Okay. I know I have All is Fair in Love and War to finish, and I have Code: Anubis to update. But, I just finished reading The Hunger Games series, and I saw the movie with one of my best friends yesterday, and I've had the idea for this in my head for a long time, so… here we are.

Also, this is set in an alternate universe where there is no Katniss, Peeta, or Gale. Sorry.

Chapter One: House of Reapings

Nina's POV:

My name is Nina Martin. I am sixteen years old. My home is District 12. My parents own the sweet shop in town. My best friends are Madge Undersee and Delly Cartwright. Today is Reaping Day. This year's Hunger Games are about to begin.

I sighed, anxiously fiddling with my dress' sash, the bow tied at my waist. I really hope I don't get picked, I thought, combing out my frizzy, dirty blonde hair in the mirror. "This is as good as it's gonna get," I muttered to myself. My parents were downstairs, working in the sweet shop. My younger sister, who's eleven, watched quietly, a solemn expression on her face.

"I'll be fine," I reassured her. "They won't pick me."

The real problem was convincing myself of that.

She scoffed, twirling a lock of her hair around her thumb.

The time for the Reaping approached faster than I thought it would. In no time, people were filling up the square, kids put into the lottery as tributes sectioned off by ropes according to age. All the adults and family members stood there, lining the perimeter. The place was crawling with Peacekeepers, and not the semi-friendly ones like who resided here in Twelve. It made my stomach flip and my blood run cold.

Finally, after Mayor Undersee has welcomed us to another Reaping, Effie Trinket took the stage, decked out in a violet dress and light lavender wig, with a little pillbox hat the same shade as the rest of her outfit. The heels on her feet look like they'd be a pain to walk in, but she didn't seem to mind. After all, she was from the Capitol.

"Ladies first," she started, her Capitol accent already starting to get on my nerves. After reaching in a delicate hand and fishing around for the slip of paper containing the tribute's name, she finally pulled it out. Taking a breath, she read it. "Nina Martin."

I stood there, shell-shocked. Me. She had chosen my name. Mine. Out of all the names in District 12, and a lot of them were in there multiple times due to tesserae. My heart sank, then it started beating really fast. I thought I was going to faint. Slowly and reluctantly, I made my way to the stage before any Peacekeepers could rudely usher me to our district's escort.

After she chose our boy tribute, the three of us were marched into the Justice Building, where I'd wait in a nicely-furnished room and have an hour to say goodbye to my friends and family.

The first person to come crashing through the door was my little sister.

"You can't go!" she shouted, tears already streaming down her face.

"It's too late," I replied, getting up off the velvet sofa and kneeling down in front of her, looking at each other from eye-level. "I've been Reaped. No one volunteered as tribute. I'm going to be in the Games."

"But you're strong!" she cried. "Try to win!"

"I'll try," I answered, now near-tears. I stood, looking up at my parents. "I love you."

"We love you, too, sweetheart," my mom replied, hugging me close. "We have faith in you. I know you can win."

"Thanks" was all I could say. The biggest doubt in my mind was that I'd return to District 12 alive, but I decided to keep my mouth shut. No need in making them more upset or anything. Today's rough enough as it is.

My father then pulled me into his arms, ruffled my hair, and kissed the top of my head. I was glad I had a close relationship with my parents, and I was glad nothing had happened to them like the men who'd died in the mine explosion a few years ago. But they were part of the Seam, and I lived in town. Above the sweet shop. Better-fed than most, but still hungry.

District Twelve, where you can starve to death in safety.

After my parents and sister left, Madge and Delly entered the room, grim expressions on their faces. Madge's eyes looked red and puffy, as if she'd been crying. I felt bad enough as it was, abandoning my family and sister, but seeing Madge as upset as she looked almost broke my heart even more. She never cried. Never. Not even if something bad had happened to her. She tried to suck it up and hold it in, keeping her head held high and the rest of herself looking strong.

"You're strong, Nina," Delly started, sitting next to Madge on the sofa across from me. "We know you can win the Games. Almost the whole of District 12 does. You'll come out of it. You'll come back."

It was all I could do not to burst into tears right then and there.

"Th-thank you, Delly," I chocked out. No, don't cry, I told myself. For Madge's sake. Don't cry.

Madge dried her eyes on a soft blue handkerchief and finally looked me straight in the eye.

"We'll miss you," she confessed. "You were our best friend."

"And you were mine," I replied, getting up to go over and hug them.

We stayed like that, in our group hug, for what seemed like forever. After pulling away, Delly said she had to go back home; her parents would be wondering where she was. Madge stayed a few minutes longer, though.

"Here. Take this." She unfastened an expensive gold pin from her dress. The pin was small, and the outline was circular. Inside the circle, there was a diamond, the top and bottom points touching the circle's inside rim while the sides didn't come into contact. She pinned it to my blouse.

"I can't take this from you," I told her.

"It'll be your District token," she clarified. "Please, Nina. Take it. Take it to remind you of Delly and I. Of your parents. Your sister. Twelve."

I stood there, speechless, hugging her again. "Thank you," I whispered.

"Time's up." A Peacekeeper appeared at the door, looking less than happy. But I guess that's what they're supposed to do: Try not to convey any emotions.

Madge left silently, not looking back. I don't think I could've bared it if she had, anyway.

Following Effie and a surprisingly sober Haymitch, we made our way to the drab, gray train station, waving goodbye to my family, friends, and the rest of District Twelve.

I was going to the Capitol. From there, I was going to the Hunger Games.

I was almost positive that I was going to end up dead in that arena.