Chapter 1

I sit on the dock my feet skimming the clear blue water below me. My hands nimbly transform the green rope in my grasp into a perfectly woven net as I wait for my brother - Micheal - to finish on the boat. Since we're one of the better off families in District 4, I rarely have to help out on the boat but I still do every now and then just to have some time on the water. That's the best part about District 4 - the ocean lapping at your feet, the breeze in your hair, the sun kissing your skin - it doesn't get better than that.

However, it certainly can get worse, we may be one of the better off districts but we have our fair share of problems. People starve, get punished by peacekeepers, and hate the capital, here too. Not that anyone would admit it outloud. Even those bloodthirsty careers have a bone to pick with them - not about the games of course they're all for those. Ugh. I really hate the careers.

For the last two years I've had to train allowing me to see enough of their arrogance to hate them. I didn't even want to train in the first place but, two years back Connor got injured and I had to take out tesserae. I'm sixteen so my name is naturally in there four times, you add that to five tesseraes two years in a row, and the odds aren't really in my favor. Fourteen. My name will be in the reaping 14 times this year. In most districts that may be considered lucky but, here when so many have so much its more than enough to be a concern. Either way training is a waste of time. If I get reaped tomorrow, there's still no chance I'll win.

"Mags? You done with that net?" Micheal's voice snaps me back to reality. I bring the net over to him and watch him as he continues his work. We look a lot alike - light brown hair, light green eyes, and tan skin. I don't really remember my own dad so Micheal is the closest thing to a father I'll ever have. He was younger than I am now when he had to step up and take my dad's place. We had plenty of money to buy what we needed but Micheal always made sure we had what we wanted too. When he got hurt, I finally saw how much we depended on him, how much we needed him. I know it broke his heart to see me take out tesserae but, he knew we could use some extra help; and I had no idea how to work on the boat myself so tesserae it was. Thinking about that brought the reaping to the front of my mind again. Fourteen. Fourteen slips.

"There we are all finished up, ready to get going Magpie?" I could feel Micheal's eyes on my face so I tried to control my expression. His eyebrows knitted in concern letting me know I failed. "Thinking bout tomorrow?"

"Yeah, not a big deal though, " I've never been able to lie to Micheal very well and I can tell he doesn't buy it. He opens his mouth to say something but I cut him off. "Seriously, Micheal I'm okay. There's at least a thousand slips in there I'll be fine. Don't worry about me. Now c'mon we need to get home," I can tell he wants to say something but I'm right we need to go home.

As I lay in my bed I wonder why I even bothered trying to sleep. I was having my usual nightmare in which I'm watching some Capital lunatic torture my father (he was said to have died in a "fishing accident" but everyone knew he was a rebel killed in the war) but then it morphed into me watching the twins get slaughtered in an arena. I woke up right around the time Turquoise's throat got slit. The moon is shining through the window creating an errie mood in the moon. Perfectly ironic when you think about it. The more I think about tomorrow,the more I have to remind myself to breathe. Inhale. Exhale. Repeat. It doesn't help. Simply thinking of leaving the twins mom and Micheal behind makes me want to puke. I think of Lily and how much she already helps mom and of Turquoise with those big eyes of his. I think of how much it would hurt if those big eyes had to watch his sister die. In seconds I'm up and pacing back and fourth unable to keep still with all the what ifs swarming in my head.

Before I know it I'm out the door and heading for the beach. The salty air is cool and refreshing. I slip off my shoes and walk along the shoreline. At some point the sun comes up and I realize I need to get home. The reaping is soon.

"Mags? Is that you?" My mom trills from the kitchen.

"Yeah, it's me, where's Micheal? "

"Upstairs waiting for you," I quickly run upstairs taking two at a time knowing he's probably worried.

"Where have you been? " He sounds happy, "I was worried sick!"

"I just had to get out of here, sorry won't happen again,"

"Whatever just hurry up and get ready," As he leaves he slams the door. I hate having him mad at me. There's a gold dress lying on my bed, I put it on in a haste and call my mom so she can do my hair and makeup. Everyone is expected to look their best on reaping day. My mom curls my hair then pins it onto my head leaving only a few pieces around my face. After she's done she plants a kiss on my cheek and leaves without a word. Guess I'm ready as I'll ever be.