My name is Dan Howell.
I am 16 years old.
I survived the Hunger Games.
Reaping Day.
The day I dreaded the most.
I used to think that it was never possible. It would never happen to me. Not me.
But a few years ago something happened. Something that I couldn't do anything about.
My best friend, Phil Lester, was reaped to go into the Hunger Games.
I was 11, so I couldn't volunteer to take his place, to save his life. I was forced to watch my best friend fight for his life.
Luckily, the odds were in his favour.
Phil won the 67th Hunger Games. He had been mentoring kids for 4 years now. He apparently hated it.
I honestly don't blame him. What type of sick person would enjoy mentoring kids to fight to the death in an arena of dooooom!
I certainly wouldn't.
There I was. In front of the justice building in district 10. Awaiting my fate.
The girl was reaped.
Laura Harrington.
She was 2 years younger than me.
She also lost her sister in the Hunger Games 5 years ago. Clearly the odds aren't in the Harrington's favour.
Now it was the boys turn. Time to sentence someone else to death.
The announcer spoke.
"Daniel Howell"
I literally lost all of my senses. My throat went dry. My vision went fuzzy. My hearing faded out.
I fainted to the ground. The peacekeepers came and picked me up. They physically had to drag me to the justice building. I was to overwhelmed, but not in a good way.
Why? Why me? Why does this have to happen? My best friend is my mentor? Why?
The next few hours were a blur. I cried and clung to my mother. She told me everything would be alright, and that I would be home sooner than I thought.
My little sister almost broke my heart.
She walked into the room. She was only 8.
"Dan... I love you... you are the best big brother that I could have asked for...and I wanted to give you this"
she handed me a necklace with a llama charm on it.
"You gave it to me and told me that it would make me smarter, and I wanted to give it back to you, so you can be reminded that you are the smartest person in the whole world, and you can get through this. Now promise me one thing?"
"Anything"
"Promise me you'll come back"
The next thing I can remember is going on the train. I didn't pay attention to anything. I just ran into my quarters on the train and cried on the bed. I must have fell asleep because I woke up at 3 am, and it was dark outside.
I change out of my reaping clothes and went to look for the one thing that would help me get through this now.
Phil