A friend who dies, it's something of you who dies.

-Gustave Flaubert

A/N: Just something to help you, when there is a page separator the pov is only changing if it says the District and name of the new person whose pov is being written

The Chosen: Reapings Part One

District Three

Jean Adric, 16

Many people have a very solid black or white point of view on the citizens of the Capitol. Most from my District hate them. The Capitol citizens themselves and those from the Career Districts often love the Capitol. Then there are the others who just could care less.

Me?

In many ways I would very much like to hate the Capitol. For starters they do enforce the horrific event that is the Hunger Games. That is definitely not something in their favor. On the other hand they are humans. They watch and cheer on the Hunger Game, part of me can understand the action and dram part of it but the death part is just sick, yet why can they possible be okay with it? People die for their entertainment.

Since the first moment I realized how strongly the citizens of the Capitol can love the bloodshed that is the Hunger Games I treated it like anything else I don't understand, I analyzed it. Those emotions aren't just something they are born with. I don't know why more haven't questioned that, maybe because the answer is so utterly simple. We all are humans even if the Capitol wears a rainbow assortment of clothes and dye their hair and skin different colors that aren't even possible. They are still humans. Not some sort of different species. Even if they treat us like we are a whole different species and they look like a whole different species.

Since they were born they were raised to believe that what they were doing was right. Just as Careers are raised in similar way, that fighting through to Victory would bring you honor and not just tragedy. Capitol citizens are just people brainwashed from the very moment they are born. They can't control that or control the fact they were born in the Capitol and we weren't. I don't love them or think of the highly. I just pity that the will never be able to think for themselves.

But I also fear them. Which leaves me with a rather peculiar standpoint on my opinion of them all. Not black or white.

Besides I can't hate them. I just can't manage the idea of being filled with such hate. Hate is simply wasted emotion. I meant not always be fond of a certain person makes sense, but hate? No. I just simply try to understand their reasoning behind their actions. I accomplish much more that way.

Sadly it seems people just can't love my company as much as I enjoy theirs.

Letting out a heavy sigh I move away from the window that outlooks District Three. The place is in no way perfect but it is my home, it has my family, and it is the place where I can be taught and get a good education. Since Three is in charge of inventing and engineering being smart is something accepted and not a trait people hide. The most social butterflies here usually are the top-students.

Turning around I remind myself of the upcoming Reaping and check the time. Eleven o'clock and the reaping is at noon. Giving a disappointed shake of the head at myself I almost feel the urge to laugh at it. I always am thinking or lost writing something new. It would make you think I was some idealistic dreamer but the most sullen part of my strong-willed opinions, philosophy, and poetry that I have grown to love is the fact I am not really an idealistic at all. Frankly I am probably more down than Earth than any of my siblings.

I mean I do love them, but my younger sister Aislyn and my older sister Tauriel have their moments. Then again as mature as Aislyn acts she is just a thirteen year-old after all.

"Jean mom made breakfast!" Speak of the devil. I am not poor. I am not rich. I am not high middle class. My parents both work hard enough to kept us fed and at one time so did my sister. We have tesserae but not too much tesserae. The situation so many citizens of Three find themselves in. We really aren't as bad as Twelve or Ten, not even in the same realm, but I still find myself lucky for the situation I have been born into. It isn't perfect but it is my life. The only thing to dislike is the house could definitely use various repairs and a more selfish part of me fears how crowded it might get soon enough.

Still with all of that my mother rarely finds the time to make a real proper breakfast. The Reaping is one of those rare days she makes time

Throwing on my reaping clothes quickly not wanting to eat a cold breakfast I rush out of my room and down the hall to the kitchen. Smiling at my family already scattered around the room eating I retrieve my own plate. My sister's stomach grows every single day. I believe it has been six months now. Three more months and her and Tyndall's baby will be born.

My sister is not a stupid girl. She was always much better with social skills than me as Aislyn is also but Tauriel always was flirty and after three years of dating Tyndall one thing must have led to the next and before we knew it she told us she was pregnant. I know I don't have to worry about her setting a bad example for Aislyn though. Tauriel is intelligent but Aislyn is like a mad scientist. Much more outgoing and she was always a scientist at heart. My favorite thing about my sisters though is that they were given the gift to be so much less socially awkward then me.

"Good luck brother." Little Aislyn tells me giving me a tight hug before we part ways. Her words fill me with warmth but I know very well I will need more than just good luck. Each year gets more nerve-racking as my name is put in more and more.

The escort Ty steps onto the stage. He used to be so cheerful and colorful but lately he is much more twitchy and nervous looking. He gives a pitiful smile to all of us. "Welcome District… Three." He says as if he somehow he managed to forget the District he has been mentoring over the last few years. It would seem like he looks drunk but he just looks insane to me.

Ty watches as we all stare at him for a few moments before scratching his head and handing the microphone to the mayor quickly and sitting back down, seeming to be embarrassed.

"Hello citizens." The mayor booms sounding rather stiff and professional. He always was one to take things way too seriously. He clears his throat and stands straight as can be. He seems to think highly of himself, he must have come from a very rich family who nearly brainwashed him to think the way he does. District Three over the last few years hasn't always been its best with tributes. There was Katie from a few years back that was a complete psycho, which I knew from the beginning I might add, and then the look a-likes Micro and Zai. They were so smart it gave our District hope but in the end like so many of our tributes they perished.

The thought is depressing and it always does worse for my nerves. I can't even hide my anxiety. It shows on my face and I just know every single person around me sees it.

Once the mayor goes over the speech he gives a small nod to us all before handing Ty back the microphone. He almost drops it but catches it last second and gives a smile at that. The poor man, I just can't help but wonder what happened to him.

"Well let's start off with the ladies." Ty says and waits a moment before shuffling over to the bowl and quickly picking up a piece of paper but accidently taking two. He looks at them before realizing he has two and dropping one back into the bowl. He gives a nervous chuckle. I think this might be his last year as an Escort if he keeps this up. "Mae Juniper!" He says searching the crowd for her.

Almost immediately everyone gasps and eyes fall on a seventeen-year-old girl. Sadly I know her. I am not saying I hate her, after all hate is a useless emotion, but she wasn't one of those I was fondest of. I sure did find her interesting though.

Her face crunches up as she lets out a thick sob as a few hands pat her on the back. The girl was a genius and a very popular girl in my school. Only she was what many considered annoying. I respect people like my sister's outgoing natures but this girl took it a bit too far.

"Come on!" A peacekeeper booms grabbing her arms and Mae shakes him off angrily stomping to the stage giving an annoyed look. A bit of annoyance stirs inside me at her emotions, like she thinks she is too good to be reaped, but I just remind myself she basically has just been told she is going to die soon and I feel a bit more sorry for her.

She reaches the stage sitting hard in the chair crossing her arms like a child ready to burst out in a tantrum.

"Okay…" Ty says before shaking it off and walking over the other bowl. "Now the boys!" He picks out a slip managing to only pick out one this time. "Jean Adric!" My face bursts into a fearful mess. I don't cry or act like Mae, the first thing I do is turn around and burst towards the exit though I know escape is something I will never be able to get.

I actually manage to make it through the crowd of sixteen-year-old males and hear a shout and see Aislyn running towards me. In a panic I run for her and when I am reach her I bring her into a tight hug and let out a tearless sob before I feel the hands of a Peacekeeper yank me away from her. I already see my oldest sister coming forward, her plump belly slowing her down. When she does reach our sister she can only hold her back and even with that she looks so tired from rushing towards us. Like Mae I shake the Peacekeepers off accepting defeat.

I show my fear, but as I see my two shocked looking sisters watch me leave I feel something determined within me and spread across my face. And as I walk to the stage I just have to hope everyone in the Capitol can see through my fear to my determined nature inside. Because I might fear the future but that doesn't mean I plan on giving up.

District Two

Alexis Ryker, 18

I have gotten use to never feel at place, or confident. I understand that you can get use to anything if you have to deal with it long enough, but it stills feel so strange thinking those emotions are like a second instinct for me.

My parents have never seen me as anything but the fat and ugly girl that I am and always loved my younger brother Mason more. No matter how much I train or diet I can't change my body. Taller than most boys with wide shoulders, flat chest, and with lifeless brown hair. Those are things I simply can't change. I am anything but beautiful or someone to look twice at and the whole District knows that. Adding being poorer and my chances of friends is zero. My parents don't even bother to pretend like they don't love Mason ten more times than me.

As much as I just got use to it all like it didn't mean anything doesn't mean I enjoyed it. I simply tolerated it. My parents both have all their hope in Mason going on to Volunteer and bring honor to our family when I have worked so hard to be the one to become a Victor. I need the Victory so much. I am just a nothing.

I am so exhausted of be nothing.

Opening my eyes I listen to the soft pattering of rain on the roof. The rhythmical tone echoes through the house. The dark grey sky a reflection of my glum mood. Naturally being such a pitiful nothing as much as I am sure I am going to do whatever I have to get to the stage before all the other girls who will be fighting over Volunteering. Being a giant freak has its advantages. My legs are long enough to get me there quick and there isn't a chance I will go unnoticed. After all those are constantly noticing me sneaking glances and snickers in my direction all because I am such a sore thumb against this beautiful District filled with all these beautiful people I can never be like.

The thought of all those times makes me get up from my bed and look in the mirror at my reflection. I don't look as if I am going to be volunteering. Just an unflattering pink dress. I don't bother with anything else because with the rain it wouldn't do much. I don't need to look beautiful; I am use to being hideous anyway. From now on I worry about pulling off the tough and strong look. Not just a troll or that ugly tall girl.

No one would be able to deny my place if I win. No one would call me a troll ever again.

I manage a smile and the girl in the mirror has her lips just barely curled up at the corners. I can do this.

I am strong, fast, and trained. I can do this.

Walking towards the door I move down the hall and look inside my parent's room with the door wide open. My father stands near the window with something in his hands. I get my size from him. People call him the Bear down at the stone quarry. With my mother's height I never had a chance. Mason was the lucky one when it came to DNA.

He looks up seeing me glancing at him and ushers me forward. Confused I walk towards him to stand by him next to the window that shines in with gray and gloomy light.

My father was never cruel like my mother. He just worked for so long that he seemed to never be around. I can see now the carving in his hands is of a bear.

"Yes father?" I ask. He will be proud of me when I volunteer. I Just know it.

He takes my hand and drops the carving of the bear into my palm. I give a quizzical look not sure why he would bother to give me a gift when I have done nothing of importance to deserve it.

"Your token." He tells me looking as glum as the weather in the District.

I blink unsure how to respond. "Huh?" I ask.

"You are eighteen and have trained probably even more than Mason has." He says and gives me a look. I know what the look means. I did get his size after all. Maybe I just never bothered to think that he probably went through similar things. But he is a male and being large and wide shouldered isn't always such a bad thing. If anything it can be considered a good thing. Maybe my father isn't as bad as I once believed. "I never really got to know you. Please try to come home so I can." The words fill me with warmth the weather can't even squash and I nod determined. I will get to that stage and I will Volunteer. It has been so long since I have had kind words spoken to me, but things will be different soon enough.

I take the bear carving and put it in the pocket on my dress and leave the room and leave my father to himself to stare out the window. I know I need to start heading down to the Reaping. I usually go by myself.

My nerves everywhere and with my stomach full of butterflies I decide to go right by the kitchen skipping out on Breakfast. I want to not have to talk to my mother or Mason. I want the first time they see me today is when I triumphantly manage to Volunteer. District Two has been pushing its trainees harder than ever. The girl last year, Maria, got fairly far but Hazard died in the bloodbath. We haven't had one of our tributes die in the bloodbath in forever. We all just want a Victor. I need to win. I will be a hero.

"Leaving so early?" A nasty sounding voice crackles and I turn around realizing my wish to not run into my mother are not going to go as planned. I see my mother there, crossed arms staring at me with judging eyes as I stand in front of the door ready to leave.

I nod, "I want to get a good spot for my last Reaping I am eligible." I say. It is partially true, I do want to find myself a spot where I can get to the stage first but I don't want my mother to know I plan on volunteering. I want her to be surprised.

"By the time you probably find your way to the Town Center you will be considered late anyway. If you wanted to be early you should have camped there over night." My mother says rolling my eyes before turning around. Her cruel words go right through me. I got off lucky. She is distracted.

I turn back to the door and pull it open heading out into the rainy day. I don't mind the rain so I don't bring an umbrella, that will only slow me down. I do not care if my hair gets frizzy or my makeup ruined like most of the other girls who rush around the neighborhood. Besides my hair is already frizzy and I don't even bother with makeup. Even makeup won't help me.

"Welcome District Two to the 62nd Hunger Games Reaping!" The escort preaches and some cheering goes around. I move a bit anxiously in my spot in the front part in the Eighteen year old girl section. The stairs are so close. I see so many other girls near me just as intensely staring at the stairs. I don't care what it takes. I am getting to that Escort first.

"Well you all look so ecstatic I just know this year will be fabulous for District Two." The Escort says and a few cheer to that. They all want us to redeem ourselves. I can do that. I need to.

The girls are first, they always are.

I look across the crowd to where Mason stands looking at me smirking. He knows.

"Ladies first." The Escort says pleased to have such a non-hostile crowd. Let me get something straight, I am not psycho who loves to kill. I just need the respect you can get from coming out victorious. The idea of killing sends shivers down my spine but in the end I will do whatever it takes. I take a deep breath getting ready to move as the Escort pulls out a small slip of paper and begins to read out the name. She won't get far though.

"Tay-"

"I volunteer!" I boom as loud as possible along with a few other voices and I push a girl back and run up to the stage my blood pumping and my emotions as joyful as can be when I reach the Escort, I spot a pretty looking redhead disappointedly returning to the Eighteen year old section. She gives me death glares; I think she was supposed to volunteer. Oh well, I just can't give this opportunity up.

The Escort looks me up and down with mixed emotions. I can tell she knows as much as everyone else I am not much of a looker to attract Sponsors but with my size and build she seems to know I can beat up most males. She even seems a tad intimidated; yet still her fake pink eyes are so judging toward me. I can't stand it.

"What is your name dear?" She asks plastering on a smile and I see her glance towards the redhead. She probably wished that girl got here first. Skinny boned but the girl is pretty which I am not. It doesn't even matter though. I am finally here. This is amazing. Sure the butterflies still are strong within me but more than ever I can push them down and ignore them.

I take the microphone from her hands and look into the crowd at my mother with an appalled yet confused look on her face. I smile at her confusion. She is unsure if she should be proud of her troll of a daughter. She will see soon that she can be proud at me, that I am strong enough for her to love me.

"My name is Alexis Ryker, I am eighteen years old." I say before handing her back the microphone and looking at the mayor and mentors staring at me. This is all finally happening. I don't have to be nothing anymore; I can make myself into something.

I walk over to sit down in the seat for the tribute. I can do this, I need to.

District Ten

Corrie River, 18

The wind tugs at my hair as the strands that managed to escape from the fishtail pigtails at the mercy of the wind. The sun beats down on my skin as I take a deep breath and look onto the farm. I stand on the roof of the barn managing to feel at ease after so many times of being here, other than the barn there is the field for the animals to roam and the home for the humans of the farm. With all of the Roger's living in the place it has to be big. And it is.

The parents, the five kids, the kids of the older children and then the Roger's grandma who we all know is starting to loose it. "Why don't you stop staring and come in for breakfast?" The friendly voice makes a smile spread across my lips even on the day of the Reaping. I turn around to look at Cody coming up the ladder. His green eyes shined in the bright light of the District and his dark hair still looking as if he just woke up. From the fact he isn't even in his Reaping clothes yet I assume that the assumption he just got up is no far from the truth. He reaches the roof walking to stand next to me. He stands much taller than me, I am average height leaning on short but he even with that he is just simply tall in general.

"I'm not hungry." I say. Last Reaping while I am still eligible. I wish I could say then things would be calm and I wouldn't have to be constantly paranoid but that is something I will never get a chance at. I am a fugitive, and the worst part is that Cody doesn't even know. He is my best friend yet he just is told the story like everyone else. Amnesia. That is the story I have going. When I was lost and wondering through the woods and found the District I didn't honestly care which District it was I just needed a shelter. Even if that shelter ended up being the community home.

So when I heard people coming I pretended to be passed out cold and when I woke up I said I don't remember a thing. People didn't question me too much; here in District Ten we aren't exactly very defiant. We are just a bunch of farmers with the sun too hot to do much other than tend to our farms. So Peacekeepers just didn't question. The community home isn't fun but it kept me alive. Times have gotten better here in many ways though. Especially when one of those boys, from that day when I was found in the river, found interest in me. When he became my best friend and helped me, a girl running for her past and a depression that would always try to swallow her whole again. He didn't even know it. That boy was Cody and three years later I do work for the Roger's and Cody is beginning to make room for me to move in. Everything can be like a story tale.

The words pinch at my very core.

Cody lets out a sigh and looks at me. I am all ready to go to the Reaping and try to get this all over with. I just want one chip off my shoulder, eventually I will tell Cody the truth and yet another chip can be off my shoulder.

It is a nice change since before all of this the best option in my eyes just was to run away and now because of it a certain weight has been dropped onto me that will never go away, the worse part is I couldn't say a word about it.

"Okay but if you are hungry don't hesitate to come in. The family would enjoy seeing you." He says and I see he wants nothing more than to force me to go and eat breakfast with him but I also know he can see I need some time to think.

When I was young I grew up at the sea and with the spear I felt like it was an extension of my very limbs and I loved it. I loved to fish and help feed my family with it. Then one day because of that very skill I was accepted into the Training Center and trained but it never felt right with all those rich kids until I met my best friend. Our situations were so similar that I trained like no tomorrow, we both were good but I trained day and night and the head trainer told me I was destined to become a Victor. Maybe part of me wanted to be a Victor back then but a witch of a girl quickly squashed any hope. She bothered and pestered me into a deep depression and I broke. I ran away. I ran and ran until my legs were numb and felt like they were about to fall off. I ran until I came here.

I have no amnesia, while part of me wished I did. I cowardly escaped that witch and left my home back in District Four. I also left my best friend without a word; I left her to deal with the evil girl by the name of Monica. Last year I waited for her to volunteer. After all back before I left at fifteen when she wasn't tormenting me she was saying how proud her daddy was going to be when she volunteered at seventeen and won younger than eighteen. Not only does that not make much sense it made my friend hate her even more.

It wasn't Monica who volunteered last year. It was my dear friend Sedna I left behind. My outside was excited because she did what I originally planned on accomplishing before my depression took over. I wanted her to win so badly my heart ached each time she had a close run. She made it to the Final Showdown and came so close. I don't hate Rhett, I do not feel angry with Sedna for Volunteering. It just made my hate for the Games so much stronger.

I will never get closer with Monica or Sedna. That destroys me a bit but I left that place and left behind the crippling depression and all that anxiety and I just know I can't let it get back to me. Sedna would hate if that happened to me. So I need to carry on and I will.

Taking a deep breath of the clean air of Ten I go through my ritual. I imagine the sea and the sound of crashing waves and the smell of salt in fresh in the air. Then I open my eyes and start to head down the ladder and off the roof.

I just need to get through this one last reaping and maybe just maybe when I see Monica volunteer this year only to die I will be able to get a good night's sleep again. Just maybe.

I stand in the Town Center standing tall and straight trying to make myself look the 5'5 I am and not slouch into a 5'3 or 5'2, in the end Cody managed to get me to eat breakfast with his family. I was glad for it to. They are truly some of the most wonderful people. I can't exactly open up to them they way I can to Cody but if it weren't for them I would still be in that disastrous dress I was wearing from before. Instead I wear a blue-checkered dress from Cody's older sister and a daisy from her daughter.

I am not exactly one to give much care for looks, not many do here in Ten where we often find more important things, but I am not above saying that it wasn't nice to have people trying to make me look pretty. It isn't that I am ugly but I am not gorgeous either. I am rather plain and simple. I like it that way.

The Escort, Natta, steps onto the stage with a smile. Everyone said since after two years in a row where our tributes have done well she has been so excited and some rumors even said she refused to move to another District saying she has a good feeling about Ten. The woman is a nut.

I have to say it wasn't a good year to watch for me last year. There was Sedna, my old best friend, and then Cassie who was another girl in a similar situation of being stuck in the Community Home.

Though as much as it is difficult for me to get over their deaths, even though I barely knew Cassie, I know from so long of being in this situation that the past is the past and dwelling on ghosts won't do much good. If I can accept it all then just maybe those ghosts of the tragedy I have experienced won't be able to catch up, I can just hope though but believing it is possible is the first step.

"Is everyone ready to find out who our new tributes will be?" Natta asks and the District goes dead quiet almost a silent way to be defiant. Natta gives a smile that just reeks of keeping-things-under-control and lets out a laugh before giving the microphone to the mayor to do the same old speech about why we all stand here as if we don't know already.

The mayor is getting older and at a few parts he stumbles on words or pronounces something wrong but he manages to get through it and Natta grabs the microphone as soon as he does to go on with her little show.

"Females first as always!" She says and walks to the bowl and I stay calm as can be. My eyes closed I tell myself I didn't even take out as much tesserae as some people did.

Her new five inch long nails (fake obviously) stumble to grasp onto a slip and she gives a nervous laugh as she struggles to open the slip of paper with her nails. She gives a smile to the camera before reading out the name.

"Corrie Rivers."

I can hear the thumping of my heartbeat but everything else just transforms into a high-pitch noise I can't understand. It looks like escaping my ghost just won't be so easy.

"Corrie Rivers are you there?" Natta asks searching the crowd until my fellow citizens give me up and move away from me like I am ridded with some disease they might catch.

Shit, this is it. This is the moment I feared every since I was fifteen and found my way hear.

My past just seems to refuse to let go of me.

District Seven

Lily Excavase, 16

Her tired and exhausted looking face manages to give a last smile before whispering the words to the boy standing over her looking as sad as every other person sitting in the room.

As if something bursts from inside me I can barely stop myself I wrench myself from my seat unable to look at a single second more as my best friend dies all because of some stupid fire. I rush to the door just managing to catch a glimpse at my family looking at me shocked. My father looks the calmest as if he understands that I need to let out some air and knows I won't do anything too foolish. My brother, my twin, just stares at me teary eyed as I open the door and throw myself outside the bird's sweet songs not at all pleasing at this moment. Everything makes me angry.

I don't know where to go; I realize that as soon as I escape out here. What now? I want to cry and bawl till there is no more in me but it won't relieve the anger inside me. I curse the Capitol. I curse the Games. I curse the fact it has to be so damn sunny today.

I walk past a few houses and don't allow myself to wonder what June's family must feel at this moment. I don't even bother to wonder if my family will chase after me. I don't plan on doing something stupid though, I just need some sort of release. A few people stare at me out their windows a share pitiful looks for me to the person standing next to them. They all know.

And I hate that almost as much as the fact she is dead.

Once I past the houses to the edges of the woods I find a large thick tree and let out a long shriek as I send my fist into the bark my fist burning almost instantly as tears begin pouring out. I let out a sob nearly choking as all the tears try to force themselves out, the tight feeling in my throat from holding back the tears being released. I repeat the process over and over until I figure if a Peacekeeper came they would have full right to ship me away to a mental asylum or just kill me. I punch the bark until my fist begins to bleed and I fall to the ground.

My best friend is gone.

"It hurts doesn't it?" A voice calls to me and I immediately start to wipe away all signs of tears though it will be no use, that is until I realize the voice is of my own twin brother's Mason.

I turn around my cheeks red like tomatoes as I cry like a toddler. Mason's face is red and a single tear manages to escape from his eye. His fist clenched tightly and he quivers slightly, all signs that he seems to want to do exactly what I have been doing.

"Yeah it does."

The painful memory haunts me over and over, the part where I watch June die repeats more often then the rest. I guess my head wasn't exactly screwed on tight enough that day, I never really thought that Mason loved June just as much as I did. Only he loved her in many ways in a way I never could. They dated for only a while but I was no fool and knew my twin still had lingering feelings that only became more painful for him after her death in the 61st Hunger Games.

I cock my head slightly to the side as I stare at my reflection. My strawberry blonde hair cut short in a pixie hair cut and my brown eyes looking over my skinny and short body. June's death hit me hard and didn't just result in broken and bloody knuckles.

You never really know exactly who you are to people unless you are forced to. When I started growing quieter and less outspoken I realized just how much myself had been stolen away. Between Mason and me I was always outgoing and always talked and stood up for myself. When I became the girl that just stared at her paintings day by day and barely ate I still was too thick headed to see just how bad thing had gotten. But eventually when I looked at my reflection and could see my ribs I realized I had to get things together. Depression hit me hard and all the time when I was recovering I just looked at Mason and couldn't help but wonder.

How could he be so much better at this?

I had become a mess and he was simply grieving, I don't say that to insult how much he cared for her it just made me feel weak. Maybe in many ways that was an awakening to remind myself that while I will never be the stronger of us two I will always have him to be strong for me.

It gave me strength.

And here today I stand in simple green dress. I was never one for dresses or many things girly. After all in Seven our culture is raised in the woods and the men become lumberjacks and the families just naturally are strong willed. In many ways that is what I loved about Seven. We have hard working attitudes that places like District One are lucky enough to develop in their youth.

"Come on Lily we have to go!" I hear Mason call and I stand for a moment and notice that the purple stains from the berry I squished to use for paint a day ago still hasn't quite washed away.

I close my eyes for a moment before starting to move out of my room and into the hall where Mason stands in his reaping clothes ready to go. We would be identical if it weren't for the differences in genders. We both are on the shorter side, except of course he wouldn't be 5'2 and he does have about five inches on me at least, and have strawberry blonde hair and brown eyes.

Giving him a half-hearted smile he returns it and he wraps his arm protectively around my shoulder as we both walk into the kitchen where our mother and father wait for us. Usually we would go with June but…

I don't even allow myself to finish the thought. I need to stay strong. I just wish I didn't have to do so in some stupid dress.

"Ready to go?" My father says comfortingly. He is strong looking from many hours chopping away at trees but he is a gentle shark.

We both nod. So with that we walk as a family out of our modest home and into the street where families all head together in the same direction to the Town Center where the Peacekeepers are already probably all set up for the Reaping.

Parts of my sadness are replaced with rage at the thought but I manage to make it through without running off our screaming. By the time we reach the Town Center I know we are nearly late.

Giving our parents hugs goodbye we are forced to separate as both Mason and I rush to get in line so we can get checked in. That will be when we part. One of the disadvantages of having a twin of the opposite gender.

The escort Moon steps onto the stage just as I check in. In a moment of rush I forget to say goodbye to my brother and just head straight to the section for sixteen-year-old girls. It will be fine though, my family isn't the richest and we do have our names in their some extra times. Still we are usually well feed and our names aren't nearly in there as many as the other more poor residents. Then again June's family was in the same situation and she still managed to get reaped.

At that moment my heart starts pumping quicker and louder as I curse myself for finally finding something that could panic me.

Please just make these Reapings quick! I think bitterly to myself as the mayor goes over some speech looking proud like it is the most beautiful written thing in all of History. Man I really hate that guy. Finally after the boring speech comes to an end and the mayor applauds himself Moon is back in control of the microphone.

"Hello ladies and gentlemen!" She says. "Before I pick our female let me just say, may the odds be ever in your favor!" She says giving a wink to us all that almost makes me want to gag. Such an overused and cheesy line for Escorts to use. After that cliché display I watch anxiously as she goes over to the Reaping bowl and pushes her hand deep into the sea of papers inside the glass ball. Picking one that has to have been on the very bottom she manages to snatch it up and clears her throat before reading the name on the slip of paper.

"Lily Excavase."

All eyes are on me as people begin to whisper about how "unfortunate" it is for June's little friend to be Reaped. My heart beats faster pushing blood through my veins spreading the rage I feel.

I want to scream, I want to punch a tree like I did when my friend died a year ago. I can't scream though, the Peacekeepers already see me and soon enough if I don't get a move on they will be dragging me to the stage. Glaring I start marching forward a mixture for anger and desperation swirling inside me filling me with hysteria.

This can't be happening.

I manage to get on the stage and seat down without breaking down in anyway. I just sit there trying to keep myself from falling apart.

"Lovely!" Moon says looking me over. I guess maybe she likes the rage in my eyes but other than that she seems rather nervous over all and confused. I am small enough for her to be disappointed though, that is for sure. "Onto our male tribute!" She squeaks before making her way to the next bowl this time picking the very first slip.

"Mason Excavase."

All my rage falls apart; in fact every little part of me falls apart.

Wide eyes I watch my brother panicked and wishing I could be there to comfort him but I am stuck on this stage.

I am going into the Hunger Games with my brother.

Suddenly he catches my eyes and we share a hysterical moment before I see him tumble to the ground.

District Six

Elian Coen, 14

For once I use this device, which for so long I have used as a tool to stare into the skies and beyond this cursed placed, to see within the realms of the District. Moving it I adjust it to get a better look at the Town Center. A smile creeps onto my lips, it makes me feel more comfortable knowing I can just look out this telescope and see what is going on there at any time. I can see if people are beginning to gather or if there still isn't a soul other than Peacekeepers there.

Pushing my chair away from the telescope I get up reminding myself I promised my mother I would be fine getting myself ready and I am not willing to let her down on that. I guess I just see it as some magical situation where this is my mother's first time letting myself do things independent and while she hates to see her sweet baby boy grow up she knows it is necessary. In reality my mother just has better things to do and she wouldn't actually help me she just said it because she felt it to be mandatory.

Going through my closet until I find the white bag with the words, "Reaping clothes." Printed on it I remove it from the array of clothing and unzip it to reveal the white buttoned down shirt and expensive looking pants my father had the maid lay on my bed for me. At the time I was worried she might have moved one of my things but then that worry translated into worry about the Reaping.

But it isn't like I have any tesserae. I will never have to get tesserae. Being rich does have its advantages. Still I can't help but allow it to get to me. I never liked being outside anyway. I don't go to school. I have no friends. My parents give me everything I could possible desire but caring love. So growing up I made those things on my own. I began to read and soon I read more and more until my room was filled with stack after stack of books on space and science. Then I got a telescope, something that definitely made me appreciate my family's wealth, and with that the stars and planets beyond this Earth became my friends.

All I was missing was caring love. Eventually I moved past that though. Now I spend hour upon hour studying the sky and reading books I only can get because of my father's wealth. I watch and record the sky activities to nearly dawn arrives. Because of it I rarely get any sleep. Dark circles are evident under my eyes and I almost look sickly.

My parents could care less though. If they start to think I am looking thin or sick they just send me a package of food. One time my mother even gave me some lotion to put under my eyes to help the dark circles to go away. Naturally I threw the stuff away immediately. What they don't understand is in many ways I sort of like being that way. It doesn't bother me and no one is around to get an input in it anyway.

Dressed, I walk back into my room. It is a complete mess. The room is dark except for the little amount of light that manages to seep through the curtains. I love it. Stacks of books scatter all around my bed and drawings and records of the night sky hang all over the walls. Overall it looks like it belongs to someone insane but I am anything but.

Looking out the telescope once more I begin to see people arriving and a small line already forming to get checked in. My parents won't be attending them; I think they might just get a good spot on the balcony where they can oversee it without having to be near all the "normal" people.

Sighing I shake my head and head out the door. I always feel a bit frightened going to the Reaping. There isn't a good thing about it. Not only do I risk being taken into the Games but I was never one to enjoy being around others. Actually I hate it. I much rather be in my room reading books.

The few maids and workers that aren't at the Reaping for their children, or if they are even eligible still, all wish me good fortune and tell my comforting words. Their words have little affect on me and pass through me, but the thought is sweet of them even if they likely don't say it because they are actually fond of me.

I find my way onto the street and wonder in the direction of the Town Center, I get lost a few times but overall I manage to find my way just fine on my own. Doesn't mean I still wouldn't have liked my actual parents to come with me. They are just too 'busy'.

By the time I do manage to find my way the crowd I saw the beginning formation of back at the house has turned into a decent crowd that must be already at least one-third of the District Six population.

Still the line manages to be long enough that I dreadfully shuffle over to it. I feel a body shove past me and look to her as she looks back at me and her gray/blue eyes catch mine before she gives me an apologetic look before rushing off. I shake it off not wanting to loose my spot in line.

After a while of waiting in the line a nervous looking twelve year old squeaks as her finger is yanked up and pricked. Some people give her pitiful looks as she moves away rubbing her finger. Next in line I watch her before I hear the man checking kids in clear his throat annoyed and turn around to see him glare at me before he sees my face and his glare disappears. He must recognize me, he knows how important my parents are.

I can't help but feel embarrassed as he gently picks up my hand and pricks it giving me a small nod and then points in the direction of the fourteen year old boy area. I walk away before he can do anything else and just rub my finger on my pants.

The escort by the name Thunder waltz onto the stage looking at us all like dirt under her feet. She clears her throat before holding her hand in the air. "Welcome to the Reaping for the 62nd Annual Hunger Games." She says.

The mayor takes over to give the speech. He looks honestly bored at it all as he tries to get through the speech. We all know it and it seems even he, the mayor, is bored of it.

Thunder sits proudly perched on the chair not getting up until the mayor hands it to her. When she gets control of it she flashes her pearly whites. "Lets start with the females." She says loving the attention of all of us looking to her. She goes to the bowl and just takes the first name her fingers touch and yanks it out taking a moment before reading the name.

"Cara Meridius." She says and everyone looks to a girl in the eighteen year old section. It is the girl from before, the one who bumped into me. She squirms a bit under the pressure of a thousand eyes staring at her before she puts on a poker face walking to the stage. She moves stiffly. She is older though and is fit enough; maybe she could even go far. We had a good year last year with Curtis who got all the way to the Final Showdown. Which is pretty impressive for our District that rarely gets to the Final Eight.

"Onto the males!" Thunder announces as the Cara girls sits straight up in her chair. She repeats the process she did for the female and reads the name out for everyone to hear. "Elian Coen!"

No, no…

My limbs feel numb as I start to move through the crowd everyone staring at me, they don't look too happy to see me reaped. I don't make a sound or any facial expression and just walk to the stage and stare at Cara. She recognizes me. Thunder stands in between us. "Shake hands!" She tells us and Cara gets up holding out her hand. For a moment I just stare at it paralyzed.

Finally I take her hand shaking it before sitting back down so filled with fear that I can't even get a complete thought through my head.

How could this happen?

Hey guys I am sorry this chapter was a bit late I just had to get things under control and really wanted to take time to look of grammar and all more. I know there are probably still mistakes (I am trying to improve I really am) I just couldn't manage to get it out last night and I think posting it now it acceptable since I was going to wake up early today but I actually woke up late and was nearly late for school ^-^ Then I had to finish it up and I get home from school late (about 4:20)

Also you might notice the style is different, I want to try something new and instead of doing all the Reapings I am going to do five chapter with five povs each that would be the length of what they would have in a reaping and then have that to give all the characters an introduction. Then after that parts might be about 1,000 to 1,500 words instead of around 2,000 each. I am sorry if that is confusing it is just something new.

CH. For introducing tributes:

Reapings part 1

Reapings part 2

Goodbyes (Will only be four povs)

Train Rides part 1

Traid Rides part 2'