The hunted in the games

District 10

Yup, I'm in a extremely tight spot. How? I'll tell you.
My name is Chloe. Chloe Dowling. District 10s been my home for ever. I mean, 14 years. That's how old I am. I just hope you'll live longer than me.
It started out as a regular day. The reaping, I mean. Not as normal as any day but still, pretty normal.
Sleeping in the only part of the reaping I like. All of the duties like the breeding factories or the meat producers are closed for this day. No jobs for me or my sister. It's pretty good deal for some. Sleep in and be somewhat safe or die.
Never mind what I said about a good deal. It's a horrible deal.
So, I was in my bed, that day, snoring like a freight train. My long, dark brown hair looked like a mess on my tattered brown sheets. My sister, Ikayr, slept on the other bed in the room, looking just as messy as me. Her short, auburn hair had a serious cow lick.
It was only 8:00. The reaping started at 1:00.
My sister wasn't old enough for the reaping. She was only 11. I, on the other hand, had been put in 2 times, thanks to my aunt Sao, who had watched us and cared for us all these years. No tesserae for me.
I woke up, thinking about what to do to keep my mind of the reaping.
"Chloe, what are you doing?" Ikayr grumbled. Her eyes were thick with sleep.
"Go to bed, Ikayr" i said softly "I'm going to go see Blueberry."
In a reply, she sunk her head back on the pillow and drifted off.
I sat on the foot of my bed, get dressed in baggy jeans and a t-shirt that used to be my mom's. Then I put on my training boots and crept out of the house.
My house was a big oak one, one of the richest in the district, once belonging to my parents. It had 2 stories full of random junk that nobody ever used. I can thank my aunt for that, as well. She paid all the rent, all the food so that her nieces wouldn't starve.
I could only think about the waste it will be if I get reaped.
I walked towards the paddock to the back of the house, where Blueberry was nestled in the hay.
Blueberry was my horse. She was a chestnut, with flowing, black hair.
"Hi girl" I murmur so that only she and I can hear.
"Neigh!" She answered.
"Let's go for a ride"
I pushed the saddle onto her back and climb on (sorry for everyone who does know how to put a saddle on, I know this is not 100% correct).
It felt so good to be riding again. After my parents died in a food poisoning epidemic, I haven't been paying much attention to Blueberry. She was my mom's so it brought back memories. That was 3 years ago...
Blueberry stopped to a halt. In front of me stands the fence where a girl my age sits.
"Grace!" I yelled excitedly. My friend Grace leaps up and hugged me from the ground. Her long black hair had been tied back. Clung to her small frame was a rucksack.
"I brought apples!' She said excitedly back, pulling out a ripe, red Fuji, " From my farm."
She held out the apple to Blueberry who chomped on it thoughtfully.
"Here" I said, getting down from Blueberry, " Wanna go for a walk?"
"Sure"
We walked around the neighborhood as the sun comes higher. Grace didn't talk much, just the occasional nod to a cattle farm.
Most of our district is cattle farms because that's our industry. It's not entirely rural but it has some villages. It's all just a plateau with some forests.
"I'm scared about the reaping" Grace confessed.
"Me too" I answered.
"Dya think I'll get picked?"
I laugh "Well you have as much chance as getting picked as I do."
This caused her to relax "yeah, I guess so. What time is it?"
I looked at the battered watch on my hand. "Wow it's already 10:30. I'll have to see you. I need to go make some breakfast for sleeping beauty."
She laughed again "Bye. Say hello to Ikayr for me."
"Good luck with the reaping!" I called over my shoulder.
-mini time skip to her house-

Ikayr sat at the bench in the kitchen.
"Want some more pancakes?" I asked.
"Yes please" she said through a mouthful of pancakes.
I wanted to ask how she wasn't as nervous as a fly but then I realised that she didn't have to be nervous. Only I did.
I serve up the next batch of pancakes that my sister gobbles down in a minute. For a small person, she has a serious appetite. Not that I didn't have tremendous appetite. On a good day, I could eat just about anything. I'm pretty athletic so it all came out in the non fatty way.
Watching my sister eat reminded me of how the tributes of the Hunger games got to eat tonnes of food that couldn't possibly be found here in 10.
Then I see it.
My sister as a tribute, eating to her hearts content, like lambs up for slaughter.
I groan at the possibility next year.
"Chloe, what's wrong?" Ikayr asked.
"Nothing" I plastered a smile on my face. "C'mon, let's go get ready for the reaping."

Ha, yes! A new book. A good book needs good characters so thank you to YAOI_IS_MY_DRUG, KawaiiAliBunny and smiths_chips and TheLegoSorterer for giving me great and inspiring characters to write about. If you all don't know, these are real people that I go to school with and hang out with so they deserve an applaud for that. 👏👏👏👏👏
Peace, love, science
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