Chapter 1

My sister and I were gazing up at the stars while sitting on the beach. This has become a tradition that we do every night before the reaping for the Hunger Games. We usually just sit on this beach in silence for hours. My mind tends to drift and I start to think about all the what ifs that might happen tomorrow - what if my name gets called, what if I never see my family again, what if- "Finnick... Finnick... Finnick" my sister interrupts my thoughts about what might happen tomorrow.

"Yes, Fiona?" I ask

"You had that look on your face…" says Fiona jokingly

"What look?"

"THE look that shows the fear in your eyes, if you're going to go into the arena you might want to mask that." Fiona says jokingly.

"That's not funny." I state

My sister Fiona is 15 years old just one year older than me. Everyone seem to mistake us for twins I can see why we each have the same bronze hair and the stand out sea green eyes. We also have perfect tanned skin however so everyone in District 4 does due to being out in the sun so much. My sister and I often get compliments about our good looks. However, I don't see what they are all fussing about I think I am just average looking. Apparently people are seeing something that I don't

"I know it's not Finnick but you can't take this too seriously or else you will drive yourself crazy." Fiona states

"Yes, I know but what if our names get called?"

"Well what if they don't? Come on Finnick stop worrying about something that hasn't even happened yet. Your name is only in there 4 times out of hundreds some who probably have their name in there more than yours. I think the odds may be in your favor."

"Your optimism is starting to get annoying." While I say this I feel slightly guiltily because her name is in there more times than mine is. "Don't you ever worry Fiona?" I ask silently. She turns and looks at me with a more serious expression on her face and whispers

"Of course I do Finnick... however, I don't like thinking about it... because even if it is just a hypothetical thought I wouldn't be able to bare the pain that would happen next. If it did happen just imagine how everything would change in just a matter of minutes."

"Well don't worry like you said we have nothing to worry about... yet. We should head home now. Don't want Mom and Dad to worry."

"Okay race ya!" Fiona winks and runs off to the house. I don't even try to outrun her because I know she is faster and I want to take in the view of the beach because it may be the last time I see it.

We make it back to the house we are laughing when we come up. Our mother is sitting on the front porch and looks relived when we come up. I know she is worrying about what will happen tomorrow. After all what mother wouldn't? Then I think of the parents who train their children and encourage them to compete in the games. My parents think it is wrong for you to want your child to go off and have to fight in a game of life and death. However, they aren't naïve enough to believe that we may never go off into the arena so they have trained us so we can have a chance of survival compared to some tributes, especially the tributes from the lower districts.

Our training has to be kept on the down low because it is illegal to train before the games. It is common knowledge that this does happen in districts in 1, 2, and 4 they call these tributes careers just for that reason.

Watching the games is a big part of the training process it is so we can learn what has worked and what did not. We watch in our house and our father has us take notes. We review these notes every year so we can remember what has worked and what did not. Our father also makes us run up and down the beach for two hours every day so we can handle running long distances. However I can never beat Fiona she is naturally faster than me. Our mother also taught us how to weave and make difficult nets or traps. Although I don't think this will ever come in handy in the arena I know she just wants to help in any way she can.

Most people who train do so with weapons however this is harder to do without getting noticed by the peacekeepers. My father came up with a plan though; we would go out on his fishing boat and train there. It is a smart plan because most on lookers would just assume that a fisherman is taking his kids out to prepare them for their future. While he was training us for our future it wasn't to become a fisherman. He taught my sister how to use knives and throw so it is a fatal blow. He did this by using fish as target practice. She picked up the technique quickly and has been getting better at it as the years go on, she almost never misses. I'm sure though throwing a knife at a fish is different than doing it to a human. As for my weapon training he didn't have to try as hard. This is because my father has actually been training me to be a fisherman ever since I 10. He would show me how to catch fish with a net and how to catch them with a trident. For the trident you did this by stabbing vigorously into the fish until it was dead. Ever since then placing a trident in my hand is very lethal. However, I can't think of a time where a trident was in an arena.

I look back at my mother on the porch and notice how tired she looks and the sadness that is showing in her green eyes. I think she might have been crying but before I can tell her it will be alright my father interrupts.

"Fiona, Finnick why don't you come into the house. Tomorrow is a big day and you need your rest."

"Coming Dad." Fiona responds with a smile. How does she do that? She makes it seem like everything is all rainbows and butterflies. I could never put on an act like that no matter what the cost was.

Fiona walked right passed Mom without saying anything. I look to her and see why she is lost in her own little world now, trying to escape the fear that is right in front of her. I walk up to her and put my hand on her shoulder.

"Mom?"

My mother looks up at me and smiles and gives me her hand to hold.

"Finnick, my sweet son." She pulls my in for a hug but it is quickly interrupt by my father yelling.

"FINNICK! GET IN THE HOUSE NOW YOU NEED YOUR REST FOR TOMORROW."

"Alright" I mutter. I give my mother another squeeze and tell her that I love her I don't know how many more times I will be able to tell her that so I want her to know.

My father ushers me to mine and Fiona's room to make sure I don't wander off. Where would I wonder off I think. The house only has 4 four rooms; 2 bedrooms, the kitchen, and a bathroom. I guess it makes him feel more comfortable we all react to things in different ways.

"Goodnight son."

"Goodnight Dad."

The door closes and it is just me and Fiona in dark left with nothing but our thoughts. We don't speak because after years of experiencing this we know our dad is going to be waiting outside the door for hours to make sure we are not doing anything but sleeping. Fiona and I exchange a look and go to our small beds. I stare up at the ceiling thinking that tomorrow could be the day that I get called to go fight in a death match against 23 other people.