Prologue

Meredith:

My name is in that bowl twenty-three times. That's all I'm thinking as I step into the crowd of people gathered in the square. Twenty-three times. The number of innocent kids who will soon die. Most people in District 9 only sign up for tesserae when they turn fourteen, but not me. As soon as I turned twelve, I marched out and signed my name on that dreaded slip of paper. Someone else wrote it carefully on thirteen slips. Slips that could have sentenced me to death. And this year, there are even more. But my family needs the extra food. I have four siblings, and me and my brother, Eric, are the only ones old enough to get tesserae. For some reason, he isn't eligible this year. So I'm left to provide my family with whatever extra morsels we can get.

As the speech is given, as the video is shown, I'm not paying attention. All I'm looking at is the big glass bowl on the right side of the stage. It seems like there are less slips in it this year, and a higher chance of my name being drawn. I attempt to convince myself I'm being paranoid, but to no avail.

Rosemarie:

I'd be lying if I said I wasn't worried. All of us in District 12 are. No one likes the Hunger Games, and this year is even worse than most. The Quarter Quell. The twist this year is that only one volunteer will be accepted from each district, but I suspect the arena will also be more dangerous. That's bad enough, but if I were to be chosen, I don't know how I'd be able to live with myself if I killed anyone.

Georgette:

District 8 has had a successful pass few weeks. Here, it's a tradition to buy a new reaping outfit every year from the village shops, so the store owners have been in business. The poorest of us don't follow this custom, however. Especially when we might never have a chance to wear the outfits again, due to extensive tesserae, and a large chance of getting drawn for the Games.

Link:

I fidget with the small contraption I made from scraps of my father's projects. He's one of the best technicians in District 3. I don't know if it's allowed to bring anything during the reaping, but I figure there's no harm. Unless I get caught when I walk up the stage. Not that that will happen.

Opal:

I've never been more nervous in my life. It's my first reaping, and I haven't signed up for any tesserae, as my family doesn't need it, but it's the Quarter Quell, and only children will be going to the games. In District 1, we twelve-year-olds don't usually have to worry about the Games, since a Career will usually volunteer to take our place, but this year, that won't help as much. Only one Career may compete for District 1, and even then, Careers aren't as common as they used to be.

Tanza:

A part of me hopes my name is the one that gets called. To escape the beatings and angry words of my mother would be a relief. But I can't say I'll volunteer if I'm not the one picked. Someone else in District 2 probably take care of that.

Kal:

I find it amusing that the train that will take the chosen tribute away to die was probably built by District 6. How awful it would be to be whisked away to danger on your own contraption.

Cedar:

In the District 7 Town Centre, I wait. I wait for the names to be called.

Meredith/Rosemarie/Georgette/Link/Opal/Kal/Cedar:

A hand dips into the bowl. A name is read off. And guess what?

It's me.

Tanza:

The name pulled from the bowl is not mine. It's my best friend Onya's. She gave me comfort during all those years of abuse. She is the only one who truly understands me. My eyes sting with tears. My heart fills with rage and sadness. Onya doesn't deserve to be on that stage. She deserves it less than anyone here. They say that winning the Games is an honor. That going is a good thing. And Onya could win. Except that if she had to kill anyone, it would break her. She's too kind. So when she is introduce and the announcer asks if anyone would like to take my place, I raise my hand.

"I volunteer".

List of Tributes

Opal, 12, District 1

Tedo, 16, District 1

Tanza, 17, District 2

Ziri, 15, District 2

Perl, 16, District 3

Link, 13, District 3

Azura, 17, District 4

Marlin, 15, District 4

Nina, 14, District 5

Buzz, 14, District 5

Enia, 15, District 6

Kal, 16, District 6

Cedar, 15, District 7

Jack, 16, District 7

Georgette, 14, District 8

Hessian, 18, District 8

Meredith, 13, District 9

Perrin, 15, District 9

Catherine, 16, District 10

Willow, 15, District 11

Amir, 17, District 11

Rosemarie, 17, District 12

Cole, 15, District 12