Chapter 1

I could hear the waves splashing against the shore, almost like two lovers clinging themselves to each other. I loved the feel of the sun on my face every morning as I walked to the shore for fishing. The wind gently blew my hair as I prepared the nets.

"Lacey."

Of course, Nettie would be asking if I am having trouble or not. Always Nettie the Caring. That was her nickname that we invented. Every year after the Reapings, Nettie would always go to the family whose child name had been picked and comfort them. I would always come along to help. This year, both of us would be twelve. Our first year for the Reapings. I was not exactly scared, but I did fear for Nettie. Even though I was only thirty seconds older than her, nothing scared me more than the thought of my baby sister in the arena. Father and mother had taught us how to fight with swords and we both were good at it. However, I did not want to be sitting at home while Nettie would be in the arena killing and fighting twenty-three older tributes. She could die. That would destroy my whole family.

"Nettie. Come, it's almost time for the Reapings. I forgot today is the day. No wonder why no one else is here," I said.

"Oh. Of course. Yeah, let's go."

We ran back to the house. As soon as we walked in, we saw mother preparing the clothes for us. Mother had a way of how we look. She picked a turquoise dress for Nettie and a sky blue dress for me. Personally, I think it was just a way to tell us apart since we are identical. When we had both took a shower, mother would always braid our hair. She never did the same braid once. It was always a different braid. For me, she did a waterfall braid and a crown for Nettie. Of course, I thought, another way to tell us apart. The moment we were ready, father came in to take our hands and to lead us to the City. The worried look on father's eyes were enough to confirm me of how nervous he was. But he managed to keep is clean the moment the we walked into the city. It was then that we were separated from our parents.

"Name?" asked one Peacekeeper.

"Lacey Leena." I said.

"Nettie Leena." said Nettie.

When we got all of our papers done, we were ushered into rows, waiting for the Reapings. Growing up in District 4, a Career District, we probably had the fewest volunteers ever. Unlike 1 and 2, who always volunteered, we just did not.

The mayor walked in and waited till all of us were silent. He was a middle-aged man, tall, and with sea green eyes.

"Welcome, to the 63th annual Hunger Games," he started and would go on and on about the history. I gave up listening to him after the 57th Hunger Games speech. Then he went on to read the winners from our district. We had five but only one is still living. Mags. She is sixty-eight, older than the games, and is still healthy. I saw her waving just like every year. I thought of how it must be painful, to sit there and see kids that she knew or saw died.

"Now, we will have Popar Ingles choose our tributes." Was that...regret in his eyes? It was almost as if he hated seeing us younglings go into the games himself. Then preppy Popar Ingles nearly jumped to the mic. It was sickening, seeing him acting this way. Like the game was just an entertainment and it was an honor for him to stand there with tributes who would probably die.

"Well, we must start with the girls." Yes yes yes, always "ladies first." When he started to walk to the bowl with all of girls' names, my heart started to race. I thought of how Nettie and my name is only two out of thousands and the chance of us was slim. But, there was still the probability of one of us going into the arena. Popar dug his hand into the bowl and it came out with a slip of paper. He slowly went back to the mic (probably for some dramatic entertainment).

"Nettie Leena!" he shouted.

No...no...no. How was it possible? Oh come on, it was just a slip out of thousands. How could it be her? Why not me?

I saw Nettie clutching her hands into a fist next to me and slowly walked to the stage while I stood there paralyzed with fear. It was until she was halfway to the stairs that I finally screamed.

"NO. WAIT. NO. NOT HER."

I saw Nettie turned to me, eyes filled with unspoiled tears. She was trying to be brave for my parents' and my sake. I ran up to her, clutching her arms when I reached her.

"What are you doing?" she asked.

"You're not leaving. You are not going into the arena. Do you understand me?" I whispered in a hush voice. My eyes, almost tearing up themselves.

"I have no choice," she whispered back with a sad smile. "Now, go to mother and father. Take care of them for me."

"No. You are not going in. Unless..."

I could see Nettie putting the pieces together. Her eyes widened in alarm. Just then, the Peacekeepers came to drag me away. She whispered, "Don't you-"

"I volunteer!" I shouted. "I volunteer as tribute."

Nettie looked at Popar and then back at me. Shock covered with tears in her eyes. "No. You are to go home. Stop protecting me. No. I could win this," her voice reaching to a shout at the end.

"Too late. Now, go to father and mother and stop crying for goodness sake." Funny thing was I was already in tears, that statement should have been towards me not towards her.

She put up a struggle as the Peacekeepers tried to struggle her back and let me walk on to stage alone. Well, I thought, smile, stop crying, and walk. I did not know how my legs worked for they felt dead but I saw the whole crowd the next minute. They are stared at me in wonder eyes.

"Well well well, a volunteer since such a long time. What is your name?" asked Popar.

I took a shaky breath and answered, "Lacey Leena."

I heard Popar chuckled. "Was that your sister that you just volunteered for?"

What was he? Fishing for more details just because I volunteered? I caught sight of Nettie crying in the arms of my mother. I also saw how father had started to cry and my mother just stared at me with tears flowing freely from her beautiful face. Nettie was...shaking uncontrollably. I turned to Popar and glared at him.

"Well yes." Irritation colored my voice. I was irritated at both Popar for fishing around for some juicy news so the capitol would look at us and see how brave District 4 female tribute is. I was irritated at Nettie for crying.

"Interesting...Well, let's find which lucky young boy would be joining you in the games."

He quickly trotted to the bowl for the boys and snatched a slip of paper.

He trotted back and almost ripped the paper apart. Geesh, calm down, I thought.

"Ah ha! The lucky young man is Cetor Fanier."

Oh crap, I thought. Cetor Fanier was this seventeen year old. Well built, with muscles. Cetor could have any girls he wanted but he would always be too busy training. He had training as a Career. While I did not. Also, he is seventeen while I am twelve. He was almost twice my size. Well, the Capitol now could watch and see who they should sponsor.

The mayor went back to finish his speech and told us to shake hands.

I turned to Cetor and brought my arm out. He also turned to me. His black eyes filled with nothing but determination. I did not know what my eyes was showing but his eyes softened a little bit. I could see the pity behind those black determination eyes. He grabbed my hand and gently squeezed it, almost for reassuring, and let go.

"Ladies and gentlemen. I give you the tributes of District 4 for the 63rd annual Hunger Games."

The crowds threw themselves into a roll of applause. Or maybe it was just outcries that Nettie's sister, the sweet Nettie, would be going into the arena. I thought of how they think we would have a winner this year. Then the next thing I knew, I was being ushered into the Justice Building. I paced the room, trying to think of a way to survive.

The door then clammed open and I saw Nettie jumping into me. I opened my arms as a habit every time I see her jumping at me. I could feel her burning tears on my neck.

"I am not here to listen to you tell me how much of an idiot I am. Mom, dad, give me advices now!" I hope they could hear the desperation in my voice.

"Remember, aim for brain, lung, and heart," my dad started. "If one of them is damage, then they would die. Also, try to get sponsors for a sword. I know how you are with swords. I taught you to dodge and attack with swords. You know how to use swords to both protect and attack. Understand? You are to come home."

I nodded, still trying to hold the tears back. "Well, I know how to fight. You guys taught Nettie and I every day. But how about food? If it's a jungle they're putting me in then how will I find food? For goodness sake, I could only fish."

"You know how to find food. Remember the book of herbs that I let you read? You have a photographic memory. Use that talent and remember which of those leaves are healthy and which are poisonous. Please Lacey, we can't lose you," replied my mother.

I looked at all of their faces. Tears flowing freely from their eyes. "Oh stop crying already. I don't want this to be the image of you guys when I am running for my life. Cheer up."

Nettie let out a cry of agony but managed a small smile. My mother and father just laughed. I was always known for my humor. I could make people laugh. Then the Peacekeepers came in and ushered my parents away. Nettie put on another struggle. I had to hold her face in my hands and whispered, "I'll be back." before she finally let them take her out of the room. My father and mother walked away without a glance back. I thought of how they were trying to hide the tears like I had asked them to. Next up came Annie Cresta. She was Nettie and my best friend since as long as I could remember. I remembered how we would fish together, go to the market, swam, talked, and had slumber parties together.

"Lacey..." she began after letting go of our embrace.

"Don't you dare cry," I ordered. "Seriously, I think I saw enough tears today to last me through a year."

Annie whimpered out a laugh. "How are you doing?"

"Well, how do you think I'm doing? My sister's name got reaped. I volunteered. I am about to go and face twenty-three other teenagers who are older, stronger, and have a lot more experience than I do. Yep, it's all fine," I replied with bitter in my voice.

Annie just looked at me with sad eyes.

"Annie, promise me something. I know that Nettie is all torn up right now, promise me that you will check on her at times. I know that she will be visiting Cetor's family like she did with all other tributes. You know how she is. She would go and visit the families whose child has been sent into the Games and would try to comfort them. Promise me that you'll check on her like how she had checked on the other families. If you do, I'll feel much better when I'm in the Games," my voice softening at the image of Nettie crying over me.

"I promise." Annie answered, "but I do want another promise. Promise that you will win. I saw how you were with fishing. You could catch a fish with your eyes blindfolded. If you could do that, then you could win the Games."

"Annie. That was a fish. This is human."

"You have to win. Please. You are stronger than Nettie and you could find the solution to everything. Who would I go for help after you died?"

I grimaced but answered, "Fine. I will win this so you could have your therapist back."

Annie smiled and locked me in her embrace. I wondered, will this be the last time? I did not want to let go of the comfort of home until Annie had to be ushered out again.

I paced the room cause I had nothing to do. Then I was ushered into a car. It was a trip from the Justice Building to the train station. Outside, I could see people still trying to catch a glance at us. Seriously, did they not just see us on the screen during the Reapings? The station was full of reporters, trying to catch a glimpse of our faces. Cetor's face was whipped clear of any emotion. He almost looked proud of himself. Pride. I did not know what my face was showing but I think it was calm. I tried to look like it was a joke. Jokes always managed to keep me calm. You laugh and it would be alright. We were forced to stand outside the train doors, forced to put up a face for some "entertainment," before we were pushed inside. The train started to move at once. It was weird, feeling the floor move. I was given my own chamber. It was a fairly good looking chamber. With drawers and a view.

I took a nice hot shower. It felt good. Feeling that water reminded me of home. I quickly slowed my breath before putting on a white tunic shirt and some khaki shorts. I quickly brushed my hands in my hair. Letting my mother's braid falling off. I thought of how she must be crying her eyes out right now. Before I could let the tears resurfaced themselves, I rushed out of my chamber and into the dinning room for supper. The dinning room was huge. The table was filled with every food that I had never tasted but heard of.

Mags was already seated on one of the chair. Clearly, she had been here too many times to know what would happen and how all of us would be late. I sat down, not sure of what to do. Cetor finally came and saw us already sitting, thinking of how we were waiting for him or something. He took a seat next to me. Popar was no where near in sight. I guess, he was in his room thinking how amazing he did at the Reapings.

"Well, how are both of you?" Mags said. She sounded more like my grandmother.

"It's overwhelming. Getting picked, then all of this." Cetor's voice was shaky.

"And you, dear?" Mags turned her wise eyes towards me.

"I'm fine." I had the urge to roll my eyes.

"You're what? Twelve?"

"Yes..."

"Interesting. I had never seen a twelve-year old tell me that they're fine after getting Reap. In my fifty years of mentoring. Not one."

"Well, I'm not like the others am I?"

"You're not...but still. Interesting."

Okay, this was getting too awkward for me. I quickly picked up my fork and got some salad. Cetor was looking from me to Mags, as if thinking that we had our own way of communicating without words and he was trying to decipher it.

"So, what do we do?" he began.

Before Mags could replied to him, I interrupted them. "Sorry, but could we both train alone? I know that soon, I might have to kill him and I don't want to have any attachment."

Cetor's face was filled with shock. Mags just looked at me as the naked fear was clearly showing in my eyes.

"If that is what you wish then sure," she answered.

"Thanks." My heart started to pound so hard against my chest. I felt that Cetor could hear it but he went back to his dinner.

After taking five bites of my salad, I stood up. "I'm done. Today was a bit of a rush. I think I'll go to my room for a while."

I just needed some time to collect myself. I did not know how long I stayed in there but I finally came out when it was time to see the whole Reapings.

The compartment which had a TV was designed for just watching TV. I was the first one in there so I quickly got a seat in the corner. Mags came in, saw me huddled up together in my seat and decided to sit next to me. Then Cetor and Popar slowly filled into the room.

The boy from District 1, Olim, was huge. He was well built, like Cetor, and tall too. There was no way, in my dream, that I could bring him down. Maybe with Nettie's help I could but Nettie was not here with me. The girl, Payla, on the other hand, had this blood thirst in her eyes. Clearly, she was a Career. She had been trained since she was a kid to fight and kill. She was a little shorter than Olim but it was enough to make me shake. The boy from 2, Baer, was tall and slim. In his eyes, I could see all the pride swelling in. The girl, Enia, was also tall but with a murderous glint showing in her eyes. Well, I thought, looks like we know who will make up the Career alliance this year. Then, they showed the tributes from 3. Mipus was short and young. He was only thirteen, a year older than me, and looked scared. The girl, Nolia, was also young but her hands looked like she could fix anything. Coming from District 3 with electronics, I thought of how she could. Then I was up. I saw how I had volunteered for Nettie. I saw the sly look in my eyes. I did not know what I was clearly thinking. But I could imagine what the other tributes were thinking. Who is this twelve-year old with that sly look in her eyes. It was like she was trying to think of a way to kill all of us. Then Cetor was up. He looked strong and I looked like an ant next to him. He could step on me and I would be dead. For the next eight districts, all of them looked the same. All looked scared. Only the Career districts actually looked confident.

When it was over, Mags was the first to break the silence. "Well, there you go."

"I think I'm going to be sick. Look at all of their faces. It's either pride like 'OH HAHAHAH. I WILL KILL YOU AND YOU WILL DIE' or 'PLEASE DON'T KILL ME. I HAVE A FAMILY TO TAKE CARE OF.'" I replied.

Mags looked at me sadly, "It does feel that way doesn't it?"

"Well, I'm going to bed. I saw enough of today and I'm really tired. Night." Cetor got up and went out of the room.

"You should get some sleep too, Lacey." Mags gently brought me back to the present. I had been thinking about how I could be sleeping at home with my mother's arms around me and Nettie bringing in some dinner cookies like she would every night. Our family was quite wealthy. With four hands fishing, we always managed to find fishes and Nettie could weave some of the most beautiful nets ever.

"Yeah. And thank you, for everything, Mags." I gently kissed her cheeks before leaving. I did not bother to look at Popar because I blamed him for all of this. If he had not picked Nettie's name, I would not be here. However, what is the point of blaming right now when that I was about to see death.

After making my ways to my room and locking it. My knees gave up and I fell down. The tears now freely flooded down my face. I put up no resistance to them. I let them all fell out. Then I felt my face brushing against the floor. I curled myself into a ball. And I stayed like that until the next morning.