I Can't (A Hunger Games Fanfiction)

Chapter One: Elena

A/N: All rights to the Games belongs to Suzanne Collins. All I wrote was the characters and plot.

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I'm Elena Callaway. I'm fifteen years old and live in District 1. Today is the Reaping, the day I always fear, but today if even more fearful. My younger brother, Ben, turned twelve two months ago, allowing him to be reaped. We can't get reaped.

My mother comes in, trying to keep a smile plastered on her face. It's been hard for her since my father died when he went missing. It made my mom grow quieter, but still her sweet self. It wasn't pleasant to see.

"You look nice," she says, motioning to my short and cute light pink dress, white lace cover-up, pink butterfly hair clip, and white flats.

"Thanks," I say and give her a sly smile.

"Ben's trembling and asking for you."

"I'll be right there."

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"Ben?" I say from outside the door.

"Come in," a scared voice answers. I walk in to see my scared brother sitting on his bed. You can tell Ben shakes even from the other side of the room. "I know I only have one piece of paper in the bowl, but I'm still scared. What if I'm picked?"

I sit beside him and wrap my arms around him. "You won't get picked, okay? Your name is on one piece of paper out of thousands." I feel him nod against my shoulder.

"Thanks, Ellie," he says. That's his nickname for me. Ellie.

"No problem."

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A/N: I'm sorry it's not that interesting so far. Most of the next chapter is going to, up until the last sentence. After that, it's going to get better. Hang on, Tributes. -Keilah