THE 54th ANNUAL HUNGER GAMES:

THE PRE-GAMES:

Gertrude Leighan, District 9:

My dress is a simple white which hangs at my knees. My shoes are silver-slip ons and my blonde hair flows out down to my shoulders. Reaping day is the one day where I wear this pointless rubbish. Beauty was never my thing. Everybody says I'm pretty. I don't care. Life is too short for looking good.

I walk out to the square. The other thirteen-year olds filed into our respective area. My older sister is in the seventeen-year old area. We catch each other's gaze and she smiles. I force one in return. But my name is in 36 times and there's a high chance I will be reaped. My sister needs to live. She helps protect all the children who are struggling with poverty, and nobody else is willing to take the job. I'm prepared to volunteer if I have too.

Evelyn Hatter, the District 9 escort, pipes the whole "Happy Hunger Games...blah...blah...May the odds be ever in your favour...blah...blah...blah...Ladies First...blah...blah...blah...Gertrude Leighan...blah...blah... WHAT?

My name, ME? I get lost in some sort of trance, desperately trying to process what is happening. Evelyn's voice brings me back to reality.

"Gertrude? Come on up!" she says. My feet begin to move without me willing them. I walk right up onto the stage. Evelyn then asks for volunteers. I mouth to my sister not to. She obeys. Then Evelyn reaps the boys. A boy named Isaac volunteers for a young, wailing boy. He walks up to the stage, his face devoid of emotion. I don't blame him. Nobody that young should be killed.

Michael Horrel, District 6:

In custody, first my parents and sister walk into the room. I embrace them immediately without a word. My sister speaks first.

"You can win. You can fight," she says with hope in her eyes. Though it's untrue, I reply:

"Yes, maybe I can." I fight back the tears in my eyes. My parents speak next.

"Just remember, we will be rooting for you the whole way. And we love you so, so, much."

With that their time was up and they had to leave. I sit in the room, working out a strategy. Act arrogant, scared, like I don't care, or just be myself. Which one? I also need a sword. There will certainly be one. Almost every year swords are used. If I have the guts to go in to the mouth of the golden Cornucopia and risk death from the ones with ranged weapons? I really don't know. But whatever it is, I'd better decide fast. Me and my district partner, Olivia, board the train.