Chapter 1: Rachel Coaler, D12 Female

A/N: Hi! I'm nogthechicken but just call me NTC. This is my first fanfiction and I hope you like it. Enjoy!

Disclaimer: If I was Suzanne Collins, I would not be posting on Fanfiction. Therefore I am not Suzanne Collins. So unfortunately, I don't own the Hunger Games.

Rachel's POV

49...48...47...

The monotonous voice echoes around the Cornocopia. There must be a speaker in there somewhere. I briefly wonder how they stop tributes using it for electric pieces during the Games.

I shake my head briefly. No matter how they do it, it's not important right now.

My palms are sweating, my token around my neck. It's a locket with a picture of my twin brothers in. I fiddle with it nervously. The cold metal is slippery in my grip.

46...45...44...

Jacob and Ryan, that's their names. I won't ever get to see them grow up. They are only 5 years old. I'll miss their childhood, never see them fall in love, never see their first day in the mines when they're 16, never chat with them when I'm old and grey haired- not that many people live that long in District 12.

I have to face it. My death is unavoidable- I'm going to die in this arena.

43...42...41...

I'm rebellious, and my reapings were rigged. I knew they would be, although I hoped they wouldn't. After the Peacekeepers caught me organising a plot to kill the Head Peacekeeper, a vicious, vile man, I knew. The Gamemakers aren't letting me get out of here, that's for sure.

40...39...38...

Think, think, I need a plan! What do I do after the gong sounds?! I sound frantic even in my head. 'I'm 18, I'm one of the oldest, I should have a plan!

37...36...35...

…But what's the point? I'm going to die anyway. I could just step off the platform now and die quickly and painlessly. I wouldn't feel a thing.

34...32...31...

Could I really do it? End my life in one step? Blow myself to smithereens?

30...29...28...

Yes. Yes I could. But what about Jacob and Ryan, Mum and Dad, everyone else? What would they go through?

27...26...25...

I wouldn't hurt them like that, wouldn't I?

24...23...22...

Wouldn't I?

21...20...19...

'They're going to go through it anyway though,' a voice inside my head whispers. 'There's no getting out.'

18...17...16...

I don't know what to do! Why won't somebody tell me?! It isn't the sort of thing you learn in school. It should be. I just hope Jacob and Ryan never have to enter this arena. And if they do, they should be prepared. I silently pray for my brothers.

15...14...13...

Here goes. I brace myself, though what for, I don't know.

12...11...10...

'Make a decision! What are you doing? Decide already!' I scream at myself inside my head.

9...8...7...

Ok. Deep breaths. Calm down. Focus on the annoying voice yelling numbers.

It's no use, who am I kidding? I can't calm down!

6...5...4...

I'm sorry, Jacob. I'm sorry, Ryan. I'm sorry, everyone. I love you.

3...2...1...

Boom.