Sybil Jones, 15, District 7

The orphanage is cold and lonely. I would rather not live here, but I don't have much choice. The children here all keep to themselves and don't like to talk to other people. That works just fine with me, because I'm too shy to talk to any of them anway.

Today is the day of the reaping. I lay awake in my bed dreading it, wanting to continually push it forward or pretend it didn't exist. Eventually, I place my small feet on the creaky, chilly floor and force myself up.

The one thing about the reaping that isn't entirely bad is that we get to dress well. I slip on a blush pink blouse and tuck it into a white lace skirt. I run a brush through my shiny brown hair and put it into a bun.

From the empty bed beside mine, I suspect Marigold is already downstairs eating breakfast. I make my way down the wood stairs, stepping slowly so that they don't make a sound. I see the bright blonde hair and the blue dress and know that it's her.

The pretty girl turns around. She smiles when she sees me. Then, I notice Koby sitting behind her, also looking at me and I smile back at.

"Nice outfit, Sybil." Koby says.

"Oh, thanks. You too." I reply, blushing. He's really cute.

Marigold tucks the loose strands of hair from her braid behind her ears, turns back around and continues eating. I sit down at the table and help myself to a roll of tough bread. I don't realize I'm picking at it until Mari chimes in.

"Nervous?" She asks, taking a sip of water.

"Maybe a little, you never know." I say. She shrugs and continues drinking. I finish the roll, and although it was so small, I feel a weight at the bottom of my stomach.

Yup, I'm nervous.

I'm standing next to Mari in town square, holding hands with her, probably cutting off her circulation. The capitol woman with orangey skin announces, "Ladies first!" in a silly accent. The crowd falls silent, so silent that you can hear each person take in a single collective breath. I want to tell them to shut up, that being in the Orphanage gives us a higher chance than them. Our escort, Collette, uses her delicate fingers to open the card. "District Seven, your voters chose Ms. Sybil Jones as your female tribute!"

And this time Mari's hand gets tight.

I know now that I have to let her go. This makes me numb.

Then I see my opponent, and feeling comes back. Not a good feeling.

Allistair Winston, 18

Santiego is apparently telling Johnny a real funny story, judging by the way John's laughing, but all I can think about is the reaping.

My chances of being chosen are high, being from the bad part of the district and all, but I'm also real disastrous, and I'm definitely not the most loved person in District Seven. I know I'm in danger, but there's no way to protect myself.

There's also a chance that I won't get chosen, but that only means someone that I know will. If there was anyone District Seven wanted to get rid of, they would be from my part of the district.

"Um, Al?" Johnny aks. This catches me off guard and I snap back.

"Oh-uh, yeah?" I reply quickly.

"We'll seeya at two, okay?" He says, I nod.

I walk back home still thinking about who will get chosen and what their chances are. When I walk into my aunts house, I find that she's still asleep. I throw a stack of her dirty clothes at her and she rolls over. She rubs her eyes. Yawning, she asks, "What time is it?" I rolls my eyes.

"1:15, get ready, now." I say demandingly. She doesn't question. She gets up and searches the room for something clean. She never washes her clothes and it's disgusting.

It's about two when we reach the square. It's crowded with residents who smell of pine trees and have calloused hands from years of taking down trees. The Capitol woman consistantly checks her watch, and exactly at two, she shushes the crowd of nervous children and concerned parents.

She announces the name of a girl who I've never heard of, and then she moves onto the boys. You're gonna be disappointed anyway, so don't even think about it.

"Mister Allistair Winston!"

Disappointed I am. I mutter obscenities under my breath and cross my arms, walking to the stage in an intimidating demeanor. My district partner looks fearful as I get up to the stage. Good.

I get a much expected visit from Johnny and Santiego, but when Parvarti comes in, I'm disgruntled. We sit for a few seconds just doing nothing, looking down at our hands when she pipes up. "I was not expecting this to happen." She says with a breathy laugh.

"I was. No one likes me anyway." She lifts her head to look me in the eye.

"What about Johnny, Santiego, your sister, Rala. And me, too." This catches me off guard. Since when did she like me? She broke up with me and I still want her back, but she doesn't seem interested.

"Yeah, but I mean the district. Can I...maybe, ask you something?"

"Shoot."

"Can you please take care of Rala? If I'm gonna die I don't want her raised by that selfish slob."

"Deal. I like her, your sister. She's so sweet. Makes me smile."

The peacekeepers come and she silently exits, but she stops in the door frame and swings her long, glossy, dark brown hair over her shoulder as she turns to me. "I know I broke up with you, but I still like you, Al." She says. I smile.

"Me too."

When Rala comes in with her rosy cheeks and pretty eyes, I can't take it. If there's one thing I hate, it's to see her unhappy. I try to make her life as normal as it can be, but in a life like this, it's nearly impossible.

I lift up the small, pretty girl and set her on my lap, putting my face into her soft blonde curls. We sit like this for a minute until I lift up my head, I look her in the eyes and speak. "You're going to stay with Parvarti. She'll take care of you, I promise."

"I'll miss you though!" She says. Tears start trickling down her face and this threatens to send some down my face, too. She digs into her pocket and hends me a folded up piece of paper. I open it up and see that she drew a few little flowers. "Please take it with you!" She asks.

"I promise."

The Peacekeepers arrive and begin to come over to get her. "DON'T YOU DARE TOUCH HER." I yell. They back away. "I love you, Rala."

"I love you too, Allistair." She says.

I can't shake off the thought that I may never hear her sweet voice ever again.