How To Kill a Mockingjay.

Chapter 1:

I jumped down from the tree I was sitting in. My friends were calling me from their house. I looked over to them, a bit envious that I don't have a twin brother or sister.

"Hanna! It's about to start!"

"I don't want to watch it. The blood makes me dizzy."

"Then how do you look at your blood and not panic," Ally chimed in.

"That's different! Its my blood. I don't care where its going, as long as it works."

"Please? You promised." Molly failed at making a 'puppy face'.

"Fine. But only five minutes. The Reaping is tomorrow, and I'm already nervous enough." I sat on the couch and stared at the hollow screen.

"Its a Quarter Quell, girls. You know what that means," said the twins' mother, rather excitedly.

"I give all the humans thirty minutes." Molly smiled at her sister.

"I hope one of the mutants has wings!" Ally squeaks.

"Of course one will have wings! They need to have one with wings!" Molly punched her sister playfully. Then, like magic, they fell silent and the show began.

"Hello everybody! Lansis here with exclusive news about the hundred and twenty fifth Hunger Games! But first, a quick recap of last year. Jase, do us the honor!"

The scene changed from a man with white hair in a yellow suit to the first five minutes of last years games. A skinny boy was struggling to get away from a larger opponent. But, a girl with red hair struck the stronger boy in the head with an axe. Blood gushes and poured. The girl's insane smile widened and she chose the skinny boy as her ally.

"Whoa! She did not spare time with that hit! And did you see the way the blood flowed? That was beautiful!"

"I can't do it. I'm going to walk myself home. Have a nice day!"

"Bye Hanna!" The twins sang.

"Hanna, hon', get some rest tonight! It's your last year of Reaping and I don't want you nervous," their mom called out.

"I will, Mrs. Moote!" I closed the door gently on my way out, trying to be polite. I couldn't believe how easy the twins took in the action. They're only eleven and they can stomach more than I can! Well, most of the time.

I looked up in the trees. Trees are my life. It was everyone's life here. We all relied on them. They provided us money, shelter and fire. But most of all, they brought the birds.

There is one bird that's almost extinct. The mockingjay. It's a bold black bird with white patches on their wings. It was illegal to kill one.

I saw one land on a branch over head. I smiled as it looked down at me. Whack! The tree began to shake and confuse it. I looked towards the whacking sound at the base of the tree. A man with a baseball cap and brown leather jacket was working with an axe.

"Sir! There's a mockingjay in that tree! Can you wait until it leaves?"

Without looking at me or showing his face, the man stops. "Sorry. I didn't see it. Sure, I'll wait." I could feel him smile as he sat down.

"Thank you." I waved as I walked by. Then, I jogged into the center of town. It was a bit busy, so I had to push my way through the crowd. Everyone was either nervous or excited about the Reaping. I tried to avoid the conversions with them and get home.

"Mom! I'm home!"

"Hanna!" My sister squealed. She clung to my hip and didn't let go. I waddled to the dining table to greet my mother.