The next morning, I get ready for the day like normal. Most people spend hours trying to make sure that their hair is perfect or working on their shooting arm. The only difference about this morning is that a line of wanna be tributes are wrapped around the building and down the block. Everyone in the district can tell that one of these boys and one of the girls will be going into arena. And one of them will be coming back alive.

I get in the back of line, already angry because of the pack of kids in front of me. First years shouldn't even try. I possess more talent in my pinky than they have in their entire body. Of course, I don't plan on trying to get in the arena next year. I still plan on going to training though.

I've actually been into the selection once. They line up ten girls in one line and ten boys in the other. They write some stuff down about how pretty you are and then move you into the evaluation. You have exactly five minutes to show them everything you've got. After that, they stick you in a room where you take a test on survival skills. The girl and the boy with the most points get in the arena. Simple.

Because of the short time in each station, the line moves fairly quickly. They have to get everyone in before lunch so that others can practice. They announce the tributes right before the center closes for dinner. I wait in line for two hours and it is 11:30 when I am at the front.

The man outside the door counts off ten boys and ushers them in. Then he counts ten girls. I am number four.

"I'm not trying out." I tell him, but he shakes his head no.

"Sorry. You have to go in, bosses' orders." He ushers me in against my protests. The metal door slams shut behind me and I can hear him telling the others to leave because they are done for the day. I line up next to two girls that I don't know, but I can see Kayla down the line. She must be number ten.

The room is eerily silent while the three judges that they hired from somewhere stare us down. One gets up and walks around us. They compare papers and then let us go into the training arena, filled with dummies and weapons of every kind. I walk over to the knife stand and pick up my knives.

They give us the signal to start going nuts, so I hit my first three knives right in the middle of the target. I take a quick look around the arena and decide to step it up a notch. If I'm going to be competing to get in the arena, I might as well try. I don't want to make these people think that I'm a weakling because I'm not.

I twist the knife around my wrist and throw it. I do it behind my back and eyes closed. Finally, I get the judges to stare right at me. I don't waste any time with my next trick. Faster than the blink of an eye, I send five knives right after each other in a staccato.

They nod in approval and keep walking around. I decide to stop now because I don't want to damage my throwing arm. From what I see here, I might actually have a chance. My only real competition is Kayla, but being truthful, I'm much better than her in skill. She has me by a long shot in looks.

When they are finished, we are sent to the last room. Upon our entrance, we are given one piece of paper with questions printed on it and a pencil to mark our answers. I take a seat at one of the desks and start the test.

Question 1: What is the most important thing you need in the wild? Water.

Question 2: What do vegetation and insects indicate? This one stumps me for a minute until I remember what we learned. Water.

Question 3: Why should you melt snow or ice before drinking? This one I know from studying my maps. To avoid dehydration.

Question 4: Why should you try to avoid sleeping on the ground? Loss of body heat. This is easy so far.

Question 5: It's a good idea to build shelter near what? A water source, duh.

Question 6: Using the simple snare, how should you measure the size of the noose? What? I have absolutely no idea what a noose even is. I write down the size of the foot. I guess I should've taken more snare classes.

Question 7: An insect diet can save your life by providing you with what? Again, I have no idea. I write down fat.

Question 8: An insect larva contains a lot of protein. Where are the best places to find them? Finally, the one thing I remember from insect class. A wet area under a rock.

Question 9: Which feature of the snake is used to determine if the snake is venomous? I write eyes.

Question 10: How can you determine the distance of an upcoming storm? This is the easiest question: the time between the lightning and thunder.

I turn in the quiz because I am done. I go eat lunch back at home and then come back to find the girl and boy tributes on the door.

The boy tribute is Cato, as expected. The trainers love him and he needs the Games this year, which makes it the obvious pick.

However, my jaw drops, for the first time, when I read the name of the girl tribute.

Because it's me. I'm going into the arena.

Sorry for not updating in a while! I promise to be putting chapters out faster.