I am Cassie Covington. I am a fighter. I am a Covington. I am a daughter of a farmer. This is my story.

I bolt up right. It was just a dream. It was just a dream. It was a nightmare. It happens every year. The same nightmare. I will be reaped. I lay back down in bed, it's ok, it's ok. I turn to my side and stare at my five year old brother sleeping soundly. He's my rock in this crazy, messed up world. I smile. Hopefully the crop won't fail this year, or the next. Hopefully the crop will never fail again, then my parents won't have to put his name in the reaping bowl more than once. I know everything is going to be ok because everything is in God's hands. I say a short prayer and fall back into a dreamless sleep. 

"Cassie, Cassie! Wake up, you're going to be late!" My brother yells in my ear.

"What, huh, oh yea," I rub the sleep out of my eyes and yawn one last time. "What time is it?" I ask, laying back down and closing my eyes.

"10:50," he says again,excitedly.

"Did you say 10:50?" 

"Yea," he runs out of the room in his Sunday best. Oh.my.gosh. It's 10:50. In less than ten minutes I have to be at the town square for the reaping. I leap out of bed and into the small bathroom across the hall. I brush my hair and teeth at the same time and rush into my room to find a pretty light blue dress and white wedge sandals. Then I grab my grandma's pearl necklace and run down the stairs, then right back up them to make my bed. I heard that if you make your bed, you're prone to having a better day. I want a good day.

I'm not the only one late. I walk up to the sign in table, where they prick my finger. I walk over to the other sixteen year old girls. Anyone of us could be picked. Even me. 

Lilac Ambrose walks out on stage, wearing her usual reaping outfit. A bright neon orange halter dress. It's annoyingly bright for this cloudy day. Her voice is too. So is the video. I tune it all out. Who doesn't? 

"Let's begin! Ladies first, of course," Lilac walks over to the golden bowl and places her hand inside. Then walks back to the microphone. "Ladies and gentlemen, please welcome your tribute for the 200th annual hunger games, Cassie Covington!" I look around for the unlucky soul that was picked. The girls around me part, and I finally realize that it's me. "Well, come on, we don't have all day!" I walk up to the stage, shocked. How am I going to win? "Now it's time for the boys!" Lilac walks over to the boys and does the same exact thing. Then she walks back the microphone. "This years male tribute is, Roman Von!" He walks up to the stage and stands next to Lilac. "Well, shake hands you two!" So we do, ave then we're rushed off stage.