AN- So, thanks again to all who reviewed. This is a really short chapter because I have to go out of town and I wanted to get this published before then. Now onto the Reaping.

Disclaimer- I do not own The Hunger Games.

Chapter 8- The Reaping

I wake up screaming. Peeta wraps me in his arms and tries to coax me back to sleep. I refuse, reminding him that it's pointless since we have to be up in a few hours anyways.

Together, we make breakfast for seven. Peeta's older brothers, Prim, and my mother wanted to have a meal with us before we left, and I dragged Haymitch over so that we wouldn't have a repeat of last year's episode.

"No alcohol, Haymitch," I say, snatching the bottle out of his hand before he takes another swig. "We don't need a lecture from Effie about proper etiquette on the train."

Haymitch gives me a slight smile. "You mean, we don't need you to lash out at Effie again."

I can only glare in response. "You make one comment in a moment of fury and," I mutter under my breath.

The rest of breakfast goes by relatively smoothly. I say my formal goodbye to my family and follow Haymitch and Peeta to the Justice Building. The Peacekeepers inside tell us that we must fill out an 'official mentoring packet'. It's really just something to keep us in custody until the Reaping so we won't run off or anything.

Finally the hour I've been dreading comes. Mayor Undersee introduces Effie first, then Haymitch, followed by Peeta and I. My eyes go instantly to the Reaping ball then to the people whose names are in the ball. I feel sick. Peeta keeps repeating the steps to make a good cheese bun in my ear, trying to keep me distracted. I force myself to smile as if he's saying something romantic. The commentators on the Reaping re-runs will love it.

Effie steps towards the first bowl. "Ladies first," she calls out, then makes a quick glance back to Peeta and I as if to say 'are you ready?'

I take a deep breath. But nothing can ever prepare you for what comes next. Effie voice rings out, loud and clear, "Sage Westych!" This is almost immediately followed by an "I volunteer!"

There is screaming and crying by someone young. Must be Sage, I think.

A rough, brown haired girl makes her way to the stage. She looks absolutely calm, as if this is normal. She says her name is Addison Portmanteau. She smiles and waves to the crowd while Effie walks over to second ball.

"That's the Hunger Games spirit! Now for the boys." A quick pause, then Effie says, "Cole Amberwood!"

This time, there are no volunteers. A short, but not frail boy steps out of the crowd. I can tell that he is failing to hide his fear. The two tributes shake hands and leave the stage, heading towards the Justice Building. Peeta, Haymitch, and I are escorted by the remaining Peacekeepers to the train.

Once we get on, Peeta says, "Interesting tributes this year, wouldn't you say, Katniss?"

"If by interesting, you mean dead in a month, I'd agree with you," I practically spit. "An eleven year old who will be lucky to survive the bloodbath and an eighteen year old who obviously has no sense. Yes, this will be interesting."

Haymitch seems to be in agreement with me. "I side with Katniss, unless we find some good reason for the girl to have volunteered, we can rule her out as a goner."

"Come on, we have to at least try," Peeta says, looking irritated by the two of us.

Haymitch's relatively calm demeanor turns into full on anger. "What are you accusing me of, boy? Don't you think for one second that I didn't try all those years. Don't you think that I don't see their faces in my sleep and wonder if I could have done something to save them. But one thing you're going to learn through this is that you can't save stupid in the Games, and someone who chooses to go to their death for no good reason is stupid. And I'll just tell you something that at least one of you might have figured out by now, Snow wants your tributes to die, to make you suffer. I don't think I have to remind you of the Gamemakers power in this. If even one District 12 tribute lives two hours past the bloodbath in the next ten years, you'll be really lucky."

"Thanks for all the encouragement, Haymitch," I say, rolling my eyes. Peeta signals to the entrance of the train. Our tributes have arrived to be carted away to the slaughter.

AN- So, what do you think of the tributes? Don't worry, more about Addison and Cole will be revealed in the next chapter. If there is any question specific you want answered, review or PM me. With all that said, please review and thank you for reading this.