•Chapter 1
My eyes flash open as I instantly sit up, gasping for a mouthful of air. A thick layer of a night's worth of sweat and yesterday's dirt covers my skin. I'm confused, what woke me up? I look around my 'modest' room, trying to locate the source of sound I swear I heard. Folding the thin blanket off my legs, I swing my feet around to the floor. That's when I discover what woke me.
Buttercup.
"I will cook you." I mutter, annoyed the dumb cat woke me. The only response I recieve from the orange furball is a sharp hiss before he scatters off. I huff as I advert my eyes to the small window in the corner. It's dawn, time for me to wake anyway.
Rushing to get dressed, I discard my megar nightgown for brown pants and a dark black shirt. I hurry to my closet, pulling on my father's hunting jacket, instantly feeling more secure.
A soft shuffle is heard at the door, so I quickly turn to investigate. All I see is my little sister Prim standing in the doorway, half asleep. Prim is only 12, and small for her age. Her slightly tusseled twin braids give her a disheveled look, and her barely open eyelids don't help. I feel sorry for her, sorry I can't help her more, sorry I can't give her more. But I do the best I can. I feel guilty, she deserves better. But with our father gone and our mother incapable of really taking care of her, it's up to me. It's been up to me ever since Father died last year, or was it two years ago?
"Go back to sleep, Prim." I tell her, adjusting my jacket around my torso. But she only answers me with a question, "Where are you going?" The usual question. But I can't tell her. For her own good. "I'll be back soon." I reply, slipping my feet in my boots. A moment passes before I stand again, but she has retained her spot by the doorframe. Stepping closer to her, I smile down at her young face. "We start school back today." I remind her of something that's pretty hard to forget, forcing a smile and feigning excitement. "And I start secondary school, I'll be in the same school as you, Katniss!" Prim reminds me, again. Since Prim is 12 years old now, she can move up to secondary school. "You are getting so big, little duck." I tell her, it's hitting me that she's actually ten. She's getting older. I know she's still young, but I still see her as the little girl that would ride on our Father's back laughing and run through the medows with me and pick flowers and cry whenever Father and I killed livestock to make dinner. Besides Father being gone, she hasn't changed all that much, and that's something I'm greatful for.
"I really gotta go, Prim. I'll see you soon." I push past her. I rush across the small living room and just before I reach the door, I turn and call out to my sister, "I'll be back soon and we can walk to school together." reassuring her, before stepping out the door and closing it behind me.