District 1-5 Reapings

District 1: The Reaping

Lyra:

I put on my reaping gown and meander my way down to the square without telling any of my family. The reaping is always a slow day for me. I don't care about anything, as long as my name isn't the one called. Usually I don't have to worry about that problem, because in District 1, we usually have more than enough volunteers to take my place if I ever were to be called. But for some reason today feels different somehow. There is a sinking feeling growing in the pit of my stomach and I can't quite shake it. Whatever this feeling is, I don't like it.

On my way to the square I find myself making a detour to my favorite place in the entire world. On the outskirts of our District, lies a thin forest, where there is a small apple tree. It's pretty much my home away from home. I sit down, not caring weather my gown gets dirty or not, and find myself settled in a long silence, that is, until Jonathan comes by.

Jonathan is practically my best friend. I'm not sure why though. It's pretty much a mutual thing though. One day we kinda walked home together in complete silence. Then we did the the same the next day, until it became a daily thing. From there we just kinda decided that we were best friends though few words had been passed between us. I don't care though. I still like it.

I push my red bangs out of of eyes as he comes bounding over to me.

"Hey, Lyra," he says and takes a seat next to me. I look at him to acknowledge that I heard him. Normally I don't feel like talking, but today in particular. I feel like even if I opened my mouth, no words would come out.

"I have something for you,"

I nod as he rummages around in his pocket. He pulls out a silver necklace with a red heart dangling from it. He fastens it around my neck. "Something pretty, like you," he tells me as I cradle the heart in my hand. I can't help but smile at him.

"Thanks," I say, and he practically beams.

We sit in silence for a while, Jonathan twiddling his thumbs and me admiring the necklace. Jonathan has the courage to break our silence.

"We should probably head out to the square right now. You know, it being the reaping and all." He says standing up and offering me his hand.

I nod and we both set out to the square, the knot in my stomach growing tighter with each step I take.

Emerich:

Finally, the day of the reaping. I could live off of this adrenalin pulsing through me right now. No matter who is reaped, I will be the tribute this year, of that I am sure. Taking my daily shot of steroids, I make my way out to the square to find that it is almost empty. Only the past victors, and this year's mentors, along with the escort remain in the square. I frown at the lack of people to terrify. Oh well, this year's escort seems like a pretty fair target to start on.

She has brilliant electric blue hair that sticks up at odd angles as well as cat eyes. She is nervously pacing the stage tapping her pencil against her schedule. I smirk, she should be an easy scare.

I make my way up to the stage and get right behind her. She turns around sharply and lets out a high-pitched squeak. Funny to see that even the screams in the Capitol are in their weird accent. She takes a moment to regain her composure, her hair has gone slightly more askew than it already was. She looks me up and down, taking in every inch of my artificial muscles and collection of scars. Shes probably terrified right now. I smile at the thought.

She clears her throat then says in a shaky voice, "Please take your seat. The reaping shall soon start."

"Why bother, we already know I'm going to be the tribute this year?" I tell her.

She attempts to shoo me by waving her schedule at me, "Well, that may be your thought, but we have to give everyone a fair shot now don't we."

I nod at her and make my way down to the stage laughing at her ridiculous accent.

Lyra:

The reaping goes by quicker than I would have liked it. Before long everyone in the District fills the square and I am surrounded by other fourteen year old girls, all of whom would have loved to be the victor in the games. The escort makes her way on stage. She seems a bit bedraggled as her blue spikes are a bit out of place. She walks over to the reaping ball with all the female names in it and squeaks, "Lady's first!"

I can feel my heart threaten to pop out of my chest, but I force myself to remain calm. I'm not going into the arena today. Some other lucky girl standing around me is. She would much rather die there than I would. All I can do is cross my fingers and hope for the best.

"Lyra Wynes,"

My heart stops. That wasn't my name she just called. It can't be. I can feel the color leave my face as I look around the crowd for volunteers. One girl next to me smiles grimly and mouths, Have fun paired with a cruel laugh. I have a feeling no one is willing to volunteer for me.

Eventually my feet start moving without me telling them to. To my dismay, they lead me right up to the stage.

Stop feet! I didn't tell you to move!

I felt like screaming, but I don't. Instead I regain myself and stare out into the crowd of people all willing to watch my die.

"No volunteers? Hmm." The escort says with an air of lightness that makes me sick.

I felt like fainting. I probably would have if my eyes didn't catch Jonathans. His gaze held mine, and in turn, kept my feet firmly planted on the ground, and my head in reality.

Emerich:

That girl will be easy prey. I can already see how this will play out. I will recruit her as a part of my Career pack then turn on her unless she can prove she is of some use to me. The crown is just as good as mine.

Cat-Eyes makes her way over to the reaping ball that held all the boys names. But the name she pulls out doesn't belong to me, it belongs to some brat who would ruin District 1's chance at victory. It almost makes me laugh when the small twelve year old takes the stage. Hand goes up instantly.

"I volunteer."

Nobody else would dare to challenge me when it came down to being a volunteer, they all fear me too much.

Cat-Eyes gulps and asks disparately for some volunteers. When there are none I make my way on stage with a cocky smile. I hear her mutter something about getting the only year that District 1 is boring. I don't care. I just won the Hunger Games. Well, I might as well have.

Just give me the crown, it would waste a lot of time.

Lyra:

I'm dead. This guy is twice my size, and is obviously on some type of steroid. I can tell why the escort wanted a volunteer, who would want to deal with that guy. Just the sight of him scares me, his body is covered in scars, some of them still bleeding. I try to keep my eyes on Jonathan but I lost him in the crowd. Instead I find my eyes fixed on my competition.

Kill me now. . .

District 2: Reaping

Zach:

I wake up to the sound of arguing in the corner of my room. I know exactly who it is. Crissy and Mary, my twin sisters and roommate. I smirk and pretend to keep sleeping. In reality, I'm eavesdropping.

"It's my dress!"

"But it looks so much better on me,"

"Crissy, how can you say that, we are identical!"

"So, its settled, I'm wearing it to the reaping."

Oh, that's right, today is the reaping. Good. I have been training all year for the Hunger Games and this year, I am volunteering. And eventually, that crown will be mine. I am competent in the uses of most weapons, especially the mace. If I can get my hands on one of those, the game might as well be over.

"No,"

"Yes,"

"No!"

"Yes!"
I hear them start playing tug-o-war with the dress in question and it's not long before it rips.

"See, you ripped it. Now what am I going to wear?"

"I didn't rip it, you did. I don't know what you're wearing but I'm wearing your purple dress."

"You can't do that, Mary!"

"Ladies, let's not fight... unless of course it's over me..." I sit up and smirk at them, the both look at me with equal disgust.

Same look etched on their face they say simultaneously, "Ew." And they walk out of the room. I laugh at them and get ready for the reaping.

Dahlia:

(I'm not sure how to write a mentally handicapped person, especially since you didn't specify what mental handicap she possesses. But I will try my best. Forgive me if I do it wrong)

I wake up to someone poking me in the arm lightly and repeatedly. I roll over to avoid this poking torment and say groggily, "No, I sleep, go poke someone else." The poking momentarily stops.

"But you need to wake up," Says my sister, Leona. She is handicapable, and can't take care of herself. We are somewhat of best friends seeing as I am always around her. "Today is the reaping."

My eyes snap open and I groan. Leona continues to poke me and I pull the pillow over my face to conceal my scream of frustration. Reluctantly I swing my legs off the the bed to find Leona with a big grin on her face.

"What are you so happy about?" I ask her, a bit groggy and not to mention grumpy.

"New dress." She says and points to the closet.

My reaping dress is gorgeous. It's a light blue color that fades white to the bottom. Honestly, I am to grumpy to appreciate it. I put on a happy face for Leona though because she picked it out.

Leona holds out her hand for me and I take it with a smile. She is dressed in a white sundress that she loves. We walk out the door and head out to the square. I know I shouldn't be afraid of the reaping, my name is only in there a minimal amount, but there is always that small chance. . .

Zach:

On my way to the square, I run into my girlfriend, Gigi. She looks stunning today, in a gold reaping gown and her hair done in an intricate bun. I smile at her and she turns away and begins walking faster in the the other direction. Confused I follow her until she whirls around and slaps me.

"Don't even talk to me." she hisses at me and I'm left trailing behind her like a confused puppy.

"Why, baby?"

"Don't call me that!"

"What did I do?"

"Your planning on volunteering today. Don't lie. Crispin told me."

"Yeah, and why is that such a problem?"

"If you have to ask, then you don't deserve to know..." she stalks off leaving me in an estranged state of mind wondering what I have done wrong.

Then I remember something she told me last year. After her brother was killed in the games.

"Zach, I swear if you ever even think about entering... I will kill you before you even get into the arena."

I guess she meant it.

I waltz on over to the roped off area for the boys and wait patiently until the capitol freak we call our escort, reads the names. I ignore Gigi's threat. I'm still entering, whether she cares or not.

Dahlia:

I guess I fear more for my sister than myself. The reaping never really seems to affect her like it should. She treats it as a normal day where we get to wear bright, pretty things and watch a weirdo pull names out of a bowl. Never has the thought that she could be killed enter her mind.

I stand squished between girls of all ages all crowding to see who will be the next tribute. The capitol escort makes her way over to the girls reaping ball and digs around in it for a while.

"Dahlia Summers." She squeaks.

For a split second I am terrified. But then it passes and reality dawns on me. I could actually win this thing. I'm smart. I can figure out a few traps and pick some off. I can win. And then Leona can wear all the pretty dresses she wants to whenever she wants to.

Confidently I make my way to the stage. I can hear Leona clapping for me through the silence. She doesn't understand what having your name being picked means. She thinks it's good and she is happy for me. I smile at her because I know what she means.

Zach:

I couldn't care less what the female tribute is. All I care about is what name is on the next piece of paper the escort pulls out.

"William-"

I don't even give her a chance to finish the name before my hand shoots up.

"I volunteer." Without giving the escort time to register what happened I am on stage and rapidly shaking this strange girls hand. "When do I go in?"

District 3 Reaping

Tasha

The worst day of my life began on the reaping. And continually begins again once every year. Once every year I feel that pain of losing my sister to that terrible game, and once every year I feel the fear that I could be next. I could be the one in the chariot hiding the tears behind a fake smile, I could be the one dying in some freakish, torturous way.

Today that fear was realized.

The memory seems so vivid, like a dream you could swear actually happened. My breath catches and I feel tears forming in the back of my eyes. Something is forming in my throat, a cry. My name is repeated and someone pushes me forward. I don't bother to hear the other name, all I can hear right now is the pounding in my head, and this strange cruel laughter that my mind must have inserted into the memory, because it seems like it came from a far away district. District 7.

Oh, I shall have my fun with you. Just like your sister.

I must have fainted because suddenly it goes black and all I can hear is those words and that laugh. I woke up on the train without any goodbye.

Andrew

Reaping days don't mean that much to me. Just another day. Another reason to get out of bed and go out to the town. For what? To watch two people cry their eyes out. I'm not attached to any of them of course. Never really had any friends to care about. Except my abacus.

Never really knew what it felt like to hear your name called to be the next one killed. I'm not sure how it feels really because I have no intention of being killed. I'm sure the cornucopia isn't as hard as people make it seems. Those who die in it must be pretty stupid.

I'm not stupid.

District 4 Reaping

Rascoe

Looking at the previous District Reapings gives me something to do on reaping day. Not much else to do except wait for another year to be over. I skipped through a few of them quite fast, but something caught my eye in 1. Their male tribute looked very familiar to me…

I pressed rewind and watched again, listening for his name.

Emerich

My eyes narrowed at the screen. I know that name. I know that boy. His brother killed my twin siblings.

I guess I'm going in the games a few years earlier than I thought.

Marina

I hate reaping days. Being from 4 and all, you would think I wouldn't really care that much about it. For all you know, I could be a Career.

But I'm not. And these days terrify me.

I have no fear of being reaped, just I feel so bad for the poor kids from the weaker district who do get reaped. It seems like every year there is at least one twelve year old from 10, 11, or 12. And there is always my brother. Even though he is only four, I still feel like at any moment, the escort could pull out his name and steal him away from me. I never imagined that I would be stolen from him…

Great another thing to worry about.

I sigh and pull up my long blonde hair in a pony. Nothing fancy, I'm not going anywhere tonight.

Rascoe

I stand there with clenched teeth and readymade fists. I don't bother to hear the name called before I shoot up my hand and yell, "I volunteer," the escort smiles and I can hear a boy next to me breathe a sigh of relief.

As I make my way to the stage, all I can think about is my next strategy to kill Emerich.

Marina

Terror doesn't even describe what I feel now.

How could I be so afraid of my own name?

It seems to echo inside my mind, my heart clenches and I feel a sob catch in my throat. But do I let them see this, no. I pull out a smile from who knows where, try to drown out the cries from my brother and make my way to the stage.

"I volunteer!" I hear a voice scream.

Its Whelk. My best friend.

I whirl around to face her. "No." I say authoritivly. "You won't die for me."

She's crying. "You can't leave me!"

I want to tell her to stop, that if she doesn't stop crying I might start sobbing. I give her a weak smile to tell her its okay, and then I march up to the stage.

District 5 Reaping

Bennet

Reaping day doesn't mean that much to either me or my twin sister, Ellessa. But it sure as heck does to Jeremy. Jeremy is my best friend. His parents were taken by peacekeepers so he's pretty bitter towards the Capitol and just all around bitter and angry on reaping days. But this year he is different. He is kinda going crazy right now because he has this strange notion that he suddenly became physic overnight and now can predict whose going into the arena this year.

And he thinks it's me.

Do I believe him? No.

Should I believe him? Probably.

Today he ran up to me explaining that he had this dream where I was up in a tree somewhere wearing this strange black bandana that he precedes to give to me.

"You have to wear it in the Capitol. It will make them soooooo mad!"

I sort of laugh at him. "You think that a black bandanna will make them mad? How do you even know if I'm the tribute yet?"

"I just know." He reassured, which really wasn't very reassuring. "Just wear it for me okay?"

Sometimes, his mouth gets him into big trouble. Jeremy is a very loud talker, and our city is sorta overpopulated with peacekeepers, who are pretty touchy about who signs their paycheck (AKA. the Capitol).

"What about the Capitol?" one said coming up behind Jeremy.

Please don't do anything stupid, PLEASE don't do anything stupid!

"I was just telling my friend that black is a very unflattering color in the Capitol and that when he gets reaped he should wear black all the time."

You did something stupid.

The Peacekeeper narrowed his eyes at Jeremy and I could see this would not end well. He grabbed Jeremy by the wrist. "Come with my boy."

Jeremy's face instantly went pale and he looked to me for help. Before I could do anything the Peacekeeper was dragging him away. Jeremy's struggle was futilely pathetic.

I bit my lip and hoped that wherever he was taking Jeremy didn't have to do with punishment.

Then I saw him pull out the whip.

Ellessa

When I saw Jeremy being lugged away by an armed Peacekeeper, I knew something was up. I see Bennet just standing there staring at this weird looking black bandana numbly.

I run up to him. "What is going on?" I demand.

"Jeremy said something stupid. Peacekeeper got mad. I think I'm going in the Hunger Games, Ellessa."

"You what?"

Bennet goes off on this whole spiel about how Jeremy became physic and how Jeremy got himself arrested. I slap him.

"You seriously believe that?"

"Yes I do!"

"You're crazy." I say and walk off.

If Ben wants to believe his crazy best friend, so be it.

Bennet

Turns out, Jeremy was right.

I am going into the arena.

I know I should be terrified right now, but honestly I'm to numb to really feel anything.

Until I hear Ellessa's name.

Ellessa

No. No. No. No.

This is not happening. Jeremy can't be right! Bens not going into the arena. Neither am I. I'm just having a dream. A really strange dream.

I pinch myself. Nothing.

Wake up, wake up!

Someone pushes me onto the stage and me and Ben are standing there looking for help in the other's eyes.

"Oh, do we have a set of twins this year?" the escort mocks. "I can certainly see the resemblance."

Kill me now.