72nd Hunger Games

A/N: Hi guys! I'm back with another story. This is going to be like the 71st Hunger Games, except it'll be like 100 times better! I've been planning this for a while now so I hope you like it. As a difference to my previous story, I'll start this story from the reapings so you get to know the tributes a bit better. I'll do reapings for Districts 1-8 and then I'll do train rides for Districts 9-12. All right so here's the chapter

P.S: I added second names to the tributes this time.

P.P.S: I'm adding emotional song lyrics to the beginnings of the chapters now, which kind of fit with what's coming :) It gives everything a more dramatic feel to it :D

Prologue:

This is Seneca Crane's first year as Gamemaker, he plans to make these games as unforgettable as possible. They might not be a Quarter Quell, but he's got special plans for these Games. Ladies and gentlemen, let the 72nd Annual Hunger Games begin!

Chapter 1:

The Reapings (Districts 1-4)

"It's a thief in the night
To come and grab you
It can creep up inside you
And consume you
A disease of the mind
It can control you
It's too close for comfort

Put on your pretty lies
We're in the city of wonder
Ain't gonna play nice
Watch out, you might just go under
Better think twice
Your train of thought will be altered
So if you must falter be wise"

Disturbia – Rihanna

District 1:

Claire Cludiant's POV

Mother wakes me up. It's reaping day! It's finally the special day I've waited for all my life! They day I volunteer. I must make a really good first impression, all of Panem will be watching. I wear my sparkling golden dress with my silver ballerina's. I tie my hair in a braid and put on some sparkly eye make-up. Perfect. I walk downstairs and have breakfast with my family and my little sister. It's my little sisters first reaping and she's a bit nervous, not for herself, she knows I'm going to volunteer, but she doesn't want me to. I keep telling her that I'm not going to be an idiot when I'm in the arena. Our tributes last year were both careers. Unluckily though, we had two idiots last year. The boy died on the first day! During the bloodbath! He made District 1 look as bad as the disgusting outline Districts. The girl, Tiffany, made it to the final 7, but she died right after they did interviews. She was a bit of an idiot too. She challenged an alliance of two when she was alone. 2 against 1, she really thought she could win?

I finish my breakfast and walk with my mother to the town square. I teach my sister how to sign in and we sign in together. She goes to the 12-year-old section and I head to the 17-year-old section. I meet my best friend in the whole entire world, Abi. We do everything together, from training, to shopping for dresses. She quit training when she was 15, she said she was bored of it and her parents supported her decision, as they didn't want her to volunteer either. She comes to the training center every once in a while to visit me and watch me train.

Our mayor starts to read the same boring speech he reads every year. I zone out and think about how I should come along as for my interviews. Should I be confident and vicious? Smart and sexy? Or quiet and reserved? I snap back to reality when the escort comes running in towards the microphone.

"Welcome District 1, Welcome to the 72nd Annual Hunger Games!" her voice booms across the town square.

"Lets hope that it's a good year for District 1! Well, as usual, ladies first." she walks over to the girl's glass bowl and digs her hand right to the bottom of it. She quickly picks a slip and walks back to the center of the stage where the microphone stands.

"Our female tribute is… Vivian-"

"I volunteer as tribute" I cut her off before she can finish. I quickly run up to the stage. I feel everyone looking at me.

"What's your name dear?"

"I'm Claire Cludiant, and I'm supper excited to be in this year's Hunger Games!" I say excitedly. The escort walks over to the boys' bowl and takes a slip from the edge of the bowl. She walks back to the microphone.

"And our male tribute is… Elliot Je-"

"I volunteer" a tall 17-year-old emerges from his section and confidently walks up to the stage.

"Great! Another volunteer! What's your name?"

"Keaton Gold, and District 1 will have a very good year." So much arrogance. Ugh. We shake hands and I shoot a menacing glare. We're then led into the Justice Building.

Keaton Gold's POV

I wait patiently in the waiting room. The couches are of the finest materials, and photographs of the past victors fill the walls of the room. My picture will soon be up there. I just can't wait!

My family is the first to visit me. My father is a trainer at the training center. He reviews everything with me and gives me some extra information about the Capitol and what my personality during the interviews should be. My mother gives me a long hug and my father pats my back, they leave and Emerald comes into the room. She has a pretty big crush on me, but I just consider her a friend.

"Don't worry, I'll come back." I convince her, we hug and she leaves. A few more of my friends come in and they all congratulate me and wish me luck. They leave and I'm escorted towards the train.

I think of strategies for the games. I haven't really given my strategy a big thought. I just focused on learning skills and tips but now that I come to think of it, I never really thought about what kind of approach I'm going to take to the games. Definitely not the boy from last year's approach! He died during the bloodbath! The worst part is that he was also a volunteer… What an idiot. Well I guess I'll talk strategy with my mentors and I'll figure something out when I meet the competition.

We arrive at the train and I'm quick to get onto it, I'm impressed by all the luxury and all the decorations. There's even more than in District 1!

District 2:

Melissa Hemmis's POV

I'm so excited for today! I'm going to volunteer! I'm only 16 and I've been allowed to volunteer because I was better than the 17 and 18 year olds. I was always a natural, ever since I started training. It was just a matter of time until I'd get to volunteer.

As I head to the town square I think of what I'm going to come across as during my stay at the Captiol. I'm really good looking! So I should probably go for a mysterious and sexy approach. I think it would work pretty well. I'll discuss my personality for the interviews with my mentors later. I have to focus on volunteering now. I know that there are a few girls that wanted to take my place this year, but I can't let them do that. I have to be the first to volunteer. I'm one of the first there, but I don't care, I like being early for things. I head to the 16-year-old section and wait there. My parents finally arrive with my older brother, which is too old to for the reapings.

The mayor takes the stage and recites the annual speech. I've heard this speech so many times, I literally know the words. The escort comes and takes over once he's done. I notice that the escort is different from last years escort. I think this used to be the District 7 escort. There wasn't even a District 7 victor last year, why would she get promoted? Is it because both of District 7's tributes made it to the final 6? Possibly. I personally don't care.

"Welcome District 2! As most of you may have noticed, I'm a new escort! I used to escort District 7's tributes but now I've been promoted to District 2! My name is Kiara Lumme and I'm supper excited to be your new escort! Are you all excited?" There were a few cheers from the crowd, some people in 2 really like the games. We are a career District after all.

"Wonderful!" Her voice starts to get annoying. It's so screechy and loud.

"How about we start off with the girls." She walks over to the glass bowl and takes the first name that she sees.

"Cristi-"

"I volunteer as tribute!" I don't even let her finish saying the first name. Good, I was the first to volunteer. I walk up to the stage, trying to be provocative. I'm wearing my short skirt with my long high heel boots and my strapless top.

"A volunteer! How exciting! What's your name?"

"I'm Melissa Hemmis, and I'm going to win the Hunger Games."

Logan Voss's POV

"I'm Melissa Hemmis, and I'm going to win the Hunger Games."

That's what you think.

"For the boys."

"Caleb Joh-"

"I volunteer!"

"Another volunteer! I think this is going to be a great year for District 2!" I walk up to the stage with a smile. Oddly enough, both of District 2's tributes are good looking this year. The girl, Melissa or whatever her name is, looks pretty hot, and I'm quite good looking myself.

"My name is Logan Voss, and I'm going to make District 2 proud" I shake hands with my Districts partner and we're escorted into the justice building. My family is soon to come. I don't have any siblings, and my dad died a few years ago, so by family, I mean my mom. She comes in and wishes me good luck and tells me to take care of myself and to watch out. She never wanted me to volunteer, but I've always wanted to have the experience of the games. I want to see how it feels like to be in the games, the whole experience. Some District 2 victors are completely nuts, and I want to know why. What's so important about these stupid games that can make a person go completely insane. Killing a bunch of idiots can't be that bad.

Ellie comes and visits me, she tells me to be brave, we kiss and she leaves. Sarah arrives. she says she'll miss me quite a lot. We also kiss and she eventually leaves. A few more friends come by and we all say our good byes. I'm finally left alone. I can now strategize. I'm obviously going to use my looks as an advantage, it'll help me for my interviews and chariot rides. I'll come across as sexy and charismatic, not a hard approach I think. It'll work well. Good, now I just have to see what my competition is like.

District 3:

Ariadna Meyer's POV

As I walk over to the town hall, I wonder what the odds of me winning the games are. I'm 15 now, my name's in the reaping bowl 5 times, 4 times because I've been eligible for the games for four years and the other slip is because I signed up for tesserae when I was 13, we weren't in a very good financial situation, and I figured it'd help. It's just one more slip after all. What harm can it do?

I'm late, I always am. I'm the last one to sign in and I run towards the 15-year-old section. The mayor has already said the speech and the escort is already headed towards the glass bowl.

"This years female tribute is… Adriana Meyer"

Who's she? I repeat the name in my head once again and I'm horrified. It's me. I've just been reaped. But how? My name is in that bowl 5 times! There are thousands of slips in that bowl! How can it be me?

I slowly walk up to the stage. I feel their stares pierce me. They all just step aside, as if I was infected with some deadly disease.

"Come on dear, we don't have all day" I run up to the stage, the escort has already moved on to the boys' bowl. Well gee thanks.

"And our male tribute is… Darren Hacker" A small 14-year-old comes out of the group of boys and onto the stage. A 15 and a 14 year old? Not a great mix for District 3 this year. It rarely is anyway. We haven't had a victor for like 8 years or something. How sad.

Darren Hacker's POV

My family bursts into the room. It all happens in a blur. They all just wish me luck and hug me and try to make it all emotional. I try to reassure them, saying that I'll be home in no time, but we all know that's a lie. They leave and a few of my friends come in. They all wish me luck as well and before I can even take it all in, time's up. We're escorted to a car that will drive us to the train. The escort doesn't stop blabbering about how amazing the Capitol is, and about how much we'll love it. I just zone into my own world and try to forget the recent events.

District 4:

Sophia Press's POV

REAPING DAY! This is going to be A.M.A.Z.I.N.G. I can't wait. District 4 will have another victor. Despite the fact the we had a victor simply 2 years ago, it doesn't really count. Annie Cresta, that poor girl is insane. Like seriously? It's not that bad. Plus she had it easy! She wasn't even a career! The only reason why she won is because of the stupid dam that broke, and of course because her brother protected her. And don't even get me started on last year's tributes. At least the guy was a career, but the girl. She was just a rich brat from the rich families of 4. She didn't even have any skill! And she ruined the District's pride by letting herself get killed by the weakling from 8. Well, at least the girl from 8 died in the process. The guy wasn't so bad. He was a career, and he came 4th, but he still let himself get killed by a boy from 7. Oddly enough, the boy also died in the process. So the 4 tributes last year killed who they got killed by, a very rare thing in the Hunger Games.

The mayor finishes his speech and the escort is already digging her hand in the glass bowl.

"Alisha Keys!" I wait for a little while before volunteering. I know it's risky because someone might take my place, but I don't want to rush it, I want to preserve the moment.

"I, Sophia Press, would like to volunteer as tribute!" I call out. Perfect. I walk up to the stage with a huge smile on my face.

"Well Sophia, any words for your District?"

"I'm going to bring pride to District 4!"

"Wonderful, and on to the boys"

"Our male tribute is… Kai-"

"I volunteer as tribute!" A 16-year-old boy calls out. Two volunteers? That's a bit unusual for 4. We are a career District, but we usual only have 1 volunteer. Having 2 usual means that we're probably going to have a good year.

"And what's your name?"

"My name's Dale Alderman, and I'm also going to be my District proud!"

"May I present to you, your tributes from District 4!"

Dale Alderman's POV

"You may shake hands" Squeals the escort into our ears. Her voice is so high pitched! We shake hands and we move into the Justice Building. My family comes in to hug me. My mom wishes me luck and begs me to come back. I obviously will, why did she think I'd volunteer if I were not sure I was coming back? My dad gives me some last minute tips, and I'm sent off into the car to meet my escort and my District partner. Wow, I can't believe all this is already happening. I've trained all my life for this moment, but I didn't know it would all happen so quickly. It just makes me more excited for the next few days! First I need to focus on strategy with my mentors. I'm also quite curious as to who I'll be facing in the arena, I'm intrigued to see the recap of the reapings. So many things are going on and the games haven't even started yet! This really is going to be a roller coaster ride isn't it?

A/N: Ok! :) So we've got the first 4 Districts done! Yeeeeaaah Anyways, I know the reapings were kinda boring but things are going to get better with the other Districts! Once again, thanks for reading!

- DivineArrow