1

Opaque stood in front of the mirror as she brushed her long, silky, blond hair. She knew she wouldn't get called. Even if she did, someone would volunteer as tribute for her. All she had to do was go to the reaping, look pretty, have people tell her how nice she looked, see who got called, and leave. She walked to the town square with her "friends." Opaque stood there for a while listening to passing people of District 1 give her almost forced compliments. Opaque stared in disgust at her chipped ring finger nail. When she looked up, Opaque noticed there were hundreds of faces looking straight at her.

"Um, Opaque Johanson. You have been called as tribute for District One." The plump capitol woman repeated. Opaque hadn't been paying attention; she hadn't even heard her own name!

She bounced up to the stage and stood next to that too-serious kid with the vampire name next to her, waiting to see who would volunteer for her. No one did.

2

The day of the Reaping was here, and Turquoise stood in anticipation in her house, waiting for her mother and father to hurry up. This was her year, and she was going to show them what she could do. Looking in the mirror, one last time, she saw a tall, blonde, green-eyed girl. Anyone who knew her would say that she was genuinely bloodthirsty. She wanted to be a tribute in the Games simply for pleasure, not to represent District Two or for the glory she would earn, but because she thought it looked fun.

Adner sat in his comfortable upper class home, watching relays of past Games with a look of longing on his face. He had seen three friends go into the Games, none of them returning, and he was going to be the first one of them to come back. As the time of the Reaping drew close, he went outside and threw some spears. He had been training for this for years, and he was sick of waiting for his turn.

The heavily tattooed Capitol man shoved his hand into the girls' bowl. He was obviously as eager as everyone else to find out who the tributes were. Ripping his hand out, he shouted, "Turquoise Marene!" Stiffly, she walked up, trying hard not to laugh out loud with sheer joy at the prospect of going into the Arena.

When Adner's name was called, he joined Turquoise at the stage, beaming. They shared a look that looked that stated clearly that they would be allies. Nothing more needed to be said from that moment on.

3

Bilal was up late reading. When he finally woke up he found that he was at his desk, reading a book about the history of the hunger games. Surrounding him were wires and all sorts of parts for something he was trying to invent. He went to his kitchen and grabbed a bran muffin. He went to go get ready. This was his first year and he wasn't scared. His name was only in there once and he calculated the odds of him being picked and they were very slim. He put on a button up shirt and some dress pants. He wasn't dressing up for this was how he always dressed. He really didn't fit in at school. So he really didn't have any friends. When he went to the center of town for the reaping he just stood alone. They called the name of the girl it was a girl named Shine. Bilal thought that she looked at scared. Then they called the name of the boy. "Bilal Owens." Bilal was thinking of the Arena, wondering what it would be like. As he walked up to the stage, he thought about the capitol and what it would look like.

Shine was scared. It was reaping day, as she knew. She was even More scared than last year. She was thirteen; this year she would have more of a chance than last year. She went to go eat, but by the time she got to her kitchen she lost her appetite. She went into her, not sure what to wear, but she ended up wearing a too big dress. She walked slowly to the town center. She waited alone, pretty nervous for what was about to happen. She was thinking about what would happen if she got picked for the hunger games. She kept telling herself that this was nonsense, but still couldn't get the thought out of her head. Then their district escort called the name for the girls. " Shine Clemons." Their district escort called out. Shine couldn't move. It was her, she was really going to the capitol to compete in the hunger games. She couldn't believe it. She walked up on stage, still thinking that this was a dream and she would wake up soon.

4

Pearl had barely slept all night. Why was it so light out? Was it already dawn? Then she remembered- it was reaping day. She wasn't scared because District 4 is a career district, so even if she got picked someone would volunteer for her. It was raining out. "Great" she thought, "now my hair will look even worse than it normally does". She grabbed a simple breakfast of some leftover fish from dinner the night before. She then walked into her room put on a pretty black dress, put her red hair in a ponytail and was ready to go. She went to the town center and met up with some of her friends. Then the district escort drew the name of the "lucky" girl to be in the Hunger Games. She was in disbelief as the name "Pearl Sager" was named. She waited for what seemed to be an eternity, but no one volunteered for her. She was stunned that she would have to go in the arena. She was determined that she would however win this.

Rod slept late. He couldn't put his finger on it, but today something was happening. He just couldn't figure it out until his mother told him. He didn't care if he didn't know it was reaping day. He would go there and then go home and eat. "ROD COME ON, IT'S TIME TO GO!" his sister shouted. He was just unbuttoning and re- buttoning his shirt for the third time and finally got it right. He left his house and headed for the reaping. He stood alone as he normally did. The girl was named Pearl. He knew her. She was sometimes on the beach when he was. Then the boy's name was called. It was his. He stood there for a moment not realizing what had just happened. Then moments later he walked up on stage. He was thinking of the food at the capitol. He heard it was amazing- better than anything in District Four.

5

Coy woke up early, not that he needed to, but it was a force of habit. He usually got up early to get ready for school and work. He worked in weapon development at the main work center in District Five, even though he was only fifteen. He had been promised a good career, and basically a perfect life. But today was different. He spent some time in front of the mirror, perfecting his hair with some expensive gel. Lots of girls in his class thought he was cute with his red hair, brown eyes and athletic body. He was pretty popular because of this. So naturally, when he got to the reaping he had many people who wanted to stand by him. He ended up standing with the other popular kids, laughing and gossiping before the reaping. He wasn't really all that good of friends with any of them, but it would of been mean of him not to be friends with someone who wanted to be friends with him. They all quieted down when they announced the girl her name was Lillian. Coy thought that she looked extremely scared. Then they called the boy's name "Coy Masterson." When he heard his name called and went up on the stage, he wasn't scared. He knew that he would try hard and he would get far by doing just that.

Lillian felt the butterflies before she registered what day it was. It was reaping day. She knew she would be fine but was still nervous. What would happen if she got reaped? Would she win? She was scared now, because she was over thinking her self. She was too nervous to eat so she just got ready. She put on a simple cotton dress, not really sure what she put on and didn't care. She left for the reaping feeling the butterflies coming back. She walked the long walk to the town center. She was scared and didn't care if people saw it. She hoped that she would not get picked. She was 12 this meant that she would have name in there once. The odds were in her favor this year. They called the name for the girls "Lillian Grant." She couldn't believe it, her name was in there once and yet she got picked. She walked on stage extremely scared, yet not thinking to hide it.

6

Brock walked hand in hand with Jada to the reaping. As they walked, the people of District Six stepped out of the way to avoid Brock and his mysterious girlfriend. Only Jada knew how he really was. Jada looked up at him and gave him a look of admiration and reassurance. She knew Brock was nervous, other people might not, but that's how they worked. Jada knew Brock would never really hurt someone unless they talked about Jada in a mean way. It had happened, but otherwise, there were just devious threats and tight-fisted looks. Brock looked down at Jada and gave her a similar look to the one she had given him moments before. They were there. They saw the stubby fingers of the capitol man reach into both bowls at the same time. The names were called. They stared at each other for a moment, put on their brave faces and strode up to where everyone could see them. They were going into the Games.

And only one of them could come out alive.

7

Gwen had hoped she would see her friends that day. Even though it was reaping day she was excited to see her friends. She scarfed down some breakfast. After throwing on some random clothes, she rushed outside. The thick forests of District Seven surrounded her, like they would shelter her from whatever dangers the Capitol could provide. As they had planned, Gwen picked up her best friend at her house and they chattered away until they reached the square. Then it was time. Gwen heard her name being called, but she had lost feeling in her feet. She really couldn't believe it. She was only 12 and she had to go in the hunger games. She would miss her friends- she had barely gotten to see them that morning, and now she probably never would again. But she would be sure to make new friends in the capitol and she heard that they were nice there. And if not, she could always befriend some of the people who were trying to kill her.

Elick woke up and was nervous. He was not a popular kid, so he didn't have many friends. He ate his breakfast alone, and then tried to start making dinner for his family. But the bread burned, the soup caught fire and he broke all the hard-boiled eggs. He was sad because he tried really hard but it didn't work, like always. The thought nagged at him the whole time he was getting ready, and he ended up picking out an outfit that completely clashed. He walked to the center of town. He stood alone, waiting in solitude to hear the fate of another two children of District Seven. Finally, they announced the name of the boy. "Elick Hyde." He froze, that was him. He walked up on stage, determined to try his best, hoping this wasn't the last time he would see his home.

8

Nori Johansson was angry. She was angry that she was being forced to wear a dress to the Reaping, and she was angry that her name was in that stupid bowl ten times, angry that this was one thing from which she could not protect her baby brother, Jasper.

She hadn't let him enter any tessera, but his name was still in there, waiting to be pulled, so that he could be towed away to the Capitol to be slaughtered by some Career in front of the whole country. As she sat at the kitchen table, she looked at her brother. He had just turned twelve, with the same blond curls and deep brown eyes as Nori. Jasper looked up at her with his puppy-dog eyes, not realizing the danger that he was in today. Even if he only was entered once in that bowl, he was still eligible, still in peril.

As they walked to the town square from the slums of District Eight, Nori tried to be brave for Jasper's sake. Their parents had put aside their daily worries for this one day; the whole family- no, the whole city was scared for its children, knowing that for their district, who never had victors, going to the Hunger Games was a death sentence.

So when Nori heard her name through the Capitol accent of the squat little woman standing on the stage, she felt her blood run cold in her veins. Losing her grasp on reality, she felt herself sway, almost falling over. When she found herself standing on the stage a few moments later, joined by a small twelve-year-old boy, and she saw her brother's tear stained face, was when she snapped back. She swore to herself that moment that she would return home no matter what it took.

9

"Kylan Anders!"

He stopped in his tracks. Kylan had been late, as always. Just as he reached the square, the words met his ears. He couldn't believe it. It will be okay, just don't break character. Be funny. Kylan swaggered up to the front of the crowd of District 9 as he chuckled. "Friends" of Kylan's pointed and laughed.

"Annalise Haymen!"

Kylan knew her. The pretty girl. Poor girl, Kylan thought one year away and she got called.

Annalise knew him. The cute, little, obnoxious boy, two years younger than she. Tears welled in Kylan's eyes despite his attempts to keep calm. He needed to pull it together; no crying in front of everyone.

And that was it. They were going to the Games.

10

Helena had never thought that she would be in danger of going to the Games. She was a childish, oblivious thirteen-year-old girl who was naïve to the world around her. All she had ever known was easy work packaging meat in a processing plant, school, and petty, girly things. She lived in the well to do area of District Ten, without really a care in the world. She had only ever been part of the Reaping one year, and she never needed tessera, her family being one of the wealthiest in the District. She had donned her white lace dress that morning, tying her dark curls back with a blue ribbon. Standing in the crowds with all the other thirteen-year-olds was hot and sweaty, and she just wanted to get this over with.

"Helena Beakner!" shouted the woman. No. NO! She tucked her hair behind her ears, having trouble thinking clearly. Helena stood there, not moving for nearly a minute, until she felt people prodding her in the back, giving her gently shoves towards the stage. Stumbling up the stairs, she felt like she was going to be sick.

Zaid Larsen watched as she swayed around on the stage. He felt sorry for her, knowing that she wasn't expecting this at all. As he looked around at all the other boys surrounding him, he saw that same sympathy in their eyes. She was young, pretty, sweet, and she was going to die within hours of entering the Arena, if not at the Bloodbath.

He watched the woman stick her long fingers in the bowl and dig around for a while. He pushed his hair out of his eyes. It had been a long time since his last haircut. Like Helena had felt moments ago, he wanted to get out of here. The woman cleared her throat audibly.

"Zaid Larsen!"

Zaid calmly stepped forward, his face showing no emotion- but he was screaming on the inside.

11

Jaelyn was always up early, but she was up even earlier today. Usually she was up at daybreak to go work, since she lived in District Eleven. But today was her first Reaping today, and sleeping in wouldn't help her nerves. In her stomach, she had a feeling like leaves were being blown around, and she couldn't get images of past Hunger Games out of her mind.

Her four older sisters helped her get ready, letting her borrow their old things since she only had her work dress that she had worn in the orchards all this week. The Reapings were televised, they said, and she had to look good incase the camera spotted her.

Of course, she would only be on camera of she was picked. This was simply the nice way to say it. Jaelyn was twelve and she already had her name in there five times. The whole family was in danger of being picked, as each had taken out Tesserae this year. It was just necessary. With seven children in the family, every person's help was needed. Even Jaelyn's.

Dressed in the nicest dress she could find, Jaelyn walked to the huge town square, hand-in-hand with her fourteen-year-old sister, Miranda. Looking up at her sister, they gave each other shaky smiles, then let themselves be herded into place by the hoards of Peacekeepers.

Lonzo had no appetite, no energy, no spirit that day. Just last year he had watched his cousin perish in the Games; he had no more strength to go through it again, and this was only his first Reaping. He found himself with the other boys his age, waiting to see which one of them would die a horrible death this year. It could be any one of them.

He watched as a girl in his class got called. Jaelyn, the pretty one with the graceful walk.

Next the boys. "Lonzo Miller!" said the man on the platform. Fear flooded over him- he didn't know what to do. As if he was sleepwalking, he floated up to stand next to Jaelyn, forcing a smile in her direction when he saw she had tears spilling down her cheeks. No clapping came from the crowd, only a murmur of despair that two twelve-year olds would be going into the Arena this year. Lonzo felt an urge to protect Jaelyn, to shield her from what was to come in a few short days' time.

If only it were possible.

12

Shay woke up to the same sound he had heard almost every morning. Kanisha. She was downstairs talking to Shay's sister, Elle. Elle usually just stayed home, taking care of the house and doing other chores. Kanisha helped Elle out almost every morning; though the reason was unknown to Shay. Kanisha only willingly talked to a few people: her father, Elle, Shay, and Shay's parents. Shay didn't think much of Kanisha; she was just there. She wasn't bad looking or anything, just the Seam look, not noticeable, not really bothered with. Like Shay. Shay dragged himself out of bed and trudged into the kitchen.

"Good morning, Shay." Kanisha said. "Hurry up, today's the reaping."

The reaping was the most dreadful day of the year. Shay ate a small breakfast tend went with Kanisha to the town square. Once everyone in District 12 was gathered, a capitol lady welcomed us. As if welcoming was the right thing to do before a gathering where we find out who is going to die in the next Hunger Games. Kanisha looked over at the empty victors' houses. The houses that would be empty forever, it seemed. District Twelve never had victors. "What ifs" were floating around in the air. The capitol lady reached into the large bowl of the girls' names and read the piece of paper to herself. She knew. She read it aloud.

"Kanisha Henderson!"

Thoughts flew through Shay's mind. When Shay came back to reality, he saw Kanisha standing next to the capitol lady. There were tears in the dark eyes that were staring into my eyes.

"And our second tribute, Shay Makaw!"