Jonathan, literally ran into. I looked up. "Hi," I said meekly.

"Hello," he said, "What? No hug?"

I laughed for a second then I hugged him. It was freezing out but yet, he was very warm. "What's up?" I asked.

"I was gonna ask you that," he said. "Do me a favor?"

"Hm?" I replied.

"Pull up your sleeves."

Dammit,I thought. "It's, uh, cold out. No way."

"Fine, we can go to the bakery and sit down. Then you can."

"Jon-"

"Jimmy ratted you out to me. So just do it."

I pulled up my sleeves in defeat. Reminding myself to kill Jimmy when I got home. Jonathan grabbed my left arm and stared at me with a look of mixed emotions.

"Again?" he asked with a tone of disappointment.

"I'm sorry," I said quietly.

He let go and we kept walking in silence. "Where are we going?" he asked after a bit.

"Idunno," I said. "I was just walking around."

We walked back to his place and I sat down on his bed. He went into the kitchen then came back with two glasses of water. He handed me one and took one look at me and said, "I know you're scared about today. Your nightmares don't help you either."

I had been having nightmares for the past month about being reaped and killed in the Games. I stayed silent and Jonathan looked at me for a moment. He gave me a hug. "It'll be alright," he reassured. "I'll be there until the reaping is over."

I didn't think he wouldn't show up. Attendance is mandatory. Unless death is stopping by for a nice visit, one cannot be excused. If you skip out & not chatting with death, death might as well have stopped by. The Peacekeepers stop by houses of the ones who don't show up to see how their health is. "What if Jimmy is reaped?" I asked quietly.

"Well, then he doesn't have to worry about you killing him for ratting you out about morphling," Jonathan joked.

"I was gonna do that when I got home."

"What time is that anyway?"

"One thirty."

"I'll come with you, your mom was looking relatively nice today."

"Oh, shut up," I laughed as I hit him with a pillow.

At 1:15, Jonathan and I started back towards my house. When we walked in, Jimmy was in the kitchen wearing a white dress shirt and black pants. My mom turned around and smiled at me and Jonathan. "Hey you two," she said.

"Hey," we both said at the same time.

I walked back into my room and quickly slid the vials underneath the board. I fixed my hair again and walked back out into the kitchen. Jimmy was sitting at the table with Jonathan and my mom. "Did you put the board back properly this time?" my mom asked.

My jaw nearly hit the floor. So much for secrecy in general. Jonathan's face though, was priceless. "I've known for awhile now honey," my mom said. "You didn't replace that loose board correctly a few months ago."

"Uh huh," I mumbled weakly.

My mom was saying something about how if I stole from her for it, I better volunteer for the Games because I would have a better chance of surviving that. "Are you going to change into something nice?" she asked.

"Have I ever?" I replied plainly.

'I just don't want you to be reaped then have the Capitol think you're trying to incite a rebellion by not dressing up.." she started.

"Please, don't mention the word 'reaping' or 'capitol,'" I said.

Around 1:55, the four of us went out into the square. It was still raining and I got a few disapproving stares from other parents for my attire. My mom gave me a hug and kiss then went over to my brother. Jonathan gave me a hug and said, "Everything will be fine. I'll be over for dinner."

I stood in the roped off section for the 16 year olds. I looked around for a little and saw Jonathan standing not too far away. That made me relax. At 2:00, they mayor stood up and gave a speech about the history of Panem and whatever else. I wasn't really listening. Then, some Capitol lady stood up and squealed, "Happy Hunger Games! May the odds be ever in your favor!"

I rolled my eyes. I just wanted this to be over with. I was beginning to get anxious and paranoid. "Ladies first!" she squealed happily.

I shut my eyes. Please don't be me, please don't be me, I thought. She reached in and pulled out a slip of paper. It became so quiet, you could hear a pin drop. She opened it up and yelled, "KRISTEN WARD!"

Figures, I thought. Then everything went black.