Hi! This is my first Hunger Games fanfiction, and it's also my first "typical" fic (i/e, it's not a parody of a play or a poem, like my other two). In case you didn't know, the main character is Sayleen Linane, the girl from District 4 in the 74th Hunger Games. This is her story.

"Sayleen!"

I blink, not wanting to get out of bed.

"Sayleen Linane, you've got to get up now!"

For a moment I don't see a reason why. Why can't I just sleep in? I'm so tired from all that training-

Training. Right. How could I have forgotten? Today's the day it begins. The 74th annual Hunger Games. And this year I will be the sole female tribute from District 4.

I remember my name being drawn, being in shock, walking up to the stage...

Saying goodbye. To my parents, even though they were usually so "busy" that I never saw them anyway. To my older brother, Lang, who at eighteen was the real head of our family. To my little sisters, Conchelle, who was thirteen, and Trina, who was nine. To my friends.

"May the odds be ever in your favor." everyone said. Right. In the favor of a sixteen-year old girl. At least I had one thing going for me. I was from District 4. I would be in with the "Careers", as other districts called them.

"Sayleen!" I am roughly shaken. I'm certainly awake now. I blink and sit up, staring into the heavily surged face of Cassio, my stylist.

"You slept in," he says, almost accusingly. "We've only got ten minutes until the hovercraft comes to pick you up!"

I stare at him in shock. "T-ten minutes?" I glance over at my clock to confirm it, and sure enough, clocks don't lie.

Cassio gives me a simple shift to wear, and we race onto the roof just in time to see the hovercraft arrive. A ladder drops down from it. I hesitantly walk over to the ladder and start to climb-but instantly it's like I'm frozen. The ladder is withdrawn into the hovercraft with me stuck to it.

A woman walks over to me, holding a very large syringe. I don't like needles-I try to move away from it, but I'm still stuck to the ladder.

"This is your tracker. Stay still while I place it," says the woman, smiling.

She inserts the needle into my skin and I feel a sharp stab of pain as the tracker is inserted. As soon as the woman leaves, the ladder releases me. I rub my arm ruefully until the pain from the injection is gone. There's still a small bump on my arm where the tracker was inserted, though.

Breakfast is served and it looks delicious as usual. I'm so nervous that I think I won't be able to eat. To my surprise, once I start eating, I can't stop and I practically gorge myself until I feel like I'm going to fall over.

Once I'm done with breakfast, the windows blacken. We must be getting close. I squeeze my eyes tightly shut and try to think about anything but the approaching Games. At least I would have the Careers with me...

Marvel was District 1's male tribute. He didn't seem that smart, but he seemed strong, and good with weapons.

Glimmer was District 1's female tribute. She and I had both scored a seven in our private sessions with the Gamemakers, which was the lowest score out of all of our group. She seemed vain, but nice enough.

Cato was District 2's male tribute. He was the toughest, strongest, and probably the meanest out of all of us. I was just glad he was my ally, and not my enemy.

Clove was the District 2 female, and she seemed like a female version of Cato, except she preferred knives to swords.

Candor was the male tribute from my district. He was muscular, and fairly handsome with blond hair and sea-green eyes-though of course he wasn't a Finnick Odair by any means. I knew him, but not very well.

And then there was me. Sayleen Linane. I was sixteen, with light brown hair and the typical green eyes of our district. In short, I was average, which wasn't a good thing if you were trying to get sponsors.

I am interrupted from my reverie by a faint jolt. The hovercraft has landed.

Cassio and I go back to the ladder, and it takes us to the underground Launch Room. I quickly shower, brush my hair, and change into the outfit that's been set out, as well as my district token, a seashell necklace. When I look at myself wearing the outfit, I realize that this is it. This is what I'll be wearing into the arena.

I don't talk to Cassio at all. I don't think I can talk anymore. I wonder if that's possible-for someone to simply shut down, to stop talking from sheer terror. If it is, it's probably happened to a tribute before. And that tribute probably died. At least I have the Careers with me. I don't know how I would survive without them.

Suddenly, Cassio says, "It's time for you to go, Sayleen."

Go? What does he...oh. I'm supposed to get into that glass tube over there.

For a moment, I briefly consider not doing it. Refusing to get in. Refusing to play this Game. But I know that isn't an option. So I shakily step into the tube, a glass cylinder lowers around me, and it carries me up...

I blink in the bright sunlight. Then I hear it.

"Ladies and gentlemen, let the 74th annual Hunger Games begin!"

Did you like it? Reviews are always appreciated :)