When I wake up the bed is cold. My fingers stretch out seeking the summers warmth. I notice my brother is not home. Of course not he must be training, for it is the morning of the reaping. I pull on a loose pair of trousers and T-shirt and braid my hair. I then squish my feet into a pair of shoes that I have grown too big for.
Our house is at the edge of District 2, one of the richest districts of all, we specialize in masonry. I only have to walk about a 100 meters to see the fence that separates us from the meadow, the fence is a high chain-link topped with barbed wire. Apparently, its electrified 24 hours a day but I know better.
I head to the training center where I hope to find my brother Eimmot, he will be volunteering for the 66th Hunger Games. I find him training with a spear and I tell him "Eimmot, there's still two hours till the reaping, come home and have breakfast." We sit and wait until an alarm sounds that we must depart to the center of the district for the reaping. We walk in silence. I can tell my mother and father would have been so proud of Eimmot today. In our district we embrace The Hunger Games but personally I think we receive an unfair advantage because we are better fed and trained.
You become eligible for the games when you turn 12. That means your name is put in the bowl once and one more time every year that you age until you turn 18. My name is in the bowl 4 times, but the odds are still in my favor. Because we live in District 2, volunteers for the games are common, at the moment we have the most victors (a total of 9). The last one 3 years ago. Suddenly I feel unprepared. What if I was over confident?
What if Eimmot dies? Before I can think further the reaping begins. Our escort, Petunia, wearing her silly pink wig and a dress made of gold feathers and tells the crowd through the microphone, "Happy Hunger Games! And may the odds be ever in your favor" this brings huge applause from the crowds. "Ladies first!" she smiles and digs her hands into the reaping bowl. Not me, please don't be me... This year there will be no female volunteer as she fell ill two weeks before reaping and no other girls were willing to volunteer, I remember Eimmot telling me this news but he was beaming because he had a higher chance of winning. "Athena Clearwater!" I hear Petunia shout. My heart drops, that's me.
I'm struggling for breath, unable to speak, totally stunned as the name bounces in my skull. The other kids my age part ways to allow me through. "Well come on up!" The escort calls me, "Ladies and gentlemen our female tribute, Athena Clearwater!" She has a hint of discourage in her voice for she knows by my small, frail body that I have not been trained. I receive a large amount of applause from my district. "Next, the boys" completely ignoring the fact she just sent someone to die. I hear the voice of my brother, "I volunteer!" Our escort smiles and asks for his name "Eimmot Clearwater," she gasps, "You mean!" "Yep" he replies. What just happened. Did Eimmot just volunteer! How stupid is he, this may have been his last shot of victory but only one of us can make it! What a selfish brat! I find it almost impossible to withhold my anger till we arrive onto the train.
When we arrive on the train I say what I've been thinking "You're an idiot!" I scream at Eimmot "Why did you volunteer?!" Our mentors Enobaria and Brutus laugh. Eimmot screams back "to save you!" "I could've done fine on my own," I reply icily. I run to my quarters and slam door shut and hear another laugh from our mentor.
Authors note: this is my first fanfiction, please review!