Jayde Nightrose's POV
My friend, Clariza, and I are tampering with a broken television. Here in District 3, being the technology district, we get all the damaged electronics that are recycled. Except this time, we're doing it for ourselves.
After a few wires are soldered together and the new screen is put in place, we plug it in. The image springs to life, as clear as a bright summer's day. We witness the Reaping from 1. That's when I feel sick. I could be reaped. I've only been in one year but Clariza and I have evenly split tesserae duties. I could be in there quite a few times.
Clariza's mother calls us for breakfast. We go into the kitchen, sit down as usual, and wait for whatever Clariza's mother brings us.
You see, I was abandoned at birth. My parents just dumped me on a random doorstep and began a new life. The rest of the details are unknown to me. But what I do know is that the doorstep belonged to the house of Clariza's parents. Clariza was newborn, just like me. We're technically sisters.
Breakfast turns out to be porridge and water. But what else did I expect. We're living on tesserae. Very basic.
After breakfast, we get dressed in some cute knee-height dresses for the Reaping. Then we sit down and watch the Reaping from 2. The boy, Xander Quinn, has volunteered, but he looks uneasy. Maybe he was pressured into it. I see his glasses. I wonder if the Capitol will have mercy on him.
That's when the ear splitting noise echoes through the district, and we head off to the Reaping. The walk to the main square feels like forever, but we finally reach the registration table. They prick our fingers and point to a small cavity in amongst the girls. We follow their instructions and wait.
Alden Bart's POV
I'm giving my sister a huge hug. She's really upset. She thinks I'm going to get reaped. But I won't.
"Hey, my little Star, I promise that I'll be staying right here in District 3 with you and Mom. Nothing will happen to me." But I have a really bad feeling something will.
My mother gives us a big breakfast of bacon and eggs. I don't ask how she got them, but Star and I are both privileged to be eating this food.
I still think about Dad all the time. He died 3 years ago when a faulty wire electrocuted him. I still remember the devastation of our family in that time.
I put on my reaping outfit and walk to the square. I want to beat the crowds. When I get there, I hear the siren signal to everybody that the Reaping will commence. I get my finger priced and I take one of the first spots.
Jayde Nightrose's POV
Our escort, Tiberius Holloway, appears on the stage. He tries to enlighten the mood with a few jokes, but nothing works. He plays the film that displays how much the Capitol doesn't know about us, before getting down to business.
He walks over to the bowl with the female names in it. He plucks one out in the in the blink of an eye and carefully opens it.
"Jayde Nightrose."
Oh no. How can this be happening? Clariza bursts into tears and gives me a giant hug. I finally walk out into the open. "Don't be shy!" Tiberius tells me, so I walk up onto the stage. Normally I'm a flirty person, but my shyness has taken over. I'm screwed. I won't stand a chance against the other tributes. I wonder what my parents would think now.
Alden Bart's POV
The girl, Jayde Nightrose, looks terrified. I'll look worse, though, if I'm reaped.
Tiberius walks over to the other bowl. He swirls his hand around the bowl before grasping one and pulling it out. He carefully tears the seal and reads out the name.
"Alden Bart."
Why me? Why did they have to send me to my death? I face the music and walk up onto the stage. Tiberius encourages me to shake hands with Jayde. I do, but I sense that she is as terrified as me.
"Ladies and gentlemen, your tributes from District 3!" Tiberius booms. But nobody answers. They simply show a sign of respect. They bring their three middle fingers of their right hands to their lips, before holding them high. Then we are sent off the stage, and into a world of pain.