Cara laid back on the bed. Today was the day. The Reaping. The day when everyone in District 4 who wasn't on death's bed shuffled into the center plaza and watched as a random girl and boy were selected to fight in the Hunger Games. Correction- selected to die in the Hunger Games.

She didn't want to get up.

"Rise and shine" her brother called out. Danny walked into the room wearing a crisp clean shirt, his blonde hair brushed out of his face. She glared at him. He smiled back.

"How are you always so…"

"Charming?" He wiggled his eyebrows.

"I was gonna say chipper but now I'm thinking annoying."

"Ha ha, get going," Danny said nudging his sister and leaning in. He stook a sniff and frowned, "You seriously need to bathe, you stink" He laughed as his sister threw a pillow at him.

"Definitely annoying" Cara called out as she headed into the bathroom.

Freshly bathed and dressed in her nicest dress, Cara walked into the kitchen. Rufus' house was old; dust was everywhere, the roof had holes in it, and she still felt like the whole house would blow down during a storm. And yet she still managed to love it.

Rufus and Danny were seated at the table eating a small breakfast. Danny offered her some bread but she shook her head. Eating with her nerves was not an option.

Rufus gruffly spoke up: "You kids better get going. I'll, uh, I'll see you after the Reaping." He gave Danny a pat on the shoulder and Cara a meaningful nod. He wasn't the most affectionate man, but that was just who Rufus was.

There were too many people around Cara, everyone standing still, looking up at Mayor Shurley as he read Panem's history. The twins had been separated as all the boys and girls were split up and no matter how hard she looked Cara couldn't find Danny.

The mayor finished and the representative from the Capitol, a weird guy named Garth whose ridiculous outfit only made him look smaller than he already was, stepped onto the set up stage. Garth stepped too close to the microphone, causing it to let out a loud piercing noise and making the entire crowd cringe.

"Oops my bad," Garth nervously chuckled. "Okay, welcome to the Reaping of the 74th Annual Hunger Games!"

The mandatory film started to play, showing clips from the last Games. Cara ignored it, and searched for her twin again. Garth took the stage again and introduced District 4's past victors. There were not as many as in 1 or 2, but three people were on the stage behind Garth: Joshua, who was old enough to be Cara's grandpa; Castiel, the handsome Capitol favorite; and Hannah, whose time in the Games had left her mind unstable. Cara's eyes finally found her own, and Danny gave her a small smile.

"Anybody wanna say anything?" Garth asked, offering the microphone to each past victor. "No? Okay, well, let's begin! And may the odds be ever in your favor. Alright, ladies first."

He reached into a large bowl with thousands of names and rummaged around. Cara couldn't breathe.

Garth picked out a piece, unfolded it, and cleared his throat.

"Cara Piper."

Cara Piper

Her own name rang through her head. The worst had happened.

She climbed the stairs in a daze, barely even seeing where she was going as she took her place on stage. She steeled her face against any emotion, she was used to that from the home. She needed to think.

She was going to the Games. But with who?

Just in time, she looked up at Garth who had his hand in the other bowl. He pulled out a slip and opened it up.

"And for the male tribute," he announced, "Daniel Piper."