CHAPTER1: The Reaping

I sit at the table, drumming my fingers against the smooth wood while lost in thought. Today is the day of the reaping. I hope I get picked to fight in the Games. I must show my strength and accuracy to the entire country of Panem. I need to show that I am good enough to fight to the death. I am sure I am good enough. Tributes from 1,4, and my male partner will be a challenge, yes, but that's nothing I can't handle. District 3 knows nothing about fighting. Neither do tributes from 5-12. District 12 is some kind of joke. Every year, their tributes are dressing in the outfits of coal miners at the chariot rides. Nobody ever remembers them. I laugh at the thought of a tribute last year, holding a spear the wrong way. 2:00 won't come fast enough.

I look up at the clock on our wall. 12:45. Tick-tock, tick-tock. The minutes until the reaping slowly tick away. I sit there watching the clock for about 10 minutes until I can't stand it any longer. I jump up and run to the bathroom. I fill the tub with water and undress. Then I sink into the bubbles that formed and rub the soap over my body. After about 10 minutes, I am clean and smell like fresh flowers. I dry my self with my towel. When I am completely dry, I brush my hair and pull it in a pony tail. Finally, I pull on a red dress and black shoes.

"Mother, can we leave now?" I call looking at the clock. 1:30. She looks up from her book and nods. We walk out the door in silence.

I decide to speed ahead. Pushing everyone in the crowd out of my way, I run up to the table in the center of District 2 where the Peacekeepers sit. I run to the front of the line, ignoring the yells of objection that come from behind me.

The Peacekeepers take a drop of my blood, nod, and direct to me to the section where the 15 year old girls stand. None of them seem nervous.

I look at the stage in front of the Justice Building. The mayor sits in one chair, with Isis Colewater, the District 2 escort. Lotus and Braxton, the mentors for Districy 2 sit beside Isis. At exactly 2:00, the mayor steps up and reads about the Dark Days and why we have the Hunger Games each year. I begin to zone out until Isis steps up to the microphone.

"Welcome, citizens of District 2!" she says smiling broadly "It is now time to select a young man and woman to represent District 2 in the 74th annual Hunger Games! Let's begin! Of course, ladies first!"

She walks to the glass ball that holds the names of girls between the ages of 12-18. Her hand hovers above the ball before she reaches in and pulls out a slip of paper. She back across the stage. I hold my breath. Please be me!

But it's not me. It's a girl right next to me, Lexa. She gulps.

I run out of my section frantically and holler, "I VOLUNTEER! I VOULNTEER!" I wave my arm around.

Isis smiles at me, "Alright then." She places a hand on her blue wig and ushers me up the stage "What is your name?"

"Clove Cyprus" I say loudly, grinning at the croud. Finally!

Isis nods and says "Now for the boys" and walks to the glass ball holding the names of boy.

Before I know it, she has recited a name and a massive boys lunges forward to volunteer. I believe his name is Cato. I've seen him in training before. He's and excellent fighter, can throw spear very accurately, and is incredibly strong. Maybe this will be competition a bit harder than I thought. But I push that thought out of my mind and smile. What was I thinking? I know I'm good enough and I will win. Hopefully I will be able to kill Cato as well.

But the thought keeps re-surfacing. He's so massive and strong. I'm so much smaller. I'm unsure of what I'll do in the arena. But I know one thing: I can't let my growing fear show.

Author's Note: Thanks for reading! I know it was a little boring at first, but I PROMISE it gets better from now on. Please check back soon for an update!