Look me in my eyes
Tell me everything's not fine
Or the people ain't happy
And the river has run dry

Lira Wesley

District 1, Female, 17

(4 Months Prior the Reaping)

...

I leap over a river as I bound toward the rocky cliff that I set my eyes on, I love having a new goal to achieve and this cliff just became my latest. "Lira! It's dangerous!" I hear my friends, Jazz and Ivory, shout from behind me but I don't process it and carry on toward my new quest.

I grab onto two sturdy rocks and pull myself up so that I can use them as platforms for my feet. My hands reach up again and I repeat the same movement, using the upper body strength that I've gained from training at the academy to continuously pull myself up. I reach a point where there doesn't seem to be anywhere that I can pull myself up but that doesn't stop me.

I shift myself to the side a little and see a small rock sticking out of the cliff, it looks big enough for me to pull both my feet onto it. I hear shouts from below but I block them out and pull myself up, as my legs lift off of the cliff, the rock crumbles and I begin to fall. My dirty blonde hair surrounds me as the wind flows through me, almost in slow motion, I'm able to grab onto a tree branch.

The momentum almost dislocates my arm but I pull myself up onto the tree and sit there for a couple of minutes, everything seems so silent. That's until I hear Ivory scolding me from down below. "What the hell were you thinking?" She screams up at me and I can't help but laugh, that was the most fun I've had in a while. "You do realise you could be volunteering this year? You can't just blow it by going and breaking your arm!"

"Well I didn't break it." I shout back and wink at her, she rolls her eyes but still lets out a small giggle. Ivory and Jazz both introduced me to the idea of going to the academy to train for The Hunger Games when I was 11 and I've been going ever since. The academy is fun but there is also a serious side to it which I don't like, plus, I much like being outdoors rather than cooped up inside a sweaty room with a bunch of teenagers.

I let out a sigh of relief as I let the cold wind blow against my face. It's soothing and a nice break from the world, I've always loved the outdoors, ever since I was a kid I've had so many memories of swimming in rivers and climbing trees. I jump down from the branch onto another below and then jump around 8 feet to the ground.

"You belong in District 7." Jazz joked, punching my arm.

"What, with all those poor people who get whipped every day? I'd rather live past 17, thanks." I joke back, I often make dark jokes like this. It's just fun and gives us a good laugh. "Anyway, Mom and Glow are waiting for me back home so I'll see you at the academy later!"

"Bye Lira!" They both shout as I sprint off through the forest, jumping over fallen trees and making the odd pitstop to do some climbing. I know my Mom will be mad that I'm late for lunch but I don't care, I go by my own schedule.

Once I finally reach my home, that stands in a middle class area of District 1, I open the bright red door and sprint in - I'm starving for some lunch. "Hey Mom!" I greet her as I give her a tight hug. Almost as compensation for being late. My elder brother is already sitting around the table eating his ham sandwich, I pull up a seat next to him and my mother does the same.

There is an empty seat across from me where my father used to sit, I hardly remember him. He drank himself to death when I was only 5 and I've made no effort to remember his violent fits of rage or verbal abuse. My mother says things are easier now that he's gone but I know it's hard for her to be without somebody that she loved so dearly. "How was your day?" She asks between a bit of her sandwich.

"Good, I climbed a cliff and..." I hesitate, I'm careful with what I tell my Mom. I don't want to stress her out even further, she does enough for us as a single Mom. "It wasn't that big but I still made it to the top."

"Be careful, I don't want you getting hurt."

I smile back and nod. I can't make any promises, it's hard for me to think ahead.

Silver Rafferty

District 1, Male, 17

(Reaping Day)

...

I look myself up and down in the mirror as I tighten the dark blue tie around my neck, my hair is pushed back using various different products and I'm wearing a smart suit: blazer and jeans. I look like a volunteer. I pat down my black buttoned blazer and give myself one final preparation before heading outside of the shared room in the orphanage.

I was orphaned at the age of 6 when my parents passed away in a freak accident, not that I really care, it just means I get more time at the academy without obsessive parents bugging me about nonsense.

"Looking good." Tia, one of the other orphans I share a house with, mocks me.

"Unlike you, I'm doing something important with my life. Now get your immature, no-good self out of my way." I spit back at her and she scrunches her face before turning and leaving. I hate when people talk down to me, I am Silver Rafferty after all. One of the most promising volunteers of the century, the winner of the 23rd Hunger Games. I'm going to show them all, everyone who doubts my presence.

I take myself down the stairs, head held high. Once I reach the bottom of the stairs, I head into the kitchen and take a seat for lunch and I'm completely shocked with what I see. A bowl of porridge? Are you kidding me? "Is this for me?" I ask Eliza, one of the carers at the orphanage, and she turns around - smiling.

"I know how much you love porridge and today is a special day!" She exclaims but I only sneer in response. Porridge? Am I a joke to this whole district? I should be given an entire meal for breakfast every day!

"You're useless Eliza. All I ask is for something filling!" I scream at her and storm off, I'm so sick of this lifestyle. I need respect and deserve it, that is exactly what the Hunger Games is going to give me, I'm already better than all the Victors so it's not going to be hard to win. I slam the door on my way out and walk the 5 minutes to the District centre.

I am tempted to take my blazer off due to the summer heat but I keep it on to show my importance and add to my intimidation. I sneer at everybody I walk past, making sure they know who I am and what I can do. As I reach the reaping area, I notice the large line for getting my finger pricked and decide to stride my way to the front.

"Excuse me, Sir, there's a line." One of the Peacekeepers scolds me and begins pushing me back with the butt of his gun. I am appalled that I am being treated this way and spin around to face him, anger glowing on my face.

"Who do you think you're talking to? I am Silver Rafferty, the male volunteer!" I announce to him and wait for his apology but all I hear is a short sigh come from under his helmet.

"You are not above the rules, Silver Rafferty." He says and pushes me to the back of the line. I stand in shock as he leaves to go back to his guard post. Why am I being treated this way? I will achieve more things in a month than they will ever in their entire life.

Once I finally reach the front of the line, I get my finger pricked and head over to the Male, 17 area that is pointed out to me by a Peacekeeper. I stand and wait until a woman with long, wavy bright blue hair comes out from the Justice Building and onto the stage. She is wearing an over-the-top purple dress and dark red high heels. "Hello District 1!" She screeches through the microphone and I see several people cover their ears. "I am Elvera Marroquin, your district escort!"

The crowd erupts in applaud but I stay silent, nobody deserves praise today besides me. "Now let me introduce your mentors: Layton Gem and Opal Lusth!" She cries and I hear several gasps. Immediately, I know why, Pluto Rose isn't mentoring which confirms the rumours of her going missing. Opal's face is fierce and direct, I can tell he is mad that his break from mentoring has been cut short. Layton smiles warmly and waves a little at the crowd, more applaud is given.

"Now, ladies first!" Elvera shrieks, I can tell the two of us are not going to get along but she has to deal with it. It will be fun to have her as my personal servant. "Janice Rottweiler!" She cries, reading off of the slip that she just plucked out from the glass bowl.

Almost immediately after the name is read, a chocolate-brown haired girl calls out the words, "I volunteer!" and dashes to the stage. I recognise her as the female chosen volunteer, like me, the academy picked her. She's agile but I'll be able to get rid of her quick.

"We have a volunteer! Your name darling?"

"Lira Wesley." She speaks into the microphone and the crowd goes wild with 'Go Lira' and 'Win for us'. It takes a couple of minutes for the crowd to go silent and Elvera waits patiently, holding the male slip in her hand.

"Mattias Guld!" She reads as I begin walking to the stage. I hold my head up high and spread a smug smile across my face, staying silent until I reach the microphone.

"Silver Rafferty, your new victor!" I shout into the microphone and the crowd starts whistling and cheering, I nod approvingly at them and take my stand next to Lira. She's definitely intimidated and she should be.

I'm going to win The Hunger Games.

A/N: Hii, sorry for the long wait for an update. I've been busy with school. Thank you to chcolate for Lira and abookoftears for Silver. They were both a lot of fun to write and if you think I misrepresented them at all or wrote them wrong, feel free to shoot me a pm. As always, I appreciate reviews but you don't have to if you don't want to! Here's some questions:

Who do you think will make it further?

What do you think of Lira? Silver?

Are either of them victor material?

-Neb