District Three Reapings:

Aven Runestone,15

Beyond the horizon I can see the dark clouds rolling in, cloaking the already smoky District in a depressing tone. Better than things being sunny, because then the weather feels out of place. Why try to deny the truth?

"Come on Aven we're going to be late." My sister, Summer, says sounding annoyed. She always gets this way today. Unlike me, she is rather popular at school, so she has so many people to worry about. Annoying or not I love her, especially with what has gone on the last year. She has proven she loves me back. Regardless of anything.

More than most people have done.

"I'm coming," I say before adjusting my clothing once more in the mirror, my green eyes spotting themselves in the mirror, and I pat down my wavy black hair to sit more neatly.

I might not have as many still by my side as my sister, but the ones I have I value. When I think of myself getting reaped I feel faint, when I imagine my sister or my two bestfriends getting reaped? I think I might actually faint. They've proven their loyalty to me.

When I was fourteen I finally confessed what I knew for so long, what everyone must have known in the back of their heads. People like to push that kind of stuff back, lie to themselves. I think my mother knew, maybe it made it easier for her to accept it. When I confessed I was gay at fourteen, my mother took it fine and so did my sister. That is why I can't help but love them so much. My father?

He couldn't take it.

I tumble down the stairs quickly to find my blonde sister and mother waiting for me. My sister folds her arms stubbornly but seems relieved that I'm at least ready.

"Well what are we waiting for?" I ask,trying to give a pitiful smile to make up for running them late. The smile doesn't work well today.

"Nothing anymore," my sister says but gives me a loving smile. How could you argue on days like today? I mean if something were to happen…

We partake in small talk when leaving the house. The street is full of familiar faces that all are going to the same location. I enjoy my family's company of course but after we reach the end of the street I start looking around for my friends. I know they will be going this way. I'm anxious to meet up with them. I hate the idea of standing one moment in that Town Center without someone by my side. Does that sound needy? Maybe, I just like the idea of facing things with friends.

When we reach the Town Center I finally see them. They seem to have already met up with each other. Bolt and Lanni stand looking around, for me? That makes me happy. I didn't always just have the two of them, until last year. Everyone else left and then it was just them, in the end it feels like it was always that way. The rest didn't really care, or they wouldn't have left.

I see Summer has found her friends in the crowd as well, I guess this is where we split up. Summer and I turn to my mother who is giving us a sad looking smile. We all give each other long embraces before we say goodbye and even good luck. As if luck can save you.

"I love you two, no matter what." My mother says before my sister and I get into the check in line.

"You're fine right?" She asks me randomly.

"No more than any other reaping." I say honestly to her. "Are you?"

"I guess," she says as uneasily as me.

I put my hand on her shoulder, "It will be fine." Can I promise that?

She nods, but doesn't respond.

By the time I'm checked in Bolt and Lanni have made their way over to me. Some people look at us, everyone seems to know what happen. They all know that pretty much everyone I thought loved me left. They think I have a crush on either Bolt or Lanni, or maybe both. Some people think we're all lovers, even though Bolt and Lanni never said they were gay. And that would be creepy.

People just like to spread rumors. That just makes them human. But it sure does push me away.

"How are you doing?" Bolt asks, he looks nervous. I don't blame him, he should be worried most out of all of us. His family is rather poor, I mean most of Three is but he always has his names in there so much. I took two tessarae for him, what else should I do? He has been there for me and I need to be there for him. If Lanni were in the same situation I would do the same for him.

"I'm fine, you guys?" I ask.

"Honestly I'm terrified," Lanni says suddenly.

We give him comfort but there isn't much we can do, we can't change what is about to happen.

"Now for our male tribute!" The escort sings. I stand close to my friends. The girl tribute was already picked. A girl, Astrid. She is so young. You would never tell by looking though. She is so tall, but she seems skittish. She could just be nervous of course. I feel bad for her, but I always feel bad for the tributes.

Astrid stands nervously watching the escort as she picks a slip of paper. My heart breaks for the young girl. Even though she is just two years youngers than me.

"Bolt Hadley."

What? I can't believe I've heard it right but when all eyes are pointed to Bolt, who stands behind me paralyzed, I know. I know that he was reaped and that something has to happen. In a moment of panic Bolt looks to Lanni and I. Coward, I'm a coward. Bolt has given up so much for me and now I'm going to let him walk onto that stage. Bolt walks slowly forward as if accepting no one is going to help him.

I watch him die, in my head, I watch him get slaughtered. I can't bear it. The thought becomes too much, anything but him dying. No, I won't let it happen. I won't let myself be a coward.

"I volunteer!" I say running forward to push Bolt backwards. I've never been so loud before, my voice reaching a volume I didn't know I had. For a moment I'm relieved. The frightful images of Bolt's death in some Arena are gone. I don't feel so cowardly anymore.

But when Bolt looks to me with a new look in his eyes and it seems everyone is now staring at me I recognize the look. It is the look I gave Bolt not too long ago, and Astrid too. They are looking at a dead man walking.

District Three

Astrid Eldridge, 13

My fingers tap impatiently against my legs, my eyes wandering to each face in front of me. I let out an easy breath and try to calm my mood down, but it never works. Even when I'm not faced with a random death lottery I can never calm down. Always the one bouncing off the walls. They call it ADHD.

They say I can't help it, just how I was born. As if there is something wrong with me in the brain, an illness. I know that is true and it is why I shouldn't be hard on myself for it, but somehow it makes me feel trapped when it comes to fix the problem. So usually I just give up, even at times when my clustered mind has gotten me into trouble around the District. Even enough to be whipped once, but the scars have faded. I don't think about it, not enough time.

I find my parents in the adult and young child crowd and then look to my friend, Saffron, who stands beside me. Then my eyes flutter towards where my brother stands. He looks nervous; this is his first year after all. I can remember what it was like last year. I was a mess.

I've told my brother I hate him before but I've told more times that I love him. No matter how many times we argue, or how sometimes I can't help but get upset when Dad favorites him or when he doesn't want to go on adventures with me, I still would hate for him to be reaped his first time.

Neither can I imagine get reaped for my second time here, or Saffron. I look back to her as the Capitol video plays, how could I ever focus on that boring nonsense? Saffron's golden hair shines even in this grey weather. My mind takes particularly keen focus to it. She sees me looking and gives me a reassuring nod; does she see how nervous I am? She never was the sharpest here in District Three, though I'm not either. Well for District Three, where there is a large supply of geniuses. I like to think if I didn't have ADHD and weren't in District Three I would be smart. Unfortunately I do live around hundreds of geniuses and I do have ADHD.

Ugh, I need to focus.

I force myself to pay my attention back towards the stage. The escort is drabbling on and on about the video. She is new for the District, she got moved up I heard. I forget from which District, and to be honest don't really care. Maybe she is doing some kissing up to the Capitol to get another promotion.

As she begins to repeat herself in her long speech, my eyes wander towards the crowd again. I spot my father standing besides my mother. He looks so unemotional, while my mother looks sad. They both can be strict but my mother has a much stronger caring side unlike my father. I guess that is why he prefers my brother so much, he knows I can't help but be this way, he just still likes my brother better. My brother is normal, doesn't get in trouble or anything. Most of the time he is just at home being normal.

"So beyond all that, let's move onto picking our tributes." The escort says. I demand myself to focus on the stage only, determinedly staring the colorful woman down. She picks out a slip of paper and carefully unfolds it. She takes a moment to look at the name before saying it. My hearts stops beating.

"For our female tribute we have…" I can't breathe. "Astrid Eldridge."

I let out a breath when she reads a name but I'm not relieved. I'm frozen and my mind disappears into some dark pit of wild thoughts and memories. When I brought back to reality a Peacekeeper is dragging me along. In a moment of panic I push him off a rush forward to escape. But in my animal state I find myself fleeing towards the stage. When I'm met with the Peacekeepers guarding the stairs I look at both of them shaking, my eyes going back and forth to the two of them. The escort is waiting for me with her beady eyes.

No, no, please let me escape. Please let me out of this place. Why me? I want to be anywhere but here. I rather be back to the day I got whipped than be right here. But I am here, I can't escape. I'm trapped.

My uneasy soul hasn't stopped fidgeting since I was placed on this awful stage, I feel close to hyperventilating. How could anyone maintain themselves in this moment? Suddenly every person I ever saw look collected up here that wasn't insane is my biggest hero. The escort is picking the male tribute now. Will they be mean? Nice? I wonder if they'll be tall, or short. What if it is my brother? Oh please not him, I couldn't live with that reality. I think I might just self-destruct.

If I'm not going to already.

Why does this have to happen? Why to me?

My hand taps impatiently against my thigh. I must look like a bloodbath. My face crunches up so I think of all other things, but like always that thought still hangs in the corner of my mind whispered into my thoughts.

"Bolt Hadley." I search violently in the ground for the person. I don't recognize the name. I find a group of three people all staring at people. They look so heartbroken. I find myself staring with the rest of the District. One of the three moves forward, Bolt. He seems okay,

His friend stares with some sort of unrecognizable purpose, and before anyone knows it he is speaking from behind Bolt.

"I volunteer!" He runs forward, and Bolt stands there shocked. I find myself watching the volunteer as he makes his way to the stage. He looks panicked yet his footsteps are certain.

Our eyes connect; he really doesn't seem bad, if anything he seems nice. With the number of people leaving that Arena, I wish he didn't seem so kind.