Condemned By the Capitol ~The 28th Hunger Games~

Its early when I rise, the sun has just barely set a glow on the horizon when I haul myself quietly out of bed.
I look at the other side of the room and see my little sister Endura sleeping peacefully tangled in the blankets we were able to muster together against the late night chill.
I walk quietly over to her and kiss her forehead, she sighs engrossed in the world of her dreams as I turn to look at my brother James whos wrapped up in his own blanket sprawled out on the small bed we share.
I leave a note by him on the bed before dressing in an old well-worn army green t-shirt, tattered khaki pants, and some worn boots that used to be my mothers.
I pull on my fathers old leather jacket and head out into the morning chill.
I walk around district twelve for hours before ducking under the barely charged fence and making my way up the closest tree.
I climb as high as I dare before settling on a branch, bracing my back against the trunk of the quite large tree. I sigh and let my thoughts drift back to my old life in district four.
I miss it so much these days its a wonder I don't go crazy. I miss everything about district four, with its beautiful coast, wonderful people, and unbelievable sunsets and ocean views.
The one thing I miss the most about district four though has to be my best friend Finnick, we have been best friends practically since birth and its been almost four years since Ive seen him.
You see, before we came to district twelve we lived in the most beautiful part of district four and life was great! I couldn't have asked for a better place to spend my life beside away from the Hunger Games the Capitol began nearly twenty-eight years ago.
I sat in my tree and thought about district four for who knows how long. The one thing that broke me away from my thoughts was Endura calling my name and running through the woods trying to find me.
I looked down to see her standing directly below me under the tree.
I scoffed, "Endura, what are you doing here?!" I asked her making my way down from my tree to stand right in front of her.
"James sent me to get you, the reapings in two hours!" she said twiddling her fingers and looking up at me with her pale blue eyes.
"Oh, okay let's go." I said placing a hand behind her back and guiding her back towards the fence.
I had completely forgotten about the reaping and honestly I would love to have missed it, but unfortunately it was mandatory so I walked with my little sister back to our house picking up edible roots, plants and fruits along the way.
Once inside I set our gatherings on the table and rushed upstairs to change.
I put on a simple yet pretty pea green dress that was my mothers, a worn pair of black flats I got as a birthday present one year, and a light gray cardigan.
I pulled my impeccably straight friey hair in a French braid down my back and went to check on Endura.
She was dressed in a pale blue frilly dress that matched her eyes, an old pair of my shoes, and a white sweater.
I pulled the top half of her curly brown hair back and pinned it before we both made our way down stairs where James was already waiting on us.
We all grabbed a small piece of fruit and began making our way to the square in the middle of our district for the reaping.
James stood towards the front of the section designated for parents and others over the age of eighteen, Endura and I stayed together before making our way to our sectioned age group.
We all stood here before our district escort Reginala Gainsford and volunteer mentor (our district has never won the games) Keenan Pawn came out onto the stage.
I sighed and just wanted this to be over with, she went through the history of the games and all the usual things that happen every year.
I did get quite nervous when she uncovered to two bowls full of the possible tributes, my name was in there more than I would've liked.
I held my breath as she dug into the bowl for a female tribute, "Our female tribute is, Acadiana Roelyn!" she announced in her overly peppy voice, the calling of my name was followed by a scream from my sister.
I guardedly made my way towards the stage, I was just about to walk up the stairs when my sister ran to me. She grabbed me around the waist and refused to let go.
"Endura, look at me." I said finally prying her off of me and turning to face her, "Dont worry about me, I promise I'll do whatever I can to come back home. Just know that I love you, now go to James." I said sadness in my eyes as I looked at the fear and pain painted on my little sisters face.
She nodded but stayed where she was. I looked at James who was in the front of the crowd, he nodded ever so slightly before running forward, picking up Endura and taking her kicking and screaming through the crowd.
I took a deep breath and quickly made my way onto the stage to stand next to Reginala, Keenan put a sympathetic hand on my shoulder before heading over to the other side of the stage.
"And now for our male tribute!" Reginala continued as if she had gone uninterrupted and reached into the opposite bowl.
"The male who shall represent district twelve is Ian Lamont!" she said extending an arm out to the crowd, many people gasped and a mother holding an infant began sobbing.
Ian was a boy with blonde hair and blue eyes a year above me in school who most of the girls fawned over.
I had talked to him a few times but he never particularly appealed to me. He slowly made his way onto the stage to stand next to me, he was at least six inches taller than me and was very muscular so whenever Reginala asked us to shake hands I looked extremely fragile compared to him.
Anyone who knows me though would know to never underestimate me.
After our handshake Reginala continues with the reaping ceremony but I completely zone out until we were escorted towards the train, Reginala had taken extra-long with the reaping so we had enough time to say on quick last goodbye before being forced onto the train.
I told my siblings I loved them and to stay strong and I would do my best to come back, I then kissed them both on the cheek before being escorted onto the train with Ian.
I settled into a window seat that overlooked the main plaza and rested my chin and arms on the window ledge.
A new determination spread over me as I watched district twelve and everyone in it disappear behind me, I would win the Hunger Games. I would at least give it my very best shot.
Keenan turned on the T.V. behind me so we could watch the reapings of the other districts, I spun around and asked for a notebook and a pencil to take note on the tributes from the other eleven districts.
Reginala handed me an extra notepad she had with her and Keenan provided me with a pen from his worn pants pocket.
I looked up at the screen just in time to see the first tribute from district one chosen. Satin Kinka. My age, pretty, career, watch your back. I wrote on down, there was something about her that I couldnt put my finger on but the look in her eyes told me I needed to watch my back.
Then came the male tribute, Lucas Alkin. My age, semi-attractive, strong, career.
The tributes from district two were younger than me, one seemed cocky and the other, sweet?
District threes tributes were younger and my age, looking falsely innocent and very strong and dangerous.
I got a giant knot in my stomach as the district four reaping appeared on the screen. I held my breath as the district four escort Daridia Mellhook dug into the bowl of female names and prayed it wouldnt be someone I knew.
"Belinda May." Daridias gravelly voice rung out, a small twelve year old girl with long brown hair & big blue eyes who looked so much like Endura it was unbelievable made her way onto the stage and let out a whimper as no one volunteered to take her place.
I felt terrible for the small little girl, but I pulled my legs up and tucked my knees under my chin as she moved onto the male tribute.
Anyone but him. Please anyone but him. I prayer mentally as she dug through the bowl of names.
I gasped and dropped my pen and paper, moving my hand to covering my mouth so I wouldnt scream as she called out the one named I would dread ever coming out of her mouth, "Finnick Zeveran." She announced before a single tear slipped down my face.
Why did it have to him? I thought desperately trying to believe I was imagining things, Of all people why did it have to be the one person who means everything to me? I never realized how much I would use that one statement throughout the rest of my life.