67 Reaping

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District One Reaping

Ashkia Dayson POV

"Faster, Ashkia, faster! Don't you know how to run? You'll never win the games if you run like you got rocks weighing you down!" My father screams at

me.

"I understand Coach!" I yell back.

The heat that sun is producing is unbearable on my sixteen year old body. I squint my dark blue almond shaped eyes to avoid sweating dripping down

into them. My father sees this and grabs me by the collar of my green shirt, pulling me back. His dark blue eyes glare into mine. I gulp, preparing myselffor a beating. He throws me to the ground and I land on my back, pain shooting across the scar that stretches across my back. The scar that was aconstant reminds me everyday of the beating I endure from my father. The beatings that my mother encourages.

My father looms over me. I crawl back a little, the smooth green grass tickling my palms. I wonder if my older brother, Aatami, endured this pain frommy father. I could never ask him though, since he was killed in one of the previous games. His death destroyed my mother, who practically begged my

father to get her pregnant again so she could have another boy. But my father had a different idea. He started training me like he trained my brother,making me the son my mother had lost. Everyday I have been training under the guidance of my father, who made me call him coach instead of father.

He had won the Hunger Games when he was younger, and he was expecting me to win the games this year.

My father reaches down and pulls me off the ground with one hand. My feet are off the ground, even though I was 5'9. My father takes his free hand and

brushes my long, auburn hair away from my ears. He brings his lips near my ears. His breath on my ear makes me shudder.

"Today is the day of the reaping, Ashkia. I expect you to be the female tribute. And you do know what happens if you don't right?" My father whispers

into my ear.

"You kill me." I whisper, a single tear falling down my cheek.

"That's right. And you're going to win. You will continue the Dayson family tradition of winning. I won, and now you're going to win. Got it?"

"Got it."

My father drops me onto the ground and hit it hard. I bit my lip to prevent myself from crying out in pain that rockets up my back. I look up from underthe hair that has fallen in front of my face to see my father checking the time on his watch.

"The reaping starts in an hour. I expect you to look nice and be ready to represent District One."

I nod my head and get up from the ground. I walk back to our house. I head straight to the bathroom, not even bothering to say hello to my mother. Iwash my face off, then any other part of my body that won't be covered by my dress. I then brush my hair and fix auburn my curls. They go all the waydown to my waist. Once I make sure my face is beautiful and my skin glows, I head to my bedroom and see the dress my mother had laid out for me. It's

a white spaghetti strapped dress. I slip it on and examine myself in the mirror. The dress puffs around my waist and ends at my knees. I looked sexy, asusual. I sigh to myself, knowing guys will be flinging themselves at me as usual.

I walk with my family to town square. The sun shines high in the sky, adding more heat and tension to the square. My mother kisses me goodbye and

walks away. My father gives me a glare and then stalks away. I know what the glare means.

A few girls say hello to me as I join the other girls my age. I didn't have any friends around the District, only a few acquaintances. As I wait for the mayorto come onto the stage to begin the reaping, I can feel my father's dagger eyes staring at me. Even though I can not see him, I can still feel him.

Finally the mayor comes onto the stage and reads the Treaty of Treason. Then the escort of District One, Phineas Quill, comes onto the stage. Phineaswon the games a few years back. He is a well built man. Muscles seemed to practically bulge through his shirt. His black hair lays flat on his forehead and

he seems unhappy to be here.

Aren't we all?

Phineas walks over to the name holding the girls name. It doesn't matter who he pulls out, because I was going to be the tribute.

"I volunteer!" I yell before Phineas has even pulled the name out of the bowl.

Heads turn towards me as I run up to the stage, my black flats making clicking noises that fill the town square. Nobody speaks as I finally get up ontostage and next to Phineas.

"What's your name?" Phineas says in a rather surprised voice.

"Ashkia Dayson, sir." I say in a loud and clear voice.

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Phineas nods his head and heads over to the boys' bowl. I gaze out into the crowd and see my mother, who is crying silent tears of joy. My father nods

his head, and I know I have done them proud.

Julian Devereux POV

I sit at the kitchen table while my mother, Kelsey Devereux, once again begs me not volunteer to be the male tribute for the Hunger Games this year.

"Mother, this is my last year to enter. I am eighteen and going to win." I sigh out.

My mother wipes a single tear that had fallen away from her face. She reaches across the table and grabs my tan hand. She holds it tightly, and I can tell

by her grip she doesn't want to let go.

"Please don't do this Julian. I need you. Your father needs you. Alicia needs you." My mother whispers out.

"I'm entering this year mom. I will w in. Grandpa won, Father one, and so did one of my uncles. The Devereux's come from a long list of winners, and Iwill be the next one to join that list." I state.

"I already lost Jackie. I can't lose you." My mother says as a fresh new batch of tears work their way out of her eyes.

I stand up from my seat and pull my hand away from my mother's.

"You won't lose me like we lost Jackie." I say before I turn sharply on my heal and head to my bedroom to get ready for the reaping.

I close the door and walk over to my bed. I lay down on it and stare at the ceiling. My thoughts drift to my family. My father was happy when I told him I

was going to volunteer in the games and win. My mother has been trying to talk me out of entering for months. She was afraid she was going to lose melike we lost my twin sister, Jacqueline, a few years ago. Jackie had made it to the final two the year she was in the games. Then when it came down tothe final showdown, the boy tribute from District Nine killed her. This year I was going to enter to avenge my sister, I would destroy any District Nine

tribute not matter what the costs.

I stand among the other eighteen year old males, waiting for Phineas Quill to pull a name. Right now he stood by the girls' bowl, about to pull out a name

when someone from the girls section screamed out, "I volunteer!"

I watched with my own two hazel eyes as a girl emerges from the sixteen year old section of the girls and made her way onto the stairs. She seemedscared, frighten.

What an easy kill she will be.

The girl's name was Ashkia Dayson. I studied her, wondering whether she would survive the cornucopia blood bath or hang on till the end. She wasskinny and tall, with auburn curls that fell down to her waist. She seemed like she had been training for the games for years, like me.

Then Phineas made his way over to the boys' bowl. I pushed my way through the crowd, emerging at front.

"I, Julian Devereux, volunteer to be this year's male tribute."

Phineas looked rather startled that two children had volunteered to be tributes this year, which is strange because District One always get volunteers. Iwalk up the stairs to the stage, my blonde shaggy hair bouncing up and down with each step I take. I go over to stand next to Ashkia and stand up nice

and tall for the cameras. I put on my trademark smirk that I know would strike fear in my competitors.

"Ladies and Gentlemen, I present to you Ashkia Dayson and Justin Devereux, the tributes of District One!"

The crowd claps quietly and Phineas gestures for me to shake hands with Ashkia. I grab her hand and shake it like a gentleman. I knew I had Ashkia

fooled when she gave me a smile.

I am currently waiting in a small room, waiting for some visitors to see me off before the games. I only expect my family to come, and as if on cue, my

father, mother, and little twelve year old sister Alicia walk into the room.

My father pulls me into a hug and pats me on the back, all while telling me how proud he is of me. He steps back and mother runs forward and pulls meinto a tight hug. I hug her back while she sobs into my shirt. I feel my little siste r Alicia come in on my right side and joins the hug. Before I know it, apeacekeeper comes into the room and informs my family it's time for them to leave. We all gather for one more group hug and we whisper "I love you"

into each others ears. My family exits the room and I sit down on the brown couch that had been set up for me.

A moment later I'm knocked over by a hug from the side. I sit upright to see Alicia standing there, a tear sliding down her face.

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"Promise me you'll come back. Jackie's already gone and I can't lose you. You HAVE to win." Alicia says before breaking out into tears.

I grab her and pull her into a hug. I rub her back gently and shush her softly.

"I promise I will come back Alicia." I say.

Alicia pulls away from my hug and gazes into my hazel eyes. She sits down on my lap and plays with my dark, wavy, shaggy blonde hair.

"Promise?"

"I promise."

A peacemaker comes into the room and tells Alicia she must go. Before she leaves, Alicia grabs my pinky finger in hers and whispers, "A promise is a

promise", before running out of the room.

I wait a little while longer until a new peacekeeper comes into the room and informs me it's time to go. I walk out of the building and onto a train

platform, where cameras are waiting. Ashkia practically runs onto the train, and I walked slowly behind her, letting the cameras eat me up. I keep mychin up and walk my best cocky walk. Right before I step onto the train, I turn towards a camera, smirk, and then step onto the train that will take me to

my victory.

District Two Reaping

Vivienne "Vivie" Cameron POV

I sit on my bed, fingering the necklace Bree gave me before she left for the games last year. The games that took her away from me. I run my smallfingers across the heart and memories of last year's games rushed through my head. How the boy and girl tribute from District Four killed her. She hadmade it to the final three. She should have won. Everybody in District Two always believed while I was growing up that Bree would be the next winner of

the Hunger Games. The year she was entered I knew she would win. Bree was, no, is my idol. If I get entered in the Hunger Games this year, I will getmy revenge on District Four and win.

I walk over to my dresser and pull out my favorite dress, a cream color sweater dress. I slip it on over my head. Next, I put on my black flats. I walk overto my mirror and put Bree's necklace on. I examine myself in the mirror. My golden curls fall gracefully down my back and stop at my waist. My blue eyes

are large, dark blue eyes look innocent and trustworthy. I look like an angel as usual.

My mother, Emilie, walks into my room. I turn to face her to see her crying. I know she is remembering how much I look like Bree. I put on my best

smile, flashing my pearly white teeth. My father enters to the room and scoops my tiny, petite body up into his arms. I giggle with glee as he spins mearound. Then he puts me down and we head off to the reaping.

I am standing among the fellow twelve year old girls. My best friends, Moxie and Rocky, are silent. Usually they are talking my ear off. I guess they arenervous since any of us could be entered in the games, and this is the first year our names have been entered. I keep attempting to start a conversation

about anything, but they keep their lips shut tight. I sigh and give up.

The mayor walks onto the stage and quickly reads through the Treaty of Treason, which reminds all of us in District Two, why we are sent to their deaths.

Then the escort, Winnie Sebert, comes onto the stage, her chin held high. Her golden hair is up high in a bun and she's wearing an olive green shirt that

compliments her tan skin. Her black two inch heels make clicking noises as she walks over to the girls' bowl and pulls out a name.

"Vivienne Cameron!" Winnie calls out in a loud, clear voice.

As I walk up to the stage, words run through my head. Joy. Shock. Revenge. Fear Happiness. Revenge.

I find myself staring at the faces of the crowd, each face filled symphony for me. I don't understand why they are feeling symphony for me. I am the little

sister of Brianna Cameron. I am the golden child of District Two. The one who has been training for the games her entire life. I had perfect grades,perfect looks, perfect family, and a perfect life. Everybody loved me. Surely they would be happier for me. So why weren't they? Maybe they were afraid

to lose me like they lost Bree. But they won't. I am going to win the games. I am going to avenge my sister.

I am going to be victorious.

Gabriel Monet POV

As I walk into the town square with my eighteen year old sister, Felicity, and my twelve year old brother, Parker, I can feel the tension in the air. I couldprobably slice it in two with my hunt ing knife that I used to kill animals and feed my family. Ever since the death of my father, I had to become the manof the family.

My sister, brother and I embrace ourselves in a hug before going our separate ways. My sister leaves first, followed by my brother. I just stand there

alone, watching them leave. My mother is staying home today, praying that neither I nor my siblings are picked for the games. Our family already lostmy father in a factory accident last year, and we certain don't want to lose another member of our family.

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I walk over to the thirteen year old boys section and join my buddy, Max. He greets me by messing up my normally short, messy brown hair. I grin and

Max starts going off about how beautiful Vivie Cameron looks today. I smile and shake my head at Max's words. Every guy fourteen and under was in

love with Vivie's looks. Expect me. To me, Vivienne Cameron, is just another girl in District Two.

Max falls silent and I see the mayor has begun to read the Treaty of Treason. I bit my bottom lip, butterflies raging in my stomach. I am afraid to lose

Felicity or Parker. And I know they are afraid to lose me.

Winnie Sebert comes out onto the stage and quickly pulls out the name of the girl tribute.

"Vivienne Cameron!" Winnie yells out.

As Vivienne makes her way to the stage, I let out a deep breath that I didn't even know I was holding in. I give a silent thanks that Felicity has beenspared. Now she was officially done with being entered in the games. She would be safe from the horrors of the games were the rest of her life. But I

can't help feeling sorry for the Cameron family. They lost the ir eldest daughter, Bree, in the games last year. I don't even want to know how the ir feelingnow.

"Gabriel Monet!"

I jerk my head up at the sound of my name. I see the crowd staring at me. Then my green eyes wander to the stage. I see Winnie by the bowl full of theboys' names, and she's holding a slip of paper.

Then it hits me. That piece of paper in Winnie's hand has my name on it. I'm this year's male tribute.

No. It can't be.

"Gabriel Monet?" Winnie says from the stage. Before my feet move, I turn towards Max and tell him to take care of my family. He nods and then I'm

pushing my way slowly through the crowd, and then I'm running. I just want to get out of there fast as I can before the tears start flowing.

As I start my way up the stairs, I feel something grab my leg. I turn around to see Parker there, holding my leg and crying.

"Let go Parker." I mumbled while trying to shake him off.

"You can't leave!" He screams.

Felicity comes out from the crowd and pulls Parker off my leg. I met her blue eyes and mouth, "I'msorry."She gives me a sad nod and backs away into

the crowd.

I finally make my way across the stage and end up standing next to Vivienne. I stare at my brown loafers, not wanting to meet any eyes in the audience.

It would just make this whole situation more painful.

"The Tributes of District Two, ladies and gentlemen, Vivienne Cameron and Gabriel Monet!" Winnie cal ls out to the crowd.

Nobody claps for us. Vivienne and I shake hands, and I can see she's trying to hide fear behind her blue eyes. I do no such thing. Let her see my fear.

Because she won't be seeing my fear in the arena from me. Let me fool her. I'm going to come home alive for my family, and she's not.

District Three Reaping

Rose Eversong POV

My best friend Allie and I were going to the reaping together. I push Allie's wheelchair along the dirt road. The normal clicking noise my white heels makeare drowned out by our laughter. Allie is making fun of my blue dress that I wear every year to the reaping, and I can't help but laugh at her comments.

Normally I wouldn't smile, but something about Allie just brings it out.

Every since Allie had gotten sick last year, I had become a former shell of my old bubbly self. Allie had died before my eyes to only be revived moments

later by my mother. My world had shattered in those few moments, and all happiness was lost forever. I became nasty towards all expect for Allie, my

mother Lila and my father Ben. Anybody else was shut out.

I fix the white headband in my black hair and find myself gazing up at the cloudy sky with my green eyes.

"Do you think it's going to rain?" I ask Allie.

"Why Rose, afraid to ruin your seal colored dress? Are you going to balance a ball on your nose for me?" Allie responds

"If that's what you want."

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Allie and I reach the town square and raced over to the thirteen year old section because the mayor had already begun reading the Treaty of Treason. If

the peacekeepers saw us coming in late, they surely would have whipped us right on the spot after the reaping. Allie and I sneak to the back of our

section and listen to the mayor like everybody else. I play with the key on my necklace while the escort, Embry Hartman, comes onto the stage. Embry isa sixty year old man who has brought many tributes from District Three to victory over the years. Embry has the most kills when he won the games in

the history of the Hunger Games. He is not to messed with.

"Allie Solemn." Embry calls out in serious voice.

I feel all color drain from my face. My sick best friend was just chosen to go into the arena. I have to act. I give Allie a kiss on her hand and swiftly run to

the front of the crowd. I stand in front of the stage.

"I volunteer to be the tribute." I say.

"And your name would be?" Embry asks with no emotion.

"Rose Eversong."

Embry nods his head and I run up to the stage, knowing I had done what was best to keep Allie safe. I know Allie and my parents are shocked at my

actions, but I was going to come home for them. Rose Eversong doesn't make mistakes. And I won't make the mistake of dying in that arena.

Charles Hunter POV

I limp into the square slowly, pain rocketing up my left leg. My father, Jacob, helps guide me to the other fourteen year old boys. My mother Cather inekisses me on the cheek. My father gives me a hug then lifts my little four year old sister Danielle to give me a kiss. My parents give me a wary smile then

leave with Danielle in tow. I tug at my brown jacket, then my red shirt underneath. I pat my dark blue dress pants free of any dirt I can see with my lefteye. Soon I find my fingers making their way to my face and running along the scar I received six years ago when a peacemaker slashed me across the

face for protesting over the fact my friend John Seda had gotten chosen for the games. As I look around the square now with my dark brown eyes, I canthat very same peacekeeper twirling the knife that scarred me in his hands. I shudder at the memory.

"Allie Solemn."

I look up to see Embry Hartman holding the girl tributes name.

"I volunteer to be the tribute."

My gaze then shifts to thirteen year old girl name Rose Eversong making her way up the stairs to the stage. She has black hair like mine expect hers islong and mine is short.

"Charles Hunter."

Embry is holding the name of the male tribute. And it's me.

I limp my way up to the stage and fall on the steps. Then someone lifts me up and places my 5'2 body on stage. I turn my head to see John smiling and

giving me a thumbs up. I give genuine smile back and limp over to Rose and Embry. I have seen previous reapings before and so has Rose, so we shakehands while Embry calls out, "Rose Eversong and Charles Hunter, the tributes of District Three!"

I really wish I wasn't the tribute.

Bethany "Beth" Bray POV

"Bethany Bray, you get up right now!" My father screams from another room.

I open my hazel eyes and sigh. Today was my father's most favorite day of the year: The Reaping for the Hunger Games. And today was the day I wasgoing to be entered in the Hunger Games. I would volunteer myself to be a tribute because my father had been training for me for years to be a career

and a victor in the games. And today I would finally become one.

I stand up from my bed and stretch my arms up to the sky. Then I walk into the kitchen where my fourteen year old brother Zachary is sitting, eating

bread, and his light brown hair shining from the sunlight that comes in from the window. His hazel eyes meet mine and his face lights up into a smile. Imutter a hello to him and sit down and begin nibbling on the bread my father left for me. I try focusing on my bread but I feel Zachary's eyes burning

into me.

"What do you want Zack?" I finally snap.

Zack gulps but begins speaking.

"Dad wants us to go train a little more with him before the Reaping." Zack says with a hint of fear in his eyes.

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Our father Jonathan Bray had started training Zack and I when we both turned seven to be careers in the games. He has been obsessed with the games

for as long as I can remember. After our mother died, he started training us harder and harder every day.

My mother. She died when Zach and I were little and to this day we still don't know what happened to her. Whenever my brother sees someone wholooked like our mother, I can see the pain flash in his eyes. And Zach was one of those kids who loved life. He always made things brighten up and

always tried to make things happy in the worst times. To see pain flash in his eyes kills me.

I wipe my mouth with my hand to rid myself of any crumbs and stand up.

"Tell Dad I have a reaping to get ready for. You can train without me though, because I know how much you love train with him." I say.

Zack smiles and stands up from his chair. Only a few people know how to break through my sarcastic barrier and Zack was one of them. Zack smiles mehis pretty boy smile and I tried to stand my ground, but I end up breaking into a smile.

"I love you Zack." I say.

Zack smiles again and walks over to me and pulls me into a hug. I think about pushing him away, but my sweet and caring side takes over. I hug himback. When we pull apart, I walk straight to my room and get dressed for my reaping.

Zack, my father, and I walk into the square together. Zack gives my father a kiss then gives another kiss to me before running off and joining his friendsin fourteen year old section for boys. That leaves me alone with my father.

My father places his hands on my shoulders that were currently covered by my powder blue dress. He fixes my golden hair that lies gently on myshoulders. Then he pushes the hair that covers my eyes so he could get a good look at me. I put on a fake smile for him as he examines me from head to

toes.

"Make me proud Beth." He says.

Now I smile for real. My father never calls me by my nickname. I nod my head and then walk over to join the other girls my age. As I join them, my

father walks off, not even looking back at me like all the other parents. All the other parents are praying that there children won't be picked: my father ispraying that Zack or I will be picked. While other girls chatter about their dresses, I remain silent. Soon the mayor steps onto the stage and the crowdfalls into a silence. The mayor reads the Treaty of Treason and then District Four's escort comes onto the stage. Her name is Mimi Rent and she is way

too perky. Her black hair with pink streaks is up in a ballet bun. She has on bright pink lipstick and a bright pink shirt on with black, shiny skirt. I thinkshe was going for a black and pink look this year.

Mimi walks up to the microphone and taps on it before saying, "Let the reaping begin!" with a giggle.

She walks over to the girl bowl and sticks her hand in. Mimi rummages around for a little while to add more tension to the air. Finally, Mimi pulls out aname and shouts, "Anneliese Fawn!"

A cry is heard from the parents section as small thirteen year old Anneliese makes her way to the stage. She trips onto the stage, her brown hair fallingout of her loose braid. Anneliese stands up and starts walking over to Mimi in tiny steps. She isn't even halfway across the stage before I run out to the

front of the crowd and yell "I volunteer!"

Murmurs ripple through the crowd as I make my journey to the stage. Anneliese thanks me before stumbling off the stage and into the arms of her sister.

Mimi asks what my name is and I tell her. I catch my father staring at me, his eyes full of glee. Then I catch Zack's eye. He looks like he does wheneverhe sees someone who looks like my mother. I smile at him and then focus as Mimi begins to pull out my competition's name.

Robert Price's POV

My brother and I walked into the square, dreading the reaping. He and I had been on our own for the past year, and we had been fearing the reaping all

year. I couldn't lose him and he couldn't lose me. It just couldn't happen.

My brother and I hug for what seems like forever then finally pull apart. I pat him on the shoulder and he messes up my black hair before he runs off tohis section. I walk to the section filled with the rest of the fourteen year old boys. A few girls compliment me on my clothes as I walk by but I ignore

them. My nerves seem to eating me from the inside out.

Finally the mayor steps onto the stage and reads the Treaty of Treason. Then the escort for District Four comes onto stage in her normal, crazy outfits.But I don't focus on her. I focus on my brother, my mind playing out the possible scenarios if he was chosen. I could volunteer, but he would never let

me. We had promised each other this morning we wouldn't do that.

"I volunteer!"

I twist my head around to see a blonde hair girl walk to the stage. I recognize her as Beth Bray, a girl two years older than me. Her brother Zack is the

same age as me. Beth takes place of Anneliese Fawn, my thirteen year old next door neighbor. Mimi, the District Four escort, asks Beth her name andBeth says her name in a cool, confident voice. I snort quietly to myself. Figures a girl like Beth Bray would volunteer. Beth probably thinks since she livesin the rich part of the district and has flawless skin, thick eyelashes, and award winning smile, she is guaranteed to win the games.

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More like she is guaranteed to die.

I watched as Mimi giggles and spins herself over to the bowl holding the boys name. The bowl holding my name and my brother's. Mimi quickly pulls outa name, takes a deep breathe, then yells out the name of the poor, unfortunate soul doomed to die this year.

"Robert Price!"

Only one word runs through my brain. Fixed. That bowl was fixed to pull my name out, for me and my brother to be separated.

I find myself being shoved forward towards the stage. I catch myself before I fall. I lugged my body up the steps to the stage and find myself facing the

audience. My eyes fall onto my brother, who begins sobbing uncontrollably. This reaping was fixed.

"Any volunteers to take Robert Price's place?" Mimi yells to the crowd.

No one runs forward like crazy, sixteen year old Beth. The only sound heard from the crowd is the sobs of my brother.

"Ladies and Gentlemen, I present to you the tributes of District Four, Bethany Bray and Robert Price!"

The crowd claps and Mimi whispers for Beth and I to shake hands. Beth grabs my hand and shakes it, while I'm barely able to move my arm. I'm frozen

with fear. Beth gives me a smile that either says "sorry"or "you're going to die."

I'm scared to figure out what the smile means.

District Five Reaping

Eleanor Gubb POV

I sit on the edge on my bed while my mother brushes my light, thin blonde hair till it shines. The brush would end at my shoulder blade, where my hairends, then will travel back up to my roots and start its route downward again. My mother, who is my best friend, and I chat away about nonsense. My

mother gives me a little nudge on my back and I stand up. My dark green dress puffs around my large hips, yet falls perfectly around my small waist. Iexamine my rather small hands. My nails are shiny, covered in my normal clear coat of nail polish. My mother holds out a pair of black flats for me to slipmy large feet into. She spins me around and I come face to face with a mirror. My cupid bow shaped pink lips are shiny, and stand out against my pale

skin.

"You look beautiful." My mother whispers into my ear.

"Yeah." I mumble back.

My father sticks his head into the room and I freeze. He has an angry look on his face, and when my father is angry, he is not to be messed with. If he is

messed with, he lashes out physically.

"Amos is here to take you and Nole to the reaping, Eleanor." My father says.

I give him a nod and he disappears. My mother gives me a kiss and I walk out the door and outside where my oldest brother Amos is waiting. He nolonger lives with us since he got into darker, dangerous things that my parents told him not to do. He was the wild one of all of us. Amos has my secondoldest brother in a headlock. Nole is the weakest one of the family and Amos and I often overshadow him. Nole, who is often sick, gives small cough.

"Amos! Let go of him now!" I demand.

"Aw, is Little Miss Control Freak upset because she isn't getting to control little Nole?" Amos teases.

"I am not little! If anybody is little, it's Eleanor. She's only 5'2." Nole protests.

Amos drops Nole's lanky body and he lands on the dirt road with a small thud. Nole stands up, brushes off his pants and stomps away. I give a small

chuckle and run after Nole, not wanting to be left alone with Amos.

I stand among the other sixteen year olds of District Five, watching as the escort of District Five pulls out the girl's name to be this year's tribute.

"Eleanor Gubb!"

I'm the tribute. I walk down a path clear for me to get to the stage. I'm the tribute. It seems unreal. I get onto the stage and face a crowd that hasbegun clapping for me. I can't seem to grip the reality of the situation. I'm District Five's female tribute for the 67th Hunger Games.

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"And the male tribute is." The escort begins while slowly pulling the name of my competition.

Vigilante Huntst POV

I give Daniel Young another swift kick to his ribs. He's only fifteen and I don't care. He whimpers and I give another laugh. My seventeen year old friend

Fireburn leans down and picks Daniel up off the ground. My other friend, Dexter gives Daniel a hard punch across the face, knocking Daniel out ofFireburn's grasp and once again bringing him to the ground again. I loom over his body and fear shows in his eyes. I let my almond colored eyes burn

into his blue ones.

"Tell me Daniel, who are the best looking kids around here." I ask with another kick to his stomach.

"You, Fireburn, and Dexter." Daniel groans.

"Tell me why I am one of the best, Daniel."

"Because of your olive colored skin, shaggy coal black hair, your body, rock hard abs and the fact that every girl loves you. You're handsome and you

want everybody to know it." Daniel says.

"Excuse me?" I say.

"What?" Daniel moans.

"I am a peacekeepers son, as are Fireburn and Dexter. Maybe our fathers should come down here and kill you. You're lucky we have to go to the reaping

or you would so be dead. So you later Young." I say before giving him another swift kick and walking away with Dexter and Fireburn in tow.

Fireburn, Dexter, and I walk into the town square. We spot Daniel come tumbling in from another path, and I give him a smirk. He runs away quickly but

falls into a barrel of crates. I laugh at Daniel's embarrassment. I see Cameron Cloud come into the square, her beauty overwhelming. I point her out toFireburn and Dexter who then shove me in her direction. But then I see Katrina Gomez go up to Cameron and the two start talking. I try to decide whichone I want, but then I remember I'm Vigilante Huntst, the most handsome sixteen year old in the entire district. I'm handsome, muscular, fit, amazing,

and can get any girl I want. So I run my fingers through my coal black hair, put on my best smile and begin my walk to the girls. When I'm a couple feetfrom the girls, my little thirteen year old sister Lundy steps in front me.

"What do you want Lundy?" I growl.

Lundy and I look exactly alike, getting our looks from our father but ears and eyes from our genius mother. We both have the same personality andthat's what I love about her. Lundy is just like her charming older brother.

Lundy just points to the stage and I see the mayor is unrolling the scroll that contains that Treaty of Treason. I curse under my breath and race to joinDexter in the sixteen year old section. Him and I talk while the mayor reads the Treaty, not even caring that we are supposed to be silent because ourfathers are peacekeepers. Soon some sixteen year old girl Eleanor Gubb is chosen to be the female tribute. She is pretty good looking, but not capital

perfect like Katrina or Cameron.

"And the male tribute isVigilante Huntst."

Dexter pats me on the back and congrats me before I make my way to the stage. Plenty of other people pat me as I make my way to the stage. I see

Daniel and shove him down. I walk cockily onto the stage and stake Eleanor's hand so hard that I could probably break it. She looks kind of round next tome but I don't care. She is going to be dead in a matter of weeks.

"District Five's tributes for the 67th Hunger Games, Eleanor Gubb and Vigilante Huntst!" The escort yells out to the crowd.

Eleanor looks a little pale and I smile and wave. I'm glad I'm the male tribute. I'm so going to win and bring honor to my family. The winner of the 67th

Hunger Games will be Vigilante Huntst. And I can't wait.

District Six Reaping

Juniper Shad POV

I twirl my mother's titanium wedding ring that I wear around my left index finger in a circle. It is my token and my way of remembering both my motherand father. They had passed away when I was eight from yellow fever and ever since I have been living with my Uncle Cafas, Aunt Lei and cousin Paz. I

sigh at the memory and look down at my dark red dress that my Aunt Lei is making me wear to the reaping. I get up and sit down at my desk and beginplaying against myself in my favorite game ever, chess. I push back my long smooth dark brown hair out of my face as I checkmate myself. I decide toplay another game, my green eyes squinting in concentration. Then Aunt Lei sticks her head in the door and tells me its time to go.

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Paz won't stop bouncing up and down as we walk into town for the reaping. Aunt Lei examines my tall, slender body from head to toe before giving me a

kiss on my normally faintly blushed cheeks. Uncle Cafas cups my round face in his large hands and tells me he loves me. Paz stops bouncing for a

moment to give me hug before running off, with Aunt Lei and Uncle Cafas in tow. I laugh and go to my section just as the mayor steps onto stage andbegins to read the Treaty of Treason.

Then the escort Violet Cortaid comes onto stage, her black hair flowing behind her as walks over to the girls' bowl. Before she pulls out a name, sheintroduces the mentor of District Six, Jacob Troop. Jacob won the games twenty years back when he was only fifteen. He didn't get involved with anyone

personally because it he knew it would harder to kill them later, so instead he spied in on people and found out everyone's weakness and use it againstthem. If I ever get selected to go into the games, I use on using that same strategy.

Violet finally reaches her hand into the girls' bowl. "Juniper Shad!" She calls out. Violet called out my name. As I make my way onto the stage, the onlything I can think is how I get to use Jacob's strategy now since I'm going into the games.

Noel Krandle POV

My little sister N ina won't leave me alone. She is begging me to tell her how she looks in her reaping dress, but I don't believe in vanity. Finally I snap.

"Nina!" I scream at my thirteen year old sister "Leave me alone! Do you not get it that I don't care?"

Nina falls silent and I instantly regret it. I only act like that to anyone outside my family since our parents' deaths. I look up to see my grandpa come into the room with an angry look on his face. I mutter an apology to Nina and Grandpa ruffles my shaggy black hair. I stand up and Grandpa adjusts my

black tie, which I really wish I wasn't wearing.

I'm about to walk to the seventeen year old boys section when I feel someone grab the muscle on my arm. I turn to see Nina there, her eyes that are the

same color blue as mine welling up with tears.

"If you volunteer to go into the games or get chosen, promise me you will come home?" Nina whispers.

I nod my head yes and Nina grabs my tan hand and pulls me into a hug. When she walks away, I open my hand to see Nina has slipped my father's pin

into my hand. It's a circle with a star in the middle. I pin it onto my blue blazer and slip into my section just as the mayor finishes reading the Treaty ofTreason. Then the escort of District Six, Violet Cortaid, comes onto stage with the mentor for the tributes this year, Jacob Troop. Jacob looks just like me,

right down to hair color and muscles. People have mistaken us for twins once or twice.

"Juniper Shad!" Violet calls out in her squeaky voice.

I watch as a sixteen year old girl makes her way to the stage. She has long brown hair and I can see her green eyes from her. I can see a faint blush onher cheeks. She is quite beautiful.

"Paz Shad!" Violet calls out.

I watch as Juniper's face drains of any color. I can tell by last names that Paz is Juniper's relative of some sort. So I do the only thing I can.

I volunteer.

"I volunteer! I volunteer! I volunteer!" I scream multiple times as I make my way through the crowd and to the stage. Out of the corner of my eye I see

Juniper's faint blush return to her cheeks. I help Paz off the stage and he gives me a hug. I don't hug back. When Paz lets go of me, I join Juniper onstage.

"What's your name?" Violet asks me.

"Noel Krandle." I respond.

I turn towards Juniper and we shake hands. As I look into her green eyes and she looks into my blue ones, that she is happy I saved Paz from the games.

"Ladies and Gentlemen," Violet yells out in her squeaky voice, "The tributes of District Six for the 67th Hunger Games, Juniper Shad and Noel Krandle!"

District Seven Reaping

Acacia "Ace" March POV

I throw another axe at the dummy, pretending it to be a tribute from District Nine, and I laugh as the head comes off in one swift movement. I wonder ifLaurel would be proud of me for what I'm going to do this afternoon. But it's for a good cause. I'm going to volunteer to be the tribute this year in the

Hunger Games to avenge her death. Everything will be perfect.

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I hear Aunt May yelling from the house for me to come in and get ready for the reaping. I put my training tools back in there boxes and walk to the

house, avoiding any trees. My father was crushed to death by a tree when I was five, and even since then I have like to avoid trees. I'm not scared of

them; I just prefer to be far away from them, which is hard when you live in District Seven.

"Your bath is ready Ace." Aunt May says as I walk into the house.

"Thanks Aunt May." I say before disappear into the bathroom.

I strip myself of my garments and sink down into the hot water. It seems to melt away my thoughts as I lay my head back against the cool tub. Before Iknow it, Aunt May is pounding on the door for me to get out and get into the dress she left for me. I step out of the tub and dry myself off before slipping

into the orange spaghetti strap sundress that I recognize. It was my mother Willow's dress she wore every year to the reaping when she was younger.Laurel gave it to me before she left for the games when I was thirteen. I slip on my token; a silver anklet with an axe as a charm that Laurel also gaveme when I was thirteen.

I brush out my long, pin straight reddish brown hair till its smooth. I put some mascara around my piercing green eyes. I step out of the bathroom and

Aunt May tells me to twirl. As I twirl, the orange dress flies up a little around my skinny body.

"Beautiful as always." Aunt May says before opening the door for me. I thank her and walk out, blood thirsty for revenge.

The escort of District Seven hasn't even made it over to the bowl holding the girls' name before I scream, "I volunteer!" People turn their heads towardsme as I make my way to the stage with my head held high. District Seven never gets volunteers. So let them stare. Because when I come back from the

games, there going to be with smiles.

"What's your name?" Lola, District Seven's escort, asks me when I finally get on stage.

"Acacia March, but call me Ace." I say smugly.

"Well ok then. Our female tribute this year everybody, Ace March!" Lola yells to the shocked crowd.

I give a small smile as Lola begins to pull out the name of my competition, the name of the poor sucker who's going to die.

Ethan Anthony Draven POV

I'm currently walking down the dirt road from my house with my little sisters and father to the reaping. My youngest sister, Eveleen, is on my shoulders

and is laughing with glee. My second youngest sister Anna is doing a cartwheel for me and the second oldest child, my oldest youngest sister, Skyler, isrambling on about trees to my father, Anthony. I feel Eveleen's small three year old fingers playing the clasp on my necklace that holds up my lucky coin,my token.

"Eveleen, can you please stop?" I ask my little sister nicely.

Instantly, Eveleen's hands stop playing with my necklace and I smile. Eveleen, Anna, and Skyler look me to as a role model, and I always set a goodexample. According to my best friend Max, I am known as District Seven's good guy. The guy who always helped out people and was never mean.

That's why I dread the reaping every year.

Just the thought of having to kill someone other kid makes me shudder. The Capital makes us send children to fight to the death every year. For the pastfive years, since I was twelve, my name has entered in the games. But now, at seventeen, I still haven't been picked. I thank the heavens for that, and if

I survive this year and next year, then I can stop worrying about having to kill another child.

Although I'm worrying about this year's games, I also have to worry about Skyler and Anna going into the games. It's Skyler's second year being enteredin the games, and Anna's first. Eveleen has years to go, which is another thing I thank the heavens for.

Before my family and I part ways, we gather in one big group hug. My father picks Eveleen up to give me a kiss, and then carries her off to the parentssection to wait till the reaping is over. Skyler and Anna walk to their sections, leaving me alone to walk to the seventeen year old boys' section by myself.

Max always greets me hello by messing up my black hair. He says the ladies love messy hair, but I think he just likes to mess things up. He's the class

clown at school, and loves to make jokes. As I join him, he starts making fun of the District Seven escort Lola and her purple hair.

The clock in the town square begins to chime, signaling its time for the reaping to begin. Everybody falls silent and the mayor quickly reads through the

Treaty of Treason. Then Lola made her way to select the girl tribute but was stop in her tracks as someone yells out, "I volunteer!" I turn my head as afifteen year old girl makes her way to the stage.

"What's your name?" Lola asks the girl, who's brownish red hair looks more red than brown in the sunlight

"Acacia March, but you can call me Ace." Ace says.

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"Oh, no. Why Ace why?" I hear Max whisper to himself.

"You ok Max?" I ask in concern.

"I'm fine."

I can tell Max is lying. I'm very good at telling when someone is lying.

"Ethan Anthony Draven!"

My head snaps up and my emerald green eyes go wide in fear.

"Ethan Anthony Draven?"

I can't move. Millions of thoughts rush through my head. If I run, the peacekeepers will certainly catch me. I could get hurt or killed by them. Thepeacekeepers could keep me alive but kill my family as my punishment. I can't let that happen. But if I go to the arena, I'm signing my death certificate.

Out of the corner of my eye I see the peacekeepers moving around, getting ready to force me up onto the stage. So I move my feet forward. A tiny pathclears for me as I slowly walk up to the stage.

"Any volunteers?" Lola calls out as I make my way up the steps of the stage.

The only sound heard from the audience is the sobs of my family.

"Good, good! Ok then everybody, Ace March and Ethan Anthony Draven, our tributes for the 67th Hunger Games!"

Ace grabs my hand and shakes it viciously. My mind is too busy processing the situation to shake back.

The only thing I can do now is look out into the crowd and wish I was there.

District Eight Reaping

Samantha "Sammy" Robinson POV

"Very good Sammy. Try it again, just swing the sword a little higher." Says my best friend Walter.

Walter and I are standing in the middle of forest. Walter set up dummies for me to slash at with swords and throw knives out. I swing in a circle andslash open the dummy's chest, stuffing falling out.

"No Sammy, just a little higher. Here let me help you."

Walter comes around and places my hands on the sword. Then he puts his hands on top of mine. It feels so normal. Walter moves his feet and I move

mine in sync with his. We swing in a circle and I hear the dummy's head come off in one swift movement.

"Do it like that. Ready to try it on your own?"

"Yeah, I'm ready." I say. "Walter? Walter? You have to take your hands off mine for me to swing the sword on my own."

Walter blushes and takes his hands off. I swing the sword in a circle, my straight, waist length chocolate brown hair that matches my eye color swingingin a circle with me. The dummy's head comes off and I cheer.

Walter throws his head back and laughter but freezes. I stop cheering and listen. The voice of my nineteen year old brother Lumen floats through thebreeze of the trees. He's telling me to come home now.

"He's so overprotective of me!" I groan.

Walter gives a small chuckle and starts packing up the swords and knives.

"You should get going. See you at the reaping." Walters says.

"See you Walt!" I say before disappearing into the trees and breaking out into a sprint towards my house.

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When I enter the house, I'm instantly pulled into a hug. Lumen holds me so tight I feel like he may cut off my airway.

"LumenLumenI have toget ready" I mange to wheeze out.

Lumen lets go before leading me to the bathroom to get ready for the reaping. Figures he would have prepared a tub for me.

I sink myself into the warm water and scrub any dirt off of me. Once I'm done cleaning myself and making my skin shine, I dry myself off with a towel. I

slip into a simple red dress. I'm a little chubby and short. My skin has a yellowish tint to it. Other than that, I look like a clone of my mother and my older

sister, Melody.

I sigh just thinking about my twenty one year old sister. She has been depressed since I can remember and I'm afraid of her for that. But nobody paysattention to her. My parents, Messa and Reel. My father is determined to keep me out of the games if it's the last thing they do. And my mother is like amama bear. Everybody treats me like I'm some delicate flower or a vase that's going to fall at any minute and break. And I hate it.

I starting walking meet Walter at the divider. The fifteen year old section is separated down the middle with boys on one side and girls on the other. So

Walt and I always stand right next to the divider and talk till the reaping starts.

As I walk to the spot to meet Walter, I see her. Riley Brody. Riley made fun of my hair a couple years ago, telling me it was younger. Lumen stepped inand told Riley off. Now she runs away ever time she sees me. Like now for example. Riley's blue eyes land and me and she runs. Everybody backs away

from me as I go to meet Walter. Its Lumen fault that everybody fears me.

"Hey Sammy." Walter says leaning on the rope.

"Get off that stupid. You want to break it and have the peacekeepers rush down here?" I say seriously.

Walter gets off the rope and reaches into his pocket.

"I want you to have this." Walter says while pulling at a gold bracelet out of his pocket.

"Walter" I start but he puts his hand up and slides the bracelet onto my wrist. I hold it up and examine it.

"It's beautiful Walter. Thank you." I mange to say. I'm fighting back tears at Walter's generosity.

"Sammy I have to tell you something."

"What is it Walter?"

"I"

Walter gets cut off by the sound of someone tapping on the microphone. He falls silent as the mayor reads the Treaty of Treason. I glance at him everynow and then, and he seems angry that he didn't get to finish what he wanted to tell me.

"And the girl tribute this year is Samantha Robinson!"

I don't even think. My body reacts for itself. I find my feet shuffling forward but something grabs my wrist. It's Walter. He pulls me into him and kissesme. I don't know what else to do but kiss back.

We pull apart slightly. Our foreheads are touching as are the tips of our noses.

"Promise you will come back? I need you Sammy. I love you." Walter whispers.

"I promise you Walter. I promise." I whisper back.

Walter pulls me into another kiss. One of the tears falls onto my cheeks. We pull apart and I walk up to the stage, wishing I could be next to Walterinstead of heading to my death.

Ezra McCully

"Well hello ladies." I greet a small group of girls as I walk into the town square. I wrap one of my arms around a blonde and another around a brunette.The girls giggle as do the other five. Perfect.

"Hello Ezra." A redhead says coming up. She runs her finger around the stubble on my chin.

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"Hello to you too." I say "And how are the rest of you?"

They giggle in response to my question. Then I hear someone screaming my name. I twist my head over my shoulder to see my little seven year oldsister Maria running towards me.

"Excuse me ladies, but my favorite g irl is here. But once again, since seeing you and you all look lovelier than ever."

I walk away and hear a chorus of giggles and goodbyes. Then the squeals erupted. I smirk and put my arms out to catch Maria and spin her. Out of all

my siblings, Maria is my favorite. She looks just like me. We both have curly coal black hair and hazel eyes, although one of our eyes is greener and theother is browner. Her first word was my name, so I think I'm her favorite too.

"Hey Maria." I say planting a kiss on her forehead.

Maria giggles and the rest of my siblings come around us. My oldest sister Erin, who's twenty, pulls Maria out of my arms and to the ground. I pout asdoes Maria. Erin just laughs it off. My fifteen year old sister Dahlia comes next to me with my parents in tow. Then my little twin twelve year old brothers,Tread and Fleek come running past. I can see a glimpse of something shiny in Fleek's hand. Then my friend Judd, who's seventeen, runs past me,

screaming at Thread and Fleek. My other best friends, Riley and Shiba stop next to me, out of breath.

"Do I want to know?" I ask Shiba, whose pushing her brown side bangs out of her face to wipe sweat off her forehead.

"Fleek and Tread ran past us on our way walking here. They stopped to say hello, then Fleek grabbed Judd's wristwatch and ran. We have been chasing

them ever since." Riley says, bending over to regain his breath.

Fleek runs past me again and I grab him by the collar of his shirt and pull him up towards me.

"Will you please give Judd back his watch?"

"Yes Ezra." Fleek says with a smile

I place Fleek back on his feet and put out my hand. He puts the watch in my hand and I walk over Judd, who just joined us. I hold the watch out in frontof his face and Judd reaches his hand out to grab it, but I pull it away at the last second. Anger crosses Judd's face and I laugh. I really love to causemischief.

The clock chimes in the town square and everybody freezes. It chimes again and now everybody is rushing to get to their sections. I quickly scope Mariaup off the ground and give her a kiss on the cheek before handing her off to Erin, who kisses me on the cheek before I run off the Riley and Shiba to the

eighteen year old section. Shiba goes to the girls' while Riley and I run into the boys just as the mayor taps on a microphone.

"The Hunger Games are held each year" The mayor says as he begins to read the Treaty of Treason.

Then it's time for the tributes to be selected. The escort, Eloisesomething, I forget her last names, comes onto the stage. She walks over the girls' bowl

and pulls out a name.

"And the girl tribute this year is Samantha Robinson!"

I see a path clearing in the fifteen year old section for a girl. But no one is coming to the stage. Even though I'm 6'4, I still have to go on my tip toes tosee what's taking so longer. I can see the girl, who I assume is Samantha, kissing some boy. Poor kids. Probably trying to have their last kiss before the

games. They probably know the odds of Samantha making it out are slim, so their making it count.

Samantha finally makes it onto the stage. Eloise takes a small step over to the boys' bowl and rummages around for a name.

"Tread McCully!"

My twelve year old brother. This year tribute. I can't allow it. So I do the only thing I can.

"I volunteer!" I scream.

I shove my way to the stage. Tread is on the stage when I make it up there, shaking with fear. I pick him up and I'm grateful he's so light. I'm also

grateful I work all day in the textile factories. Working all day gave me the muscles I have, and I'm shaking so hard with anger right now that I'm glad Ihave my muscles to keep Tread from feeling it. I place Tread down next to Fleek and I pull both of them into a hug.

"Promise you will come home?" Fleek whispers into my ear.

"I promise." I whisper.

"Please Ezra, we need you." Tread whispers next.

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"I love you both."

I pull apart from the hug and make my way to the stage. I can hear girls' crying in the audience, who I assume are the girls I flirted with this morning.

"Wonderful! Wonderful!" Eloise says. "A volunteer! And what's your name?"

"Ezra McCully." I say bitterly. I already hate the Capital, but I hate them more for doing this. Tearing apart my close knit family like this. But I had to do

it. Tread wouldn't survive in the games for a minute. I at least have a chance.

"Wonderful! Ladies and Gentlemen, Samantha Robinson and Ezra McCully, District Eight's tributes!"

Nobody in the audience claps. And I'm glad they don't. The only sound is cries from the girls and my family.

Samantha and I shake hands. I can tell she is upset about this too. And I know it will be hard to kill her. We both made promises to love ones to comehome.

The only promise is only one of us can come home. And it has to be me.

District Nine Reaping

Luna Night POV

"Shut up May!" I scream at my thirteen year old sister. May keeps asking me if she can borrow my silver chain with a 9 on it. It's my token and I refuseto give it to her. May reaches over and tries to pull it out of my hand, but I rip it away from her and shove her onto the floor. My mother, Zoey, sees this

and yells at me. I mumble an apology and put my token around my neck. It falls perfectly against my black, knee length strapless dress. The dressmatches my ballet flats and my pin straight, waist length hair. My side bangs fall perfectly over my right eye, so you can only see my left purple eye. Yes,I have purple eyes. It's odd, but the Night family is one of three families in District Nine who have purple eyes.

I put some mascara on my long eyelashes. Then I take a step back and examine myself in the mirror. My curves are clear in the dress, as his the rest of

my figure. My tan stands out and I push my hair behind my back, but leave some in the front. I'm tall and skinny with slight muscle.

"If only your personality could compliment your looks." May says behind me.

I spin around. I'm full of anger. May screams and runs out of the room. I can hear my twin five year old siblings, Nico and Nina, scream outside the roomwith May, like it's some kind of game. I groan and walk out of my room and out of the house, away from my annoying siblings.

At the reaping, it's the same routine every year. The mayor reads the Treaty of Treason, and then two poor suckers are sent to their deaths. District Nine

sometimes get one winner, but that's rare.I stand alone in the seventeen year old girl's section. I lean against the divider, looking at the other girls giggling over their dresses and guys who are

flirting with them. It disgusts me.

"Hey beautiful."

I turn around to see Shiloh Gable leaning against the divider on the boys' side. I roll my eyes and look away. He thinks he's so cool but he's just anotherarrogant jerk.

"Come on Luna, you know you're the prettiest girl in the district, so why not date me and be the hottest couples? I'm the most handsome guy in the

district and you're the hottest girl. Put two and two together and you got gold."

"How many other girls have you used that line of Shiloh?" I snap.

"Only the prettiest."

"According to you that's every girl."

Shiloh grabs my wrist and spins me into him. I find myself staring into Sh iloh's piercing blue eyes. He wraps h is arms around me and I freeze. My father

used to hold me and my family like this before he hurt us. He was executed for his attacks against us. The way Shiloh holds me reminds me too much ofwhat my father did, so I kick Shiloh hard in the shin. He yelps in pain and lets me go. I smirk and the mayor comes onto the stage. He is very old and

takes a super long time to read the Treaty. I can see out of the corner of my Shiloh looking at me, so I smirk more.

The escort of District Nine, Camille Monty, comes onto the stage in one of her funky outfits. She has bright blue hair that's up in a clip. She has a blue

skirt and blue shirt. She looks stupider than ever, but that's what is a hit in the capital.

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"May Night!"

"I volunteer!"

I run up to the stage, shoving people out of my way. I can't let my little sister go into the games. As much as she annoys me, I love her.

"What's your name?" Camille asks me.

"Luna Night." I reply.

"Luna Night everybody, our girl tribute for this year's games!"

Everybody claps quietly. I see my mother holding the one twin in each arm. She is crying and they twins just look confused. One of May's friends has her

in a hug. May's head is buried into her shoulder.

"They don't need to cry." I think to myself"Because I'm coming home."

Shiloh Gable POV

"Ok Mother, I will see you after the games are over."

I roll my mother's wheelchair into the parents section and give her a kiss. My mother, Ivy, knows I'm volunteering for the games this year. After I win,

we will have all the money she needs to get surgery to become healthy again. She has been sick for over a year and only surgery in the Capital, which wecan not afford, can get her better.

"Bye Shiloh. Make me proud. I love you."

"I love you too Mother."

I give her another kiss and she kisses the top of my short brown hair. I walk away and into my section. I see Luna Night leaning against the divider, so I

decide to put the charm on. Luna is the prettiest girl in the District, yet she is mean to all. But how can she resist Shiloh Gable?

"Hey beautiful." I say

Luna turns around and sees me leaning against the divider. She rolls her purple eyes and turns back around and goes back to leaning against the divider.

"Come on Luna, you know you're the prettiest girl in the district, so why not date me and be the hottest couples? I'm the most handsome guy in thedistrict and you're the hottest girl. Put two and two together and you got gold." I say, and every word is true.

"How many other girls have you used that line on Shiloh?" Luna snaps.

"Only the prettiest." I respond cockily.

"According to you that's every girl."

I grab Luna's wrist and spin her into me. I gaze into her purple eyes while she gazes into my blue ones. I wrap my arms around her in a hug and Luna

doesn't pull away. We stay that way for a few minutes then I feel a pain in my knee. Luna has kicked it. I yelp in pain and rub my knee.

I'm about to say something but I hear the mayor has begun to read the Treaty of Treason. I try to catch Luna's eye a couple time, but every time I look

at her she just smirks.

"May Night!" The escort, Camille Monty, yells out.

"I volunteer!" Luna screams out.

I watch Luna run to the stage and tell Camille her name. I can't believe I may have to kill Luna. But if I have to do it to save my mother, then that's whatmust be done.

I quickly shove my way through the crowd. Some people tell me to watch where I'm going, so I just tell them to shut up. I finally make it to the front ofthe crowd. I stand up nice and tall and say, "I volunteer."

Camille drops the name she had in her hand from the boys' bowl and cocks her head to the side. She must be curious why I'm volunteering, but that isn'tany of her business.

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"What's your name?"

"Shiloh Gable."

Camille smiles from ear to ear.

"Well get up here Shiloh!"

I walk up the stage boldly and don't even wait for Camille to tell me to shake Luna's hand. I just shake it. Luna glares at me and I smirk while Camille'syells out to the crowd, "District Nine's tributes, Luna Night and Shiloh Gable!"

Perfect.

District Ten Reaping

Skye Windell POV

I lay in a tree fingering my necklace. I trace the charm on it. The charm is a pair of black wings. When Autumn Windell, my foster mother, found me in atree on one of her logging trips, this necklace was hanging around my neck. It's the only reminder of my unknown family.

"Ah, District Ten's wild girl in her natural habit."

I look down to see my foster sister and only friend, Glade, standing beneath the tree. I smile and swing out of the tree. I land softly on my feet.

"What's up?"

"You've been out here for hours. Came to make sure you're alive."

I laugh at Glade's comment. I spend most of days in the forest. It's more of my home than the Windell household. Rumors often go around the district ofa wild girl living in the woods alone, but I spend nights and meals in at the Windell's house. Nobody in the District knows who I am, even though I'm at

the reaping every year, just hidden among the crowd. And I want to keep it that way.

"Well if my heart is beating, then I'm alive!" I joke.

"Well we have to be ready for the reaping by the time my mom comes home from closing up the store and dad from his latest logging trip. So come on!"

Glade says before disappearing into the trees.

I start to chase after Glade, my long wavy brown hair falling out of my ponytail as I laugh.

I stand behind Glade in the fifteen year old section. Nobody else notices me. Then again, nobody even knows I exist. I'm wearing my normal clothes

consisting of a loose-fitting green t-shirt, brown pants, shoes I made out of animal skin, and my necklace. Glade is pretending not to notice me, but Iknow she is really protecting me. I fiddle with my necklace as the mayor reads the Treaty of Treason. I had Glade explained to me why they do this everyyear. Then the escort, some woman who names I can never remember comes on stage. She is a young woman with curly black hairs that has blonde

highlights in it. She has on some bright pattern shirt filled with a ray of colors. It blinds my golden brown eyes. The woman skips over to the bowl holdingthe girls' names, like the reaping is some kind of game. But Glade told me there not.

The escort pulls out a name and giggles before shouting, "Glade Windell!"

I watch as Glade's face drains of all color. She makes her way to the stage and I can hear Mr. and crying somewhere in the back. I know Glade will notsurvive the games. So I do something I have seen happen at past reapings.

"I volunteer!" I yell out.

I continue to scream this phrase as I run to the stage. The escort looks a me.

"I'm SkyeWindell. The wild girl." I say.

The escort giggles.

"I can see why you have such a tan! Probably from spending all day in the woods!"

"Yes."

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"So you're a Windell?"

"Their foster child. I don't know who my real family is, but I know the Windell's are like family to me. And I'm volunteering in place of Glade to go into thegames."

"Well, Skye get up here then! Everybody, Skye Windell, District Ten's mysterious wild girl and a tribute for the 67th Hunger Games!"

I jump onto the stage. Glade hugs me. I give her a sad smile and can only watch her walk off the stage.

Aden Starr POV

I walk down a dirt road with my best friend, Benete, and my little sisters. My sisters are two young to be enter into the games, but since Benete and I arefourteen, we are qualified. I look around at my surrounding, wondering the same thing I always do. My mother, Valien, disappeared one day on the way

home from work. I always wonder on any road if this is the road she disappeared on. For some reason, I always expect her to jump out, her blonde hairin its messy bun, and say, "Surprise, it's me!"

I'm a spitting image of my mother. We both have blonde hair and sharp, grassy green eyes. We also both have a tan my sisters and father, Ferron, don'thave.

"So I heard the wild girl stole a cow from Mr. Jenson's farm last night." Benete whispers into my ear.

"There's no wild girl!" I laugh "She's just some myth made up to make children stay in after dark."

We finally make it into the square. My father, sisters, and I gather for a group hug, unsure if it's going to be our last. Benete and I go into the fourteenyear old section and wait till the mayor comes onto the stage. When he does, we fall silent along with the rest of the crowd. Then the escort, EchoTindler, comes onto the stage in the brightest shirt I have ever seen. Her normal black curly hair has blonde streaks in it, which is more normal than the

yellow she had last year.

Echo skips over to the girls' bowl. She has this perky thing going on that just annoys the heck out of me, and I usually don't get annoy or mad easily.

There's just something about Echo that brings it out in me.

"Glade Windell!"

I watch the Windell girl goes onto the stage, paler than ever. The someone from the fifteen year old section yells, "I volunteer!"

I watch as a mysterious girl makes her way up to the stage. She has her brown hair in a ponytail and is wearing a t-shirt and pants. Usually girl's weardresses to the reaping.

"I'm SkyeWindell. The wild girl." Skye says

Benete hits me on the arm.

"Told you she's real!" He hisses.

I shake my head as Echo giggles.

"I can see why you have such a tan! Probably from spending all day in the woods!" The escort says, stating the obvious.

"Yes." Skye says.

"So you're a Windell?"

"Their foster child. I don't know who my real family is, but I know the Windell's are like a family to me. And I'm volunteering in place of Glade to go intothe games."

"Well, Skye get up here then! Everybody, Skye Windell, District Ten's mysterious wild girl and a tribute for the 67th Hunger Games!"

Skye jumps onto the stage. She is quiet confident. Echo gives Skye a pat on the back and twirls over the boys' bowl.

"Benete Ransom!"

Benete grabs my hand and gives it a squeeze. He gives me a small smile and begins to walk to the stage. I can't let him go. He has six other siblings who

need him.

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"I volunteer!" I scream at the top of my lungs.

Benete spins around, shocked. I walk up to him and squeeze his hand. He pushes me back.

"No, don't endanger yourself when you have so much to lose." He says.

I look at him and reply, "Take care of everyone while I'm gone. You have way more to lose."

And I walk onto the stage.

"Two volunteers this year? How exciting!" Echo giggles. "And what's your name?"

"Aden Starr." I say, narrowing my eyes at her.

"Aden Starr? Oh, you're the boy who sells fruits and nuts to everybody!"

I mumble a yes and take a place next to Skye. She looks confused yet confident. So I try my best to look confident.

"Aden Starr and Skye Windell, everybody, our tributes for the 67th Hunger Games!"

District Eleven Reaping

Nami Tyson POV

I sit in the corn field alone. My father was in here a few days ago, stealing crops to make a nice birthday dinner for me. He was executed and now isdead. But he's somewhere with my mother, who died at my birth. I run my fingers along my neck. I feel the green chain of my necklace, then the charmof it, a red key. My mother was wearing this when she died.

"Hey Nami."

I don't even turn around as my best friend, Hannon, sits down next to me. I have other friends, but Hannon is my best friend. I tell her all my secretsand she tells me hers.

"How are you doing?" Hannon asks.

"I'm an orphan." I reply.

"You have me. That's all that matters now."

Hannon comes behind me and I feel her begin to brush my black hair. I don't even move. After my father's death, I seem to be a lifeless drone.

A breeze sweeps through the field and I watch with my brown eyes as the crops sway. I sigh and feel Hannon put a dress in my lap. I know she wants meto look nice for the reaping. Hannon always insists that I have a nice body and should flaunt it, but I prefer to hide it behind baggy clothing. I take the

dress and put it back in Hannon's hands.

"I don't wear dresses. Ever. Not even to the reaping." I say.

"Well you are today. I want you to look pretty." Hannon pouts.

"No Hannon."

"For me?"

I look back and forth at the dress and Hannon's pleading eyes. The dress is a simple dark blue sundress. It's plain with spaghetti straps. I stand up andgrab the dress. I disappear into the corn and put it in. Another breeze brushes through and the helm of the dress lifts up with it. I pull off a few ears of

corn since I tend to this field. I walk back and load them into Hannon's arms. We always do this. I give her food for her family and she gives me suppliesfrom their family's store. In the end, it all works out.

I hold Hannon's hand as another pain sweeps through my body. I have a disease which causes me to have random pains in my head and stomach. Igroan and lean into Hannon, who almost drops me because she is clumsy like that.

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As quickly as the pain came, it's gone. I stand up straight as the escort of District Eleven, Marie Garcia, comes onto the stage. Marie is a Spanish woman

in her late forties who has been the escort for many years. Marie's black hair has one brown streak in it. She is wearing a dark green dress that fits her

figure nicely.

"The girl tribute this year" Marie says in her accent. "Is Hannon Hale!"

I feel Hannon's hand squeeze mine then my hand feels empty. Hannon stumbles her way to the front. I can't let her do this. Hannon is clumsy and can't

stand to kill things. She is my best friend and has a big family. I have no one.

"I volunteer!" I yell out.

I run up to Hannon and stop. I give her a hug and whisper into her ear that I love her like a sister. She tells me to stay safe.

I walk up to the stage. Nobody asks who I am or even speaks. They know who I am. Even Marie knows who I am. She just nods her head and I take myplace on the stage as Marie yells out, "Nami Tyson, our girl tribute everybody!"

Nobody claps for me. They bow their heads in respect for me, the thirteen year old orphan who has lost so much and has so little to gain.

And I thank every one of them in the silence of my hammering heart.

Forrest Jackson POV

I walk behind me family into the town square. A wave of memories rush by me from last year. On this day last year, my family and I lost my brother

Rafe. He didn't die in the town square. He was lost in the final five of the 66th Hunger Games. But we never saw him again after that day. He was gone. Ionly have him in my memories.

My mother adjusts my brown dress coat. It's cloudy and there's a slight breeze with a chill to it. My father fixes me round, gold framed glasses while my

mother fixes my light brown hair. Behind my glasses, my blue eyes do a quick sweep of the area. Nobody is talking. All there is are hugs, prayers, andmurmurs of love.

My little brother, Tommy, hugs me and I hug him back. I don't want to say 'I love you' or 'Goodbye'. I let silence do my talking. My father hugs me next,

and then my mother. My mother picks up Tommy and they walk to the waiting section. Tommy waves goodbye over my mother's shoulder, and I give a

faint wave back. My best friend Mack comes up to my side and we walk in silence to fifteen year old male section. Mack lost his older sister last year inthe games, just like I lost Rafe. We had never even known each other before that. We bonded through grief.

Mack and I stand in silence until the Treaty of Treason starts. The mayor reads it quickly then Marie Garcia comes onto the stage.

"And the girl tribute isHannon Hale!"

I can see in the thirteen year old girl section as people step aside of Hannon. Someone screams, "I volunteer!" and a different girl emerges. I recognize

her as Nami Tyson. Her mother is dead and so is her father. The entire district was forced to watch his execution a few days ago. I can understand Namireasoning though. She has no more family. She has nothing to live for.

Marie nods her head at Nami, who has made her way to the stage. I bow my head like everybody else in respect for Nami. Marie then heads over to theboys' bowl. The bowl that held Rafe's death last year.

"Forrest Jackson!"

The bowl that held Rafe's death also holds my death. I give Mack a pat on the back and walk up to the stage. Everybody knows the Jackson family. RafeJackson was strong and handsome. Every girl loved him and every guy envied him. I am his little brother who possessed none of brother's traits. I amscrawny and weak. I am a nobody at school.

I walk up the stage and onto my death.

"Any volunteers?" Marie asks the crowd in her thick, Spanish accent.

She is greeted by silence.

"Everybody, Nami Tyson and Forrest Jackson, District Eleven's tributes for the 67th Hunger Games!"

Nami and I shake hands and are forced to face the crowd once more. I see my mother and father clinging to each other, tears staining their faces.Tommy looks confused at the sight of h is crying parents.

"Everybody, NamiTyson and Forrest Jackson, DistrictEleven's tributes for the 67th Hunger Games!"

That statement could never sound more wrong.

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District Twelve Reaping

Erica Carter POV

I walk with my mother along the gravel road. We are heading to the reaping, to once again watch children be sent to their deaths. Being twelve, it was

my first year being entered into the games. I am filled fear, and I know my mother was too.

We walk past the mines and I turn my head away. My father was killed in a mining accident when I was six. I can't stand to see the mine which I refer to

as the Graveyard of the Miners. Many men died in there that day, thereby making it the Graveyard of the Miners.

I reach out and grab my mother's hand. I close my eyes and let her guide me away from the Graveyard of the Miners.

I keep my eyes close the rest of way to the town square. When I feel my mother has stopped moving, I stop too. I open my blue eyes and see my

mother staring at me. She fixes my blue hair band that lies on top of brown hair. I always wear the hair band. It has one white flower on it and today itmatches my blue dress that puffs around the knees. I smile my trademark sweet smile, hoping it will ease my mother. She smiles back, but I can seehow fake it is.

"I love you Mother." I say.

My mother kisses the top of my head and walks away. I go to the twelve year old section and see my best friends, Lily and Lola. Lily and Lola areidentical twins with blonde hair and brown eyes. They are my only friends and understand me more than my own mother does. They are like the sisters I

have never had.

"Hey." I say when I finally reach them

"Hello Erica." Lily and Lola say at the same time.

Then we fall into silence. It feels awkward, so I play with my bracelet that has the charm my father gave me on it. The charm is a house. My fatheralways said if I ever felt homesick or scared, just kiss the charm and I will be back home.

The mayor comes onto the stage. He reads the Treaty or Treason, reminding all of us why we are here today. Then the escort, Effie Trinket, comes onto

the stage sporting bright pink hair. My mouth falls open a little at the sight of Effie. She is wearing all pink, down to her makeup. She looks like someone

drop a bucket of pink on her.

"Welcome to the reaping for 67th Hunger Games! May the odds ever be in your favor!" Effie calls out to the crowd.

Effie makes her way over to the glass bowl holding the girls' names.

"Erica Carter!"

I feel mixed emotions about what just happened. My name was called. Twelve year olds are usually never called!

I shuffle my feet to the stage. I finally make it on and I'm forced to face the audience. I see Lily and Lola clinging onto each other, tears making their way

out of their brown eyes. I look back further and see my mother, who is staring at me with tears silently streaming her face.

I bring my bracelet to my lips and kiss the house.

Nothing happens.

Leo Burnte

I face a mirror. I pull a green button down shirt over my head. I brush my black pants free of any lint. I slip my feet into my black dress shoes with whitehighlights. I find myself staring at my reflection. My dark brown eyes that are the same color as my hair and eyebrows bore into me. The boy in themirror seems different from the one standing in reality.

My mother knocks on my door and I know it's time to go to the reaping. I stare at my mirror counterpart once more and run out of the room.

"Hello Mr. Burnte."

I was just making my way into the fourteen year old boys section when I heard that voice behind me. I turn to see Mr. Rumble, a peacekeeper whoseems to have some kind of grudge against me and my friends.

"What do you want?" I say. Outside of my friends and family, I don't open up to anyone. I shut them out by being cold and unfriendly.

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"Just wanted to make sure you were going to your proper place. We wouldn't want any trouble today, correct?"

"Correct."

"Have a wonderful day Mr. Burnte." Mr. Rumble says sarcastically before walking away.

I roll my eyes and join my group of friends in the fourteen year old section. I'm crazy and fun loving around my friends. They bring it out in me. Then we

fall silent at the sight of the mayor coming onto the stage. He reads the Treaty of Treason then Effie Trinket comes onto the stage in her pink glory. My

buddies snicker and hold back laughs at the sight of her, as do I.

"Welcome to the reaping for 67th Hunger Games! May the odds ever be in your favor!" Effie calls out to the crowd.

She makes her way over to the girls' bowl first and pulls out a name.

"Erica Carter!" Effie yells out.

I see a twelve year old girl make her way to the stage. She is an average height and weight for a twelve year old. She looks scared beyond belief. I can'tblame her. I have butterflies raging in my stomach at the sight of Effie making her way to the boys' bowl.

"Leo Burnte!"

My name. Effie Trinket just called out my name. I turn and face my friends, who faces have drained of all color.

I nod my head and them and walk down a path that has cleared for me. I walk onto the stage and next to Erica. She is staring hard at her mother who is

crying. Next to her crying mother are my mother and father. My mother is sobbing into my father's shirt and is clinging onto him. My father is just staringat me. From all the way up here, I can see he is trying to be strong.

Effie asks the crowd if there is any volunteers. By the silence and sobs of my parents and Erica's, I can tell the answer is no.

"District Twelve's tributes for the 67th Hunger Games, Erica Carter and Leo Burnte!"

Nobody claps for us. Erica and I shake hands, our fear mirrored in each other's eyes.