Lucius Blackthorn, 16

My eyes glint as I glare at the practice dummy. His beady black eyes, and painted on mustache glare, and glint in the white light of the training center. Using my sword, I slash the dummies smile of or his face. I yawn, and regret getting up early. Persephone would have been smarter. I think, as my stomach growls. The Head Trainer, Marissa Willards walks up to me, and starts lecturing about hip movements. I listen carefully, her words instantly filing in my brain, committed to memory.

She watches me practice, and eventually nods, and walks off to someone else. At this, I stop at the snack bar, drop down a coin, the snack keeper hands me a Coil, and a cold water. I start walking home, sipping and eating the whole way. Unlike many others, I know how to ration my food. While chewing on my candy bar, I come across my best friend, Julian. He is holding a rusty old knife blade, and is juggling it. I laugh, and some gooey stuff flies out of my mouth.

"You know you could get a disease by doing that?" I say, smiling at him.

"Yup. But that just takes all the fun away!" he says as we part ways, him to the right, me to the left.

On the road I pass a lot of sellers. I ignore all the cries, and turn down the dusty dirt road to home. My older sister Persephone is washing clothes, and laughing cold-heartedly with her supposedly 'best friends'. I turn and smirk at my sister before running inside to my room. I turn around, and gently turn her bath tub heater down. It has become a regular prank in two. The hot water comes up, and the cold water comes down.

I lean over to the window. She is still playing with her friends, I might as well break it up. The kitchen is to my left, a walk inside, and grab a bucket of water, add some ice, and walk outside. Persephone is out there, laughing with her friends, acting like a normal victor.

"Hello ladies," I say, walking out from the house with a sneer on my face. What's up?" They look towards, me, and then towards Persephone, and start laughing. They don't notice who threw the bucket, for I am laughing along with then.

"Well that was fun," Persephone says, glaring at me, her sign for 'I'm going to kill you' or 'Thanks'

I smirk, and walk inside to get dressed for the Reaping. I notice a black and blue shirt, and navy blue pants. I put them on, as I notice the deep black shoes laid out for me. The toast my sister made last night lays on the bed, 'Be like me, little bro!' in jelly is written on it. I start walking to the Reaping, filing in with the other 16 year olds.

The escort, Marie Flarez, walks up to the stage, her flame orange hair glitters in the sunlight. "Welcome to the Annual 76th Hunger Games! Let us begin with the males!"

A pit drops in my stomach as I realize what is happening. I ignore the Treaty of Treason, and the Peace of Panem speeches. The female was supposed to go first! Now I have to volunteer.

"Our male tribute is, Logan Ash!"

A young boy walks up slowly, he's fourteen, I remember him from the Academy, he was always on the 'Improving' List.

"I volunteer!" I cry, surprised that I had the confidence to say that. Logan looks at me, relief on his face. My feet seem to be moving on their own, carrying me up the steps of the Justice Building.

"Please give applause for you male tribute—What's your name?"

"Lucius Blackthorn"

"Lucius Blackthorn!" she finishes, waving her hands around, like a maniac. Eventually, she drops the mike.

The technicians race to give er a new mic, while the rest of Two is embarrassed about their escort dropping the mic.

While I wait for the announcement of the female, I glance at Persephone in the crowd, a weird look in her eyes that I don't recognize.

Minutes later, I get pushed into the Justice building for goodbyes. The first one in is Persephone, she walks in, and hugs me for the first time in my life.

"Be like me," she whispers. "Abandon the other Careers if possible, and most of all, never trust anyone." she says and slides out of the room releasing the cold gri on my wrist.

As I look down, I notice a small, silver armband on my wrist were she was touching. "Her token," I whisper, amazed.

The next visitor is my father, Valin, with my mother, Olive. "Don't go crazy in there," he says, pulling her away from me. I nod back, and talk confidently to the train car. I collapse on the bed, and fall asleep.

/.-.-.-.-.\

Desdemona Slate, 18

Emilla and I are talking about the Hunger Games, while eating a breakfast of eggs and toast. "Why do you think they started the Games in the first place?" She asks.

"Um, there was a Rebellion, and the Capitol decided that they wanted the Districts to never rebel again, so they made the Games as a reminder to the districts that the they can to nothing to stop the Capitol, because their children will die in front of them, and they can do nothing to stop it from happening." I say, gasping for breath.

"You said that all in one breath! Wow!" she says amazed. "What Games are we at now?"

"The 76th. The Rebellion started after the 74th games, and ended after the 75th games a couple years ago. Katniss Everdeen, the traitor who started the rebellion was punished and, well no one knows what happened to her. The Capital could have taken her prisoner, or killed her, you never know."

"Hey! We are not supposed to talk about Her!" Emilla exclaims.

"Well, okay then," I say, "What subject do you want to talk about?"

"Um, I like History!" she exclaims.

"Well, The 50th Games were the bloodiest, because twice as many tributes were chosen, so the Capital was super happy about that.

"The 34th Games had the weird cute cats and dogs that tried to kill everybody, after you tamed them. Those are the two games I can refer of off of the top of my head," I say, as Emilla looks at me happily.

"Breakfast is ready!" mom calls, and I see all of my brothers racing through the halls of our huge two home to reach the breakfast table.

Emilla and I start racing to the breakfast, little Quintus right in front us.

"Mom, we've already ate breakfast!" I say.

"I don't care. Eat what I've gotten you!" she yells at me, and I flinch, stung.

Emilla and I share a glance, and race out of house, our dresses waving from the wind, all the way to the square where the Justice Hall is.

We wait around with our other friends for the Reaping to start. We watch as all Quintus, the only one of my brothers old enough to be of Reaping age. My others, Antonius, Theseus, and Voltimand, all in Peacekeeper uniforms.

Then we say goodbye, pricked fingers hurting. I walk to the 18 year old section, and watch the Reaping. The escort, Marie Flarez, starts with the males after reading two dull speeches. The Treaty of Treason and the Peace of Panem.

"Our male tribute is Logan Ash!" Marie exclaims. A young boy of 13 or 14 walks up, light sandy brown hair on his small body.

"I volunteer!" A boy says as he walks up to the stage.

"Please give your applause for your male tribute—What's your name?" she says into the mike.

The boy whispers something to the escort, and she nods.

"Lucius Blackthorn!" she explains, and drops the mic. I sigh and turn around to Emilla, making a holding back laughter face.

"And now for our female!" Marie says messing around in the bowl. "Emilla Thello!"

It takes a full minute for me to realize what happened, but when my mouth moves, I surprise myself by saying, "I volunteer!"

Emilla looks at me, "No, Dessa!" right as Quintus leaps on me.

He shakes me and says "Don't go Dessa! Please!" he pleads as Peacekeepers take him away. Emilla takes him and looks at me. I nod, she's looking to make sure I know what's happening.

"What's your name?" Marie asks.

"I am Desdemona Slate."

"Okay, here are you have the District 2 tributes, Lucius and Desdemona!"

Peacekeeper's usher us into the Justice Building, I recognize one of them. He had pushed Quintus away. I look again, and I realize, the one who pushed Quintus is Antonius. We never knew he was stationed here, until now.

Emilla walks in Antonius, holding on to her. "Dessa, why did you volenteer?"

"I couldn't let you do this. I've had more training than you. I will survive. I'm coming back, ok?

"Got it," she says.

"And watch out for that peacekeeper that is holding you, that Antonius. He has betrayed us," I wach his face as he listens to what I have said. "Goodbye,"\\

"Goodbye. I want you to have this. It is my mom's wedding ring. Use it wisely," Emilla says as she walks out.

The next person in is Quintus. "Why do you have to go?" he wines.

"Don't worry. I'll be back," I say, and kiss his head. "Survive while I am gone, ok?"

"Sure Dessa!" he says as he gets whisked away, and I get taken on the train. Lucius just fell asleep, so I go to my room and follow his example.

This is finally out! I am so excited, so welcome Lucius Blackthorn, courtesy of OfEmbersAndWolves, and Desdemona, courtesy of PheonixGrace.