Haelle Windsor

Haelle walked wither brother to the square. He was so much taller than her, even though she was a year older. They had to leave pretty early to make it to the square on time. Haelle and her family lived on the edge of the Seam, far from the center of Twelve. But it was quiet. Not loud like the main part of the district, where the merchants lived and worked. Haelle liked her quiet. She only ventured to the square for the Reapings, and when she came to sell wool. It wasn't that often, because she only had one sheep, Binky. But Haelle was able to make good money off of the wool, enough so she didn't have to take out tesserae. But there was always the Reaping.

Mayor Chadwick took the stage at two, and walking alongside him was Twelve's new escort. Haelle didn't know her name, or anything about her, but it didn't stop her from hating the woman immediately.

Minnia Mitchell

"Allow me to introduce, Miss Elba Padric, our new Capitol Escort." Said the mayor unexcitedly. Minnia was glad to have a mayor who disliked the Capitol as much as his district did, and Twelve probably hated the Capitol more than anyone. Ever since the infamous Everdeen-Mellark pair in the 74th games, and the rebellion that followed them, Twelve had barely had a tribute that survived the bloodbath. They'd had a victor, but Minnia felt that Vick Hawthorne's win was to ease the minds of Twelve that the Capitol was not doing this to them personally.

"Thank you, Mayor Chadwick for that lovely introduction. Now, let's begin the Reaping." Elba took the microphone from the podium and walked over to the girl's ball and pulled the first name.

"Minnia Mitchell." Called Elba. Minnia froze.

She was going to die.

Ula Leeky

Ula saw the girl as she stepped from her group. She was older, seventeen. She'd have better odds in the arena than a younger kid. That's what Ula was waiting for; A younger kid that she could save. Yes, she was volunteering, because she had nothing to lose in the arena. Ula was sick, she was already dying. No doctor in twelve was able to find out what was wrong with her. Only the Capitol could help her. So why not risk it. If she died, so what. If she won, then she would have the money and Capitol resources to get well. This was her only chance.

"Our next tribute is… Haelle Windsor." Ula looked for the girl, who stepped from the group closest to the stage. Eighteen. At this rate Ula'd be volunteering for whichever tribute came last, even if they were older. However, as Elba called the third name, a girl name Wren Grissa, Ula saw that she was only thirteen. Too young.

"I volunteer!' she shouted. She left her group, taking in the shocked faces of her friends, none of whom knew about her illness. They probably just thought she was crazy. But the girl, Wren, hugged her around the waist, and Ula was suddenly happy about her choice.

Evie-Ellen Corona

Evie watched in amazement as someone volunteered for her friend Wren. She'd been terrified when she heard Wren's name called, but this other girl saved her. She was on the stage now, with the Escort, and Evie heard her name, Ula. Pretty, she thought. Evie saw Wren take her place back in her group, and Ula was standing with the tributes.

"A volunteer, how exciting. Now, time for the final girl." Elba dug deep into the ball and pulled out the last slip.

"Our last female tribute is… Evie-Ellen Corona." Evie held back a scream. She was scared. Her name had only been in there once. Once!

Parker Dust

Parker felt horrible when he saw the little merchant girl being led to the stage by Peacekeepers. She tripped on the steep steps, and Elba had to help her the rest of the way up. She was crying, and Parker couldn't blame her. The younger you were, the less likely your chances of winning are. The older kids are stronger, smarter, and able to control themselves better.

When the girl was with the tributes, Elba went back to work. She had drawn the first slip from the boys' ball within seconds, and was already reading the name out.

"Parker Dust."

Haden Plutoran

Haden stared ahead. Of the five tributes on stage right now, four were kids from the Seam. Only the really young girl was a merchant kid. Haden could tell by her blonde hair. Hardly anyone in the Seam had light hair. But Haden did. His grandparents had been part of the merchant class, but then the lost everything and moved to the Seam. His father was from the Seam, which was where Haden's little sister got her coloring. Persepha had the black hair and olive skin of the Seam. Haden was like his mother, blonde and fair-skinned. He wondered if other districts had discernible looks to them.

He came back to reality when a Peacekeeper suddenly grabbed him by the arm. He was dragged to the aisle and told to go. Go where?

"Mister Plutoran, if you will proceed to the stage." Said Elba calmly. Had…had he been reaped?

Whytt Ulric

Whytt knew Haden. They lived in the same area of the Seam. He was a year older than the kid, but they were friends. Whytt's brother was one of the Seam's hunters, and when he brought back his kills Haden would help them clean the animals. Whytt wanted to become a hunter like his brother, but Lambert refused to teach him, saying he didn't want his brother risking his life for illegal food. So he and Haden were stuck working at the mines, wheeling coal from the mine carts to the train station. It was horrible pay, but it was something. Now Haden's family was losing that pay, that little bit that kept them fed. Hopefully Lambert could spare a few kills for Whytt's friend.

"Our next tribute is…" Whytt watched as Elba plucked the first slip she came to, right on top of the pile. The square went quiet as se read the name.

"Lawson Charion."

Lawson Charion

Lawson couldn't move. He saw the Peacekeepers coming for him, but their head were down. They knew him, that's why. Lawson's dad was Twelve's Head Peacekeeper, so of course these guys knew him. He'd been to all the Peacekeeper functions with the mayor. He'd wanted to go to Two someday to be trained as a Peacekeeper himself. But now that couldn't happen. Instead, he was going to the Capitol, to be paraded around like a celebrity, only to be killed later on.

Lawson walked with the Peacekeepers, Roddick and Palmer, to the stage. He allowed Elba to help him, even though he didn't need it. He took his place, silently, with the other tributes, and waited for the Reaping to be over. Elba went back to the Reaping ball, pulled out the last slip, and called out the name.

"Whytt Ulric." Lawson saw the kid step forward after a moment. He was shaking as he walked, and looked like he was about to be sick.