Forty-six times, The Hunger Games have been played. People have watched children fight to the death forty-six times. Now it is time for the Forty-Seventh Annual Hunger Games to begin. Twenty-Four will go in, but only one will come out. Who will be crowned the victor? The characters come from a SYOT sign up, hosted on a different site.

Saith Crestmoon, District Four

"Saith! Saith, are you ready yet?" I hear Luna ask. Quickly I hop out of my bed and walk into my family's kitchen. Luna is sitting there, playing with a strand of her hair. To me she looks like she is off in her own little world, which she probably is. Ever since Mum and Dad died, Luna and Orion have tried to take over for the family, but while taking care of me, my sister neglects to take time for herself.

Orion, Luna and I only spend a few minutes in the house, and we start to make our way over to the crowd. As I stand in my section, I feel a bit confident, I am only twelve, and my sister is only fourteen, so it's my brother we need to worry about. Orion is eighteen this year, and I can't even remember how many times his name is in there. The odds really aren't in his favor.

Our escort, a tall dark skinned man, walks briskly on stage. Almost immediately he begins to recite what he is required to say, and he finishes within just three minutes. He smiles and shoves his hand into the girl's bowl.

'Not Luna, not Luna, anyone but Luna,' I think to myself.

"Luna Crestmoon!" My heart drops, but only for a second, because just as my sister starts to make her way to the stage, someone volunteers.

I sigh in relief. It will be okay now, I can feel it. All that has to happen now, is the next name pulled not be mine or Orion's. Once again, our escort grabs a paper, "Orion Crestmoon!"

Oh God, not again! There are no volunteers yet, but I can't let my brother die. He has done so much for me. I know what I have to do, "I volunteer!"

In a rush of adrenaline I make it to the stage. My name is announced as my eyes scan the crowd for my siblings. Orion is looking at me in what looks to be a state of shock. I know he had been prepared for the games, but I couldn't let him do it. Luna on the other hand is also staring at the stage, but her eyes look blank and unseeing. It's more than likely she is still in almost a trance after the events that just past.

Holding my mum's locket in my hand, I make a promise to myself, "I'll win for you both. I'll win for Mum and Dad, Luna and Orion too." Nothing is going to hold me back from returning home, not even the fear that is eating away inside of me.

Sally Doore, District Four

I'm the only one in my family, who has a name in the Reaping this year. It wasn't like that, until last year. My older brother, Arthur died the year of his fifth Reaping, which was two years ago. His name was drawn, and then he was gone. I hardly even had the chance to say goodbye. The worst part was that he was even killed by his own partner!

Now it's just me, since my other siblings are both too young to enter the Reaping. I just have to make it through this one last year, and then I'll be safe! Honestly, I'm a bit scared of the Games, especially now that Arthur's gone.

Looking at the clock, I realize that's I'm going to be late to meet up with Rupert, if I don't hurry. Quickly, I finish my hair and rush out of the house, but not before I hug my parents goodbye and mess up my siblings' hair.

"Hey now, Love, no need to run!" I hear Rupert laugh as I skid to a halt in front of him.

"I didn't want to be late!" I replied through my raspy breathes.

Rupert chuckled and slung his arm around me, "Well then, I guess we should start heading to the Justice Building, shouldn't we?"

I nod and he starts to lead me in the direction. For a few minutes we start to idly chat, just like always. That's all I really need, just us talking about absolutely nothing. In just one year, Rupert and I plan to married, so all we have to do is not get selected one more time. I feel much safer in his arms, and it's almost as if the Games don't exist. Almost like my brother isn't dead, and we don't have the threat of meeting the same fate as him. Unfortunately, I know that's not really the case.

It feels like we've reached our destination much too quickly, and I don't want to have to leave Rupert.

"Go on now, and I'll see you after the Reaping. Okay?" he says.

I nod, but I can't bring myself form words. Thinking about a world without Rupert, well I don't think I could stand it. Losing one person I cared about to the Hunger Games was hard enough, I couldn't handle losing another.

District Four's escort is already reading the name of the female tribute, and it rings a bell somewhere in my mind. Where have I heard her name before? That's when I recognize the girl, and it's the poor mad girl a few years younger than me.

In that moment I do what must be the stupidest action I have ever done in my life: I volunteer for the Hunger Games. Is this how Arthur felt when he walked up to this stage? Did he feel the shock? Or the fear? I know I do. Oh Lord, what have I done?