Birds pecked at her mud stained shirt. She opened her eyes to see light peeping through the trees. The sky was dark gray and then Finch remembered the day.

It was the day of the reaping.

'I won't go,' she thought, standing up and examining her knuckles which were clotted with dry blood. 'I don't care what they do to me.'

Her throat yearned for a cool drink of water and her stomach roared for a scrap of food to eat. Finch stumbled across the clusters of trees, rocks and twigs.

'Finch?' A familiar but faint voice called.

Finch turned around, her bloodshot eyes alert and her ears pricked, trying to pick up the faintest sound. 'You.' She snarled.

A tall, athletic boy of about 17 stood on a rock. His hands were up as if he was admitting defect. His blue eyes and blond hair were full of spirit and he was grinning. 'You look like a fox.'

Finch glared at him, not moving a muscle.

'Forgot me?' He smiled.

'Garry Fluke.' She faced the boy, her eyes still suspicious as if Garry would turn into a monster and eat her up any second.

He hadn't changed. His smile was the same, his eyes lit up and dimples appeared. He still did the most childish things and he still scratched the back of his head when he felt awkward. Two days ago, Finch would find this cute and attractive but now, she felt annoyed. She would give anything for a chance to break that precious little nose into small pieces. She felt like she wanted to slap him right across his fair little face.

'You do realize that it's the day of the reaping right Crossley?'

She clenched her fists and scowled. 'I'm not going!' She snapped.

'C'mon Finch! You have to! They'll punish you if you don't go' His lips formed into a pout.

Finch longed to dig a knife into his chest. 'What will they do? Kill me? WELL YOU DO REALIZE THAT MY FAMILY IS DEAD?' She yelled. Fury boiled inside her.

He frowned. 'Finch. I heard about Sierra. Listen, it's not your fault.'

The old Finch would have softened, said sorry and let herself be dragged away to hell but this was a new Finch. She took her chance, and aimed her fist straight at the boy's nose.

Before she even got halfway there, a sharp pain exploded at the back of her head.

Finch fell face first onto the ground.

Finch opened her eyes in a bed. She shot up, fists in front of her, forming a guard and eyes darting around, taking in every detail of the rotting house she was in.

Sitting on chairs on either sides were the Fluke twins, Garry and Joey. Joey! Finch had forgot about him. Joey was a master at making traps but Garry hunted for food. So together, both of them were unbeatable.

'Oh you're awake.' A pleasant voice said. Finch looked at Mrs. Fluke, the owner of the voice. Just then a baby started to cry. Mrs. Fluke sighed and ran towards a crib, shushing the baby.

Finch sat up, suddenly aware. 'What did you do to me?' She growled at Garry.

'Oh. You were about to punch me and then Joey hit you with a stick and you passed out.' He calmly explained.

'Joey Fluke! How dare you hit me!' Finch prepared herself to punch Joey. Just then Mrs. Fluke came in and stopped her.

'Time to go.' She rocked the baby in her arms. 'Finch, Garry told me that you were not going and I discourage that. You won't get picked anyway. When I healed you, I managed to get a dress on you.' Finch looked down to see herself clean with a baby blue on. Mrs. Fluke spoke, 'Your mother gave it to me the night before she…. Left.' She hesitated. 'I know its hard Finch but you're strong. Joey and Garry will take you.'

Mrs. Fluke walked out and the seventeen year old twins grabbed her on either side before she could start kicking or running.

'You're not going anywhere.' Joey said.

'I'll get you for this!' Finch grit her teeth, struggling to get out of their reach.

Twenty minutes passed and Finch found herself standing along the row of sixteen year old girls. She had bruised both Joey and Garry while coming and now she could not escape.

A pink coloured human being- Cherry- walked up to the microphone. She started talking, they watched the video like they did every year and then the familiar 'Ladies First,' was heard.

Everyone tensed, watching as Cherry put her hand into the glass bowl. She shifted her hand for about five seconds till she got out a card. Cherry walked back to the microphone and tapped her nail on it.

'And the female tribute from district five is….

FINCH CROSSLEY!

.DUN! I'm back!

Hiiii! I'm sorry it took soo long! Luckily school holidays have started so... DOBBY IS A FREE ELF! But I still have homework... no. Anyway I hope you like this!

And I would like to thank Dr. Serpico for their endless help and support on all my stories... I really appreciate it :)

I'll try to update faster... Byeee!

~Housevergent