I could feel all the air in my body escape from my lungs as I stumbled up to the stage. Monica Elk gave me her stupid capitol smiles and I took my place, looking over the hundreds of faces. Most of the girls looked relived to not be in my position. Though I saw Ivy burst into tears. Her sobs rung through the square but she didn't dare cover them up. Laver hid his face in Aunt Hemlock's side with his shoulders moving up and down rapidly. And Aunt Hemlock herself, she didn't make a sound. She just stroked Laver's hair sympathetically, with worry in her eyes. I couldn't help but gasp for air to calm myself. This was just so overwhelming. I didn't have a chance in the games. I'm not stealthy like Ivy and I never held a weapon in my life. Well, I did hold a knives a lot but did that really count? Either way, I've never killed anyone with one before.

"Now," Monica said into the microphone. "Are there any volunteers?" No one in the crowed moved except Ivy and Laver who were mourning my death. "No? Well let's give a round of applause to Piper!" She did her clap again but no one joined her. A groan from the crowd suggested that they just wanted to get this over with. "Now for our male tribute!" She reached into the crystal sphere and removed a neatly folded piece of paper "Lucas Devril! " Just then another burst of sobs came from the back as he took his place. His parent's I'm guessing, but their faces were cover by a row of people. The boy didn't look anything special. His normal dirty blond hair and normal grey eyes was the look of an average district seven citizen. He had a normal build and a normal height. At least that that's one person I don't have to worry about. "Volunteers?" Monica Elk asked for the final time. When there was no answer she said " Anyone who would like to visit these fine young people before they head to the capitol must line up in front district building and be escorted in by a peacekeeper. " Monica quickly glanced over to the sobbing citizen before continuing. "Thank you for attending this year's Reaping," as if we had a choice "And to our tributes… may the odds ever be in your favor!"

The peacekeepers grabbed my arm tight then lead me into the district building and into an elegant room. The floor and walls were made of marble. The furniture was made of only the most expensive wood that was cut in district 7, Holly. Large windows let light stream in on the sparkling vases of fresh roses that were around the room. The curtains and cousins in the room were constructed with the finest velvet that was dyed green. I sat down on one of the lounge chairs uncomfortably as I thought about how I'll never see district 7 again. Not even if I win. If I win I'll get to live in Victor Village, where all the victors lived. There, I would live in a mansion and have enough food to feed all of district 7. I wouldn't be able to visit the real district seven because the village was fenced in so no one can come in or come out without special permission.

The huge holly doors burst open and Laver came rushing in. He run up and grabbed me so hard that I had a really hard time breathing. Lavers words were muffled by tears but still knew what he was saying. He was saying goodbye for good. He looked up at me with wide eyes, still clutching me for dear life. "Piper, promise me that you'll win! Promise me that you'll come home again! Say it!" he grabbed my arm. "I want to see you again! I want to see you again in real life! Not on the horrible television screen!" No matter how much I wanted to tell him I'll come home, I still knew that it wasn't possible. He knew that to. He just didn't want to admit it.

"I'll try, Laver." I whispered, giving him a firm hug. "I'll really try. I mean really, really try."

"No! I want you to promise me that you will win!" He yelled, tugging my arm in frustration.

I stared into his eyes. "I can't promise you that." I muttered slowly "But I'll promise that every night I'll think of you. I promise that every night, I'll say a prayer asking to protect you and to protect Aunt Hemlock."

"How about you?" Laver asked. He began to calm down but his eyes were still filled with tears.

"I'll pray for myself too," I gave him a kiss on his forehead and asked him "Laver, can you promise me something?"

"Yeah."

"I want you to promise me that you'll be brave. You need to be strong for Aunt Hemlock and for yourself."

He looked in my eyes before giving me a slight nod. "You'll be brave in the games right?" he asked as his final question.

"I'll be as brave as I need to be." I replied. I turned my attention to Aunt Hemlock, who was quietly waiting for her turn outside the door. Her face was completely blanched and he eyes were glossy. Cautiously, she entered the room.

"Piper, there is no doubt in my mind that you'll win the hunger games. I was lucky enough to see you grow up to the lovely young lady that you are. And I think that all you will need is a knife and a brain to win the games. Your Mother and Father wanted me to give you this." Aunt Hemlock, rummaged through her pocket and found a silver necklace. There was a heart shaped pendant on it. She wearily clasped it around my neck. "There, the pendant opens up you know." I looked down and snapped the pendant open. Inside, there was a picture of my mother and another picture of my father. They were looking back at me with smiles on their faces. My eyes began to blur with tears. "I hope you like it." Aunt Hemlock added.

I gave Aunt Hemlock a big hug. "Oh, I can't believe it,"

Aunt Hemlock gave me a weary smile before the peacekeeper said that it was time to go. Though I held on to her with my dear life, "Can you promise me that you'll try to feed Laver?" I asked Aunt Hemlock.

"I'll try, dear." She muttered under her breath and she left the room with Laver in her arms.

I sat in that lonely room for an hour before Ivy rushed in. Her makeup formed black streaks on her face as she was wiping the tears away. That prim face I'm so familiar with was all blotchy. Even her dress was covered in tears. She walked sullenly into the room with a grim expression, but didn't dare hold back her tears. "Piper, I want you to know that you're the besest friend anyone could have. I think that you could win the games if you really tried and you just need to get your hands on a knife. Your brain can do the rest of the work. " Her grey eyes scanned me for expression. "Piper, I want you to do me a favor."

"What?"

"I want you to change the rules of the game."

I looked at her, utterly confused. "But Ivy, there are no rules. How can I change something that was never there in the first place?"

"There are rules, they just aren't written or formally approved. Look at the hunger games right now. All they do is kill each other weapons. But I want you to try and change that."

"Try to not kill anyone?"

"No." She replied "Show them a different way to kill using this." She gestured towards her brain.

"Okay, kid time's up!" the peacekeepers yelled. They burst into the room and seized Ivy, dragging her out of the room

"But-" Ivy began, ripping her arm away from their grasp.

"No! Get out of here before I am forced to cut your tongue off." The peacekeeper bellowed, again grabbing Ivy's arm impolitely. He gave me a good look before shoving Ivy out the door. Again I'm alone in silence. Not daring to make a noise. All I could do was think about the pain that was about to come. The knives the will cut my thought, or the starvation I'll have to get through, or maybe the arrows that will enter my body. So many things that could kill me and the worst part of it was… having the whole world against you. I know for a fact that in that arena, nothing matters more than surviving. Whatever that may take. There is no love, there are no friendships, there are no morals. Killing is second nature in the arena and survival is the first. Without morals everyone is against you, not just other nature and the competitors. It's the Capitol and the tribute's families. Each district is against each other even. The only people who will matter are the sponsors and your family. No on else.

I waited there for another hour before the peacekeepers moved me to the train station where the presses were waiting. News anchors were happily announcing the "lucky" tributes to the world. I heard my name all as they talked about how "great" this year's hunger games will be. But, nothing made any sense. How can watching people die be entertainment? Doesn't it just remind you of dying yourself? Maybe the Capitol people are just idiots. I guess I'll never know because I would die too young to understand. I glanced at Lucas Devril just to see his expression. Stiffness and worry were written all over his face. His grey eyes danced over the faces of reporters as we were both lead into the train, roughly. I couldn't help but feel bad for him. He looked like a nice kid, an innocent kid. He didn't deserve to go to the hunger games, nor did I. Nor did anyone who went to the hunger games before us and anyone who will go to the hunger games after us. If the Capitol wanted a Hunger Games then why don't they just put criminals in the arena? At least they did something to displease the nation. But as Aunt Hemlock always said "Don't cry over spilled milk," so it's no use even thinking about it. I was going to die in the Hunger Games. And there's nothing I could do about it.