Chapter 1
“Lily.”
I shake her awake gently. The sun has just barely come up, but the light coming through the holes in the roof of our little house warms the room with its bright beams. She rubs her eyes, you can tell she is exhausted from working in the lumber yard yesterday.
“Come on Lily, we need to get ready to go to the reaping.”
“Caleb I’m scared.” I can hear the fear in her voice. I sit down next to her and pull her into a hug. I am eighteen so this is my last year of being put in the reaping, but thirteen year old Lily still has five more years before the same happens to her.
“Me too,” I reply, “but we will be fine. There are hundreds of kids in district seven, so the chances of your name being picked is extremely low, especially since your name has only been put in twice.” Lily sits up and looks at me.
“Yeah but what about you?” She asks “Your name is in there seven times because of your age, and seven more times because you take tesserae each year.” I don’t know how to answer her. She has a good point, but I don’t want to worry her further.
“Don’t worry about me,” I say “your safety is all that matters to me.”
“But I need you.” she looks right at me when she says it, her big brown eyes meeting mine. I pull her back into a hug.
“It’s going to be okay Lilypad.” Lilypad was the nickname I gave her when she was only three. Over the years it just kind of stuck.
We arrive at the reaping with all of the other kids from district seven. I am wearing a white button down shirt and black pants, both of which I got for a decent price at the market. Lily is wearing a dress that had been our mothers. It is a soft blue color with ruffles at the bottom that end just below her knees. She wears a gold necklace around her neck that our mother had worn at our parents wedding. It has been her lucky charm for years.We check in at the front and walk to the rope that separates the boys from the girls. When we get to the area where we have to split up I turn and face her.
“Remember Lilypad, the odds are in your favor this year.” We hug one more time then go to our designated areas. When I get to my spot I look over to the girls section. I almost immediately spot Lily and make eye contact with her. It’s obvious she is trying to fight back tears.
“Be brave.” I mouth to her. She nodds and takes a deep breath in, as she lets it out her expression completely changes. I watch the fear drain from her face as it is replaced with a look of bravery; however as her big brother, I know that on the inside she is still terrified. I hate that this is the world she is growing up in.
The reaping starts with the mayor making the same speech he makes every year, followed by a video that is also played every year. Both the video and the speech are prepared by the Capitol. They talk about what a great honor it is to participate in the Hunger Games. I think it is a load of crap. Then Lulu Teawater gets on stage, it is her job to draw the names, as well as escort the chosen tributes to the capitol. She wears a neon orange dress covered from top to bottom in ruffles. Her matching neon orange hair is in three buns, all stacked on top of each other on the very top of her head. She has on white mesh gloves, white stiletto heels, and fake eyelashes that are at least two inches long.
“Welcome to the reaping for the sixty first annual Hunger Games!” She exclaims “Let us start with the ladies.” She reaches her hand into the giant bowl and pulls a name from the top. She unfolds the piece of paper like it is a delicate flower.
“The female tribute from district seven is Lily Woodson.”
