It was the week of the reaping when I met her. She was behind the fence. Poised and waiting for her prey like a cat stalking a mouse.

"Hey" I said sending her jumping up to her defence brandishing a knife.

"Don't do that, I thought you were a peacekeeper."

"Well I'm not and you are behind the fence which makes you the one breaking the law, so be thankful I'm not." she smiled, obviously my harsh tone had got to her.

"I'm Catherine, Cat for short" she disappeared for a moment before appearing from behind a bush. "So you're not going to tell me yours?

"Well I'm Cassandra or just Cassie for short."

"Oh I remember you, the protester from the card reading day."

"Yeah that is one of my titles, another's the last survivor of 13 and stupid pathetic idiot. Oh and the capitols number 1 target."

"Nice, so I take it it's your turn this year."

"Yep and you can guarantee that I'll be brutally murdered like most from the years before."

"At least there are only 12 tributes this year, and there are no boys, and they are the hardest to kill."

"How would you know?"

"Uh they're boys I mean come on. Boys are physically stronger. Plus they get on my nerves." I laughed at her freedom to speak, "you seem to be good with a knife can you give me a few tips before I get thrown to the dogs?"

She laughed "sure I'll meet you here about 4:30 in the morning, come in the darkest clothes you have." We left in good spirits.

I spent the next few days with her before school hunting, we got a good crop of rabbits and I caught a stoat but the thing liked the most about Cat was that she was free and she'd freed me too. Behind the fence we were captives but as soon as we crept out from behind the bush, the world became ours.

When reaping day arrived, we met half an hour earlier, taking our crop to the hob and exchanging for some clothes i got a light blue dress for myself with a deep blue velvet ribbon i also got a beautiful little grass green dress for Emily with a sequined hair band. I rushed back to the home waving goodbye to Cat before we went our separate ways knowing that this would be the last time we would see each other before i was reaped.

"I love it Cass! It's my favourite colour!" I laughed at the way she was so excited

"go on then, get changed!" i left her in our room while I changed in our little en-suite. It wasn't much just a toilet, sink and mirror. But it was the best we had in the communal home. They were rarely cleaned and i made sure that either Emily or myself cleaned it. We had a rota on jobs around our room. There wasn't many but it made me happier to know that Emily was in a clean environment, not necessarily safe but clean never the less. I had just finished putting on the dress when i heard a quiet knock on the door, and a small "um Cassie can you help me?"

I opened the door, leant down and picked Emily up. After placing her on the bed, she turned round so i could lace her dress up. I carefully began to tighten the intricate lacing and did an almost perfect bow behind.

I eventually found her hair brush under the bed and began to brush her hair i smiled, knowing that she would grow up into a beautiful young woman, and that her parents would have been proud of her. When i put the Alice band on her head i realised that there were butterflies in the design.

Turquoise ones.

*************************************Flashback*************************************

A Black meadow.

A White blanket

A Grey Woman

A Turquoise Butterfly.

***********************************Flashback ends***********************************

The whole world began to swim back into view. When my head had stopped spinning, i noticed in the mirror opposite that my hair was not tied up. I rushed to tie it up knowing that we would be running late.

When we finally left for the square, we had five minutes we made the square with minutes to spare and i kissed Emily good luck as we separated off her lead to the other six year olds and myself towards the thirteen year olds, i was at the front so i could just about see Emily over the 7 to 12 year olds. I tried to smile reassuringly failing epically but Emily seemed a little less worried and began to chat to some of her friends.

As i took a moment to look around i realised that it wasn't from the age five up to the age of 18, it was females of any age so long as they could walk, talk and hold a weapon.

When Fine Templeton walked up to the podium I could see the glares.

Finally a name was picked out and read.

And it wasn't mine.