"The enemy is fear. We think it is hate; but, it is fear." - Gandhi

District 6 Reapings: Riley Jackson (14) and Ruby Ellesworth (17)

Jason is the best announcer in all of District 6. His talent relies completely on his conspicuous voice. Such a deep baritone is completely uncustomary for a boy of only fifteen years. And for this reason, no one in District 6 can ignore him.

On this particular morning, Jason has managed to collect a crowd of just over one hundred people to stand outside of the district's library.

He cups his hands over his mouth and bellows, "Gather round, gather round! Bear witness to the future legend! The one…the only…Riley Jackson!"

Especially among the younger occupants of District 6, Riley Jackson is already famous. Famous enough that if he claims he'll be doing one of his stunts, just about his whole school will show up to witness the event. With or without Jason announcing.

The crowd has its usuals: the group of boys who wait eagerly to see their friend attempt a dangerous stunt (in the hopes that they might observe a broken bone), and the even larger group of young girls who come to giggle and twirl their hair, with the futile hopes that today will be the day Riley will finally notice them.

Riley stands at the top of the library's grand staircase. His skateboard is tucked under his arm. His wavy brown hair, which usually falls in eyes, is blown back by a gust of wind, revealing his bright blue irises.

He estimates the staircase's railing is probably around 50 feet long. Gravity is on his side for this stunt, though. For, the slant of the railing means he just has to keep his skateboard from falling off…gravity will do the rest of the work for him.

Riley lives for the rush. He lives for the moment before he puts his body in danger, the adrenaline, the sound of his pulse in his ears.

Riley always saves his greatest stunts for reaping day. For, District 6 is always filled with such dejection on the particular day. And everyone is eager for a distraction.

He slides his helmet over his head.

Rafa bites his lip, concerned for his friend. "Aren't you scared?" Rafa asks.

"Of what?" Riley gazes at his friend, looking somewhat confused.

"Like…I don't know…dying?"

Riley laughs. His laugh is so incredibly boyish and lighthearted that it makes everyone around him relax.

"I'm not going to die," he assures Rafa. Then he takes a deep breath, getting ready to start.

"Wait! One more thing…if you do die, who gets your skateboard?"

Riley grins. Of course Rafa asks this. Riley owns one of the only skateboards in District 6. Such recreational items are not easy to come by in the district. Mr. Jackson paid good money for the skateboard. And Rafa, coming from one of the poorer homes in District 6, has no way of getting a skateboard.

"I tell you what, once I stick the landing, I'll let you burrow it for the day," Riley responds. A confident half-smirk rests on his lips.

People can tell Ruby Ellesworth is rich just from her appearance. Her blonde hair is clean and untangled. Her lips are glossy and pink. Her teeth are straight and white. A few freckles adorn her nose and cheeks.

"I'm bored." Ruby huffs, crossing her arms in front of her chest. "I need to practice some more."

"Ruby, you've done enough practicing," Alicia assures her friend. "You're ready for the Games."

Ruby shakes her head. An eager grin spreads across her lips. "Find me some more people to practice on."

Alicia looks hesitant. "I have to fix my hair for the reapings."

"Yeah," Sianna agrees. "Me too."

"Fine," Ruby says. "I'll find some myself."

Ruby can tell her friends are just scared to help Ruby train. District 6 is harsh in its law against training for the Hunger Games. But, Ruby isn't much for following rules. And it is actually because of her respect for District 6 that she wants to win the Games. She wants Panem to view District 6 as powerful, as reputable. She believes becoming victor will do this (at least for the time being).

Alicia and Sianna leave Ruby standing alone by the roadside.

Two boys walk past, deep in conversation.

"He does this backflip off the railing and sticks the landing!" The taller boy exclaims.

"Riley Jackson has to be the best skateboarder ever," the short one agrees.

"Anyone can ride a skateboard," Ruby interrupts the boys. They look at the girl, confused by her sudden interruption.

"Not like him," the short one says. "It was so cool."

"Yeah?" Ruby still doesn't look impressed. Though now a brilliant smile lights up her face. "You want to see something really cool?"

The boys have no idea what a ditzy blonde like Ruby will have to show them. But since she's a girl and she's pretty, they figure they might just be about to get lucky.

"Okay. Show me something." The taller boy says. A greasy grin occupies his lips.

"You have to play along, too, though," Ruby says.

"Sure." The short boy says. Now the guys are getting excited.

"All you have to do is outrun me."

"Huh?"

"Yeah. I'll give you a head-start," Ruby says. "If you get home before I catch you, you win."

"And what are you gonna do to us if you catch us?" the taller boy wiggles his eyebrows.

Ruby pulls out the pocket knife she has tucked in her shoe. "Just don't get caught."

"Oh shit." The boys start into a sprint.

Ruby giggles, tucking a strand of her blonde hair behind her ear.

Although Ruby's fast, she isn't the fastest out there. But she has incredible stamina. She can outrun even the fastest given enough time. So, when the boys start to get a little tired, Ruby goes in for the kill.

She catches the short boy first. She simply grabs his shoulder and places the knife against his back.

"Dead!" she chirps, her voice as light and carefree as ever.

Before the boy has a chance to respond, she's off running again.

The taller boy pleads with the girl. "Please. Don't hurt me. I'll do anything."

Ruby smirks, a girly giggle falling from her lips.

"I'm not going to hurt you, silly. I'm just practicing." She gets off the boy.

She fiddles with the sleeve of her tight red dress. She opens the small pocket-mirror she has tucked in her shoe. She checks her lipstick, and makes sure her hair is still as neat as it was this morning.

Not only does she have to make sure she's fit to win the Games. She also has to look her best when she makes her debut in front of Panem.

"A volunteer!" Rafa muses. "In District 6!"

"She must be crazy," Jason says. "What do you think, Riley? Is she mentally retarded or suicidal?"

Riley opens his mouth to answer, but stops once he sees Ruby. She definitely doesn't look like a suicidal tribute. She grins confidently, twirling a strand of her blonde hair. She doesn't much look mentally challenged either. In fact, she almost reminds him of the careers he sees volunteer in Districts 1 and 2.

"What do we call careers?" Riley asks.

"They would fall under the 'mentally retarded' label," Jason says.

Riley stops paying attention to Jason. He turns back to the girl. She looks beautiful and confident enough to get sponsors, plus she looks healthy and nourished (unlike many children from District 6). If he were going to put money on a tribute from District 6 ever winning, he might bet on her.

"My name is Ruby Ellesworth," she introduces herself once she receives the microphone from the escort, Costanza Hope. "And I'm here to bring District 6 out of the shadows and into the glory it deserves!"

She receives a hearty round of applause.

Costanza looks absolutely thrilled with Ruby. Maybe District 6 has a shot this year after all.

"Let's move on to the boys, then," Costanza says. She creeps towards the bowl of boys' names. It's almost as though she intends to build the tension.

"Why is she walking like she has to take a shit?" Jason whispers.

"My thoughts exactly," Riley responds through a tight smirk. The two boys always rip on Costanza at the reapings. It's a harmful way to ease the tension.

"And our lucky boy is…Riley Jackson!"

The crowd immediately starts into a fit of whispers. Almost everyone knows the boy.

Rafa grabs onto the hem of Riley's shit.

"Holy shit," he hisses. "That's you!"

Riley swallows thickly, then lets out a very shaky breath. Rafa notices, for perhaps the first time in his life, an expression very close to fear in Riley's eyes. This deeply scares Rafa. Since, Riley is always so laid-back, always up for a challenge, always so fearless.

Almost as suddenly as the fear arrives, it is gone.

Riley sports a boyish half-smile, one that many recognize as the boy's signature accessory. He starts up to stage. He straightens his thin frame to his largest height of five feet and ten inches. He runs his hand across his forehead, pulling his brown hair out of his brilliant blue eyes.

Although the escort figures the boy is in need of a hair trim, she is thrilled with the boy's good looks. And even though he is fourteen, she thinks he could easily pass for sixteen.

Once he comes to stage, Costanza asks for volunteers.

It is when Riley looks at his family that his smile falters. Two of his younger sister's are crying. The third has her head buried in her father's shirt. His mother is looking right at him. A deep and serious sadness drips down her cheeks.

He looks away.

The crowd claps for the boy once no one volunteers. It is a supportive but not joyful round of applause; Riley has a lot of fans. None of them want to see him die.

District 7's reapings will be up in the next 3-4 days.