The story of district 12's mamanda Lila-

The morning's dark gloomy and obsessive. I struggle to climb out of bed knocking my older sister Garret out of bed. She holds her blanket tightly twitching but then slowly drifts off to sleep again on the cold black floor.

"Lazy pig..." I hear someone mummer angrily behind me.

I turn around and find my mother watching my sister disappointed. She shakes her head.

"She never was quite right, was she, even after it happened" she says.

I nod. I know what she means by it. It's when her best friend Marled was murdered in the arena by eating a poisonous berry in the 67th Games. I huff in sadness. She was in the top 3. She was smart, brave, skilled and armed with food, weapons, water and everything. She could have made it.

I straighten out my back and my dad whistles his way in and ruffles my golden hair. His smile is a large the pink watermelon on the table.

"Morning Marmalade, sleep well? "He asks.

I manage a smile. My names not marmalade, its mamanda, but since he's cheery, I skip the thought.

"Alright…well, I was…terrified, tossing around, because of you…know... the reaping…."I mumble.

Suddenly I'm angry. How dare he carry on smiling like we're in heaven! With my life in a ball ready to be drawn he just smiles. But he doesn't stop.

"Mamanda, you're as safe you can get, you only have your name in twice….poor Garret has her name in 20 times and your brother…"he slowly mumbles.

My face stiffens. He's right. My brother Dryad has his name in 50 times for food. We have 7 people in our family. .me. and the 6 year old twins Joanna and Michi. My family swore I was never to put my name in more after my 12 year old sister Mari was chosen 20 years ago. Died the first minute.

We eat our breakfast in silence but it doesn't stop the thoughts in my head. If anyone is chosen, we don't stand a chance, especially me. What am I? Weak, hopeless? Damn right.

The gong rings and we all quickly stand. We face one another and say our silent goodbyes. My mother fixes my collar, the tears threating to spill. She pulls me tights and clutches my back.

"I love you" she whispers.

Everyone gathers in the square and I line up with the 13 year olds. Everyone stares at me angrily. Of course they do, I'm in only twice. I hear Gannon's in 56 times.

The usual intro begins and I find myself falling asleep until Fallon wakes me up. This year's escort is Iffile Grivet. She looks wild in her pink hair and huge eyebrows. What a freak.

"Ladies First! "She announces.

She dips her hand into the bowl and reads the name. I sign in relief because it not me but then my heart beats faster than ever because it not me. Its Garret Lila. My body numbs. She'll never get out alive and she deserves her life, so what I do next is obvious.

"I Volunteer!" I yell.

There's confusion with the crowd. No one ever volunteers, especially not a 13 year old. Its unthinkable.

Garret smiles but has tears in her eyes. She muffles for something in her pocket and I find myself screaming her name. but they're drained out by the sound of a gun being fired…

I run up to her trying to hold her but im pulled back by the peacekeepers. I can hear mothers cry and Dryad's shuffling.

SHOULD I KEEP WRITING?