The 59th Annual Hunger Games

Chapter 1-Reaping Day

I couldn't sleep all night for 2 reasons. One, I can't wait to give my best friend, Velvet, her birthday present, and two, it's reaping day. I got out of bed. I promised to meet Velvet behind the factory we always meet by, so I can give her her birthday present. Even though the reaping isn't until noon, I know both our our parents won't let us go if we ask. I went over to my desk where the velvet dress was. Me and my mom worked on it all last night. The dress was so beautiful, I almost wanted to keep it for myself. But I already made a good reaping day dress a couple months before. I carefully folded the dress and grabbed my messenger bag off the seat. I put the dress in the bag and slung it around my shoulder and across my chest. I slowly opened the door and slipped out into the hallway. I slowly walked across the kitchen and opened the front door. Once I was outside, I sprinted towards the factory. Hopefully I won't draw too much attention to myself. After all, peacekeepers arrive early here, and I don't want to try to explain why I'm running at 6:00 AM.

After about 5 minutes, the factory was visible. I ran downhill and around the back where I could see Velvet sitting on a log waiting patiently. "Hey Vel!"
I whispered happily. "Hey Twy! Why'd you want to meet here?" She asked still whispering. "Happy 13th birthday Velvet!" I whispered a little louder than before. Even though she was a year younger than me, her birthday was today. I opened the bag and carefully got the dress out. I stretched my arms out towards her. Her eyes opened wide and a smile spread across her face. "Oh my gosh! Thank you so much Twyla! You didn't have to!" She squealed no longer whispering. "I did have to. We've been friends since before we could remember. You deserve it." I said. She pulled me into a hug. "I'm going to wear this to the reaping!" She said. "I was hoping you would say that. But my parents wake up early on reaping day, and I don't want them to find out I snuck out." I said breaking away from the hug. "Alright. Be safe! I'll see you at the reaping!" She said running towards the mayors house. Velvet is the mayors daughter. Unlike me, she's almost guaranteed to not be reaped. I ran uphill back towards my house. I was almost to my house when I noticed a small group gathering by the fence around a fire. Even though something told me to run along, I eavesdropped instead. "It's not fair how our children could be reaped but she's all safe and sound! We killed her mother to scare them, but it meant nothing! We're running out of options." A man with wispy white hair said. The man gave a lady in the group a look like they've been over this 100 times. I knew who they were talking about. Velvet. It is unfair, but it is what it is. The lady just shook her head. "I want equality here! For the last time, we are not killing her! We stand for equality not child murder!" She says squinting her eyes. I knew that Velvet's mom was murdered, but I didn't know it was because they were mad that Velvet basically gets immunity. They pushed her into the fence, which got her electrocuted. I quietly tiptoed away.

Once I was back at my house I immediately went back to my room to get some rest. I knew it was my fault for not sleeping, but how could I knowing that I might be reaped? And should I tell a peacekeeper what I heard? They never caught her killer, so this could be my chance. But, I would also have to explain why I was out so early, and it's probably against the laws in the books somewhere. Despite all the thoughts in my head, I drifted off to sleep.

I felt someone shaking me. I reluctantly opened my eyes to see my 10 year old sister, Lea. "Mom and daddy said you have to get up. It's 10:00." She said. I nodded my head and got up stretching. I walked to the bathroom where our shower was. We didn't have warm water, but I got used to it after all these years. The only place that has warm water is the Mayor's house. I grabbed the bar of brownish soap and turned the water on. It wasn't that cold, but it wasn't warm either. I got in the shower shivering a bit.

After I washed I grabbed my towel and wrapped it around me. I walked back to my room. In my closet was my reaping day dress. It was a simple navy blue dress that should stop a little below my knees. I slipped the dress on. Mom told me to wear her black belt around my waist even though it might not fir around my tiny waist. I grabbed the belt off my desk. Lucky for me,It fit on the lowest hole. I bent down to where my 5 pairs of shoes are. 3 are slip on shoes that I wore to school, and the other 2 are flats that I only wear on reaping day or for special occasions. I picked up the navy blue ones I'd been saving for and put them on. I stood back and looked at myself through the oval shaped mirror above my desk. I looked beautiful, besides my hair. The dripping wet ringlet curls looked a mess. Even though I should try to do something with it, I'll just ask mom. I walked out of my room to the kitchen. "Sit down. We're having toast." My dad said getting the toast out. We always have toast, but I'm not complaining. Mom sat across from me, dad sat next to me, and Lea sat cross from dad. "Oh my, child, do you ever care about how your hair looks?" Mom said shaking her head. I shrugged. It was always hard to comb through. Sometimes I wished that I had hair like Velvet. Her hair is red and straight. I looked over to Lea. Her hair was the same color as mine, but her ringlet curls were kind of loose. Her hair was in two little cute braids. "I'll do it after I eat." I say biting into the toast. The table was silent. Nobody said a word. Lea usually is the one to start conversation, but mom and dad must have explained how the reaping worked to her.