Raven Hale

Mom and Dad were fighting. Again. Whenever that happened, it meant I was in charge. But it would be a much more difficult job today because of what happened earlier with the message from the president. Everyone had to be in the square at noon. I thought it would be a big deal event, so I dressed in my best outfit, a simple sleeveless black dress and my favorite necklace. It was from the only friend I had ever known. A boy I once knew who was shipped off to District Twelve. He said the fox reminded him of me because foxes' hair is the same color as my own. I brushed out my short hair. It was cut choppy, but I did it myself and really liked the way it turned out. Satisfied with the way I looked, I walked to the other end of town to the Averys looking for Ethan. Ethan was my little brother. His best friend was Capri Avery.

"Oh, Raven," said Mrs. Avery, "I was just about to send Ethan home, we need to get ready for whatever the president planned."

"That's exactly why I'm here, Rita. Let's go, twerp," I laughed. Ethan ran over to me with a homemade bow in hand and a pouch slung around his shoulder filled with what I assumed to be arrows. It was pretty impressive I have to say, especially for an eight year old. He said Capri's older brother taught them how to make and shoot it. On the way home, he showed me how to use it. Fairly straight forward. Load arrow. Pull string. Release. Determined to get the hang of it, I shot at every tree on the way home. I hit most of them. When we got home, Mom and Dad were still fighting. I dressed Ethan in slacks and polo. Then, I went to my little sister, Grace's room. She was playing with a doll she had gotten for her twelfth birthday. It had blue eyes, like us.

"Gracie boo," I said from the doorway. "You like dress up, right?" She smiled. Grace used to be really outgoing, but she hasn't spoken much since Evan died. Evan was our brother and Ethan's twin. And, it was my fault he died. I craved my parent's attention, but they fought too much to notice me, so I would do dangerous things in hopes of getting even bad attention. My favorite thing used to be sneaking into the woods outside of the district. There was an old abandoned house that was right on the electric fence that encircled our district. A big tree grew on the other side. One of its limbs just reached a second story window. One day I convinced Evan to go with me. That day, we were caught. The peacekeepers beat him up. They beat a five year old to death. "Well let's play!" She skipped to her closet and pulled out a cute dress, snowy white with cap sleeves and all different colored polka-dots.

We walked to the square leaving Mom and Dad to fight in the kitchen. When they whisked Ethan off to the boy's side, I'd have no way to protect him. As we stood tentatively, a voice came from behind us.

"I'll take care of him," the voice said. He was a big guy, built like a truck. The phrase if looks could kill ran through my head. He had the palest skin of anyone I'd ever met, short brown hair and gray eyes. If it weren't for how red his face was, you would have thought that he had never been outside. Despite how intimidating he looked, I trusted him. "Be good, Ethan," was the last thing I said to my brother. With that, Grace and I entered the square.

Barett Michaels

My family was pretty nervous about what the president had said that morning. Even me, the brave one. But, life would continue, I mean, right? So I went like I had done every morning since God knows when to fencing practice. I loved fencing and was really good at it too. Both of my older brothers, Zach and Matt had tried fencing, too, but they didn't like being beaten, especially by their baby brother. I met my best friends there. I dueled Dylan while Xavier and Erik dueled each other. Erik was the only one left unphased by the president's speech. We left our fencing school with an hour to get ready for the square. At home, my parents were already set to go. They sat fidgeting in the living room. Four more people were there, too. My brother, Zach stood with his fiancée, Kit and Matt, the oldest sat cross-legged by the chair where his heavily pregnant wife, Ren. We only gathered like this for holidays.

"Let us off after the president's speech at work earlier," said Matt. "Rumor has it that they are going to kill a boy and a girl, but no one knows why." Ren was visibly upset about this, she's a teacher, so that means one of her students could die. Zach eyed me carefully.

"Be careful, bud, you hear me? You're in the age range. Don't do anything even slightly stupid." I knew earlier he had said 12 to 18 year olds, but now I was even more scared. I nodded once and went up to get dressed. A simple green dress shirt and black trousers would do. I added a belt and a ring that my father gave me years ago. It was silver with a black stone bear, to represent my name. I went back downstairs and we walked together to the square. I said my goodbyes as they all walked around the barricades to where those outside the age range were told to stand. I took a deep breath and was just about ready to go in when I saw a girl and what must have been her siblings. She was scared. As I walked closer, I knew why. She couldn't take care of her brother once in the square.

"I'll take care of him," I said. She looked me over as if to see if she could trust me. She never said a word, but nodded her head yes.

"Be good, Ethan," she said and she walked into the square with her sister.

I gave the boy my hand and he accepted it readily. "So your name's Ethan?" I asked.

"Yes, and those were my big sisters, Raven and Grace," he said. "Raven takes care of us because our parents fight all the time. I don't even think they are here."

Well, this kid sure was open. "I'm Barett. I have two older brothers. We are both the babies in the family."

He smiled and went on and on about his sisters and his best friend and anything else he could think of until the mayor walked up to the podium on the stage.

Mayor Gart talked about the rebellion that ended last year. It sent a shiver up my spine remembering everyone who died. Dylan, Erik and Xavier lost their older brothers. Zach fought, but he made it home. Matt didn't. He was married and couldn't even think about leaving Ren alone. Then the mayor went on about a new festival we would have to remember the Dark Days. But it didn't seem festive. Twenty-four kids would fight. Only one would come home. I was in shock. Zach was right. Then he called a woman up to speak.

"Good afternoon, District Two! MY name is Amelia Feletee and I will be your tribute's escort!" she said. She had a terribly affected Capitol voice that, under other circumstances would be funny. The skin on her face was pale white and stretched to the limits. It gave her a starved look. She had crazy purple hair and wore insane make up in shades of blue and purple with tints of silver. "Well, let's see who our female tribute is!" She fished a slip of paper out of a big glass bowl and read the name.

"Raven Hale! Please come up to the stage!"

It was the boy's sister. I knew at that moment that I would take care of him and his other sister. And I would have, if she hadn't called Jeremy Pace. Jeremy was my ex-girlfriend's brother. He was only twelve and was deaf in his left ear. He wouldn't survive the first day in the arena, where as I would stand a chance, being eighteen and able to wield a sword.

"May I take his place?" I shouted. Everyone went quiet.

"Come up here young man," said Amelia. I took Ethan with me and spotted Dylan.

"Dylan, take care of this boy. His sister is up there. Oh and he has another sister over there."

He knew exactly what I was doing and if it were the right person, he probably would have done the same thing.

"After deliberating with The Hunger Games Council, we see no reason why volunteering shouldn't be allowed," said Amelia. "What is your name, sir?"

"Barett Michaels."