Dustin Spruce, age 13
District 12 Male Tribute

The Reaping

One year ago, I was standing in pretty much the exact same spot I'm in right now, only with the twelve-year-old boys instead of the thirteens. One year ago, I was worried about getting Reaped and terrified of the idea of going to the Capitol. One year ago, I had something in my life worth living in District 12 for.

One year ago, Pap was still alive.

What a difference a year makes. I feel old now, and raging against the unfairness of the world, as I glare at the makeshift stage set up in the town square. People around me give me looks of pity and distrust. Oh, there's the boy whose father died in the recent mining accident. Oh, there's the boy with the crazy mother, the poor thing, she's been in the asylum since he was born. It's always the same with literally everyone in this godforsaken hellhole of a District. I'm always the poor kid. Pap was the only one who loved me and understood me as Dustin, and now he's gone too.

There's nothing left for me here.

The Reaping begins at two, just as it has for as long as I can remember. The mayor, who cares about her name, steps up from her chair next to our escort and begins to read her annual speech. North America, Panem, the Dark Days, the Treaty of Treason, the Hunger Games - it's the same story every year, and it hasn't changed even as Snow took power three years ago.

After the First Quarter Quell, Panem inaugurated Snow, a new President. He's made a few changes to the annual Games and the government of Panem, but none that really matter to me because thinking about politics won't keep me alive and fed.

The mayor then mentions Lucy Gray Baird, the Victor of the 10th Games. She isn't alive today, and her Games are forbidden from being discussed, so it makes sense that District 12's only Victor only gets a brief mention. Then the mayor introduces our escort, an older middle-aged man named Silver Trinket. He walks calmly and purposefully to the microphone, and the District gives him a round of polite applause. Silver may be escorting children to their deaths, but at the very least he is respectful and has stuck with Twelve since the very beginning.

"Hello District 12, I'm Silver Trinket, and I'm honored to once again be your escort," Silver says with a curt nod. "It is time for the drawing of the names, and, as always, we will start with the girls. Happy Hunger Games, and may the odds be ever in your favor."

Silver walks over to the female Reaping Bowl, and I can feel the tension in the entire District. As for me, I'm just bored and wishing for this shitshow to end already. There's no one left in this District that I care about, so I just hope he'll pick someone strong because if District 12 miraculously manages to win this year we at least get food and there's less of a chance that I'll starve to death in the Community Home.

Silver Trinket draws a name, walks back to the podium, and reads it out.

"Larch Colbert."

Holy shit.

It's true that there's no one in this District that I care about, but that name sends a bolt of unfamiliar emotion running through me. It's been ages since I felt anything other than resignation, but now? I'm feeling furious, gleeful, and energized at the same time. Larch Colbert! Reaped into the Hunger Games! I grin because this is the best thing that could possibly happen at this Reaping. That witch deserves to die in the Hunger Games.

After all, she killed Pap.

Technically he died in a mining accident, but that's what the legal papers say. In reality, Larch Colbert, the apothecary's apprentice, could've saved him. Sure, she was thirteen at the time, but she absolutely had the means to save him from death when he was brought in. But she didn't. She drugged him to death, gave him a draught that put him to sleep until he took his final breath. She said that she did all she could. Bullshit. I told her that Pap was all I had, and I begged her to do whatever she could to keep him alive. She said that she would, but she had the cold eyes of a murderer.

And now she's going to be killed in the Games. Talk about awesome karma.

I've been so happy about Larch being Reaped that I haven't noticed that she's made her way to the stage from the section of fourteen-year-old girls. Silver Trinket asks for volunteers, and as usual there are none. Good. He then makes his way to the boys' names and draws out a slip before walking back to the podium and reading out the name.

"Arrow Everdeen!"

I don't know who that is, and I don't care. I'm just happy that Larch will hopefully die in the Hunger Games. But then the Reaped kid steps out of the section of sixteen-year-old boys and wipes away tears as he makes his way to the stage. And when he reaches the stage, he smiles at Larch Colbert, as if to say that he'll take care of her.

Oh no he won't.

What if Larch actually came back alive? She doesn't deserve anything but pain and death for murdering the one person I cared about. And no matter what happens to Larch, I'd be stuck in District 12 for the rest of my shitty life, however short it may be.

I deserve better than to sit back and watch Larch Colbert, the devil-spawn who killed Pap, get helped and taken care of throughout the Games.

I raise my hand, my heart racing. "I volunteer as tribute!" I yell.

The crowd starts murmuring as Arrow Everdeen gives Larch a sad smile and makes his way off the stage. It's too late to go back now. I grit my teeth, glaring at everyone as I march to the stage. I walk up the steps and take my place as tribute next to Larch, who stares at me with wide eyes.

"A volunteer, well that is unexpected, unexpected and wonderful," Silver stammers, clearly attempting to salvage some order out of this situation. "What's your name?"

The escort holds the microphone to me so I can address the District, but I only have words for my soon-to-be District Partner, and hopefully victim. I can't wait to watch her life drain helplessly out of her heartless body.

"Hello. My name is Dustin Spruce. You killed my father. Prepare to die."

A/N: I've received a few submissions so far, but I wanted to move forward with this story, and I was still lacking a full District so I went ahead and created the District 12 pair. I hope nobody minds because, as District 12 tributes, Dustin and Larch can't win, but please let me know what you think! What are your impressions on the District 12 tributes, as well as Pyra, the District 3 Female? Feel free to leave any and all feedback in the reviews, which I would greatly appreciate.

This SYOT is still wide open, so please visit my profile for the submission form, guidelines, and open slots. I would prefer a full District to continue, but any and all tribute submissions would be appreciated. Remember that this is the canon-compliant 28th Annual Hunger Games, and every tribute in this story has a chance to win as long as their victory fits with the established Hunger Games canon.

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