A\N Well, after a long wait here is District Seven! Sorry for the late update by the way. We have to do this research thing at school, so I had to work on that. Anyway! Today's reapings are on Michael Heartlow created by MaryaBadica-Ivashkov. And Gemma Hardin created by Gemma Hardin! What a coincidence! Ha ha just kidding! Enjoy!

~Aerogirl~

District Seven

Michael Heartlow

The door slams behind me as I walk in. No, the reaping is a good thing. And when I actually tell someone what I think all I get is 'Michael! How do you enjoy killing people!' If I enjoy killing someone who pissed me off before I'm not afraid to admit it. Or if I just had a good time doing it!

"Come on Michael I'm sorry, but you didn't help my freaking out!" My little brother Blake says through the door. Blake is little to me, but to everyone else he is a 'strong' 15 year-old boy.

"Shut up Blake go away. This is why I only talk when necessary."

I know I can't see him, but I know he looks disappointed.

"If only Aria was here. She would have slapped you for saying that to me."

Oh he did not just go there. Talking about our dead, yes dead, sister.

Well she shouldn't have died!

…..

Well that peacekeeper thought she should have died.

Killing people isn't nice I laugh to myself. That's what Blake said when our sister got killed. He walked right up to the peacekeeper, and said "What the fudge! That was my sister, and killing people isn't nice!" And then he started crying, and I almost did.

Aria died after well…. An incident….

She was just trying to save her friend from getting beaten to death. She stood up for him, and well it got her in trouble, if you want to put it that way…..

Well when you die you either are in heaven or in hell. And I'm not saying it like where you go after you die (Just what I think) I mean you could be enjoying a stroll in the park, or screaming at a peacekeeper like Aria….

But you never feel like you're in between. I mean when has someone committed suicide because there life was ok. Or has someone had a heart attack while thinking my life isn't the best buts it's not horrible. Well maybe that one….

No people die when they either happy or sad, never in between! If you disagree I have my own opinions.

"Please Michael just get ready for the reaping or something. We need to get there soon."

I throw my pillow at the door. It's quite obvious to me he can't feel it, but it feels good to practically hit him.

The light shines through the little window on the wall. It shines bright in my eyes, and I turn to the wall.

There it is. My shadow.

All I feel like is a shadow in the background. Noting more than an outline of what a person is supposed to be.

Wow….

That's deep.

"Come on Michael! The reaping starts in like…..20 minutes and I want to get there early!"

"Fine then. Just give me a second."

As I walk to the mirror hanging on my door, I grab some black slacks off the floor.

After I put those on, I 'brush' my hair. Really brushing my hair is just running a hand through it. But it gives it that nice messy look. My hair is a nice dark brown; it goes quite well with my natural tan skin.

One last look in the mirror tells me I'm ready to go.

Opening my door takes force since my brother is sitting against it.

"Blake….Get…Up!"

"Oh! Sorry."

He takes one quick look at me, and shakes his head.

"Michael you aren't wearing a shirt."

"Yes I know. Now let's get you ready."

We walk to his room on the other side of the hall.

"Ok what you're going to do is wear something nice." I say in a flat tone. "And show confidence. We are not going to get picked. You should already know this."

"You're not even worried at all? But your name is in there…"

"Yeah I know six times, and yours is in there four times."

Blake still looks worried, but how can he be? The odds of him getting picked are four out of 20 thousand or something.

"Michael I don't know what to wear." Blake wines. "I want to look good incase I'm reaped!"

"BLAKE MATHEW HEARTLOW! YOU WILL NOT GET REAPED!"

He looks hurt after I say this, but it's the truth. How can he even think about getting reaped?

"But-but-but Michael, there's peacekeepers there."

Oh no. Here we go again. Blake is extremely afraid of peacekeepers. Ever since Aria died, he has been afraid he will die because of a peacekeeper.

"What if they recognize us?"

"Yeah because I look like my sister. Besides Blake, this happened like two years ago. And why would they kill us for what our sister did?"

"Well there reaping us because of what the rebels did."

Ok he's got a point. We didn't attack the capitol, the rebels did. They are the ones getting us killed….. Never really thought of it like that.

"Ok listen Blake; I'm sorry about yelling at you. But you won't get reaped. If you do I will volunteer."

"No Michael you couldn't-"

"No I will."

"Michael,"

Why does he keep saying my name?

"Just-" He never finishes his sentence. I don't really know why, but he just stares at the wall.

I decide I'll leave him alone. Watching T.V might clear my mind.

As I lay down on the couch, Blake comes into the room.

"What's on T.V?"

"Well," I say looking at the screen, "Just a replay of President Snow's announcement of the Hunger Games."

"This is probably the 20th time it's been on," he sighs. "Oh and you didn't add 'The First after his name." He stands up off the couch, and this is when I get a good look at his reaping outfit.

He's wearing a white button up polo shirt, and black pants. He spiked his hair with gel to, and since he looks like me he looks… How am I supposed to put this? I can NOT tell you my brother looks…. Hot. But if I was a girl I'd probably think it.

He just smiles. "Girls will dig me."

That's when I… BURST out laughing and so does he.

We continue laughing even when we are walking to the reapings.


Ok, I don't know why, but now I'm nervous. I have to get my name checked off, so no one skips the reaping. What would happen if they did?

I'd rather not think about that.

As I walk to the 17's section, I catch sight of people making fun of a 14 year-old it looks like. I can't find Blake so I get in on the action.

Yeah, definitely a 14 year-old.

I need to join in on the action.

"Look how small he is! Hope he gets reaped so we can see him die!" One boy shouts. This is my time, I push through the crowd.

"If he does get reaped he'll cry like a baby, and die before the bloodbath!" That's it, I've done it. I get a total of 22 high fives, but the boy goes away crying.

My head turns to see the boy run off. Then he turns and looks at me, he has tears in his eyes and….. Oh no. That wasn't a 14 year-old….. It was Blake.

And we don't even have parents since they left us after Aria died.

"Blake I-"

"Save it Michael. I thought you-" Again he doesn't finish his sentence. He stares off into space, and then the reaping starts.

A lady, who I think is our mayor, waddles like a penguin up onto the stage. She seems to be wearing a wig, and it has many jewels in it. Also its plopped onto her head so its sticking straight up.

A few boys laugh into the palms of their hands, but I just (surprisingly) listen to the Treaty of Treason.

Then the mayor tears the paper of which she read the treaty from. "Well that was a waist I do believe you heard this on TV about one or two days ago. Well please give it up for Nelly Knolles."

Only the idiotic clap.

Nelly Knolles is wearing everything she can pink. At least I'm guessing everything she can. He hair is black and cropped short, and I can see her blue eyes from wear I'm standing. Even though they are quite small.

"Ok guys! Guess what! I got a new nail polish yesterday. Green because it reminded me of you guys!" Nelly says with fake enthusiasm. "Well let's pick a girl tribute!" Some guys cross their fingers, probably hoping it's not there sister or girlfriend. You then could hear a pin drop, but Nelly fills the silence by reading, "Gemma Hardin! You are the lucky girl tribute!"

Somewhere in the girls 17 section the crowd splits. A girl with absolutely no expression on her face walks to the stage.

Her long hair is up in a pony-tail, and she's wearing a white blouse with black pants stuffed into her boots.

Nelly pats her head and hugs her. Gemma gives her another blank stare, and looks away.

"Ok! A boy tribute now." My head turns towards Blake again. He looks like he wants to cry, but I know he won't. If he gets reaped I will volunteer. What if I'm too scared to volunteer, but he gets reaped? What if-

I can't finish my sentence because Nelly calls a name. I know that name.

"Michael Heartlow!'

Its mine…

"Well I guess I should have seen this coming."

Blake gives me a look like a 'you deserve this' look.

Well I better face this now. I have now learned never to underestimate anything.

Nelly hugs me, and pats my shoulder. She sort of creeps me out. I mean she's…. Touching us…..

"Hopefully the tributes of District 7 WON"T eat their opponents alive." Nelly squeals.

Oh what a wonderful thing to say.

Me and Gemma nod at each other, and Nelly seems to count it as a hand shake.

I then see District Seven's people for most likely the last time.


A peacekeeper gives me a strange look. "I thought you said you have a brother."

"I do! He'll…. He'll be here soon!" Right now I'm about to cry. It's been about 11 minutes, and Blake hasn't come to say goodbye.

"If he doesn't come in two minutes, your leaving kid."

I sit back on the couch and think. Maybe Blake ran into those kids making fun of him again. Maybe…..Maybe he forgot about saying goodbye.

Another peacekeeper walks in the room.

He whispers something I can't hear into the other peacekeepers ear.

He gets a sad look on his face, and walks my way.

"Has it been two minutes?"

"Uh Michael I'm sorry…. Something has happened to your brother."

"W-w-what?"

He looks at me with a depressing look. Then whispers, "He-he…. He killed himself."

District Seven

Gemma Hardin's Goodbyes

"Gemma Hardin! You are the lucky girl tribute!"

Oh…. Me….

I don't know if I'm sad right now. All I really know is barbaric Capitol citizens get to see me die.

Somehow I'm up on the stage already, and Nelly pats my head and hugs me.

There is still no emotion on my face. So she draws a boy's name.

"Michael Heartlow!"

Do I know him? No I don't think I do…..

Nelly hugs him and pats his shoulder. He looks a little creped out, and I guess I am too. I mean… He isn't wearing a shirt so I guess it would be more awkward.

"Hopefully the tributes of District 7 WON"T eat their opponents alive." Nelly says as she bounces up and down.

Michael and I nod at each other, and then we are escorted off.


My 8 year-old brother Roman walks in. Followed by my mom pushing my Uncle Gregg's wheelchair.

Roman runs to me, and hugs me with all his strength. He cries into my shoulder, and I don't even care if he gets snot on my shirt.

"Please Gemma! Win for me! And for d-dad."

My father…..

He is the reason my mom barely talks. He is a…. What's it called…?

Well the Capitol needed servants to work at the building where the tributes will be.

So they reaped them about three days ago.

Oh! They are called Avox's!

There tongues are cut off so they can't speak.

That- that's happened to my dad…. And now… My mom's going through depression.

"I swear Roman. I will win for you and for dad. Don't even worry about me. These games will not control me. They are just games, and they need 24 players. It's like school almost Roman; I don't have to play their game."

"Gemma sweetie if you see your father there….. Tell him we say hi, and have conversations on paper…. Since he can't talk." My mother says while wheeling Gregg's wheel chair over by me.

Then Gregg looks up at me. "Gemma beat the crap out of anyone who pisses you off." For a 33 year-old sick man this was pretty funny.

The peacekeeper comes all too quickly. They are asked to leave, but I-I-I don't want them to go.

Roman turns around, and puts something in my hand. "Good luck." He whispers and hugs me, for what could be the last time.

After they all leave, I open up my hand to see what Roman gave me.

It's a pin, an axe pin. To remind me of my district.

Tears fill my eyes. "You will not cry Gemma," I whisper to myself, "You will win for Roman and your father."


A\N Sooooo on my forum there is the new way to sponsor…. And you can look at it. Actually you probably should since it says how many points reviewing gets you…. Fine! I'll tell you! If you give me a short review one point. Longer than one paragraph 3 points. Or in between could get you 2! The rest on the sponsoring points is on the forum! =D