Chapter 1: Reaping Day in District 7

I pounded up the stairs and burst through the door, slamming it behind me.

''Stop slamming that door!'', my mother called from another room. She scowled around the corner and then saw that it was me. ''Shae, we're going to be late'', she said, frowning.

''Sorry!'', I said, putting my coat up. ''I went by to get the soap, but Meyers barters like a damn pack rat.''

''Language!'', she snapped, and took the bar of soap from my hand. It was Reaping Day, and everyone was on edge.

I strode into the second bedroom where my siblings were dressing themselves in decent attire and trying to do their own hair. My 13 year old brother, Benjamin, was distracted with his buttons, so I came up behind him.

''Your collar's up'', I said, and righted it with my fingers. He said nothing, and I couldn't blame him.

I proceeded on and zipped up my 7 year old sister's dress. She turned around and grinned at me with affection. I smiled back and grabbed the brush off a small, hand-made vanity. With gentle pulls, I tamed her wild hair into a half pony tail, with her bangs pulled to the side.

Splashing sounds came form the other room where my younger sister, Amy, bathed with the new soap. Mother was scolding Amy for a stain on Amy's dress, among other things. Then she came in and handed my skirt.

''Thank you'', I said, and grabbed a dark green shirt from the drawer to go with it. Mother gave me a tight smile and left.

I changed quickly and washed up, then brushed my hair. Usually I left it down, or in two braids for windy days outside. Today, I united two small side braids around the back of my head, hoping for it to dry alright before we left.

Our trim-looking father came in soon and said nothing. We were all waiting beside the door, and he smiled wearily at us. Ben, Amy, Laney, mom, and I, all donning our best in silence. Even Laney, the most joyful of all of us, was quiet. He bent down and hugged us tightly, so close that I could smell the smell of pine on him. Our mother hugged and kissed as well, and then we left our small lived on the outskirts of town, and, as we walked down the muddy street toward more of the center of town, there were actual houses and buildings. People's dress was less plain, and the area less bleak. The crowd became thicker with all kinds of people, literally all of District 7.

I craned my neck to see through everyone.

''Who are you looking for, honey?'', my mother asked me.

''Uh, no one'', I lied, and stopped craning.

There were more and more peacekeepers as we neared the open air reaping auditorium. I avoided looking at them with their stark white armor and shielded faces.

''Where are we going?'', Laney whispered to me, coming close.

''The Reaping'', I said, my mind elsewhere.

''What's that?'', She inquired, and I realized what I'd said.

''Nothing'', I said, and took her small hand in mine with a warm squeeze. She frowned with her almost invisible blond eyebrows.

My eyes looked back up as we entered through a wide open gate and filed in. Being the oldest, I lead Amy and Benjamin to the sign in table where they stuck all our fingers for a drop of blood. It was my 13 year old sibling's second year in the Reaping, and they didn't complain about the prick.

It was my worst fear that the twins would both be picked. I had thought about it often that if one of them was selected, I would volunteer to save them. I could replace Amy, and I would kill to protect to save my brother. If both were selected, I suddenly registered that I could still replace my sister and be there for Ben.

This stilled my mind somewhat as we divided into boys and girls, with our parents and Laney watching from the sides. Although, I couldn't stop my heart from pounding savagely and my rapid breath from coming as I took my place.

A dramatic video about Panem's history and the Hunger Games began to play and was projected onto the concrete stage's upper panel, and, as it played, I looked to my left at the boy's group. Not far from me, I spotted Andrew, and I felt pained relief in my chest. He caught my gaze and I could see his own visible relief. I wished that I could have talked to him beforehand. His gaze changed though, and I saw him lock eyes with Kerra, who was a few feet ahead of me. I bet he talked to her this morning, I thought with an inward snort.

I turned my head back toward the stage to look at the gaudily dressed woman who had walked up to the mic. Anna Glimmer, I thought. When the short clip ended, she smiled her straight, white teeth at the crowd.

''Welcome, to the 57th Hunger Games!'', she trilled clearly. Her voice snapped my attention away from her frilly attire and painted face. ''Shall we begin?'', she asked to no one. Her bright, purple lips formed a smile, and she walked over to a white table with a glass bowl in the middle of it, full of folded papers.

''As always, ladies first'', she said, and slowly leaned forward to put her delicate, gloved hand in the bowl.

My breath caught. My name was in the 14 times. 5 naturally, and 9 from helping my family survive. I knew other kids who had more, but 14 did not put the odds in my favor.

She felt around and then picked a card and pulled it out. I could audibly hear the clack of her heals as she went back to the center of the stage. Everyone looked at her raptly when she began to open the flaps of the paper. She read the card and then paused for a moment of suspense.

''Shae Ridley.''
I stopped breathing.