Chapter 1

I am running. My hair coming lose from its braid, my blue eyes focused on freedom. But there he is. A silhouette of a man, holding a knife. Ready to pounce… "Goodbye, little fawn…"

I wake up screaming. Just like every night before the reaping. I curse myself for worrying. After all, the last games were almost 50 years ago now. Why do I still have nightmares? Just then, the door flung open and Dad came in. His Silvery blond hair tousled by sleep… or lack of it.

"Silvana, are you alright? I heard you scream, was it-"

"No! Dad, I'm fine it was just a-"

"It was the nightmare again, right?" I turn and see mother, her silver eyes soft, and understanding. She was the girl on fire and I was the forest. We argued and clashed- like a forest fire- but we couldn't live without each other. She understood me as I understood her. Even if we hate to admit it sometimes. Dad sighed, more relieved than anything else. He'd always been overprotective since- since Claus died. He was killed when a bear got into the District. Determined to die fighting, he joined the lads who were trying to drive the bear back to the forest. He wasn't killed by a bear, but by a boy we used to trust. Detinos. No more… No more…

Here in District 12 we have a tradition. On reaping day, we role play the reaping of my mother and father, celebrate their success and have a huge feast. Every year, children of the school role play the reaping. This year I'll be the one playing my mother, Katniss. As I go to set up I am greeted by a sea of rainbow coloured frills and flounce. I groaned when I saw the makeup department had spotted me and prepared myself for an hour of torture. For some reason, the capitol wanted to help this year. We now have a makeup department, set design, costume block and even an Effie Trinket. It's not just a little role play anymore; it's fully blown Stage show like I read about in old books. Despite all this, I don't like it… There's something fishy going on. I know it. I was so lost in my thoughts I failed to notice that Detinos was smirking at me; he notices me looking and gives me a sly wink. I look the other way, embarrassed and angry, still enraged and remembering Claus…

"Hey, Hey Catpiss! Guess who's your Prince Charming?"

I sigh heavily.

"Can't you just leave me alone?"

"No can do, princess. Since I'm Pitiful Mellark you have to put up with me. All… day… long."

Sure enough Detinos followed me around all morning, despite my protests. He flirted with me and mimed stabbing motions which made me want to gag. For a moment, I wished we were in the games, because then I'd have a good reason to drive a knife into his pretty little neck. I was dreading the thought of having to kiss him. The guy, who… who killed my brother and shamelessly flirts with me. What the hell were they thinking? He gently tilts my head towards his and laughs at the expression on my face

"Hey sweet cheeks don't scowl it doesn't suit you" I bitch slap him and there's a knife to my throat

"Don't get shirty with me, babe" I flinch slightly when he calls me babe and he smiles. A sick, twisted smile.

"Or you might end up like little Claus." I feel the knife gently touch my neck and yelp. He laughs and slowly lowers the knife but doesn't let go of it.

"Let's go, I think make up would be devastated if you went back with a scar. So don't tempt me."

So I don't. I follow him, quietly and obediently. I know he's smiling, he loves power. But I don't think it's the power he likes, I think it's the fact that he has power over me that he likes; that's what scares me.

After another gruelling hour in makeup I am announced ready. When I look in the mirror I'm not Silvana Mellark anymore, I'm Katniss Everdeen. Even my eyes are exactly the same. On any other day, I'd be excited – no thrilled. But today's different. Today's different because my Peeta is a sadistic, flirtatious prick who likes having power over me and the capitol is looking at me like a pride of lions looks at a lone antelope. Why the fuck does this always happen to me?Well it could be worse I guess. At least I'm not dead yet. At least this isn't a real reaping.

The stage is set. Across the crowds I see Lot. The boy who made me laugh, my best friend, my only true friend. The only person who stuck by me after Claus died. After my brother was murdered, I suffered depression and people generally steered clear of me. People were scared of me. The last straw was when my arrow magically made contact with Detinos' arm when he made a joke about my baby brother. My baby brother whose life was stolen from him. I felt tears threatening me. Lot sees too cause he smiles. Not mockingly, but sweetly as if to say it was going to be ok. The capitol citizen playing Effie steps forward and begins,

"Welcome one and all to the reaping of the 76th annual hunger games!"

It takes a while for what she said to sink in. I glance at my parents and see the confused look on Dad's face. But mum just looks ahead indifferently not even blinking. This reassures me as do the murmurs suggesting a typo.

"Ladies first!"

'Effie' walks dramatically over to the glass orb and dips in her hand. I see Lot roll his eyes, obviously getting the same idea I was. We all know the same name is in there printed over and over again. Primrose Everdeen. So quickly all concerns are vanished. We are safe. This isn't a real reaping after all.

"Silvana Fawn Primrose Mellark!"

My name… Shit.

For all those that are confused, Silvana was supposed to be playing Katniss in a reaping scene. However instead of Prim's name being called, hers was. Chapter 2 coming soon guys!