THE 427th HUNGER GAMES

I do not own the "Hunger Games". Full credit to the author.

CHAPTER 1. First sight.

I felt the cool breeze of the air, slowly drift across my body. I opened my eyes to my older sister who was opening the window.

"Wake up Skylias, the reaping is today." My sister Jannoply stated. I unwillingly threw my legs off my bed and got up. My little sister Thamill, was still sound asleep on her bed next to mine. I poked her on the head lightly to wake her up.

"What Skylias? Its early you know." Thamill said

"Today is the reaping. Get up!" Jannoply and I said in harmony. I exited the room to wash my face. I splashed the ice cold water against my tanned forehead. I heard a knock as I took the towel from the rack. Then there was the tall, muscular, Chartio. He smiled at me as motioned me to come. Obediently, I stepped forward towards him as I unlocked the window. He opened it with his two large hands.

"Hey Skylias. Wanna hunt before the reaping, you know just in case we get picked." He bellowed. I rolled my eyes and I let out soft laugh.

"Sure Chartio, should I bring my knifes?" I chortled as I turned away shyly. I knew he was looking at me, unwillingly I looked back.

"I don't care, as long as you bring yourself." He smiled. I turned away and walked out. I ran back to my room and grabbed my Black V-neck Hunger Games shirt. I got this shirt from my older brother, Figino. He was in the Hunger Games 2 years ago. I watched in terror as the games started. I watched, crying, hyperventilating, and yelling. When it came down to the final two, Figino was so starved he ate poisonous berries, he died slowly. I managed to get his shirt from the computerized field and keep it.

I put on black glossy leggings and brushed my red curly hair. I obviously liked Chartio, but I'm too young, honestly I'm only 12. I walked toward my knife cabinet. I am the grocery bank for this family, I hunt for everybody. I started with bows and arrows and my aim wasn't that good. But when Jannoply put a knife in my hand I was killing like crazy. I took out 3 knifes and put them in my knife belt. I grabbed my black combat boots and ran back to the bathroom.

"Ok ready!" I said as I tied my laces. He held out his hand toward me. I looked shyly away, and then I took his hand. We hopped down to the meadow green grass. There is a forest behind my house, and District 5 is now "legal" to hunt animals. Chartio looked me with a crooked smile. He had his hand around my waist and pressing my side to his. I looked at him as I took a knife out of my belt.

"Are you ready to HUNT Chartio?" I said as I threatened him teasingly. I looked at his shirt with black stains all over it. District 5 isn't that rich but my great grandmother Fimberi won the 437th Hunger Games. She equally gave the prize money to our family; our mother got a great fraction. We have been well off, but we still hunt for our ill mother. Ever since Figino went into the Hunger Games, we believe we have been cursed. Every generation of the Ingenio's has to go the Hunger Games. So we practice hunting every now and then, hoping that we can break this curse.

I held onto my heart locket that Fimberi gave me before she passed. I was only 3, so I don't remember that tragic time.

"I'm ready Skylias." He shot a crooked smile at me again. I watched silently as he took out his sphere. I took a knife out of my belt, and started to hunt.

"Damn squirrel." I muttered as I took my knife out of the tree. I missed by an inch. Chartio put his hand on my shoulder as he said.

"Next time Skylias." I smiled and continued my hunt. Chartio wanted to go a different way so we agreed to meet up by the tree with the "Red X". Chartio spray-painted the tree so when we get lost we go right to it. After two very silent minutes, the leaves rustled. Under my instinct, I threw a knife at them. I sorted through the pile of green leaf that had me frightened. There was nothing there. I looked around as I yelled,

"Come out! I know someone is here!" A shadow appeared behind a tree in front of me. My knife stayed at my waist protectively. A tall figure appeared from behind the tree. I threw my knife at it, scared to death. My jaw dropped surprisingly.

"Hey! Watch it!" The boy said. I looked at the tree right next to him and there lies the knife. My face felt hot and I tried to distract myself.

"I am so sorry! It's just my reflexes. . ." I held my hand behind my head. The knife was gone. He had taken it out of the tree. The blonde, slender boy threw it my way. I felt threatened and I ducked.

"Two can play at this game." He laughed. A hummingbird sound came from the tree next to me. It was really the knife stabbing the tree next to me. I could tell he was good with knifes unlike Chartio, who despised them for no reason. He walked toward me

"I'm Terrence. You?" He smiled balmy. The sun was rising behind him. The air was becoming more humid. I wiped a smile across my face and ran off to my house.

CHAPTER 2. RAVEN

I bolted to my room which had my Green Laced dress. My clothes came off with ease and the dress fit perfectly. The color reminded me of Raven, my old friend. She had taken a train to District 5, from 11. Her dad was the Mayor and ordered her to learn more about the districts. I was at the train station that day because I had to get away from Jannoply. She was in one of her "Moods". I did remember a tall girl, all dressed in white coming off the train. Her kind words "Hello... I'm looking for district 5? Am I in the right district?" I showed her around my district. Our dreadful peacekeepers, who kept an eye on us. She told me how District 11 was much worse. How she would view executions from her bedroom window. How when, if you tried to stand up for your beliefs, you would be punished. She told me how she felt safe being the mayor's daughter, but also freighted. Say if the mayor made a horrible mistake, she was afraid for the sake of her dad. Also for herself and her family.

Thamill didn't like how we had an outsider in our home. It was only a one day visit, but I encouraged her to stay over. When night fell, I woke her up. "Raven, want to hunt? Night is the best time. All the animals are out." I could tell she had never hunted before. But I don't mind to teach her to hunt. She told me she knew how to use bows and arrows, so I grabbed a pair out of my weapon closet I kept hidden in my room. She also said she was good with a whip. I didn't have any sadly. I said we would get one soon. It took her a long time to adjust to hunting but by sunrise, she had it down. We joked around how we might be in The Hunger Games Together. After Figino went, I was scared I would go. It's all up to the reaping now. To decide my fate.

Before Raven left, I gave her a green beaded bracelet that engraved "TRUST" on beads. I had made when I was a little girl. When I liked doing crafts. Now that's all gone because of the dreadful society we live in. Instead, I hunt, day and night.