This is the first fanfiction I've ever done. So, be gentle on the reviews, but still tell me what you think and where I can improve and such. Thank you and hopefully, enjoy. :)

Fighting To Be Free - Chapter 1

My arms trembled in anticipation, perspiration dripping down my forehead slightly as I moved stealthy and quietly.

I force myself to slow my breathing and my shaking. I crouch lower than I ever thought possible and position my bow at my target.

Don't miss, I chant mentally, don't miss.

I watch as my target peers around, obvious to the fact it's being watched. He dismisses it shortly and I breathe a sigh of relief.

It was a stupid move.

His eyes dart in my direction and lets out a squawk. I stand up fully now and in one fluid motion I release my grip on my bowstring, watching the arrow fly through the air and impale my target.

It lets out one last dying shriek before it goes limp and falls to the ground with a thud.

Bulls' eye!

"Told you I wouldn't miss," I say, turning to my friend, Cyrene. She claps and slowly smiles. She walks over to the dead bird and tugs the arrow out, handing it back to me. I take it and slide it back into my quiver.

"I won't lie, I thought it was going to get away when it saw you approaching," She murmurs, and then grips the legs hoisting it up. "Though I still think I would have hit it faster with my knives."

I laugh at her; this is a typical evening with her while hunting for our families. Though we know it's serious to bring food home, we still add a bit of fun even with our situation. Mostly we hold competitions on who can get the bigger kill. Or who has the better accuracy and so on.

"Whatever you say," I shrug then gesture to the dead animal, "We should take it to my place, yeah?"

She nods and picks up one of her knives from the ground, sliding it into her belt.

We walk back in silence, probably to occupied in our thoughts to make conversation. But we usually would on the way back. Though we held our usual competition and stuff, today's different. Mainly because of the reaping tomorrow.

We haven't spoken of it all today. I think we've just been trying to get off of our mind. Ever since last year, the Hunger Games have been a difficult subject not just for me, but for Cyrene.

Last year her brother Terrian went into the arena. The sad part was that it was his final reaping and we all expected him to go untouched. That was the first day I ever saw Cyrene cry.

We all had high hopes for him. Terrian was strong. And if he got his hands on a pair of knives, we figured he'd make it. Not even five minutes in Terrian's head was sliced clean off by a Career tribute.

The worst part was that the tribute that killed Terrian ended up winning. Cyrene was furious. For a while, she didn't talk to anyone. Not that I expected her to be dandy right after her brother died.

Just like me, Cyrene had lost her mother. Because of the winter. Both of our mothers had gotten sick and well, we couldn't properly care for them. No one in District 9 could.

They passed away around the same time, exactly two weeks after they got sick. It left Cyrene and I both to care for our younger siblings, since our father's were both busy with work.

Though Cyrene had a little more help with Terrian. He even would come out with us into the woods and hunt.

He's the one who had taught Cyrene to hunt with knives, while I had to learn how to use my bow by myself.

Weirdly, our friendship just grew stronger after his death. We kinda learned how to lean on one another more. We were alike in more ways than one.

Cyrene sighs, bringing me out of my trance.

I notice we're only feet away from my house and I offer to take the bird from her, but she declines and assures me she can do it herself.

I reluctantly let her.

Once we get inside, I remove my weapon and place it down on the table, and then clean my hands quickly before helping my sister, Sloane, prepare the bird to be cooked.

Cyrene heads home though she says she'll be back with her brothers. We decided we might as well spend the night together since tomorrow is the reaping, and we never know what might happen. Though we pray none of us our picked.

It's selfish, but every night of the reaping I hope it's another girl being sent into the arena besides me. Or my sister. And also that it was another boy then my younger brother, Warrick who had just become eligible to be reaped.

Just like Cyrene's younger brother who had come of age as well. We were both worried, though we would never admit it.

We served everyone quickly, dividing it evenly as best as we could. Cyrene and I ate it silence while Sloane, Cyrene's two brothers, and Warrick chatted softly about school.

Once we're all done, we clean up quickly and I send Sloane and Warrick off to bed, though they groan and moan about how I can't tell them what to do.

"Yes, I can," I told them, "I'm your older sister. So you'll listen to me whether you like or not." They battled with me after for a few more minutes, till they submissively agreed and went to bed.

I lead Cyrene out the door and just like me, she dismissed her brothers and told them to head home and go to bed.

She watched the boys walk into their house just down the road from us before she turned back to me with a sigh. "I'm worried."

"I am too," I admit slowly. "What would happen if Sloane or Warrick got picked?"

Cyrene goes silent for a minute, probably thinking of her own brothers possibly being reaped. She opens her mouth, her eyes darting to me. "What If one of us were picked?" She asks softly.

This is the usual question we ask each time before the reaping. Though I would probably tell her everything would fine, I can't seem to this time around.

I mean, just look at Terrian. We never thought he'd get picked, but he did. And one of us might as well.

"I don't know what would happen," I manage to say, "But if it does happen, If I do get reaped, promise me you'll look after Warrick and Sloane."

She nods, reaching out and squeezing my shoulder. "And you'll look after my brothers I if get reaped?"

"Of course," I whisper softly. "I promise."

She gives me a faint smile before she removes her hand from my shoulder. She begins to walk away, but stops. Turning back and running back; she pulls me into a hug. "Night Evelyn."

I squeeze her tightly before I release my grip on her. "Night Cyrene."

I watch as she walks off back home. She doesn't look over her shoulder this time, and I'm glad. Because I'm sure if she did, I would go running after her.

I close the door to my house softly and return back to the bedroom I share with both Sloane and Warrick. I change into a plain night gown and put my red hair into a bun before I slide in next to Warrick. It takes me a while to fall asleep, but I finally do.

When morning comes, I don't really want to wake up. It takes Warrick pulling on my arm to get my out of bed. "Evelyn! Get up! The reaping's in an hour."

I shoot up out of bed after that and slip into my olive green dress. Sloane helps me too, tucking my red hair into a bun.

I do the same with her and put her hair up into a pony tail, when I'm done; I lean over her and give her a sad smile, the girl in the reflection mimicking my movements. "You look pretty," I admire, twisting a red curls of her around my finger.

Though Sloane and I have the same blood red hair color, our features are incredibly different. Sloane has my mother's same pointed nose, brown eyes, plump lips, curly hair, and a face full of orange freckles. While I have my dad's green eyes, small nose, straight red hair, and a face clear of any freckles. Unlike Warrick and Sloane, I was lucky to inherit my dad's clear skin.

But even with that, Sloane was much more popular with the boys in District 9 then me. She always had a new boy trailing after her each week, and I guess it was because of her personality. She was loud and out spoken, always laughing and smiling.

I, on the other hand, wasn't so social. I was more quiet and reserved and rarely talked to most. Besides Cyrene, I didn't have any other friend.

But that was okay, because I was perfectly happy with the life I had now. Well, as happy as I could be under the circumstances.

"Thank you," She smiles gently back and stands up from the bed. "We should get going, yeah?"

I nod and we all collect ourselves, heading out of the house. I grasp Warrick's hand in mine the whole time we walk and along the way; we meet Cyrene and her brothers.

When we arrive to the center, I press a kiss to Warrick's cheek and tell him everything will be fine. I do the same to Sloane and they walk off to their sections.

Cyrene does the same to her siblings and sends them off. I fall into step with Cyrene and we make our way to the sixteen year old section.

We're silent the whole time, watching people pass us and find their spot. It's only when the anthem begins to play and our district escort, Cecelia Tavian comes practically skipping onto stage that Cyrene grabs my hand.

I glance at her and I'm surprised to see she's completely composed and calm. She keeps her head up high, directing her gaze to the stage.

I'm brought back to reality when Cecelia chirps, "Ladies first!"

I can hear every girl in District 9, including mothers, suck in a breath as Cecelia tantalizingly waves her fingers over the reaping bowl, she looks up into the crowd, her oddly colored purple eyes widening in excitement.

She dives her hand into the reaping ball, rustling many slips before she yanks one out. I close my eyes then, unable to watch as she opens the slip of paper.

My blood pounds loudly in my ear, and I force myself to calm down. Sloane won't be picked. Cyrene won't be picked. And I won't be picked. Don't worry.

But I do. Especially more when she calls out, "Evelyn Ainsworth!"

My name. That's my name.