Today

One

Fear strikes my body as the fear hits me harder then running into a tree. My gut feels tight and twisted. I lie on my bed and face the ceiling of my home. My straight, boring blonde hair resting all around me.

Here in District Four, we have it pretty good. We are one of the more wealthy districts compared to others. We also have the Capital really depending on us. Considering that we are the fishing district. Fish, fish, and more fish. There comes a time when all you want to do is not eat fish. And yet, I do. Most other districts rarely get food. Let alone something as luxury as fish.

Not to mention my father is the only reason I have ever tasted the saltiness from the fish he brings home. He is a fisherman, he has strict orders to just catch fish. He can only take home the fish that lie dead on the water's surface. But, he manages to sneak a few fresh fish into his cap before leaving the docks.

He only needs to worry about feeding him and I. My mother disappeared a little over two years ago. I woke up, walked to her and father's room. Knowing father wouldn't be there, he was at the docks long before I got up. Once, I walked in, she was gone. Along with her clothes and the remaining fish we had in the sink from last nights dinner.

We haven't found her since. Granted we can't look very far. Peacekeepers surround District Four, making sure work is being done.

But, today, the luxury taste of roasted fish can't even stay in my stomach. Today, is the Reaping. The Reaping. The day where my life is in the hands of some glittery fool who picks paper from a bowl.

I can't move from my bed. I lie there like a dead fish, unmoved until the front door slams.

"Father!" I yell, running to the door. Only to be disappointed to see a thin, sickly girl. Ina. The only friend I've ever known.

We met when we were little. I was five and she was four. We were playing by the docks where both our fathers work. Of course me being a clumsy mess of a child I ran straight into her. She lost her balance and fell straight into the water. She scrambled to get to the surface. Luckily, my father taught me to swim very well. I dived into the water very poorly, landing on my stomach. I grabbed Ina's hand and pulled her to the surface. She coughed up water all on the damp wood of the dock when we made it there.

"Are you okay?" I asked her as her coughing became more violent.

She only nodded as the coughs began to subside.

"I'm Opal." I said, feeling no remorse or guilt from her falling from the dock.

"I'm Ina." She managed to say.

"Hi Ina.".

I walk slower towards the door once I've seen it's Ina.

"Nope. Sorry to disappoint you Opal but, I'm not your father." Ina says, smirking as she is closing the door.

"I can see that. Do you know when they are getting off?" I ask, leaning on the cracked counter.

"Right around now, I think. So, are you ready for today?".

"What do you think?".

"Agreed. You should get dressed, I'll do your hair. Look what my sister let me use." Ina says, eagerly holding a black hairbrush.

"You're kidding!" I yell, jumping over to her, holding it in my hands.

"I know. Come on, let's fix this." Ina says, pointing at my toes then raising her finger all the way to my hair, then back to my toes.