Dawn Lockheart, of District 8.
I am surrounded by sheets and covers of my bed. Being from District 8 has its advantages, we know how to make clothes so we never get cold. I am one of the higher class people in my District my parents are the managers of some of the factories. I get up slowly and see the sun's rays pour into my room through my window. Today is reaping day in which tributes are chosen to participate in the Hunger Games. Usually people from my District die in the bloodbath so when they are reaped I always whisper under my breath " More like a death sentence." I get dressed in a silky, soft, yellow dress that was my sister's who is now 19 she is one of the lucky people who don't get reaped. After getting dressed I walk downstairs to greet my family. " Hey mom." I say as I get my shoes on one of them hard to push my foot into. " Hey Dawn, um Jennifer came over today to say good luck and that is also from me." She loves my truly but on the reaping day she always acts cold and distant and I feel as if I died in the Games she would act that way for a long time, missing me and holding onto my remains of stuff when my body comes in a box and sent to our house with my yellow dress. She would then be miserable.
" Mom I need to go, I love you remember that I will be fine just when I am not called lets have a good time after that, okay?" She nods of approval and I then walk out of the house and head down to Town Square. I meet up with Jennifer and she smiles. " Hey how is it going?"I shrug what am I suppose to say, it's great the Hunger Games are happening I will have a party. " It is okay I guess today is the reaping day so I don't see a reason to feel good." She nods and just walks along with me to the 15 year old line. " Hand out." Says a peacekeeper and I stick my hand out. " Hey Tom how is Kyle." I ask, I know him from the factory he always gives me tips and I like how he is so nice. " She is great but she is kinda scared about today but her name is in their 3 times she has nothing to worry about." " Yeah I guess." and after that I go into my designated line. Jennifer walks toward me and stands still on my right and she frowns. " What is wrong." I ask worried for her because she is never like this. " Well I um, my name is in there 25 times." She whispers barely audible. " It is fine you just be confident and have your head held high." I answer. " Wow you sound like Velvet Duncan." She slightly giggles because that is her advice for tributes ' Head help high and be confident.' I am about to respond with a hateful comment to the Capitol when she arrives. " Welcome welcome, Happy Hunger Games and may the odds be ever in your favor." She grins and then speaks up again. " This year is the 67th Hunger Games so it has been 67 years since the Dark Days so that will be the sum up of this video from the Capitol." When she is done talking the televisions play the video and the summary of it is, we rebelled, we lost, we get punished so 23 dead people each year is our consequence.
" I love that." She exclaims, somebody has very perky this year for our untimely death. " Now the time has come to pick on male and female tribute to participate in the 67th Hunger Games." She walks away from the microphone and towards the boy tribute bowl. " Boys we ready to get up here." She the dives her hand into the bowl and swims her hand around in it to find the 'perfect' name. She finds one and goes back to the microphone and reads the name " James Linger!" She announces to the whole District to heard, to heard the name that isn't their's, but there is the one kid who did that will soon be murdered on television for the Capitol. A scrawny 12 year old is about to walk to the stage when a man screams a phrase as old as time. " I volunteer!" When that happens the the boy's face lights up for not being in the game but I am still trying to find the person who shouted that name. I search the area for him until I see his face. He is Titus Crow one of the strongest kids in my school, if he was from 1 or 2 he would be a career tribute all the way. When I think he volunteered to participate he actually hugs the kid and goes to the stage with a tear forming at his eye. " So who was that?" Velvet asks him. " My cousin he is like a brother to me and even though my brother died 2 years ago in the final 3 in the Hunger Games." " Well that is very touching but now it is time for the girls." She finishes her sentence and walks to the girl tribute bowl. She copies what she did for the boys and finds the name she hopes will bring the Capitol a good show. She gets to the mic and reads the name. " Jennifer Young!" The name echos through through the District in a horrifying way, dead silent. That name was my best, and only, friend and she is off to her death. I don't think it is mindless and do something I never dreamed I would do. " I volunteer as tribute!" I yell and then everybody's head turns toward me. Jennifer only made it to the stairs when she turns around and see me take her place. " Well this is unusual there has never been 2 volunteers in the games beside 1,2, and 4." I hug Jennifer and whisper in her ear " Your welcome." and I go up to the stage, and when I get up to my spot a tear rolls down her eye and I know she will miss me.
" Now who was that girl there?" She has a lot of questions today and I want to punch her in the face but I restrain. " She is my best and only friend, and I don't want her to go to her death because unlike me, she will have a future." My words echo through the District and I know I said to much but hey, all they want is a good show. " Well now welcome this years tributes of District 8!" She has a lot of energy and escorts us into the Justice Building along with peacekeepers. I am in a room with pictures of past victors and the pictures are as always so low only 8 I see. " You have 2 minutes." Says a peacekeepers as he pushes my mom,dad, and sister into the room. " Dawn why, why did you do that." My mom exclaims with tears in her eyes. " I had to protect he she is like the little sister I never had!" And now this time my eyes fill up with tears and i blink them out of my eyes. " I might have Miranda but she is somebody who is supposed to protect me and she can't now she can't go into the Games anymore." She is now speechless but now and can't manage a word. " Fine, fine. Just please try to win, for us your family and for Jennifer and her family we be watching you so stay alive." She then gets up and out of the room when my dad speaks up. " Sweetheart I love you try to come back to us." He then hands me a necklace with the District seal on it in solid gold, it's worth a fortune. " It's your sisters but she wants you to have it." I don't even get to say 'goodbye' or 'thank you' or an 'I love you' until the peacekeepers grab my sister and dad to the hallway away from me forever. The next person to barge in is Jenny with tears in her eyes. " Dawn thank you and be safe in the arena don't die." She pauses to catch he breath then continues " We will all be watching you and don't disappoint me and your family because we will miss you." She quickly gets up and walks toward the door when I speak up. " Jenny." She turns around slowly to see me. " I will try to win okay." She smiles barely and then closes the door.
Titus and I are then escorted too the train that leads to the Capitol where so many things will happen. But when we get on the train I don't even think I just go to my room and take a nap. I hope tomorrow will bring better things than today frenzy of drama. Let the Games begin.
