Dante Vinci, 14

District 12 male

I didn't think I could possibly be chosen.

I remember the day so clearly. It was reaping day. Of course I didn't think much of it, even though I'd put my name in for tesserae many times. I wasn't really expecting to be chosen.

After school I went with James and some other boys for a vape out back. We were never caught, but this time we were. It was kinda subtle, some guy saw us and told us to get out before someone who actually cared came along. I assumed he meant the peacekeepers who were starting to file into 12.

Whatever. All of us went our separate ways except me and James, he was coming back to my place. We walked by Darby's house, where she was fixing a bike out front, had all the tools sprawled out.

"Hey Pinky." James laughed.

"Shut up." She called back and continued working.

Me and James kept walking up the street. I lived two house across from Darby.

When I came home my sister Sarah was cooking something. I dunno what it was but I think it was some kind of soup. My mom was laying on the couch and my dad was out back having a smoke. Typical.

"Ready for the reaping?" James asked.

I shook my head a bit. "I never really am."

We went silent for a few seconds.

"How many times, man."

I knew he was talking about tessarae. "18 times."

James was in 36 times. He had to support his family, he had five other siblings. Darby was in 23 times, she puts in for her family and her younger brother but also to support our neighbours. The ones who just can't afford to go into the games. She also puts in for her dad, who has something wrong with his leg and I dunno what it is but I think it's uncurable right now. I only put in for my own family, to support us, to help my dad. He's sick but he just keeps smoking. Sometimes I think he's just giving up.

It was time for the reaping. I headed up with Sarah, James and Darby. I had changed into a white collared shirt and Darby had a faded plain dress on. She hardly ever wore dresses. I noticed she had a dark streak on her cheak, probably something from the bike chains.

"Do you want to look presentable?" I asked.

"I don't care about the grease."

"Are we picking up Josh?" James looked ahead to another house, this one a bit bigger than ours. Our houses had three rooms and were one floor, while this one looked like it had four rooms but still one floor. Actually, I take that back, it seemed like it might've had an attic too.

"Yeah." Darby replied. She walked up to this door but he had already opened it by the time she raised her knuckles to knock. I think Josh was in 14 or 15 times. He had a younger brother too but his parents were divorced so he didn't need as much tesserae.

"Let's go before the peacekeepers start herding us." Josh looked around anxiously.

"Loosen up, bud. We ain't gonna get pushed around by any peacekeepers" Darby teased.

"Remember last year?"

I sighed. Last year was horrible. I brought Darby with me and Sarah to vape, but she didn't want anything to do with it. She didn't want to mess up her system. I told her that her system was already messed up, so she walked away. I went after her to apologize but I guess we were late for the reaping or something 'cause next thing I know she's grabbed by a peacekeeper and a fight breaks out. She might've been killed. She knocked one of 'em out and I came in to help defend her. I was slashed with something across the arm and she got a nice cut across her head. We were excused from the reaping as an "apology" from the Capitol, but I think that's bullshit. I think the peacekeepers didn't want to look bad dragging in two bloody kids for a reaping.

"Shut. Up." She murmured. Josh immediately stopped talking and we continued to walk in silence.

We showed up and got our blood taken, then went to stand with our respective age groups. I stood with James and Josh and saw some of my buddies ahead, but I didn't want to be with them. Andrew came over but I brushed him off. I saw Sarah talking to Marianna and Jordan, completely ignoring Darby. Darby just shrugged a bit and walked off. Not sure where she went but I guess she saw some better people to stand with.

"Ladies and Gentlemen!" Our prissy escort Goldie began. I didn't listen to anything after that, I was busy thinking about other stuff. I though about Darby and James and the people I hang out with. I wondered where Darby went.

Then Goldie said the words: "As always, ladies first."

I listened in closer. Please don't be Sarah. Please don't be Darby.

"Emma Rhodestone!"

I breathed a sigh of relief.

"I volunteer as tribute!" Someone yelled.

I looked over to see Darby standing beside Emma. My heart sank. Emma was one of Darby's greatest friends; how could I not see her volunteering! Emma was in tears and was hugging Darby, who had a tear in her eye. I've never seen her cry before.

"Well, I see we have a volunteer!" Goldie chuckled. "C'mon up!"

The peacekeepers separated the two friends and grabbed Darby.

"Don't touch me." She murmured. The peacekeepers let go but stood by her in case she tried anything stupid.

Emma collapsed on the floor in a sobbing heep.

Goldie pulled Darby closer. "What is your name, young lady?"

Darby glared into the crowd. "Darby Dhillon."

"And how old are you?"

"14."

"And was that your friend you volunteered for?"

"Yes." Darby looked at Emma. "A damn good one."

"Well then. Let's get to the boys!" Goldie put her hand into the bowl of names.

My name is in there.

She rummaged around a bit before pulling one out.

"Dante Vinci!"

I stood in shock. James turned to look at me along with all my other friends. Josh sort of gasped. Sarah cried out.

I finally decided to move. I walked up to the stage with shaking hands and stood beside Darby, who just stared aimlessly into the crowd.

"We're so screwed." She whispered.