Sunrise on the Reaping (The Hunger Games, #0.5)

by Suzanne Collins

No way to control the outcome of the reaping or what follows it. So don’t feed the nightmares. Don’t let yourself panic. Don’t give the Capitol that. They’ve taken enough already.

Because the reaping’s going to happen no matter what I believe. Sure as the sun will rise tomorrow.”

The moment our hearts shattered? It belongs to us.

She’s frozen forever at thirteen.

I’m entirely the Capitol’s plaything. They will use me for their entertainment and then kill me, and the truth will have no say in it.

“In every way, you are a thousand times better than anybody in the Capitol. You are loved better, raised better, and a whole lot better company.

Who will sing your songs now, Louella?

Maybe this is where I paint my own poster.

The most powerful and, therefore, the most brutal person in Panem.

I have not impressed him with my performance. The reckless mountain boy with the dead girl in his arms seems foolish, a trifle amusing, and nothing more.

We never, none of us, had any choices.”

I’m trying to build an alliance to counter the Careers. I’ve got all of Seven and Eight on board, and Eleven’s thinking it over.”

It’s Mags, a victor from District 4. She looks at me sadly, knowingly, and then opens up her arms and says, “I’m so sorry about Louella, Haymitch.”

For a moment, I teeter between anger and grief. But the dam finally breaks. I step into her embrace, drop my head on her shoulder, and begin to cry.

while Lenore Dove will forever be my true love, Louella is my one and only sweetheart.

“In the early Games, I didn’t ask the tributes what they wanted because the answer seemed so obvious. You want to live. But then I realized, there are many desires beyond that. Mine had to do with my district partner. Protecting him.” Wiress offers, “I remember I didn’t want to die at night. I didn’t want to die in darkness. The thought terrified me.”

I say, “I don’t want my girl and my family to watch me die some long, horrible death.

“Yeah, if I’m going, I want to go fast,” says Wyatt. “I don’t want people who bet on my death being drawn out to make money on it.”

“I don’t want to beg,” says Maysilee. “Or plead for my life. I want to go out with my head up.”

“We’re wild like our chariot horses. I slugged our escort and Haymitch called out President Snow. Nobody pushes us around.”

As Ringina accepts the compliment with a quick grin, the energy shifts. I know I’m never going to kill this girl any more than I’m going to kill Maysilee or Wyatt. So I might as well be 7’s ally and join Ampert’s team for real.

I’m being punished for coming up with a plan to sabotage the Capitol’s communication system. I’m too valuable to kill, but my son is disposable.”

That is how Snow works.”

“I wish you were my sister,” he says simply. A funny look crosses her face. Bet she’s never heard those words before. I wait for a cutting remark, but she only says, “I’ll be your sister.”

Would you want your family to be here?” “I can’t think of anything worse.”

Games or no Games, if you’ve got a decent bone in your body, you hate a bully.

This is where I pay for painting my poster.

Louella’s death changed me. Maybe I’ll end up being victor material after all.

“For what? You’re sending me to my death in the Games.” “Yes, your behavior has guaranteed that.”

“Whoever she is, I guess she’s ours now,” says Wyatt.

“They reaped him to kill him, Haymitch! To punish me! I can think of no realistic scenario in which he does not die. I can only hope that his death is quick and not in vain.”

“Well, the Covey have an eye for beauty, that’s for sure.”

I can’t believe people with so much money have such bad taste.

They’ll respond to a bad boy, not a rebel. You need to be naughty, not dangerous.

Be a rascal. A charming, naughty rascal.”

At least the Trinkets aren’t mean, just clueless, which makes for a big improvement over Drusilla and Magno.

“You deserve to look beautiful tonight,” Effie replies. “And I think you’re all being very brave.” We don’t have much choice, but it’s nice to have someone recognize it.

“Listen, I’m going to be a real jerk in my interview. It’s something my team worked up, but I will never hurt you, okay? Or any of the Newcomers. That’s a promise.”

if you can get people to laugh at someone, it makes them look weak.

They’ll still be one hundred percent as stupid as usual, so I figure the odds will be roughly the same.”

Sometimes she cries because things are so beautiful and we keep messing them up. Because the world doesn’t have to be so terrifying. That’s on people, not the world.

You and me, we will find each other, as many times as it takes.”

Just like my geese, I mate for life. And then some. Forever.”

From the Capitol’sperspective, the Games are the best propaganda we have. You tributes, you’re our stars. You carry it out. But only if we control the narrative. Don’t let us.”

Make the audience feel for you, they’ll figure out intellectually why you’re the right tribute to support,” Plutarch explains. “But they hate all of us,” Wyatt counters. “They’re watching us kill each other for entertainment.” Plutarch waves this away. “They don’t see it that way. Supporting the Hunger Games is their patriotic duty.”

Yeah, it’s amazing we’re here at all. Given our natures.

There’s no good ending to Lou Lou’s story.

I wonder how Wyatt died and immediately feel certain he was protecting Lou Lou, the way no one had ever protected him. Including me.

Fire is catching, she’d say, but if this one burns down the arena, I say good riddance.

“She is not your plaything!”