"A human being is a single being. Unique and unrepeatable"

Clover O'Riley,17, District Nine Female

Here she was, on the morning of the reaping, panicking out of her mind. Forcing herself to take deep breaths, she forced herself out of bed. It was reaping tradition for her to get ready at her best friend's house. Clover grabbed her bag from besides her bed and started to pack it. Shoving her comb, a couple hair ties, her reaping outfit and her shoes, she left her room. Pulling her jacket over herself, she slipped an old pair of flats on and quietly left the house. She had been living by herself for almost two years, having long since been able to take care of herself. Not a day went by that she didn't miss her parents, mostly her mother.

Her mother had died when she was thirteen, due to some mystery disease, and about two months after that her father disappeared. Her sister, Astelia, had taken care of her until she had turned 16, when she died from the same illness that took their mother. It was a lot for Clover to handle, often wanting something to end the pain that she felt. People often looked over her, from an early age she was singled out in school. She had been born with dark skin, as well as violet eyes. Not to make matters worse, as Clover got older, she started to get spots of white on her arms, legs and face. People say that it's a defect that went almost extinct a hundred years ago, and rarely did people get it.

The girl went through the back alley near Laurel's house, and slipped into the window he always left open for her. When she was younger, she spent most of her day there, only returning when the sky went dark. Laurel's room was still dark and she glanced at the clock.

8:02am

It was earlier than any of them would wake up, but it was Reaping Day, and everyone had to be in the square at Nine. Grabbing a cup and filling it with water, she placed her bag down in the bathroom, and went into the boy's room. A scream pierced the air as soon as she sent the water flying at him. She hid in her giggles, and just sent him a smile.

"I swear, you're lucky I love you." He grinned at her, ruffling her hair. She just grinned, as she made her way into the bathroom. As she watched Laurel get ready, she started to draw on her legs. Just random flowers and little eyes were luckily her outfit would hide them. The only person that understood her, was her best friend. Clover felt the most confident around him, and he was the only one she really spoke too.

"I'm scared." She spoke, her voice low, as she focused on the petals on the flower taking up most of her upper thigh.

"It's going to be okay, trust me. You have the same chance I do at getting picked." Laurel reassured her, as he finished tying his shoes, and move away from the mirror.

Clover took his spot, hopping down and grabbing her comb, and started to pull and tug it through her hair. She let out a sigh, not wanting to admit that her name was in there more than his was. The girl needed the extra ration of grain to survive. Laurel was lucky enough to still have his parents.

Sliding the comb through her hair one last time, she grabbed her outfit out of the bag. It was just a green dress and black leggings. After peeling off her shirt, she slid the dress on, smoothing out the wrinkles in it. Pulling up the leggings, she grabbed the hair tied and secured her hair into a bun on the top of her head. Her violet eyes scanned over her body, and she concluded that she didn't look that bad.

"It's 8:45, we should probably head out." Laurel's voice brought her into the present. She nodded, grabbing her shoes and slipping them on. The pair walked hand in hand, Laurel rubbing circles on the back of her hand. It calmed her slightly.

What if she did get picked?

Would she be a bloodbath?

Or, perhaps she could actually make it far in the Arena.

Would she be the first one people sought out? Because she seemed 'weak?'

The check in went as normal, and Laurel pulled her into a hug before heading to his own section. Taking a deep breath, the female slipped into an open spot, keeping her eyes straight ahead to look at the stage.

A few minutes later, the sound of heels clicking grew louder as their escort Amora Lightwood made her way on stage. Her blue hair clashing with the deep red color dress that she seemed to be wearing.

"Welcome Welcome! To the annual Reaping for the One Hundredth Hunger Games! As always, we will start with a video from the Capitol."

"War, terrible war.." The sound started, the video always the same. Sometimes, Clover wished they would at least update it. Huffing out a breath slightly, she turned her attention to looking around the people next to her. Some were clutching hands with others, looking terrified, others looks calm, and at peace.

She wish she could be calm about this. But she just had this feeling in the pit of her stomach, that said she would get picked.

"..Ladies first!" Amora grinned, her teeth unnaturally white. Clover grimace at the sight.

"The female tribute that will represent District Nine is Clover O'Riley!"

Silent fell over the District, as Clover recovered from the shock.

She had just been reaped.

Rolling her eyes, she made her way up, wanting the attention to be off her already. Amora smiled at her as she selected the male name.

"The male tribute is Luke Copperstar!" From the sixteen year old section, came someone Clover had seen around. They were both considered outliers, with her skin and the spots, and him with his skin so pale he looked ill, and eyes red. She sent him a smile as he made his way up. He shook her hand tightly, but softly as she walked with the peacekeepers to the City Hall.

Her only visitor was Laurel, who pulled her into his arms and held her tightly.

"It's going to be okay. You're strong enough and smart enough!" He spoke, letting his chin rest on her head. A few tears escaped the girls eyes.

"But what if i'm not?" Her voice was a whisper, cracking as sobs started.

"But you are, I've known you for almost ten years now, you're the strongest person I know."

They were silent after that, just trying to keep themselves together. Clover sniffed and freed her hand for a second to wipe at her eyes.

"I'm probably not going to come back."

"Don't think like that. You never know. Promise to try to win, for me?"

"Yeah, I promise."

"I didn't choose to be this way but you've got to make do with what you got"

Luke Copperstar, 16, District Nine Male.

Sometimes he wished he didn't exist.

He just wishes he could fade away.

Life would be easier for him that way.

Luke sighed out, kicking a rock across the road. It was only six in the morning, but he had been awake for four hours, not being able to sleep. Sighing once more, he opened the door to the library and entered. It normally wasn't opened but he knew the owner and was allowed in any time. The library became his safe place.

Setting his bag on the table in the furthest corner, he located one of the few computers that still worked and logged on. He was determined to find out what happened to his father. He was sick of fifteen years of not knowing what happened. His mother had told him the story when he turned twelve.

Apparently, his father had been shot and killed when Luke was barely a year old. But, something about the way his mother told it, seemed.. Off. The boy started his search, starting with the basics, and then went into deeper depth. He wanted /needed/ to know what happened.

It was an hour later, that he finally found an article, that was so well hidden, he must of skipped it over the last time he searched. Carefully printing it off, and then deleting the hard drive, he dove into the article.

Monday August 9th, 2153

Today it was announced that the Rebel, Asher Copperfield had been killed in District Nine.

Copperfield, 29, was one of Panem's most trusted politicians, often being seen in President Bane's office and meetings. He was one of the members on the board that would reinstate the Hunger Games after a two year hiatus. Unknown to the people of the Capitol, Copperfield harbored a large and dangerous secret.

Copperfield was a rebel, and had been planning with a secret group to overthrow the government. Rumors had it, he was a week away from attempting it. Luckily, word reached the Capitol and they acted quickly on it.

"We didn't think it would be him, ya know?" Lena Williams, another politician, spoke, clearly in distress. "I thought that he was as normal as they come." She continued. Other people that he worked with said that same thing. He didn't give off any rebel vibes at all.

"Copperfield was one of my most trusted members of the board, and it shocked me greatly to find out he was planning what he was." President Bane spoke, anger fulling his speech. "I knew that there was something off about him, but I chose to shove that aside, I shouldn't of. The entirety of Panem could of been at risk and we could of fallen into a third rebellion."

The President, in order to have a more secure country, doubled the amount of peacekeepers in each district, and to report to him with any news of rebels.

Article by: Ruby King

Luke shook his head.

His father had been a rebel?

Shaking his head again, he went and shredded the papers, not wanting someone to find them.

His father had been planning against the Capitol, and maybe he would of succeeded. Maybe he would have won, and created a better Panem. Grabbing a poetry book, an started to read.

It was when he was headed home, that his day slowly started to get worse. He was met with the group of boys that liked to torment him, and fight with him. He gritted his teeth, and his hands clenched.

"Well isn't it the outcast of the District." The oldest boy, Ren spoke, a wild smirk on his face. Luke kept walking, hearing the footsteps behind him. He was tripped face first into the dirt, almost instantly getting up.

"Fuck off." Luke muttered at him, keeping his head down as he started walking. The last straw for him was when a rock hit his back, and he wheeled around and aimed a punch at Charlie, Ren's second hand man. The boy instant hit him back, causing pain to burst. Safe to say, Luke managed to get a few new bruises that day, and when he got home, his mother started to fuss over him.

"Seriously Mom, I'm fine!" He assured her, as he moved to the tub, and sat down letting the water soothe his muscles.

"They were just being assholes again." He sighed, letting his head fall back against the tile. He was clean and out in thirty minutes, dressing in the outfit his mother had laid out. A white button up shirt and slacks and a pair of dress shoes. After eating a quick breakfast of oatmeal and toast, his mother and him set out for the square.

He sucked on the finger that got pricked as he made his way to his section. Luke could see his best friend, Hope, smiling and waving at him, and he waved back.

A few minutes later, the sound of heels clicking grew louder as their escort Amora Lightwood made her way on stage. Her blue hair clashing with the deep red color dress that she seemed to be wearing.

"Welcome Welcome! To the annual Reaping for the One Hundreth Hunger Games! As always, we will start with a video from the Capitol."

"War, terrible war.." The sound started, the video always the same. He watched it, the video always interesting. Luke loved learning about the past and what happened before the Dark Days and after them.

"..Ladies first!" Amora grinned, her teeth unnaturally white.

"The female tribute that will represent District Nine is Clover O'Riley!"

Silent fell over the District, as Luke saw a small, tiny female make her way out. Her hair in a bun, and he realized who it was. He and Clover were considered outcast, /freaks/ in the district due to their genetics and what people saw. He saw her tremble slightly as she took her spot next to Amora.

"The male tribute is Luke Copperstar!" Luke paused for a second, and a sharp elbow in his side forced him to move.

Maybe this wouldn't be so bad.

Maybe he would find more answers about his father.

Clover sent him a smile as he made his way up. He shook her hand tightly, but softly as he walked with the peacekeepers to the City Hall.

"Promise me you won't try to find out what happened to your father?" His mother made him promise. Luke bit his lip before speaking.

"About that, I found an old article, and it said what happed to Dad. About how he was planning an uprising and things like that."

His mother sighed from her spot on the couch, running her hand though her hair. "You weren't suppose to know until you were eighteen. I should of known that you've been looking." She smiled. "Promise me to at least try your best in the games. It's been twelve years since Nine has had a victor."

"I'll try my hardest. I love you Mom."

"I love you too Luke."

hello hello hello!

Here is district nine! I had a lot of fun writing this chapter, and managed to get it done in about 6 hours. Huge thanks to Nautics for Luke and to PopcornAndFanfiction for Clover, I hope I did them justice.

Now I know I said I wouldn't update til I got 35 reviews, but I really wanted to get this out. So I hope you all enjoy District Nine.

Feel free to read and don't forget to review!

theflowercrowns