This first reaping is really long. I promise that the rest will not be this long! Also, I started school today, so things are going to probably go a bit slower now. Thanks and Happy 2010-2011 school year!

Victoria Allure

That announcement this morning was weird. What could possibly be wrong? I thought. Whatever it is, it probably won't affect me. I looked through my closet and pulled out a t-shirt riddled with holes and a pair of old, stained jeans. Then I pulled up shiny red hair into its signature ponytail. I ran to the other side of town to my best friend Milo's. Gregory and Jacob were already there, laughing at Milo's rendition of the president's speech. I had to admit, he pulled off President Hayle's nasal-y voice really well.

"Hey, Vick," Jacob said, "Today is your day to pick what we do."

"Yeah, where are we going?" Gregory asked.

"I was thinking something along the lines of messing with the peacekeepers. They should be fun today, what with what the president was saying and all."

"Good choice," they agreed.

We climbed up the big tree on the east side of the square and made our way out on the branch that hung over the platform where the peacekeepers carried out whippings. But the post that they tied the criminals to wasn't there. Instead, there were two huge crystalline bowls that were full of tiny sheets of paper. Next to them were four chairs. On the other side of the bowls stood a podium. We all exchanged a confused glance. Then, eight peacekeepers walked up to the platform. This was getting too weird, even for me. As far as I knew, that was all of the peacekeepers District One had. They all stood an exact distance from each other around the whole platform, but there was a big gap up front where it looked like two more of them could stand. I started grabbing the nuts that hung from the tree ready to toss them and hit each of them square in the forehead when two more peacekeepers walked up. One was with Mayor Fleet, the other with an abnormally tall woman next to him. She had Capitol written all over her. She had ridiculously long, pin straight pink hair that reached the back of her knees and was wearing a short, shiny orange dress that was way too tight. Freak. Gregory let out a wolf whistle and I cracked up.

"There!" shouted a peacekeeper pointing at us. I threw an acorn and hit him right in the nose. A whole new mob-maybe ten more or so-came running at us from the west end of the square. I knew the fun was over when they pulled out guns. We ran like squirrels through the tree. I climbed higher and jumped to the roof of the butcher's. I kept hopping roofs until I reached my house.

"Where have you been, young lady?" my stepmom growled. I hated her. It didn't matter to me that because of her, we weren't living on the poor side of the district. I didn't care that we ate well because she was rich. I love my dad, don't get me wrong, but Regan Hemming, for one, is too young to even act like my mom. And, she's a bitch.

"Get your butt up those stairs this instant!" she screeched. "You must look your best for whatever is to happen in the square, I can't have you representing my name like that! Oh my God! Thirteen minutes!"

There wasn't much I could do in thirteen minutes, so I wound up leaving the house in one of Regan's dresses. It was a midnight blue number with spaghetti straps that crossed in the back. The back laced up and Regan tied it so tightly that I had trouble breathing. The bottom was cut so that some parts were longer than others and ribbons hung down. Then Regan raked through my hair and left it hang down my back. She did it purposely, too. She knows I hate my hair down. I grabbed my diamond heart necklace that Milo had given to me. He said his father had given it to his mother before they passed away. Sure, the chain was rusty, but I loved it. The day he gave it to me, he said, "Something pretty, to match your personality." That was one of the best days I could remember. My twin brother, James walked in then.

"Time to go," he said. I leapt up and ran. Just outside the square, I met up with Milo, Greg, and Jake. They were wearing what they had been wearing this morning. Lucky. Milo bent down and ripped one of the ribbons off the bottom of my dress. Regan would kill me for that.

"What are you—" I started to say, but he cut me off. He pulled up my hair and tied it with the ribbon.

"Oh, thanks," I said. He just nodded. We walked in silence for another minute, then Milo said, " This isn't good. Something terrible is gonna go down." Finally, we reached the square and were greeted by two peace keepers who separated us. Boys went to the right, girls to the left.

The clock tower rang, signaling that it was 12:00 and the whole square went quiet. Mayor Fleet walked up to the podium.

"Good afternoon, District One," he began. "The speech I am about to give you has been sent to me directly from President Hayle in the Capitol. So, without further adieu," he cleared his throat and began.

After the collapse of previous civilization, Panem rose from the ashes in a land once known as North America. This previous civilization was brought down by snow storms in the north. Most people froze to death, and if the cold did not kill them, then they perished from starvation. In the west, earthquakes swallowed the land and anyone left standing on it. To the south, one hurricane after another drowned the places people called home. Droughts in the middle of this once shining country caused food shortages everywhere. These droughts dried up so much of the land that only a small spark caused rampant fires. With all of this happening, those who survived the disasters were left to fight for sustenance. An all out war broke loose. Friends killed friends. Brothers murdered brothers. Peace and prosperity came to those left alive as our shining nation of Panem began to form. First, the Capitol was built at the heart of the old country. Those who knew how to survive told the Capitol how to move on. A man from a place called Appalachia, for example, founded the land we know as District Twelve. This man taught survivors how to mine coal. They became the residents of District Twelve. But in thanks for the man's help in setting up one of the first industries of Panem, he lived the rest of his days in the Capitol. All was running smoothly in Panem until the Dark Days. The districts of Panem rose up against the Capitol for reasons that are unclear. But Panem was—and is—strong. The Capitol defeated twelve districts and obliterated District Thirteen The Capitol then wrote up The Treaty of Treason. The Treaty of Treason was formed to set new rules upon the districts and ensure that another rebellion never occur upon the soils of Panem. One week from today will be the one year anniversary of the end of the Dark Days. In remembrance of the past, we now have The Hunger Games. The rules of The Hunger Games are easy. Each district will send two tributes, a male and a female to participate in The Games. These Tributes will be aged twelve to eighteen. Each year, every citizen in this age group will have a slip of paper with their name on it added to the bowl. For example, a twelve year old will have their name in once, a thirteen year old twice. The exception is this. Now, tesserae are only available to twelve to eighteen year olds. For each tesserae that you sign up for, your name will be added to the bowl once. Tesserae are cumulative. For this year, all tesserae that adults have signed up for will go to the oldest eligible child. Each tribute will be allowed a token of remembrance from their district. The Hunger Games will be a televised festival that will consist of The Reaping, Opening Ceremonies, Training Scores, Tribute Interviews, The Games, and finally The Victory Tour. The Victor of The Hunger Games will go home and live lavishly for the rest of their days. As another perk to winning, once a month, the district of the winner will be given food, among other things. Only one tribute will make it home. And now, our District One Escort, Adonia Turner.

Only one will make it back? I thought as Mayor Fleet walked back to the row of chairs. Adonia skipped to the podium. She was the lady in the orange dress from earlier. I got a closer look at her now, her eyes were a stunning shade of purple.

"And now, ladies and gentlemen, The Reaping! May the odds ever be in your favor," she smiled.

I finally figured out what the mayor had meant. Twenty-three kids were going to die. And the Capitol sees this as a game? Sick. I was only pulled out of my head when I heard my name.

"Victoria Allure!" Adonia smiled. "Please come up here."

Sixteen years old, and I was given a death sentence.

Apollo Jackson

The mayor had just finished his speech and I was speechless. A few around me gasped. One guy who look around my age even fainted. Could it have been this morning that I was throwing knives with Hector? Was it yesterday that I bought Katriana's birthday present? Would I see little Diamond again? What about my twin, Jesmina? Yes. I would. I had to. Mom can't care for my dad all by herself. I bring home the money for his medication.

I didn't hear Adonia call the girl's name, but when I saw her, I was pretty sure it was Victoria. She had an early birthday, so even though she was a year younger than me, we were in the same classes. It's a strange feeling, knowing that you will have to watch someone you know, or at least kind of know kill and be killed for some painted person's entertainment.

"Apollo Jackson? Apollo, please come up to the platform"

It's a stranger feeling knowing you may be the one to kill her. And then, I may die myself.

Please R&R, as this is my first fanfic!