No morning is ever a good morning for me . As i wake up to the smell of nature as the wind brings the scent of pine needles with it as it enters through my bedroom window.  If only the pleasant smell were all that entered my room . The sun unrelenting with its rays of lights hits my eyes and no matter how much i toss and turn i can't escape escape its beam and return to my slumber . Finally , after a few minutes , I give up all my efforts of returning to sleep and sit up rubbing my eyes and cursing the merciless sun . Nature can be cruel and unfair at times .

But despite my displeasure at being awoken so early on the only day of the year when a person could have a good lay in its hard in its hard to deny that today is a beautiful day . The sun is shining , and the wind is blowing a gentle breeze to keep you cool . A perfect day if it wasn't for the fact that today is Reaping Day . My stomach twist a shiver runs up my spine just at the thought of Reaping day .  Today is the day two innocent kids will be sentenced to die in a gladiator arena for the enjoyment of others .

I shake my head as i stand up doing my best doing my best to ignore what today is but that is impossible because of the fact today is Reaping Day .  I don't know why i am worried about today because i am safe than most kids in my district because of my families wealth . I am Lisa Littleton , the daughter of a victor who has only felt the effects of starvation when my evil witch mother has denied me access to any food . I hate my Mother i really hate her . At least now i have gotten older and started spending nights at my neighbors Joanna Masons house things have been better because i am out of reach of her fist

Feeling my fists clench I walk to the window at stare out into the forest that surrounds my home in District Seven. Normally this calms me down but the fear and hatred I harbor for my mother mixes with the anxiety I have about Reaping Day making it impossible for the beautiful sight before me even to begin to calm me down. This morning isn't turning out to be a good one and today being Reaping Day it shows no signs of improving. Once again is feel my head shaking as I turn away from the view and walk towards my ensuite bathroom.

I strip out of my nightwear as I walk not caring that if Johanna where to look out of her window she would see my naked body because she already has seen every inch of me as I have of her after a few nights we spent in her bed together. Once I feel the warmth of liquid of my shower hit me and engulf my body as if it was a warm wet blanket instantly calming me. Like always the water calms me, I guess it's from all the times my mother has looked me out in the rain that I find it so calming because it meant I would be safe from her assaults. Normally I would spend longer under the warmth of the water but once again Reaping Day has forced me to do something against my will. I step out of my shower and quickly dry myself before putting on the dress my mother brought for me to wear.

Staring at my reflection in the mirror I can't help but approve of this look despite that my mother was the person who brought the dress. The way the dress hugs my body, and the color brings out my eyes is just too perfect not to mention the flower pattern decorating the dress is really pretty. In a normal family being given a dress like this would make any daughter happy but not me, this dress may be lovely, but I know she brought it for her not me. My mother controls everything about mine and my dad's life; I know she only brought me this dress so I would look good and not embarrassing once we are on camera for the Reaping.

After a few minutes of adjusting my dress making sure my mother won't have anything to complain about I leave my bedroom and head downstairs. As I walk I pass reminders of my mothers lies about us being a perfectly happy family as I see picture after picture of us posing and pretending to be happy together. I don't look at them; these pictures are worthless fakes that hold no meaning to me, and I soon find myself in the dining room finding my mother, father, and mothers Avox already there.

"About time you joined us," Mother complains giving me the same cold, lifeless stare she always does.

My mother has flawless skin and looks a lot younger then she does because of the money she spends on some fancy Capital beauty product and long dark black hair. Her lifeless grey eyes send a chill down my spine, and I struggle to think of a time I have seen anything but rage and hatred in them. The only gentleness I see her show is to her swollen belly where my brother rests as she rubs her tummy.

"It's nearly nine, and we have to leave in half an hour," My mother continues. "Honestly I don't know why you would sleep in on a day such as this when there is so much to do."

Our Avox places a plate of food down in front of me with a smile and a nod of her head.

"Thank you," I say as she walks away.

Our Avox is a pretty lady about the same age as my father. She has long blonde hair and emerald green eyes like my own. I wish I had her hair too, but mine is the same as my fathers being a brown color only differing from his in its length. I really like our Avox she has been more of a mother to me than the women who gave birth to me. I lost count of the number of times she found me curled up in a cupboard after my mother beat me crying my eyes out. She would never say anything thanks to the Capital cutting out her tongue, but she would hold me until I stopped crying and treat my injuries.

"You shouldn't thank her," Mother always hates when I do so. "It's her job and punishment so never thank her."

"There's nothing wrong with manners dear," My father says coming to my defense his brown eyes giving me a sympathetic look.

"Stand," My mother orders quickly changing the conversation to her ordering everyone around.

"Ok," I sigh as I get to my feet. It's better to obey her.

"Well..." My mother starts to circle me examining me as if I was livestock. "You look good enough. Did you shower?"

"Yes," I reply, sometimes I swear my mother thinks I am some sort of savage barbarian who never washes.

"Good," I try to ignore her, but my mother's icy gaze makes that a difficult to do so as she gives me one final look over. "Now finish your breakfast we have to leave soon."

The rest of the meal goes by without a word spoken by anyone until my mother says its time to leave and once again she looks me over before I am allowed to step outside. Before opening the front door my mother grabs my fathers arm and smiles, she is so fake, and I hate that I have to play along with this little show of a pretend happy family. It's easy to just go along with the lie than take another beating or be locked out overnight. I'm glad Johanna has started to let me stay with her its given me the respite I need from my mother, and although she complains about it, I know Johanna is lonely and enjoys my company.

"Try not to embarrass us today," Mother warns with a glance over her shoulder at me before she opens the door and leads my father out of the house.

The moment the door opens a cold wave engulfs me, and I welcome this small pleasure. The breeze is a good distraction from the nervousness I feel thanks to the Reaping. My nerves are always bad on this day. Looking around the streets are deserted with only a few people heading for the Reaping Area outside the Mayor's office. We walk with the small crowd, and my eyes wander from the cute girls I see to my mother making sure I don't get caught. She has always wanted me to marry a man and has constantly tried to set me up with one, but boy's and men have never caught my eye as a cute girl has.

So far Johanna is the only person I told about my preferences and the nights I spent with her has confirmed my sexuality. I haven't told my parents, I'm sure my father would accept me, but my wicked mother will most likely take the news badly, and I'm sure whatever she will do to me won't be pretty. I already have countless scars she gave me for displeasing her less then me coming out will. When we finally reach the town square, and I get to leave my mothers presence, it would normally make me feel relieved, but today all I feel is nervousness as I join the line to sign in.

Once again like we do every year our District has been forced to allow the Capital to take over the town square where they have built a stage and roped of an area for all would be tributes. On the rooftops, camera crews rub shoulders with Peacekeeper snipers who will shoot anyone who tries to leave before the Reaping is over. I may never have to witness someone being shot on Reaping day, but I had heard people talking about how frequent it used to be back when the games first started. It's pointless even to try to run as even if the snipers miss you the Peacekeepers know where you live and will catch up to you, its better to stay and face the odds here.

After I receive a cut to my figure so the lady behind the desk can check my blood and verify who I am, I join the growing crowd of kids exchanging nods with a few boys and girls I'm not even sure I know their names of. I have never had much luck with making friends, and when I finally managed to make one, my mother would scare them off. I was never lonely though, I had Johanna and my father, but it still hurt t watch other kids avoided me when it was time to pair up in school, and I would be left with a reluctant partner who barely said two words to me. But despite the distance between my classmates and me, we are all friendly to each other today like every Reaping day.

Looking around me I see the twelve-year-olds hugging each other and crying while the older kids try to put on a brave face but when I look into their eyes can see the fear they feel. I'm just like them, years of acting like my mother is perfect has made me good at hiding what I truly feel but deep down I am terrified just like them. Looking towards the stage, I see my father take his seat with our Districts other two Victors Blight and Johanna who both give me a nod of their heads when our eyes meet while my father struggles to maintain his posture as his fears and worries threaten to overwhelm him.

After a few minutes, the Mayor and our District Escort arrives and starts the show. Our Escort is the first to speak as she moves up to the podium looking ridiculous in her green outfit that matches her hair color. She must be dressed like this because our District is a lumber District and I can't think of any reason anyone would dress the way she is right now. Our Escorts name is Lena, I don't know her last name or really care to know what it is but what I can tell you about her is that Lena seems way too happy about today and her voice is really high pitched.

"Ladies and gentlemen welcome to District Sevens Seventy-Fourth Hunger Games Reaping. We are moments away from drawing the names of our two brave champions but first a message from our President." Lena calmly and happy kicks things off before a short film is played on one of the giant monitors the Capitol has set up saying how it is our fault for the Hunger Games, and we deserve to die for their pleasure. I don't really pay much attention to the film and only start to focus on what's happening once I hear Lena's high voice again. "Now then on to the drawing and may, the odds be ever in your favor." Her hands over the bowl containing the girl's names, my name and my heart starts to beat faster. "Ladies first," I tell myself my name is only in there a few times and hundreds of other names our in the ten maybe twenty times, but despite the odds being in my favor, I can't shake this sinking feeling in my gut. "Lisa Littleton."

I'm frozen as I hear my name and my worst nightmares become a reality. My arms shake, my heart stops, and a cold sweat covers my body. I can't move, I can't even process what is happening, but somehow I make it to the stage with everyone eyes on me, and I think I see my father crying as I walk past him. How could this have happened? It should have been impossible, but here I am standing on the stage feeling like I am about to throw up as the whole District stares at me.

"Sorry," I hear Johanna whisper which does give me some comfort as I look at the crowd of parents watching from the sidelines only to see a smile on my mothers face.

"I give you your female Tribute Lisa Littleton," There's a small mandatory clap all tributes receive before Lena moves on and walks over to the boy's bowl. "Now one to the boys." Lena's hand digs deep in, and she draws the name from the bottom of the bowl. "Karl Rodwell."

I feel gald it's a name I don't recognize, I know its wrong to do so but I'm glad the person I'm going into the Arena with isn't someone I am indebted to or have had any contact with as it will make things easier later on. As I watch Karl approach the stage, he has me worried because of his big strong arm and just the size of him as he easily towers over me, but then I see the tears leaving his eyes, and the fear I felt for him melts away slightly but not entirely as it could still be a trick. Johanna won her Games by pretending to be weak, Karl may find it hard to do so with his powerful build, but I can't let my guard down around him just in case that is what he is up to.

Lena starts giving her final words before the Mayor gives a speech saying something along the lines of how grateful we are for the Capital generosity, but I ignore him like always. The Capital is never generous and steals from the Districts, so I never listen having no interest in any of the Capitals lies. At least it's a short speech must likely because the Mayor struggled to find any examples of the Capitals kindness and Peacekeepers usher both Karl and myself into the Justice Building where we get a chance to say goodbye to our friends and families.

The Peacekeepers take me to a room with a high ceiling and no windows, with only one door that led in and out of this room that is most likely guarded. Inside the room, there is only one bright light hanging down from the ceiling and two comfortable looking sofas facing each other. I'm not expecting anyone since like I said I don't have any friends and Victors like my father and Johanna aren't allowed to see the Tributes until we are on the train so when the door opens I am clueless as to why and shocked to see my mother entering the room.

I stand up not sure why she is here because over the years she has made her hatred for me clear and I doubt she came to say goodbye. I brace myself for anything expecting her to give me one last beating before I am sent off to die in the Arena for the Capitals entertainment, but my mother does nothing but smile.

"Congratulations Lisa," My mother stares at me sending a chill down my spine. "You have finally made me proud of you."

"How?" I ask still expecting her to strike. "By having my name drawn out of a bowl or going off to die?"

"By being in a position to make me money," My mother tells me her smile is never fading and only growing. "If you win the Games then you win me money, so you better win."

With that, my mother leaves, and I feel like crying. I may not have been close to my mother, but it still hurts to hear her say she cares more about me winning the money then coming home alive. It is only half an hour later we are taken to the train where both Karl and I are blinding by photographers and forced into the train that shoots off as soon as the doors are closed. I can't believe how fast we are traveling I look out of the window, but I wish we would slow down. At this speed will reach the Capital in a few hours and from there, I may meet my death in the Arena.