((rewritten))
Ch 1 Reaping
My birthday is tomorrow, always falling on the same day, and always left in the shadow of the reaping. No one has a celebratory bone left in their bodies after the tributes are chosen, their hearts too heavy with grief and fear.
I lay in the silence until I hear my brothers stir, the morning reminding me of my insomnia. Just then a thought occurs to me, but I quickly try to shake it away. It is a disturbing thought; one based on the fear left only for the reaping. I could run away. Right now, before anyone could change my mind. The thought bothers me the more I think about it, no matter how many times I attempt to forget the notion. With every passing second I realize that I want it, that I wish to run. That if I did I wouldn't look back.
The temptation of running was too strong to test, and I knew unless I stayed inside the house I would give in. I deliberately reached for my clothes, distracting myself with preparing for the reaping ceremony and barely pull on my pants before Ty's older brother, Russell, burst in, letting the door swing into the wall.
"It's bad. They caught Ty trying to get past the fences."
"Damn. . . Okay, let me get dressed."
Dressing quickly, I hurry out the door, already knowing there was no way I could keep up with Russell when he began to run as fast as he could. Minutes later we could see the center of town, and sure enough, Ty had been attached to the whipping post. I can't see Russell anywhere. Trying to speed up, I hear the crack of the whip, making me run even faster. when I see the center of town empty. Ty wasn't attached to the the whipping post so I know something is wrong.
Stopping to catch my breath, I can feel someone behind me, so as the person creeps closer I spin on the heel of my boot and slap the person behind me hard. It isn't until I notice who it is that the anger really sets in.
"Russell! What in the world? Where is Ty?"
Hearing another voice, I turn around to see my mother and three brothers along with Ty standing, their mouths open.
"Happy birthday, Zoe! "Ty says in a tiny voice.
He looks at Russell and smirks. Russell, who finally recovered, is back on his feet, looking very upset about being hit.
"What the hell was that for, Zoe? Damn, that really hurt," he says, rubbing his left cheek.
"All this just to throw a birthday party? What the hell are all you thinking? You should be worried about the reaping, not me."
"Dam it, Zoe, let us celebrate your birthday once. Please, it's all we ask. Just be a normal person and let us celebrate something that is important."
My face red with anger I just take off back to the house. I don't want any part in this little celebration. They just don't understand today of all days is the one I despise most of all. Most people of any district have one day-just one day-to themselves, but not me. I don't get that day because of the reaping.
After an hour or so of sulking around the house, Russell finally finds me. He starts right up to me, he trys to say something but with the look on my face I guess he just didn't want to argue, so after a couple of seconds he smiles, turns and leaves.
With only a couple of hours before the reaping started I begin to ready myself. My mother chose a simple but elegant gown. I almost make it out of the door when mother stops me. "Zoe, take this."
My eyes tear up immediately and I say, "Mom, I can't take this. I don't want to take this." Handing me the medallion-just priceless. I hurry out of the door, not daring to look back. The worst part of the reaping is the long wait that we must endure before we find out if we will be fighting to death in front of the entire nation. I don't really have any friends except Russell, but he was nowhere near me, which means I now must be silent the whole time for the reaping.
Our Escort finally makes her way to the stage after a horrible wait. "Now my lovelies, the time you have all been waiting for. Time to see who will be this year's District Five tributes. First up I think a little twist is in order, let's pick from our young men first."
No one even cares who would be picked from first, the girls or the boys, we will all die the same. Already I couldn't remember out Escort's name, although if I saw her again it would be easy to recognize her. First of all, her skin is a deep shade of grey, her teeth are silver, and her hair, oh my her hair is so, so... blue. I have no idea why she is completely grayish but her hair is blue, it makes absolutely no sense what so ever.
"All right my beauties, let us see who will be this year's male tribute. Our first tribute is Ferrin Jers." Looking around, no one could seem to find Ferrin until the shots rang out. "Oh my, this can't be our tribute i...is dead before the Games. Well we can't have that- I will draw again my beauties. Our new tribute is Ty Mill. Many of the girls next to me start to cry, no I am just shocked. Even as Ty makes it to the stage, fear sets in that Russell will not volunteer for him. Instantly I spot Russell in the crowd. He shocks me even further when he shrinks down and doesn't speak a word.
"Well now that nothing has gone wrong we can continue on with our lovely women. Let me make sure it's a good one. This year our tribute is miss Zoe Ann. "Even as my name is called out, I can't believe it. I should be happy, I wanted this. Walking silently, it seems to take forever to make it to the stage. I feel the urge to faint but I manage to stay conscious. After a couple of words and the anthem, the peacekeepers rush us into separate rooms in the justice building for our farewells.
Mother is the first to come through the doors, tears streaming down her face. Second, my brothers all at once, faces all red and teary. Not a word is spoken for the longest time. Finally my youngest brother breaks the silence. "I hate you Zoe. You're going to die and you don't even care," bursting out in tears, he runs out of the door, followed by the other two. Looking to Mother I just couldn't help but smile. "I'll come back, Mother, and we will live in one of the victor's houses and we w. . . " "Shut up. Just shut up. Your brother is right. You're going to die out there and you know it.". Just as she is leaving, Mother throws thing at my feet, then the door slams.
A gold glint catches my eye and looking down I see a gold medallion sitting at my feet. A peacekeeper barges in. "Time to leave now. Let's go."
I couldn't see anything as fast as the peacekeepers kept me and Ty moving- I didn't want to see anything to begin with. The words my mother said stung. I could not believe that I thought I would die in the Hunger Games. Me and Ty say nothing as we are loaded up onto the train.