After this chapter we are officially done with the reapings, and only two chapters away from the launch/bloodbath. Are you excited?:)

Also, Jayanti is Gender-Fluid. I want to apologize if I don't display the traits of a person who experiences Gender Fluidity correctly. I've read into it, but we can see how this goes. So again, I apologize if it's not...good.

You may say I'm a dreamer,

but I'm not the only one.

I hope someday you will join us,

and the earth will be as one.

Edith Blackwood

Reawakened Tribute # 22

Huckleberry's Group

The games are cruel.

I remember everything. Killing, Tyler, Cress, being killed. It's all still there. The images of my past haunt me like a tattered black and white photo in a frame. The faces of the people of my past, the alliances, the friends, Cress. They stare at me like a ghost standing in front of these hospital beds.

I am changed.

I will never be the same after what I experienced. You see those careers, and other people that somehow overcome the odds and win the games, but then they don't flinch. They don't look like they've lost sleep, they don't look like they've had anything wrong happened. Just a blimp in the road the get to where they need to be. I'm jealous.

I wish things were that easy for me. I wish I wasn't feeling like I shouldn't be alive. I should have died out there. I should have allowed myself to just die, and accept my fate.

Some fates are worse than death.

Maybe I'm in hell. Forced to see pictures of my past. Forced to look at the ghost that preside there over and over in my mind. Constantly battling the urge to scream, or to let all my anger out. There had to be at least a million slips in District 7's female bowl. Here I was the lucky one selected.

"Hello..?" I call out from the bed. I'm fighting the urge to get up, because I know that will only bring problems for me with whatever staff they have here.

I know I died. I remember the feeling I felt when I knew Cress was making it out of that arena. I wonder what happened to him?

A burly hairy man strolls into my hospital room. He smiles at me as I lay there. My face is unmoving. I used to always want to return a smile, but now it's just futile. There's no point.

"Edith, I'm going to make you feel much better." says the man nicely. He holds a little black watch in his hand, that I can't imagine will fit around his giant wrist. He walks over to the bed I'm staying in, and reaches for my wrist. I almost want to hope that whatever he is going to do, that he will make me feel better. Hope is just something that people hold onto when they're weak. I'm weak.

He presses a few buttons, and the hope that I once hold was something that once again let me dow-

16 Years after Reawakening

Edith Blackwood, 16

Huckleberry's Group

District 7 Female

It's the last day of school, and I couldn't be more excited! This is something that I've been counting down for all year. Hello to the beach, and late nights, and bonfires! I'm just so excited.

"Edith!" screams dad from downstairs. "It's time for you to come and eat breakfast. You don't want to be late for the last day at school!"

Little does he know, I'd like nothing more than to be late, or even miss it. All we are going to do today is go to Iris' class for a couple of hours and get some combative training done, and then we will get the list of where we rank for the year.

I never rank very high. I'm just not that good at this training stuff..I'm just...average? I mean if this was in terms of the old Hunger Games, where everything would be normal, and there was outer districts who didn't know what they were doing, I'd be above average. I'd be stronger than most of them even.

This isn't a normal Hunger Games though, and instead of me being one of the best there is people like Ares, Honora, Artemis, Joseph, and Wyatt. Shoot even Jinx scares me a lot to be completely honest.

I've known since we've started competing in this rank assessment that I was never going to accomplish anything in it. Being where I am, and falling where I do isn't the problem. I'm not worried about losing. I trust my friendships that I've made.

A knock on my door sends me wheeling back into reality when I'm staring at Jayanti. He is giving me a look of urgency and motions for me to follow him downstairs to the breakfast table. I follow him down the stairs, and sit down. A spread of omelettes and pancakes, waffles, all you could possibly think of sits on the table. Dad always goes all out on the last day of school.

"What took you so long coming down?" ask dad as everyone is at the table.

"I just got a little distracted." I say as I plop a waffle on my plate and begin to fill every hole in it with syrup. Dad clears his throat, and that lets us know that he's going to be giving us an announcement about the day.

"Guys, today is a very important day. It's the last day of school, and next year, you'll be nothing but training with Iris, and one class a day with the rest of us. This summer is your last summer of true freedom, because you won't be getting one next year. So I want you to enjoy yourself. I'm not saying there are no rules, because there has to be rules, but I am saying that you can get away with a little more this summer."

We stare at each other in happiness, and dad continues on his lecture rant hybrid thing. I look across the table at Artemis who nods, and I know we are going to have an awesome summer together.

"So, like, we can ask boys over?" ask Carmen with a sheepish grin on her face.

"Like I said." dad says with an annoyed look. "Some rules. Eat your fruit everyone. We're leaving in 10."

We quickly inhale the food that is sitting on the table, when we were done we took our plates in the sink, and Artemis glances at me, and hands me a note.

Secret meeting tonight.

Let Vera and Edith know.

-Carmen

We decided last night after Carmen and Vera originated this that we would be a group going into the games. I'm probably last on that totem pole, but it's better than the alliance I did have consisting of zero.

I would probably ask about the minor details of where and what time, however, I live with two out of the 3 girls I am in the alliance with, and I doubt they would leave me out.

We pile out of the kitchen, and walk to the car, as dad hops in the drivers seat. We are driving down the road, and are about to turn into the school, when we see there is a group of picketers standing in front of the doorway.

They are holding up signs that read "DOWN WITH HUNGER GAMES!" and "KIDS ARE KIDS, NOT KILLERS."

We knew that something like these people existed, and we knew that they protested in places all the time, but this is the first time that anyone has ever stood in front of our academy and tried to stop us from entering.

Dad tells us to be brave, and to just keep walking.

"Don't be afraid to throw an elbow or two." he says.

"Cool." mutters Artemis as we get out of the car and walk towards the crowd.

I've been roaming around, always looking down at what I see.

Painted faces, fill the spaces I can't reach.

You know that I could use somebody.

You know that I could use somebody.

Jayanti Haeok

Reawakened Tribute # 23

Huckleberry's Group

Not surprised 22nd is the number I see printed next to my name in my file. I probably shouldn't be looking at this, but I don't know where I am, and I'm a little nervous.

I hear people out in the hall talking. "He wasn't awake the last time I walked in." says a female voice.

I'm not a he. I'm not a she. I don't like the pronouns. If they need to use one other than my name I prefer it to be they or them. Not that I would ever correct them on it. I'm not the type to be brassy, or ballsy.

"Go check on him, Pam." says a male voice.

I slam the file back onto the table, and run back to the bed. I managed to still stay connected to all the wires that they had on me. I crawl under the covers, and close my eyes to pretend I'm asleep.

"Doctor, he's still out."

They. I think. They are still out.

"What percentage?"

"Says 100% complete on the monitor."

"Put the watch on, and then press the travel button. Then bring that hot body of yours to that breakroom."

I hear a giggle as the nurse lifts up my arm, and puts some kind of a bracelet on. I begin to hear buttons being pushed, and then-

16 Years after Reawakening

Jayanti Haeok, 16

Huckleberry's Group

District 6 Male

Walking in this morning was awful. There was so much screaming. So much yelling. People were touching me, and grabbing ahold of me. They told me to run, and that I should be able to live a normal life.

How am I supposed to know what normal is though, when my definition of normal isn't what the world sees?

Whether people realize it or not, this is normal for me. This is where I find solace. It's a system of where I can know there will be consistency and I know that nothing, other than ranks potentially, will change.

Growing up in a family like my dad's wasn't easy. Especially when we were younger. My dad is something called a Fuck boy, and he wasn't afraid of showing the status as the younger years went on. Secretly, I think him and Mack are seeing each other, but that's just from observation.

I'm often the person that goes unnoticed. The person who fades into the background, and doesn't talk. I just listen. When you listen to people you hear the real them. I know everything that goes on in the academy. I know that Sylvia hates Jade. I see it in her face when Jade turns around. I know that Ares and Honora secretly appreciate the competition that the opposite provides during this time of the training. I know that the girls in my house, minus Ava, have an all girl's alliance that are going into the games together.

I know a lot.

"We have a simple day ahead of us." says Iris. "Go to your choice of weapons, and then let it rip. Today is all about practicing,and making this the best games that you can for yourself. In about three hours I'll come back and we will get the scores." she says with a clipboard, that probably already has the scores on it.

Bap makes his way over to me when everyone starts to disperse. I like Bap because he doesn't talk like me. It's not that we can't, we just prefer silence. There isn't any pressure on this friendship. It just is.

He smiles lightly as he approaches me, and we walk over to the treadmills. We've never been good with weapons, so doing them now seem pointless. Beides, playing in the Hunger Games never really worked well when all you had was combative skills. Agility can work just as well.

We start the treadmill going at a low pace. We don't bother stretching, we won't be working that hard today anyways. And we just watch the people that we've grown up with. It's funny. I can tell you the things that they try and keep secret, but if you asked me something personal about them, like their desires and wants, I couldn't tell you. Even with my siblings. It's sad really. We've grown up together for 12 years now. You'd think you'd know anything about anyone if you were together that long.

Oh, how people only let you see what they want.

Nobody in here wants to appear weak, but the thing is they all have their flaws. Whether it be the perfect career tribute from District 4, to the brute from 12. There is something that makes them tick. Something that makes them vulnerable.

I guess that's just what happens when you're the wallpaper to a room full of people.

"The meeting will be at the skate park tonight." says Carmen as she and Vera are walking to the elliptical machine.

"What if Honora finds out?"

"She won't. She's too busy obsessing over the ranks. I have it under good authority she is going to be ranked Victor this time." says Carmen.

"She'll want me to celebrate with her." says Vera nervously.

"Let me worry about that. You just get there tonight."

Carmen watches Vera mount the elliptical and then walks over to Ares at the spear section. He is throwing with nearly perfect accuracy and is doing a mighty bad job at showing his lack of frustration because of it.

I look over to Bap and hold up a finger signifying that I will be back. I follow Carmen to the spears, and sit on the bench close enough to where I can hear, but not enough to draw attention to myself for being too close.

"Honora has been talking all kind of crap about you since this morning. She keeps saying how she's going to win today. How you can never beat her at anything, and when it's all said and done, you're nothing but a loser. You'll always be a loser."

Ares looks at her surprised, and then throws a spear that lands dead in the center of the target.

"We'll see." says Ares as he walks over to the station that Honora is at, and you don't have to be next to them to know that a fight is ensuing. Ares is screaming, and that vein that pops out of his head when he is angry is sticking out. Honora looks confused, but she's not one to back down from a fight.

I look over to Carmen and she is over on the elliptical with a relieved looking Vera. I think we've all given Carmen a misjudgement. I know I have. The girl is scary. She's good at what she does, and while she might not be able to tell you book stuff, Carmen just manipulated this situation flawlessly.

I walk back over to the treadmills, which is a lot closer to the fight than the bench, and begin to run again. I can hear the argument very clearly as neither of them have been really worried about hiding the fact that they're mad at each other.

"How could you say all that stuff! I thought we were finally at a good place, Honora!"

"Ares, I don't even know what you're talking about! Chill dude!" she retaliates.

Ares rolls his eyes and throws his hands up. He turns around and seems to be talking to everyone. "You never know! Want to know what I know though? You're a bitch! Always have been, and always will be one."

"Ares, you're picking a war you don't want to start." says Honora calmly.

"Street fight." says Ares. "You. Me. Tonight."

"Good," says Honora with a brave face on. "When I kick your ass, which we both know I will, I'll walk away and laugh as you're a bloody heap on the floor."

"There will be none of that." says Iris as she walks back into the room. "Honestly, I can't leave you guys alone for 5 minutes without you threatening each other. Ares and Honora, go to your mom's room. She wants to see you guys."

Honora and Ares roll their eyes as they walk out of the room, and head towards Chanel's class.

Yes, we severely underestimated Carmen, but now I just want to know what this meeting is about.

Bap and I run for two more hours, and then Iris stands up from the corner that she was sitting in ever since Carmen happened.

"It's time to go get the scores. Let's go people, hussle!" she hollers as we make our way to the auditorium.

Young hearts, out our minds.

Run until we're out of time.

Wild child's, lookin good,

living life just like we should.

Artemis Merone

Reawakened Tribute # 24

Huckleberry's Group

"WHAT DO YOU MEAN I DIED?!

I'm infuriated. This nurse better recognize who she is talking to, and understand that I don't like jokes like this. This is not a laughing matter. I'm sitting here alive right now. There is no way that I died. I'm alive and well.

"You were killed in the Glass Glade games, Artemis." says the nurse. She would be pretty if I didn't hate her right now for lying to me.

"Where is the camera. I want to know who hired you to prank me." I detach the wires from my arms, which were surprisingly actually in there, and begin to search in random parts of the room. The nurse looks nervous and begins to usher me back to bed while pressing random buttons on the wall.

"Artemis, you really need to go back to the be-"

"HELLO?!" I call out into the room. "You can come out now, you've had your laugh."

"Artemis, this isn't a joke. You died. You placed 15th."

My heart sinks to the floor. 15th place? That's not a good. That's not even moderately acceptable for someone who trained as long and as hard as I did to make it in the games. I worked to hard.

"Who killed me?" I ask.

"Dove Savage."

"DOVE FUCKING SAVAGE ARE YOU JOKING?!"

Anyone but little miss perfect. I HATED her. She was awful. Oh my gosh, what if she won?! What if she was the one that made it out of the arena. I'll never forgive myself if I allowed that to happen. If I allowed that Pre-Madonna to beat me.

"Did she win?!" I ask urgently.

"No, she placed 8th."

Well I at least find some comfort.

"You do get a chance to redeem yourself, Artemis. You do know that right?"

"How?!" I say. I need to bring honor back to the district. I can't allow myself to be just another dead girl up on their memory wall. It's a shame wall is what it is. Some people vandalize it at least twice a year, with the words loser on it, failures, outcast, suckage on a stick. Anything you can possibly think of, it's been on that wall.

"You're going back into the games, but you're...let's call it restarting."

"What do you mean?"

"You'll know soon enough."

She takes my wrist and slides a watch onto it, and then presses numerous buttons. I freak out, but don't move, because if this is going to be how I win the games, I'm all for it. She presses a giant green button, and suddenly everything fades.

16 Years after Reawakening

Artemis Merone, 16

Huckleberry's Group

District 2 Female

It's dark, and if I wasn't trained in 9 different ways to kill someone with my bare hands, I'd probably be nervous. The skatepark has always held some level of fear in the hearts of youths everywhere as I we go here at night. Every year, on the first day of summer, we come here and have a party. This is no party though. It's a meeting.

When Vera approached me last night at the carnival about having an alliance against Honora, I was stoked. I knew that that bitch is the only one who even has a remote shot at beating me. You learn how to hide things from others in this environment, and my skills, a lot like Carmen's are something I'm not willing to show just yet.

Placing in the top 5 is something that is definitely strategic, but you don't want to see like to much of a threat. I can't help it that I have to work hard to actually not beat these stupid losers in training that I could probably do with my eyes closed.

The truth is you can train these kids however you want. What it comes down to is who is going to have the cojones to slam a knife into the other's back. Ruthless mentality is the only way people win these games. Sure there are the losers that slip through the cracks, but nobody wins the Hunger Games because they're a good person.

I join Carmen, Edith, and Vera as they are sitting on top of the tallest ramp at the park. As I climb up, we all dangle our feet over the sides of the wall, and sit in silence.

We have to be the first alliance of the games. There is no way that anyone else has thought enough about what is going to happen two years from now, and who they are going to be competing with in the games. Other than maybe Joseph and Ava.

Carmen is the first to break the silence. She clears her throat and looks down the line, and smiles.

"Thanks for coming everyone." she says

No one responds. It was literally not a question of whether we would come or not. If we didn't come, we threatened putting a target on our back, and I wasn't looking to have to deal with three angry girls later on in the arena, and also, I mostly like everyone sitting here.

"We are here today, because we have something that the rest of the people don't have." says Carmen.

"What's that?" ask Edith.

"A shot."

She lets the silence kick in after saying that so that the group gets the full effect of the words she just said.

"Each of you are very prepared. I see it in your faces, and I know what you're capable of. You all have the skills to take someone like Honora out, if not to win. I want that on my side in the games. I don't want to have to battle it out with people who can potentially beat me."

"If I didn't see the way that you manipulated Honora and Ares today. I would have laughed in your face." says Vera as she straightens up. "Honora is scary, but I think as a team, we could take her out. Why stop there though? Knock Ares, Wyatt, Keanu out. All the faces that are potentially winners are people that could potentially get us."

"What about when things start to get towards the end though?" ask Edith. "I don't want to get to know you guys, and then be us only at the end. That would suck."

"Final 4. It has to be final 4. We have to make that agreement tonight." I say. "We need each other, I'm not saying that I won't win without you guys, because I fully believe that I can. I would rather have someone that I knew was watching my back though."

Carmen scoots off the end of the ramp and slides down it. We follow suit, and she smiles we stand in a circle around each other. She sticks her hand in the middle, and looks around.

"Top 4?" she ask.

Vera is the first to put her hand in, followed by me. Edith looks at us with a certain sadness in her eyes, but then she nods and puts her hand in the middle.

"If anyone of us dies, the rest takes out the person that killed us." says Vera. "Deal?"

"Deal," we all say.

Carmen sits back down on the ramp, and we all do the same, but we stay in the circle we were once standing in. She begins to twirl her long blonde hair in between her fingers, and then takes a breath to speak.

"We need to make people think that this isn't a thing. We can't go around, and advertise that fact we are in an alliance. If someone ask you, then you say yes, and then we betray them once we hit the arena."

"Agreed," I say, "And absolutely no one is able to be included in this group. This is the four. No one else comes in."

The group nods, and then we all lay back and look up at the sky. The stars are gorgeous tonight. The moon looks like it's closer than normal. I've never been around such a pretty night in the Capitol.

A light breeze begins to flow, and we are all start to point out constellations in the sky, but once we've found all the ones we know, we start making them up.

"That one looks like a walrus eating a watermelon." says Edith as she tilts her head pointing to a particular grouping of stars.

"I don't see it." I say with a chuckle.

I wonder what life would be like if we weren't in the games. Would we be friends? Would we have each other still? Who would I be if I didn't have to train my whole life.

I guess sometimes, you just have to roll with it without asking what if. Life is what you make of it, and I refuse to sit around and fantasize about something that can't happen. There will be plenty of time after I win the games for that.

Until then, I'll enjoy these little moments in the time allotted to just be a kid.

WE ARE DONE WITH THE REAPINGS!

Wow I never thought this day would come! The next two chapters are going to be a little different. We will have graduation. Where I'll announce the final ranks, aka training scores, and then we will have the graduation/18th Birthday party, aka the interviews, I'm so excited for the rest of this story now that the boring parts are over.

Keep in mind the bloodbath is in two chapters, if I haven't heard from you in awhile...odds are your tribute is going to bite it. I refuse to kill someone who I know has been reading over someone who submits, and then fades away. Sorry, that's been said since the beginning.

Shout outs: Paradigm of Writing is writing a SYOT and needs tributes! Be sure to submit! It's a really great opening chapter.

EthanW32 is also writing an SYOT and though it's closed you should still check it out.

Declan42 is writing an SYOT, and last I checked still needed tributes, so submit my SYOT addicts. SUBMIT!

RuethisDay is also writing one, and you should totes submit if they aren't full. :D

Announcements:

I'm leaving the country on July 16th, and I won't be updating. I think I might be done by the time we get to that point, but if for some reason this story isn't, I'll be sure to pre-write two chapters that will be posted by the lovely Jenna (betttyy). She will update every other week until I'm back (I'll be gone 5 weeks), sorry if that sucks, I'll be in Australia though! I just want to take it all in and focus on that while I'm there.

There is a poll on my profile. Vote for your faves, as that also has an effect on the bloodbath.

The Rankings (Same as on the website goophg , weebly. com)

Next two chapters will be from the directors and the kids.

Keep it classy,

Caleb