Kaz Killaray, 17

District 12 Female

Kaz fiddled with a bobby pin, brush in her other hand. Her wild red hair was refusing to behave, and she only had half an hour before the reaping began. Brushing aside a strand, she slid the pin in and pushed the rest behind her ear.

Someone knocked firmly on the door, making Kaz jump a little. Her hands shook as she smoothed out her black blouse. It was just a normal check-in. Nothing bad was going to happen.

Two years ago, the majority of Kaz's family had been executed. Her father was the leader of the Ray's, a powerful underground mafia in District 12. But the Peacekeepers had discovered them. Her father successfully bluffed his way out of Kaz's involvement, but it wasn't enough to save him, or her uncles, or her cousins. Only Kaz and her pregnant mother were spared.

Krystal, her baby sister, had been born shortly afterwards. And Krystal was born very sickly. The doctors told Kaz and Elena that something was wrong with her heart, and she wasn't expected to live to see adulthood without proper treatment. That was why Kaz was going to volunteer.

She could hear her mom talking to the Peacekeepers in a hushed voice so that Krystal could keep napping. Kaz stepped out of the bedroom, softly shutting the door behind her, and began to listen. Because of their past, the Peacekeepers made biweekly check-ins. Even on Reaping Day.

"...heart has been steady," her mom was saying.

"Good," the Peacekeeper replied gruffly. Kaz could tell from his tone that it was Damon, one of the nicer officers. He had a deep, frightening voice and stoic demeanor, but he genuinely seemed to want the Killaray family to survive.

"And Kaz?" he asked.

"They've been picking up every odd job they can." Her mom's voice had taken on a harsh edge. "Krystal's medication is more than we can afford, as you know."

"I'm aware," Damon said. "However, it's not something I can solve. It's up to you. Have a nice day."

He slammed the door behind him when he left, making both women flinch. Kaz hesitated for a moment, but Krystal just hiccuped and kept sleeping.

"Hi honey," Elena said tiredly, opening her arms for a hug. "You look very pretty."

"Thanks mom," Kaz said, accepting the hug. "I'm sorry Damon was such a dick."

"Kaz," she scolded half-heartedly. "Don't use that word."

"Well, it's still accurate," she said. "I thought he was one of the decent ones, but clearly not."

"Mm," was all her mom replied with.

They stayed in the hug for a few more moments before her mom pulled back.

"You've got a reaping to attend," she said with a sad smile. "I'll be there once Krys wakes up." She stood on her tiptoes to kiss taller Kaz on the forehead. "I love you."

"I love you too," Kaz said, giving her mom one final squeeze. Her eyes stung as she slipped on her shoes, straightened her skirt, and headed out.

On her way, Kaz felt many pairs of eyes on her. The worst was Landon Goulde, the son of the leader of the Goldpick's, a rival mafia. They'd gone silent when the Ray's were killed and hadn't resurfaced, but she knew Landon and Landon knew her.

But Kaz put all their effort into ignoring them. She marched towards the town square, eyes straight ahead, and joined the line of teens. At the front, a Peacekeeper pricked her finger, and she gave him her name, resulting in a dirty look from the kids beside her. Kaz glared back, and they looked away.

Following the ropes, Kaz took their place in the pens and folded their arms. It was a cloudy day, but somehow still bright enough to make everyone squint. The air was warm and charged. A storm was clearly brewing.

"Hello, hello, hello, and welcome to today's reaping!" a cheery voice called, and everyone's attention snapped to the front, where Ajax Bloome stood in all his glory.

District 12's escort was a young man, new to the trade, named Ajax. He first appeared when Kaz was 14. Today he wore a tight, sparkly red jumpsuit with a deep v-neck. His hair was dyed the same shade of red, and so was his thin mustache, which curled at the ends like a comical villain.

"I'm Ajax, as you know, and I am so happy to see you all! First, we'll hear a wonderful speech from the mayor, and then we'll get to the good part! Please welcome Mayor Pines to the stage."

Mayor Pines was an elderly woman who walked with a cane. She had a high, shaky voice, and she was barely audible as she read the Treaty of Treason. When she was done, she coughed wetly into a handkerchief and went to sit down.

"Now, let's get a big round of applause for Lucy Gray Baird and Haymitch Abernathy!" Ajax sang, and District 12's only two victors came onstage. Haymitch was wearing a light blue dress shirt with a black tie and black slacks, and looked positively miserable. Lucy had on a gauzy blouse and white skirt, a dazed, slightly deranged smile on her face. She waved while the crowd clapped. Haymitch didn't even smile. Kaz didn't even clap.

Lucy and Haymitch took their seats, and Ajax came forward.

"Well, no time like the present! Let's mix things up and start with the gentlemen, shall we?"

No one dared to even breathe as Ajax put a hand in the large glass bowl. He only swirled it around for a moment before snatching up a slip.

"Ayden Beckett!" he shouted.

A tall, sturdy 17-year-old boy with pale skin and dark, messy hair shoved his way out of the crowd. Kaz watched him as he squared his shoulders and stormed up to the stage. He gave Ajax a curt nod, but didn't speak, backing away from the microphone so the escort couldn't get them.

"And now, let's meet the lovely lady who will be accompanying Ayden!" The moment Ajax plunged his hand into the bowl, Kaz shot their hand into the air.

"I volunteer!" she shouted.

The crowd went silent. Even the murmuring of the childless adults died down. You could hear a pin drop. And then the sound of muffled crying started.

Kaz took a deep breath and pushed past several other girls, into the empty aisle. They forced a small smile onto their face as they climbed the stairs and shook Ajax's hand.

"A volunteer?" Ajax cried. "What a delight. Tell me dear, what is your name?"

"I am Kaz Killaray," she said. "Your victor."

Seneca Crane, 16

Capitol Citizen & Gamemaker Intern

Seneca sat stiffly, notepad in hand as the volunteer from District 12 proclaimed herself the victor.

'Cocky', he wrote. 'Does she have the skill to back that up?'

The entire group of interns had been asked to do a reaping day review, and share their thoughts on the tributes of this year. Now, his notebook was full. He just had to write it all up.

Seneca had always been a pen-and-paper type of thinker. Typing was all well and good, but his best thoughts came when he was holding his pencil. Unfortunately, the Gamemakers required everything to be typed. 'Maybe when I'm Head Gamemaker, I'll make them use pens', he thought. 'See how they struggle'. But he still had a long way to go. He settled down at his computer and glanced at his notes.

District 1 produced two volunteers, as usual. The first was a tall, broad-shouldered boy with magenta hair and a charming smile. He introduced himself as Paxton Croswell. To Seneca, he'd seemed confident and charismatic.

His district partner was a wisp of a girl named Bliss Lockhart. She was stunning, with silky blonde hair and light green eyes. She blew kisses to the crowd before greeting Paxton.

A pale, hulking boy named Quintus Grimm was District 2's male volunteer. He was stoic and nearly expressionless as he introduced himself. To Seneca, he seemed like a strong contender. So was Domitia Albernite, the female volunteer. She was a tall girl with light brown hair and a severe look on her face.

District 3 brought gray skies and dull faces. The escort started with the female tribute, and the first true moment of drama occured. The reaped girl was Gamma Plummer, the daughter of a well-known CEO and the cousin of a past victor, Wiress Plummer. Gamma was a tall, spindly girl with black hair. She sniffled a little as she walked up to the stage. Even though she was 18, Seneca marked her as a bloodbath.

The boy was a surprise. He was a handsome, freckled young man named Keegan Rallentando, and was dressed in a pale pink vest with a floral pattern. He laughed as he joined Gamma.

District 4 produced two strong and very attractive contenders. A tall brunette named Lillian was the female volunteer, and her partner was Ozzie Wade, a shaggy-haired heartthrob with a dazzling smile and rippling muscles. Lillian seemed to be more capable than him, but Ozzie was immediately a crowd favorite.

District 5 was clearly warm. Everyone was sweating profusely, even the escort, who's makeup looked as if it would drip right off. She reaped the female tribute first, a girl named Anneliese Noor. Anneliese was a lithe girl with long red hair. Oddly enough, she was dressed in a fuzzy yellow jacket. Her district partner was also a redhead, a lanky kid named Scotch Solis. Seneca marked Scotch off as a bloodbath, but Anneliese seemed like she could handle herself.

District 6 was interesting. The male tribute was a volunteer. He was sturdy and strong, with dark brown hair and a goofy smile. He'd volunteered for a cousin. Atlas Herriott was ten times more likable than his district partner, Charisse Cline. She appeared cheerful, but when no one applauded her, she started screaming at the audience, calling them all sorts of horrible things. Seneca marked her as a bloodbath.

District 7 had another volunteer. Faryn Namon volunteered for his twin brother Hunter. The boy seemed shaky and nervous, but held up decently. Samara Pirie, the female tribute, was less composed. She cried a little, but by the time she and Faryn shook hands, her eyes were dry and she was looking a little more confident.

District 8 too was a district with a volunteer. After Indigo Li, a spitfire of a 13-year-old who bit the escort was subdued, a handsome boy named Zander Klein thrust a hand into the air to volunteer. He told Agnes, the escort, that he was a model, and the Games were a chance to get himself out there. Seneca had a feeling he'd either die right away, or miraculously pull through and do very well.

A boy with warm brown hair tied up in a bun was reaped in District 9. He introduced himself as Nikolai Keane, but didn't do much else. To Seneca, it seemed as if he were in shock. However, his district partner certainly wasn't. Lina Ingalls volunteered before Amity Knox could even draw a slip. She was a tall, buff girl with strawberry-blonde hair and a determined look in her eyes.

In District 10, a 12-year-old named Ayala Benani was reaped. She hadn't moved from the crowd, and the Peacekeepers had to bring her to the stage. But she didn't cry. Seneca had to give her credit for that. Her district partner was a 14-year-old named Brodin Guerner. Like Ayala, he seemed to be in too much shock to put up a fight.

And finally, Seneca reached District 11. A stocky 16-year-old named Mel Allardyce was reaped. He seemed rather disinterested, which intrigued Seneca. But Summer Enderro, the female tribute who volunteered was far more interesting. She told Isis O'Hara that it was her duty to volunteer.

Seneca looked over his paper one more time. Summer, Domitia, and Lina were his current victor picks, but that could change. Kaz and Ozzy both seemed like strong contenders, as did Quintus. This would be a very interesting Hunger Games…

Hi everyone! Here's another chapter! Crazy, right? I was excited to introduce Kaz, who was a late submission from Gomex. And I wanted to do the reaping recap as quickly as possible, since it can get a little tedious. Hopefully you all liked Kaz, and you liked seeing the tributes I created. There will be more details on the train.

Questions:

1. What do you think of Kaz?

2. Which tribute that I made did you like the best? (even if it's just based on their name, I want to know!)

Have a nice day, be kind to each other, and never stop reading!

- Fiona