District One Male: Jasper Hematite (17)

I grunt and whirl around, blocking Amber's attempt to disarm me with my spear. She lets out a squeal of surprise and jumps backwards. I advance on her, and she looks up at me, then looks down at her watch.

"Stop!" Her command actually manages to stop me in my tracks, and I lower my spear. "You have an hour until the reaping."

Inwardly, I cringe. I truly do not want to volunteer for the Hunger Games, but my father has assured me that I have no choice in the matter. As if reading my thoughts, Amber walks over and puts a hand on my arm.

"Jasper," Her voice is gentle. "You're going to come back. Everyone knows it."

I shake her off and don't answer. I walk to the door and open it, the morning light spilling into the dark training center. Without a backwards glance, I jog back home, desperately hoping that my father isn't awake yet.

No such luck.

When I reach our house, I see him standing outside, waiting for me. Resigned to my fate, I move slowly up the front walk.

"Hi Dad." My voice is dull, but still has a terse sound to it.

"Son!" He bellows, coming up to meet me. "How wonderful! You were practicing, correct? Just think!" One of his hands sweeps out in front of me. "When you come back from the Games, we'll be richer than the Paris's!"

I squirm out of his grip. "Dad," I say. "I'm only doing this so that Blaze doesn't have too. Mom never would've made me go kill innocent children."

My dad is so surprised at my calm, controlled outburst, that he actually lets me go, mouth open wide, like a fish.

Blaze is my younger brother. He is thirteen, and the only person that I care about. Unlike me, he's adventurous, excitable, and has the greatest heart you could ever find in a person. He and I are best friends, and we do everything together.

By volunteering for the Games, I can save his heart of gold from turning into someone bloodthirsty, arrogant, and evil. My father was a career, and it was always his dream to volunteer, kill people, and bring glory to his district. But the year he was eighteen, someone snatched the opportunity from under his nose. He was furious. When he got two sons, he vowed to make at least one of them volunteer. If I don't, Blaze will be forced into training and made to volunteer.

I can't have that happen to my brother. So I struck a deal with Dad. If I volunteer, he'll pull Blaze out of training and never speak to him about going into the Games. Ever. WIth my weapon skills and good looks, I'm sure I have a chance of making it back to the District, back to Blaze.

My mother doesn't have a say in the matter. Dead people normally don't. She died during Blaze's birth, when I was only four. I have barely any memory of her, except a warm, safe feeling. I'm almost positive that if she were here, she would make Dad take us both out of training.

I make it to my room, the one I share with Blaze. We aren't poor or anything, not like Amber, who only wants to volunteer to save her family from starvation. Blaze and I just like being close to eachother.

I quietly creep in, trying not to wake him, when someone jumps out in front of me. "BOO!" Blaze screams. I yell and run to the closet.

"Oh my God Blaze!" I try not to laugh. "You gave me a heart attack!"

Blaze is doubled over laughing. "You're so easy to-to-to-" He's cut of by a chortle of mirth. "Scare!"

I pretend to glare at him, and then shove his happy form playfully out of the door. "Go down and eat," I smile. "I'm not even dressed yet!"

In record time, I manage to scrub myself off, throw on my reaping outfit of a blue button down and nice, black dress pants. I desperately try to make the spiky part of my blonde hair lie flat, but once again, it pops right back up, as if having a mind of its own.

I sigh, tug on my shoes, and run into the kitchen. Without speaking to my dad, I grab a few pieces of meat and toast and chomp it down; My dad starts to look at me, and then says, "There's are little volunteer! Aren't you excited Jasper?"

"No," I swallow. "I'm only doing this so Blaze won't have to and because you're making me. And I am not little."

My dad looks down and fiddles with his hands. "I'm sure you don't mean that, I mean, you're just excited. I know I would be!"

"Dad," I meet his eyes. "Shut up."

I drop my plate in the sink and walk out of the house, Blaze close behind. "I don't want you to volunteer." Blaze looks at me. "He can't make us volunteer."

"Yes," I sigh heavily. "He may find a way. I'm sorry. I have to, for you."

Blaze lowers his head and then reaches into his pocket. "Well then take this at least, for your token." He brings out a small stone, which is attached to a leather necklace. The workmanship is rough, but Blaze is obviously very proud of the thing.

"For my token?" I ask, as I take the stone. It's smooth and cool to the touch.

"Yeah." Blaze grins.

"Cool," I say, throwing it around my neck. "Let's go."

We walk to the reaping, Blaze jumping like he'll never run out of energy, me trudging along behind him, a bit forlorn. For his sake, I plaster a smile to my face, and keep pace with him.

Soon we reach the Justice Building, and Blaze and I separate to get our fingers pricked. "See you in the Justice Building!" Blaze smiles, and we departe. The now familiar iron grasp of fear clenches my stomach, and I panic, even though I don't let it show.

I shuffle forward and give my hand to the lady at the station, and barely notice the prick of pain in my second finger.

I move to the seventeen-year-old boys' section, and there I wait. I watch as our escort, Euterpe Bloom, ascends the stage, in her usual manner of hurry. She draws the female name, skipping the dull reading of the treaty of treason.

I know Amber isn't going to volunteer this year, but still, I never know with her. She could go up there right now. But she doesn't. Instead, a confused looking girl with hair more unruly than mind moves to the stage.

Then it's time for the boys. I start to tremble. Euterpe reaches in and grabs a name. Without a pause this time, she reads it out.

"Peter-"

"I volunteer." It's done. No going back. I become Jasper of the Capitol, putting on a bubbly, intimidating smile, more like Blaze than I'll ever be. Smiling like this feels good. I only really do it when Blaze is around.

"Hey," I speak into the microphone. "I'm Jasper Hematite. Your next Victor." I flex my muscles, spotting Blaze's pensive but proud face in the crowd. I wink at him and tap each of my arms once. It's our secret signal Blaze made up when he was young. I love you.

Euterpe ushers us inside the Justice Building, and I wait inside a room for visitors. I hope Blaze and Dad come seperately. That way Dad won't ruin Blaze and I's time.

First to walk in is Amber. She looks nervous, but has a big smile on her face. "Please don't die." Is the first thing she says. "Then who'll I train with?"

I smile. But this time, it's real. "I'll try to come back." I promise, and she hugs me. It seems to last an eternity, but it must only last a few minutes, because a peacekeeper comes in and breaks us apart.

"Bye Jasper!" She calls, as the peacekeeper leads her away. I smile after her, and then sit down. Almost immediately, the smile vanishes. This was not a good idea. I hate my dad for making me do this.

Blaze tumbles in, Dad walking after him. "Come back." Blaze looks me straight in the eye. If you die, I'll kill you." Then he grabs me and hugs me tightly. I tickle him, and he laughs, tears trickling from his eyes, from mingled sadness, laughter, and loss.

He leaps away, and I turn to Dad.

"Son," He grins. "I'm so proud of you! I can't wait to see you make your first kill, when the blood leaks out of that dead body, and when you pull his insides out, victorious!"

I cringe. "I won't."

My dad looks incredulous. "Whaddya mean you won't? You have to! It's part of the experience!"

I feel slightly sick, and judging by Blaze's pale face, he does too. "Dad," I begin. "I can't murder a child, it isn't right!"

"That's what the HUNGER GAMES is son," he bellows. "That's why you wanted to do this!"

Before I can assure him that I had absolutely no desire to do this, a peacekeeper walks in. Dad saunters out. "See you in a few weeks!" I give up.

Blaze goes in for one last hug, and as the peacekeeper pulls him out too, he taps both of his arms once, and I do the same.

Then they are gone. And I'm going to the Hunger Games.

oOo

Alright! Now that you've seen both Jasper and Treasure, question time!

1) Who do you like better, and why?

2) Who do you predict to make it farther?

3) Comments, critics, constructive criticism?

4) What do you think?

Thanks for reviewing and answering my questions. I hope I did your characters justice.

Bye Lovelies!

Grace