Demi Lanzerr,17,D7F

I sigh as I try my hardest to chop some more wood. We're going to be dismissed two hours early to get ready for the reaping. Lucky me right? I continue chopping through wood, I'm all hot and sweaty from cutting all that wood, I've been going for almost five hours straight with barely any sleep because I really need to money. Me and my brother have been working overtime just so we don't starve. I really hate that. "Alright guys, you're free to go, make sure you're at the reaping!" Our boss announces. I smile and put my axe down. I guess when you've been chopping wood as long as I have you get to develop some upper body strength and muscle.

I get home and take a bath in our oversized bucket. My family is probably out getting some stuff. I'll probably just see them at the reaping or something. After I finish cleaning myself of all the sweat I brush down my brown hair and wear my best clothes (which are crap, mostly second hand). I sigh as I decide to leave for the reaping. The odds really aren't in my favor this year. I've had to take so much extra grain and oil from them it's unbelievable.

I leave the house and jog to the reaping at the district square. I register and go stand with the other seventeen year old girls. Our district escort comes over, he looks so fake, he looks almost like a plastic lego man. His skin is so shiny and his hair looks plastic as well, his skin looks a little bit green! What kind of person makes themselves look almost plastic just to look young? It's funny because he's probably in his seventies but just lots of surgery to make himself look young but he just looks like a life-like toy.

"Alright district seven! Are you ready for the reaping for the one hundred and twenty fourth annual Huuunnnngeeerrrr gaaammmmesss?!" He's trying to make the mood more upbeat but just... isn't working. Everyone looks at him with a blank expression. No one and I mean no one is happy about this occasion. He sighs and picks a name from the girls bowl. "Demi Lanzerr!" He calls out.

I knew this would happen eventually. Why did my mom make me take out so much tesserae?

I simply walk over to the stage, I need a way to win, somehow I will return home to District seven. Even if it means becoming a monster.

Cyrus Redick,18,D7M

I cut down my last tree and the guy dismisses us. I walk home and to my house. I live with my mother who doesn't care about me. She just sits on the couch. "Oh it's you again, well go to the reaping then, I'll see you in a bit." She says nonchalantly. I scowl as I go to shower, yes we can somehow afford a shower, I've just been doing a lot of work with barely any sleep.

After showering I go and get dressed on some casual clothes. A black T-shirt, white trousers and a cool gold necklace I stole from some peacekeepers a while ago. My close-cropped hair looks good, although it makes me look cool in my opinion although people immediately mark me down as a juvenile person as soon as they see (although they aren't wrong). I work and steal for most of my stuff so yea.

I get to the reaping with my mom, although it's my last year I'm not really bothered. I'm volunteering, I hate life here anyway. I register and stand with the other eighteen year old boys. At the girls section I see all the eighteen year old girls and see Demi, she's kind of my crush although she doesn't feel the same way probably (she thinks I'm a weirdo). Our escort calls out the girls names. "Demi Lanzerr."

Oh great, now I have to volunteer, it may be my final chance with Demi once and for all. He then reaches into the boys bowl. "Matteo Crushvik." I then jump out of the crowd and yell as loud as I can at the top of my lungs. "I volunteer as tribute!"

I am taken to the stage by two very tall peacekeepers and I take the microphone from the escort. "My name is Cyrus Redick." My mother doesn't look sad at all. She is... smiling, well of course she is. She's the one who is forcing me to volunteer for this stupid thing in the first place. I remember it now.

"Argh you're such a useless son. I wish you were out of my house!"

"Fine then, you know what. Fuck you mom, you never cared did you? Just because dad died. Well I'll be gone, maybe even dead. I'll volunteer for the Hunger games if that'll shut your bitch mouth!"

"Fine then. Go volunteer, I hope you die in the bloodbath you idiotic child. You're a disgrace to this family!"

I shake hands with Demi, she's giving me a confused look. I grin at her and she recoils after we shake hands and we both walk into the justice building.