Chapter 1: The Reaping

It was that day again that children all across Panem dreaded; the day where twenty-four would finally experience the first kiss of death. Reaping Day. Truly little had changed in the quarter century since the last rebellion. Willow, along with all others in District 11, knew it better nearly than everybody. Even their one spark of hope to have been finally been ignited years earlier had been violently extinguished. Now they only sat at the mercy of yet another powerful force. This was something the seventeen-year-old dark-skinned girl couldn't overlook as she jolted awake. Feeling groggy, she rubbed her eyes before peering out the window of her small run-down bedroom. Even the trees rustling in the wind seemed to be crying out for mercy as all the district's children prepared for the Fourth Quarter Quell.

"So this is it. Welcome to what could be the last day of my life." Willow uttered to herself as she glanced at her undressed body before finally slipping on a navy blue sundress she had left out specifically for the occasion. It was hardly something to celebrate, but the Capitol of course insisted on it, even giving everybody in the district a day off. This was surely an occasion Willow's family in particular intended to take an advantage of just as they did every year.

"There you are! We were waiting! Once we leave the District Square we were going to have our picnic again!" Cherri, the youngest of Willow's three siblings, bellowed as her older sister traversed out of her room. Being the oldest she was fortunate to have her own room, although she wasn't sure how much longer it would last with the others quickly growing up. Naturally, that brought another realization to Willow's mind: Cherri. For the first time she was now eligible for the Reaping. This was a matter she opted to remain silent on, not wanting to upset the younger girl. Fortunately, there were many joyous small things in life and Willow was arguably a master at focusing her attention on those.

Willow could only sigh as the remainder of her siblings stormed into the room. They seemed to be eager and excited, as if none of them were aware of what was to come. The odds were not exactly in their favour, having taken out enough Tessarae to feed an entire family in what were deemed "hard times". "Where are mom and dad?" She asked Basil, the oldest of her siblings. He was a quiet and shy boy, but seemed to make up for it with his powers of observation. Based on that alone she was always convinced the boy would even have a chance in the arena if ever reaped. That was not something to think about now though. Not on a day like today.

"They were out getting a few things for today's picnic, promised they would be back in time for the Reaping." The sixteen-year-old Basil shrugged, but his oldest sister took his word for it and went to adjusting her dark brunette hair into a simple ponytail. Their timing proved to be impeccable though, returning just moments later with full intentions to round up their four children for what was to come. They were worried about Cherri the most as it was her first year, but they trusted the older kids could handle it well.

"You want to walk with me?" Willow asked Cherri as she began panicking on her way to the District Square. The smaller and younger girl just nodded before wiping away what appeared to be tears flowing down her cheeks. Willow didn't dare speak a single word about the Reaping again until it was time to sign in. Peacekeepers had a regular and strict presence in District 11, but they seemed to have a whole other much more horrifying effect on twelve year olds about to get entered into the Reaping for the first time. This was something that almost immediately began taking effect on Cherri once one of the Peacekeepers approached her. She knew not to put up much opposition at least from various warnings so the distressed girl just went through the usual procedure and joined the twelve year olds in their section of the square. The other siblings were all used to the procedure so once they were signed in Willow then took her position, just as a flamboyant Capitol citizen sporting green and blue hair finally took centre stage.

With his hair standing straight up just as it did nearly every year, Willow immediately recognized the man in front of the district's children. Aelius. The District's escort. Having not met the man formally herself Willow wasn't sure what to think of him, but it didn't take her long to suspect he was probably oblivious to the horrors of the games just like most Capitol citizens clearly were. His words only served to reinforce that perception. "Welcome, citizens! Welcome to the 100th Annual Hunger Games and the Fourth Quarter Quell! We are here today to remember that war pits brother against brother, but first off there's this. Straight from the Capitol itself!" Unsurprisingly, the large projector screens quickly switched on and played through the same propaganda video that Willow was sure has been played since the very beginning of the games, only with updates of what the Capitol called "The Second Rebellion". She just let out a sigh as the video finally came to an end, being met with applause from Aelius alone before he proceeded to speak once again. "Now we will select our tributes! As you know, this year is something extra special so all names are in one bowl. Are you ready for this? May the odds be ever in your favour!"

The Quarter Quell twist. Willow remembered it well, vividly recalling the broadcast just weeks earlier. Only one name would be drawn with the unlucky candidate being forced to select their own partner. It was a special kind of evil, but one that nobody could contest. This was only further reaffirmed as Aelius stuck his hand inside the bowl and pulled out a name. Willow held her breath in what was potentially the longest few seconds in her life as she awaited the man to read the name. Kale Froot. It was a name Willow only vaguely recognized, allowing her to breath easily, but then she realized he still had to select a partner from the females. Surely this fact didn't go over the sixteen-year-old boy's head as a pair of Peacekeepers forced him on stage. Almost immediately he began gazing through the crowds searching for somebody—anybody to take as a partner, but Willow noticed his eyes continuously returning to her. This was a fact she was just absorbing as the boy finally spoke up.

"I select Willow Freeborn!"