Reapings:

District Three:

Valhalla Smitz's POV:

I woke up as soon as the sun rose into the sky, and slipped out of bed. I walked slowly over to my mirror, and looked at my reflection. My black hair went down to my shoulders in an array of curls. My skin was almost starch white from the amount of time I spend indoors, and my face was certainly nothing pretty to look at. I had extremely sharp features, and I remember hearing one girl compare me to that of an elf. My shimmering blue eyes stood out against my alabaster skin and black hair. I may not be the prettiest girl ever, but I certainly was the smartest girl alive.

No, that is not an over exaggeration. I know for a fact that I am brilliant. Probably bore line genius. So what if I am a narcissist. It doesn't matter if I'm right.

I walk down the stairs, and see my mother cooking breakfast. I smile at her, and give her a quick hug from behind. My mother is probably the only person I genuinely care about. In fact, I could even say I loved her, if it wasn't for the fact that I didn't love anyone. Emotions are stupid, and there is no point of feeling anything.

I sit down, and recall the past Hunger Games. The 220th, 221st, and the 223rd Hunger Games were all won with brawns. The 222nd Hunger Games were won with bravery. The 224th Hunger Games were won by a tribute blindsiding his opponents. The 225th Hunger Games were won with beauty. The 226th Hunger Games were going to be won with brains, and the person to prove that would be me.

Let me back up for those of you that are confused. I, frankly, have a fairly dysfunctional family. My father is a complete and utter idiot, and also a Hunger Games fanatic. He loves seeing tributes beaten to death on the ground, while other tributes are going completely insane. My older brother, the winner of the 221st Hunger Games, is exactly like him. All brawns and certainly no brains. However, he didn't inherit my father's bloodlust.

My mother, however, is the only sane one in the family. She is completely logical, and is almost exactly like me personality wise. Now, I bet you can see how these two individuals could have issues in their marriage. They divorced when I was fairly young. My father took my brother and trained him; while my mother took me and made sure I got the best education possible. Soon, it became a contest to see who could raise the better child.

My father did try to train me for the Hunger Games for awhile, in hopes of severing my bond with my mother, but I just found it pointless. I did pick up some skills with daggers, but nothing to formidable in battle. Now, you are all probably wondering why would a sixteen year old girl who is completely logical want to enter in the Hunger Games.

It's simple, really. I inherited my father's bloodlust and passion for the Hunger Games. I've watched almost every rerun, and I have always studied every tributes strategy. I swear, if I would have volunteered for the 224th Hunger Games I could have won hands down. I want to know how it feels to kill. I want to know if killing someone can bring back the emotions I haven't felt since my parent's divorce. Will it bring me joy, rage, or sorrow? I'm a curious being, and I want to know. I want to experience all of it.

Am I right on the verge of being a psychopath? Yes. I know for a fact these kinds of thoughts aren't normal. However, I'm not a normal girl. I'm the kind of girl who never talks, and spends most of her time thinking about life and, especially, death.

"Ready for your big day?" my mother asked as she sat down with our food.

"Of course," I said happily. My mother taught me two things. One was that being logical and intelligent was far more beneficial than being emotional and stupid. The other thing was to always be polite. This behavior has taught me how to act as if I am completely normal. No one knows I am practically insane. Not even my own mother. They all think I'm the shy, quiet girl. Well, won't they all surprise when I take my first life in the arena.

I shake my head, and let out a small laugh. It is completely illogical, and yet logical, to know you are crazy and not be concerned about it. However, how could I be an intelligent without also being insane? Aren't all geniuses and revolutionaries psychotic?

Once we were done with breakfast, I quietly raced to my room, and changed into my reaping clothes. It was a simple black dress with a white jacket. I slipped into heels to make myself appear taller and more intimidating, and went downstairs towards my mother.

"You look amazing," my mother whispers. She brushes a stray hair away from my face, and looks at me with tears pooling in her eyes. "You don't have to go…"

"Yes I do mother. It's about time for us to prove to them that brains can win these games too. It's about time to show father which one of us is the better child." I reasoned.

My mother nodded, and we immediately left. My logic was impeccable at times. We walked all the way towards the town square, arm in arm. I got several nods on the way there, and smiled coyly back. I was a victor's sister, and I was fairly respected. As I should be. I was a snake among mice, and everyone needed to know that.

I gave my mother a quick kiss on the cheek, and walked straight towards me section. Right before I got to entrance, my brother rushed in front of me, and bumped me on purpose.

"Oh, sorry dear sister. Didn't see you there," Zeus hissed.

"Don't lie, you brainless invertebrate." I hissed back. In case you couldn't tell, we had a bit of a rivalry.

He looked confused for a moment, obviously not knowing what 'invertebrate' meant, and he growled back, "Well… Uh… Don't be such a smart ass, twerp. Respect those of a higher status than you!"

"And what would that status be, dear brother," I mocked.

"Victor," Zeus smirked.

"Not for long. Soon there are going to be two victors in the Smitz family." I laughed.

He looked confused for another second, before he understood what I was saying. "You… you are volunteering?"

"Of course. I'm just glad you aren't mentoring this year. I don't think I could stand you breathing down my neck every second."

I expected him to say something mean or snarky back, but he just stared at me. "But… what if you die?"

I looked into his eyes, and saw confliction in them. His concern was noted, and somewhat appreciated. Perhaps there is always an unbreakable bond between siblings… No, there can't be. That would mean that I had some sort of real and genuine compassion for my brother, and I simply refused to feel anything for him or anyone else. Emotions were pointless, and useless.

"Don't worry, I'm far too smart to die," I said simply. I brushed right past him, and made my way to the front of my section. I looked at the escort, Markus, and rolled my eyes. The people of the Capital were the most disgusting human being on the earth. Their fair city was filled with useless things that only appealed to their barbaric need and desire for pleasure. In fact, all humans are disgusting. They are all plagued with emotions and feelings for others. Then I remember, I was human, but sometimes I swore I was just a new race of human. A race that was intelligent, and perfect.

District Three only had two living victors, which was my brother and Tiner. Tiner was a fairly older man, and I remember seeing a rerun of his games. That man was a man made of brains. He simply found different chemicals in plants, made poison, and poisoned every water supply he could find. He killed over half the tributes with this method. It might have been a boring Hunger Games, but it was pure and utter genius on his part. He was one of my main inspirations to study chemicals and traps. I've read books and books on different chemicals and trap. So many, that I can practically win the games on that knowledge alone. Of course, knowing something and actually putting it to use are two completely different things.

My mind remembered last year's tribute. Solder and Hali. Both were idiots in their own ways. Solder was just like my brother. A volunteer made of brawns and no brains. The main difference between him and my brother was that Solder pissed off one of the Career girls. He was an instant target during the bloodbath, and he was the first tribute to die in the games, even though he scored an eleven. I actually knew Solder a little bit. He was fairly humorous, but still an imbecile through and through.

Hali was a different matter. That girl was definitely quick on her feet. She could think of plans with the snap of her fingers, but she wasn't the best at planning long term plans. She also, frankly, was not Hunger Games material. She was a 'lover, not a fighter'.

Suddenly, the Mayor was on stage and he made his speech. Time flew by, and Markus was digging around for a girl's name.

"Linny Slate!"

A tall blonde girl began walking to the stage, and I rolled my eyes. She was obviously a rich girl, and had never worked a day in her life. Bloodbath for sure. "Any volunteers?"

"I volunteer!" I yell out. I walk slowly up to the stage, and I can hear gasps from the audience. They are all wondering why the quite, shy girl is volunteering. They are wondering why I have a death wish. Well, in one way they are right. I do have a death wish, but it is not for me. It's for twenty-three other people.

"What's your name, sweetie?" Markus asked.

"Valhalla Smitz," I stated coldly.

"Sister of Zeus Smitz?" Markus gasped.

I nodded my head slowly, and tried as hard as I could not to look at him like he was scum of the bottom most layer of the earth. I mean, he is exactly that, but I don't want to show open hatred like that on national television.

"Our boy's turn!" Markus said excitedly. He reached his bright yellow hand into the reaping ball, and yanked out the boy's name.

"Thomas Birch!"

I immediately scanned the audience for my new enemies' face, when I heard a girl scream out, "Thomas! No!"

I spotted the girl in seconds, and tried to memorize everything about her. Her voice, her face, everything. It could be used later to hurt my new enemy. Thomas walked out of the sixteen year old section, and then my brain connected the name with the face. Thomas was fairly smart, and was one of the top students in our grade. I, of course, was smarter and far more talented, but Thomas was a force to be reckoned with. If that kid got his hand on any sort of machinery, even I would think twice about attacking him.

He stood on the stage, shaking like a leaf. We shook hands, and Markus started laughing and going on and on about something, trying to entertain the audience. As we shook hands, Thomas' eyes light up. Perhaps he thought that since we were the same age that we could form an alliance. I squeezed his hand as hard as I could, and shot him a deadly glare. No one, and I meant no one, were getting in my way to winning these games, especially some scrawny kid from three. I may be fairly physically weak and I may look just as weak as him, but I am completely opposite from him. I am one of the most intelligent beings ever created. I am a snake among mice, and I will make sure everyone in Panem knows about it in a matter of weeks…

Thomas Birch's POV:

I rubbed my hand as we entered the Justice Building. Valhalla had a tough grip, that's for sure. I never had talked to her, but she seemed kind of quiet, and nice. When I realized we would be going into the arena together, I thought maybe we could strike up an alliance. By the way she grabbed my hand, and started analyzing any and all weaknesses I had, I knew that wasn't going to happen. Valhalla certainly didn't seem like anything special. She was short, and even though she had a death grip I could tell that even I had better upper body strength than her. Of course, a death grip was all you needed when you were trying to strangle someone to death…

I stepped into my waiting room, and started pacing. I never thought I would be reaped for the Hunger Games. It just never occurred to me that it could happen. I was going to start a business with Lynette, my best friend. We were going to become rich and famous together. I blushed when I thought about the part of the plan we never agreed upon. She thought we were just friends, but I really liked her. I mean, really liked her. I thought… that maybe…. If we worked so close with each other for years… she might… return the feelings…

The first people to enter the room are my mother and grandmother. My mother is in tears, which automatically brings the waterworks out of me. "You're so young…" my mother whispered.

"I'm sixteen," I replied back softly.

She broke down into sobs, and all three of us sat down on the couch. I held my mother as she cried, and soon both my grandmother and I joined in. They were all I had left besides Lynette. My father… Well, I never had a father. Mother refused to tell me who he was because she said he was a crack job. She never she would let him corrupt me like he had corrupted others, whatever that means. She said she was thankful the only thing I had inherited from him is his bright blue eyes.

My grandfather had died when I was little, but my grandmother said I was just like him. Apparently, he was an inventor too.

"Here, take these as your token," my grandmother whispered. She handed me two golden coins, and enclosed one of my hands around each. "They were your grandfathers."

"Thanks grandma," I whispered. I gave them both hugs, and soon the Peacekeepers forced them to leave. The next, and most likely the last, person to enter was Lynette. She ran over to me, and gave me an extremely large hug. For a second, I let myself believe she really did love me. I let myself believe that she cried out my name when I was reaped because she loved me. Then, once she stopped embracing me, I let that illusion shatter and leave just like a strong gale of winds.

"Come back," Lynette said sorrowfully.

"I'll try," I whispered.

"No, you will." Lynette said firmly.

"I can't… Okay, Lynette," I sighed. She gave me another hug, and soon the Peacekeepers forced her to leave as well. In a few minutes, they would escort me out of here as well. I looked at myself in the mirror, and rolled my eyes. Why would anyone want to sponsor me? I was a lanky, tall teenage male with no good looks. I had dark brown hair that went down the bottom of my neck. I usually kept it in a pony tail, but right now it was slicked back. My skin was fairly pale, and I looked like I was going to throw up.

Still… I was smart. Maybe not the smartest kid in District Three, but smart enough to win these games. I knew how to invent things. I've been doing it since I was ten. Tinkering with machinery was my hobby. If I could find something to tamper with in the arena, then maybe… just maybe… I could do something that would kill the big competition. If I did that, winning would be easy. I stared at my reflection again, and let myself smile. My life wasn't over yet. If I was going to die, then I was going to take as many people down with me as possible…

I hope you like these two tributes! Thank you so much ToxicatedRose and Arysthae for these lovely tributes! I love them both to bits! The narcissist genius and the brave tinkerer. They are both just utterly amazing! So please review, and I'll try to get up the next Reapings as soon as possible :D