Chapter 1
Remember Me
"Happy Hunger Games and may the odds be ever in your favour," Laufeia Odile exclaims. Generally I give people the benifit of the doubt but she is the most self centered person I have ever met. Her flurescent green hair reminds me of the leaves on the trees in the spring. Her face is pure white, her eye make up and lipstick is dark green and her blush is bright pink. "Ladies first," she says. As she approaches the crystal bowl she trips over her massive green dress. She stumbles but doesn't fall or push the bowl over. We all sigh. Thousands of girls names are in that bowl. I have five slips. I had to aply for tersaere four times when mother couldn't afford food.
"Now who will the lucky girl be," Laufeia exclaims. She sticks her hand into the bowl probing the slips of the girls names. All the girls including me hold our breaths hoping that it won't be us. Some of our parents do too. All five of my siblings do too. They aren't elidgible for the reaping yet and it's my first year. Laufeia opens the slip. "Rue Young," she shouts. My heart stops for a second and then begins to sink. I hear sobbing it's surely my mother, brothers and sister. No. Aviva, Evan, Jacob, Dallas and Orestes will have to watch. Its not fair on them. Orestes is the eldest of them and he is still only eight.
I step out of the area where all the other girls are.
"That's a girl, you don't have to be scared," Laufeia trys to comfort me as Peacekeepers come to escort me to the stage making sure I don't run. Laufeia's words where poorly chosen and make me feel worse. She is telling me not to be scared. But everyone is scared of death. No one isn't. When I get to the stage she smiles at me and shakes my hand. Sorrow clear in Chaff and Seeder's expressions. "Does any one want to volenteer to take the place of young Rue?" Laufeia asks. They only thing willing to take my place is a the wind. It blows through a pile of leaves and my eyes become blurry. I know I'm going to cry. After a few minutes Laufeia takes a slip from the boys bowl.
"The male tribute will be Thresh Amory," Laufeia shouts. My heart sinks futher still. I've seen him. His arms ar as thick as a tree branch. He has a strong build ans is twice as tall as me. I don't know him well. He might kill me to win or he might leave it to someone else. He wears a grave expression. He doesn't have much family left only his granny and sister. When he faces me his eyes are glassy as if he is about to cry. We shake hands his grip is firm but held back as if he is afraid to hurt me.
"District Eleven I give you your tributes," she screams at them. They are supposed to applaud but instead they stand in silence. When the Peacekeepers turn the guns on the children though everyone claps halfheartedly. Shortly after though they fall silent and drop their heads. In our district it's the final goodbye to cherished members of our community. I'm sure it's for me because Thresh's odds are way higher than mine.
The Peacekeepers practically shove us into the rundown Judgement Building. We are then lead to seperate rooms for our final goodbyes to our families. Only my mother comes.
"Where are the others?" I ask already knowing the answer.
"They couldn't come to say goodbye. They already felt as if they had lost you," she repies.
"Well tell them I said to take care and for them not to go on a rampage when I'm gone I don't want them to get in trouble with the Peacekeepers,"I manage to get out before I start sobbing. Mother wraps her arms around me and buries her face in my hair.
"Take care sweetheart. And please try and survive. No one will have the same knowledge as you and be careful who you trust," she whispers into my hair.
"Time to go," a Peacekeeper states firmly.
"Goodbye mother and take care," I shout just before the door closes. The next person to come in surprises me. "Caradoc what are you doing here?"
"I had to say goodbye and tell you that if you die it will rip my heart out," Caradoc says.
"You know I will die. I have no chance unless the gamemakers put us in a forest with nothing but melee combat weapons," I reply.
"Just try. For me," he murmurs.
"Always," I whisper in his ear. Tears come into his eyes. I hug him and he cries on my shoulder. I rub his back trying to make him stop crying. "Caradoc, will you keep an eye on Orestes he can be very vengful. Make sure he doesn't get in trouble witht he Peacekeepers,"I ask concerned.
"Of course I will," he says but I can see there is more he wants to say. His black eyes normally filled with happiness are now mirroring the horror and fear in my eyes.
"Time to go for the train," the Peacekeeper says.
"Look after yourself too don't do anything too rash,"I say quickly. The Peacekeeper grabs Caradoc's elbows behind his back and begins to pull him towards to door.
"No promises,"he replies. I rush over to him and kiss him on the cheek. He stops struggling and the door slams behind him. I'm alone. Another Peacekeepers escorts me into the tin van that will bring me and Thresh to the train. The train bringing us to the Capitol. I get a car with Seeder and Thresh gets a seperate one with Chaff.
"Are you alright dear?,"Seeder asks.
"Fine. Just a little shaken," I mumble. Still sad that I'm not likely to see my family or Caradoc again. Seeder is nice but I just want to be alone right now. I don't want to hurt her feelings. She seems to be following my thoughts.
"Look Rue I know you just want to be alone but you it's the worst thing right now. If you keep thinking you know your going to die you will give up in the arena and try to have a run in with the Careers,"Seeder explains.
"I know. It's just I want to go the feilds and sing to the mockingjay's," I sigh.
"I know but you will have to wait," Seeder says.
When we get to the train station there are people with cameras. I drop my head and stare at my dust covered sandals. They just want a picture the tributes. I get into the train as fast as I can. I walk through the compartments until I reach a door labelled 'Female Tribute'. I open the door and causiously step inside. I close the door and flop down on the bed. It is much softer than the bed I share with Aviva. The sheets may be thicker but the bed will be cold without Aviva's tiny frame beside me. I wish I could say "I'm home" but that would mean I'm in our tiny hut with my underweight siblings and mother.
I wish I could go home but I will only be back either a plain wooden box or full of guilt that I'm alive because people had died.
Please tell me what you think.