Risetto Thorsten, 18, First Male (District 9)

I walk away without even taking a quick glance back. I don't feel safe but above all, I feel sick to my core and filthy - like I'm a terrible person. But I'm not. All I do is what anybody would do to survive, even if my arse is killing me right now.

You would think that I'd be used to this all by now, but I'm not. In all honesty, I doubt that I'll ever be. I'm not sure I want to be, because that would seem like the point of no return.

I guess I'm just in denial, as it is. I'm tricking myself into believing that one day I'll be able to leave the trade, when I already know fully well that my reputation is too tarnished to ever repair.

My parents must have been sick in their head to sell me to scum of the earth when I was just thirteen. I mean, who even does that? Thirteen is still a kid, for fuck's sake! And yet their answer really was 'fuck', in the most literal sense. It's a horrible thing, and even now I've left them I have to continue. There's no other way of living for me now - I've got no opportunity to change my ways and turn my sorry life around.

I need a shower, and I need it right now. Not only is it for my own comfort and so I can actually feel like I have some rights again, but because there is the reaping in a few hours and I can't go smelling of sweat and cum - that would just be social suicide in a place like the square on reaping day, and I'm disliked enough already. No, I need to clean myself - I can't bear to walk through the streets feeling like this. It's hard enough that I'll have to do that until I get home, I'm not doing it for any longer than I really have to.

As I reach my own neighbourhood, people avoid me. I just glare at them - I know that I intimidate them, yes, but can't they see how much it hurts me emotionally when those who I'm supposed to be able to count on decide to walk on the opposite side of the lane to me? Well, it's torturous, and I'm in enough physical pain at this moment without even bringing their neglect into this.

Still, I guess they're better company than my parents. All they ever saw me as was a body to use to get money for them. They're horrible people, and I'm sure that they're aware of the legacy they still leave.

Thanks to them, I'll never truly be free, and I'll hate them for it forever.

Riley Redix, 12, Third Male (District 9)

It feels weird - me here, and Dia and Anima finally safe. Kind-of scary, to be honest, but I'm coping... just.

"Hey, don't worry, Riley," Centra says, being the comforting older sibling that she is. "You won't get reaped, you'll be fine. We all will - you and Radia and I, and then Vita when it's her turn. Stop fretting."

"I'm not fretting!" I protest, and it makes Centra laugh, though Radia doesn't react.

"You can be as adamant as you like, but I can see a shadow of doubt on your face, Riley, and I don't like it. Stop doubting that you'll be fine, because we'll all be totally okay, and you know it."

"Yeah," I grumble, because I know that her point is true.

"Yeah?" She raises her eyebrows comically, and now I'm laughing too.

"Yeah." I wrap my arms around her and she hugs me back, and I run over to Radia and embrace her briefly too before she signs in. She barely acknowledges me back (she never does), but I had to do it. She's my sister and I love her, no matter what.

After Radia, it's supposed to be Centra, but she beckons me to go first. "You know I'll be right behind you," she reminds me as she gently nudges me forward. She may only have done this once before herself so she has every right to be terrified, but she's still putting me first. She's great, and I'm lucky that she's there for me.

At the desk, my finger is pricked and there's a sharp pain before blood pools on my fingertip. It's more crimson than I remember, and it shocks me because of it. The lady stares at me like I'm dumb and I think that I must be supposed to do something, but exactly what it is- well, that I'm not quite so sure. She must have grown tired of waiting for me, I suppose, because she yanks my finger and presses it hard against the paper, making my skin turn deep pink where she grabbed me. I'm not sure whether the needle or her grip hurt more in the end.

I try to wait for my sister at the other side but the stampede of other children drags me along before Centra comes through. I keep turning my head to try and see where boys my age are, and eventually I realise that it increases in age as you travel forward, meaning that I'm now in line with those aged sixteen and I'm still travelling forward.

To push my way back through would be the logical thing, yes, but my thinking is hardly very rational, so instead I keep going until I bump into the stage itself. I hear a few gasps and a few laughs, but neither comes from the peacekeepers who manage to get the crowd to part by just their presence. I tuck myself into the edge of my section, and try to remain inconspicuous.

I'm sure that the speeches that are given are extremely interesting, but instead of listening I just rub my eyebrow. The scar from when I was younger still hasn't grown any hair on it, and it's making me think that I'll have a gap in my eyebrow forever by this point.

The Hunger Games are about to start, and I sure as heck hope I don't land myself in them.

Natalia Tressington, 17, First Female (District 9)

A cute boy across from me looks in my direction and I wink at him, twirling my hair. It's not much, but I know that he'll be swooning anyway because I'm so fucking perfect. In fact, I'm sure that if there was a thingy - I can't remember its name, a 'book' or something? - which had in the definition of words, I'm pretty sure that 'perfection' would have 'Natalia Tressington' written beneath it.

I'm so idle with trying to get myself another boyfriend after the reaping that I don't realise my name is being called until the girl beside me nudges me. I think she's called Eleanor, but I couldn't be sure. She's just another of my mindless followers.

I'm calm as I go onstage, because I know that one of my 'friends' (oh, how naïve they are to think I genuinely love them all) will volunteer for me. Why wouldn't they? I'm a far more valuable asset than they'll ever be. One day I'll make money for sure. Maybe being reaped (albeit only until someone takes my plave) will show the Capitol what beauty I have. I'm joking about the maybe bit, obviously - I'm bound to get scouted as a model after today!

Now... let's see how many seconds it takes for a volunteer to take my place...

One...

Two...

Three...

Four...

I scan the crowds with my eyes, in case someone by some chance didn't hear my name.

Twelve...

Thirteen...

Fourteen...

Fifteen...

Maybe they're waiting until the last moment. Perhaps they think it'll make them seem like a heroine more if they wait a bit.

Twenty-six...

Twenty-seven...

Twenty-ei-

"Now for the first boy!"

NO! I wail inside, and my body stiffens all over for a moment. I feel paralysed - it must be the shock of everybody's betrayal. There should have been a battle about who was going to prove their friendship by voulunteering, but not one stepped forward. What absolute bitches - how dare they value their own lives above mine? It's just unacceptable, they know how fabulous I am, and how much life means to me!

"Risetto Thorsten."

I blow a kiss to Risetto as he comes onstage, eager to claim all the male sponsors before the other girls try to take their money for themselves. My plan should be foolproof, but Risetto remains remarkably unaffected by my charm. He doesn't even react negatively, though that should be an impossibility. He doesn't care in the slightest, and that's what affects me most. I feel tears well up in my eyes and I do my very best to hold them back but I can feel one fall down my cheek slowly.

Maybe he's gay, I think. The thought repulses me. Surely every boy should want to be with me, just like how every girl wants to be me - regardless of their sexuality and stuff. After all, I'm too brilliant to not love.

That's it, I think suddenly. I know what he's up to, I've seen this game played before. He's playing hard to get - he'll come down off his high horse eventually. Not that I'll be there when he finally does so - he's insulted me too much already by bringing shame to me in front of the whole nation.

There's a girl called Radia Redix after that arsehole, and although she is pretty, she would never be able to compare to me. I doubt anybody in the history of Panem could, except- maybe there would have been someone in the dark days. Probably an ancestor of mine. After all, my good looks had to come from somewhere in the beginning.

A boy called Barley Maze is next; and I have never heard such screams - not even from another girl. He obviously already knows that he's in for absolute hell. He is kind-of cute though.

A girl called Centra Redix and a boy called Riley Redix are the final two and both their physical likeness and their shared last name tells me that the two and Radia are all related in some way. It makes you wonder if some of the bowls are rigged.

Radia Redix, 15, Second Female (District 9)

My older sisters, Dia and Anima, come through the doors alongside my youngest sister, Vita. At age four, I bet she doesn't understand what is going on in the slightest.

Good, I think. I wouldn't want her to know.

"Hey, guys," I say, attempting to sound casual despite the situation. I fail miserably, since I break down in tears.

"Oh, Radia..." Anima sobs as she races over to hug me. Ever since Mom and Dad died, she and Dia have been like the rocks of the family. They're there for us, even if they've had to make many sacrifices of their own. "Sweetie, you'll be fine. I mean, we all know already that at least two of you will die, but you know what I mean. You needn't feel any pain if you play this right. After all, it's all just one sick game, isn't it?"

I nod, not knowing how to react to her statements. I had been trying to avoid thinking about my death in the near future, but when she puts it so plainly... well, it makes it harder to ignore.

It was hard enough already.

Avoiding her desperate gaze, I slowly make my way over to Vita and wrap her up within my arms. I never want to let my baby sister go. Yes, I know that she's technically not a baby anymore, but she will always be a baby in my eyes. She is the youngest, after all.

It's strange to think that though we're currently six, that number will soon halve. It must be weird for Dia and Anima - losing three siblings and both parents in under a year. I just really don't want for any of us to die, and yet three of us will have to. Which makes me think: What did our family ever do wrong to deserve this fate?

"Radia?" Dia pokes me, startling me. "Are you all right, Radia? You were daydreaming. You can't do that in the arena, you do realise?"

"Yes." I frown.

"It would kill you."

"Yes, I know that."

"You do? Oh, gosh, obviously you do! Gosh, I'm such a dumbass, aren't I?"

"Paranoid, maybe, but not a dumbass," Anima jokes. Their banter feels familiar, safe.

I never want them to have to go.

Barley Maze, 16, Second Male (District 9)

The carriage I chose seemed like a good place to stay hidden, but apparently not, since a certain Miss Tressington finds her way here. Her attitude is frustrating, to say the least.

My mother (whom I still miss to this day) always taught me to be polite though, so I smile at her. Unfortunately, she seems to take this the wrong way and begins to come on to me. She twirls her hair and leans again the side table in a way that's clearly meant to seem seductive.

"Do you think I'm pretty?" she says, giggling. It makes me grimace.

"I guess," I say, but only to get her off my back. Literally, that is, since she has now decided to wrap her arms around me from behind. I try to wriggle out of her grasp but no such luck as of yet.

"It must be my jeans," she says, at long last loosing me to walk to a window. I'm happy to finally be able to breathe again.

"You mean genes, right?"

"Yeah, those things." Wow, what a dumbass.

"Are you okay?" I ask as I back out through the door to the carriage, hoping she won't notice.

"Sure I am, babe," she says, still gazing at the ever-nearer Capitol. I'm out of there now, so I take my chance and run before she can notice that I'm gone. I can deal with her wrath later if I must - it's a better option that dealing with her sexual advances right now.

Eventually, I get tired and I have to sit down on the floor of the corridor I'm in. To be fair, I'm probably nearing the other end of the train by now anyway.

I'm panting, and it makes me realise just how difficult these Games are going to be. Running away from the danger is meant to be the easy option, and I can't even do that successfully for a long time.

I'm going to die.

Centra Redix, 13, Third Female (District 9)

My prep team keep asking about my life, and I'm more than happy to oblige at first. I talk about everything, really. My best friend - Aria - and how I met her. How unfortunate it was for my siblings and I to get reaped together. My other sisters back home and the terrible misfortune of losing our parents. The hurt I felt inside at the time and-

But I stop talking about myself, because it is far too selfish of me to sit and have a one-sided conversation as they both just listen so patiently. So, rather than continuing with my own life story, I ask them about theirs, and it's fascinating.

Marissa's home is a pink fairytale palace. I don't know what a fairytale is so she tries to explain and they sound wonderful. I wish I grew up off them like she did.

As silly and impossible as it is, I really wish I could visit her home. You know, just to see what it's like - I've hardly got any superficial or cruel motives behind my actions, have I? Everybody knows that I'm the sweetest sister, and I'm not going to let the arena change that. I need to remain me.

Arius is also pretty awesome. He's got animals at home but they're not for eating, no - they're pets. Though the concept seems alien to me, I can see the appeal. The idea of a little animal to care for and love seems like it replaces a human child, but it fits in perfectly with the whole Capitol lifestyle. It sounds exciting, and I wonder what it would be like.

I think if I make it home I might get a pet chicken. We've seen them in school textbooks, and the babies look adorable. It could be nice, I think. I'd really rather like such a chance.

Marissa and Arius take a long while once they begin talking. Who'd have thought it - my prep team, the once shy duo, now chatterboxes? I would not have suspected it, but they are good company so I would not complain either way.

Once they leave, it's time for my stylist. Cami is completely new to the whole thing, but I do like her. For example, I like how she lets me call her Cami even though her name is Camilla, because that's what her friends do. I feel respected, and that's the best I can get in the situation that I'm in.