Ryland Maiz, age 12

District Nine Male

It took a lot to pull Ryland away from his experiments. His first reaping narrowly became one of them.

District Nine didn't offer much in the chemistry department, but that didn't derail Ryland. He could use regular cups instead of the expensive glass beakers they had in Three and Five. He didn't need vials of chemicals when he could use simple things around the house, like vinegar and baking soda to make foam. It didn't have to be fancy.

It just had to be cool.

"Ryland, please hurry," his mother called. "We can't be late."

"Coming!" Ryland called back, fastening the last buttons on his shirt. He ran out of the room he shared with his sister, Zia. She stuck her tongue out at him when she saw him. He did the same right back.

"Come on, squirt," Zia said, already walking out the door. Ryland followed, frowning. Squirt.

The square was already packed when Ryland and Zia arrived. They signed in quickly, and Ryland felt a drop of fear begin to slide deep into his gut. Even though his name was only in there once, he still had a chance of being chosen. Far less of a chance than others in District Nine, but it was still there. He could still be reaped, no matter how small the odds.

Just like no matter the amount of potassium dropped into water, the violent, purple reaction would always be the same.

"Hey, Ryland!" His friend, Noah, waved from the reaping pen. Ryland grinned, making his way over to Noah.

"You'll never guess what I did yesterday," Ryland said once he'd made it into the pen. "I made a volcano!"

Noah's eyes widened. "What? How?"

"Baking soda, soap, and vinegar!" Ryland exclaimed. "Isn't that crazy?"

"Sure is," Noah said earnestly. The two were silent for a moment, then Noah asked, "Are you scared?"

"A little," Ryland admitted. "I mean, it's the Games. And our first reaping. I think everyone in Nine is scared." And while his words comforted Noah, they did little to comfort Ryland. The Hunger Games were a death match. And tributes from Nine didn't often do well. No wonder the square was so solemn.

The clock tolled, sending an immediate hush over the crowd. Ryland bit his lip, and watched as the escort, Persephone, took the stage, followed by Mayor Levitt and the two victors, Bran Stalk and Milpa Omri. His gaze flitted to the reaping balls. Soon, one name would be pulled from each. Soon, two tributes would be taken to the Capitol to compete in the Games.

Ryland hoped he wouldn't be one of them.

Finley Levitt, age 14

District Nine Female

Finley crossed her arms and huffed out a breath. Why did she have to waste her precious time with this stupid reaping? As the mayor's daughter, she should have been exempt. What good was being the mayor if you didn't get special privileges? Sure, Finley always knew that she was lucky, that she didn't have to work, that she always knew where her next meal was coming from, blah, blah, blah.

She didn't care.

She wanted to be exempt from the reaping. Maybe Finley would talk to her father about it after.

"Happy Hunger Games, District Nine!" Persephone trilled. "And may the odds be ever in your favor!" Finley studied the escort's frilly dress and electric blue hair. She fingered her own blonde hair. Maybe she should dye her hair. Her father should be able to get dye from the Capitol.

Mayors had privileges. She wished she got to experience more, though.

Persephone gave a short speech about her love for the district, then said, "Now, I must not wait any longer. Let's choose the District Nine tributes for the 95th Annual Hunger Games! As always, ladies first."

Persephone walked over to the glass ball with all the girls' names, and selected one right off the top. She made a real spectacle out of opening the paper, to which Finley rolled her eyes. This is pointless.

"Will Miss Finley Levitt please come up to the stage?"

Finley's head whipped towards the stage. Her? They'd reaped her? How dare they! She stormed up to the stage, and immediately said to Persephone, "Pick another name."

Persephone's eyes crinkled kindly. "Darling, I can't…"

"Pick another! I can't be a tribute! Don't you know who I am?" Finley screeched. She looked at her father. "Dad, do something!" He just looked helplessly at her as Persephone quickly walked over to the other ball and chose a second name.

Finley crossed her arms as barely paid attention to the crying boy being taken from the twelve year old section. Ryland Maiz. She refused to shake his hand when Persephone asked. All she knew was that today was not going her way.

And she hated when things didn't go her way.

Ryland Maiz, age 12

District Nine Male

Ryland couldn't stop crying.

No matter how hard he tried, the sobs just kept coming and they wouldn't stop. Because he knew what was coming next.

He would see his family for the last time and then be shipped off to the Capitol to be murdered.

But maybe, just maybe, he didn't have to die.

A twelve year old had never won the Games before, but that didn't mean Ryland couldn't be the first. His knowledge of chemistry and science would help him big time if he used it right. He was small and he could hide. Wasn't that what most tributes did anyways? Hide? Ryland could manage that.

But it didn't stop the terror from coursing through his veins.

His family entered the room, all of them in tears. Zia pulled him into a tight hug. "I'm sorry I've said all those mean things to you," she cried. "I didn't mean them. I love you, I love you, I love you."

"I love you, too," Ryland told her.

"Maybe you can win," Zia said. "You could be the youngest victor in Panem history."

"What a title," his father joked, and Ryland cracked a watery smile. Then the seriousness came back. "Just remember to do your best out there, Ryland. That's all we ask."

"Try to win, my baby," his mother sobbed. "I can't lose you. None of us can."

Ryland nodded. He would try. He would do what he needed to try and win. But the thought of going up against a trained Career in the arena sent a fresh wave of tears through him. Hopefully someone else would kill all the Careers and just let the outliers fight amongst themselves. But there were still outliers who could kill him in an instant.

"I love you guys," Ryland said before the sobs made it impossible for him to speak. Everyone rushed to tell him the same thing as the door opened, revealing the Peacekeeper to take his family away.

The Peacekeeper had to drag them all out the door.

And Ryland was alone.

Finley Levitt, age 14

District Nine Female

Finley still couldn't believe Persephone had chosen her name. And then had the nerve to make her stay as a tribute. She told her parents as much when they came into the room.

"Why am I still here?" she demanded, glaring at her father. At the mayor, who should have been able to do something about this. Shouldn't he be able to get his daughter out of the Games? He just held his hands up.

"Nobody's safe from the Capitol," he said softly. "Not even me and not even you."

"Why?"

"That's just the way it is."

"But we'll be sure to help you as much as we can," her mother interjected before Finley's temper spiraled out of control. "We can sponsor you."

"You better," Finley told them, not caring about the blatant attitude she was showing. She deserved better than being a tribute. She wasn't a rebel, or a criminal, or a poor farmer. Finley hadn't done anything to deserve being reaped.

"I'm so sorry, sweetheart," her father said, moving to hold her. Finley squirmed out of the way. "I never meant for this to happen."

"It's not your fault," her mother consoled.

"Yes it is," Finley said. "You didn't do anything when I got up there. You could have fought. You should have fought. You're the mayor! The only person who could have done anything."

"The only person who could have stopped this is the president. Being the mayor of Nine doesn't guarantee anything."

Finley clenched her jaw. What else did she have to say to get it through his thick head that she wasn't going to the Capitol? Even if he didn't have the most power in Panem, he had the most in the district. He was the only person in District Nine who could get her out of this.

The door opened, and a Peacekeeper came in, saying their time was up. Finley couldn't escape her parents the second time, as they hugged her and whispered, "I love you." She shrugged them off.

The Peacekeeper didn't listen to her demands and pleas and threats as he locked her back in the goodbye room, alone this time.

I've developed a severe hatred for writing reapings. That's the biggest reason for the gap between updates. They're becoming repetitive and I'm trying my best to switch things up but there's only so much I can do. Oh well. You'll probably notice the next few chapters being shorter than the others, since I want to wrap up the reapings and move forward.

Anyways, District Nine! What did you think of Ryland and Finley? Only three more reapings to go (thankfully lol) and then we're on to the train rides! See you next time in District Ten!

-D9T