Raya Alinor POV

"So where is Ashley going to go during the reaping? You and me both gotta stand in the roped off area so she doesn't really have anywhere to go."

"Do you think we can just leave her here? Maybe the peacekeepers wont find her. She's pretty small."

"Fat chance Raya."

"Yeah I guess your right."

Maria has been helping me take care of Ashley ever since me and her got stuck here alone. It's sort of a long story, but basically we don't have our parents taking care of us anymore. First, my dad abandoned us when I was ten. Then my mom married that psycho I was forced to call my stepfather. Our life was all fine until he showed up.

First of all, not only was he a total jerk, turns out he was also a rapist. Ya that's right. That horrible man thought I would be fun to rape. It certainly wasn't fun on my part. Of course my mom eventually found out about it. Then guess what he did next? He killed her. Yep, my stepfather was suddenly a murderer. Then he realized I could always tell people. He's so stupid he decided to kill himself instead of me. Oh well, at least I'm still alive.

It's good that I'm still alive I guess since I'm not sure what would happen to Ashley if I was dead too. I suppose she would go off and try and find dad. Or possibly Maria would take care of her. But I somehow doubt Maria would be helpful without me around.

We have to find somebody to take care of Ashley while me and Maria go see if we get reaped. Trust me, I'd much rather stay with Ashley than go to the reaping but it's not like I have much of a choice here. I don't want to have Ashley watch me get tortured to death because I stayed home to take care of her instead of going to the square.

I'm excited for another year's hunger games. It make me sound retarded, but I can't help but enjoy the yearly bloodshed. The games are always so exciting and dramatic. I don't exactly fear the reaping like a lot of kids do. I think it would be kinda cool to go in the games. It would be an opportunity to prove that I'm best.

"Well," I say to Ashley, "I guess you have to go watch kids get reaped!"

Ashley seems somewhat happy about this, which is sort of weird. I don't think she entirely understands the concept of reaping yet. She is still pretty young. I let her climb onto my back and I go find us some appropriate clothes to wear.

Once I'm ready, I help Ashley out by picking out a cute little light pink dress out for her. I sit on the floor in front of her slowly putting her hair into two pigtails with white ribbons. My little sister, all I have left. I smile down on her once I'm done.

Hand in hand, we walk to the square. Ashley stays by me as I prick my finger and assure her that it's alright. Then we go to find Maria who waits with her mother who agreed to take care of Ashley for a short while. Then me and Maria find our way to our marked off area.

The outfits in the capital seem to be getting stupider and stupider. The capital escort wears a ridiculous bright green suit with a lit up yellow tie. His hair sticks up in odd directions and it seems to be dyed a strange range shade. He is burning my eyes.

Finally the strange bright man goes to the first globe full of names. Here we go. The name is drawn and his lips suddenly begin to take form to the name. His capital accent emits and the name is finally spoken. Raya Alinor. That's me.

I push past Maria who looks at me in shock. There's too many people in the way. They give me horrible stares as I violently push them aside. Finally I get past them and make my way up to the retarded looking guy from the capital, my new escort. How wonderful.

Xander Thorn POV

I sit in the sunshine of the morning sun, my bible sitting in my lap. The pages turn in the wind. It's a beautiful day, the sun shines brightly down on me. I can't help but wonder if god made this day so beautiful to keep us cheerful despite the fact that it's the day of the reaping. I believe that he did.

My dad has been teaching me about the wonders of god for as long as I can remember. I want to please my earthly and heavenly father as much as I possibly can. So ever since I read The Da Vinci Code, I've been practising corporal modification in hope of cleansing my soul.

I brush my hands through the soft green grass, feeling the earth between my fingertips. There isn't much lush areas in District 6 considering we create transportation vehicles and most of the district is covered in train tracks and roads. It's great to break away from all of it and go to my secret place.

My secret place is a little ways from the Hall of Justice and most of the houses. That's why it's so peaceful, a great place to just sit, read and pray. My secret place is the perfect place to worship God. I'm sure he looks at me in contentment each time I come here with my bible in hand.

I'm ready for the reaping already. I plan to not leave my secret place until I have to. Then I will go and see if I am chosen to go to the Capital as a tribute. Once the time comes for me to leave, I will mouth one last prayer and head down to the square where my family will be waiting.

Would got forgive me if I left a little early? If I repent, he surely will. So I decide to leave a little early so I can walk around the town and see the district for what might be the last time. I say a quick prayer and take my bible down the hill where my secret place is located, desperately hoping for God's forgiveness.

I try to keep a steady pace while going down the hill, for I will surely fall if I don't. I always take precautions in these situations. I take a glimpse back then continue on my way.

The streets are loud with people trying to do their jobs despite their worries about their children being reaped. It seems nobody has taken their place at the square yet. I'll be the very first one there. This may possibly help me gain approval from the peacekeepers. I'll be the smart boy who arrived early before the crowd.

I line up by myself before the table. The peacekeeper looks up at me, "Little early are we?"

"I want to avoid the crowd so I don' get trampled."

"Suit yourself."

He quickly pricks my finger and lets me move to my place, where I stand alone, watching them all get set up. I gaze at the seal of Panem for a moment then I notice more people coming in, taking their paces. Slowly the square fills up. Terrified children stand around me.

Once the square is finally filled up, the speech is given. You could almost feel the heartbeats of the kids near you slowly speeding up as the drawing of the names approached. Then it was time. The girl was finally reaped. Then me. I was reaped. I was going into the arena.