Through My Eyes- Thresh P.O.V

I stand in a crowd of boys of every age, waiting…. Anyone from the ages one to eleven is lucky, that meant not having to participate in the Hunger Games…. Yet. I've never been close to anyone in my district not even my sister, for who knows when they could be snatched up by the Capitol. The Reaping was the worst day of the year; the room is full of scared faces, worried parents and crying children holding on to their parents for dear life. Twenty four enter and only one comes out… I hate the Capitol more than anything in the world; how could they find something like children killing each other entertaining? They are sick people that's for sure.

I watch as Strelli, the district eleven escort walk onto the stage; this year she's wearing dark blue frilly dress and her hair and lipstick match. I know from her get up this is the color pallet Caesar the Hunger Games host is wearing; every year she does this whole homage thing. She taps the microphone making this screeching sound.

"Happy 74th Hunger Games" she cheers throwing her arms in the air.

She doesn't get much of a response from the audience who is still in the "Reaping Daze". She does this sympathetic smile and presses play on the same video she plays every year. Today I decide to look away instead, my eyes meet with a peacekeeper who gives me this dark cold stare; I don't care this event is painful enough without a visual. The video soon ends and I turn my head back to Strelli.

"Alright! Let's get this started" she begins.

"Ladies first" she smiles placing her hand in the bowl full of names.

"Rue Renee" she announces and my heart nearly stops.

Rue, just a frail twelve year old whose life had just barely begun was being sent into the arena. I watch her five younger sisters hold on to her crying; tears pouring down from faces. I can tell that the youngest doesn't know what's going on… they never do. She finally breaks from their grasp and heads to the stage. Strelli looks at her and I know it's hard for her to do this.

"Would anyone like to volunteer for Rue?" she calls out to the crowd.

Silence. Not a single word.

"Please! She's just twelve years old!" Rue's father keep crying out, I watch as no one volunteers just puts their heads down in shame.

"Alright now for the boys" She pauses for that dramatic effect.

"Thresh Okeniyi"

I look back at my sister and grandmother but they avoid me, and I know this the last time I'll see them if I don't win. They won't come and wish me good luck or hug me till the last second; it's too painful. Peacekeepers lead me into this small barely lit room "The Last Minutes" is what everyone here at district eleven calls it. I don't expect anyone to come to see me off so when the door creaks open I nearly jump out of my skin. A dark skinned man with bags under his eyes; Rue's father.

"You have to help her get back home" he pleads throwing himself down in a prayer like position. I quickly help him get to his feet and we stand there in silence for a few seconds.

"I will, I will make sure you see your daughter again. I promise"

There is less worry on his face but it's not completely gone. To show his appreciation he hugs me; to be honest it feels kind of nice to held one last time before heading out to death. A peacekeeper comes in with Strelli… times up.

We walk; Strelli, Rue and I along with a bunch of peacekeepers find our way to the district's eleven's tribute train. Strelli rambles on about stuff but I can't hear anything, it's like I can see her lips moving but I just can't make out what she's saying. I notice the tight grip she has on Rue's hand and the saddened look on her face.