The crowd was really thick, which meant I was struggling to move around. I eventually got sick of it and started elbowing anyone who got in my way. It might seem rude but that's just who I was. I eventually reached an area where there was some form of order. Teenagers aged 12 to 18 were in separate lines. I walked over to the 16-year-olds and lined up. It didn't take long to reach the front, and when I did the woman glanced up momentarily.

'Name?' she asked in monotone.

'Veronica Buckley.' I said boredly.

She nodded and said, 'Hand please.'

I extended my arm and she takes my wrist to prick my finger and press it against some sort of scanner.

She looks up and nods. 'Okay, go with the others.' She said, once again in monotone.

I sighed and walked off to stand with all the other girls my age. I didn't go anywhere in particular. I didn't have any friends my age, no one to go to. I preferred people who didn't spend all their time swimming. People who would go spear fishing with me. Hey, that's something I have got going for me if I get picked, I'm good with a spear. I run through all my thought for ages until everyone is I the right area. I look up at the platform quickly. Everyone is there apart from Mags. Finnick catches my eye and smiles. I can't resist a grin in return.

'Okay, everybody,' says Benedict Andrea, the man who always calls out the names for the reaping. 'Welcome to the reaping of the 68th Hunger Games! First things first, we'll watch our video, just like every year.' He says.

Unlike alot of other people who do the reaping he is not happy to do this. He is not happy to see children die. But he has to act like he doesn't care, just to please the capitol.

'War, Terrible War.' Is all I hear before I let my mind wander for the next few minutes while the stupid video plays about how district 13 tried to rebel and blah, blah, blah... 'This is how we remember our past; this is how we safeguard our future.' Says the video, bringing me back to reality.

'Now that's over, we'll call the names of the young man and woman who will be competing this year. As always, ladies first.' Says Benedict, he walks over to the bowl with thousands of female names, fifty-seven of which bear my name. He doesn't want to make this any longer than he should be so he plunges his hand into the bowl and grabs the first name he feels. He pulls out the small piece of paper and unfolds it as quickly as possible. He leans closer to the microphone and says, 'Veronica Buckley.'

That's me. Oh my god, that's me. The person to my right shoves me and I stumble into the aisle. I realise that I don't want to look weak and straighten up, then walk briskly to the platform. I climb up the stairs quickly. I do my best not to look at Finnick but my attempts fail. My eyes flick over to him and he's staring at me with deep pain in his eyes. I look back at Benedict who is beckoning me towards him. I walk over to him and face the entire district.

'So you must be Veronica then?' he asks.

'No crap.' I say dryly.

I can tell he's shocked because he walks over to the other bowl.

'Now for the boys.' He once again plunges his hand into the bowl and pulls out a name. 'Matthew Bell.' He calls into the microphone.

A boy I vaguely recognise from school walks out from the crowd. When he reaches the stairs he trips. I roll my eyes. Idiot is all I can think. Benedict does the same thing again as he said to me. I take this time to scan the crowd for my mother. When I spot her I see her face is buried in her hands. She's going to lose me, just like she lost my sister. My sister was picked for the games the year that Finnick won. I did have a grudge against him for a while but I got over it. He's now a great friend of mine. I pulled myself back into reality and looked at Benedict. He's just finished talking to Matthew and has come back to the middle. He grabs mine and Matthew's hand at the same time and raises them into the air.

'Introducing the tributes from District 4 for the 68th Hunger Games, Veronica Buckley and Matthew Bell!' he shouts into the microphone. No one cheers, no one ever does. They just slowly file out back to their homes.

Benedict puts his hand on my back 'Time to go.' He whispers.

I nod and turn around. A peacekeeper grabs my arm but I yank it out of his grip.

'I'd rather you don't touch me.' I snap. He shrugs and I walk forwards into the justice building.

They escort me into a room with dusty carpet and chairs and leave me alone to wait. After a few minutes my mother walks in with tears staining her face. I stand up immediately and hug her. I feel her crying into my shirt because I'm so much taller than her.

'Mom... Mom, stop crying.' I say softly.

She looks up at me. 'Oh, I can't lose you as well, Ronnie. I just can't.' She sobs.

'Mom, you've gotta be strong. I'll win for you. I promise you that I'll win.' I assured her.

'Make sure you do.' Just as she said that a peacekeeper poked his head in. 'Time's up.' He says. He opens the door wider and my mother walks out, and then Annie Cresta walks in.

I don't know why she's visiting me, but she is. She sits down on the couch and pats the area next to her. I sit down.

'Annie, why are you visiting me? We've barely even spoken before.' I ask.

'I just came to tell you one thing; Listen to Finnick. I know you might not want to but it's good advice. He tells me every year after the games what he told all the tributes and it's really good stuff.' She tells me quickly.

'Why does he tell you?' I ask. Not jealously, just out of curiosity.

She grins cheekily. 'You know why. Finnick's a great friend of yours; you spend enough time with him.' She says.

I roll my eyes. 'Oh, that.' I giggles.

The peacekeeper comes in again. 'You have no more visitors,' he turns to Annie, 'Ms. Cresta, you may leave.' He says calmly.

Annie nods and gets up. 'Good luck.' She says before exiting.

'Come with me to the train.' He says to me. Obviously he doesn't think I deserve the title "Ms. Buckley" because I'm going to die soon enough anyway. There is another peacekeeper waiting outside. They lead me to the train station, where my mother and a few of Matthew's family member's stand. My mother is crying again. I look away from my mother, I can't talk to her, so what is the point? I carefully walk onto the train and look out the window. I wave sadly at my mother then turn away. I sit down on a seat and wait for Matthew to get in.

When he finally walks in I've already made myself comfortable.

'You took your time.' I say.

He shrugs. 'That because I have more family. In case you didn't notice none of my sisters got killed by a murderous 18-year-old.' He sneers.

I immediately stand up and push him against the wall. 'If you ever mention that again I will cut out your heart with a spear.' I hiss.

Finnick walks in and sees the expression on my face.

He sighs, 'Can't you save killing him for the arena?' he says boredly.

I glare at Matthew and sit down.

'I don't know whether I can wait that long.' I say.

A smile forms on Finnick's face. 'Classic Veronica.' He says like I'm not here.

Matthew looks confused. 'Why are you two acting like you've known each other for years?' he asks.

'Because we have.' Finnick says. He sits down next to me.

'So where is Mags and Benedict?' I ask him.

'Next car over.' he says. I nod. There's silence for a while before Benedict walks in with Mags trailing behind. Benedict has a glass of alcohol in his hand. I've never had alcohol before and I don't plan on having any. I'll probably die before I get the chance anyway.

Benedict is wearing a black suit and his dark brown hair is slicked over. He's very down to earth compared to other capitol citizens. The only way he really looks like a capitol citizen at all is the way he dresses. I once heard someone say that he said he's not a huge fan of the capitol fashions.

'Okay,' Finnick says, standing up 'First things first, we can watch the other reapings. We can have a good look at your competition.' He picks up a remote from the coffee table I've rested my feet on and points it at a screen. It flickers on to show district 1.

The tributes names are Emerald and Plaid. District 1 names are weird. The tribute from district 2 two are named Mia and Miles. Mia practically volunteered before the original name was called, talk about a career tribute. Finnick pauses the video before it moves on to district 3.

'As you may know those are the careers tributes. Watch out for them, and I recommend you avoid this Mia girl. She's very enthusiastic as far as I can tell.' He explains before pressing another button so it will play again. I watch closely, studying the tributes reactions carefully. I can't help but feel sorry for the girl from 7. She is only 12 and by the looks of it her sister, well I think it was her sister anyway, didn't care. If I'd been called when I was 12 my sister would have definitely volunteered. She was still alive then. We watched the rest of the reapings and Finnick turned back to us.

'I'd also like to say that apparently once the boy from 7 cut off a guy's ear for calling him stupid. So be careful.' He sat down again and it was quiet.

I stood up and walked over to Mags. 'Can you show me around?' I asked.

I hadn't spoken to Mags much, but I did know that she was very kind. She smiled and nodded. I followed her about the train. She didn't talk very much so I did my best to understand her. The last place she showed me was a bedroom. 'Is this mine?' I asked. She nodded. 'Okay, I think I'll stop here.' She nodded and walked off. I entered the room and closed the door.

I'm in the Hunger Games. There's no denying it now. I'm not going to die though. I promised my mom I would win and I will. At least, I'll try to win. Maybe if I make an alliance I'll have a better chance at survival. That twelve-year-old from 7 looks like she'd make a good ally. I think her name was Bailey? I know it's pretty stupid to think that she'd make a good ally, but she'd be light and quick on her feet. Just a thought, but maybe I could get into the career alliance. It's been known to happen in the past, a tribute from 4 getting into the career alliance. Not that I will, I probably won't even have a chance. I notice clothes on my bed, they're pyjamas. A blue top with white bottoms. I take off the clothe I'm wearing and pull those ones on. I look around the room and there happens to be a bathroom extension. I walk in and look at myself in the mirror mounted on the wall. My blonde hair which was previously in a neat braid in now in a messy braid with hair sticking out everywhere. I slowly untie it and shake it out so I can brush it. My hair is usually quite frizzy because of the humidity in district 4. I have the feeling that will change over the next few days. I look back in the mirror and study my features. I've got eyes that are a little bit too wide for my liking, a thin nose and too-full lips. My face is sort of heart shaped. The way one of my eyebrows arch slightly more than the other gives me a sort of permanent sceptical look. In some ways I'm pretty, but no one has ever called me that apart from my mother and my sister. Bless them, even though one of them is dead. I'm so positive. I pull my hair up into a loose ponytail and walk out to sit on the bed. As soon as my body hits the soft mattress there is a knock at the door.

'Who is it?' I ask.

'It's president snow.' Jokes someone from outside. It's Finnick.

I laugh. 'Sure, come in.' I say.

He opens the door and pokes his head in. 'Not interrupting anything am I?' he says sarcastically. '

What's to interrupt? I don't exactly like Matthew after what happened earlier.' I say, fiddling with my hands.

He walks in completely and sits on the bed. '

Yeah, I was wondering what had happened there.'

'He said something about Jessie and I pushed him against the wall.'

'What did he say?'

'Something along the lines of "at least my sister wasn't killed by a murderous teenager." And all that.'

'Well, I can see why you pushed him.' He says understandingly.

'But anyway, let's turn to a happier subject,' I say 'Well, as happy as a subject can get when you're about to enter the hunger games.'

He laughs. 'So what's this "happy subject" then?' he asks.

'Annie Cresta visited me in the Justice building and she said something about the both of you.' He blushes, despite his obvious attempts to not. 'Don't deny it, she told me.' I nudge him with my elbow.

He looks up at me. 'You're not jealous or anything are you?' he asks. I pretend to throw up over the side of the bed. 'You and me? A couple? That's disgusting, Finnick! Why would you ever think I like you that way? 'I say loudly, which causes Benedict, who must have been passing by to shout. 'Keep it down in there!'

Finnick and I both laugh. 'So that's why Annie visited? Just to tell you about us?' he asks sceptically.

I shake my head. 'No, she also told me to listen to your advice.'

He looks proud, but I say, 'But don't expect me to treat you like some sort of really wise person. You're only a year older than me.'

He rolls his eyes. 'Okay then, if that's all there is to discuss then I'll be going.' He says, getting up.

'Wait!' I say 'What is your opinion on alliances?' He stops for a moment before saying, 'Just be careful, and don't sleep when in an alliance with someone who has weapons. District 6 learned that the hard way in my year.' And walking out, leaving me to ponder his advice. I fall back onto the bed and, somehow, my body finds its way under the covers and falls asleep.

My body is splattered with blood. Some of it mine, some of it from the tribute I just killed. I just killed someone. I'm a murderer. What am I talking about? This is the hunger games. We're all murderers now. I keep running. Just keep on running. That's all I can think. Suddenly my body is horizontal. There's a tribute on top of me. It's Mia from District 2. She's holding a knife to my heart. She's going to kill me the way I threatened Matthew.

I wake up covered in sweat. My body jolts upwards and looks around. I'm not in the Hunger Games; I'm in my bedroom on the train. The train to the hunger games. Oh, yeah. I'm in the Hunger Games. Funny, the things that slip your mind. And I'm not covered in sweat, wait, I am, wait, I'm not. What the heck is going on? Am I going insane? If I am let's hope it will make me want to kill people. Wait, what? Yep, I'm going insane. I stand up and see my reflection in the mirror. I don't look bad, so I leave the room and enter a room with a table in it. The table is set with luxury food and cutlery. I sit down at the table across from Benedict.

'You missed dinner last night.' He says.

I shrug. 'I wasn't hungry; I'd eaten a whole fish before the reaping.'

He laughs. 'I heard that the tribute from district 11 had shoved all their food in with their hands.' He says, taking a sip from his glass.

'What is that?' I ask, gesturing to the liquor in the glass.

'Wine. It's very uncommon in district 4.'

'Must be, I've never heard of it in my life.'

'District 12 has alot of it. Well, may I correct myself; Haymitch Abernathy has alot of it.'

'Isn't he the mentor that's always drunk?' I ask.

'Yeah, that's him.'

'Well, that partially explains why 12 never win.'

'That's one explanation.' As Benedict says this Finnick walks in and falls onto the chair next to me.

'Hiya.' He says before leaning over the table and taking a sugar cube from a bowl and popping it into his mouth.

Benedict sighs. 'They're supposed to go in the tea.' He says.

Finnick shrugs. 'There's no rule against it, so you aren't stopping me.' I giggle.

Matthew walks in.

'You took your time.' I say. I notice he is completely groomed.

'Well, some of us take more interest in our appearance than others.' He says before taking a seat across from Finnick, next to Benedict. I roll my eyes.

'Yeah, when I'm covered in blood about to kill you I don't think either of us will care about our appearance.' Finnick hits me lightly on the arm.

'Oi,' he says, 'how many times do I have to tell you to keep the threats for the arena?'

I put on a mock-decisive face and say, 'Ummm, five.'

He chuckles. 'Where is breakfast anyway?' he asks.

'We're waiting for Mags,' says Benedict. 'We have to at least have some manners.'

'Oh, please!' I say. 'I haven't eaten since yesterday!'

Matthew snorts.

'What?' I snap

'"I haven't eaten since yesterday" she says. Try living where I live.' He says.

'I live next door to you! The one difference is that I know how to actually get food!' I yell.

Mags eventually arrives and the food is brought out. The food on my plate is foreign to me. I look up at Benedict.

'What is this?' I ask him.

'Bacon and Eggs,' he replies 'Not everyone takes a liking to it, but give it a try, you'll never know.'

I shrugged and put some of what if thought was bacon on my fork and shoved it into my mouth.

'That's good!' I said before I'd even swallowed so it sounded more like 'thas goof!'

Benedict grimaced. 'Manners, please?' he asked in an exasperated tone.

I roll my eyes and swallow. 'Would you rather me spit it out all over you?' I say.

Mags and Finnick chuckle. Matthew just glares at me. We eat the rest of our food in silence and when we finish Benedict stands up.

'Today we will be arriving in the capitol.' He announces, 'You will be taken to your stylists.' He turns to look at me. 'I've gotten word to keep you away from the crowd; they've already taken a liking to you due to your performance at the reaping.'

'Why do I need to be kept away?' I ask out of curiosity.

'I don't know, that's all I've been told.' He replies. 'Anyway, when you meet your stylists they're going to do the normal stuff, waxing your legs, plucking your eyebrows. Things like that. Once that is done you'll be handed to your main stylist, they'll put you in your outfits for the tributes parade.' The tributes parade. I'd almost forgotten about that. The first chance to get the capitol to like you. Let's hope my stylist is better than last years, they dressed them up as fish. Sexy.

Benedict talks for a little while more before sitting down.

Then Finnick starts talking about what to do in the arena. 'Going to the cornucopia is a risky decision but if you go to it, just get out of there quickly unless you feel like participating in the bloodbath. Veronica, please don't participate in that, I can see you turning it over in your head but don't, that's an almost guaranteed death sentence. It doesn't matter if you have to kill someone in the process of getting out, just get out.'

After this, there silence and feeble small talk until Finnick just gives up and leaves. Benedict and Mags leave of their own accord so it's just me and Matthew alone.

'You know, I'm not sorry for what I said yesterday.' He says.

I look up at him. 'Well, you better start feeling sorry because nobody talks about my family like that. Dead or alive.'

'Well, I have, and you can't do anything about it.'

I feel the blood rushing to my cheeks. I pick up the butter knife next to my right hand and throw it at the wall behind him, it sticks and shakes from the impact. The expression on his face is one of shock before he makes it calmer.

'You missed.' He says menacingly.

I narrow my eyes. 'I wasn't aiming for you.' I hiss before standing up and walking out.

And that is how you make an exit.