Reina Luckmere(17), District 9 Female-POV
"Wake up Reina; I said wake up!" My Uncle Spur shouts at me. I lay still, not wanting to wake up. He grabs the back of my neck and drags me out of my bed. He throws me on the floor and I curl up in a ball hugging my knees.
"I'm going to get a drink..." he slurs, I can smell that he's had alcohol already. "You can find your own way to the reaping... let's hope you don't get picked hmm" he walks drunkenly out of the room.
I lay there for a minute, just crying. You're being a baby, stop crying and stand up for yourself.
"I can't, I can't it'll make things worse!" I say to myself. I stand up nearly falling over from dizziness. When was the last time I ate? Or had a proper night's sleep? I look into the mirror and lift the back of my shirt. The swollen bruises on my back which kept me up last night have doubled in size and some of the marks are nearly the same colour as my red hair. I push my long hair to one side so I can get a better look. They really are bad. If my parents saw this they would kill my uncle. You would wonder why my Uncle, someone who is supposed to be family, would do this to me. He's had a tough ten years, but so have I, and I think I've had it worse.
Ten years ago when I was seven, there was a tornado that came through one of the grain fields. My family and I were all there but I'm quick, and I ran fast into a safe place. I thought my family would follow, but they didn't survive it. My Parents had died, but I never realised afterwards that my Uncle which is my Fathers Brother, had been at home ill and wasn't there. I then later found out, that my Uncles wife and his son, both died as well and it drove him into a bad place. He started drinking and I rarely saw him. Then, he was told he was to look after me as he's my only family left but I turned into something to take his anger out on. He's made me feel like I am worth nothing and I literally have no self esteem.
I face the mirror and stare at myself. You're nothing. You're just like a little kid, scared and weak.
I do look like a little kid. I am mostly skin and bones and I am smaller than even most of the fourteen year olds in my district; and I'm seventeen. I look at my skin, I have naturally light tanned skin but you can hardly see it with the amount of bruises I have. I have dark red hair, pale blue eyes and freckles that come over the bridge of my nose. I have a bruise on my cheek where Spur slapped me yesterday for no reason I can think of. I go red in anger. I shouldn't have let him do that. Angry tears fall from my eyes but I quickly wipe them away. I will not give him the satisfaction of making me cry.
I need to get ready for the reaping as it must be soon so I put on a blue blouse I got when I was ten which is actually too big on me now. I put on a white skirt which is ripped down the side. I look terrible but there the only good clothes I have. I leave the house, hoping I don't run into Spur on my way.
Caleb York(13), District 9 Male-POV
I sit at home, alone like normal. Well, you couldn't call it a home; it's more of a shed. I sit, eating a piece of grain I stole from the field outside my 'home'. My stomach rumbles for more, but I eat slowly, trying to convince my stomach that I am eating much more. When I am finished, I curl into a ball and try to get some sleep. It's hard, the wind is loud blowing through the space where a window once was and every time I hear a noise outside I worry.
I finally fall asleep and dream of my old life before the rebellion. I had a Mother and Father and we were all together and we seemed the perfect family; but then the capitol took it away from me. They killed my parents and left me alone. I wouldn't let the orphanage take me; I've heard bad things about it. I expect everyone thinks I died with them, but no-one knows I am alive and living here. I rarely leave the shed I am in, escaping in the night to find food and water but I retreat back as soon as I see the slightest sign of dawn. I must leave today though, because today is the reaping and if you aren't marked in, they will come to find you. I am so unrecognisable to the person I was before, not even my old friends would notice me. I doubt they even remember me. I used to be quite bulky; with shiny nicely cut black hair and light brown eyes. I'm now small and thin from lack of food, long dirty black hair and dark brown eyes where I rarely see light. I wear ripped brown trousers and a grey shirt which used to be white. The only nice possession I own is my Fathers gold chain. I thought about selling it, when I got sick and needed medicine but I am glad I have kept it, it reminds me of the life I used to have.
I slowly open the shed door and peer round, its light and the sun is shining. Such a nice day for something so horrible. I walk out of the door and take all the back streets. I don't need people asking questions.
Reina Luckmere(17), District 9 Female-POV
I get to the reaping, having not seen my Uncle Spur. I blend into the crowd and get ready to listen to the escort. A man, who is very small and plump, walks onto the stage.
"Welcome, to District 9's first reaping for the Hunger Games!"
The crowd stays silent, so silent that you can almost hear the wind blowing.
"Let's get on shall we... I think we'll choose the young man first," he says eagerly.
He walks over and reaches into the bowl.
"Caleb York"
Who is he? I don't know a Caleb York. A small, thin boy is dragged up by the peacekeepers and he is placed onto the stage. He stands there, his eyes filled with tears. He looks so tiny compared to the large man next to him. Caleb looks like he hasn't washed for days or had a good meal for a while. I can see his eyes shifting from left to right, as if he is trying to find somewhere to escape. That's not going to work.
The escort then walks over to pick the female tribute. My heart starts to beat slightly faster.
"Reina Luckmere"
I can almost see Spur's face smirking in the back of my mind. I start walking up to the stage. What you going to do, cry? You're pathetic. You're going to die and your pathetic excuse for a life will be over.
"Shut up." I whisper.
Go on cry, do what everyone expects you to do. Be the weak kid that you are and realise that you are going to die. You're going to die. You're going to die.
I keep a straight face but when I reach the stage I cover my ears to stop my horrible thoughts. I can tell everyone is looking at me like I am crazy. I see the escort look at my bruises on my face, arms and legs and his mouth forms an 'O' shape. I look down ashamed of myself.
"Here are your tributes... Caleb York and Reina Luckmere"
The crowd remain silent. They know it's wrong for two kids who look barely alive they are so thin and weak to go into a fight with much stronger kids who have had a good life and actually stand a chance.
I walk off the stage ashamed and go into the justice building.
I sit in the room I am given. It's beautiful, soft seats made of velvet, the walls are even lined with what looks like silver! I don't expect to get any visitors, Spur made it very clear that he doesn't want anything to do with me. I am surprised to see him fall into the room.
"Hello Reina" He says, his breath stinks of alcohol.
Stand up to him. He can't do anything to you anymore. You're free.
"Get out!" I shout. The anger comes from the pit of my stomach and it feels good.
"What are you talking about, come give your Uncle a hug goodbye" he smiles. His teeth are yellow and broken, he repulses me.
"I want you to leave, now go!" I push him and he falls to the floor. He must be very drunk.
"You can't hurt me anymore, and I don't want to see your nasty face again!" I scream into his face, tears come to my eyes but I blink them away.
"Fine, I brought you this, that's what I get for being nice" He smirks and throws something on the floor. I stare at him back and he wanders out of the room.
I pick up the small bracelet on the floor. My Mother had given it to me for my 5th birthday but Spur thought it would be nice to take it off me when I came to live with him because I didn't deserve anything nice. It's made of rough grain and it scratches my wrist slightly but I don't care. I slip it on my wrist and it reminds me that I was once loved and cared about.
Caleb York(13), District 9 Male-POV
I follow all the back streets and am left unnoticed. I reach the reaping and join the other thirteen year olds. They all give me odd stares but I just look down and act like they're not there. The escort walks on; he's a short but large man. I bet the capitol get a lot of food. He welcomes us and then goes to pick the male tribute. I keep wondering why they talk so weirdly, it must just be the place. He reaches into a large bowl and pulls out a piece of paper. He reads a name into the microphone:
"Caleb York"
They've picked me. I can't go I won't last five minutes in those games. I look around, no-one knows who I am, I make a run for it. I reach the side of the crowd before I am caught by a peacekeeper. He drags me along and puts me on the stage. I can see everyone looks confused. One because they probably don't know me and two because of the way I look. They must think I am one of those people who are so poor they live on the streets. I guess I'm kind of like that. I look down embarrassed and my hair covers my face. The female tribute is then picked.
"Reina Luckmere"
A girl who is also thin and bony like me walks to the stage. When she gets here I notice she has bruises all over her body. Wonder how she got those? She also looks down as if she is ashamed of herself. I think of smiling at her but she never looks up so I can. You can see the crowd are not happy. Two innocent weak children being sent to their most likely death.
Here are your tributes... Caleb York and Reina Luckmere"
I am led off the stage where I am supposed to say goodbye to someone. I sit alone as I have no-one to say goodbye to and admire the room. My parents would have loved it. I wonder if they're proud of me; I hope so.