Swann Galloway POV

Slam my eyes shoot open and I groan, wishing I could just go back to sleep. My best friend Kate runs into the room, her wavy brown hair tangled, her face looking excited and nervous at the same time. "Today's reaping day, we have to hurry!"

"W...what?" I stutter, still half asleep.

"Me, you, reapings!" She says, exaggerating her movements.

"Oh, I forgot. I jump out of bed and run to my mirror, brushing out my vintage style blonde ringlets and touching up my hazel eyes with a bit of mascara.

"Are you nervous?"

"Yeah, of course, but I doubt I'll get picked. If I did, I don't know what I'd do."

"Hmm. I am too. But not a ton, I'm pretty sure tgat I won't get picked either." I hear clumping downstairs and my mother, Kali's voice calls up to us.

"Swann, made a special breakfast! You can have some too, Kate."

"One sec, I need to get dressed" I call back down, quickly pulling on white jeans, a light blue tee shirt and tall brown boots. We run down the stairs and sit down at the kitchen table. "Only three more reapings After today." I say, looking at my parents. They nod at me worriedly, as doubt crosses their faces

"Yes, then you'll be safe."

"Yeah." We eat in silence until their is a loud knock at our back door and Kate runs to let in our other friend, Stephan. He grins.

"Hey guys! One hour..." I check the clock made and Kate stand up.

"Yeah, we should go shouldn't we." We walk out the door and begin the walk to the Justice Building. We stand in the long line, waiting to get our pricks. I wonder how I come off to everyone, if I seem upbeat and happy; My goal, or if I seem sad, like I am sometimes on the inside. Honestly, I don't understand it. Sometimes I just feel sad, like I'm nothing...

"Now!" A glaring peacekeeper pulls me from my thoughts and I give her my hand. She stabs me extra hard and then pushes me on. Kate and I walk to the 15 year old girl section while Stephan heads to the 14 boy part. We wait for about twenty minutes before the escort Cornia Roi walks up to the podium, flowering as usual.

"Happy Hunger Games everyone. Ready to see two more of your kiddies die?" The district is silent, the children quivering with anticipation. "Well, let's get this party on the road." She pushes a button and the same old video turns on. I swear tgat this video has got to be 100 years old, seriously. Once it's over, Cornia shrugs and walks over to the girls bowl. "The girl is" she draws a name and I hold my breath. "Swann Galloway." Its me. Dear God, it's me. Silent tears pour down my face, I can't hold them back. Its me. I can't hold it any more, I begin to sob, louder and louder, as I walk up to the stage. This isn't right! It can't be me. It can't...

Cypress Hampton POV

I sit at my little table, trying to comfort my little sister, Verta, who is starting her first reaping Today. its my last, but her fear has only just begun. "It's okay, you're not going to get picked." She hugs me.

"I'm glad you're almost safe though. Once I'm done too, can I be like you?" I smile, happy that she wants to follow in my footsteps. Being a member of a small lumberjack camp in the outskirts of the district is actually a wonderful life, so free, to be with nature and happiness, away from the paper mills, the smog, the dust. Though I may come off as a bit of a brute to some because of my size, I'm really not. In fact, I couldn't hurt a fly. I'm muscular and bulky because I'm a lumberjack. No one seems to realize that. Mother and father are already at the mills working, but Verta and I are waiting for my friend Vern, another lumberjack, and my girlfriend Lima, with her light brown hair and beautiful blue eyes. Verta stares up at me.

"But don't get picked today, okay?"

"I don't think I will, truly." I run My fingers through my shaggy red hair and rub my brown eyes. "We had probably start walking soon."

"Yes, probably. Cypress, I'm afraid. I don't want to get picked."

"You won't. I'm sure of it."

"Fine. Lets go." If I do get picked... well, I pray that I won't, because I couldn't kill a child, But of I did, I'm huge, 6'8" and almost 230 pounds. The other tributes would be scared immediately. But I won't get picked, I won't. Absolutely not. I guess we don't have time to wait for Vern and Lima, either. Oh, seriously, there's no way I can distract myself right now. I'm less worried for me than for Verta. She can't go in. She won't get picked, She won't... oh, wow, were here already. We wedge ourselves into the long line of kids waiting to sign in and avoid the accusing gazes of the richer kids. They don't know what they're missing in life. Verta holds out her hand and gets her prick and then waves sadly to me and walks to the 12 year old girl section. I get mine and head to the eighteen year old boy part, waiting for the escort to cone and finish this horrible day. Then I'll be free, safe.

"Happy Hunger Games everyone. Ready to see two more of your kiddies die?" I so he out the rest of her speech and the video. What a monster. Waht a cruel woman. When she calls the girls name, I am saddened to see a sweet, terrified 15 year old girl walk up onto the stage crying. How can the capital Do this? "And our boy is... Cypress Hampton." Me. Me. I begin to walk t the stage, stone faced, trying to ignore Verta's screams of sadness. I must stay strong, for her. Only for her. "Everyone, this year's district seven tributes!" We shake hands and I close my eyes. I'm going to die.

Swann Galloway POV

I slump onto the floor, crying harder then I've ever cried before. Not only am I going into the games, but my partner is an oaf! He's huge! He could kill me with his fist alone. I'm going to dIe, I don't want to die, I want to live. Why must I die? The door opens and Kate walks in alone, her eyes puffy and red. "Your... Your parents couldn't come. Work or something... oh, Swann, I'm so sorry! Come back Swann, kill them, come home. Do what you must. COME HOME!" She pleads with me, crying. We hug eachother.

"I want to come home, I really do. But I can't, you have to understand Kate, I can't come home. I really can't. Because I can't kill. I won't kill. Unless..."

"Times up!"

"Just win, please!" She screams as she's dragged from the room and I'm pushed to the train.

Cypress Hampton POV

I stand silently in my waiting room, still unable to grasp that I'm going into the games. At least it's not Verta though, that's something. The thing is, I'm happy. I'm not ready to die, to let this world go black. I suppose that it must be though. The door opens and Verta walks shaking in, biting her lip. "You said you wouldn't get picked. You said! But... But... you will come back, right? You'll win, you'll come home?" I don't want to promise her. I can't promise her, because I'd only break it, but I can't let her hopes diminish completely.

"Maybe. Its possible. But... if I don't, will you... you know, be like me? Carry me on?" She understands what I'm saying.

"Yeah. Yes, I'll' carry you on'. But you must return."

"I love you Verta. More than anything else in the world. Truly."

"And I love you more than anything else in the universe."

"TIMES UP!"

"No!" Verta clings to me but she is dragged away by a peacekeeper as I am led to the train. Goodbye Verta. Carry me on.

Alright, those are our district sevens! Thanks to angelofmusic4ever for Swann and Infamouskal420 for Cypress! Please review this chapter, remember, ten points per good sized review! Also, please guys, The sponsor item list is on my bio, a bit down. You can preorder items on there using the form I included. All preordered items will be received by your chosen tribute in the bloodbath. Please review! Thanks!

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