Maximum Pierez, District 4 Male

"This is it guys. That guy there will never know what hit him."

"Okay, but how do you know he's rich?"

"Look at the clothes he's wearing, does he look like a peasant?"

"You never know until it's too late Mace."

"Fine, whatever Maxi."

My brothers go into their positions, knowing what to do. This was a typical robbery. The man was standing tall with his chip up, looking arrogant. In a few minutes, he's going to run away with fear in his eyes.

As the man walks into the ally, Mace steps out from his hiding place.

"Hey mister," he starts, "you look like you have a lot of money on you. Why don't you give me some?" Mace takes out his switchblade, trying to intimidate the man.

"I don't need to give money to you street rats," he says, trying to maintain his posture and confidence. As he walks the other way, Maxe and I step out from behind a dumpster.

The man looks shocked now, and says, "I'll have you know that I'm a very important man in the District. I-I'll have all of you executed!"

Mace, Maxe and I surround him, trying our best to let him know that we'd kill him if he didn't give us money.

"Alright, alright," he starts, his face turning red. "Here's everything I have on me." The man drops a wallet on the ground, them starts running away.

"If you tell any of your friends from the government we'll kill you!" Maxe shouts with a smile forming.

"He won't tell anyone," I start, "he's probably bluffing about being close to the mayor."

"You never know until it happens Maximum. Remember that one time?"

I remember it like yesterday. We robbed some peacekeeper that was off duty, then he tried catching us. We had to bribe him with his own money and some more that we had. We probably could have overwhelmed him, and maybe killed him, but that wouldn't help at all.

"Maximum," Mace starts, "are you going to volunteer this year?"

"Maybe," I reply casually. By maybe I meant yes. I can be tougher than my brothers, and I can win these games. I've never stepped foot in a training center before, but I had experiences. I could use knifes. I was strong. I'm fast. I've hurt people and threatened them. How hard is it to take the next step and kill someone?

We reach the more rural part of the District, where no one lives anymore. Some kids come out here and play for a little while. There are many disused houses, and in the distance, past the fence, are ruins of an ancient city.

There are old houses and barns around this area as well. My brothers and I stay in one of these barns, and we survive by using the money we steal to buy stuff and hunt for fish on the other side of the District.

As all of us lie down to rest in the barn, I ponder about what I would happen during the reaping. Eh, I'll cross that bridge when I come to it.

Sherlyn Finley, District 4 Female

"Are you sure you want to volunteer Sherlyn? You're only sixteen, you know."

"I'm sure Thad," I say slightly worried! "Besides, it's not like I have a choice, my father made me do this. And your going to volunteer in a few years!

"Touchè Sherlyn, touchè."

I smile at him, and he smiles back.

"Remeber when I punched your dad?" He asks with a small grin on his face.

"Yeah, you didn't need to do that."

"He punched you first. I was just retaliating for you."

"I guess your right."

"Sometimes I get the feeling that I treat you better than he does."

Thad's right about this. My father probably only had me so I could win the Hunger Games. I don't want to be involved in all of this. Father even threatened me at knifepoint to volunteer!

I don't want to kill, I just want to make it out alive.

"Well, I have to get ready for the reaping," Thad says, "See you later!"

"You to, Thad, I say nervously.

As I walk home, I see father waiting for me with a smile on his face. Today was the day he would send me to my death.

"Hello darling," he says in a smooth voice, "are you ready for your big day?"

"Yeah," I say with a nervous tone. He originally wanted me to volunteer when I was eighteen, but with the Quell here, he decided to improvise and intended for me to win the 400th Hunger Games just so he could get even more famous.

"Your clothes are inside," he says with a hint of excitement in his voice. By the time the games come around, he'll be ecstatic.

When I reach the living room, a purple gown lies on the table along with a folded note. I take a look at the note, thinking there will be words of encouragement, but all it says is, "Make sure to wear your hair up."

I crack a little smile at this note, then proceed to change.

When I finish, I see father standing in front of me, flashing a smile I've never seen before. His teeth were shining and he looked the most excited I've ever seen in my whole life.

I felt stupid wearing this gown and wearing my hair up like this. I understand presentation is important, but this seemed like overdoing it. Father chose my clothes like he was saying, "My daughter got to the stage before yours, and she arrived better looking than yours."

As I arrive to the square, barely anyone is standing. Mostly it's just instuctors from the Training Center telling eight and nine year olds where they will be in a few years and what to do when they volunteer.

I sit down on a bench looking towards the stage where the mentors, escorts, and the mayor were preparing. There were Avoxes setting up banners and the escort criticizing them and saying that a monkey could do better.

I try to cherish this time I have left in District Four, looking around for one of my last sights of the Distict for awhile. I just hope I can make it for a while in the arena.

Cassy Mariner, District 4 Female

"It's nice here Cassy," Laurel says, smiling, "now I see why you come here everyday."

"It is nice Laurel," I respond, not even looking at her. I decided before the reapings I'd take Laurel here with me to the waterfall where I was born. We were at a large waterfall next to a river.

"What was drowning like?"

"Huh?" I reply, still being mesmerized by the flow of the river. It was relaxing in spite of my brother, Dylan, dying here when I was born.

"I don't really remember," I reply, still looking at the rushing water, looking like it was late to the reaping and rushing towards the square.

"You must remember some of it," Laurel replies, "after all, you nearly died."

"All I can remember is that I couldn't breathe. That's it."

"Oh, okay," she says, turning her head to the waterfall.

Although staying here is relaxing most of the time, even during the reaping days for the past years, I still feel a little bit tense.

"I think we should be going now Cassy. The reapings are going to start soon."

"Okay," I say reluctantly. This could be the last time I see my birthplace. Both mother and father want me to volunteer, and mother even straight out said that I would need to volunteer or I'd be disowned.

After we left, I felt even more anxious. The only thing on my mind was what would happen when I volunteer. I expect to be one of the first on the stage.

As Laurel and I walk inside the house, I see mother combing her short black hair and my father straightening a dark blue tie on his button up shirt. Brooke, Dylan's would-be fiancée and our maid, was not here at the moment.

"Mom, can Laurel and I go to the square now?"

"Cassidy dear, you just got back! Wait for us to finish!"

"Now now Kaya," father replies, "they are perfectly capable going by themselves.

"Fine," mother replies, looking slightly annoyed, "You two can go. But no boys!"

Laurel and I sigh. Why would we be talking to boys while we're walking to the reapings? I know her stupid rule about no boys allowed, but she kind of sounds like a five year old by saying that. Is she afraid of me getting cooties?

The closer we got to the square the more anxious I get. All I had to do was be one of the first girls to get to the stage. It was that simple.

Caspian Ross, District 4 Male

"See you later, you gay loser!" A twelve year old says in a quite mean-spirited voice.

I just smile. This kid didn't know what was coming at him.

As the kid, whose name was Francisco, was walking away with his head high and walking in a stupid fashion, I run towards him and tackle him to the ground.

His reaction was just as I wanted it. Francisco was breathing rapidly, tears were beginning to form in his eyes, and he was screaming. Normally I don't do this, but this kid needed to know why you don't mess with a seventeen year old boy that was going to volunteer in a few minutes.

"You know," I start, grinning to intimidate him, "I can easily punch you in the face right now."

"No," he starts, squirming under my grip and tears rushing down his face, "please, don't!"

I raise my fist, and bring it down, hitting his cheek. A tooth is flung out of his mouth, and he starts crying even more.

I smile, knowing this kid is wishing he hadn't done that. I wasn't affected by the statement he made, but this kid just needed to learn a lesson.

"I-I'm sorry!" he yells out, his tears now flowing like a river, "Please stop!"

"Okay then, kid." I lift Francisco off the ground, then nudge him to tell him what he needs to do. Francisco runs away, tears still trailing down his face, and then turns the corner to the square.

That little crybaby.

"Woah!" a familiar voice says, and as I turn around I see it's Trent, followed by Leven and Marin.

"It sounded like you nearly destroyed that guy!" Leven says, obviously impressed.

"It was just a twelve year old that insulted me," I respond casually, "I only punched him once, but he bawled like a baby."

"Served him right," Trent said, "If I were you, I would have set him on fire."

Trent smiled. He had quite a pyro streak, and wouldn't mind burning the whole District.

"So," Marin starts casually, "are we going to the reapings now?"

"Yeah little sis," Leven starts, "Hey, how awesome would it be if all of us went in the Games together?"

"That would never happen," I start, "besides, it would have to be Trent and I going in or you and me going in."

"Oh, I can probably figure something out..."

"What?" Marin replies, "are you going to dress as a girl?"

"Oh shut up Marin," Leven replies hastily.

We start walking towards the town square, which isn't that far away, and we start with our usual banter, starting to relax a little bit.

As we check in, the square is full of excited trainees ecstatic to volunteer for the Games.

"Hello tributes." Says Atticus Theodon, the escort for District Four, in a smooth and calm voice. "Welcome to the reapings for the 400th Hunger Games."

As I look around the crowd of people, I see mother and father, still trying to locate me. They'll see me soon enough.

"Now, for our two girls," Atticus says calmly. As he pulls two slips of paper, the first girl says, "I volunteer!" As she starts running, chaos ensues. About ten to fifteen girls attempt to run up to the stage, some being kicked in the shins, others tripping over their high heels, and a few managing to escape the large pack. I couldn't see Marin in the fray, but I hoped she was alright.

The first two girls were on the stage, and that was it. Some were still fighting, others screaming obscene swears.

"That's enough!" Atticus says, being a little bit louder than usual.

Some peacekeepers broke up the fighting, and they were escorted back to their spots.

"Well then," Atticus starts, "what are your names?

"Cassy Mariner," says the girl on the left. She wore a simple black dress and grey flats. She had long black hair and bright blue eyes. She smiled to a camera on one side of the square.

"Beautiful name darling," Atticus says. He points his attention to the other girl. "And yours?"

"Sherlyn Finley," she says, looking a bit nervous. Sherlyn's was in a floor length gown that was tattered near the bottom due to the horde of people, and she had her hair done nicely.

" You are the daughter of Mandar Finley, correct?"

"Yes sir."

Atticus smiles, then saunters over to the bowl with male names.

"Our two male tributes are..."

"I volunteer!" Leven shouts, then runs to the stage. I follow suit, as does Trent and many others start running to the stage. I eventually pass Leven, who gets caught into the mob of trainees trying to become tributes. I breathe a sight of relief as I am the first to make it.

Another guy makes it onto the stage a few seconds later. He didn't look like he went to the academy, and he didn't wear the best clothes, wearing a jean jacket, a black tank top, and torn jeans. He had a cocky smile on his face, and looked like someone shady. Perhaps he was a con artist?

"What is your name sir?" Atticus asks, pointing the mic at me.

"Caspian Ross."

"And yours sir?" Atticus says, attempting to hide his disgust for the

"Maximum Pierez," he says, flashing a cocky smile towards the crowd.

"District Four, your tributes! Shake hands everyone."

We all shake hands as we are told. Sherlyn and Cassy seem friendly enough, and so does Maximum. I'll probably get along quite well with them.

They may not be Trent, Leven, or Marin, but I think we can go somewhere with this alliance.

Yes, I am still alive. Thank you for your concern.

Updating took awhile, but at least I updated. I'm not trying to let you guys down. There are still a few spots open, and I'd like for them to be filled by the next chapter.

Question Time!

Who stood out to you in this chapter?

How's my writing?

Did I portray these characters well?

I'm not sure about my updating schedule, but I might have some time to update sooner or later.

See you soon!

-Wolf