Chapter 1
I sat in front of the gilded mirror and ran my numb fingers through my short blond hair. Today was the day. The second annual Reaping in commemoration of the Rebellion. The day we got to figure out who would be led to the slaughter house they called a stadium. And this time it was more real than ever, my name Kaia Terowen could be called. My fate was in the hands of a bubbly woman named Elisa Liebon.
I heard a knock on my door and tried to erase any trace of fear that had been etched upon my face moments before. Even that slaughter house was better than life in this prison. The door handle turned and stood to face my dad as he walked through the door.
He walked over to me and a pained look crossed over his face. "You don't have to do this you know. Our family was loyal I'm sure I could get you out of this." He scanned my face for any sign of relief but I was sure he wouldn't find it.
"I do. The Hunger Games is a reminder to all citizens of Panem. I am a citizen right? Or did you pay your way out of that too?" I crossed my arms over my chest and glared at him. The way my brother used to glare at me, before he died.
"Don't talk to me that way Kaia. I did what I had to do to keep my family safe. I'm sorry that you're ashamed of me but there is nothing I could do." He looked at me like the discussion was over but now of all days I wouldn't let it end there.
"But you couldn't protect all of us could you? Some of us were better than that. Ben stood his ground, and then you abandoned him. He died like a true citizen. And although you may not want to hear it, that's how we all should have died. That's how everyone else died. That's how your son died." I let tears run freely down my face and looked away from him. "And you're not even sorry. You never did like Ben. He stood out. He was the child anyone else would have loved and yet no, not you. You needed a perfect human being. And in trying to force your children into it you killed one and alienated the other."
He looked stunned. All the pain left his face and now in its place there was only anger and confusion. "Your mother is grateful." His voice filled the whole room and I could hear almost a low growl emerge from his chest as he breathed. "And you should be too. I have done everything for you. You have clothes, food, shelter. All that children should appreciate. You have everything you need. But it's not good enough for you. You truly are a spoiled little brat."
My breathing became ragged with tears of frustration and as I spoke my voice was no more than a whisper. "I don't have love. I don't have Ben. Instead I am filled with a guilt that eats away at me each day. I should have stayed and died with Ben. And now the Hunger Games is my one chance at redemption. My redemption, the only thing that can make me feel like Ben didn't die in vain. I need to show them that we will not be thrown aside like ragdolls. That if they had been us then they would have died as well." I dropped my voice even lower so that it was barely perceptible. "To show them that there could someday be another rebellion, we weren't squashed out completely. Only weakened."
His whole body shook in rage and I could practically see his blood boiling. "We will not have talks of rebellion in my house! And if you want to die like district 12 scum then fine. I will personally assure that your name is called." He whipped around and stormed away slamming the door behind him.
I laughed nervously. He didn't have the guts. Or so I told myself.