Randall Manning
Radiant Capitol sunshine beams through my silk curtains beautifully, just like any other day, and happens to wake me from a perfect slumber. Looks like my alarm refused to go off again. Oh well, It's not like I learn anything worthwhile from school anyway... But I should probably start getting ready.
I give a tired sigh as I struggle to roll out of my mountain of sheets and onto my feet on the other side of my bed. I limp to my en-suite bathroom in my glamorously green boxer shorts and grab a toothbrush in one hand, toothpaste in the other. I'm not sure why I bother brushing my teeth, they're not even mine. But nobody at school seems to have a problem with my dentures. Either that or they're too afraid to approach me about them.
Once I'm done brushing. I spit out a pool of minty froth and give the mirror a cheeky smile. I then pick up a comb from the side of the sink and begin to brush through my thick forest of lush green hair, each strand as fabulous as the last. Oh Randall, you do look IRRESISTIBLE today, you little monkey. I don't know how the boys will tear themselves away from you.
When I'm finally done admiring myself, I throw on a few average clothes for the day ahead, nothing too 'Look at me, I'm better than you!', just a cute little sparkled sequin jacket and some gorgeous plaid pants.
I trot downstairs to find my mother, glaring at our flat screen television in awe.
"Pull yourself together, Mavis. What's the horrified expression for?" I ask the poor widow.
She raises a crooked finger to the screen, which shows a group of hideously rowdy men burning buildings in their filthy little district. Nothing new, mother's getting senile.
I wave goodbye to my insane parent as I throw a rucksack of books over one shoulder and head out the door. The old bat's put me off of breakfast.
Wesley Latimer
I pick myself up off of the ground and dust off my sleeves. Everyone at this school thinks that they can just shove me around all the time, but when I'm bigger and stronger than all of them, they'll get what's coming!
I try to get the mean boy that pushed me over out of my mind, but Preston Estrada is about five years older than me and shouldn't be allowed to even look my way! Whatever, I've got a long day of bullying ahead of me and I can't get upset from just one little incident.
As I shuffle through the hallway, I notice something new and exciting on the school bulletin board...
'The Capitol is looking for bright young minds to help organize this year's Hunger Games, all eager students should meet in Miss Effie Trinket's office after school for briefing!'
I would really love to be a game maker in the 75th annual Hunger Games, but why would they need a twelve year old to run the 3rd Quarter Quell? This year has to be special after last time, I don't want another scary career tribute to win the games! Cato only won because Katniss and Peeta decided to do a joint suicide, they would have destroyed him otherwise!
I shrug my shoulders as the school bell chimes, and hurry to art class.
Margaret Dean
Oh goodness I'm late again! I should really start bringing my own pens instead of scavenging for one at the start of each school day... So what class do I have first? Oh, right! Biology.
I scan the hallways for any sign of my biology classroom... Why do I forget such simple thin- Ah, there it is!
I burst through the door and suddenly the room is in complete silence. Surely I'm not that late, right? They need a map for this gigantic snobby school, I can't be the only person that gets lost in this huge building on a daily basis.
"Sorry I'm late Mr. Williams" I sputter.
"I'm Mrs. Wetherell... Sit down, Maggie." My biology teacher replies.
"... I'm so sorry, honestly I didn't think you were a man!" I begin to panic
"Maggie, Just sit. We were about to start our first assessment on the anatomy of a Mockingjay." Mrs. Wetherell calmly replies.
Brilliant, another test that I've forgotten to study for. I just can't help myself. I grab a seat next to Glenn and fish through my bag for a pen.
"Mags, you looking for this?" Glenn asks me, holding a pen in front of my face. "You left it at my house last Friday, I thought you'd want it back." He says politely.
"Oh thanks, Glenn! I forgot what I ate for breakfast this morning, never mind what happened last Friday!" I answer, slightly blushing.
I really like Glenn. I have no idea what it is; maybe the way his mousey brown hair sticks out in every possible direction, his adorable chubby cheeks, the way his eyes look at me as if to say-
"Are you all right? You've been staring at me for about five minutes straight, Mags." He says, concerned.
Oh gosh. I'm staring again. He probably thinks I'm a freak. I'm turning red... Somebody say something!
"If you two are done talking, the rest of the class are prepared to start the test." Mrs. Wetherell interrupts.
All of a sudden, a speaker in the corner of the science lab begins to blare out a morning announcement. I had no idea that thing still worked.
"Good morning, Capitol students!" Effie Trinket's voice rings through the speaker. "As you should be aware, it is less than a week until our next annual Hunger Games tournament! And this year is very special indeed, as it is our third Quarter Quell, which represents seventy-five years of outstanding entertainment on our television screens! This time around, we are looking for bright young minds aged twelve to eighteen to contribute to the arrangement of the games, how exciting! For all of those wishing to sign up and assist the game makers, please meet in my office after the end of the school day, I'll be seeing you there, my intelligent little pupils!"
As the broadcast ends, Glenn and I exchange ecstatic expressions. I've waited my whole life for an opportunity like this!
April Garrett
As soon as I hear the last school bell ring, I sprint out of my history class and I'm on my way to Principal Trinket's office. I can't even remember if my teacher excused us from the lesson but I don't care any more, the only thing that I care about is becoming one of the game makers for the 75th Hunger Games!
People from all over Panem watch the games every single year, and just to think that all of those citizens will be amazed by something that I helped design is crazy! I've almost graduated from the Capitol's educational environment and so far I have nothing to show for it, I want everybody to know who I am!
April Garrett, game maker extraordinaire!
I finally arrive at Effie's office and I'm the first there, the lady herself greets me at the door and hurries me in.
Not long after my arrival, students begin to pour into the room.
There's that freaky pale girl from the grade below me, she wears so much eye liner that it turns into face paint rather than make-up. I think her name's Helen?
And that overly-attached couple from my English class, Felix and Valerie. They make everyone want to throw up. It's not cute, you're on public property, stop kissing.
I can spot that creepy little gay kid from across the room, Randall. He thinks that every person in the school is in love with him when we really want to see him fed to a pack of wolf mutts.
I've had my eye on Effie since I entered the room, and she's been counting each of us as we walked through the door, some thing's not right here.
Effie soon exclaims "Twenty-four's enough, children! Better luck next year!" As she slams the office door right in the face of a crying student.
The room is lined with rows of masked peacekeepers across the walls, what exactly are they expecting a group of teenagers to do?
Effie walks behind her desk and begins to address all of the gathered pupils.
"Welcome, faithful students! I'd like to personally thank you all for signing up to become part of this year's Hunger Games! We value your sacrifices greatly!" She tells us all, excitedly
Her words have caused a few confused looks in the crowd of students behind me.
"Oh, and by sacrifices I mean the sacrifice of your precious spare time... To us." She explains
A tiny girl among the crowd lets out a sigh of relief.
"Okay let's cut straight to the point. I'm sure you're all aware of the riots and rebellions that have been occurring in the measly districts since the crowning of last year's victor, Cato. Well, those districts are now refusing to give up any more of their offspring to the Capitol as they seem to be getting slaughtered by the same overpowered tributes time and time again." Effie continues.
A disappointed coo comes from a tall boy standing behind me.
"I know, how selfish of them." Agrees Ms. Trinket. "Anyway, because of the lack in tributes for this years Hunger Games, we are being forced to dig into our own pockets and pull out some shiny new change. That's right, you twenty-four lucky students get to become the cast of this year's spectacular Quarter Quell!" Squeals Effie.
Some nervous laughter erupts from the group of students as nobody is truly sure whether the principal is serious or not.
"I don't see what's so funny, you children will not be returning home today or for most of you, ever again. I hope you all had graceful farewells, because the boys and girls that surround you will become your worst enemies over the next few days, as you will train and prepare for battle alongside each other until the day of reckoning comes." Effie says bluntly.
"I can't believe this. I've been going through test after test and studying extremely hard for sixteen years of my life just to be murdered in an arena for the entertainment of some dirty little district people?!" I yell directly at Effie Trinket.
"You shouldn't get too close, dear. I can see the hairs in your nostrils standing on end." Effie mutters to me.
Effie Trinket
I did not expect this reaction from my students, they are all being so ungrateful! I give them the chance to star in this year's stupendous Quarter Quell and they retaliate like this?! Not in my school.
"I'm failing to see an issue here, children. You all signed up to be a part of this year's games as soon as you entered my office!" I say, astounded.
"True, but not as the contestants!" A weedy little boy yells from the crowd of furious students.
This is getting out of hand. There's only one way to get this group of apes to calm down.
I raise one hand in the air and snap my fingers, whilst applying a gas mask from under my desk.
My trustworthy peacekeepers soon nullify the spoilt brats as they pull out spray cans which, when activated, emit clouds of thick, translucent blue smoke that fills the room and renders all students unconscious.
"Thank goodness that screaming is over, I was starting to get a headache." I complain, removing my gas mask.
"It looks like we have a group of fighters with us this year. It's a shame to end the lives of such ambitious little minds, but I have no doubt that doing so will make for a fantastic show!" I say wearily.
I clap my gloved hands together and put on a brave face.
"Okay, let's hurry these little darlings into their respective cabins on the train and we'll attempt to console them again once they regain consciousness." I say confidently, as peacekeepers drag the lifeless bodies of our future tributes out of the room.
