Ryker Underwood, 18, District 7 Male

Thwack! Thwack! Thwack! I put my axe down, and placed the wedge into the notch of the tree, tilting the tree towards the safest direction for it to fall. The tree creaked, and I jumped back, clear of any widow makers that could fall from the tree hitting them down as the tree crashed to the ground.

"Good job, Ryker!" My Dad said, clapping me on the back as the men working for Dad ran through the glimmering light of the early dawn to the tree and started making marks with axes at every eight metres until the tree started to curve, marking the spots to cut the tree into viable and profitable pieces of lumber.

Dad owned the biggest lumber company in District 7, and I had been working for him for the past couple of years, getting ready to take the steps up to replacing him as the head of Seven Lumber Inc. So, I was working as a lumberjack, and helping Dad with scouting areas to cut in without clear cutting areas.

"I've got to get home, Dad!" I called, walking out of the forest and towards the path towards our house. Reaping Day was today, at 11:00, and I had to be ready by 10:00, so I could pick up my girlfriend, Sabrina.

I walked out of the house, having taken a shower and changed into my reaping clothes, a grey polo shirt, khakis, and some nice shoes, to pick up Sabrina. She only lived a block away, so it was easy to walk over there with time before the reapings started. You didn't want to be late, as if you managed to not get picked, you'd get hit with a $5000 fine, which was big money in District 7, more than the pay I'd get from working for Dad for a year. People in District 7 always arrived early, because they knew that being late was a ticket to becoming homeless.

I walked up to the house, and was about to knock on the door, when Sabrina opened it up and rushed outside.

"Ryker! It's so good to see you!" she said, planting a kiss on my cheek. I blushed, and walked with her down the street, to the reapings.

"My sister's been freaking out about this year's games. Mom literally had to pick the lock of her bedroom door in order to get her out of her room today, and she has to go with them to make sure she doesn't escape, cause of the $5000 fine and all of that hassle. She's so scared of getting picked, because 12 year olds never stand a chance. Alder doesn't even care about it, because he turned 19 a week ago, and is finally out of the reapings. How's Bella doing, considering you're both heading into your last reaping together?"

I smiled, thinking of my twin sister. Bella was definitely the smarter twin in our case, acing every test in school and tutoring me through my couple of years of high school before I dropped out to work for Dad. She was planning to become a teacher, and potentially a politician, so she spent a lot of time studying at our house, only taking time off to help Mom with supper.

"She's OK, considering she's already figured out the odds of her getting reaped. She went to the reaping earlier with her friends, so they don't have to stand around in the line to get checked in." I said, watching the District Square to come into view.

Hearing footsteps behind us, I turned around to see my friend, Damien, run into view. He looked tired, and gasped as he caught up to us.

"I overslept again! Am I on time? I forgot my watch again." Sabrina and I rolled our eyes, laughing at Damien. He was the definition of forgetfulness, leaving behind everything from watches to money for school lunch, which we usually bailed him out for.

"Damien, you'd forget to attend your own funeral!" I teased, getting into line for the reapings. He laughed, and then got into line behind us, turning quiet.

Even though we knew that it would likely be another kid heading into the Games, it still twisted your stomach into knots, and sobered any conversation. Nobody would be talking until they were safe at home.

Aris Orchards, 16, District 7 Female

"Hello, Mrs. Albero! How is your day today?" I asked, wishing to be out of the apothecary that had to work in for my mother, and out in the streets, doing something fun.

"Yes, yes, Ms. Orchards. I'd like some tobacco for my dear husband, Jeffrey, and if you have any feverfew for my terrible headaches, that would be wonderful!" I nodded politely, and walked to the back of the store while the plump Mrs. Albero waited happily for the herbs and tobacco.

Her son had married Maddie Fey, District 7's female victor, so the Albero's lived in the height of luxury, able to buy everything in the town that they needed, and able to get fat on it. Not that it was bad to be fat in District 7. I heard that they had diets in the Capitol, but in our District, people seeing a fat person would more likely follow that person home, looking to see where the food was, rather than ridicule them.

I walked back to the counter, holding the feverfew flowers, and the tobacco that we sold alongside the other herbs, to add on extra profit for the business. Mrs. Albero smiled in delight, and handed me the coins needed to pay for her purchases, dropping one on the floor in the process. She bent over, and grabbed it, before handing it over to me. Then, she walked off, waving goodbye, while I admired the golden pocket watch that I had slipped off of her wrist while she was handing over the coins. I had slipped it off of her, Mrs. Albero blissfully unaware of what I had done. She wouldn't miss it, though, being one of the richest people in the District thanks to her son. Even though the rich still feel the tendrils of poverty clutching at them in District 7...

I wasn't necessarily a kleptomaniac, more like one who did it for fun. After all, anyone who wasn't paying attention was fair game, and it would fetch a pretty penny in the market: enough to make up for the low prices we charged for our services. I didn't do it that often, and it was usually just to peacekeepers, so I justified it to myself that way. Even so, most people in my way usually found that their glitter and baubles could disappear very abruptly...

I walked over to the grimy glass window in the front, and changed the sign to "Closed". Then, I walked into the back, and was greeted by Char, my Australian Shepherd.

I had found Char when I was a little girl, and was walking in the woods with my Dad. He had been trapped by a fallen tree, and had scratched me across the eye when we tried to free him, but when he was freed, he became completely loyal, following me around, and showing total regret for his scratch. I forgave him, and we became inseparable, following each other around the District, and playing pranks on the Peacekeepers.

We also helped out at Dad's butchery, where we skinned animals and sold them to customers. Dad always knew how to make it fun, challenging me to skinning races, and passing the time by throwing knives at carcasses. It helped let me forget that the animals were killed, because even though I liked meat, I hated seeing animals die.

Nowadays, Dad wasn't around anymore. He had been trying to negotiate a deal with some known rebels, who Dad didn't know, when Peacekeepers burst through the door and gunned down the rebels, shooting Dad alongside them. I was too young to know that Dad wasn't coming back. But, I knew that the Peacekeepers were the reason he was gone, planting the seeds of my silent hatred against them.

I walked into the back of the house, Char following me, and changed into my reaping clothes. Mom had gone to help a sick patient, leaving me to go to the reaping by myself. I put on some clean clothes, and walked out of the house, locking the door behind me. Char followed, wagging his tail. The Peacekeepers in District 7 were tolerant of dogs, as long as they stayed out of the square, and Char was obedient. Soon enough, we reached the Reaping Square, and I got in line with the other eligible kids for the Reapings, and Char ambled to the street behind the square, where he'd wait until the reapings are over. I watched in amusement as Lucilda, our Escort, came strutting onto the stage, this year in a ruffled rose outfit, with a black wig. She beamed as she took the microphone, and started up the ceremony.

"Hello, Hello! Welcome to our 16th reaping for our wonderful District 7, and may the odds be ever in your favour!" Lucilda giggled, using the catchphrase that the 14th Games had popularized among the Capitol, and had wormed its way into every reaping now.

I stood in the crowd, and fidgeted, wishing that I was next to a Peacekeeper. Maybe I could somehow grab a key off of a belt, and hide it. It would be great to slow up the ceremony somehow…

"Aris Orchards!" Lucilda cried, smiling at the crowd. My head jerked up, and I instinctively walked towards the stage, still in shock that my name was called. How could have been me?I didn't take tesserae, and I -

I fell as I walked up the stairs, banging my nose on the steps. I automatically felt my nose, and then looked at my hand, now covered with bright, fresh blood.

I laughed, and continued laughing, even as the boy was called up to the stage. It was just so crazy, and I had just added to the show with my little trip up on the stairs. Guess I might have stalled the reapings after all, at least for the Peacekeepers to clean up the stage!

Ryker Underwood, 18, District 7 Male

I sat in the room that the Peacekeepers had shoved me into, waiting for someone in my family to come. I was still surprised from my name being called, still trying to keep a brave face on the stage while realizing I was heading to my death, and still watching the pain on Sabrina's face as I was marched off of the stage, heading towards the rooms where I would see my family and friends for the last time.

Bella was the first to come in, followed by my Mom and Dad. She rushed over, and hugged me long and hard, a single tear dripping from her cheek onto my forehead. Then, she stood up, realizing the full extent of emotion she had shown, and stepped back, letting my Mother and Father pounce on me.

"I'm so sorry, honey," my Mom said, stroking my head the way she used to do when I was a young child, snuggling in her lap. I didn't have to worry about the Games then…

"I can divert half of our profits to sponsor money." Dad stood in front of me, knowing that it was the only way he could possibly support me in the Games. I smiled a little, and shook his hand, thankful for what he had offered me. Dad wasn't the type to get teary and emotional, so he tried to show it in ways like this. He smiled, and stepped back, letting my mother comfort me.

We had never been touched by the Games, always just acknowledging it as a monster in the shadows, a threatening thing, but certainly not something that could hurt us. Well, I guess we thought that, before today. Soon enough, however, they had to leave, and they filed out of the room, my mother openly sobbing as she was escorted out by my father.

Damien and Sabrina were the others to come, quietly coming into the room, Damien standing by the door awkwardly, not sure what to say, while Sabrina sat next to me.

She held my hand, knowing that it was a time for silence.

We all sat and stood there, keeping our thoughts to ourselves, when the Peacekeepers came back.

"Visiting Times are over." I stood up, and kissed Sabrina. Then, I walked to Damien, and patted him on the back.

"Make sure Sabrina's alright", I said, and walked out of the room, smiling slightly at the Peacekeepers as I walked out. I'm ready to play.

Aris Orchards, 16, District 7 Female

Mom let Char bound into the room, excited to find me again after I was taken into the Hall. I had seen him try to make his way up to the stage after I got reaped, knowing that something was very wrong, but Mom had stopped him, holding him back as he ran up into the square. The last thing I had seen of them before I was hustled into the building was Mom talking to Char, who was whimpering in disappointment. I smiled, and patted him on the back.

"Who's a good boy? Yes, you are!" I cooed, scratching him on the part of the neck where he loved to be scratched. Char growled in delight, and flopped onto his belly in satisfaction. Then, I looked up at Mom.

"You're going to be OK, Aris," she said, sitting down next to me.

"You remind me so much of your father. He was always so strong, and unemotional, but loving to me. I wish he was here now. Maybe he could give you some advice that I can't. I promise that Char will be alright. I'll work both the butchery and the apothecary, and I'll save scraps for him."

I smiled at my mother, and gave her a hug.

"Thank you," I whispered, and went back to scratching the dog. Char looked into my eyes, and panted, trying to let me know that he would be there for me.

"I'm sorry, Char," I said, scratching his neck, "But I've got to go to the Capitol alone. You are going to stay with Mom, and before you know it, I'll be back!" Char whimpered in delight, and gazed lovingly at me, aware that I was leaving, but in blissful ignorance of the fact that I wasn't coming back. My throat caught with tears, and my Mom hugged me again, tightly.

I wished that I didn't have to slip out of the embrace, but eventually, the Peacekeepers came to escort Mom out, and she got up, kissing me on the forehead as she walked out, but then, she paused and turned around to me.

"You need a token. How about something from your Dad?"

Mom slipped off the necklace that she kept Dad's wedding ring on ever since he had died, and took off the ring, handing it to me.

"He would have wanted you to have it."

And just like that, she and Char were gone, leaving me with tears in my eyes and my Dad's wedding ring, my mother's most prized possession, the one thing I thought she would never take off, in my hand. Sometimes, life could be strange.

Hi guys! It seems that I took too long to get this chapter out, but I just finished my exams, so I am feeling great! Just so you know, i've had to log with my Dad and Grandfather, so i knew some of the "lingo". Both characters really connect with me, especially Ryker and I both having a twin sister (But she doesn't show emotion, so I wouldn't get that seen in my reaping ;D) So, it'll be sad seeing one or both of them die, but on the bright side, the chapter is finally out! So, I guess that's a plus! Big thanks to GreyWolf44 and TheBestGemini for these tributes! Until next time, TheAmazingJAJ.