The 84th Hunger Games | The hunger games

• Part I The reaping •

I make my way home after my day at school, all they would talk about is that the reaping is tomorrow. Like we don't already know. Idiots. The whole lot of them, not like each day we don't count our days. Not like every time I risk my name being pulled out by that clown Effie Trinket for adding my name more times after asking for more grain I don't think about the games. But who wants to live like this? Maybe if you were in the games you would be spared of the torture of living in district 12 and atleast die on camera. I walk through the town which has much improved since Peeta Mellark won two games, I see him every day though the window of his bakery which is now surrounded by Katniss flowers always kept in perfect condition. He turned a bit insane after the games but who wouldn't? Reaped not once but twice and just as you got married and was expecting a child your wife dies in the game and your left to live alone all at the age of 17, ten years since he first got reaped for the game and each year he has gotten crazier. The only thing he bakes is bread with a cheese crust on top, I think it has something to do with Katniss. He's not the only boy she's driven crazy her "cousin" gale ran away with his whole family about 6 years ago and was never seen again. Some say he's been killed by the capitol and turned into an avox or found peace in the forest ether way I don't think we'll see him or his family any time soon.

As I look into the bakery window I can see Peeta with his hands over his face behind the table, I walk inside with the money my father gave me to buy some dinner which is now going to be a loaf of bread, I just stand at the end of the counter waiting for him to stop crying what am I meant to do? I'm not good with emotions I seem to have none of my own but I slightly cough catching his attention as he wipes his eyes and presents himself "Hi, what would you like!" He says with a smile on his face as if nothing ever happed, I stand in confusion trying to sus him out but as I remember he asked me a question I quickly answer before I come past as rude "oh uh can I have this one?" Pointing to one of the freshly baked loafs of bread with cheese top as if it isn't the only thing he bakes, he turns round a picks up the loaf wrapping it in some paper and ties a piece of ribbon around it "here" he says passing the loaf to me and as I reach though my pockets in search of the money he stops my rummaging and says "don't worry about it it's on the house, good luck at the reaping" "are you sure?" I question, surly he's joking food isn't just given out for free round here "yeah here take it!" He says with a smile on his face with his eyes blood shot from the crying, I don't know how to comfort people and he probably wouldn't want people to ask him about her so I say thank you and walk out with the radiating warmth of the freshly baked loaf of bread in my hands. My name will be in there 20 times tomorrow so the odds aren't really in my favour but some have it worse, my friend Rosie has her name in 47 times and I wouldn't be shocked if it was her name being pulled out but I guess only time will tell.

I make my way home, as I open the rusted piece  of metal we call the front door and  I'm greeted by the sight of my little sister jewel laid on the kitchen table being treated by Mrs Everdeen and her daughter Primrose. She's having convulsions but it's nothing new, she's been ill for ages some sort of condition that only medicine from the Capitol can cure that we have no chance of getting. Mrs Everdeen guides me, my mother and  my father to the furthest corner of the room and whispers "she's not going to make it to the end of the year at this rate, there's not much more we can do with what we have I'm sorry." What? She's not doing to make it and there's nothing you can do? If you can't do anything then I will, I'm going to need a lot of money and find away into the Capitol to get the medicine and I think my best opportunity is tomorrow. The reaping. If my name isn't pulled out then I'll volunteer.

I keep telling myself what I'm going to do but I feel like I'm going to find reason not too but I can't back out I'm doing this for jewel, innocent little jewel who can't even mutter a word who couldn't hurt a fly deserves a chance of life. But I'm confident that I could win, I'm not stupid like the past tributes I know for a fact how I'm doing to win. I wake up in the morning and I make sure I go over my tactics in my head and promise myself that I am going into the games today not for myself but for jewel, I get changed into my mothers dress the only camera acceptable clothing out of the the mud and blood stained frocks I own. I tell my parents not to worry and that I won't be chosen knowing damn well that I'm going to be the one on that stage, I just hope the male tribute isn't some sort of idiot who can't fend for himself because I know for a fact I'm not stopping to help anyone. A peace keeper pricks my finger followed by a small pool of bright red blood leave my finger tip and is pressed against a piece of paper then I'm ushered to stand alongside girls my age, I turn to my left and see Rosie scared for her life hands shaking and breath heavy, she thinks she's the one being put in that arena but it's not going to be her it's going to be me. Effie Trinket takes the stage as she usually does wearing a bright blue dress with the pattern of water on it pared with huge bright blue eye lashes, as usual she plays that stupid video then begins the reaping "As always ladies first" dipping her hand into the glass bowl "Ember Mirna"  well it looks like I don't have to volunteer after all. I made sure not to show a look of sadness or happiness on my face, I need to seem unreadable so nobody can figure out my gameplay so I make my way up onto the stage Effie gestures for me to stand closer to her so I itch closer trying not to touch her hair which is extremely big on this occasion. I keep my head up straight but when I see my little sister in the crowd sobbing loudly I almost broke out of character, I can't explain to her why I'm doing this but she'll know when I come home and come home her her treated of her illness. "And now, for the boys" she again reaches her hand into the bowl taking excruciatingly long to pick a name "Mason Earthwing" I know him. I always see him round school big guy broad shoulders and sturdy exterior all the girls fan girl over him but personally I don't see what's so amazing about him. He makes him way up to the stage with his curly brown hair swept over his eyes showing absolutely no emotion of anything he's bored and just wants to sleep. I just hope he's not going to get in the way of my plans.