Madge:

A much-too-cheerful Effie Trinket struts across the stage, and I swear she hasn't aged since last year, or the year before. Her pink wig is balanced almost perfectly, her face a ghostly white. It's hard to stifle laughter as she walks up to the microphone. Her heels must be at least six inches tall. To us, Effie looks completely ridiculous. I look over to see my father's forehead wrinkle in disgust. I, being his daughter, know that even the mayor of District 12 hates the Capitol as much as any local citizen.

My eyes spiral around the crowd immediately, searching for Katniss Everdeen. Her reaction to Effie's whole Capitol-inspired look was bound to be priceless. I must have been searching for a while, because when I return to reality; to the reaping, my father is speaking about the history of Panem.

I can't bring myself to look at him tell the tale of the Hunger Games, so I distract myself by studying the faces of my peers. Most of the Seam kids are looking hungry, sad or worried. I frown, thinking again of how lucky I am. When my eyes land on Gale Hawthorne, he is completely emotionless. He stares blankly at the stage, and his little sister Posy hugs his leg. Gale places his hand gently on her back, but never looks away from my father.

My eyes finally find Katniss's. I try getting her attention, which is somewhere way off in the distance, but it doesn't work. Nothing upsets me more than the feeling of being completely alone. I have many friends, sure, but right now, none of them are here to comfort me.

My stomach has been turning for the whole day, and I have thrown up twice. The fear of losing someone I love or getting chosen myself, is too much.

I would die within the first day of the Hunger Games.

I knew a lot of edible berries, and I'm sure I wouldn't have a hard time running from trouble. It was the face-to-face combat that would kill me. I am about as strong as a butterfly with one wing, and I've never been hunting in my life. If anyone came at me, I would be easy prey- which would definitely kill me in the Cornucopia. The thought closes my throat.

I hear my name whispered behind me. "Madge Undersee?" The voice says.

I turn. "Yes?"

A young girl, probably around ten, looks me in the eyes. "You're the mayor's daughter," She says in barely a whisper. "Does your name get entered into the reaping bowl?" I nod.

"Yes, honey, it does. Just like everyone else." I say, as I turn back to the stage angrily. Why do people always think I get some special treatment because my father is Mayor Undersee? Yes, my name is entered. For every year, it's entered another time. Just as everyone else's name is.

My father walks back to his chair mechanically, and Effie approaches the microphone. "Ladies first!" She says gleefully, as she does every year. I take one long breath as she pulls out a slip of paper. She opens it, and a broad smile crossed her face as she reads, "Primrose Everdeen!"

I can almost visualise what happens next before it happens. There's no way Katniss is letting her twelve-year-old sister fight in the Hunger Games. Prim makes her way to the edge of the stage, and I can sense the tension in the crowd. Everyone knew Prim. The sweet little girl that makes everyone laugh. The sweet girl that sold everyone her goat's milk.

"I volunteer!" I hear Katniss screech as she pushes Prim behind her. The two words are the only ones I hear from where I am. My ears pop and I hear nothing of what Effie or the very drunk Haymitch Abernathy say as Katniss takes her place on stage. Just this morning, she and Gale were at my house. Katniss and I were… Friends. Tears spring from my eyes, and suddenly my breaths don't seem to enter my lungs.

"Katniss Everdeen." I hear her present herself. I'm sobbing now, my eyes burning. Things are said, but I can't understand them. Slowly, the crowd raises their three middle fingers of their left hand to their mouths, and stretches their hands out to her. I do the same. It means love, respect or goodbye. I cover my mouth with my other hand, trying desperately to contain myself. Katniss was going into the arena. Moments later, Effie interrupts the silence.

"Now the boys!" She says as she runs across the stage. She pulls out a name, and I manage to stop gasping long enough to hear, "Peeta Mellark." This day is only getting better. Peeta Mellark, the name of the boy I always catch staring at Katniss. From what short conversations I've had with him, he seems like a kind-hearted and nice boy. A very talented artist; I think he decorates the cakes for his family's bakery. I know his mom, too, who seems completely opposite of her son Peeta; a vicious black-hearted beast.

Peeta makes his way through the crowd, his jaw dropped to the ground. He steps onto the stage and blankly looks up at the crowd. Two of my friends were going into the arena.

Gale:

I went to visit Katniss before she left for the Capitol. I watched her on T.V at the chariots presentation, even her interviews with Caesar Flickerman. 'The girl on fire', they're calling her. I watched Peeta Mellark as well, who basically confessed his love for her in those interviews.

As I watched him speak the words, anger rushed through me. Not at him, at her. For no particular reason, I felt like Katniss Everdeen was abandoning me, even though it was Peeta speaking. It didn't make sense, but it was how I felt at the time. When I saw her face, blushing and desperately naïve, I wanted to kill her.

I had always seen Peeta glancing our way around town for years, but I'd taken for granted that she was mine. I never thought that wimpy blond baker would express himself. I thought I had all the time in the world to tell her how I'd always felt. Yet somehow, this Peeta Mellark boy had beaten me to it.

This morning, I drag myself out of bed and go immediately to the woods. In a few hours, I would be in town, watching the huge T.V screen with all the other citizens of District 12. Today is the day the Games begin.

I shoot a few squirrels in hope of the least bit of happiness, but it's just no use. My head turns back to that interview. To them holding hands proudly on the chariots. To Katniss's stupid girly love-struck reaction as Peeta spoke…

A gong sounds, and I know it's time to gather around the huge television. My insides burn as I make my way to town with a few dead squirrels in my hand. I walk past my house and toss them behind my shed.

When I finally reach the huge crowd, I hear the booming voice of Claudius Templesmith announce, "Let the seventy-fourth annual Hunger Games begin!" I shake my head in disgust, as my little sister Posy shows up behind me.

"You know, she's got a chance." She says. I don't look down at her. It will only make me sadder. I see all twenty-four tributes rise to the arena level, and I study their surroundings. The Cornucopia is out in the open. A field. The smart thing Katniss can do is run straight for the woods. Away from the blood bath. But I know her too well. She'll try to sprint for a weapon and probably get killed.

The cameras land on Peeta, who is looking stronger than I would expect. He is looking directly into the trees; his almost transparent eyebrows pulled intensely together, probably choosing the smart route for him. Then the whole screen fills with a very confused-looking Katniss Everdeen. The cameras back up and show the audience exactly what she's looking to. A small orange pack. No Katniss, I think. No. Going for that pack will surely get her killed. Do the smart thing. Her eyes shift from the woods to the pack. Her breathing seems to become bigger and shorter as the clock ticks. Ten, nine, eight, seven…

The cameras shift back to Peeta Mellark, whose eyes are glued to the debating Katniss. He shakes his head when he realizes what she's thinking. Good. Keep shaking until she realizes. He keeps it up. Three. Katniss glances over at him questioningly. Two. She breathes in and starts to take position. Peeta shakes his head a few more short times, and I can tell Katniss realizes. One.

The gong sounds and Katniss takes off after hesitating a quarter of a second.