Paradise: The 72nd Hunger Games

Chapter Seventeen

District Three Reapings

A/N: Thanks to Persephone Fae and TheBlaBla245 for these wonderful Tributes!

Disclaimer: I do not own the idea of culling children and teens in an Arena death match for the crimes of their grandparents (AKA the Hunger Games). Suzanne Collins is free to take all the credit for that.

Valencia Bisset –16- -D3- POV

I inspect myself in the mirror. My own deep blue eyes stare back at themselves, the golden rings that ring them looking particularly nice today. My wavy black hair sits nicely on my shoulders, my bangs pushed out of my face. I look down at the emerald-green dress that I'm wearing. It looks nice, pretty but modest. I have black heels to go with it and the shoes feel unnatural on my feet. Still, I look pretty. I smile and leave my room, walking out into the living room where my parents wait.

"See, if you reduce the thrust of the engines and add two more –," my father says.

"Yes, each one is a smaller target and in theory harder to hit, but it's more than likely that the shrapnel from one explosion will hit the others. There's a reason this has been the design for longer than the Hunger Games have been around, Dear. It's perfect. There's no way to make it better," Mom says.

"There's always a way to improve upon things," Dad responds.

"Yes, Dear, but the engines aren't where it's at. Besides, Valencia is here. Are you ready to go to the Reaping, Valencia?"

"Yes, Mother," I say.

"Good," Mom says. "Let's head out then."

Mouse "Mo" Conen –18- -D3- POV

"Mo. Mo. Get up. It's time for the Reaping."

"Screw off, Kat."

"Fine. It's not my fault if you get dead for not going to the Reaping then."

"Fine, fine, I'm getting up." I open my eyes to see Kat's face over mine. Looking around the abandoned store, I see that I'm the last one left. The other kids must have already left. "It's my last Reaping, you know."

"I know," she says. "Now get your butt moving, we don't want to be late."

"Yes, Ma'am," I give her a sarcastic salute. "Thanks for waking me up. You know what they say – the early Mockingjay gets the worm."

"I think it's just the early bird that gets the worm," Kat replies.

"True, but the early Mockingjay gets a special government-engineered worm designed to feed it and train it on worm-hunting tactics," I joke.

Kat laughs. "I guess so."

Valencia Bisset –16- -D3- POV

I arrive at the Reaping, leaving my family at the edge. I hope this will be over soon. I mean, I think that I could do pretty good in the Games if I'm Reaped, but still… I don't want to be Reaped. I shouldn't think about it. It's not going to happen. What are the odds? I see Eris across the square. She's talking with one of her friends. She has two friends. Katie and Erin, I believe are their names. Eris laughs and throws her shoulder-length blonde hair over her shoulder, looking beautiful. I swallow and start to turn away. Then I turn back. I have a few minutes, I can watch her. It's not like I have any friends, so I have nothing else to do. And she's so pretty. I wish that I could get up the courage to talk to her more than when she bumps into me in the hallway. And then it's just, "Oh, I'm so sorry. Pardon me." Even if she ran into me first. I wish that I could talk to her, but I'm not exactly the best at talking to people. Oh well. Soon, Cinnamon, the District Three escort, starts the Reaping.

"Okay people! Today, just like last year, we will choose two luck Tributes to compete in this year's Hunger Games!" Cinnamon says. Lucky. Heh, right, sure. "The Female Tribute from District Three is… Eris Redfield!" No. No. It can't be Eris. Not her. I see her step out from the section – we're the same age – in shock and starting to cry. No. I can't see her die on TV. I can't never see her face again. And although she is dainty and beautiful, she doesn't stand a chance in the Hunger Games. I… well, I've been sort-of training my whole life. I at least have a chance. Maybe it's not much of a chance, but it's a chance, which is more than what Eris has.

"I volunteer as Tribute!" I shout. Eris stops in her tracks, surprised and confused. I walk out of my section, past her, trying to project confidence. She grabs my arm.

"Valencia. Why?" She whispers through her tears.

"Because," is all I can say before I have to move on. Too slow and the Peacekeepers will come for me. I wish I could tell her to come to see me in the Justice Building. I'm sure she'll figure it out on her own. She's a smart girl.

"And what is your name, brave young lady?" Cinnamon asks.

"Valencia Bisset," I say, with more confidence than I feel.

"The Female Tribute from District Three is Valencia Bisset!"

Mouse "Mo" Conen –18- -D3- POV

I arrive at the Reaping. It's almost started by the time I got there. The benefits of sleeping in, I suppose. I make a beeline for my section, now located at the front, and wait. I see the girl who gets Reaped. She looks strong like she's been training, but she's clearly not a career, as she's wearing a dress. Plus, the girl who was Reaped seemed like she knew her. Is she a rare person with the ability to sacrifice their life for a friend? Or more than a friend, perhaps? Soon, it's the boys' turn.

"The Male Tribute from District Three is…" I wonder who it'll be. This is my last Reaping. Next year, I won't be at risk. Then again, I also won't have the ability to win the Hunger Games and all the money that comes with it. I consider my life, living in an abandoned store with Kat and the other orphans, occasionally flirting with Max the Peacekeeper at the black market, getting into and out of trouble often. I could change it all if I got Reaped. Or, if I volunteered. How hard can it be? I'm sure that I could kill that girl right now if I could get close enough to get my knife in her stomach.

"I volunteer as Tribute!" I shout. I stride up to the stage.

"Your name is, fearless gentleman?" Cinnamon asks. Gentle man. Yeah, right.

"Mouse Conen," I say.

"The Male Tribute from District Three is Mouse Conen!"

"The Tributes from District Three are Valencia Bisset and Mouse Conen!"

A/N: Two volunteers this chapter, although almost complete opposites. Valencia is a mentally stable person who volunteered to protect the person she has feelings for, despite her normal and happy life. Mo, on the other hand, is… not that. Not any of that…. Anyway, what do you guys think of this chapter? Are you guys excited for the Games? And thanks again to Persephone Fae and TheBlaBla245 for these wonderful Tributes! Thank you again to everyone who has submitted, we now have all of our Tributes! Now it's time for me to start plotting… mawhahahahhaha…

Tribute List:

D1M: Blaze Herrscher, 18, by RakTurtle

D1F: Aislie Dellarouse, 18, by chcolate

D2M: Eric Torres, 17, by Hawkmaid

D2F: Sabine Allaire, 18, by Axe Smelling God

D3M: Mouse "Mo" Conen, 18, by TheBlaBla245

D3F: Valencia Bisset, 16, Persephone Fae

D4M: Aphelios Asturias, 18, by Yugi-Smallymcsmall

D4F: Ariadna Starsgaard, 16, by audreyoctopus

D5M: Levi Nasue-Keenly, 15, by LeafVines

D5F: Casca Ishtar, 15, by Yugi-Smallymcsmall

D6M: Dante Meyers, 13, by Hawkmaid

D6F: Mira "Ria" Wallace, 16, by Hawkmaid

D7M: Griffin Jefferson, 14, by LeafVines

D7F: Luzson "Luz" Byrne, 12, by PimasMcknight

D8M: Ollie Rousseau, 17, by PimasMcknight

D8F: Vanessa "Nessa" Vandermeer, 15, by audreyoctopus

D9M: Toby Green, 17, by audreyoctopus

D9F: Alita Whicker, 17, by RakTurtle

D10M: Rudolf Urs Huber, 16, by Curiousclove

D10F: Freya Huede Swindlehurst, 15, by Curiousclove

D11M: Elias McKellan, 12, by LeafVines

D11F: Olivia Dean, 18, by PimasMcknight

D12M: Reserved for Persephone Fae

D12F: Everest "Eve" Asher, 12, by chcolate