District One

Name: Luxuria 'Luxe' Xanthe

Age: 16

Gender: Female

BZZZT! BZZZT! The sound blurting from the alarm clock fills the room and my head as it wakes me. I reach over to the alarm clock and mash the buttons until the sound ceases, not even bothering to look. I sit up in bed, forcing myself to stay awake. I'll need to be alert today if I have any chance of being reaped.

I walk out to kitchen and force myself to eat an apple, I'm too anxious to eat anything else. It's still dark outside as I change into my training gear, today may be the beginning of this year's reapings but that's no excuse to miss my training.

I head outside and start jogging down my normal route. Down my street, around the corner to the park, eight laps of the park, to the town centre and back home. As usual I see many other careers training hard, not as many as other days though. They are probably resting, hoping that the extra rest will give them some sort of advantage. I think that's stupid, extra rest can't compare to training.

By the time I reach home the sun rise has begun. I go inside and realise that my parents are awake and preparing breakfast. This is good because my run actually increased my appetite.

"Hi Mum, Hi Dad," I say as I walk into the kitchen, the smell of bacon, eggs and sausages wafts into my nose and I begin to salivate.

"Good morning Lux, how was training?" Asks Mother in response. She seems quite excited, probably hopeful that I'll get chosen over other volunteers.

"Nothing out of the ordinary, just less people out training."

"I could've told you that last night," Father chimes in, "You hungry Lux?"

"Famished. How long until it's ready?" I ask.

"About ten minutes, why don't you have a shower? It should be ready when you come back out here," replies Father.

"Sure," I respond as I make my way to the bathroom.

I get into the bathroom and look at myself in the mirror. I notice that I look worse than I thought I did. My long platinum blonde hair is weighed down with sweat and my face glistens in the light. I start the shower and hop in. The warm water washes over my body and down the drain, taking this mornings sweat with it. I only get out when I notice myself getting hungrier.

After drying off and dressing myself I go to the kitchen, where breakfast and my parents are waiting. Dad is reading the newspaper, which is littered with articles and predictions about this year's Quell. I sit down and start eating, the food is so good.

After about fifteen minutes of small talk we begin to get ready for the reaping. My outfit is a simple, but beautiful strapless silver dress. My mother does my hair for me, braiding my fringe into two separate braids and feeding them around my hairline a bun at the back. She has also given me a pair off golden hoop earrings, a golden chain necklace and a golden bracelet to wear with my dress. She works as a jeweller, so she is always getting me new jewellery.

"Well, we better head off. You have to get there early to get a good spot," exclaims Mother, as she does every year.

We walk to the town square. It's already packed even though the reaping doesn't start for another two hours, it's like this every year though. I wait in line to get my finger pricked by the Peacekeepers, they do this to ensure that eligible child in the district is present and ready to be reaped.

I make it to the front of the line after nearly half an hour and have my finger pricked. Afterward I am directed to where I will be held for the reaping and I wait. As each minute passes more and more children crowd into the holding pens. Most of us are anxious to volunteer, none of us want our name drawn from the glass balls.

Just as the the pens begin to feel overcrowded the screens lining the roofs of the buildings in the square light up with the Capitol logo and the anthem begins to sound. A weird man from the Capitol walks onto the stage, his painted skin almost as bright as the sunlight. He is our Districts escort, sent here to conduct the reaping. I can never remember his name, but I can almost recite exactly what he says at every reaping he has escorted. He doesn't change his speech.

He introduces himself and excitedly rambles through his speech. The dark days, the start of the games, the Quells, the sacrifice and the honour. Finally he finishes his rambling and digs around the first bowl for a name.

"Ru-"

Before he can even call out the name at least ninety percent of girls in the crowd, myself included raise their hands and scream out that they volunteer. I try not to look too desperate though, relying more on my appearance and natural charm to hopefully catch his attention.

"Oh my, so many volunteers for a Quell." He says, trying to act surprised.

He locks eyes with me after scanning the crowd. This is it, I can feel it. My turn is here and its a Quarter Quell. I can't believe my luck!

"I believe it you were the first," he says as he points to me, "the young girl in the silver dress. Come up here!"

I quickly make my way to the stage, pushing through the crowd of disappointed girls for some of which I have taken their last chance of entering the Games. I get on stage and shake the escorts hand.

"What's your name young lady?"

"Luxuria Xanthe," I respond, unable to wipe the smile from my face.

I make eye contact with my parents and I can instantly see the elated look beaming from them. The first part is done, now I just have to win.