PART ONE: WHAT WAS

Before the bloodbath, the betrayals, the games, there was the reaping. As breaths shortened, shoulders tensed, and quick tears formed, the tributes hoped that date would be on their side. Unfortunately, the games had other plans.

DOROTHEA HUXLEY

When Dorothea woke up that day, like any other. But she knew that it was going to be different somehow. It was Reaping Day, The 34th Hunger Games would soon start and she'd have to go another year of forcibly watching the games. The good news was her sister, Marjoree, was on her second to last reaping. They'd be able to go by with just one more year.

Just one more year.

A lot of people had their own pre-reaping rituals, for Dorothea's family it was rather different. Silence fell in the house as the hours rolled passed, their father looking Marjoree in the eye. He thinks it's to spare himself from thinking it would be the last he'd see of his daughter. "You won't get picked," Dorothea finally spoke as they got ready, braiding Marjoree's hair. "And there'd be plenty of volunteers to do it anyway."Marjoree only nodded, fixated on her plain dress. Gold it was, the dress their mother used to wear. For a family from District One, they found themselves rather simple. "Ready?"

"Ready," Marjoree said in reply, taking her sister's hand in hers as they walked out of their house, ready to face the day.

The Huxleys, and twenty three other families, would have their children's names called that day. The odds may or may not be in their favors, as actions have consequences. Whether good or bad.