May the odds be ever in your favour

Chapter 1

My name is Rosaline. I'm a 17-year-old female and a citizen of Panem. Before Panem was established, this place was called North America and it was much, much bigger than it is today.

The history books explain the Earth was destroyed due to climate change and then nuclear bombings. In the following years, droughts, fires, floods and the rise of waters occurred killing a lot more people. The world was in ruin, the only piece left intact from the waters was today's Panem. People tried building a civilization once more which would be ruled entirely by the one and only president. Pretty democratic right? To keep things in order, Panem was split into 13 districts with each and every one of them providing something useful to the Capitol, the centre of Panem and the home of the wealthiest.

However, an uprising began against the Capitol and the government, creating a war between the nation. As expected, the districts didn't stand a chance against the Capitol and they suffered a great defeat. District 13 was bombed to the ruin and nothing was left of it, or at least that's what they say. After the war ended, the Capitol as a punishment and a reminder of the district's defeat, decided to create and host every single year a pageant called "The Hunger Games" where 24 people, a boy and a girl from each district ranging from the age of 12 to 18 would be reaped by chance to participate.

Those 24 people, or should I say children, would have to battle to the death in an unfamiliar environment called an arena and the last standing would be crowned a victor. Those "games", as we are taught, are created to keep the peace between the districts so that there won't be another uprising ever again. As for me, I was born into the 8th district which represents textiles. Here we have lots of factories producing clothes and uniforms. Most of us here work either in such a factory for the Capitol or we have our little shops. Nonetheless, that doesn't prevent us from being one of the poorest districts.

Today isn't a regular day. No, it's this year's reaping day. The 74th Hunger Games are about to start and I'm not ready. I have a bad feeling from the moment I wake up. Thankfully though, my parents never let me get tesserae. It's like asking for help from the Capitol with the addition of your name more times in the reaping as an exchange. This help is usually some grain, oil and stuff like that. So, my name's in there only 6 times and the odds mathematically are in my favour.

As I exit my room, I'm greeted with a large hug from my mom "You're going to be home before dusk, I know it!'' It's like she can read my thoughts. "Mom, we don't know that for sure. It's based purely on chance" I say, hugging her back, "where's dad?" I ask after leaving her arms "Oh, he went to the Mayor to exchange a suit I created for some goods." my mom explains. "When will he be back? Please tell me he'll be here before it starts," I say saddened "I can't promise you that Rose, I'm sorry" she answers, lowering her head.

An hour or two pass as I'm eating breakfast and sewing a blouse on an old sewing machine. Being born and raised in District 8, where the production is textiles, the needle is like an extension of my arm. I'm so lost in my thoughts trying to ease my bad feeling. While sewing, I start singing, an activity that soothes me mentally. I sing very quietly since this song isn't supposed to be illegal. My dad once told me that the song was created in the "dark days" of the war between the districts and the Capitol. No wonder why it's prohibited now. But, at least while I'm at home, I like to pretend that I'm allowed to sing it.

Are you, are you coming to the tree?

Where they strung up a man they say murdered three.

Strange things did happen here no stranger would it be,

If we met up at midnight in the hanging tree.

As I'm finishing the song, I hear a knock on my door and my mom's voice from the other side of the room "Rose, it's time. Shall I help you get ready?". She isn't herself today. I see it clearly. My mom is usually a person full of life with a kind soul and heart like no other. Yet, when the reaping day comes every year from the moment I turned 12, she becomes sad, blank and withered. She tries to conceal it from me, pretending to be her usual self. But I can see straight through that.