District 3: Rules of Reaping

A/N: Well, here's District Three. Reviews are appreciated! (But don't worry- I'll never say that I'll only update if I get enough reviews.) Any flames will just make me the girl on fire!

Lilith Grey POV

I am going to volunteer. My parents have wanted me to volunteer since I was fourteen, but I wanted to wait until I was eighteen. But now that's going down the drain. I am now seventeen, but I have to volunteer. Why? Because I can't risk being reaped next year and having no volunteers. If I were to get reaped, my child, who will be under a year old…I don't want to think about it.

My parents and my boyfriend, Ghastly, don't know, and I don't want them to know yet. If I were to get reaped next year, my parents or boyfriend would have to take my child in, and it would no doubt be done grudgingly. And if I didn't return…he or she would probably be sent to an orphanage. I can't do that. So I'll volunteer this year and hope to get out. For my child.

I wait at my door for Ghastly to come pick me up to go to the reaping. We've been dating for a year, but we've known each other since we were twelve. He doesn't know about the baby and he doesn't know that I'm going to volunteer.

"Hey, Lil," he says when he comes up to me. I smile, and he kisses me. "Come on, let's go," he says.

I want to tell him, but I can't bring myself to do it.

We reach the square and he strokes my blonde hair reassuringly before walking over to the boys' side. He stands across from me an encouraging smile. I smile back weakly.

And then I wait.

Devlin Aries POV

I sit on the floor of the old man's shed, reading a book by the light coming in from a small window. When I finish the chapter, I place the book back into the wooden box I once made, along with a few other books I've found or the old man has given me.

I walk outside and look around me. It looks like everyone is heading off to the reaping. I'll leave in a few minutes, but I want to read more of my book. I like to read as much as I can in the day because once it's dark outside, I have no light. Ever since my parents died in a fire, I've refused to go near a fire, and the idea of bringing a lit candle into a small shed with many flammable things terrifies me.

The fire was two years ago. Now it's my first reaping and my mother isn't here to reassure me that I won't be reaped. The only person who even knows I exist, aside from the government, is the old man who "doesn't know" that there's a twelve year old boy living in his shed. He also "accidentally" leaves food in the shed. I know that I can never repay him, never fully show my appreciation. I could never be thankful enough.

When I leave, I see him watching me from his back window, and he gives me a warm smile and waves. He seems concerned, though. I wave back and begin running to the square.

I'm the last one there, and I get a disapproving look from the woman who is making sure that all the children are there. Once I'm in, I go stand with the other twelve year old boys. I don't know any of them.

As Fayona Fillador steps up to the microphone, I ignore her hairstyle that resembles a fruit basket. I only think one thing: Please not me.

Finley Crystal POV

My last year in the reaping and I decided to volunteer. Why? To prove myself. To make my family stop pitying me. To be something.

Every year, our district has three reapings. Before the girls' reaping and the boys' reaping, there's always the reaping ball reaping. Yes, our escort is insane. She does a reaping every year to decide if she should reap the girl or boy first.

As if that isn't strange enough, our eccentric escort has a little Capitol girl narrate her every move. And apparently she's dressed as a fruit basket this year…very colorful skin, hair, and clothing, all with some fruity theme.

"Fayona is now reaping the reaping. Fayona will now read the slip of paper. This year, we will first reap the…"

"Girls!" says Fayona cheerfully, plastering on a huge smile.

I tune out the commentary, and when I hear Fayona call out "Kariya Hapvent," I yell out "I volunteer!"

But someone else called the same thing. I search for the owner of the voice and see that it's a tall, blonde girl, a year younger than me. She stares me down with her icy blue eyes, and I want to just cower away, pretend I didn't volunteer. But I know that if I'm trying to prove myself that would be a pretty suckish attempt, so I try to glare back at her as harshly as I can.

"Two volunteers?" says Fayona. "Which one of you is willing to give it up?"

I notice that the look in the girl's eyes is almost pleading, but what do I care about her problems? She can volunteer next year; this is my last opportunity. I have to show my family that even though I'm different from them, I am still worth something.

"Maybe we can have an exception and we'll have two female District Three tributes!"

She turns away from the audience and the cameras. She turns back a moment later and says "The President gave her consent!"

There is silence. No one knows what to make of the situation. I try to forget about it as I walk up to the stage. I see the other girl do the same.

"And what are your names?"

"Finley Crystal," I say clearly. I glance down at myself to make sure my dress isn't crooked, and I notice that part of the scar that runs from my hip to my knee is showing past the hem of my blue and yellow dress.

"Lilith Grey," announces the other girl.

"Well, let's move on to the boys now."

Some boy named Devlin Aries is reaped. He pauses before he joins us on the platform, as if waiting for someone to volunteer. No one does.

I realize that he is twelve, and probably scared to death. But he doesn't show it. He looks very serious, but his clothes are torn and dirty. Where does he live?

I hear Fayona announcing that we are the District Three tributes of the 425th Annual Hunger Games, I smile, and I walk away.

At least two of the three of us will soon be dead.

...

Pseudo: Well, that was unexpected...

Macken: Ya hear that, folks? Three tributes for District Three! And our tributes had better watch their backs- with one extra opponent, they have one more person wishing for them to die.

Pseudo: I wonder...

Macken: Yes, Pseudo?

Pseudo: Well, in the Career districts, so many people want to volunteer, but only two are allowed. Never more than one female or more that one male... So why allow this district to have an extra tribute?

Macken: Hmmm... I guess we'll see. * At this point he's muttering to himself * Or maybe not... I mean, the Capitol is good at keeping secrets when it wants to... You know what? Who cares what the Capitol wants to do?

Pseudo: Well! See you after District Four's reaping!

Macken: Good bye and good luck!