I open my tired eyes and throw off the dirty blanket. Freezing cold air greets my lower body which was cocooned in the protective duvet. Blinding light is leaking through the thin curtain onto Lara, my younger sister. I did not sleep at all that night, nor did Lara I could hear her, moving about and crying before being scooped up into my Mothers bed. How much I craved last night to curl up to them, but I need to be strong. I throw my pillow at Lara's bed but it just sinks into the blanket, Lara must be with mother. I don't know why she is worrying as much as she is, she is only nine and won't have to face reaping day for another three years, but as for me, my first reaping day is approaching. I know somehow my life will change in the next few hours, I can just sense one of my friends will get picked; if they do I won't know where to place myself in life, how to feel.

I clamber out of bed, take a deep sigh and prepare to face the bitter real world. I walk out the doorway and down the stairs, I immediately tell mother or Lara are not awake yet, which is strange their normally up at the break of dawn. I head back upstairs because it is pointless just sitting there anxiously waiting. I sit on Lara's bed smelling her pillows noting her scent exactly in case anything does happen. I try not to think of the worst case scenario and concentrate on the outside world; I stare out my window at the mockingjays flying free in the sky singing magnificent lullabies. I have always liked mockingjays I think them as unique. I slouch back into my bed the mattress seems comfier than ever, in one hand I gently pick up the gown mother has laid out for me to wear for reaping, I run my fingers along the silk material leaving my fingers craving for more by the refreshing soft feeling left tingling on my fingertips. The pattern has a large bird resting on a twig printed onto the dress; I wished it was a mockingjay but the shape was to obscure to possibly even look like one. The branch was toped in snow and leaves; an orangey red colour was printed all around. I quickly dressed into the gown, even though there was hours of patiently waiting to go yet. I combed my hair and admired myself in the mirror. Even though I looked beautiful I still looked hardly older then twelve, everyone has always said I look young for my age but I don't care. My dark skin and jet black hair beam out, reflecting at me, I strain my eyes staring into the mirror before I can really tell how much I resemble Lara. I plait my hair down my back, even though my mother will surely want to do that. I then decide to wake them; there is surely a lot of preparing to do before I can find my friends.

Mother and Lara are downstairs within ten minutes joined by my two older sisters, they seem to be hiding their feelings, properly for the likes of me who are about to crack. But this is neither a first time nor a second for them and even though there is no possible way to get used to it, they can control themselves. Mother working where she does, in a small bakery, there is lots of work to do. Danielle is in charge of frosting the cakes witch I particularly like doing, I can't say I have a steady hand just all the different colours laid out in front of you and being able to go wild creating whatever you want. I once made a mockingjay cake, well mother made it I frosted I spent half an hour making in perfect, but I could never bring myself to eat the delicacy and when I finally came round to the idea it had become more like a rock then a soft mouth-watering cake. I was in charge of the presentation which was incredibly boring, I just sat there placing the cakes, biscuits and other sweet snacks in wrappers packaging or on display in the large frosted glass window. The time passed so slowly giving me more time to worry, but eventually I was allowed to roam the streets of district eleven just as long as I came back at least an hour before we had to face the truth.

I walked proudly around the streets, children my age crying, pacekeepers and cameras from the capitol staring at me, When I was younger I used to pray to leave these walls of our district, apparently in some districts like twelve, it is easy to escape but hear it's like prison we are locked in and years ago someone chucked away the key.

I walk to Eliza's house, I know she won't be crying or scared, and she is the bravest person I know, out of every child hear she has the biggest chance of making it home and she is only twelve. Her mother answers the door and does not even make any communication with me but just automatically lets me in. I walk into their back garden, I used to wish I was as luck as them and have a back yard, Eliza is perched on the wall I can tell she is nervous, tired and like everyone else petrified, but something about her, she looks upset about something stupid, clearly not the Games. I invite myself to seat next to her before she collapses on to my shoulder crying her eyes out. I pat her gently; her dress is clearly expensive, big round buttons with engravings all down her back.

'What's the matter?' I question.

'Mother' she replied, glum, her voice breaking as she weeps.

'It can't be that bad beautiful Eliza wants to go to the reaping her cheeks all blotchy and appear in front of the rest of the country ugly?' I joked and she smiled faintly.

'I know, Rue, but...' she moaned.

'But...'

'My Mother told me, that if I went in the games she would be happy.' She cried. Eliza's mother is strict and has a very short temper I'm sure deep down she is caring and kind but she has been known to say the odd word that she regretted.

'She cares so much about you just I think she is scared that she will lose you' I explained calmly. Eliza smiled at me her brown eyes wide just like a young dog.

'How do you always know what to say to make me feel better rue?' she asked, I just shrugged before realising the time.

I slogged back home, hoping that was not the last conversation I would ever have with Eliza. The next thing I know it's time to leave.

All the girls have to gather on the left hand side of the stage in a big old room, there is a stone wall giving it a cold, chilling atmosphere, black candle stick holders going up the walls with alight tall candles inside. The wall sticks out in places making us group closer together like penguins. I close my eyes trying to make the time pass but nothing happens. I desperately scan the room for Eliza but I am left disappointed.

'Welcome To the seventy-fourth hunger games' says a young woman. Breaking the silence 'As tradition we shall start with the girls' she continues. My stomach ties up in a knot, I just want to burst out crying, cling onto something for support but no one is there to help me. I heard the names churn together as she places one delicate hand into the machine. Her finger touches a clear white sheet. She pulls it up slowly as if wanting more tension.

'The girl tribute for district eleven is Rue Clingstone' I almost topple over as two petrified screams echoing of my sister and Eliza break the silence. I try to gather enough energy to walk to the stage thinking over in my head, be brave, brave, don't show them you're scared, and be a free mocking jay. I take one step of my left foot then my right and slowly work my way down to the stage. A thin hand helps me up, their finger nails painted black, I walk round a curtain the get blinded by the luminous lights. People sigh that a young child has been picked and there is hardly going to be any hope for the female district eleven's this year.

'Give it up for are girl tribute' the crowd stays cheers slightly then calms down.

'As for the boy, thresh wails' she announces, people are already cheering. Before I know it on steps a hard, tall, older, tough, strong boy. Maybe district eleven do have hope, well whatever the hope is, I am certainly not going to win. All I can do is eat good berries and hide in the trees he can kill, and more than likely will end my life.