Hi, this is my first story so please read & review. Constructive criticism is welcome. Thank you. Disclaimer – I do not own the Hunger games

Chapter 1

When I wake up my throat is dry and I can tell I've been crying, but no one has come. It takes me awhile to realise that I'm not in my lumpy, cold bed as usually, but actually in a field about two miles away from my house in district ten – the home of livestock.

Glancing up at the sky I realise that it is early morning and the farmers should be here very soon so I quickly stand up and start running. Running is something I've done all my life, away from people who try to get to close, away from my family, away from the nightmares. The nightmares that have been constantly there for three years now because of the stupid games. The hunger games. It's this thought that makes me stop, the reaping, it's today. Three years ago today my twin brother was taken away from me at the young age of thirteen. I can just make out the middle of the district where they are setting up for the reaping. Just seeing it from this distance makes my fists coil at my sides, I hate it, I hate all of it.

I can see some of the farmers making their way to the west fields so I decide that I need to start moving again if I want to make it back without anyone noticing. After a few minutes I'm back in the actually building area of district 10. I quietly sneak through the door of my family's house carefully avoiding the creaky floorboards and I successfully make it back to my room that I share with my older brother, Thistle – well that's what I thought.

As soon as I had laid down on my bed I heard a voice, "Callie Pine where have you been?" I groaned, I had been caught, but at least it was by my brother than by my cold-hearted parents.

"It's all right Callie I know where you were." I meet Thistle's eyes through the darkness of the room as it has no windows. His green eyes contrast with my dark brown ones and I immediately rush over to his bed where he welcomes me with open arms. Thistle is nineteen and is no longer eligible for the reaping's, he is safe. Unlike me as I am sixteen and still have three more reaping's to survive. He comforts me as he knows that this time of year is more painful than most due to the loss of my brother.

We were joined at the hip from the moment we were born to the moment he was reaped three years ago. We did everything together, at school we only ever talked to each other, we did each other's work, each other's chores, we did just about everything together. When he was reaped he wanted to volunteer, but I couldn't I was in too much of a shock. I went in separately to the rest of my family when we got to say our goodbyes and even during one of the worst moments of my life I didn't cry. I had to stay strong for the both of us. Later that night when everyone else was asleep I crept out to my favourite field and cried. I cried for hours and every night during his games I went out to the exact same spot and cried.

He died on the third day as the girl career from district four killed him with a spiked mace, that was the worst moment in my entire life. Having to watch the person you were closest to most in the world beaten to death on national TV. My twin brother came 11th and the girl from one won. After she killed my brother I wanted anyone to win, but her. I hate her. I hate a lot of things though and I hardly doubt she cares if some girl from district ten hates her.

Thistle pretends he knows what I'm going through, but he knows he doesn't. He never shared the bond between me and my brother. It wasn't until after my brother died in the games that I even became close to Thistle. I fall asleep in his arms, but not for very long as soon my mother is slamming open the door screaming at us to wake up so loud that Thistle almost falls off the small bed.

I quickly get up and have a two small slices of bread for breakfast. My family is not wealthy by any means, but we are also not the poorest people in our district. We have enough to get by.

I glance at the time and see that it is two hours till the reaping; I guess I had been wrong and my mother had let us sleep much longer than usual. The only solution is that it is the reaping and my parents may feel a bit sympathetic for once.

My parents used to be okay people, not the kindest or best parents, but I loved them all the same. After my twin brothers death they turned cold and the only time they acknowledge mine or my brother's presence is when they are shouting at us.

I go into the small washroom and get in the tiny tub to scrub myself clean. After I'm satisfied that I can't get any more dirt off my body I climb out and put on my only dress, it's light green and falls an inch above my knee. By the time I have put my hair into a ponytail it is time to leave.

On the way there I start to shake as the nerves hit me. I can't go into the arena, I just can't. It will break me with all the memories of my brother.

When I get to the square I get a small smile from my parents and a big hug from Thistle. Then I make my way to the section for sixteen year old girls and shortly after the reaping begins. I tune out the speech Mayor Paisley gives about the dark days, how district thirteen was destroyed in the rebellion and how the Hunger Games are a reminder to the districts about how the Capitol is in charge. The districts escort, Aria, then steps up to pick the names. I feel like I'm going to cry so I just tune everything out and focus on my breathing. In, out, in, out.

I look up for second only to find that a lot of people are staring at me and I begin to wonder what has happened. I look at the stage just in time to watch Aria say, "I repeat Callie Pine."