Shallow: The 21st Hunger Games

District 1 Reaping

DISCLAIMER: I do not own THG. Suzanne Collins does.

Aiden Rucco, 18

District 1 boy

Knife in hand, I run to the mutt. I scream as it dodges my attack, and I twist in the nick of time to stab it. It knew my plan though, and my knife bounces against the cold rocks behind it. I frantically look around, but I spot it too late. Its fangs impale my heart.

I wake up wanting to cry. Why was I the one to get picked? It doesn't matter now, though. I have to volunteer, or face a life of shame. I was picked. That meant I was the best in District 1. I had a chance to win.

I look around my small bedroom. This will be the last time I am ever in it. Quietly, I walk down to the tiny table, where my cat sleeps. I hope I will hear her mew again. I pat her head and she yowls out in surprise. "Goodbye", I whisper.

I look at the poster on my wall. My family is probably a little richer than usual, since they got me that. Or maybe they just found it in a dumpster.

I trace my finger over the rose on it. The words are so familiar to me now. My mom sings it a lot, although it is an old song. It was the Capitol anthem in the Dark Days, and in the early days of the Hunger Games.

Gem of PanemMighty cityThrough the ages you shine anew

I smile. I will always be a loyalist. Maybe if I win, I could live in the Capitol, like, half the time! I daydream about it. My bed would be the size of my bedroom! I snap out of it. I have to at least win first.

I think about Lucy Gray Baird. If she could make it that far, I could too! Eherm, I guess I would need sponsors for that. She had sponsors.

I could definitely win this thing. Smiling, I walk over to the kitchen, and take a seat, waiting for my parents to wake up. Their voices fill the kitchen, happy, but scared. I make some oatmeal, and sit down. My parents fall silent. My mom is the one to speak first.

"Is that what you are wearing to the reaping?"

I am annoyed with this, even though it definitely wasn't.

"My clothes are in my room", I mutter.

"Well, once you finish, you have to get dressed, because the Reaping is in two hours."

Reminded, I finish my breakfast and go back to my room. I yawn. I take a shower, and put on my itchy, uncomfortable Reaping clothes. I walk out of my room, and look at the time. There is one hour until the Reaping. I grab the poster again. Maybe I will take it as my token. Maybe not.

I set it down on my table, and give my cat a hug. I tremble. What if I don't make it out of there alive? My cat mews at me, and I let her go.

I decided that I can't look scared, because I won't get any sponsors. So I step out the door, and walk over to my best friend Grady's house, around the block. I ring his cracked doorbell, and wait.

While I wait, I start to worry again. But I remind myself of Lucy Gray, and it calms me again. But then...

What if I don't even make it to the arena? Like those other District One tributes? For every survivor there has to be deaths. And President Snow himself mentored Lucy, that is definitely an advantage!

I can't afford to think like that, though, so I shove the thoughts to the back of my mind. I can plan my attack strategy, or something like that, I guess...

After about a minute, Grady stumbles out of his house, his hair still wet.

"I was in the shower!"