the deadly, brutal hunger games

Deadly.
Brutal.
Terrible.
These are words people used to describe the hunger games.
Im Sapphire Rue Maylar. i have pale skin, dark brown hair and bright blue eyes. Im 17 years old i have 3 sisters October, whos 14, Amethyst, whos 12, and Emerald whos 4 and 2 brothers Dylan who is 16 and Owen who is Octobers twin. My mom is dead and my dad is very sick so i with the help of a couple people take care of my family. I have two friends Twila who is my next door neighbors daughter and Peter who i have known since i was a little kid me and him look out for each other. today is the day of the reaping of the 99th hunger games.
I quietly get out of the bed that i share with Emerald trying not to wake her and put on my boots. As i go out the door chills of cool air creep up my arms thats how it gets i district 12 hauntingly cold as if ghosts were breathing on your shoulder .i run to Twilas house and bang on her window.
"Twila come on! We're meeting Peter in the woods" i yell
" fine" she said sleepily
I wait for her to put on shoes and come outside finally she is ready and we walk to the fence that was now electrified. i grab on to the rope that was tied to a branch that went over the fence and swiftly climby up it Twila quickly following we jump down from the tree and go to the spot where we always meet but surprisingly we dont find peter.
"peter!" i yell no answer i try agian.
that is when i feel someone grab me from behind around my to skinny waist and spin me around. I scream and Twila starts laughing like crazy i immediatly know who it is.
"Peter! Put me down!"
Finally he lets go and stops laughing.
"Happy reaping!" he says this as if it is the most joyful thing in the world.
"Yes may the odds be ever in your favor!" Twila exclaims
"its not funny what if one of us or our family actually gets drawn"
"then you can say i told you so" Peter says Gleefully his dark hair messed up and green eyes gleaming
"im serious! what will we do if we get called all of our names are in a lot this year.'
"it will be fine trust us" twila says
'yeah" Peter agrees and he wraps one arm around my shoulder
"ok. Fine but im still a little worried what if Owen or Dylan gets called i cant volenteer for them."
"they will be fine" peter assures but i still worry.
we hunt a little a then we all have to go get ready for the reaping. i walk in the house and find October brousing through mothers old dresses.
"they are beautiful arent they"
"yes they're gorgeous" she replies quietly
"lets find one for you"
"really" she says surprised
"yeah" i hand her a sea blue dress that i think will go with her blonde hair.
"try this on"
"okay thanks!" she says happily
when she comes out she looks amazing the dress goes to her knees and looks like it was made of giant blue leaves at the top it was shaped as a V and had long see-through sleeves.her long blonde hair was flowing down her back.
"you look amazing" i say
"thank you"
i braid her hair and tie it with a light blue ribbon. then i pick out a dark pink dress for me that goes to the ground and like octobers it also is a V-neck mine has sparkles and gathers at my waist, i leave my hair down in my wavy curls and go to get Amethyst ready. As i am walking to my sisters small room i find Owen looking sadly at the door.
"hey Owen, whats wrong" i said
"im just worried"
"dont worry its ok" Lie, i say to myself nobody is ever safe
i walk over and straighten his blue bow he probably found in Dylans closet and give him a hug which was very unfair because even being tall for my age i only go to his shoulder.
"it will be ok" i whisper to myself
when i get to her room
Amethyst is brushing her hair, her usual smile on her face.
"beuatiful day isnt it Sapphire, im kinda nervous" her smile slightly fading
"it will be ok" Lie
"dont worry" i say
i give her a dark purple dress that is a little too short for her age and has no sleeves but at the tips of the dress has a black lace and she gasps in surprise
"i love it" she says and she hugs me
"you deserve it"
finally after we are all ready we head to town square for the reaping. i immeadiatly spot Peter standing tall with his almost white hair in his eyes and wave, he smiles and waves back. i walk to my age group after making sure my siblings went to the right place and took my place next to Twila her odd gold eyes filled with dread.
" remember it will be ok" i reassure her and she silently nodds
Effie trinket comes up to stage and greets us all and goes through the history of panem and finally
" and now for the reaping" she says as if she enjoys watching 24 children die brutally on television. Iglare at her in disgust.
"ladies first" she puts her hand in the bowl and my heart sounds like an oversized drum playing in a room of silence, the sound filling the air and making me feel closterphobic.
im in utter shock as i hear the name
"Sapphire Maylar" a single tear rolls down my cheek as i make my way to the stage. as i turn around to face the crowd. Effie exclaimes
" what an honor" i ignore her usless side comment and look around amethyst is breaking down in tears as well as October while Owen and Dylan confort her.
"now for the boys"
i thought getting my name pulled was bad but what i her next shocks me more
" Owen Maylar"
i have a total melt down i fall and sob. That is when ihear the 2 magic words
"i volenteer"