Linus POV

It looks like it might rain soon.

The last few days have been nothing but dark clouds and wind. I forget what the sun even looks like. District 3 is usually so bright but I think the weather is preparing us for the upcoming events. The Reapings are upon us and two children will soon be selected to head to the Capitol. Two will be marked for death while the rest of the district breathes a sigh of relief. Citizens will party tonight, Peacekeepers will drink until they're drunk and families will cheer that they've survived yet another year... except for two homes. I'm not one to be in a celebratory mood during the Reapings – I much rather take some of the food and head to my hiding place for the night. It's only a distraction for the real tragedy to come.

A loud ringing echoes through the air and I stare out to the sky. The clock tower has rung at another hour mark – I think it is 10 in the morning. The Reapings will begin soon and I have to get ready to make for the ceremony. Being 14 years old means that I'm still eligible to be reaped for the Hunger Games. My name has been included in the bowl a few times. I've accepted tessarae over the years, I've needed it to survive.

My family is all but gone. I lost them over five years ago and they seem like a distant memory. I still remember my father's face, the smell from the kitchen, my mother's tender voice signing lullabies, and the sound of my siblings laughing as they played in the backgrounds. That's all I have left – it's all that remains. The Peacekeepers came and shot it all away, taking every last scrap from my home before burning it down the ground. All because of some rumours...some suspicion...a lie. I've learned to survive on my own and make a good living scavenging around District 3. People take pity on you when you're entire family was killed by the Peacekeepers; I'm a cautionary tale of what could've been to them. Ever since I became eligible for the Hunger Games, I've accepted all offers for the tessarae. I haven't regretted my decision – I would be dead without it.

I pull back a curtain in the room I call my home. The abandoned home has protected me from the weather for a few months now; it's served as a nice safety. The former owner, Mrs. Ezprodita, passed away and without any family left, her home just stayed alone to decay. Luckily I was able to use this for the last few months. My former home is nothing but a charred piece of rubble in my old neighbourhood. After the destruction by the Peacekeepers, I've moved from place to place finding solitude. No family could take me in – another mouth to feed was just too much for some people. I try not to think about my past, I have to look toward the future. I rest my head back on my pillow; the Reapings will still be there when I get up.

Another bell rings from the clock tower; this time signaling that it's nearing time. I have maybe one hour until the festivities start and I need to check in. I force myself out of bed and walk toward the desk, pulling some clothes from my duffel bag. I tend to travel light and bring only what I can carry. It's a miracle the Peacekeepers haven't come to raid this place; usually they force me and other stragglers out from the vacated buildings. I undress and put on a wrinkled shirt and pair of pants that I "found" a few months ago. Water pressure is barely non-existent in this place so I take longer than expected to get ready. I run out of the house and I soon realize that I'm only person in the path heading toward the Reapings. Uh oh...this does not look good.

"Welcome everyone to the District 3 reapings!"

I hear a loud speaker echoing through the air. The Reapings have started and I'm quite a far distance away from the meeting place. I knew I should have gotten out of bed – it will be a miracle if the Peacekeepers don't punish and make an example out of me. I run passed a few buildings, hopping over a few boxes in my faded dress shoes. A Peacekeeper stands ahead, eyeing me strangely as I run frantically down the path. He tries to step in my way but I move to the side to continue running.

"You're late! Stop now."

"I can't! Sorry!"

I move right past him, brushing him and knocking him hard to the ground. I can't stop to help him up, I have to keep moving and run toward the meeting place. Many parents are blocking my view but I push through them, looking around to find the check-in table. Luckily, an attendant is still there with the book of names. I shove an older man out of the way as I run toward the table, hitting my knee to the side and forcing a bottle to fall off the table and shatter on the ground. The attendant turns to me, raising her eyebrow and purses her lips in disgust.

"Excuse me..."

"I'm...I'm so...sorry..."

Clearly I'm out of breath from all the running. Damn...I really should not have pushed myself that hard to run. I rest a hand on the table and let out a sigh of relief. The attendant opens the book and starts flipping through the pages. I look down and I notice that every name has already been checked off – the blood marks are already there.

"Name? Last name first."

"Fritz. Linus."

She flips through the book and I notice my name first, it's the only one without a mark next to it. The attendant takes my finger and pricks it with her machine. The television screens change and the music stops; the Capitol video must have just ended. She closes the book and motions me to join the other boys standing in the group.

A few of the Peacekeepers and parents stare at me as I walk toward the other 14 year old boys. I look back and I catch a glimpse of the attendant chatting with someone at the table. From the looks of the outfit, it's a Peacekeeper but I can't quite see their face. A boy shifts out of the way and I get just a quick flash of their face. It's the Peacekeeper I knocked down before, the one who tried to stop me from running to the Reapings. Both are talking intently but I can't focus on their conversation at the moment, the Reapings have already started.

I look up to the stage and a man in a bright gold and black suit stands at the microphone. Wesley Pendant is the District 3 Escort. He's somewhat of an eccentric man as he's always wearing bright yellow when he visits our district. I can't undermine his full credentials based on his look; the District 3 tributes have done pretty well during his reign as our Escort but that also could have been due to the District Mentors, like Copper Wilson – the current Mentor.

Wesley claps his hands and opens a piece of paper. No doubt it is the first tribute from District 3, the female tribute.

"Jane Tucker."

I recognize that name. Jane and I used to be in school together before I dropped out a year after my family died. She's quite a genius but a very rebellious girl. I wouldn't be surprised if many of the Peacekeepers and political figures in District 3 were happy if she didn't return. Jane steps out from the girls and walks toward the stage. My attention is pulled away as Wesley talks to her at the microphone. I look back to the check-in table and the attendant is no longer there, neither is the Peacekeeper from before. He must now be back in formation with the others. Clapping echoes from the microphone and Wesley cheers to welcome Jane.

"Well wasn't she fantastic. Now...let's select the male tribute..."

He smiles and walks to the bowl. He reaches his hand into the bowl and pulls out a slip of paper. Before he heads back to the microphone, his attention is caught by two Peacekeepers standing at the side of the stage. Wesley walks over and they begin chatting in his ear. I can't hear what they're saying, no one can. This usually never happens during the Reaping, they must be talking about something serious as Wesley is nodding very intently. A smile creeps across his face as he walks back to the microphone, nodding and opening up the slip of paper.

"Sorry about that, a very important Capitol matter. Now let's get back to business. The male tribute from District 3 is...Linus Fritz."

Linus.

Me.

That's me.

He just called out my name. I can't believe this. I ran all the way here to find out that I'm the tribute reaped for the Hunger Games. The boys to my side move away as the Peacekeepers wait at the edge of the group to lead me to the front. Everyone is staring at me; this is probably the most attention people have given me in the years. Cameras have focused on me now – there is no going back.

Peacekeepers lead me to the front of the stage. I climb the steps and shake Wesley's hand as he introduces me to the Capitol viewers. I can barely hear him at this point, I'm just too much in shock. Jane gives me a comforting look from her standing place but I can tell that she's scared too. There is no twist that will protect the both of us...one or the both of us will be killed in the next few weeks to months.

"Let's give a round of applause to our tributes...Jane Tucker and Linus Fritz!"

I'm screwed.