Chapter 1

The wind blows our hair as we walk along the shore of District 4. The warm sand below our feet, the shining sun above our heads; this is the perfect summer day. I kick a small pile of sand, making it blow into the air, helped by the wind. I watch as the particles settle down, and sit down beside them. Kristi and Ellie, my two friends, join me. We sit in a triangle, my friends side by side, myself acting as the point. The water just misses our bodies as it flows back and forth.

I like to think that the water has its own enemy, the sand, let's say, and it's trying to chase it, to capture it. But a stronger, hidden force holds it back, and the water tries with all its might to catch its opponent. The force lets it go, just for a second, and then quickly pulls it back, teasing the water. It's like a game, a harmless game. Nothing to compare to the game that I'm forced to participate in.

And by that, of course, I mean the Hunger Games. The nation that I live in, Panem, is controlled by the Capitol. The Capitol is surrounded by twelve Districts. There used to be a thirteenth District, but during the Dark Days, it was destroyed by the Capitol, showing us citizens that we cannot do anything to stop them, and that they control us. Therefore the Hunger Games was born, to keep us in line and make sure that we know who stands above us. Each year a boy and girl between the ages of twelve and eighteen are involved in the public event called the reaping, where the two are randomly chosen to represent each District. The twenty-four tributes, as they are titled, are forced to fight to the death, with one standing alone as victor. As you increase in age, your chance for being reaped is higher.

In Districts 1, 2, and 4, the teenagers fight to be a tribute. Having trained illegally their whole life, they are ready and prepared to kill. They do this by volunteering, offering themselves up as a tribute after a name is announced, but gender rules apply. Girls can only switch with a girl's position and the same for the boys. I would not consider myself a Career tribute, as these vicious tributes are called. I have not trained the least bit in my life so far, being twelve now. Kristi and Ellie act like they could kill, but I think only Kristi, who is fifteen, could if they had to. She's trained most of her life, with Ellie, fourteen, by her side, training as well, but not by much. I might just be the only one in District 4 who hadn't started training at a young age. I've thought about starting, but honestly, I don't think I'd be able to be myself again after the Games, and that's saying I won. What I mean is that the Games can change yourself. The way you think and act. You've probably just killed many innocent people and now you expect yourself to go back to the normal, smiling life you once had? It's hard.

I sigh and try to distract myself from the thoughts of the reaping weeks away. I draw a heart in the sand, as if that would bring the true love that I hope for someday. Though, if I was reaped, I probably wouldn't have a future, as I'd most likely die. I smooth the sand with the palm of my hand, erasing the picture.

Getting up and watching my friends talk, I move closer to the water. I take off my shorts, since I have my bathing suit underneath. I also strip myself of my shirt, throwing them both behind me and wading into the water.

I'm as free as a bird when I'm in the water. I can be myself and nobody else, because the water accepts me. Its greets me as an old friend, takes me in as if I'm one of its own. I'm able to kick and swim freely in here. I close my eyes as I swim forward for a few seconds. As soon as I open my eyes, there's a loud sound and bubbles in the water and someone jumps in beside me. Frightened, I squirm and flail until I'm breathing above the water, having swallowed some in the process. Another head, blond, comes up and stares at me with blue eyes. Kristi. "Well, hello, Annie," she says, smiling.

"Thank you for scaring me," I say back, keeping myself afloat and still breathing heavily from the shock. I turn my head and watch as Ellie strips down on the sand, about ready to join us. She takes her time as she wades into the water a few feet until she's near us.

"Hey," she says, before dunking her head. I watch as then a second later a mass of red hair surfaces, and brown eyes staring straight at Kristi and me.

"So how's the training going?" I ask, directed at the two of them. Even though Kristi hasn't been reaped at twelve, thirteen, or even fourteen, and Ellie at twelve or thirteen, they still train. This way they get better and better until they're positive they can kill. But still, I'm not really sure that both of them are up to it, let alone Ellie. She wouldn't hurt a fly. But then again, when it comes down to survival...

"It's fine," answers Kristi. "We're getting stronger every day." In response, Ellie flexes her muscles and I laugh, finding it funny, though she does seem strong.

"So would you volunteer to become a tribute?" I ask. Both of the two nod their heads in response.

"Yes. Especially if it was for someone I know well. And if I knew that they wouldn't have a chance in the arena," Kristi says. "Like you, Annie." She laughs softly.

"Haha, you're so funny, Kristi," I respond, suddenly wanting to get away from them. I go under the water and kick, propelling myself forward and away from my friends. I think about what my friends have just said and what they probably think about me. But it's true. I'm weak. My only talent is swimming, since I swim whenever I can. But how could that ever help me? I don't think I would become a victor because I could swim better than anyone else. The idea is laughable.

But maybe I really should start training, even if it's as late as twelve. I know my parents want me to, so that they wouldn't have to struggle through the loss of their only child. Honestly, I don't think I want to. I don't feel it's necessary, because I feel like I'd die anyway. I'd try to hide, I bet, but it probably wouldn't end well for me. I'm definitely not a District 4 Career, like everybody else here.

I turn my head and see Ellie talking to Kristi. Maybe she's trying to tell her to be nicer to me, or maybe she's agreeing with her. Not that I care.

My thoughts are interrupted when I hear a cry for help not far off. My friends are so engrossed in their conversation and are not close enough to hear it. I twist my head, trying to see anything, and I do happen to spot a person in the water with their arms flailing wildly above their head. Another scream is heard, and now I'm sure it's from the person who seems to be drowning. I take one last look at Kristi and Ellie, who seem to be arguing now, and swim toward the helpless victim.

The screams are louder and clearer as I come closer, and I can see the person crying for attention is a boy. He seems to be athletic and strong too, not at all like the weakling pictured in my mind. Either way, though, they seem to need help, and I'm determined to reach him.

I make it as close as I can without getting hit in the face as the boy continues to panic. I try calming him down, try speaking to him softly, but the boy keeps on thrashing wildly. I end up throwing my arms around his torso and dragging him to the sand, but it's not as easy as it seems. I try to keep us both above water, but he's still going crazy. Only when he is lying on the sand, does he stop and close his eyes. I sit there, beside the lying body, both of us breathing rapidly.

"Are you okay?" I manage to get out after a minute, and the boy opens his eyes. I look at him. He has a thick head of bronze hair and green eyes. The boy turns his head to me and smiles. "What?" He turns away and starts laughing, a slightly deep laugh, and I can tell that he is ending puberty. "What's so funny?" I demand. Another boy comes out from the shadows and runs over to the one beside me. The new boy bends down and high-fives the other boy, who I guess is his friend. Then they are both on the sand and laughing.

I stand up. "This was a joke, wasn't it?" I ask, angry and embarrassed. They don't seem to hear me, as they're still laughing on the ground. I walk away, not looking back.

"Wait!" I whip my head around to find the boy, who was supposedly drowning, running after me. He isn't smiling or laughing anymore, though his buddy behind him still is. I turn back and continue walking away. He catches up and puts his hand on my shoulder, but I force it away. He then decides to run and stand in front of me, so I'm forced to stop in my path.

"What do you want? That wasn't funny," I say. I look up at the boy.

"I'm sorry. It was a cruel joke," he apologizes.

"I'm not forgiving you," I tell him, and walk around him. I don't look back as I go back to Kristi and Ellie, and he doesn't try to stop me.

"Hey," Ellie and Kristi greet me as I get closer. "Did you go for a long swim?" I sit down beside Ellie, who sits next to Kristi on the sand.

"Something like that," I say. After being told that I'm weak by Kristi, I'm not really in the mood to tell them about my little adventure just before. And now that I think about, I never got the boy's name. It's alright, though, because I don't intend to see him again.

"You know, Annie, the reaping is weeks away. You could always start training now," Ellie says, and I look up at her. She wears a sad smile, like she feels sorry for me.

"I think I'll stick to swimming," I say.

"Alright, whatever you say," says Kristi. I sigh; I know that I'll never live up to anyone's expectations. I'm just hoping that my death will be quick and painless.