I am half awake in my bed. One leg is draped over, sending chills up my spine. I am in the third dimension, where sleep continues to elude me, but I am not fully awake. Suddenly, I'm being shake by someone.
"The reaping is today." I shot out of my bed. I looked to my side and see the maid dusting the shelves. She pretty young to be a maid. She around 30. Her name is Ariana. She is not very pretty compared to other 30 year olds in our district. "Get ready and make breakfast or the master will be very angry." Ariana says. I nod and go down stairs. I was an orphan of district 10. Usually by age 17 you are sold to someone to work for them and make breakfast and do chores. My "master" as the maids have decided to call him, is an angry old victor with a lot of money. His real name is Ethan. He's about the age of 50.
"Breakfast done?" He assk. I nod "What did you make?"
"Eggs and bacon." I answer.
"I didn't want that!" He yelled at me. "I wanted waffles!", he screams like a small toddler, whose parents refuse to give them the cookie.
"There was no waffle mix." I say with a little fear he might strike me. We usually get in these little pointless fights. It ends usually with me being stricken by him.
"You should have bought more at the store, you stupid orphan!" he mumbled. I didn't say a word. I put the eggs and bacon in front of the master and he ate the whole thing. "Now go get ready." he says.
"For what?" I ask.
"The reaping, you blithering idiot." he spits out. I nod and go to my small room. It has a full bed but with rips and tears in it and dirt stains, but the dirt stains are usually on everything I own. In the room theres also a old furniture in there that's a little too big for the room. There, a dirty old dress is laid out for me. The top has flowers on it and ties around my neck and the bottoms are a white skirt with faded dirt stains on it. I wear my only pair of shoes. Leather sandals. The leather is ripping off and fading. The maid comes into my room.
"Let me do your hair." She says. I nod. I sit down and she pulls and pokes at my hair for 20 minutes or so. I might just be hallucinating, but I see a massive hairball the size of my fist on the floor after she ranks the last comb out. "Done" she says. I look in a mirror and see a waterfall braid. I smile. My hair looks the best I've seen in years.
"Thank you." I say
"Now go downstairs." She says. I nod and rumble down the planks of wood nailed together (apparently steps). I hear the horn when I reach the last step.
"Wait!" says the master. I stop with nerves poking at me. I think today might finally be the day he lets me free. I shuffle over to where he is standing. He leans over to reach my height. "Hope you get picked and die a long painful death." he says and gives a wicked smile. I run out with tears running down my face. The disgusting stench of urine burns through my nostrils while I attempt to recompose myself in the putrid car. It comes to a skidded halt, causing me to slam into the back of the passenger's seat. I yank open the door, stepping a foot down onto the gravel. I walk to the Justice Building and get in line for my finger to get pricked. The Justice Building is the building where the reaping takes place. It's big. It's where all the law and victor tour takes place mostly. I could never go on that stage. I have stage fright. If I'm in front of a huge crowd, I'll cry or scream.
"Give me your hand" said the peacekeeper interrupted my thoughts an pulling me back into reality. I gave them my hand. They prick it and dab my blood on paper. The pricks don't hurt that much if you're beaten to where your bleeding everyday. I leave and go to the 18 year old section. My name is entered 42 times this year because I'm an orphan and need the money. After 30 minutes this woman walks up to the stage. She is the new escort. Last years escort died for mysterious reasons. The new escort wears a long golden dress that goes to the floor. Her hair is black and gray. It's straight and goes to her butt. Her shoes are silver 8 inch heels. I'm surprised she can walk, quite frankly. Her makeup is caked on. She has very heavy powder and her eyeshadow is a glitter mess of gold and gray along with her sparkly black lips.
"Welcome! Welcome!" She says "I'm Roxxy your new escort. I'm district ten's escort for the 24th annual Hunger Games! Now we have a very very special video from the Capitol!" She gives a smile. This video is played every year. Its very annoying. When the video is over Roxxy claps. "That was amazing! Now let's start to reap! We'll do the women first!" Roxxy dips her hand in the bow. Opening the paper. She takes a deep breath and-
"I VOLUNTEER!" I scream when she was about to say the name. I go to the center. "I volunteer as tribute." I say. Everyone stares. The four peacekeepers surround me and take me up to the stage. My palms become sweaty remembering my stage fright. I close my eyes.
"Well it looks like we have a volunteer!" She says bubbly. "What's your name, dear?" I open my eyes. I fell tears fall.
"Lily Adams" I choke out. I start to cry. I put my hands over my face.
"Great! Now the boys!" Roxxy says as she ignores my tears. She dips her hand in the bowl. She calls a name. "Quill Meanth" A boy from the twelve year old section comes out. He's skinny to the bone. He has chestnut hair and brown eyes. "This years tributes from district 10!" The psychopath says. She makes us shake hands. His basically glued to mine. We go into two different rooms.
I sit there in a red chair, waiting for someone to visit me. Finally Ariana walks in. She hugs me. I feel the moisture from her shirt soak my ancient dress.
"Here take this" She says handing me a ring that says "Lucky" on it. I smile
"I'll never take it off" I say "Promise."
"Now if you win you will never see the master again so, win!" She says. I smile and nod. Two peacekeepers come in and take her away. My smile goes away. The good thing about these games is that I will never see that mean old master either way. I hear foot steps. The door opens. It's Roxxy. "The train is here!" She says. I get on the train with videos and cameras shoved in my face.