Elara Angelo POV

I rummaged through a pile of trash, sifting through rotten bits of food and crumpled papers. Something shiny caught my eye, but it was just a bit of foil. The siren to warn us of Reaping time would ring any minute. Hopefully we could find something good to sell on the way home.

"Look," Haylen said. He came over and held out his hand. It held an empty butter container, obviously thrown out by some rich storekeeper who could afford real dishes. The siren rang before I could respond, so Haylen shoved it into his bag and we ran to take our places.

Demi seemed different this year. She usually wore warm colors like red or yellow, but this year her dress was dark brown. She looked businesslike instead of perky, and her voice was curt as she addressed us.

"This year, I'll start with the gentlemen," she said, and I tensed. If Haylen got Reaped that would be even worse than if I did. He was shy and timid. I would watch my brother die at the Bloodbath. I felt powerless and hated how little I could help him.

"Ben Dover," she called. I almost cried in relief as some other boy tried to run off. The Peackeepers almost missed him, and a gun went off. Everyone jumped. Adrenaline shot through me and I felt like a caged animal.

Oh my goodness did they kill him? I thought. I saw them drag a boy to the stage. He wasn't dead after all. They shot him in the foot. Maybe the Twelve boy would be a Bloodbath after all. Demi looked like she wanted to help him, but she turned away towards the other bowl and picked out a slip without a word.

"Elara Angelo!"

With all the fuss I'd forgotten the danger I was in. When I heard my name, I thought of the blood pouring from Ben's foot and wondered when mine would come. My chest seized and I started gasping for breath. Someone grabbed me and dragged me to the stage next to Ben. Demi said some stuff and some assistants led us to our rooms.

When Mom and Haylen came to see me, Mom gave me a bracelet she must have made herself. It was a string of colorful rocks. I knew it would remind me of home. I hated the thought that I was going to be away from it for so long.

"I want to stay here and be with you," I said to her. I held on to her shirt like an anchor.

"You'll be back someday," she said. I wondered if she believed it.

"Yeah, you'll do great," Haylen said. I knew he believed it. I was his big sister, and I could do anything. I hoped he was right.

Ben Dover POV

Jude was old enough to be safe, and Thomas and Rhett were young enough to stay home and watch some other sap die. I was the only one who got to go to the Reaping. Lucky me. I knew the chances were good, so I wasn't too scared, but any chance was enough to have me edgy. I wished I was near my friends, but they'd gotten there earlier and were a row ahead of me.

The Anthem played and the stupid video started. They had to know none of us watched that thing. It was a waste of time. When Demi finally came out, I was glad it was almost over. She said she was starting with the boys and my heart skipped. It was like when the Peacekeepers randomly searched our school. I knew they wouldn't find anything in my desk, but I was still scared. Then my name was ringing through the air.

Oh, no. Before I knew it, I was running through the crowd. They couldn't make me go on the stage. They'd have to catch me first. A Peacekeeper ran at me, but I darted around him and reached the edge of the Center. Then my foot exploded as a huge noise went off. I crashed to the ground and pressed my hands against my foot, which was bleeding everywhere. A Peacekeeper picked me up, swearing as he carried me to the stage. Someone started tying a strip of cloth around the wound as Demi prepared to pick the final name.

They shot me, I thought over and over as a girl came toward the stage. Goosebumps spread on my arms and I felt suddenly cold. I started to shiver, and the man who bandaged my leg kept talking to me and trying to respond. I just wanted to go to sleep.

I guess I was too hurt to go to the Hall of Justice, since the man shoved me into a big car with machines filling the back. Two people were already inside. One poked me with a needle and connected me to a bag while the other pressed a cold disc against my chest. I sat up and looked outside the window for a final look at my home. I saw my family outside, crying and waving me off. Jude ran after the car as it started to go and pounded at the door. One of the attendants opened it and he tossed a shiny stone inside.

"Love you, little brother!" Jude yelled before the attendant shooed him away and we drove off. He picked the stone up off the floor, rinsed it off, and gave it to me.

"Guess they wanted you to have this," he said. I held my token and saw it was a diamond. It certainly wasn't real, since it was the size of a robin's egg and we were poor. It would remind me of the dirty coal mines and the constant coughing of the people back home. It was perfect.

I still need a seven female from TheGeekyTributeLLP and the Nine pair from Stellaslomp. If I missed the forms, sorry and please let me know. Otherwise, send them in when you can. I'll wait a bit for responses, but I have to train all this week starting at 3AM, so I won't be able to write from Monday to Friday, most likely. If they're not in by then, I'll reopen the slots.