Analeigh Lester, District 5 (16)

"Go go go!" Came my brother's voice from behind me, though he knew I was faster than him and have always been. We darted down the dark halls, the sound of hurried footsteps behind us only adding to the adrenaline. Another figure skidded into sight at the end of the ominous hall, stopping me in my tracks and sending Tievan slamming into my back. I managed to get my balance before I was sent sprawling onto the floor.

Tievan roughly grabbed my hand and pulled me in the direction we had just come from only to turn abruptly to the left. There was a ladder leading to the next floor which we both climbed hurriedly, Tievan leading. There was no rest when we reached the top but instead we took off again, running at full speed through the little dingy corridors.

We heard shouting coming from behind us though the blood was pumping too loudly in my ears to make out what they were saying. This whole floor was sectioned off last year due to some sort of leak and although it had been given the all clear, no one wanted to return so thankfully, Tievan and I had the whole area to run without tripping over other workers.

Tievan slammed into a grimy door and the sunlight was blinding as we burst out onto the fire escape on the side of the building. Without pausing, I pushed Tievan down the stairs and we were off again. After making contact with the rocky ground, we made our way back into the village, only stopping when we were in the safety of the village centre.

Leaning against the wall of the local bakery, Tievan looked at me through his black-streaked face, a smile hinting at his lips. I, in turn bent over, leaning my forearms on my knees and grinned at him. Before long, we were both in hysterics, earning ourselves odd looks from those in the centre.

"I honestly thought they'd caught us on the bottom floor." I panted after I'd calmed down a bit, studying my grimy face in the window of the bakery. Most of my black hair had fallen out of its ponytail but my green eyes glowed with excitement and the lasting effects of adrenaline.

"If it wasn't for me, we'd be scraping you off the boots of the workers right now." My brother teased, earning himself a punch from me. "Ouch! Where's that entire 'ladylike charm' dad always talks about?"

I was about to respond when I felt a strong hand enclose around my arm, pulling me into one of the smaller alleys surrounding the village centre. I struggled before I saw my dad's stern face and his set jaw and that's where I surrendered and went limp. Seems like we had been caught after all.

"What are you two playing at?" He raged through gritted teeth after he pushed me and my brother out in front of him.

Tievan and I looked at each other uneasily. This wasn't the first time we'd caused unrest at our father's work and whenever we did, he'd always known it was us and although he didn't encourage it, he'd always taken it with a smile. Dad almost never lost his temper so it was wasn't a surprise when my brother and I were at a loss of what to say.

Dad sighed and rubbed his forehead, thinking as to what to do. "I have to get back," he said after a pause, refusing to look at either of us. He then produced his phone and jabbed in a number. "Jaydon?"

I sighed in exasperation. My oldest brother, Jaydon, never did anything unpredictable. He did everything as he was told to and he was a bore to talk to. After it was arranged that Jaydon would come and pick us up and keep an eye on us for the rest of the day, dad hung up and turned back to us.

"I'll talk to you at home. Don't move until your brother gets here." He threatened before turning and heading back to the factories.

"That was weird," Tievan exclaimed, breaking the tense atmosphere between us and looking at our father's retreating figure. I just shrugged in response.

Jaydon arrived twenty minutes later and we all walked home in silence, our spirit dampened by our father's reaction.

"So what did you two idiots do this time?" Jaydon spoke up suddenly, walking with his hands in his pockets and looking at me through narrowed eyes.

I was about to reply when Tievan beat me to it; "We only planted a smoke bomb in the middle of the factory!" He shouted a bit louder than he intended but that didn't wipe the smug smile off his face. "We would have gotten away with it too if Analeigh here didn't need a rest as soon-"

"You planted a smoke bomb, at a time like this?" Jaydon interrupted him and the look of disgust on his face made me cringe. He ran his hand through his hair and frowned at his feet. "No wonder dad's in a bad mood."

"What?" I enquired, stopping in front of him so he'd look at me.

"Look around, genius. Notice anything different to usual?" I barely had time to answer when he continued. "Tomorrow's the Reaping! Peacekeepers are swarming around this place." Looking around the village, I finally noticed the square being set up and the unusual amount of Peacekeepers.

Pulling my greatest 'we screwed up' face at Tievan which he willingly returned, we finally arrived back home.

My face was screwed up in concentration as one hand was gripping the last strand of loose hair and the other was trying to pin it in place. Once satisfied it all wasn't gonna fall out, I inspected my outfit. The dress itself was plain and not much to look at with nothing up small frills outlining the hem.

I smiled tightly and made my way downstairs. Both of my brothers were already at the bottom, waiting for me. Jaydon looked like me with the same dark hair but he had the exact same brown eyes as Tievan which had come from dad. Tievan had lighter hair and so I was left with the green eyes which I was pretty proud of.

As I reached the bottom of the stairs, Tievan whistled and tackled me, ruffling my hair so that all the effort put into it was wasted. I scowled at him as I pulled it out and combed it straight with my fingers.

Dad hadn't bothered to see us off this morning; I'll bet he was still angry about our stunt yesterday even after his show of fury last night about how reckless Tievan and I are. Not that I understand his sudden anger, he had a good job and we were pretty much safe from the reapings.

After a deep breath, Jaydon escorted us out and towards the town centre.

*Toby Holt, District 5 (13)*

"Get off, you asshole!" I shouted, struggling in my brother's unbreakable hold.

I vaguely heard him tutting in response, "Big words for a small boy." He then tightened his hold and ruffled my hair with his fist. I growled in frustration which only seemed to encourage Kallan.

Without warning, he let go of me, sending me falling to the ground. I whipped around to glare at him but he had already slammed the door to his room. I sat there for about a minute, massaging my sore head and thinking about how to take my revenge although I knew that never ended well.

This had been going on for a while, I always found myself in a headlock or worse by my brother when our parents weren't around. He always claimed it was 'sporting fun' but I could do without it.

Moments later, my parents entered the kitchen, obviously having heard the exchange, stopping short when they noticed me sitting on the floor in my Reaping clothes.

"Toby," Mom said, looking down at me with pity in her eyes. They both knew it was Kallan but they'd more or less given up trying to discipline him.

Without responding, I pushed myself up and walked past my parents and out the front door. Today was the Reaping and I'm not in the mood to be looked down on by my family. I made my way around the village which was buzzing with the preparation for the Reaping. I can't lie, my chances aren't great; my parents earn what they can but it's not enough so we relied pretty heavily on tesserae.

I watched as the Peacekeepers hosed down the stage and cleared out the area before my stomach rumbled angrily and I realised I hadn't had any breakfast. Making my way to the village stalls, which were fairly busy at this time of morning, I picked up an apple and shoved it quickly into my pocket.

By then, people had started to arrive and I quickly checked in and stood by my friends, chatting happily and trying to take our minds off the Reaping. It was only our second year so we were naturally pretty nervous. I refuse to look at Kallan as he arrived with my parents in tow.

The escort bounced onto the stage, a little bundle of energy with a smile imprinted on her face, as always. Kateera Nylon was her name and I always find myself wondering if that smile was a permanent feature or if it was all just for show. Her theme for this year was apparently anything which hurt the eyes as she was dressed in every single bright colour I've ever seen and even some I haven't. Everything from her bright yellow hair tied in a knot at the top of her head to her painful shade of pink shoes.

Behind her appeared the 2 victors from District 5 who would be mentoring this year's tributes. The youngest was Cain West who won 3 years ago at the age of 16. The other won the games long before I was born and therefore didn't interest me much.

"Hello to all District 5! The 54th Hunger Games are upon us and I'll bet we're all excited to find out who our tributes are." Kateera beamed but got no reaction from the crowd. I had seen the career's Reapings and they made it seem like a competition. It physically made me feel ill.

"Starting with the ladies, as per tradition." She stumbled to a bowl to her right in her ridiculous heels which seem to cause her more harm than good.

She plucked a name from the bowl and made her way back to the centre of the stage, making a show of opening up the little piece of paper.

"Analeigh Lester."

The name rang out in the silence of the district centre before the crowd slowly parted out in front of, I'm guessing, Analeigh.

The girl looked terrified, looking around as though there had been a mistake, her dark hair a menacing contrast with her pale face. Something changed, however, when she stared to walk. She clenched her jaw and a determined looked crept across her face.

"And finally… the boys," Ketreena continued when Analeigh had found her place beside her escort, making the same fuss over prolonging the process.

"Toby Holt," My heart dropped to my feet and I just stood frozen in place, telling myself I'd misheard, that I wasn't the only Toby Holt when I felt someone elbow me in the ribs, animating me and I forced myself to walk towards the stage.

"And here are your tributes-" I didn't hear anything else she said, the world seemed muffled to my ears and I was only vaguely aware of the hands ushering me towards the Justice building a short while later.

I was still in shock when my family emerged into the room, mom raging and crying. Dad, sitting quietly and trying to sooth my mom, Kallan wasn't anywhere to be seen but I was hardly surprised. Mom pressed something into the palm of my hand and I was snapped out of my blurred thoughts enough to look down at it. It was her gold chain which she wore around her neck. I never saw her without it. And then they were gone and I was left alone, that's when I started to cry.