In the Games •{The Hunger Games}• [COMING SUMMER 2020]

Chapter 2

Half an hour later, I had taken a shower and I had just finished putting on my dress.

I look at myself in the mirror. I see a girl about the age of sixteen looking back at me. She isn't beautiful, but she's not pretty either. She's somewhere in between. I play with the hem of my dress, looking down quickly. What was I thinking? I wasn't pretty, and I knew it. But hey, if I'm probably going to get picked, I might as well tell myself I look pretty at least once.

I look back up at the mirror and put on my best smile. There. Now I look beautiful.

I walk over to the door and stick my hand in the hole in the wall. I feel a tickling sensation on my arm and pull it out with today's schedule printed on my arm with black ink. 8:00 Breakfast is followed by 9:00 Training, which is followed by 11:00 Reaping. My schedule ended there. The people that didn't get picked for the Reaping had the rest of the day off. Which means, I've only had three days of relaxation here in District 13 since I was legible for the Hunger Games.

I glance over at the clock and start to panic. It's almost time for training! I quickly take the dress off and put on the boring, clothes that everyone in District 13 wears. I scramble out the door and walk as fast as I dare to the training center.

I walk into the training center and run to my station. Training is simple. We don't practice any fighting skills, we just learn how to sing and cook and read and write. Basically, it's like school. But, District 13 is special. We learn how to make bombs and nukes. Not very useful in the Games, but it might come in handy later on, if you don't get picked.

I tend to go to the singing station more than any of the other stations. I like to sing. Before my parents and I had to flee District 12, my dad and I used to sing songs together. Some of the people from District 12 that came with us always tell me that when my dad and I would sing, everything would be quiet so everyone and everything could listen to us. Singing is the only thing that can keep me close to my dad.

The trainer at the singing station today, is none other than Soldier Deffmen. She smiles brightly at me and turns to the rest of the group. I see Robin Sharden in the front row and I try to sit as far away from her as I can. I sit at the back of the group, but Deffmen calls to me.

"Prilla! Come sit up here please!" She motions to a seat right beside Robin.

"Yes ma'am." I stand up slowly and make my way over to the new seat. Robin gives me look and gags when I sit next to her. Some girls behind me giggle and it's all I can do to stop myself from reaching back and yanking their hair so hard they cry.

"Thank you, Prilla. Now, as I was saying earlier, who knows the song called The Hanging Tree?" Deffmen glances over at me before looking at the rest of the class.

She obviously knows that I know the song and could sing it in my sleep.

I probably do sing it in my sleep, I think to myself.

When no one raises their hand, Deffmen looks at me expectantly. She knows.

I shyly raise my hand. Deffmen looks over me purposely, so I raise my hand higher. She turns towards me with a smile.

"Ah, it seems at least one of you knows it. Good job. Now, Prilla, please come to the front and sing it to us please. I've heard you have a wonderful voice." Deffmen beckons me forward. I give her a look of shock.

Robin bursts out laughing next to me. "Her!? A 'wonderful voice'? Hahaha!" She holds stomach and I can see tears of laughter rolling down her cheeks. The other girls start laughing too. Soon, some of the boys star to laugh. I feel my face grow hot and I can easily tell my face is bright red with anger and embarrassment.