The Quater Quell: 50th Hunger Games

Chapter 1

               I wake up to the usual sound of the many roosters we have on our small farm, here in District 10. Today is the day. Today we will see who is reaped for this year's 50th annual Hunger Games. This year is different. This year is a Quarter Quell. Every twenty five years, the Capitol holds a special Game to remind us why our rebellion ages ago was a failure and that we would not stand a chance to rebel again. I'm nervous as to what this year's games will be. The last Quarter Quell for the 25th Hunger Games was cruel. Instead of the tributes being reaped from the standard glass bowl, each district was forced to choose their tributes. I can only imagine what this years games will be.

                 "Raven!" a voice shouts. "You ready?" I know that voice from anywhere. It was my best friend Jade. "Come on!" she shouts. "We still have chores to do before the Reaping!" "I'm coming. Just let me get dressed!" I answer. I throw on my usual work clothes, a pair of baggy shorts, an old plaid shirt and my favorite boots. My right big toe pops out of the front a little but we are too poor to afford another pair. I don't mind though, they are comfy and I have a lot of good memories In them.

                I glance over at my twin sister Robin. She is still asleep. She was up all night crying and worrying that she or her boyfriend, Jace, was going to be reaped this year. She was such a girl. We were identical twins but our faces and hair was about all we had in common. She was supper girly and boy crazy. She had the whole package. Boobs, a nice butt, a cute laugh. Everything. I was built the same but I didn't flaunt it like she did. Boys just weren't my thing. Yeah, there are times when I wish a guy would take me on a date or that I had boys fighting over me but honestly, my pride from my District was what I really cared about. My work. My family. My animals but most of all hunting.

             Unlike the other Districts, we were allowed to hunt. Legally anyway. District 10 was in charge of Livestock. We slaughter animals, milk them, collect eggs, sheer them to make cloth and thread. We had labs to save embryos that were sent to the capitol. Probably for all of the mutations they put in the games, although they claim that its for emergencies incase a species dies out. We also shovel crap and turn it into fertilizer that we send to District 11 since they are in charge of Agriculture. I love my District. The people, the animals, the smell of cow manure in the air. But most of all I love my job. A few months ago I was assigned to become a hunter to help keep the wolfs and coyotes away. Well, I was assigned as the person who drags the carcass back in. My mentor Autumn was beginning to show me how to hunt though. She showed me how to track, how to shoot, how to survive.

              "Hey Jade! So, you nervous?" I ask my best friend. "Nah not really. We are eighteen years old and have made it all these years without being reaped yet. That's easy for you to say. You haven't taken out any tesserae. I think to myself. I look at my red headed best friend and fake a smile. "True." I lie. "So, Jade, you ready to shovel some crap?" I say jokingly. "Ready as I'll ever be." Jade frowns. We walk out of my front gate and down the road a ways to the stock yards. I can see Walt and his buddies have already beat us here. "Hey Walt!" Jade purrs.

             "Jade!" I whisper and shove my elbow into her side. "What?" she looks at me innocently. She knew I've always had a crush on Walt. How could I not? Walt psyche was superb. Tall, dark, and handsome. He had curly brown hair and blue eyes. His body looked as if it had been hand carved and chiseled by Gods. "Hey Jade. Hey Robin!" he waves. "He-Heyyy...Walt..." I stutter. Jade gives me an apologetic look. Luckily, Walt acts like he didn't notice. "So, where's the part going down after the Reaping?" I hate how he and everyone else calls it a party like its something to be celebrating. In a sense, we are celebrating I guess. We are happy that we have made in one more year. But let's be honest, we are just saying goodbye to two more of young friends and await the Peacekeepers to bring in two more wooden boxes to add to our cemetery.

            District 10 hasn't won that many times. About six years ago, Walts older brother won, barley. Waylon came back a mess. He was forced to kill his ally. He came back missing half of his leg and his right hand. He replaced his hand with a hook. I was told had nightmares every night and that he wakes up covered in sweat and tears. Other than him, we haven't had any other victors since I was born. Apparently, we did win two years in a row once but both victors committed suicide. Miss Yeager passed away a few years ago but she won one of the very first Hunger Games. I think it was like the 3rd or the 6th Games.

"How about my place?" suggests Shade. Shade winks and looks at Jade. "Shade, you don't have a place." We all laugh but can't help but feel sorry for Walts friend. His parents died in a stampede and he lives in the barn with the animals.

            "Well, Let's get to work then shall we." Walt says. He looks at me and smiles. "Say, Raven. Wanna help me clean out the horse stalls today?" I hear Jade giggle from behind me. "Yeah. Uh sure that sounds great." I grin. I walk over to Walt and he gives me a shovel and leads me to the horse barn.

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