I'm Only Playing with Fire
Chapter One

DISCLAIMER
I do not own the Hunger Games as it belongs to Suzanne Collins.
I only own the original characters Emerald Kalfeen, Sapphire Kalfeen and their parents.

Emerald's POV

It was the day of the reaping in district one today and the crowd, as usual were all hyped up and excited. I, on the other hand, was not looking forward to this ceremony at all. Here in district one, we lie in luxury, are brought out praising the Hunger Games that happen every year and some of us, like myself, are specially trained for the Hunger Games, for if we get chosen during a reaping, that we would be prepared for what we were up against and how to win…even if it means killing off our other tribute partner if it meant that victory would be ensured for the district.

"Is this what I really grew up to take place in? To be pulled out of the reaping bowl and to become…the next tribute…"

I grew up believing that the Hunger Games were the only way of ensuring peace within the districts, but as I got older and as the Hunger Games were gradually closing in to the year that I myself would have my name placed within the Reaping bowl, I wouldn't help but feel that it would be a mistake to ever want to kill just for the glory that it will give.

"Emerald…sweetheart…? Sweetheart come on we have a reaping to go to!"

My mother herself was a tribute when she was younger. She was a tribute at the age of sixteen when she was entered in the Annual 54th Hunger Games and she was forced to kill all of the other tributes that were in her way to obtain eternal glory. She always told me, that when I became older that I would become like her…bring more glory towards our family name but my father always thought otherwise.

He, like I am, is a rebel, someone who is against the Capitol in controlling everything that we do how we are treated and how we live our everyday life. Father loved mother dearly but sometimes he would himself tell me that she had done wrong in killing all those other innocent life's and that in the future, if I ever get pulled out of a reaping, to do what I must do to survive but do it without having to kill innocents to achieve it.

"Coming mother I'll be down in a minute!"

Sighing quietly to I finish off my hair, placing it gently into a high pony tail. Taking a look over myself in the mirror, I start to wonder, why am I so different? People here in the district all had blonde hair blue eyes, the average look within here, but then there was I…Green eyes with black hair…definitely not normal, but my parents say that it means I'm special…Yeah right…

"Emerald we're going to be late! Hurry up! I maybe chose to become tribute so…HURRY UP!"

That was my sister, Sapphire. She, unlike me, was like the typical district one child. Everything she did was for the sake of becoming the next tribute to represent the district. She's just being obnoxious brat she is, thinking everything will be fine, that her "popularity" will raise once she comes out of the games. But truly what happens if she never came back? What if she dies during the games? Then she would be left as nothing, only known as a past tribute that will be forgotten with the waves of time.

"I'm coming sheesh, hold your horses!"

Walking down the spiralling stairs to the main lounge room of our mansion, I take upon the appearances of my family. They all seemed excited but truly I know that father is a bit nervous about the reaping today, but that wasn't going to stop him from smiling to ensure that my mother wouldn't scold at him for "dissing" the idea of these games.

"Well…let's go now…and let's hope that the odds are in our family's favour"

Father said, a small smile placing itself on face. And with this we started to walk to the main town centre where the reaping would take place. Whilst walking there, there was some small talk between us.

"So girls, I hope today that you will not upset me and get chosen as tribute just like I was when I was younger"

Mother said towards us, her eyes gleaming with a sort of look that made me think that she would probably disown us in a way if we weren't chosen.

"Sweetheart isn't they a bit young for this?"

My father voiced him; his deep alto voice shook with an authoritative tone to it.

"Nonsense dearie, I was the same age as Emerald is now when I became tribute and look where I am now; Famous within the district, with money and with a beautiful family!"

"Fame isn't everything sweetheart-"

"Maybe not but the rewards and advantages that you get from winning are too amazing to turn down, you should know that by now"

"But-"

"I want to become tribute mother dearest!"

Sapphire yelled out. She was only two years older than I am, the fruitful age of 18 years but every year she entered in the reaping, she had always being rejected which I always teased her about.

"Well good on you sweetheart, I am certain that this year will be your year, the year that Sapphire Kalfeen becomes one of the two tributes!"

Looking back at my mother and Sapphire, I sigh to myself before continuing to walk besides my father. I swear he's the only person who I can really get along with in this family. He actually understands me but we know that we must not rebel as it would result in the Capitol punishing us for our disagreements on their rules.

"Well my princesses…"

Father said looking up ahead, oh...we're here already…

"This is it. I wish you two luck and if either one of you gets chosen…than hopefully luck will be in our favour…I love you two."

He said finishing off his sentence, a sad sincere smile gracing his aging face.

"Well of course they will get chosen sweetheart, they have my blood in them! And then they will win the Hunger Games and come back as champions. Boys your age like champions these days so don't let me down."

My mother said, her eyes glazing over from her competitive nature coming through. Her words weren't as sincere as fathers but they was a small bit of nervousness coming from her, probably thinking that we may not stand a chance in becoming tributes.

"We love you too father…mother…we will make you proud"

I say to both of my parents, giving them a brief hug, my eyes slightly watering at the thought of having to leave them.

And now here I was now, standing within the sea of children of my age and bellow, some above, all standing with our best clothes on. We stared at each other, some of us were uneasy, some seemed too excited and couldn't wait until the reaping to take place…and then there was me…the one child of district one who wanted none of it.

"Aren't you excited little sis? We may become tributes but then again they'll probably choose me over you ya know. Age over beauty"

There she goes again with her ranting about becoming the next tribute. In the six or so years she has being to the reaping, she has never being chosen, but never will as harsh as that sounds. Just as she was about to speak again, a lady dressed within blue and had hair that seemed so full of volume stood at the front of the town centre. Any talking that was done was instantly ceased as everyone looked towards her petite structure, eagerly waiting for the tribute announcement.

"Good morning ladies and gentle of district one. Today I, Crystal Hilten will be drawing and announcing the tributes that will represent District One in the 74th Annual games!"

As she did this, a loud roar of cheering and clapping than took place.

"Now, before we get to the reaping, I would like to show a video from the Capitol about the Hunger Games and how it affects our way of living."

And with that, the petite woman stood off to the side as the video from Capitol played. They would play this video every year before the beginning of the reaping. When I was younger, I was always amazed and awestruck about what had happened in the past, but now, the video seemed to be a waste of time.

"Twelve districts, two tributes from each district, an overall of twenty four tributes only one will stand"

I thought to myself. The odds in these games were against every single tribute that would be entered in the competition. The other districts other than one, two and probably three and four would have a disadvantage in the games.

Here in district one; some of us…most of us, are placed within schooling in becoming a career, people who trained in order just to be chosen as tribute. We are thought how to survive in conditions that resemble those of the games, specialized to use weapons that would give us an upper advantage and also trained to kill others, even those who we know.

My thoughts were broken as Crystal returned to the stage, the projection of the video slowly disintegrating into the sky as she tapped on the microphone as if to see if it was on or not. Suddenly she smiled widely and started to talk.

"Well then, let's begin the reaping shall we. Well as I say, ladies first."

As she said that, a stage hand gave her the clear coloured bowl. Dipping her hand through the bowl, she started to shuffle between the papers before pulling out one small piece.

"Please don't let that paper hold my name, anyone but me please."

I start to say to myself, the nervous slowly running through my body as if they too were in lock down mode.

"The female tribute that will be representing district one at this year's Hunger Games is Emerald Kalfeen. Emerald dear would you come up to the stage!"

The sound of people clapping and cheering was drowned out in my ears. I, out of all of the capable applicants for the games, was chosen. Looking down at my feet and slowly shuffling forward towards the stage, I couldn't help but give a desperate glance towards Sapphire, begging with my eyes for her to object. But that objection never came as in the end, I found myself standing on the centre of the stage, hundreds of eyes beaming towards me.

Some of the stares were ones filled with hatred, jealously and some even filled with the smallest bit of sympathy. I saw the faces of my parents; my mother crying in what seemed to be happiness and then there stood my father. He looked as stoic as ever, no emotions or any sorts of expressions was visible on his face which made me worry. But that was the least of my matters at the moment.

"Well congratulations Miss Kalfeen. Now Miss Kalfeen, I believe you are the daughter of a previous District One Hunger Games winner correct? This year there will be no doubt that you possibly will follow in your mother's footsteps and bring us glory to this district! Now we will reap out the next tributes name, so boys are prepared because it may just be you!"

There was again a moment of silence, the shuffling and ruffling of the papers within the reaping bowl was all that could be heard. The ruffling stopped and looking over towards Crystal, I see her starting to open the folded paper, tapping the microphone gently as she did.

"Well the male tribute that will be entered into the 74th Hunger Games this year will be Marvel Lous! Please come forwards Mr Lous and take your place besides Miss Kalfeen here!"

Looking over, I see the boys starting to part a way through for Marvel. I've known Marvel ever since I've entered our Career school. He, like most of the other Career's, had blonde hair and blue eyes. He was also quite a muscly person and if I hadn't known him at all, I would have definitely being intimidated by his body structure.

Marvel was always near the top of the class when it came to our Career classes because of his animalistic like behaviour but what really let him down sometimes is his temper. It's worse than my mother ever getting angry at me. Once someone got a higher mark than he did during spear throwing and this caused him to just narrowly miss a throw towards the person who ranked higher. Totally scary.

"Woo Marvel you rock!"

Glimmer shouted from the crowd in where she stood from earlier. Let me tell you one thing about Glimmer, she's a total Marvel giant fan girl. Like everyone else, she had blonde hair and blue eyes and looked all so innocent, but she really isn't. Sometimes I believe that those two would make a perfect couple but who knows why Marvel never bothered dating her.

Marvel had a grin on his face as he continued his way up towards the stage, his hand up in the air waving at the people he was passing by. He seemed to be a bit too overconfident but then again some confidence is better than no confidence at all. Once he got beside him, he gave me a small glancing look before turning his face once again to the public.

"Well ladies and gentlemen, I here to announce that the tributes for District One this year for the Annual 74th Hunger Games will be Emerald Kalfeen and Marvel Lous! Let's give them a round of applause! And Happy Hunger Games and May the odds are ever in your favour."

Life as I knew it from there would only just get worse.