Chapter 3: District 3, 4 and 5 Reaping

District 3 Reaping

Sixteen year old Xander Mufflow woke up early on the morning of Reaping Day. He was surprised that he had woken so early, the night before he had to stay up late to help his sister through one of her fits.

Slowly he went through the lazy movements of the morning, he ate breakfast, brushed his teeth, got dressed and what not. This was the day that he was going to become a true career. He was a bit excited. He stretched a bit and limbered up before heading out to the kitchen to have breakfast with his family. It was awkward, to say the least. His parents kept looking up at him giving him this look that said, 'you had better volunteer this year.'

He felt a little pain in his chest knowing that he wouldn't be there to protect her. Their parents didn't take much care of her, since what they had wanted all their lives was to have their children win. Win, at anything really. So they had left his sister up to him.

Together, they walked to the reaping, chatting about useless nothings. He walked her over to her area, not wanting to say goodbye yet, but the walk was quick, and soon he was leaving her behind, knowing that everything would be different the next time they met.

Then the reaping began. The mayor saying the speech that he said every year. Xander didn't fully hate the speech, it talked about the braveness of the tributes. Yes, Xander was going to be brave for his district and make his parents proud. And he would be back to help his sister. They lady reached in and pulled out a girl's name. Before the girl's eyes could widen two other girls volunteered. The mayor sorted it out by picking the older one and then they were on to the boys.

"An-"

"I volunteer!" He yelled.

Well, whoever's name was called won't have to have his eyes widen at all.

[*]

He sat down for one minute before the door flung open.

"Good job, son. Finally making something of yourself. "

"Well, anyway, son, win. Impress the rich guys and then go for everyone in that field. Make sure to make alliances. But don't sleep near them. They'll kill you in the night." His mother said. The man at the door beckoned that it was time for them to leave and his father slipped something in his hand. A dead battery. "Remember your district, son."

"Oh," he said as he went to leave, "what's-her-face came to say goodbye."

"You mean my sister? Your daughter?" He yelled, as his father walked to the door.

"Yeah, her." He said passingly over his shoulder.

District 4 Reaping

District Four reaping's were always very boring. Sometimes they didn't even pull the names they just let the people scream out, 'I volunteer!' Most kids just wanted to get out of fishing. The kids around here were built for the tough job of fishing. It payed off in the games.

That year two dumb kids were picked, they were twins and didn't realize that they might have to kill each other in the end. Reic and Reili Flin. They just didn't know what they were getting into.

District 5 Reaping

Tallis Kinch nervously waited in his group with his friends. The familiar feeling of pure terror raised up in him like it did every year on this day, but he took comfort in the fact that this was his last year eligible as a tribute.

The crowd around him was incredibly loud, it seemed as though everyone in there was talking at top volume, but when a short woman with bright green hair and magenta eyebrows walked onto the stage, everyone quieted to a less loud, but still noisy, whisper. "Welcome, friends," she screamed into the mike. "To 28th Hunger Games Reaping." Tallis snorted at her ignorance, he was certainly not her friend.

"Becoming a tribute is a great honor not only to you, but to your entire district." Honorable, until they start killing each other."It is a long standing tradition that the Capitol is proud to sponsor and uphold. It started 28 years ago as a punishment for the crimes committed by the districts against the Capitol and the welfare of the people. It transformed into something greater. It turned into a friendly competition between all of the districts in Panem and a way for an individual to become something more." Friendly competition? Is she serious? How is killing innocent children friendly?"The Districts get to show their children and give them the chance to succeed; they can become stars and help their districts and their people." Tallis looked at her in awe. He never thought that he'd ever know a person as idiotic as her, how could she be saying these things? "And now, the time comes to announce the tributes for the 28th annual hunger games!" She yelled into the microphone trying to get everyone excited. She failed. "How about we start with the boys?" Her hand reached into the glass ball and felt my heart go into my stomach as it always does at this point. "Tallis Kinch!" His hands shook, his knees almost gave out, but walked forward. He couldn't see straight, his eyes failing him as he walked to the stage. This was not going to end well.

Celene Irvine watched with pity. His poor family, he looked strong but that didn't mean an automatic win. The lady reached her hand into the other bowl to pick the girl tribute. "Celene Irvine." Celene walked up to the stage quickly with a shocked expression. She didn't want to go, but didn't want her sister to volunteer either. They stood on the stage together. "May I present to you the tributes for the 28th Hunger Games."

[*]

Celene sat in a small room, waiting, fingering her mother's necklace. "Lena!" Shouted her little brother.

"Hey, you. I'm going to be all right." She said.

"Well, yeah. You have to be."

"I should have volunteered for you! I hate this, I hate the games!" Her younger sister yelled before bursting out in tears.

"I wouldn't have let you anyway." Celene said calmly. Her father came up and hugged her with tears in his eyes.

"Stay safe. Do whatever you need to do. We'll be here for you when you come back." Her father whispered. "Your mother will keep watch over you."

[*]

He sat down and the door opened to show the depressed, but hopeful faces of his family. Father, Mother, and two sisters, all looking like the grim reaper had already taken him.

"I'll fight! I'll win guys! I'll be back."

"I'm sure you will, son, but that doesn't change the fact that my only son is going in a life-threatening game. Naturally, we're worried." He said, trying to add some humor to the deadly, serious situation.

"I'll win!"

"Well, you don't really have the track record of the careers. You don't fight. At all. You've never thrown a punch." His sister said, annoyed.

"Well, I'll get over that. I will. I'm going to win, for you guys."

"Just do the right thing, son." His father called as the guards ushered the family out.

A/N We'd like to apologize for the long delay between the updates. Due to certain circumstances, we had some trouble writing this chapter. Thanks to all who read and we hope you like it so far :)