Tazzel Rosehart, 15

My eyes slowly flutter open. The light peeks through my blinds. I sit up and stretch and see little Chester asleep in his crate. I smile, grab a carrot from my nightstand, and stick it through the bars. Chester's cute little mouth takes the carrot and he starts noshing on it. It's adorable.

I stand up and turn to see my brother Thorn in the doorway.

"I'm sorry, I knocked but you didn't answer." I smile. Of course I didn't answer, I never heard it.

"That's okay, I'll let it slide this one time." My wink and smirk tells him I'm not serious.

He takes Chester out of the cage and pets him. I kiss them both on the head before going into my bathroom to clean up.

My brown eyes stare back at my pale body and hair. I turn and look at the scars on the side of my face. I bring my finger to my ear and snap. I feel the vibration, but hear very little. I sigh. What I'd give to have my hearing back.

I take a quick shower and blow dry my hair. I let it float onto my shoulders.

I put on my pajamas and go back out into my room. Thorn has left and put Chester back all safe and sound into his crate. He's a good kid.

I slip on some baggy jeans and a simple white shirt. I don't expect to get reaped, but if I do it's not like I had nice clothes anyway. But I'm perfectly fine with this.

Before I leave, I put on my favorite necklace. It sparkles off the light, a simple letter "T".

I find my two brothers cleaning the kitchen. I grab an apple and snack as they finish cleaning. They talk to each other, but they're turned away from me so I cannot distinguish what they are saying.

My father places his hand on my shoulder and I turn to look at him. I smile at him and he smiles a sad smile back at me. He never forgave himself for the accident, despite it being the other driver's fault. He wishes he never took me along, made me stay home. I hope one day he forgives himself, as I never blamed him.

I ask him where mother is and he points downstairs. I nod. She's been working on some implants to improve my hearing. I feel bad she spends all her free time doing so, but I cannot stop her.

I finish my apple and my father takes my hand to the square. Him and my oldest brother, Torrac, hug Thorn and me tight before they join the rest of the ineligible citizens of our district.

I sign in with Thorn, and we separate into our respective age categories. I look at all the nervous fifteen year olds that surround me. I think about the two people who will not return home tonight. The two families that will dread the upcoming weeks. I swallow back a sob.

I don't notice the video playing until it's over. The escort hops onto stage, and I can barely make out what she says. I watch her walk to the clear bowl with hundreds of names in them. She pulls out a single slip and I say a quick prayer.

She says the name in the microphone and I don't hear the name. Who was it? I look around and I don't see movement from any other girls. I start to panic. Someone nudges me forward and I can't accept it. It wasn't me. It was a mistake. It wasn't me.

The second person to nudge me forces me into the walkway. I look around. Please, don't be me. It was someone else. Someone else was called.

My body walks while my mind screams "No!". I stand on stage and stare at the escort in the eyes. I think she says something to me, but I do not reply. I cannot move.

I'm close enough to hear her announce the boy tribute. A boy I don't recognize. Thorn is safe another year. It helps me calm.

The reaped boy appears to be holding back tears. He seems to be staring at a girl in the audience. I think nothing of it. My mind is focused on my siblings, my parents, my little bunny. All things I have to abandon.

The tears start as they take me away.

Flux Lambert, 15

My stomach growling wakes me. I hear a coughing from the bed across the room from me. I move and accidentally elbow my brother, Copper. He usually shares a bed with Bolt, but nobody wants to catch whatever infection he has contracted.

I get out of bed and hold my stomach. I feel a stronger pain in my stomach than usual. I sigh.

I shuffle to the kitchen and see the hollow face of my sister, Giga. She drinks a glass of water and breaks pieces off stale bread.

"Want some?" She asks me. I nod, ripping off a piece for myself. It tastes awful, but I have a feeling it's all I'll be eating today.

I feel a pang in my chest. I have to close my eyes and take a deep breath. Hunger, reapings, Bolt, Lexa, it's overwhelming. I step outside to get some fresh air, hoping it calms me.

I open my eyes and stare at the tree in front of my house. I can vividly picture the day I lost her, the day I insulted her, right there under the tree. I have yet to see her since.

God, why am I such an idiot? Why can't I be like everyone else? Smart, kind, maybe even well fed.

I go back inside and enter our shared room. The two younger ones are up and getting ready, so I decide to do the same. I throw on black dress pants that used to belong to Bolt and a white dress shirt. Nothing fancy, nothing expensive.

I push past my parents, going outside to just walk. I take the longest way possible to the square, giving me a lot of time to think.

I hear a shout from the distance and see two of my friends, Flash and Wyatt. I manage a confident smile and let them come to me.

"Hey! How have you been?" Flash asks me kindly.

"Oh you know, the usual, here and there." I say vaguely.

"So, when are you going to tell us what happened with Lexa? She seems pissed." Wyatt says. I roll my eyes.

"She's a whore, just like I told her. I guess she can't handle the truth." A comment like this used to be so common with me I wouldn't feel a thing. Now, there's a tug on my heart, something I can't describe. Flash and Wyatt exchange a look before the bell rings. I push past them and walk to the square.

I sign in without my friends and see the familiar face of Lexa. She turns away from me immediately, a scold on her face. My heart sinks. I miss her, I truly miss her.

I fidget as the annual reapings begin. My anxiety is increasing as the escort reads her speech and draws the name of the female tribute. She reaps a girl I don't recognize, which helps calm me slightly.

I close my eyes and take a deep breath as she reaps the male.

"Flux Lambert!" My heart drops out of my chest. I sigh. In this moment, I come to the realization I deserve this.

I step onto stage and my eyes find Lexa. She gives me a cold stare, almost like she is happy this happened.

I don't blame her. I am a terrible person.

Let me know what you guys think of these two!