District 1: James E. Womack

Something is tickling my nose. I groan and roll over, pretending to snore. "Jamie! Get up! Today's the Reaping!" My little sister Mary says, still tickling me. My heart drops. The reaping. Please, don't let me get picked today. I pray silently. What will Mary do if I get picked?

I roll over and give her a hug, tickling her back in the process. "Well, I'm up now." I say through her laughter. "JAMES! STOP!" She screeched, laughing. Finally, I stop.

I get dressed and look in the mirror. I must keep up my image for the reaping. I comb my messy blonde curls, trying to get them to stay. They won't stay, so I give up. I have bags under my blue eyes from lack of sleep. I don't sleep the night before the reaping. The thought of having to leave my sister behind terrifies me.

Mary and I make our way through the streets toward the main square, where the reaping will be held. I love the Capitol, but I don't think the Hunger Games solve anything. As if a bunch of kids killing each other to survive would stop rebellion and war. That doesn't sound right.

We are at the square now, and I join the 16 year old's, leaving my sister with one of our neighbors with a hug. I get there, but there is none of the usual chatter between my friends. Instead, they are talking about who is going to get picked. I don't join in there conversation, but stare straight ahead at the continuously turning reaping balls. Four of those papers have my name on it.

Now, Larmin Jokstring comes up. He is the escort, who will be drawing out the names of the people to die- err.. ummm... I mean destined to go into the hunger games. He has Neon Yellow straight hair that falls in crimped sheets to his shoulders. He has a million piercings all over his body, which sickens me. His eyes are surgically enhanced to resemble a bright yellow also. This is the style of the district. When I'm old enough, if I survive that long, I'm going to get my eyes to go all black, then have my hair died orange. Like a pumpkin.

"Welcome to the Reaping for the 76th Hunger Games!" He says in his accent. I wish I could copy it. No matter how many times I've tried, I've failed. The mayor comes up and reads a long speech about the rebellion of district 13, and why we have the games and stuff. I tune this out, having already heard this many times in the past years.

"Ladies first!" He says, reaching in his hand to pull out the name. If someone dropped a pin, it would be the loudest thing here. Everyone is holding their breath. "And the Girl tribute for district one is... Daisy Merribell!" A groan from the crowd. No one likes it when 12 year old get picked. She starts making her way up to the stands, but someone steps ahead of her.

"I volunteer!" She says gasping desperately pushing the 12 year old back. A sigh from that family, and Daisy hugged the girl in thankfulness.

"My name is Saphire Zonalize, and I'm 15." She says, taking her place on the stage.

"Well, then, let's get to the Boys. The boys tribute will be... James Womack!" Larmin says happily. I can't have heard right. Did he just say my name? He can't have said my name. But no, he says it again. "JAMIE! NOOOO!" shouts Mary. Oh Mary. This is going to make me cry. Someone is holding her back, but she's crying and trying to get to me. I feel like crying, but I can't. Not with all these people. I put on an expressionless mask and shake hands with the person who I will kill to get home. She is going to die. They are all going to die. I will get back to Mary.

District 1: Saphire Zonalize

I wake to a slight breeze ruffling my hair. I know what's coming. Quickly, I whip up and dodge the arrows aimed at my skull. Quickly, I run through the obstacle course, climbing over walls, doing monkey bars, shooting arrows through the dummies head. When I finish I look at my time.

"Better then usual." A hard voice inters behind me. I whip around. It is one of my trainers, Sarah. She is the one who is in charge of my obstacle course training. This happens every day. I get woken up, and on the edge of sleep I have to avoid death. Why? Because someday, I'm going to be in the hunger games.

I tell her that it's because of the reaping. I have to be in top shape if this is the year I will go and win the games. She agrees and congratulates me. Quickly, in the dark, for it is only 4:00 am, I run my 3 miles. Finally, I finish with my training.

Now is when my mother takes over. She curls my auburn waist length hair into tight ringlets and puts me in a poofy blue dress that adds padding, making me look like I have curves, instead of looking like the board I am. She puts on Some light purple eye shadow, making my brown eyes pop. This will have to do.

We get to the reaping, and I go to the 15 year old section. Everyone is talking about who is going to get drawn out, and a couple are hoping it is them. I don't want to go into the games, but I must bring pride to my family. Maybe I will volunteer this year.

The escort Larmin Jokstring bounces on the stage, his neon yellow hair flouncing around. I wish my parents would let me die my hair crazy colors. The mayor comes up and reads out the statement about the rebellion of district 13, and I zone out until he says, "Ladies First!" and draws his hand in.

"And the girl tribute for district 1 will be... Daisy Merribell!" He says, reading off the name excitedly. Wait, this can't be right. This is a 12 year old. I geuss this is my year. Daisy is a friend of my sister Ruby's. I can't let her go. She starts walking up in tears, but I step in front of her. "I volunteer!" I shout, pushing her behind me. She hugs me in gratitude. I hug her back and make my way up to the stage.

I drone out everything until the name is called out for the boys. "James E. Womack!" Shouts Larmin. I hear a cry, high and girlish calling for him. Probably his sister or something.

When we shake hands ,his are sweaty and you can see the fear in his eyes, even though he is trying to hide it. This will be an easy kill. He is going to die. I am going to win, whatever it takes.