The 54th annual hunger games

Chapter one

A shiver ran up my spine as a lay in my bed staring up at the ceiling. Today is reaping day and im sixteen years old. I filed for some terrese (sorry I don't know how you spell that) so my name is in thirty two times. I don't want the nerves to overwhelm me so I decide to go hunting. I pulled on my boots and my mum's old jacket. I tip toe over to my mum's room. She's asleep in bed with my little sister Aven. Aven is only eight so she still has four more years before she's old enough to be reaped. I pull on my coat and walk out the front door, into the land of district four. I decided to go down to the lake. No one is supposed to go down to the lake because it is based in the forest around district four which means you could escape from there. The have an electric fence around district four but the capitol don't care anymore so the fence is never on. I slip under the hole in the fence and walk down to the lake. I scan the area until I find the right log. I rush over and stick my hand in the log. I pull out my spear. I creep slowly over to the edge of the lake making sure none of the fish see me. One fish slowly swims over out of curiosity. I align my spear directly above the fish. All of a sudden the fish shoots away. I turn to see my best friend Persephone Lakewood standing above me.

"I thought I'd find you here," she said sitting down beside me

"Persephone I was about to catch a fish!" I exclaimed "I could have sold it!"

"With all these peacekeepers around?" she replied "You would have no chance,"

She sat down beside me and sighed a deep meaningful sigh. Persephone had a little sister. This year was her first year to be entered into the reaping so we were all worried but her name had only been entered once so they weren't going to pick her.

"They're not going to pick her," I said "Her name's only been put in once plus she's had training,"

It's true. When every child comes to the age of nine they begin training for the games in district four. The older you are the harder you train. We sat and talked for a couple of hours then we had to go because we had to get into our finer clothes for the reaping.

"Well see you soon," I said to Persephone as we climbed out from under the electric fence

"Bye," she said

"Persephone?"

"Yes?"

"Her name is only in once they won't pick her,"

"Rivera," she said "It's not her im worried about it's you, your name is in thirty two times,"

"I'll be fine," I said "See you in an hour,"

"Bye," she said. Then she turned and ran towards her home. I walked up the cold streets of district four. It was eleven o'clock so the reaping would start in exactly one hour. I walked up to my house and pushed open the door. My mother was sitting in a chair in front of the fire. Aven was sitting on her lap. Her eyes were red from crying. It happened every year. Aven burst into tears and cried for me not to go but I knew I had to. Anyway I only had this year and two more after to get through and I'd be free from the reaping but two years after that Aven would begin her long awaited years of the reaping's. Aven turned and looked at me. She jumped of mother's knee and ran over to me. She wrapped her arms around me and wailed.

"Aven," I said "I'm going to be ok don't worry about me,"

"But your name is in thirty two times," wailed Aven

"Look," I said "No matter what happen I'll always love you ok?"

Aven nodded. I got up and walked over to my mother. She had deep dark circles under her eyes and her dark hair was all over the place.

"I'll be fine mom," I said "Don't worry," She nodded

"The tub is in your bath room," she said "The water should still be warm,"

"Thank you," I replied. I walked into my room. I undressed and got into the tub. I washed my hair and in my nails as they were full of dirt. I got out of the tub quickly and put on a towel. I walked out to my mother's room. There was a blue dress sitting on her bed. I put the dress on. It went down to my knees and puffed out a bit at the end. Then I noticed something sitting on top of the bed. It was a pin with a bird on it. I recognised the bird. It was a MockingJay the birds they used to communicate with other districts during the war against the Capitol. I placed the pin in the corner of my dress. I walked into the living room.

"You look beautiful," said Mother. She tied my long black hair into a neat ponytail. Then we heard the sound of the anthem speakers. It was time to go.

Xxx

I walked down to the town hall with my mother and Aven. We walked in silence because we knew my chances of being picked were pretty high. I turned to see the place where they take your blood. I had to go now. All of a sudden Aven burst into a new fleet of fresh tears.

"Aven I'm going to be ok now go with mother," I said sternly

Aven whimpered and hugged me. She hung on for a few seconds before letting go and walking over to mum.

"See you soon," I said

I got my blood taken and went and stood along with the other sixteen year olds from my district. Everywhere was silent. Then Effie came on stage. This year she would be with district four during the run up to the games. She tapped the microphone to make sure it was on and made her announcement.

"Welcome ladies and gentlemen of district four to this year's annual hunger games," she said with a little clap.

"Now for the best part of today, the story of the being of the wonderful games," she said as she turned to look to the screen that had just come down from a large projector. The video started to play. It talked about the being of the war with the capitol and the start of these stupid games. I was bored stiff same as every year. Effie was quite new to this job so she started to memorise the lines as they were read out. By the time the 74th hunger games come she will have the whole thing memorised.

"Now," she said "Time to pick the victors! Ladies first," All of a sudden the air flow getting to my chest got weaker. It was a strong chance it would be me. Effie's long nails barely touched the pieces of paper with the names of all the girls aged 12-18 in my district on them. Then she dived in and pulled out a card. She unpeeled the tab and read out the name.

"Lily Lakewood," she announced. No I thought. That's Persephone's sister. I looked ahead of the crowd to see her. Her long blonde hair fell down to the bottom of her back. Her big green eyes filled with tears. She sniffed and started to walk to the stage. I looked helplessly over at Persephone. Lily's name was only entered once how could this be. She was on her hands and knees in tears but she wouldn't volunteer. I didn't know what do to. So I did the only thing I could think of.

"I volunteer as tribute!" I screamed