Evelyn Dares POV

I lie in bed, staring up at the ceiling. Today is reaping day, once again. This year has gone by fast, and now I must go to my second reapings, a slightly bigger chance than I had last year. I roll over in bed and look at my four younger sisters crammed in next to me. I love them a lot, but I'll never understand why mum and dad had eight children since they're so poor. Of course, now that my oldest sister, Theta , who's 19, has a two year old daughter named Piper, there's eleven of us in this tiny cottage. Oh well, I'm happy here, and I wouldn't like it anywhere else. I tap Leannah's shoulder and she yawns. Its her last year of not being in the reaping bowl, poor thing. With so many of us,the chances that one of us might get picked some day Are actually sort of high.

"Want to go out and get some air? It's stuffy in here." She smiles and nods.

"Sure, anyway, it's nice out." We crawl silently out of bed, trying not to wake 9 year old Alyss, 6 year old Carina, or 3 year old Hazella. We quietly open the door and walk out into the still dark early morning. I love Leannah so much, not only because she is a wonderful girl but because she listens, she understands. Alyss, Carina, and Hazella are too young to understand anything, and Theta is far to busy witg Piper. Mother and father are always working long hours at the factory, and my brothers, 15 year old Joel and 7 year old Rex are, well, boys. Leannah is always here though. I take a deep breath and take in the air. Leannah looks at me with worry.

"Are you nervous for today?"

"Yes, I'm in the bowl twice... but hopefully it'll be okay. I'm not going to get picked, at least, I don't think so. Thirteen year olds hardly ever get picked."

"I'm glad Theta is safe now, one of us is done at least. Joel has three more years, you have five... I haven't even started yet. I'm afraid for next year."

"You'll be fine. You don't need to worry about something that's a year away."

"Yeah. Yeah, of course." I hear rustling and spin around, Leannah gasps.

"Pssst... hey, calm down guys, it's just me!" I can see the dark form of Edeline, my best friend and neighbor. We've known eachother for ages, practically since we were born. Were both thirteen.

"Whoa, you scared me. I didn't know who it was."

"What are you guys whispering about?"

"The... The reapings. I'm nervous, that's all. Are you?"

"Yes, but I don't think we'll get picked. The odds are tiny, and were only in the bowl twice."

"I know. Its just, if I do get picked, I'd never survive. The only thing I'm good at is being creative, running, and climbing. I've never even picked up a weapon, and..." I stop as Edeline sits down next to Leannah and me.

"You're not going to get picked."

"Fine, I'll try to stop worrying. I better go get ready now, then we can leave. Why did they make the reapings so early this year?"

"No clue. I'll wait out here with Leannah while you get ready, 'kay?" "Alright, I'll hurry." I run inside and brush out my long brown hair and quickly dress in a blue skirt and my best top, a pink blouse with little green flowers that match my eyes. I pull on green shoes and tie up my hair in a bow, running outside to meet with Edeline and Leannah again.

"You look pretty."

"Thanks, it's my best clothes, especially for today." We walk to the Justice Building and Leannah walks to the area for people not in the bowl. Edeline and I get our pricks and stand in the 13 year old girl section, waiting silently as our brand new escort, Ya Keyama, basically slithered onto the stage. Despite the dreary occasion, I almost laugh as the humongous lady wiggled on, her blue wig falling half off her head.

"Ahemm... Welcome Welcome, to the 160th hunger games reapings fir district six!" She says excitedly, a sickly grin on her face. His can she enjoy this? "Lets first start out with this lovely little video..." we watch the sane video that is played every year, and I wait in anticipation, praying that it won't be me. Finally Ya gets to the reaping part. "Our girl will be..." I cross my fingers as she pulls out a name. "Evelyn Dares!" I stare, fear racing through me. No no no no no! I can't go in! I can't die, I want to live! I choke back a sob and take a step toward the stage. Is can hear wailing from the family area, Leannah, poor Leannah. This can't be real! I woke back my tears and walk onto the stage. I'm so afraid, so so afraid. I'm going to die. I always was good, I was living, I don't deserve to die! But I suppose I must now, I don't have a choice. I'm going to die. I stand on the stage and close my eyes. If only this were all a dream...

Mason Rusonis POV

I sit on the floor if my tiny shack, alone. My last reapings, finally. I'll be free from them after today. Does that really matter though? I don't care what happens to me. I'm dirt, worthless, stupid dirt. I'm Mason Rusonis, the wierd boy, the problem kid, The run away. No one understands, and no one will ever understand. Its not like I chose for my parents to die in the factory! Its not like I wanted my grandparents to abuse and hate me, to break me, to turn me into the person I have become. I ran away because I had no choice, I couldn't stand it. No one will ever understand. A long time ago, I was a sweet, funny, happy, blonde haired boy. I lived with my loving mother and father, we had a cozy home, a happy life. But they died in a freak accident, and just like that, my world changed forever. I was sent to live with my grandparents on my father's side. They had never approved of fathers marriage to mum, and so they hated me more than anything. They beat me, and locked me up. I couldn't stand it! It wasn't fair to me! So I ran away, to the outskirts of the district, and built this little shack. Over time, my appearance changed along with my life, strange how these thongs haopen. My blonde hair turned to a dark brown, my blue eyes to almost black. I grew up alone, unloved, hated. I have been hardened by this cruel land, I've been shown what the world, what LIFE, is really about. Its about power, hate, and cruelty. Its about survival too. I don't understand how anyone is happy in this... place. I'm serious, emotionless, sarcastic... I guess I'm the worst kind of person. But I can't help it, not really. Once my reaping days are over today, I'll be a true adult. I'll try to get a job,make a life for myself, but whatever happens, I'll never forget what Panem does to people. I hate Panem, truly I do. They let my parents die, they let me become this thing. I dress in My only outfit, worn but clean, a dark blue shirt and light brown trousers. I know that when I walk through town, I'll get the glances of hate, the cruel looks, everything I always get. Humans, Humans are horrid. They're horrid enough to neat their grandchildren, they're horrid enough to send children into an arena to kill eachother, they're horrid enough to let people burn in factory fires for no reason other than that they're "disposable" and "unneeded". Humans are monstors. I walk out of my shack and walk through the streets, looking ahead of me, turning from the harsh gazes of strangers. When I get to the justice buildimy, I stand in line to get my prick before walking to the eighteen year old boy section. Ya, the escort, trundles on and gives a speech before playing the same video as usual. This is horrible. Two children will get reaped soon, chosen to die. When the girl is reaped, I am angered to see a small, pale thirteen year old girl shaking walk up to the stage. They are going to let this child die! The capitalites are cruel, monstrous peopls. The girl looks so afraid, my heart goes out to her. Ya reaches into the boys bowl and plucks out a name.

"Mason Rusonis!" Oh. Its me. I walk up to the stage, My face stony and emotionless. I look in the girls eyes and see the terror of a young child. This is what people do to each other. I don't mind dying, my life is horrible anyway, I want to die, But this girl... this girl has been happy, that's why She is so afraid. She has lived a good life. I must protect this girl. I look at her and shake her hand.

"When we're in the games... alliance?" She looks up at me with wide eyes. "Really?"

"Really."

"Then yes, yes of course."

"EVERYONE, OUR TRIBUTES FOR DISTRICT SIX!" The audience is silent. We are taken to our waiting rooms.

Evelyn Dares POV

I sink down onto the bench in my waiting room shaking with fear. I can't believe that I'm going into the ganes. I can't believe I'm going into the games. At least I have a friend though, My partner, Mason, seems nice, at least to me, and were going to ally. I don't think he'll hurt me. The door opens and my family runs in. Leannah is the first to throw herself on me. "Evie, Evie! Oh Evie!" She starts crying. "Evie, come back, please come back!" She sounds so desperate, so sad. I hug her. I don't want her to see me die, she'll have to watch though. She'll have to see me die. Alyss, Carina, and Hazella pile on tip of me too. Alyss and Carina are sobbing, they both know what's going on. Hazella just losing os afraid, seeing what's happening. Theta runs to me, grasping Piper.

"Listen, Evelyn, you have to stay strong. Never give up. Try to live, Please, please. We love You, always remember that, no matter what." I hug her tightly and she smoothes back my hair. Mother and father come and kiss me.

"Yes. Come back home do what you must. Live, Evelyn, please live. Please." Everyone is sobbing, I am so afraid. Joel walk over to me.

"Stay alive little sister, stay alive." I want to tell them that I will, but I know that I'm not going to make it. Hardly anyone under sixteen ever makes it. I've never trained, I'm not going to live.

"TIMES UP!" My family is pushed out and I scream. "I love you!" I am pushed onto the train.

Alright, that's it. Since Mason doesn't have a family, he doesn't have a goodbyes POV, but he will have one on the train. PLEASE REVIEW! You get points... and remember, the sponsor item list and form is on my bio, so order bb stuff now. Also, go read Fandoms At War: The Ultimate Hunger Games. It is a cowritten story by my, angelofmusic4ever, and brocasica. Its on angelofmusic4ever' s page, and if you read it and give a review, I will giveyou five free points for this story. Again, PLEASE REVIEW! Alright, bye now!