I slowly open my eyes, adjusting to the sun. I wake to the smell of stale bread and jam. We were pretty much the poorest family in district 5, and to me, this would be the only piece of food, that would have to get me through the day. But I could usually take my mind off the hunger by reading a book. The smell was like a drug to me, pulling me in, but I resisted.

I switched on my light, that was the only advantage of living in D5, we got an endless supply of electricity, us being the power suppliers for the whole of panem. I had woken up very late, it was now 12:30, usually it wouldn't of mattered, but today was reaping day, the day my whole family dread.

I quickly jumped out of bed, realising how late it was. Lay on the floor in front of me, was a beautiful purple dress, covered in sequins, or I think that's what my mother called them. I brushed through my bright red hair which was knotty due to my restless sleeping, and pulled it up into a top knot on the top of my head. I carefully picked up the dress and slipped it on over my head, being careful not to damage it in anyway, it was so delicate that even the feel against my skin made me wince, afraid I had ripped it. The texture was like water on my skin, that was how silky it was. It was a little big for me so I crept into my mothers bedroom, and checked in her draw of ribbons, letting my fingers slide carefully over each one, and picking a light fuchsia one, and tie it round my waist, securing the dress. My mother was a dress maker. A strange job for a District 5 inhabitant. I'm sure in any other district, say one, it would make an enormous amount of money, but no one in District 5 had any need for dresses, so she made little money. As for my father...well I'd rather not go into that one.

Usually I would of had a shower, but there was no time for that. Reaping day is a day where one boy and girl, between the ages of 12 and 18, would be picked to participate in a game show named 'the hunger games' a fight to the death. But there was twenty-four of us, two from each district, with there being twelve districts (excluding the Capitol) that makes 24. And only one winner.

I slumped downstairs, not feeling as lively as ever, to see my sister, Tam, and my mother sat at the table, munching their bread. Reaping day was not only a threat to us, but somewhat something to look forward to. The families whose kids were not reaped are invited to a feast, which means food for us.

"Hey foxy!," Tam laughed. "Excited?" She asked.

"It's Finch" I say through gritted teeth. I hated my sister. Hated her. And I wasn't the type to hate. Tam had this horrible nickname for me..'Foxy'. Because she thought I looked like a fox. Ha. Well she looks like a whale. My sister was enormous for someone starving and poor. I often wondered if that vile boyfriend of hers fed her, with his richness. Ugh. They both disgust me. "Whatever" she waves me off. "I ate your toast, you came down too late to retrieve it" she gave me a vicious smile. She knew I was starving. Close to sickness. I looked up at my mother, asking her with an expression why she let Tam eat my toast, but she just sighed and looked away. What was up with her? I lashed out at Tam, letting my anger get the best of me.

"You had no right! No right to go eating my last hope of surviving!" I grabbed her hair and tried pull her down. Laughing she just pushed me off.

"You'll be in the arena in a couple of weeks anyway, dead". She seemed so sure that I stopped, questioning if it could be true. Of course not, she was just tormenting me. Frustrated, I stormed out of the door, not bothering to bid my mother goodbye, and certainly not my sister.

The centre of District 5, where the reaping took place was a mere 10 minute walk away, District 5 was the smallest district. It didnt help that my brutal sister was behind me, with her poor excuse of a boyfriend, shouting abuse and chucking the occasional stone at my back. Her boyfriend just laughed and encouraged her, which made me fume.

Soon enough I reached the centre and checked in, they had to take a prick of blood from your finger which always made me flinch, I hated the feel of the needle pricking my finger. I just had to suck until I was absolutely sure there was not blood left in my finger usually leaving my hand numb. I went to line up with the rest of the 15 year olds, I saw Tam parting from her boyfriend, them going to either side of the 18 year olds. I can only imagine the soppy things she'll be saying to him. The thought makes me laugh. Before I know it, Herb Macalaut, our escort, stumbles onto the stage, in her ridiculous high heels. No wonder she stumbles. I retain a laugh at her bright green hair, the Capitols style is outrageous. I've seen worse though. Herb reads a whole speech about how the Hunger Games started out, the same as every year. I find myself tuning out, bored at the antics. After a painful half an hour of talk, it's finally time to pick the tributes. "As tradition, ladies first!" She pipes in her annoying Capitol voice. Stumbling over to the reaping ball, she stuffs her perfectly manicured hands into it and pulled out a single slip of paper. Everyone held their breath, you could hear a pin drop, that's how quiet it was. Finally she reads out the name.

"Finch Seacrest". What? Had I heard right? No, it was just Tams mind games playing with me. But no, before I knew it, I was being ushered towards the stage, Herb holding out her hand to me. I hadn't really registered what had happened, but I wasn't scared. No, it's unlike me to be scared, instead I felt something completely strange. I felt disappointed. I wasn't sure what at. But then it hit me. Disappointed that Tam was right. Suddenly I was angry, she had done this to me. I scanned the audience for her. But what I saw was something shocking, she looked scared, pitying. Then she saw me looking, and started laughing, the venom in her eyes, her laugh, and that moment of sympathy for me had passed, she never really cared. For her though, I tried to put on a brave face, to look strong. I could tell she was going to enjoy me be devoured into tiny bits. In the midst of this, Herb had called out the boy tributes name.

"Ryan Canter". This time it was my turn to laugh, and I made sure Tam noticed. Ryan was her boyfriend, the one she loved so dearly. I could see the pain in her eyes, she was about to blow. I know for sure in any other situation Tam would of volunteered for the girl tribute, to protect Ryan, but in this circumstance she would not. Not volunteer for me. And I knew it was killing her. Ryan was her everything, and I would make sure that I would be the one to kill him, for her pleasure. I gave her a knowing smile and disappeared into the Justice Building with Ryan, away from the crowd.

We were separated into two rooms, and were assigned an hour for visitors. To my surprise, my first guest was Tam. She came storming in, even if she was angry, I never expected she'd say goodbye to me. But obviously it wasn't me she cared about.

"Finch, you stupid girl! Why did you have to go and get picked! I swear to god, you make sure Ryan gets out of that arena alive or I'll skin you alive". This made me laugh. She is literally the most stupid person ever. How could she skin me alive if I was dead. My laugh was answered with spit in my face.

"I hope you understand that Foxy, or else". She sauntered out of the room, just as she was about to close the door, I shouted "Sorry, I don't understand whale!" This made her go ballistic, but peacekeepers just held her back.

I wiped her spit out of my face, and took a seat on a chair behind me. The material was so plush! I stroked it, savouring its feel. I'm sure my mother would know what it was called. But there was no guaranteed visit from her. She didnt care for me any more than my sister did. The only thing she would do for me is not let me starve. I could at least give her that. But to my surprise, she did make an appearance. She handed me a square of her finest material. This simple gesture brought tears to my eyes. It may seem like nothing but I can only imagine how much this square would cost, certainly enough to feed us three meals for a week, which to me is extravagant. Maybe I had underestimated my mothers love for me. We stood there in silence for what seemed like hours, but it could of only been a few minutes, before she kissed me lightly on the forehead and wished me luck. And she was gone. Just like that. That was the last time I would see my mother.

Suddenly it all dawned on me, what had happened, where I was headed. It was times like this when I needed my father. He was the only family member that I could rely on. He was just 18 when he died. I was four. My parents had me young, but it was common in District 5. Even then I admired him. His logic, his cleverness. My father had died in these games. Which I suppose is why my mother bade me goodbye. I remember watching it, clear as day, my mother and sister Tam either side of me. Tam was only watching for my mothers sake, we had different fathers. Maybe that's why we never had a special bond. No I know why we don't. But we try not to mention it. Anyway I was sat on the hard wooden bench that lived in our home. Watching the games, crying as I slowly watched my father slip away. I knew he was close to death. But it was his actual death that causes my nightmares. My pain. I'm rocketed back to reality when a peacekeeper I vaguely recognise is beckoning for me to exit the room, my times up. I wipe away all emotion on my face, I know there will be cameras everywhere when I leave the Justice Building.