I wake up to my mum sitting on my bed hugging our pet cat, Snowy, and crying. I know exactly why too. Today is the day another two people go into a death game. The Survival Games. They change the name of it, to keep viewers interested. I find it sick. Fighting to the death to please the bastards who bathe in their money, while we starve to death, and struggle to even make the slightest of money to buy enough cloth to last a week. It makes me sick.

"Mum.." I whisper. I can feel myself welling up.

"There's a thousand other names in their...I doubt I'll be picked..." I stare down at my hands which are clawing at the bed sheet. When will I wake up from this nightmare? I want to re-assure her. To tell her I wont be picked... and if I do, then I'll have the baker look after her. I promised that the first time my name went in. I always knew I would never win if I did. Inside I was scared, screaming, crying. But I have to stay strong. I have friends, family, people who count on me to keep them alive. I can't show fear to them.

I get up and walk over to the door and go out into the hunting fields. A group of people have ran them for years, for our district without the peackeepers knowing. Its kept us alive. I'm so grateful for that. I see a peackeeper walk past and narrowly lean against the wall like I was resting. They seem to buy it. Its too dangerous to be suspicious on Reaping Day. Especially when the peacekeepers can add more names in. When I see they're deffinetly out of sight, I move out into the field, and pick up a wooden bow, and a sheath of 16 arrows. I walk off into the woods after writing my name down. I walk towards a neerby flock of birds, and crouch down low.

Mockingjays.

So rare, yet, there is atleast 30 of them there. I spend my time counting them. 33. The amount of numbers my name is in. The chance I have to get picked. It can't be a sign. Magic doesn't exsist. But, I know killing one of these beautifull creatures could feed my family for about a month. I have to take atleast one of them. I raise my bow and aim for its eye. Just as I'm about to realease my arrow flying, i hear a voice call out.

"Why HELLO Rhirhi." I shoot all of a sudden, missing the bird by miles, and they all fly away. I can feel the anger rising up in me as I turn around to face my friend Jamie. With blonde hair, and gorgeous grey eyes, its a suprise when I realise he looks, well ugly. I can see he's fought with his parents. Its so easy to read it. I can read him like a book. I know its about if he gets reaped today. I smile sympathetically, and he gives off what looks like a shrug.

"Was that some mockingjays?" he asks walking over to me. I nod and shoot him a quick glare, but it slides away when I see him smiling as he holds something behind his back. I look at him, then back to his hand, and when I look back up he has a stupid grin on his face.

"What you got there?" I ask taking a step closer to him. He backs away, knowing this will turn into a game. Today is not the day. He knows it. I know it. So I decide on shrugging, acting like I dont care and turning back, putting another arrow in my bow, and looking for any more mockingjays. Unlikely I'll find one, but it will be worth a try.

Suddenly I feel Jamies hand on my arm, him dangling a bag infront of my head. I gasp and take the bag.

"NO WAY!" I squeal, and he is quick to cover my mouth.

"Shh. Peacekeepers everywhere." I nod quietly and take out a mouthwatering sweet, and plop it into my mouth. The flavours grace my tounge, and I smile so calmly you wouldn't think two of my neighbours will be sent to die today. Suddenly, a chime goes.

Its time.

Its time for the Reaping.