Author note: This is the traduction of my french fanfiction called Rêver, Toujours, Croire. I don't own anything related to the Hunger Games, Suzanne Collins does.
Chapter 1: The Reaping
Today is the reaping day in my district, the district five. As in all years, I wake up before dawn. I can't sleep at the thought that my name, this year, is written on five small pieces of paper that will be in the glass ball containing all the names of the girls. Besides, this year, my sister, Ksanne, also has her name on a piece of paper, it will be her first Hunger Games. That should reassure me that although my mother fell ill because of a leak at nuclear plant where she worked, my family always knew how to contrive and I didn't had to take tessera and add my name on even more papers. But there are only few people who needed tessera this year, which means that just having 16 years old still put me at a fairly high risk. I am no longer able to do nothing in bed so I better start to get ready now. The reaping starts at 10 in front of the town hall, which leaves me 6 hours, so I have plenty of time to prepare. I do not think I'll be able to swallow anything so why not start with a shower. I will then be able to let my hair dry in the open and they'll make beautiful curls coming down almost to the middle of my back. My hair will be done, that's less to think. I apply a light make-up and I put on a dress that suits me just a little above the knees, which is perfect for today's weather and stress which gives me hot. As I pass in front of my sister's room, I see the light. I open her door to find her sitting in bed looking at the empty, a novel in the hands.
- "Are you okay?"
- "Yes, Zandra, it's probably just the stress of my first reaping"
- "You have only one paper in the glass ball, you don't have to worry."
In front of the City Hall, it begins to have a lot of people. My sister is in front, with the group of 12 years old, whereas I'm a little past the middle but not all the way back, with other 16 year old girls. My mother and father are at the extreme rear, with the other parents. At 10 o'clock sharp, the music starts so that the hostess can make her dramatic entrance on a small stage that was built for the event. Our hostess of the recent years is called Eunomia and I can't help but find her ridiculous with pink hair gathered on top of her head in a huge bow whose ribbons, two locks of hair, which falls on either side of her face. If she thinks she's a gift, she is mistaken, since the majority of people gathered for her arrival hate her for what she represents every year, the death of two young people. She approaches the glass ball of the boys, she reaches out and unfolds the piece of paper with deliberate slowness to make us all nervous. She called a boy, who is a year older than me, named Leobwin. He approaches the stage where Eunomia welcomes him and then she goes to the glass ball containing the names of the girls. She holds out her hand with a smile that makes me nauseous. The tension is palpable in the crowd as she takes her time to unfold the piece of paper. She pronounces only two words, but they are two words that leave me in shock: Zandra Merrick.
I was right to tell my sister not to worry, it's not her that have been picked, it's me. I stopped breathing while I approached the stage. Eunomia is pleased as if I had just won a dream life, while I, rather think I'm in a nightmare. We shook hands and Leobwin and I are pushed inside the town hall with a force and speed that surprises me. The peacekeepers are making sure that no one tries to turn around because there is no turning back when your fate is decided to the reaping. I am now the district five female tribute of the 72th edition of the Hunger Games. Tribute. The word seems so strange all of a sudden.
They put me in a room where my family will be allowed to visit me for 3 minutes, to say goodbye. Our family conversation while we were coming to the city hall seems so distant now. When they enter, they are in tears. Between sobs, very few things are said but the principal is said, "Never let go. We'll always be together in our hearts. I love you. "Just before leaving, my father give me a necklace consisting of a chain and three charms which are folded metal that writes the words" Believe "," Always "and" Dream".