I can't help it, in the movie- they made me fall a little bit in love with Cato at the end. Damn them…

Anyway, if this is crap tell- me I'll fix it. If you like it tell me- it'll motivate me to update faster. I've already written the outline for the first seven chapters. They should all be around this length and I'm just telling you up front things won't get really good till after the first or second chapter. I have to introduce the OC and what-not.

Also, don't be afraid to imagine this as a ReaderxCato story. Lol, I do that all the time~~

Chapter 1: The Bird and The Worm

It was only an hour or so passed dawn, and the birds were already chirping. I was tired, so very tired, but getting a good night sleep on the eve of Reaping Day would never happen for me. So I decided to eliminate the whole thing all together and just stay awake all night. It was a crisp morning and there was a strong wind coming off the ocean front. I could hear the waves crashing nearby from where I sat in the damp dirt. Earlier I was watching waves; trying to use their gentle sounds and constant rhythm to slow my rapid heart.

It was no use. So I abandoned my place in the sand and moved uphill where sand met grass and dirt. It was here that I was watching two fat pink worms wiggle their way to nowhere. Or maybe not nowhere, maybe they were going somewhere very important; who am I to judge their lives? I tossed a couple of ocean smooth rocks in my hand when one of the chirping birds came nearer. It seems he too noticed the worms.

Easy kill,he must have thought. He hopped closer and closer as the worms struggled to move away. It was nature, the worm dies so the bird can live. However, they haven't taken into account my being here. I'm not a bird or worm, I'm a whole different level of the food chain than them and being sleep deprived and annoyed with the chirping motivated me to throw one of my stones at the bird.

To my surprise it hit. Not nearly hard enough to really hurt him, but enough for him to label me as a threat, squawk at me loudly and fly away. I, Linith Callings, savior of the worms- ha! I grinned big, got up and walked closer to the two, still struggling to get as far away as possible. It was a little depressing to watch them. How pointless their lives seemed.

And yet… I found myself a little envious. They didn't have to go stand like cattle for the slaughter. Wait while holding their breath, begging for their names not to be called- because today is Reaping Day, the day when all Districts 1-12 offer up tributes (one boy and one girl between the ages twelve and eighteen) to go to our nation's Capital and fight each other…to the death. These stupid worms didn't know how good they had it. Stupid, disgusting, lousy worms. It was the lack of sleep that made me so angry really. In general I'm a pleasant person; a little distant, but pleasant nonetheless. I crouched down next to the worms.

"I suppose since I saved you, you guys think you're safe huh?" Of course they didn't reply. "Unfortunately guys this is a fishing District, and fishermen can always use more bait." I scooped up the worms, put them in my skirt pocket and started to walk home.

HGHGHGHGHGHGHGHG

When I got home I dropped the worms into the bait pale.

"You didn't sleep." Came a deep voice from my right. My father was at the kitchen table; he wasn't looking at me- just staring out the window. I also noticed he didn't ask a question, he stated a fact.

"No, I couldn't. Not last night. Never the night before." I take a seat next to him at the table. My father's hands are resting on top of the table, folded neatly together. He has rough weathered hands from years of fishing. Here in District 4 that's about all you can amount to. He's a good man. A quiet man. I know he loves me; we just don't talk about it. We don't talk about anything really. He's been closed-lipped since my mother died five years ago, while I on the other hand have become loose-lipped.

She was going to have a baby. I never learned what gender it would have been if it survived. I didn't want to know. It wouldn't make things better, if anything it would have made them worse. They were buried next to each other. The baby's grave is just marked, Loved Child. I only ever saw the graves once- the day they were buried. My father and I have no need to go visit them. We don't feel closer to them in the graveyard. If I ever miss my mother I pull out a bottle I saved of her perfume. I never spray it, just uncap the bottle and take a smell. When I close my eyes I can pretend she's still here. And that's enough.

I don't know what my father does when he misses her. I know he must. He's barely smiled since she passed.

My father reached over and grabbed my hand, I'm a little shocked at the contact, but it warms my heart. He knows how scared I am. "Don't worry kid, after this year you'll only have one to go. You'll be fine."

I want to tell him that he doesn't know that. That for all he knows I'm going to get reaped and killed the first day. That this is the last time I'll ever sit here in this house with him. But I don't. Because as loose-lipped as I have become, to hurt my father like that is something I'd never be able to do. So instead I pat his hand, "Yea, of course Dad. I know I'll be fine. I'm just, just worried is all. For the person who is going to get reaped."

He gave me a small smile and for a second I'm calm. Then he got up and disappears from the room. It's like a light has gone off and without him here my fears return. Fuck, I thought, fuck, fuck, fuck. I hear him moving around in his room, digging through his closet. What could he be doing? When he returned he was holding some folded up clothing.

"I thought… maybe this year you- you could wear this." He hands me the clothing and I tried to not tear up. It's one of my mother's dresses. It's pale green, like sea foam, with delicate lacing around the collar.

"Dad… I thought, all of mom's things, I thought we sold them?"

"I did- we did. But I just couldn't let this one go. I saved for so long to buy it for her. Her whole face lit up on that birthday. Do you remember? You must have been only five or six. She was so happy. I couldn't sell it." He was looking at the floor; I was scared if he looked up I'd see tears in his eyes. "I know we don't talk about her, that's my fault. In my heart… I still think she's going to be coming home any day now, apologizing for being gone so long. But in my mind knows she's not coming back, and it hurts Linith. It's a kind of hurt I can't describe. I hope you never have to know this kind of hurt sweetheart. Losing the love of your life. I hope with everything I have in me you won't…"

I didn't know what to say to that. Losing a mother was hard, but I've never been in love. Nor would I want to. Because if you love someone that much, they can be taken away. My father was an example of love loss and while I love him, but I don't want to be anything like him.

"Thank you Dad." I smiled at him. Smiling is something I can always do on demand and make it real. People will always prefer a smile over a frown. It's a good skill to have.

HGHGHGHGHGHGHGHG

I couldn't look in the mirror once I had put the dress on. I was scared I'd see my mother looking back at me. We looked similar, both very tan from living on the sea, both long dark brown wavy hair. I never tied my hair back or up. I let it spill over my shoulders in messy waves. My mother used to say, "You've got the waves in your hair Linith. The ocean is always with you." It's a comforting thought. Here in District 4, the Ocean is our only escape. Not literal, try and take a ship out too far and you'd be killed on the spot. But it is a nice distraction from the lives we lead. Even though we are one of the richer Districts, this places isn't any better than the rest.

We are still lapdogs to the Capitol. Worthless people they look down on. Sea rats that fetch them luxurious fish and pearls our own people never get.

District 4 used to be a more competitive Career District, back in the days when we had winners like Finnick Odair and Naida Lemming. It has been four years since District had a winner, and that last year, during the 70th Hunger Games, Annie Cresta's embarrassing win has left our District with a poor reputation. We haven't even finished in the last 10 the last four years. Some people in this District are pissed at this. These people are not the kids being chosen though; they are adults who want to get back on the good side with the Capitol. It's disgusting.

The walk to the town square with my father was silent, but only slightly uncomfortable. Once we got there I started to walk over toward the registration table, but my father grabbed my hand, "Linith…"

In his silence I felt all the words he wanted to say: how I was going to be okay, how he loved me, how he was sorry he wasn't a good parent, how he was sorry I had to go through this, all the things left unsaid between the two of us, things I knew he wouldn't say. So I let him off the hook.

"It's okay Dad, I know." My father and I shared our first hug in years; I feel protected in his arms. And then I'm gone, lost in the crowd of teenagers. The prick of the blood sample doesn't hurt much, just a slightly uncomfortable pinch.

"Hey Linith," comes a quiet voice next to me. It's Sally, a girl I've gone to school with my entire life. School and fishing are the only two things I do. After next year it'll only be fishing on my father's boat. Presumably I'd eventually get married and live with my husband in our own house and help him with his boating till we start to have children. I don't plan on getting married though. I'll live in my father's house till I'm old and die.

"Hi Sal. I'd say good morning, but well you know." I give her a small half smile. She's a jumpy girl with equally tan skin and black hair, the first thing you notice about Sally is her height. At seventeen she stands a clear 5'11, she towers over my small 5'3 frame.

"Linith." Her tone is warning. Sally fears the Capitol and Peacekeepers more than any other person I've known. I suppose she has her reasons though; her brother was almost beaten to death by them during a fight. Maybe it's because I've never lost anything personal to them, or maybe it's my loose-lippedness, but I feel like teasing the girl.

"What Sal?" I ask with a smirk, "Do you mean to tell me you're happy to line up prettily and wait for two of us to be called to our death?" I ask in a low voice, I'm risky, but I'm not stupid, I made sure only Sally could hear me.

"Seriously Lin, stop. C'mon lets go to our section."

I almost feel bad at lowering her lowered mood. Almost. I chuckle lightly and follow my tall companion. We stand in the section for seventeen year old girls. It's quiet here and it's weird, waiting around for someone's life to fall apart.

Beep- Beep. Someone taps the microphone on top of the stage. It's Elle Crees. A tall woman from the Capitol with short black hair and light blue skin; she's in a tight green dress this year with impossibly tall heals. On either side of her head are large green feathers with blue tips. This brightly colored; over the top person is District 4's escort.

"Welcome ladies and gentlemen!" Elle smiles brightly. She's been District 4's escort for a long time now, since before I was born. She must have been in her late forties, but will all the Capitol surgeries, she looked like a fresh faced thirty year old.

"Welcome to this year's 74th annual Hunger Games! In just a few short moments we shall choose two brave young souls to honor this District by participating in this year's Games! But first- we have a treat, a video straight from the Capitol!"

A projector behind her starts up and soon we can see images of the Dark Days, when the Districts rebelled from the Capitol and a voice over tells us why we're offering up two children for murder. I think it's supposed to be inspiring. But it's not. It's sick. I'm starting to feel sick. Physically, like any moment I'm about to throw up, or attempt to throw up, my empty stomach.

I must look as bad as I feel because soon Sally has my hand in hers. Were packed so tightly in the town square no one can see; she gives my hand a reassuring squeeze and bends down a little toward me.

"It's alright Lin, we're going to be fine."

That's the thing about Reaping Day, everyone is willing to lie to each other. I weakly nod back and turn to look at the front again, not really paying attention to the video; I don't let go of Sal's hand.

"Oh- how inspiring!" Elle dabs her tear ducks to wipe away tears of admiration. "Now, the time has come! As always- young men first!" She walks toward the large, glass bowl and makes dramatic hand gestures and pulls out a slip. I hold my breath even though I don't know any boys personally but it's still a person, a human being about to be chosen.

"Allen Wilths!"

A young boy from the fourteen year old section starts to make his way forward. His eyes are large and he looks terrified. I almost start to cry for him.

"Faster, faster dear!" Elle ushers the boy to stand on her right. "Now! Ladies, without further wait!"

My heart skips a couple beats and my grip on Sal's hand is strong. It's not me, it's not me, it's not me. I kept thinking over and over.

"Linith Callings!"

I let out a breath of relief. There, I think to myself, you've made it another year only one to g-.

My knees almost buckle as realization hits me, I'm Linith Callings- all the girls around me are staring at me and edging away. Sally is the only girl standing directly next to me; she's also still holding my hand. I looked up to find her face. She's crying and now she is the one gripping my hand for dear life.

I'm taking too long, I could faintly hear Elle telling me to step forward, no need to be shy. But I'm not listening well. I start to nod my head. Move, I urged myself. Start moving!

I took a couple steps toward the stage but was pulled back. Sally still has her grip on me, she looked like she had something to say, she shakes her head back an' forth a couple times and the tears keep streaming down her face.

"Sally," my voice was thick with tears I couldn't afford to cry, "I have to go, Sally let go of me. Now." I pried her grip off me and walked forward with Peacekeepers on either side of me. As I marched up the steps Elle reached down toward me to grab my arm in a vice grip and pulled me next to her.

"There we go dear! And now- are there any Volunteers this year?" she smiles into the microphone.

"I volunteer!" came a deep voice from the eighteen year old section of boys. Out stepped this tall, lean young man and he makes his way to the stage. I look over at Allen, he looks as equally surprised as I feel. District 4 hasn't had a volunteer in four years.

The volunteer maked his way to the stage and Elle asks his name, "I'm Steal Wansworth." He's short in speech as he crosses his arms over his chest and stars defiantly into the crowd. He's the type of Career this District use to be known for. I'm scared shitless.

"How very exciting! Allen you may rejoin the other boys." The kid wastes no time, before I could barely blink he's out of here, down the stage. I don't blame him. "Now, for the ladies- any volunteers?"

Once again I'm holding my breath, hoping against all odds some beefy Career girl will step forward and take my place. I searched the crowd, praying with all of me I'd see someone, anyone willing to go. My eyes find Sally instead. She's not volunteering for me. She is staring at the ground, holding herself. Even from this distance I could see she's crying still as her body shook. Everyone else is silent.

I'm not mad. I wouldn't want her to volunteer for me anyway. But standing next to Steal and Elle I feel small and squash-able. I only have one thought shaking Steal's hand and as Elle wraps up her speech and leads us toward the Justice Building: I'm dead.