Chapter 1

Megan/Fox face point of view

Reaping.

Today is the day that 24 unlucky children go to the Capitol; to be groomed, polished, and prepared to go to the arena and fight until their last breath. The day that is the anniversary of the day the Capitol citizens decided to end the Dark Days, ending Democracy.

The day everyone's life changed.

Now, standing here is me Megan Safire James from District 5, going into the arena after being reaped by Azura Blue, our District escort. My dad had said his speeches and I watched him. I also watched him go pale after they called me up. I watched my mother look at her fingernails when they called me. I watched my friends look at their feet when they called me.

I felt my feet carry me to the front as they called me. I heard myself gasp. I heard mummers. I felt myself tearing apart on the inside.

All I could think about is how much I am going to miss.

I was going to play in the NFL Annual Super Bowl to show that a girl could play football with help from Ryerson; my High School. Schooling here is different. Pre-Training School is started when you are 2 or 3; no mercy. Then on to Training School, then Middle (I skipped it because of my grades), then finally High School, a University or College in other Districts.

I was going to own my own company called Technology Matters (TM) and sell weapons and phones and stuff. I took the Technology program and some one month crunches like the police course, firefighting, teaching, dancing, music; all in one month.

I was hoping to go to my graduation ceremony, even though I have my diplomas and plaques, it's official after you do which is a few months after reaping.

I was hoping to look in the mirror for once to see a short, party girl of two races (Black and white) with her curly hair that is usually straightened. I was hoping to see a girl who has 4,5, and 12 in her blood. A girl with her Great Grandmother's paint-splatter like eyes that has almost every colour in it except for orange and any other unusual colour.

I was hoping to forgive my mother for abandoning me with my dad, the Mayor of 5; the man who gave money from Districts 1 to 6 to start over, which they did, but the others didn't want it.The girl who spent the summers in 12 with her best friend Madge.

The girl that was everyone's dream girl, that was called a fox because she was fast, not because she looked like one. That was one of her name's in football.

Now standing here and hearing another person get called makes me numb from my head to my small toes. I know I'm not coming back, I am the small, gently Mayor's daughter.

The guy who got called up happened to be one of my friends, it made me number.

Later on my father and friends visited. My dad crying and my mom not coming. I told my friends that I would miss partying and clubbing with them on the weekends, or our stupid hangouts. All of them are guys.

They told me to try to come home, to be the same caring, outgoing, sweet, and gentle Megan that is the best eye-candy. I kept myself from crying. My seven best friends came in, the ones who skipped Middle School with me; the ones who were on the team with me, they cried. 3 minutes will never be enough.

10 years isn't even enough.