I wake up early.

Put on some shorts, an old shirt, worn out sneakers and head out the door. It is summer here in District 6, but the cool early morning breeze gives me the shivers. I hear in the Eastern City, where most of the heavy factories are, the air is so polluted that the temperature never drops as low as it does here in Western City.

After walking down a block, the air is getting a little too chilly for my liking, so I start jogging to warm up. I like running. Running distracts me from all the harsh realities District Six has to offer: the starvation, pollution, poverty and Morpling addiction. Morphling, is a powerful painkiller used exclusively in hospitals for severe injuries and illnesses. It causes powerful hallucinations and a yellowish tint in skin color for heavy users.

The drug is not supposed to be accessible to the common person, but somehow it has found its way in the hands of many people in the district. It is clear to anyone who has some sense, that the main producer of the drug is the Capitol. As far as I know, there are no Morpling laboratories here in Six. Of course, that hasn't stop people from trying to make homemade Morpling, but it comes out too watered down to satisfy anyone.

My thoughts are intercepted by the sound of my name. I stop to identify the owner. I see Mrs. DeSanta on the tip of her toes, waving her arm in the air. I'm not really in the mood to speak with her, but Mrs. DeSanta is a gossip. If I don't make my way there right now, I can be sure to hear about it later from my mother.

"Good Morning. Mrs. DeSanta! How are you?" I give her a kiss on the cheek.

"Good morning sweetie. How have you been?"

"I'm good. Just been working and going to school. Mostly work now, since you know, school is close."

Stupid. Of course, she knows school is close. It's summer.

Mrs. DeSanta is Joey's mother and I use to, kind of had a crush on her. So it is still kind of awkward whenever I am near her. The guys use to always tease me about it, even Little Joey. Of course, her favoritism towards me never helped things either.

When Joey died, I didn't see her as much as I use to. It's not like I was trying to avoid her, it's simply because I did not have any reasons to go to her house. Whenever she'd visit I would either be at work or school. She's actually still pretty hot.

"Makai…?" She has a confuse look on her face.

"Yeah…yes!?"

"Makai, I know you know better than to be rude when you are being spoken to."

"No I'm sorry… Just have a lot on my mine… because of today."

I watch as her whole mood change. The happy woman that was in front of me only seconds ago is gone. Her expression is somber, she tries to avoid eye contact, but I can see tears forming in her eyes. Idiot.

" 't worry about it. You'll be fine."

"Mrs. DeSanta, Im sorry, I didn't-"

"No honey, it's not your fault."

Her voice is broken and her eyes have this distant look in them.

I leave Mrs. DeSanta's home, feeling guilty about what just happen. How can I be such an idiot? I should have known bringing up the games would bring memories of her dead son. I resume my jogging to take my mind off of my most recent gaff. I reach the park about ten minutes later. Han and Riley are already playing their basketball game. Considering how late I am, I wouldn't be surprised if they were almost done.

"Hey! I'm here…I'm here" I say gasping for air.

"Oh! Look… Princess Makaila finally decided to show up."

"I wouldn't be talking with that mane on your head. You look like the illegitimate son of Caesar Flickerman and Claudius Templesmith!"

He stops dribbling the ball. It's silent for a few seconds. Then, all three of us are immerse in a fit of laughers. Considering how intense these pick-up games can get, I imagine Han and Riley are just taking a time out.

Every year, since the year Little Joey died, the morning before the reaping we meet up in this park to play a game of basketball. He was the best basketball player in Western city, maybe the best in district Six. It was his idea to use our skills as a way to scam people. We'd go to parks around the city, and play like garbage. Other players would see how bad we played and would challenge us. We would beat the brakes off of them and take their money. One day, some older guys realized our scheme. And they chased us around the city, when they finally caught up to us, they jumped us and took our money.

Anyway about an hour later, two hours before the reaping, we stop our game. It's time to get ready.

"Guys…I have to tell you something." Riley says, as we are get set to leave. "I'll be volunteering for the Hunger Games next year." What!

For obvious reasons, I am shocked by this revelation. First of all, no matter how much the Capitol wants to treat the Hunger Games as a pageant; no one, besides the children from District One, Two and Four, willingly want to participate in the Hunger Games. Second, Riley hates the Capitol even more than I do. Riley's father died in an accident in the foundry, when Riley was eight. And because of Riley's father tendency to be outspoken against the Capitol, some believe he was murdered, including Riley.

"What, what do you mean, you're going to volunteer?" I stutter.

"Come on man, don't be so spooked. I can handle myself." He says nonchalantly. "Besides we have been training for almost three years now."

I can't believe this. "Okay! If I have never told you this before, I'm going to say it right now, you freaking crazy. The only reason we trained, was in case we were reaped. Not to volunteer."

"Makai, I'm sorry man, but you know I have to do it. I have no other choice."

"What the hell are you talking about? So what? You just going to go in there and get yourself killed? What about your mother and Chloe?"

"They're the reason why I'm doing this. I'm tired of seeing my sister go hungry no matter how hard me and my mother work. If I can go in there play it smart and use the skills I have now I'll be fine."

"And what if you don't come back? What happens to them then?"

"I'm going to win."

I turn to Han "Are you listening to this?"

He has this habitude of staying quite whenever Riley and I get into one those heated back-and-fourths.

He simply shrugs. Somehow, I think he knew about this already.

"Makai, not all of us were born with a silver spoon." Riley says.

I feel my body tense up. I clench my fist.

"What?" I say through gritted teeth.

"Dude, I'm sorry. I didn't mean it like that. But you have to realize not all of us have the privileges that you do. I don't hate you for it, but these are just the facts."

I relax a little, only because he doesn't mean it to be derogatory like others do. Also, because I know to some degree he is right. I am a member of one of the few fortunate district families that live in the "Bee Hive". The "Bee Hive" is the nickname given to the suburban area where my parents and I live. People in district Six call it the "Bee Hive" because that's where the wealthiest families in Six live, hence the honey. And also like bees, the people of the "Bee Hive" have a nasty reputation of being very intent in keeping those who do not belong away from their nest.

"Whatever, I'll see you guys later."

It doesn't matter how much I try to fit in, people will always see me as the "rich kid" from the Bee Hive, who tries to act like the rest them. Even the two guys I consider to be my best friends.

When I get home, I am hit by a wall of perfume. I find my mother in her room dressed in her finest clothes, accompanied by an expansive set of jewelry my father brought her from District One during his time as a train conductor. One look from my mother tells me that I am late, and I'd better hurry up and get ready. My mother is a really "cool mom" as the guys describe her, but she can also be very strict when I don't do the things I'm suppose to. I guess she had to be this way, seeing as she had to be both mother and father for about ten years of my life.

For ten years, my father was a train conductor for the Capitol; he worked on both passenger and cargo trains. About five years ago he got a job at the P.D.T (Panem Department of Transportation) and during that span he worked his way up the bureaucratic ladder until he became director of transportation. Due to the nature of his work, during these ten years we scarcely saw him. We'd usually see him once a month for about a week, and he would be gone for another month. When he started working for the P.D.T, things didn't change much; he was still the workaholic he was before. As a result, my father and I never had the father/son relationship, and my mother had to be the father.

Once ready, my mother and I drive Downtown. The Reaping takes place in the dome-like stadium that has been around since the time of the Ancient World, centuries ago. I think it used to be name Lions Stadium. After kissing my mother goodbye, I get in line to register for this year's reaping. The morning before every reaping, every child between the age of twelve and eighteen must have a small blood sample taken from their finger tip by Peacekeepers. It's a way of making sure that everyone eligible reports to the Reaping.

Standing in front of me is this nervous looking girl. She looks a little too old to be that nervous; I guess some people never get over that fear.

"You know, I wouldn't worry if I were you." She turns around to look at me. And I smile.

She shyly mirrors my smile. "What do you mean?" I can hear the thick nervousness in her voice.

"Well, there's almost no chance that you will go in the Games."

"How can you be so sure?"

"First, there's about a thousand slips in there, with names that aren't yours. Second, if by some unfortunate turn of event you get Reaped, I'll take your place." I whisper that last part.

"And how exactly would you do that?"

"I have my ways, let's just say it involves sneaking into a train, a wig and make-up, a lot of make-up."

She laughs and for a second the nervousness is completely gone. It soon returns, when we hear the voice of the Peacekeeper saying "next". I give her what I hope to be a reassuring smile. I look over her shoulder as she places her hand on the blood monitor. I read the name "Karen". Before she proceeds towards her station, she turns around.

"I'll see you later…"

"It's Makai"

"See you later Makai".

I join Riley at the 17 year old section.

"Hey man! I'm sorry about earlier." He says to me as we wait for the stage crews to get everything in place.

"It's alright man, don't worry about it." And we hug it out.

The mayor of District Six welcomes us to the 64th Annual Hunger Games. She gives her usual speech about how prestigious it is for all of us to be here, and her hopes for a District Six victory this year. After her short speech, we are a shown a clip on the History of Panem. Following the clip, she passes the microphone to the escort assigned to District Six, Pilar Jocasta.

"Welcome to the 64th Annual Hunger Games. I am Pilar Jocasta and I will be this year's escort to the chosen District Six tributes." Her pause is followed by a brief applause. "I wish you all luck and may the odds be ever in your favor… As usual, we will begin this year's reaping with the ladies."

She plunges her hand into the girls' bowl and pulls out a slip. That is one reason why I like this escort, she never drags out the suspense the way I see other escorts do in other districts.

"Saraina Cruz…?"

I hear a scream in the stands, where the parents and families of tributes wait during the reapings. I look in the general direction of the scream and I see a small woman, with jet black hair being held back by a man with similar features. I turn my attention back to the little passage way that separates the male and female section. I watch a shell-shocked little make her way towards the stage. The look of despair the little girl wears on her face and the guttural screams that are coming out of the small woman in the crowd are heart wrenching. What makes it worse is that the little girl doesn't look a day over thirteen.

I turn my attention back to the present and -… Why the hell is everyone looking at me? Before I can turn to ask Riley what is going on, he takes me in a one arm embrace.

"I'm sorry brother."