I snap my eyes open to the world around me, the sounds of wind battering against the trees that threaten to attack me. Falling asleep in the forest is one thing that I enjoy the most, but today isn't a happy day. Today is the day where two families lose a child to the games, the games that have owned us since the rebellion of our ancestors. I stand slowly, not wanting to leave the warmth and safety of the forest around me, picking up my axe I swing it onto my shoulder and begin the treck home where my mother and father are wanting for me.
I swing the door open, dropping my axe onto the ground beside me making another dent in the battered carpet. I smile at the thought of mum telling me off any other day besides today, everyone is in a gloomy mood when I gracefully strut through the kitchen door smiling to my little brother.
"Well don't we all look amazing" I said trying to lighten the mood a little.
"Jo" my mum began, her face filled with terror for today's events "I have laid out a dress for you, please wear it" her face pleading with me hoping that she would get to see her children again
"Ok mum" I exclaim, storming into my room to spot a bright pink dress covered with sparkles and glitter. My face drops at the thoughts of me in that dress.
"you promised" I told myself as I slipped the dress on and some plain flats and walked back into the kitchen.
"Let's go and get this over and done with" I told the family, walking out the door into the bright sunlight again. The smell of pine calming me into a trance.
I calmly walk towards the check in point get my finger stabbed and walked towards where the sixteen year old girls are standing, few murmur "good luck, odds in your favour" between them. I stare at the stage just wanting it to be over already, wanting to be back into the forest cutting more wood for the Capitol to supply them with what they need while we struggle to get by daily.
"Welcome to the 45th annual Hunger Games!" The cherry face of Selesa Darking announced to the silent and fearful crowd.
"We have a special announcement all the way from the Capitol" he turns towards the screen inviting everyone to watch it along with him. I close my eyes dreaming of the woods, the smell of the pine calming my nerves.
"That was wonderful" he wipes the tears from his pale face covered in gold tattoos.
"Now for the tributes" his hands reached into the glass bowl and picked out one individual paper out,
"ladies first" his hands slowly opened the paper, his eyes scan over the name before he says it
"Johanna Mason" my face drops as a path is built for me leading up to the stage where I will face my doom.
"Wonderful, and now for the men" his hand reaches deep inside the glass bowl, picking one up and slowly reading the name out
"Walter Creed" a small boy pops up and walks towards the stage. I notice that there is no one crying for him and he is just silently standing there looking at his feet.
"How wonderful is this, our tributes from District 7, Johanna and Walter" he smiles towards the relived but distraut crowd. We are then quickly turned and into the building and placed into separate rooms to say our final goodbyes, not certain that my parents would come and say goodbye.
The one hour went by slowly and no one came to say goodbye.
"I guess this is it then" I murmur to myself, a single tear falls down my face and my hand reaches up to wipe out away as I heard the door open suddenly.
"Johanna it's time for you to go" a peace keeper said as he took me to my final days. I look out the window as we are taken by car to the train where we are stuck until we either come home alive or dead.
I close my eyes and hope that when I open them again that we have arrived at the Capitol finally.
*authors note*
That is the first chapter of Johanna's story of how she won her hunger games. Hope you enjoyed it, give me a bore if you did and comment what you think I could improve on. Net chapter will be about her first look at the Capitol.
Stay beautiful xx
