A/N:I do not own any part of the Hunger Games, and these characters are all made up. Just please review it :)

I woke up, a rush of dread and worry flowing through me as I remembered what day it was. Today was the Reaping day, and in fact my very first Reaping day ever. My name is Violet Langston, and I am only twelve years old. My name is only in the bowl once; my mother wouldn't allow my name to be in there any more than that, no matter how much tesserae was given to us. I'm the smallest child in my district for my age; I've gotten teased about it ever since I started playing with other kids. I also tend to daydream a lot, which prompts even more teasing from the other children. However, I am quite useful to District 11. Because of my small height, I can quickly climb up trees and collect fruit during my free time.

I walked out of my room to find my mother waiting for me, a new dress in her hands.

"Oh Mother, you didn't have to make me a new dress. It's only the Reaping Day." She smiled anyways and handed me the dress.

"You deserved a new dress. I imagine this must be very stressful for you. Your father is in the kitchen making breakfast. Let's go put your dress on."

I walked back into my room, my mother accompanying me. She helped me get my dress on, which was an emerald green that matched my eyes. She helped French Braid my long, dark brown hair so that in the end, I looked beautiful.

"I wish I could have the time to make you look this way every day." I understood what my mother meant. Ever since I turned ten, I would be out in the gardens from sunrise to sundown. I was so lost in thought that it was only when I heard Mother sigh that I realized it was time to go. It was time to experience my first Reaping.

We walked out of the house together, the sun shining in our eyes. It was a beautiful day, although too beautiful for what was about to happen. Two people in my District, all whom I know, were going to go fight and most likely die. I wasn't friends with anyone, because I get teased too much, but I still don't want to watch them die. Before I knew it, I was right next to the big area, shaded by orange trees, where everyone stood to find out if they were going to die or not.

"Finger." I snapped back out of my thoughts once again, to see a Peacemaker holding her hand out for my finger. I gently put it in her hand, not knowing what was going to happen. Before I could do anything about it, I saw her take a blood sample from my finger and smear it on a sheet of paper, to say that I had come. She shooed me away for the next kid, and I sucked the remaining blood off of my finger as I went to find a spot to stand at in the crowd. I'm not sure how long I stood there before something actually happened. No one came over to talk to me, see how I was doing, or to make sure I was okay or anything, so in my mind, while I was waiting; I pictured the perfect place to live. A place where everyone had enough to eat and drink, no one had to work during the entire day, and a place where the Hunger Games didn't exist.

"Happy Hunger Games everyone!" I looked up at the stage to see our District's escort, Estella Cineatra, standing on the stage, looking around at all of us, seemingly expecting a bunch of cheers and smiles back. Her face was almost pure white, with bright yellow stars tattooed on her face. Her hair was long and black, big curls surrounding her face. In her hair it was made to look as if it was in space, with stars, planets, asteroids, and a lot more. Her dress was covered in the different planets of the solar system, each not in proportion to the other.

"As you all know, this year is a very special year for those two lucky people who go to the Hunger Games! And, in honor of it being our twenty-fifth anniversary, we're changing things up a bit." A crowd of whispers overtook the crowd. I just stood in the back, trying to get a better view of the stage. "This year, as you all may notice, there are no bowls containing all of your beautiful names in it." Her voice was laced with sticky sweetness. It made me want to vomit. "This year, the lovely Capitol is allowing you, you lucky children, to determine which two children go to the Hunger Games." Uproar started up in the crowd. No one wanted to send another person to the Hunger Games and die. No one wanted to have the regret of sending them off to stay with them for the rest of their lives. Many angry voices stood out among the children.

"We won't do that!"

"How dare you make us do this?!"

"No one will make a decision!"

"Might I remind you that if you all don't choose two children, then my... friends... will have to take things into their own hands. I believe you can all see these lovely weapons in their hands, can you not?" The crowd was instantly silenced. "That's better. Now, you have ten minutes to choose. If there is no one on the stage by then, then you all will get a very nice chance to meet my friends." She promptly turned on her heels, and began walking away into the darkness, her shoes clicking away into the silence.

10.

Bates, one of the only seventeen year olds that could possibly enter the Hunger Games, stood up. "I know that we don't want to do this, but we have to think logically. What do you think is better, two people go, one possibly stays alive, or we all die?" More uproar began. Some insults were sent out to him because they believed that he wanted to send two people off to their death.

9.

"Calm down people. Now I know this is going to be extremely painful, both mentally and physically, but we have to do it. We only have a couple of minutes left to do this before we all die. Now, I'm assuming no one will volunteer? If not, then I will. Just because I know I can stand a chance in the arena, and it makes things a lot easier."

8.

"What about the girls? We need someone. Come on, just shout out a name. We need at least two to choose from."

7.

"Melissa! Melissa Jones! She's smart, so she could last a bit longer in it!" I turned to my left to see Austin, a boy about thirteen years old, pointing to Melissa. I liked Melissa. She was really nice to everyone, and always smiled at me when she passed by.

6.

Melissa walked up to the stage, hands and legs shaking. I felt bad for Melissa. It must be terrifying to be up there. I don't know who I would volunteer. I couldn't morally do it.

"Come on people, we only need one more person!"

5.

Silence. Silence for a minute.

4.

"Guys we're running out of time! Here, Melissa, you choose someone. Quickly. Now. Do it before we all die."

3.

Melissa thought for a minute. I was shaking myself during that minute, because we were all facing our imminent death.

2.

I saw Melissa's arm shakily rise and point in my general direction. I assumed it wasn't me, only because no one knew me. "Violet. Violet Langston." My heart stopped. I couldn't formulate the idea that I was about to possibly go to the Hunger Games. My legs somehow started moving up towards the stage, not knowing anything that was about to happen.

1.

"Alright, we've got two people up here! Show of hands by who wants to send Melissa to the Hunger Games!" I saw a lot of hands go up. I silently prayed that there were more than what would go up for me.

"Okay, I've got a basic idea of how many people want her to leave. Now, hands for Violet?" I closed my eyes, not wanting to see the people who would send me to my death. "It's settled then. Melissa, go over to your family. Violet, come with me." I couldn't believe what I just heard. I hear my mother scream a sound of pure terror and heartbreak. I saw my father take her into his arms, her crying into his arms. Since Bates parent's died in an accident a couple years ago, no one was there to mourn him. Stone faced, he looked down into my face. I could see his eyes soften, when he saw how terrified I was. Taking my hand, he led me into the darkness.