A Hunger Games Story

Chapter 1

I woke up today dreading the very thought of my existence. Today was the reaping. Even if there were several other children, I felt I would be called. My name will be entered in the pool twenty-one times. I'm only fourteen, but I have five family members to get tesserae for. And since the pool increases because of your age, I have an even higher risk.

I went to find my eleven year old sister, Anya. She would have to do this next year. In a few years, so would Andria, my nine year old sister. I wanted so much for them to not be part of this, but we can't change the rules of the capitol.

During the Dark Days, our district, District 13, was almost demolished. It barely survived. Because of our uprising, twenty-six children basically have to murder each other in an arena until one is left. This is what we call the Hunger Games. The last one left is the winner. No one from our district has ever won. Every district had a specialty. Ours was graphite and nuclear weapons. Other districts had things like coal, agriculture, factories, textiles, fishing, etc.

"Anastasia!" Anya yelled grabbing me in a vice-tight hug. She had always hated the fact that there was a slight chance that my name could be announced in the reaping. I embraced her and told her everything would be okay.

"I'm sure everything will be fine, Anya. There are many chances that it could be someone else called. And if I did get called, I would win for you and Andria."

"It's not fair what they do. It's wrong and immoral. I wish they would stop. Everyone in the capitol is horrendous." Anya had always had a vocabulary that was much more advanced for her age. She was a very smart and mature girl.

"We can talk about that later but now we should get dressed, and wake Andria, Mommy, and Daddy up okay?"

"Okay, I think you should wear the lilac colored dress. You look beautiful in it."

"You are so sweet. I think I will wear it, but only if you wear the peach one."

"You think i should wear the peach one? It doesn't appear correct on me though."

"You look wonderful in it. Please wear it, for me?" I said while pouting.

"Oh alright, I'll wear it. This implies that you have to wear the lilac dress however."

"Are you really eleven? Or are you fifty-five, just pretending to be eleven?" She stuck her tongue out at me. She was definitely eleven.

When we arrived at the plaza I hugged my family and walked up to my age segment. They call two tributes from every district. Poppy Trinket, our orator and also the temporary guardian for our tributes, talked about the histories of Panem. She was the sister of Effie Trinket. Effie Trinket was the speaker for District 12. Poppy had bright electric blue hair. Almost everyone in the capitol had strange colors for hair. It was so bizarre.

"Ahem, I would now like to call the names for this year's Hunger Games. Would anyone like to volunteer?" There was an uncomprehending stare on everyone's face. "Alright then, let's go on with the names. Harry Reed." He looked about sixteen. He just walked up. There was no applause, just silence. Dead silence. Well this was really exciting.

"Now I would like to call the girl tribute." She fumbled her hand around in the class bowl. My name was swishing around in there. There were twenty-one of me's, just waiting to be called. Anastasia Chestnut." Oh God. Why me.

The next thing I knew, I was up on stage lying down with Anya and Andria hovering over me. I think I fainted. "Uh what just happened?" I asked.

"You fainted," said Andria. "Are you okay?"

"NO SHE WON'T BE OKAY. SHE'S A TRIBUTE!!" cried Anya. I had always been really close to her and I started crying too.

"We're going to be okay. I'm going to live. I will win."

"And what if you don't? Then what? I don't want to lose you." I could see my parents crying in the background with all the other people. They were hugging each other. This was killing me. I will be the first tribute in our district to win this.

"You won't lose me. I won't let that happen. You just take care of everyone for me." I hated saying this. It was breaking her heart. It was breaking mine.

"Well if that's done, you and Harry must go to the Justice Building now." We got to speak with friends and family members at the Justice Building. It was our only good bye. I sat in the room looking at the hideous green floors. They only made me feel worse. I waited for my first visitor. It turned out to be visitors. It was my mom, my dad, Anya, and Andria.

My mom gave me a hug. "We love you. I believe you can do this," my mom encouraged.

"You'll do fine honey," my dad said. I could see the pain in his eyes. I was his first child. I was going to get sent off to get murdered. And there was nothing he could do about it.

"Thank you, I'm really going to miss you guys," I told them.

"I want you to accept this," said Anya while handing me her favorite china doll. She loved it so much and she was giving it to me.

"Oh Anya I couldn't take this. You love this doll."

"Not as much as I love you," she said while hugging me. I took the doll and held her tightly.

"I'm gonna miss you Stasi," Andria said while giving me a hug too.

"As will I, Andi. Well you," I said and then gave her a kiss on her forehead. Then the Peacekeepers came and told them it was time to go. "I love you." I watched my family disappear from me. My two best friends, Leila and Dexter walked in. They both ran to me and we all hugged for a while.

With tears rolling down her cheek, Leila said, "We're really going to miss you. I really wish there was something we could do. It's just not rational. Who does this to innocent children? They're really messed up."

"I know but sadly it's nothing we can change," I said while frowning

"This sucks. What if you don't make it? Someone should put a stop to this," Dexter encouraged.

"We tried, and failed, which only made things worse. I have a plan though," I said.

"Let's hear it," said Leila.

"If I hide out people will just save me for the end. So I figure if someone is trying to kill me I'll just make it seem like I'll be an easy kill and wait until the last moment and thrash out. It'll give me an advantage. I'll have to find some area where no one can find me. If people do I doubt I'll be able to take out more than three. I think two would be the most. If I do get trapped by a group and only kill a couple, people will know my plan, and I will have failed. Then they'd start watching out for me. So my hopes are that that doesn't happen."

"I think that's a great plan. If you stick with it there's no doubt you'll win," said Dexter.

"I agree."

"Well thank you. I'm really going to miss you guys."

"We'll miss you too," Leila said while we all hugged again. Right on time the Peacekeepers came and told them it was time to go. I wondered if this was the last time I was going to see them. I'll make it a priority that it's not.

When I was done with visitors I was taken to the train station. Reporters were everywhere, and I just kept my head down to keep from making eye contact. When the reporters get a couple pictures, I hurry into the train find my room and go to bed. I'm too depressed to eat.

When Poppy comes to get me for dinner, I am still lying awake. I quickly closed my eyes and she left. I pick up the china doll, and place her carefully beside me. It was going to be a very long day tomorrow.