CHAPTER ONE: TRIBUTE HOUR

I gulp down a hot cup of coffee, letting the burning drink scorch my throat. I overslept and I'm in a hurry. This was the wrong day to oversleep. I was groggy and my hair was an utter rat's nest. Last night, I was up all night. In bed, my thoughts sped from what it would be like inside the arena and what I should wear.

Indigo and Truffle, my brothers, are eating breakfast beside me. They also have their thoughts elsewhere. Everyone does today. My mother walks in with her hair perfectly arranged, but her cheeks are full of flush.

"It's the big day!" she says. She hugs us long enough before Indigo and Truffle break off, continuing to eat their eggs. "I love you all very much and you've trained hard."

"Mom, you say that every year. This is my last chance. If I am not tribute, I swear I will kill someone."

"Don't make the kill too brutal. The Peacekeepers are busy enough today to clean up a big mess," Truffle jokes. He's a jokester. And Indigo? He is and always has been a person of seriousness.

Indigo rolls his eyes at Truffle's comment. "I've trained hard all my life and I deserve it-especially on my last year." Indigo wants with all his heart (not that he has a heart) to win The Hunger Games.

In contrast, its Truffle's first year in the Hunger Games. And he's much more interested in playing with his friends than training. Indigo always threatens him saying, "If you're picked…you won't be ready…and, you'll die." But that doesn't faze Truffle. He has a heart of steel and makes jokes about death all the time. In fact, I think it's a slight problem he has.

I'm Glimmer Hart. Fifteen years old and I haven't decided if I want to be tribute or not. Then again, it's not much of a choice, now is it? Akin to my brothers, I've been training my whole life as well. Not a day goes by where I don't practice with my bow.

I jerk back into reality as Truffle is annoyingly flicking my head.

"Knock it off or you're dead," I glare at him harshly.

"Yeah, yeah," he waves his hand carelessly, "save it for the arena," and he walks out the door and joins his friends.

"Glimmer! You'll be late! The Harts are never late! Especially to the Reaping!" my mom pushes me out the door.

Anticipating people flood Amethyst Avenue with signs reading, 'May the odds be ever in your favor'. They all push past each other severely and overflow into the Justice building. I see familiar faces as they are all dressed up in their nicest clothes for the special event.

I am always dressed nice. It's…one of the things I love; fashion. Aside from training, I love making new clothes and discovering new fads from the Capitol. Everyone in District One says I'm the prettiest girl to ever walk the planet. I try not to let it get to my head, but when I glance in the mirror, I can't help but be delighted at the reflection.

I tug at my new, yellow lace dress and my naturally curly, blonde hair suddenly feels heavy on my back, as I join the evil sisters, Velvet and Pearl.

"I'm volunteering," Velvet growls at her sister.

"Not if the tribute wants to be the tribute." Pearl shrugged.

"No," says Velvet. "I am the tribute of the 74th Hunger Games."

"I'm sorry, but I am," I inquire. She gives me a harsh look and then continues talking to Pearl. If not Indigo, I'd say Velvet and Pearl are the most driven to be in the Hunger Games. It's all they talk about….all year round.

My best friend, Roselyn, stops me and gives me a small hug. She eyes Pearl and Velvet and then looks back at me. Her auburn hair has a good number of different flowers in it, all contributing to the color wildness of her remarkable dress.

"Glimmer Hart, best friend for life, may the odds be ever in your favor." she says. Her sapphire eyes give a hopeful glow in them.

"Same to you..." my voice trails off and we look up to the large stage as the Reaping starts.

Opal Evenings makes her way up to the stage, looking completely different from last year. Her skin is a light shade of purple and her black hair, in various braids and ponytails, has a hint of topaz in it. Though she is beautiful, she has a slight-actually, it's quite immense-difficulty with talking rather to a great extent. She never can be done with a thought.

As she walks up to the stage, it seems as though Opal makes eye contact with me. "Hello, all!" she smiles, "another glorious morning in District One!"

We all cheer.

"I am nearly jumping up and down for the Games to begin. I have already chosen my hair color- blood red. Now, now, it's not too frightening, it's-" she rambles on and on, as usual, while I look closely at how many kids there are-much more than last year.

"Odds are...one of you-or two of you-will die." she says bluntly, yet...joyfully. "I am hoping that you will use your last few days alive wisely. Train hard, eat, sleep, and make memories. Enjoy life...and don't forget to look as beautiful as me!" she says, admiring her navy nails. "Anyway, for the female tribute," she hums a familiar tune as she swishes her hand around the large glass bow. I am so eager; it makes me annoyed that she is taking such a while. When she finally picks a paper, she smiles as she elegantly unfolds it.

Roselyn, always beaming, gives a weak smile beside me and Pearl and Velvet seem as though they aren't breathing, still as stones. I should be still too, but I glance around and look at all the children. Diamond-May, the most sensitive girl you'd ever meet, begins to sniffle. This is completely normal to me and the rest of the crowd, for she cries annually ever year.

"Ah!" Opal says.

Silence. Deathly silence and deathly anticipation.

"For the female tribute of District one, we have...Glimmer Hart!"

Glimmer Hart. It takes me a minute to process the name. Oh, that's me...and it stings. I manage to smile and say, "I've been training hard!" as I make my way to the stage. Everyone is staring at me, some relived, but most jealous.

Opal giggles bitterly after she announces my name and her words become vague and barely audible as I block out all of District One and close my eyes.

"Brilliant Starre!" she giggles again. Will you stop giggling? I think to myself. Usually I don't mind Opal, but at this moment, she is more irritating than ever.

A lanky, yet muscular looking boy, apparently being Brilliant, looks around. I haven't seen him much around the district, and people say he's as shy as a mouse and trains only twice a week. Ah, an easy target. Pearl and Velvet roll their eyes, wishing they could volunteer as male tribute. A couple people laugh at the sight of Brilliant being tribute.

Indigo! This is the moment he can volenteer! I find him in the crowd with a smirk on his face, realizing this is his time to shine and be tribute. He steps forward and begins-

"I volunteer!" a voice comes from the back of the crowd. Marvel Sparks makes his way up to the stage and I catch Brilliant sneaking in a sigh of relief. He pulls out a comb and combs his hair to the side again. I chuckle to myself then focus on what is going on.

Marvel Sparks, a tall boy-that hardly looks like a boy- takes his place next to me on the stage. His short red hair reveals his large forehead and bug eyes. He's strong...trains every day. This is my target. Oh, how I wish he didn't volunteer.

When I stop thinking of Marvel, I catch a glance of Truffle, indifferently staring at me with his chocolate brown eyes. It's his first year and his own sister is tribute. Indigo stands near him, shaking his head at me. He's furious. He looks at Marvel and makes a fist...then walks away.