Seriah Jamison, 14

The wind blows through my hair. I stand up straight on the branch. I feel it wiggle below me, but I keep my balance. I close my eyes and hold my arms to my side. I could be flying, like a bird. I could fly away from the shit show that is my life.

I climb back to a safe spot in the branches as I hear footsteps in the distance. I can tell by the gait that it's Jeff. I shouldn't be surprised, he cares more about me than my own damn mother.

For a second, I think he can't see me. But I am proven wrong when he looks directly up at me.

"It's time to come down, now." He says in his best brother-like voice. I fake whine before climbing down.

"Why do you have to ruin everything?" I ask with a wink. That gets a smile out of him.

"Someone has to keep you in line, kid. C'mon, let's go." I nod and hop in front of him, making me the one in charge. It makes me feel better about myself, anyway.

The walk to our shack is short and sweet. I pray my mother is no where to be seen when I enter. Aunt Mollie is sweet as can be, yet I cannot same the say about her sister. I wish my mother had the same genes.

Unfortunately for me, they are both standing in the entrance as we walk in. I feel my body tense up.

"Where the hell were you?" She scolds me. I roll my eyes out of habit.

"What's it to you?" I regret the words I say as soon as I say them. I try to hide the fear, but my heartbeat races a million miles an hour. I see my mother's face turn a shade of red, but she stays silent.

"Just get your siblings ready for the damn reapings." I don't know if it was a dismissal, but I take it as one. I rush to my bedroom as the tears start. I run face first into my oldest sibling, Kinsley. No words have to be exchanged for her to know what happened. She pulls me into a hug and we sit on our bed together.

"Why does she have to be such an asshole?" I ask her. She shrugs.

"She's always been like that, even before dad was killed. She definitely got worse after that, though." Kinsley answers with a sigh.

"She's an ass." I state. After a few minutes consoling me, I decide it's time to get dressed. I find one of Kinsley's old dresses, a long sleeved brown one, that'll fit me. I slip it on over my clothes and straighten it out. She hands me a pearl necklace, her good luck charm for the past 6 years she's had to endure at the reapings. With this her last, she needs more luck than me, but I do not refuse the token. It makes me happy.

I see Jeff leaving our room and decide to follow him. His little sister, Cara, decides to join us. Jeff takes her by the hand and it makes me smile. He's a good guy.

We walk slowly towards the reaping. I hear Jeff and Cara make small talk, but my mind is lost elsewhere. I always dream about living somewhere else, maybe a richer district, maybe even the Capitol. I'd have a mother who loved me and a father who was still alive, not brutally murdered in front of me at the young age of ten. That's a recurring nightmare I've had one too many times.

Before I know it we're at the square. We sign in and take our place with the rest of the cattle. I hold my head high as the reapings begin. It won't be me this year. It can't.

The escort pulls out a single name and I keep thinking that it won't be me. It's not going to be me. I'll be safe another year.

"Our female tribute…Seriah Jamison!" It's me. It's me, of course it's me.

I feel my body start to shake. I'm dead. I know I'm dead meat.

Fuck, why did it have to be me?

Jeff Hopkins, 18

I walk through the leaves, keeping my eyes up in the branches that hang above me. I know I'll find her here, it's just a matter of finding exactly where.

I hear a quiet rustle to my left side and turn my head in that direction. While she blends in very well, I make out her brown hair.

"It's time to come down, now." I say, crossing my arms. I hear an audible whine from the trees, followed by rustling. The rustling gets lower and lower until my cousin appears.

"Why do you have to ruin everything?" Seriah says with a wink.

"Someone has to keep you in line, kid. C'mon, let's go." She hops in front of me and I follow behind.

On a normal day, I'd let her stay out here and frolic in the woods. She stays out of trouble when she's alone. But today I have to be the bad guy, the one to force her to dress decently and take her to the reapings. Despite living with seven other children, Seriah has always been my favorite. She doesn't take shit from anybody. I respect that.

We arrive to our run down house. I shake my head as we enter. Capitol citizens are living in luxury, yet a family of 11 has to cram into a two bedroom shack near the woods? Disgusting.

We enter the shack and see my mother and her sister. My mother smiles at me, but she can never hide the sadness that lurks between her corneas. I give a weak smile back. I am not a smily kind of guy.

"Where the hell were you?" My aunt, Aishley, looks at Seriah. Seriah rolls her eyes.

"What's it to you?" I can tell she regrets the words as soon as they leave her mouth. I see her brown eyes widen with fear. Aishley's face turns red, but she stays calm.

"Just get your siblings ready for the damn reapings." With that, Seriah nods and almost sprints to our bedroom.

"Oh honey, you have to be nicer to her." My mother says softly to my aunt. I follow Seriah before I get dragged into this conversation.

I see Seriah sitting on her bed, knees wrapped to her chest. Kinsley sits by her, hugging her tightly. "She's an ass." I hear her whisper. I agree.

I let them have a heart to heart sister moment before going into our shared closet. I find a black button up with black slacks, both belonging to my late father. Even though it's been years, I miss him dearly.

I turn around and get dressed quickly, hoping no small child comes towards me. I finish quickly and go into the bathroom, running some water into my hands and using it to brush my hair back.

My last reapings. Then, I never have to worry about the Capitol taking me and using me for their pleasure. My siblings and cousins aren't so lucky, however. I think about little Cara, sweet quiet Cara in those Games, surrounded by bloodthirsty Careers. The thought angers me.

I leave the washroom as my family is finishing getting ready for the reapings. I take a good look around the room. So many young, and pure children, at risk for a sentence to death. It's harsh.

I follow everybody out of the bedroom and to the kitchen. I am not hungry, so I continue to walk outside of our house. I hear footsteps behind me and see Seriah and Cara following me. I take Cara by the hand and let Seriah lead the way.

"Will I be reaped?" Cara's little eyes look up at me. I shake my head.

"You are safe." I say confidently, even though there's no way for me to know for sure. Anything can happen out there.

We sign in together and separate to stand in our sections. Other children seem to step away from me. I can tell I scare them.

The reapings start and I wish it could all be over. The escort makes me roll her eyes, but I start to focus when she picks the female tribute.

"Seriah Jamison!" My heart drops to my stomach. My cousin is fighting in the arena? I wish I could stop her from walking up to that stage, but I am frozen in place. I can tell she's utterly terrified.

"Jeff Hopkins!" I give a confused look before I realize I was reaped. Why us? I walk up to the stage, annoyed my family is suffering from the Capitol's decision. I become sad once I realize only one of us can return home.

I'll protect her as long as I can. She deserves to live.

These are my two babies (along with Carter in Eight) so e nice in the reviews ;) (just kidding, you can roast them, idc)

But seriously, let me know what you think!