CHAPTER ONE . . . THE REAPING
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QUINN GIDDINGS NEVER understood the existence of 'The Hunger Games'. It was punishment for the districts rebelling against the capitol over 66 years ago. The majority of the population of Panem hadn't even lived during those days so why were they the ones being punished? Why even kill innocent people in the first place? She was considered one of the lucky ones since her district was on the wealthier side. Most people in District 5 weren't struggling to get food like some of the other districts that the capitol didn't favor as much. But not Quinn, her father died when she was 5 and her mother started to neglect caring for her and her older brother. Both her and Reese's had to get tesserae to survive ultimately leading to their names being put into the reaping balls more, increasing their chances of being reaped.

Quinn stood in from of the mirror and smoothed her blue dress. It was the nicest clothing she had. Her hair was pinned back and slightly curled. She slipped her brown boots on before stepping out into the living room. Reese was standing there, fixing the buttons on his shirt.

He spotted her from the corner of his eyes. "You ready to head out?" He asked.

She nodded. "I guess so." Every year she wished she didn't have to go, from time to time she wondered what would happen if she didn't. Then she remembered that she'd likely be killed or punished in some way.

Reese headed for the front door and Quinn followed him. He noted her silence as they walked beside one another. "You okay?" He finally asked.

She nodded. "Yeah, I just going to this," she admitted.

"That makes two of us," he mumbled.

She pulled at the collar of her dress. "And this dress is beyond itchy," she complained, in an effort to avert the conversation. She groaned slightly, scratching at her skin.

He chuckled softly. "Yeah, that's how I feel about this polo," he joked.

Quinn smiled slightly. "You look like Dad does in that one picture in the living room," she told him. She didn't remember much of her father, she was only 5 when he died. He was at work, there was a power outage in the capitol he was trying to fix alongside his coworkers and then, everyone within 10 feet of him was electrocuted and killed. It destroyed their mother. She had lost her sister 12 years prior due to the games so when she lost her husband, it broke her. Most of the time she stayed cooped up in her room, forgetting that she had two children to raise.

Quinn knew she was lucky to have Reese, he took care of her. She hated to admit it but when Reese turned 12 and was entered in the reaping, life for them got easier because of the tesserae. Food was even more manageable for them when Quinn turned 12 as well.

It was a terrible thought, but it was also the truth. Reese and Quinn stopped walking as they arrived, everyone crowding into lines to get their finger pricked. Reese placed a hand on her shoulder gently. "I'll see you later okay? Don't do anything stupid."

She rolled her eyes and nodded. "Bye," she said as Reese walked away. She watched him for a few seconds before she got into a line.

After what felt like forever, she got to the front. The Peacekeeper woman spoke up, "Finger please," she said. Quinn stuck her finger out and the woman pricked it, causing her to wince slightly. Her blood was placed onto a piece of paper before the woman spoke again. "Next."

Quinn stepped away from the line and walked into the location of the reaping. People were already starting to line up, boys on one side and girls on the other. Quinn stood beside another girl she didn't know and glanced toward the crowd of boys. She spotted her brother chatting with one of his friends and she gave him a weak smile in which he returned.

It wasn't long before everybody was here and Lucinda Sterling stepped in front of all of them. For the past few years, she had been drawing the tributes.

"Hello District 5! It is so wonderful to be back!" She exclaimed she had obnoxiously pink hair that was far too bright for Quinn's liking. "Before we find out our tributes for this year, I have a video all the way from the capitol!"

It was the same video every year. Lucinda signaled to a large screen to her left and Quinn watched, although she practically had this video memorized.

It flashed war-like clips, presumably from the first rebellion was President Snow voiced over it. "War. Terrible War. Widows, orphans, a motherless child. This was the uprising that rocked our land. Thirteen districts rebelled against its country that fed them, loved them, protected them. Brother turned on brother until nothing remained. And then came the peace, hard fought, sorely won. A people rose up from the ashes, and a new era was born. But freedom has a cost. And the traitors were defeated. We swore as a nation we would never know this treason again. And so it was decreed that each year, the various districts of Panem would offer up, in tribute, one young man and woman to fight to the death in a pageant of honor, courage, and sacrifice. The lone victor, bathed in riches, would serve as a reminder of our generosity and our forgiveness. This is how we remember our past. This is how we safeguard our future."

As the video terminated, there were a collective forced claps from some of the civilians of District 5 and an excited one from Lucinda. Quinn couldn't help but roll her eyes but her attention diverted back to Lucinda.

"Ladies first and as always, may the odds be ever in your favor," Lucinda announced. Everyone was quiet, waiting to see who would suffer a terrible fate this year. She reached her hand into the big bowl of names, taking a few extra seconds to create some suspense. Quinn's breath hitched in the back of her throat, waiting to see what name was spoken. "Quinn Giddings."

She breathed out sharply, did she mishear her? But with everyone's staring eyes she knew she didn't. She gulped and took a step out of the crowd of people.

"Come on up dearie," Lucinda signaled for her to come stand beside her. Quinn felt like her knees were going to buckle underneath her as she slowly strides up on the stage next to Lucinda. Finally, when she faced the crowd again her eyes met Reese's, she could tell his eyes were glossy with tears.

A tear fell from her own eyes as Lucinda made her way over to the other bowl. "Now for the guys," she reached her hand in and pulled out a piece of paper. "Apollo O'Randy."

Quinn's eyes shot to the group of boys, she recognized the name, he was the same age as Reese, and they went to school together. He didn't even look scared as he made his way to the stage. He locked eyes only briefly with Quinn as he stood on the other side of Lucinda.

A small bird flew by them and perched itself on Quinn's shoulder, she gasped softly, but then it flew away. Lucinda spoke once again. "There we have it! District 5's tributes!"

With that, the peacemakers led them into the building behind them and into separate rooms. They got a few minutes to say bye to their family.

Reese came into the room and let out a sigh as he saw Quinn. "Quinn..." he started to say as he stepped toward his sister.

She wrapped her arms around him and hugged him tightly, more tears escaped her eyes. "I'm so scared Reese," she whispered as she kept hugging him.

"I know," he whispered in return. "I believe in your Quinn. You're smart, you'll figure it out."

He pulled back to look her in the eyes and she just shook her head. "Reese, I don't know anything about fighting," she pointed out.

"Yeah, but you know how to survive," he said. "That's the key."

He hugged her again and she hugged him back. "I love you," she whispered.

He rubbed her back gently. "I love you too."

To Quinn, it felt like they had no time together before he had to leave. After that, she was led onto a train with Apollo, Lucinda, and a man and woman. It didn't even bother her anymore that her mother didn't show up to say goodbye, she expected it.

The minute she stepped onto the train, the environment was entirely different than that of District 5. She took a deep breath as her eyes looked around, it was huge, there was a table full of food and seating everywhere. It was almost bigger than her house.

Lucinda stepped in front of her and Apollo as the train started to move. "These are your mentors, Damien Longhorn, and Rowan Avery," signaling to the man and woman beside her. Damien's brown hair was just starting to gray and he had this look of exhaustion in his eyes. However, Rowan seemed more put together, she was definitely younger by a landslide. She knew their names, not so much their faces.

Damien looked at Quinn. "Your Allyanna's niece aren't you?" He asked bluntly.

She didn't expect that question, how did he know her aunt? She nodded slightly. "Yeah how did you-?"

He nodded in return. "I was her district partner," he explained. "You look a lot like her, I had to ask."

She bit her lip nervously and there was a few seconds of an awkward silence before Lucinda spoke. "These two have been through the games, they're going to give you guys some advice on how to survive."

Lucinda led them to a table, with plates and silverware so they could enjoy the vast selection of food that was provided for them. Quinn didn't have an appetite, if she ate anything she feared she would throw up.

Apollo grabbed some food, putting it onto his plate as did the other victors and Lucinda. Quinn felt immensely out of place.

"Do you guys have any siblings?" Rowan asked suddenly. Quinn didn't understand why that was an important question.

Apollo shook his head. "I'm an only child," he said. Their gazes shifted to Quinn, awaiting her response.

She didn't want to talk, she just wanted to sit there and listen to their advice. She didn't understand how this was going to help her win at all. "I have an older brother, Reese," she whispered. She wished he was here, he could do the talking for her just like he always had.

Rowan and Damien exchanged a quick glance before Rowan spoke again. "Use your brother as motivation to win," she told her. She said something to Apollo as well but Quinn didn't hear it, she was repeating what Rowan said in her head.

Use your brother as motivation to win.

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