"Thalia, you look beautiful!" I smirk and look at my mother. "Why should we look nice if we're just going to head straight into our deaths?" I ask ruffling my short, spiky, black hair. "You still need to represent yourself!" She states. "Yeah, whatever"

"Come Thalia, to the reaping"

We head towards the reaping, not even bothering to hold hands for dear life or something like that. I hate my mother and she hates me, she'd be more than happy to ship me off to the Half-Blood Games herself. My brother, Jason Grace died in those games, so if I'm going in I'm going in hard. A sword right through the heart, he made it to the final two, but took a wrong turn.

I miss him a lot, he didn't look a lot like me with his blond hair and tanned skin, but our eyes, our electric blue eyes were the feature that told you we were siblings. He was only 15 years old, a year younger than me.

I see the younger kids; their eyes are filled with fear and hope. Hope that they won't get picked from the glass bowl sitting on the stage filled with the names of every single preteen and teens in District 8. Fear that they will get picked and enter a survival arena where they are forced to kill each other in order to survive.

A woman named Persephone in a flowery lace dress with a hint of green sits and waits patiently in the back next to another woman with black silky hair. My finger gets pricked and I follow a group of 16 year-olds to the middle of the crowds. The mayor gets up from his seat and stands behind the podium.

"It is both time for repentance and a time for thanks" His voice slices through the silence like a knife and he says the name of the previous victor.

We have only had one victor in 56 years, and her name is Silena Beauregard. She is amazingly smart; she was able to sneak past a group of Careers unnoticed.

Persephone skips up to the podium after the mayor sits back down and announces, "Happy Half-Blood Games! And may the Fates be ever in your favor!" She beams at the crowd. "Ladies first!"

Everyone watches fearfully as her hand slips into the glass bowl and fishes out a slip of paper. "Thalia Grace!" My stomach drops down into the depths of Tartarus as people look at me, some even gasp. They shuffle out of the way to make a path for me to walk through. I slowly stroll through the pathway, to the stage, and up the steps.

"Well congratulations Ms. Grace! Men next!" Persephone greets. I hold my breath. "Chris Rodriguez!" After a few seconds, a tall Hispanic teen with black hair, brown eyes, and sharp features emerges from the crowd, trying not to look petrified at the thought of entering an arena of certain death. I hadn't really directly talked to Chris before, but I had heard he was the son of a well-known merchant. The mayor gives a very long speech about hope (there isn't that much left) and pride.

After he's finished, Chris and I shake hands and the Olympus anthem plays. When it's over, we are taken inside the Empire Building and I am taken into a room with fluffy carpet and soft leather couches. I sit down on a soft couch and recap on what just happened. I had just gotten picked for the 56th annual Half-Blood Games. May the Fates be in my favor? I tapped my fingers restlessly on the leather sofa. Only one can win, I doubt it.

My mother didn't even come to say goodbye, see she hates me. Persephone comes and leads me towards the tribute train. The tribute train it the fanciest place I have ever been in, it's the room in the Empire Building times five.

We are given our own bedrooms with fancy showers and luxury clothes. I take a warm shower and change into a black turtle-neck and gray pants. The shower was an energy charger. I head out of my room, past the smooth walls, and towards the dining car where supper is being served.

Chris, Persephone, and Silena are sitting at a table, eating very expensive looking food.

"Thalia, come join us!" Silena says invitingly. I sit next to Chris as he stuffs a piece of brisket into his mouth. I grab everything I can fit on my plate and dig in. This was always one of the benefits of being a tribute. After supper, we retreat from the table to another room to watch the other reapings.

We watch the reapings in order 1-12. A boy with a sun-kissed tan and blond shaggy hair steps onto the stage followed by a pretty girl with two braids and a dark tan are tributes from District 1. Next, a fierce girl with obsidian hair and a skinny scarecrow like boy are tributes from District 2.

A short Hispanic boy with curly black hair and elfish features and a strong looking girl with dark brown hair and chocolate skin are tributes from District 3. Next, a tall, raven haired, sea-green eyed boy who volunteers for a 12 year-old boy and a girl with two silky blond pigtails are from District 4. A blonde, curly haired, grey-eyed girl and a boy with the same features are from District 5.

Next, a mischievous looking boy with brown curls and a girl with black hair and beautiful facial features are from District 6. A buff and tough looking girl with brown stringy hair bursts from the crowd and a bulky boy that looks like a bear with a buzz cut are from District 7.

A petite looking girl with wispy auburn hair and a gigantic, tubby looking guy are from District 9. Next, a girl with black hair plus a stern face and a hyperactive kid with red stained teeth are tributes from District 10. A thin boy with curly brown hair, pale skin, with a wispy goatee and a girl with crazy ginger colored hair and freckles are from District 11. Then finally, a pale boy with dark brown hair with bags under his eyes and an African American girl with hazel eyes and light brown curls are from District 12.

After the reapings, I say goodnight to everyone and whisk away to my bedroom where I change into some sleep ware and quickly fall asleep under the plush covers.


First, I really like this story and I hope you guys do too! Second, this fanfic is about Thals! Third, I love First Person P.O.V. Fourth, go vote in my poll please! Lastly, First person to guess who all the tributes are gets a shout out! R&R please!

P.S: Take a look at my awesome cover by clicking on it! I made it myself! (I'm proud)