A/N: Trigger warning for dysphoria, depression, and suicidal ideation in Max's section.

Abraham Smith, age 12
District 10 Male Tribute

Reaping Day

I've been to Reapings before - the entire District has to attend - but this is my first Reaping where I have a chance of being chosen to go into the Hunger Games. Even though I don't want to die, I can't help but wonder what the Capitol is like. I hope I'll never actually know.

The Mayor makes her annual speech about the history of Panem and the Hunger Games before introducing District 10's previous Games Victors. We have two Victors: Henna Fowler, who won the 4th Games, and Zach Sheppard, Victor of the 8th Games. I find myself staring at the two Victors, Zach especially because nobody in Mississippi Town has brown skin like his. How different, exactly, are dark-skinned people from the light-skinned folks in the Town?

I find my gaze drifting through the crowd, taking in the diversity of it as the Mayor introduces our escort, a man named Aquilus King. He has altered his skin to look like mottled brown feathers, and his piercing yellow gaze looks bored as he walks up to the microphone.

"Hello District 10," he says loudly. "None of us want to be here for longer than we have to, but let's try to get a Victor this year. How does that sound, everybody?"

The District is dead silent. Aquilus shrugs and walks over to one of the Reaping Bowls. He picks out a name and I suddenly realize that me and three of my siblings might be chosen to fight our way through near certain death. I feel queasy as Aquilus announces, "Abraham Smith! Will Abraham Smith come to the stage?"

No.

Oh no. Oh, no, no, no. That's me. How did this happen? I'm only twelve. I'm not ready to die. I don't want to die. I'm rooted to the spot and breathing heavily, but moments pass, and the other twelve-year-old boys around me are looking towards me. Two Peacekeepers are moving into the crowd. Do they know that Abraham Smith is me? Are they going to lead me to the stage? My question is answered as the Peacekeepers make their way towards me. One of them nudges my shoulder, and I take a deep breath. I start walking slowly towards the stage, fighting the urge to cry. I'm terrified, but boys don't cry. I manage to keep my tears in as I climb the steps.

"Are there any volunteers?" Aquilus asks, but the District is silent as ever. I was hoping Rick or Rob would take my place - they're eighteen and they'd do better in the Games than me - but it makes sense that they won't willingly throw their lives away.

"Abraham Smith, everyone," Aquilus says before walking over to the other Reaping Bowl. He pulls out a name. "Lupe Oxford!"

A few moments pass, but this time the Peacekeepers don't have to intervene before a crying fourteen-year-old girl starts slowly making her way to the stage. I notice that she isn't from Mississippi Town, with her tan skin and black hair. Maybe that's better because now the Town won't lose two kids, but what is she like? Will she help me through the Games, or should I stay away from her? How will I even get through these Games? Questions are running through my head as the girl takes her place on the stage and Aquilus asks for volunteers. There are none, and our escort asks for us to shake hands.

I've never touched someone outside of Mississippi Town before. It feels strange, shaking a tan-colored hand, and I wonder what Mom and Dad make of my situation. I also wonder what I'm going to do now. I'll fight my hardest to survive and come home, but how can I? I'm twelve years old and so much smaller than everyone else.

I fight back tears. This isn't fair.

Maximus Burnet, age 17
District 12 Tribute

Reaping Day

The sky is as empty as my soul as I stand in the section of seventeen-year-old girls, wishing that I was somewhere else. The Mayor makes his annual speech about the Hunger Games and the history of Panem. Then he quickly mentions District 12's only Victor, Lucy Gray Baird, who, as usual, is conspicuously absent. Nobody quite knows what happened to her, except for rumors that she was killed by the former Mayor. It doesn't matter to me anyways, except that instead of a previous Games Victor or two an assigned Capitol mentor, a young man named Antonio Sharma, will be working with our escort, a young woman named Credence Ramirez, to help bring the tributes home.

I guess they can work with the other tribute, because I don't plan on being back in District 12.

Credence bounces up to the microphone, her jet-black curls bouncing up and down and her long gold-colored dress flowing behind her.

"Hello District 12, hello hello," Credence says with a smile. "Happy Hunger Games, and, as always, may the odds be ever in your favor. Let's see who our tributes will be, and let's try to get a Victor this year shall we?" She trots up to the first Reaping Bowl and plucks out a name. "Marjorie Burnet!"

It takes a moment to register that… I've been Reaped. That isn't my name. That will never be my name. But I'm going into the Hunger Games. My plan has worked.

I feel… not happy, but fulfilled. Contented that I'm finally going to die, and that the tesserae I took will make my death worth something. I don't want to move because moving is so exhausting, but walking up to the stage will bring me one step closer to my shitty life finally being over. So I take my place on the Reaping stage.

"Are there any volunteers for Marjorie?" Credence asks, but as usual there are none. I stare into space and find myself smiling. This is the one thing I've been wanting for years.

"Alrighty then, let's meet our second tribute," Credence chirps before walking over to the other Reaping Bowl - the one I should be in, but it's too late now so I guess I'll clear things up sometime before I die - and digs out a name, scattering a few slips of paper around. She makes her way back to the microphone and announces, "Coulson Stone! Will Coulson Stone come to the stage?"

A skinny boy, Seam by the looks of it, emerges from the eighteen-year-old section. He clenches his hands into fists at his sides as he stalks onto the stage with a steely gaze. He takes his place next to me, and Credence asks for volunteers, but there are none.

"District 12, your tributes, Marjorie Burnet and Coulson Stone! Tributes, shake hands."

I sullenly do as I'm told. Coulson's handshake is firm as he gives me a smile. I don't smile back.

As the Reaping concludes, I gaze out at District 12 one last time. Death will be better than this. My family will be upset, but they'll go on. And I won't live a life of pain and suffering anymore.

A/N: Chapter question: What are your first impressions on Lupe, our District 10 female Tribute, and Coulson, our District 12 male Tribute?

Bonus question: Out of our six featured tributes (Ariadne, Lamar, Velmire, Mishel, Abe, and Max), who is your favorite?

I am pleased to announce that I have made a blog for this story at a-pregnant-question-hg . blogspot . com (remove the spaces). I've put Featured Tribute Aesthetics up already, and as this SYOT progresses I'll add more content, so please check the blog out!

Thanks for reading, and I hope to see you all soon!