Hey Guys! I'm really sorry I know it's been a while, but I've been really busy with high school, and haven't been able to do anything, let alone write. But I'm posting now, so thats good. Haha well anyway, enjoy the chapter!

Thank you to Revbev353 for her character!

Kaleb Monterio

The dirt is cold beneath me. It creeps onto my skin, clinging to my shirt, but I don't mind. I'm lying on my stomach in between two bushes. An ugly little caterpillar is trying to crawl up a browning leaf. I adjust my elbows, so my black camera is pointed in the direction of the caterpillar. I finger the zoom button and the scene fills up the digital screen. My pointer finger hovers over the camera button, waiting for the absolute right moment. Suddenly the small creature slips, its bluish black body hanging oddly from the leaf. I waist no time in snapping multiple pictures of the caterpillars struggle to regain

purchase.

I smile lightly, pushing myself up into a sitting position. I flick through the pictures, admiring my work. My finger slides against the smooth glass surface and my smile widens as I continue to look. When I'm done, I turn my camera off, and run my fingers through my dark, chocolate brown hair.

I love my camera. Its one of my most prized possessions. My Mother got it for me in second grade. The camera's completely black except for the silver lens that slides over the glass when it's turned off. The pictures show up on a small glass screen which is located in the back. It's really old fashioned, nothing someone from the capitol would buy, unless it's for an antique shop. I like it though. I don't want one of those micro mini cameras that talk to you. Or a camera that does your work for you, so it's always a good picture. There's no fun in that. I like that I have to capture the right angles, and the right amount of light. That's my favorite part of taking pictures.

"Kaleb? Where are you? The reaping starts in a half hour!" My mothers voice calls.

"Coming!" I yell back, jumping to my feet. The second I appear from the bushes, Mother gathers me in a hug.

"There you are!" She exclaims. "Taking pictures again?" Mother grins, and pats me on the back. Then I'm rushed inside to take a quick bath. I wash up quickly, scrubbing all the dirt from my arms and legs. When I enter my room I see my clothing laid neatly on my bed. I pull on the white button up shirt and a pair of dark pants. I button my shirt quickly, and then tuck it in. Mother always says it looks better tucked in. I shrug on a jacket to match my pants, and hurry out the door. The worst thing you can do is be late for the reaping.

I walk calmly to the reaping, Mother by my side. We get to the main square and I slip into the seventeen section. Mayor Jakesman steps onto the podium.

"Now, we all know how the rebellion ended, but lets go back further than the reason for these games. Let's go back to when Panem rose out of the ashes of North America, with the best people to lead us, The Capitol." He's not standing in one place; no Mayor Jakesman is always into the theatrics. He's pacing up and down the stage his arms waving around to emphasize his points as he tells us about Panems history. As you can see, he's from The Capitol. Their own little pet mayor. Our old mayor was too much into rebellion.

When his speech is finally finished, Cally, our new escort, bounds onto the stage. Her metallic hair hangs halfway down her back and the rest of her is pink and I mean PINK! Even her eyes are pink. And her too white smile it creepy coming from all that PINK!

"Happy Hunger Games!" She trills "and may the odds be ever in your favor! Now let's mix it up this year. Gentleman first!" She must think she's so smart for coming up with that one, because she's practically glowing with pride. She yanks a slip from the boys bowl and flashes one of her creepy smiles.

"Kaleb Monterio!" I freeze for a second, terror keeping me rooted in place. Then I calmly walk to the stage, as if nothing's wrong. The only thing is, while I might be fooling everyone else, I'm not fooling myself. And I know that everything is wrong. How the hell is my Mom supposed to survive without me? Knowing her she'll probably break down the second I leave. I don't have time to contemplate my death sentence though because Cally is already picking from the girls bowl.

"Serenita Gallings!" A girl steps from the fifteen section. Her light brown hair hangs in two braids, which frame her sweet, girly face. When we shake hands I stare into her deep blue eyes and can't help but feel bad for her. Suddenly, Serenita looks away. I frown at her, but she refuses to look back at me. Then the peacekeepers are pushing us into the waiting room. My Mother is already waiting there. Tears slide silently down her cheeks as I gather her into my arms.

"Here," She sniffles, pushing something into my hands. I stare at the camera in my hands, my camera. I shake my head and hand it back.

"Keep it," I insist when she attempts to shove it back in my hands. I'm about to say something more when a peacekeeper comes in and takes my Mother away. And I'm left standing there, staring at the place she had just stood.

So? What do you think of this one?