When Anna Vireo hears her name called for the 38th Hunger Games, she squeals in excitement and bolts up to the stage. Posing for pictures with the escort, she thinks that her life is finally about to begin. When her dad mounts the stage with her, Anna squeezes him tight. She'd always been a daddy's girl.
OOOOOOOO
It feels so right to be here once again, Gavin Vireo thinks as he stands with his baby girl before all of District 1. The roaring crowd, the declarations of love, the cameras from the Capitol. He knows he can win—after all, he's done it before, 20 years ago. Now, he won't have to watch from the sidelines any more. District 1 got robbed last year. The tributes made stupid mistakes, and that half-witted oaf from District 2 won. It was torture, watching his tributes screw up and not be able to do anything about it. Now, Gavin and Anna Vireo are here to bring honor to District 1.
OOOOOOOOO
Sartorius and Seraphim stand side by side in front of District 2. Adrenaline courses through their veins. Seraphim can't help but think that this is what she and her brother were created for, this common purpose that united them in their mother's womb. Sartorius is bouncing on the balls of his feet, soaking in the admiration of the District 2 girls. He has a girlfriend, or at least a girl who he kisses behind the training center, but her name is long forgotten now.
OOOOOOOOOO
Lucia's heart drops to the pit of her stomach when her name is called because she know who is going to be called next. Alvin. Her cousin and her best friend. She thinks of the times they played together, catching earthworms and trying to teach them to do tricks. But they are thirteen. They will not survive.
OOOOOOOOOOO
Rhett is Chelsea Hamilton's favorite uncle, and she feels a thrill of hope when his name is called. Rhett has practically been her father since the flood. He was there when she was numb and sobbing in a corner and he is here now to help her win the Hunger Games.
OOOOOOOOOO
Ptarmigan nearly throws up when they call out her stepfather's name. She feels his black eyes crawling over her as he climbs up the stage. She cannot, will not work with him. The bruises are too fresh.
OOOOOOOOOO
Patrick knows when Avae Harris calls out Anthem's name that he is going to be called up next. At nineteen, he thought he was done with the Hunger Games. Anthem is eighteen. They almost made it. But not quite. He feels the sorrowful gaze of Lili as he mounts the stage, but he knows he is never coming back to his girlfriend or District 6.
OOOOOOOOOO
Jack would do anything for Elena, and he has. His daughter has never wanted for anything. But all his wealth cannot protect her now as she is called to the stage. When he climbs up, he holds her close and sends up a desperate prayer. He will die if his daughter may live.
OOOOOOOOO
Melanie Oaks has seen a lot of Hunger Games. This is her tenth year acting as escort for District 8. But this year is different. As she calls out the name of the girl, she reads the small print at the bottom of name. Closest relative. The girl who comes forward, Mayva Perry, is tiny and blonde and seventeen years old. Her closest relative is not related by blood. Ms. Perry is an orphan. Instead, it is her boyfriend, Marcus Twill. Melanie hopes against hope that these two can have a happy ending.
OOOOOOOO
Henry Whittaker follows his sister up to the podium, praying he doesn't wet his pants in front of all of District 9. In some twisted way, this is all Oriole's fault. If her name wasn't called, he wouldn't be here. But here he is, trying desperately to mat down his hair, following his sister again. When Henry was five, Oriole decided he needed a haircut. Their mother nearly fell down laughing when she saw Henry's new style. It took almost two years for his hair to grow out of the Mohawk.
Oriole looks defiant, and Henry hopes she isn't going to say something stupid and rebellious. He's still hoping this is all a dream, like the dreams he has about running away that quickly turn in to nightmares when the Capitol comes after him.
"Our tributes, Oriole and Henry Whittaker!"
OOOOOOOOOO
Grandpapa shuffles up to the stage. It's wrong, all wrong, Paloma thinks. She is twelve. He is sixty-six. He is the one that tells her stories of forest animals that talk using different voices for each character, and persuades her mama to let her have that extra piece of candy. Ever since her papa died, or even before then, Grandpapa has been here for her. It isn't fair. Tears are streaming down Paloma's face, and Grandpapa slides his arm around her. It just isn't fair.
OOOOOOOOO
This is Helio's worst nightmare seeing Wren getting called to the stage. When he gets called next, he stands by his fourteen-year old sister. He's always been her protector. He was there for her in the darkest time of her life, the time that she will never talk about. Helio squares his shoulders as the escort prattles on. He will kill anyone who tries to hurt Wren.
OOOOOOOOOO
Arthur Donner breathes a sigh of relief that his twin daughters are too young to be reaped in this year's games. If either one was reaped, he would do his best to protect her, but ultimately he would fail. He is a merchant, unaccustomed to hard labor.
The children reaped from District 12 are Ash Collins and her younger brother Peat. They are from the Seam. Arthur has bought bread from their father's bakery. He closes his eyes, but he knows that for District 12 children, being reaped amounts to a death sentence.