Wake up.

Her eyes flew open and blinked a few times, adjusting to the light pouring in the open window. The house was silent, as always, and she debated simply closing her eyes and falling back into sleep. But the recurring dream of her name being called out, just her name, something so seemingly innocent, kept her from doing so.

It was Reaping Day.

Renata Kelde groaned quietly as she sat up in bed, rubbing the sleep from her eyes and sighing. The same dream every night before the reaping for the past 5 years… It was still unnerving, despite never having been chosen as tribute, but one never knew what would happen. It was still a couple years away before being truly safe, before her name would be taken out from the other pieces of paper. She sighed again and looked at the window, seeing the sun beams coming in. People were out in the streets, doing business early so they could get ready later on. The bed creaked as her weight left the iron frame and the young woman went to the window, leaning her arms on the window frame and feeling her back pop. There were less people out than usual, and barely any children. Probably all cooped up at home, being drilled on how to handle the reaping... A fresh group of 12 year olds would be in the ball, and they had just as much of a chance of being picked as the rest of the children in District 4. In every other district. Shops were still open and people were still shopping, but that unmistakable air of anticipation was hanging thick in the air, a dark cloud foreboding what was to come.

She pulled herself away from the window, scratching at her head of frizzy red hair as she picked up the discarded dress from the night before and pulled it on. Her footsteps were light on the floor of the small kitchen, despite dragging her feet just a bit. A deep, demanding growl rumbled from her stomach, but the pantry was overlooked and she slipped on her shoes at the front door.

Outside, the sunshine was bright and Renata took a deep breath, letting the warm air fill her lungs before she blew it out.

"Beautiful day, isn't it?" A male voice asked as she passed a shop.

The redhead smiled at him and nodded, "Maybe they'll cancel the big event."

He just laughed and shook his head, going back to his business.

Something about today felt so…familiar. As if she were still lying in bed, eyes closed, lost in a dream. She continued walking the street, past all the shops, the rows of houses, the docks where men were hauling in loads of fish, until finally she reached a small sandy beach. Maybe it was ridiculous to come out here today of all mornings, but something inside her was expressing the need for a swim. Shoes were abandoned as soon as she stepped onto the beach, the warm sand squishing between her toes. The sun beat down against her pale skin when she pulled off her dress and let it fall in a heap. She stepped forward and then jumped into the water. The cold water overtook her and she opened her eyes, looking around at her underwater surroundings. Sinking quickly, her feet touched the bottom and quickly pushed off it, shooting her to the surface. A grin spread across her face and she took a breath, diving under again and swimming down to the bottom. On the ocean floor were a cluster of white water lilies, so tightly knit together that it appeared to be a carpet of flowers. One around the edge detached easily from the others and Renata brought it up to top, letting it bob on the surface of the water. The petals of the flower seemed to open and close as the waves rocked it back and forth, giving the illusion that the flower was breathing. Fascinated by this, she gently stroked one of the petals and then gasped as something pricked the end of her finger. A tiny white crab emerged from its shelter and raised its little claw at her, angry that this girl had relocated his home.

"Sorry," she murmured, sticking her finger in her mouth and sucking on the stinging tip. Satisfied that this girl seemed to know that it meant business, the crab went back inside the flower and she watched as the water carried it away from her, off into deeper ocean. That's when she noticed the boat going in towards the docks.

The boat's horn blared and she watched it slowly pull up and tie down, several men getting off of it and emptying their cargo from the deck. She could taste the salt on her lip as she bit it softly, remembering when her father's boat had docked and he wasn't on it.

"Renata?" A big man kneeled down in front of her, a strange look on his face. "My name is Cecil… I was on the boat with your father..."

She remained quiet, looking up at him with expectant blue eyes.

"We were caught in the middle of the storm, and…a wave overtook us, we lost the cargo," he explained, finding that telling this to a 13 year old was difficult. "Your dad's leg got caught and he got pulled over with it…he drowned, Rini... I'm so sorry..."

Renata turned away from the boat, finding the water a bit too cold for her liking now. She thrashed her arms frantically, dragging herself out of the water and into the sand.

The small child stood quietly as she was presented an award for her father's death, something to remember him by…to honor him. She felt Cecil put a hand on her shoulder, trying to reassure her as the mayor thanked her for being so brave. First losing her mother before she had a chance to know her, and then having her father taken away from her all too soon…An orphan, no one's child, taken in out of pity into a stranger's home.

It wasn't out of grief that she had cried that day. Her father had resented her from the moment she was born. Through his eyes, she had essentially murdered the woman he loved. So he raised his wife's last "gift" to him, but begrudgingly so. She was left alone most of the time, while he was out at sea, so she learned to live that way. When Cecil had taken her in, she found herself living with 5 complete strangers who wouldn't leave her by herself, which she had so desperately wanted. They were afraid the poor orphan girl would go mad, letting herself think about her dead parents. Oh no, she hadn't cried out of grief. It was of relief more than anything. As soon as she had turned 16, she pleaded that she be allowed to live alone. Eventually getting what she wanted, she moved into a tiny little hut of a place, and managed to earn a bit of money for herself by helping the seamstress. A year of doing so, and she concluded that it was a hell of a lot better than living off of other people.

She stood up and brushed away the sand that clung to her skin and retrieved her clothes, pulling them on and heading back towards town. Her cheeks stung with the promise of a sunburn and she sighed quietly. Time was moving faster than usual, it seemed, forcing her to get home sooner than preferred. It was all about presentation to the Capitol. Keeping up appearances. Putting on a good show. Wear a nice dress, brush the knots out of your hair, doll yourself up to stand and watch two people from home get sentenced to death. All for sport. What a sick joke.

The streets were practically deserted on the walk back, except for the few squads of Peacekeepers. She swallowed nervously when passing them, her feet automatically breaking into a bit of a jog once rounding the corner. Finally making it back safely home, she closed and latched the door and leaned her forehead against it. Her stomach growled with hunger, warning that if it was denied food any longer, it would be sure to make her pay. Even so, the pantry was ignored as she crossed the kitchen. Something else was festering inside her, growing in intensity as the clock ticked closer and closer to the reaping. A sense of dread that couldn't be easily dismissed.

Renata's hands shook as she pinned back some long curls, shivering as the ends tickled her bare back. A pale green dress replaced the worn grey one from earlier and she stepped in front of the small mirror in her bedroom. Her reflection came as a bit of a surprise; it was never what her eyes expected to see. Sometimes she still felt like that little 12 year old, not this…stranger.

Wide, empty blue eyes took up a great deal of her sunburned face; her small, twitchy nose resembled that of a mouse…she smoothed out the material of the dress, giving up when deciding that it wouldn't take any other form than a frumpy sack.

Once back out on the street, she joined a crowd of people all headed towards the center of town. Lines had formed at a couple of registering stations and further through towards the Justice Building; she could see the stage set up, with the two glass orbs filled with the names of every child in the district.

"Give me your hand, please," A peacekeeper instructed.

Renata swallowed and extended her arm, wincing in pain as she pricked her fingertip that the crab had pinched earlier. "Renata Kelde" flashed on the screen, confirming her identity and the woman smiled.

"Good luck," she said cheerily as the girl brushed past, heading for the section in the crowd for the 17 year olds.

"Nervous?" A friend from school asked, wringing her hands together.

Renata shrugged, watching everyone file in. "It's just routine by now…"

The girl was silent for a moment, murmuring something to herself.

"What?"

"I said that our names are in there six times this year," She whispered, her face twisted with fear.

"Six times isn't a lot…look around at the rest of us…they've got their name in the draw just as much as we do," the redhead tried to console her, reaching out and giving her arm a gentle squeeze. "You'll be fine, Cora!"

Even as the words left her mouth, she felt her stomach twist into a knot – a painful one that caused her to double over and clutch her hands against it.

"Renata? Are you alright?" Cora asked in alarm.

The girl didn't answer, for her nightmare came back to her like a gunshot to the brain.

"Renata Kelde," a ghostly whisper said in her ear, causing goose bumps to appear on her arms. "Step forward…"

On legs that felt like rubber, Renata walked up the endless stairs onto the stage that overlooked what must have been District 4 and several other districts put together.

A man stood up next to her, grinning ear to ear. His eyes were empty holes in his face. "Congratulations," he laughed, slapping her on the back.

Her head turned from side to side, looking for the male tribute, but no one was called and the crowd cheered on. "What about a boy?"

The eyeless man laughed again and shook his head. "There is only you. You were born to die…" His unnerving laugh started up again and soon the crowd was thundering with the same laugh.

The stage started trembling, gently at first, but soon the magnitude of the quakes had Renata clinging to the lip of the stage for dear life.

"Renata," that whisper came again. "Renata…"

A large tremor sent her flying off the stage and she was falling. Falling far, far down… The crowd was gone now and replaced by a dark abyss. It swept whatever breath she had out of her and she was forced to fall in silent anguish. A light appeared at the bottom, growing bigger as she fell faster and faster still. It was water! The ocean! There wasn't time to try and draw a breath before the water overtook her, the consistency nothing like water. The surface moved further and further away from her as she was dragged to the bottom by something she could not see. She looked down when something grabbed her wrist and her eyes bugged out when her father's bloated hands encircled her throat. Pressing, squeezing, tighter and tighter. Darkness formed around the rims of her eyes, overtaking more of her vision as her father's hands tightened like a vice grip around her windpipe.

"Renata!" Cora exclaimed, kneeling on the ground next to her friend.

She gasped, snapping out of the attack and looking up at the blonde girl. "Wh-what?"

"Are you alright? You just froze up and fell over!"

"I…I, yeah…I'm alright," the woman whispered, swallowing and realizing that everyone around was staring at her. "I just…didn't eat breakfast is all…"

Cora made a face but didn't question the redhead as she gave her a hand up, not saying anything about her shivers.

The crowd all murmured in displeasure when the microphones turned on and feedback rang through the square. A man with blonde hair twisted into a halo on top of his head stepped out onto the stage, a huge grin spread across his face.

"Welcome to the 73rd annual Hunger Games!" His cheery voice chirped into the microphone. He introduced himself as Salvatore Hume and gave his well-rehearsed speech on how what an honor it is to be chosen to represent the district and that he wishes each and every one has a Happy Hunger Games. "Shall we pick the lady first?" he asked with a little merry chuckle, going to the glass orb and making a frivolous wave of his hand as he dug into the slips of paper.

Renata clutched onto Cora's arm for support, eyes bugging out of her head as she waited for the name to be read. This man wouldn't get on with it; every movement had to be grand and extravagant. She suspected that he was excited to be the representative of a career district and wanted to cherish every second.

Sweat formed on her palms, on the back of her neck as Salvatore made it back to the microphone, still grinning about a mile wide.

"Drum roll, anyone?" he laughed, clearing his throat and unfolding the paper.

The slip crinkled in the microphone, projecting across the square.

Renata closed her eyes, her knees trembling as she struggled to take a step forward. Somehow, she knew. The dreams, this feeling in her chest, it was all too much.

Salvatore's voice rang out, confirming her suspicions. "Renata Kelde!"

What do you think so far? Reviews are very appreciated! Thanks for reading! :)