Leith POV

This could be my last breakfast in District 4.

I take these meals for granted, just another plate or bowl of scraps. My mother and brother keep our home supplied with food – it's one of the benefits of living in District 4. Spending all day catching fish or cleaning them allows us to be fed. I'm not in the mood for a fishy surprise this morning. A bowl of soggy cereal is the only thing I can keep down. It's a big day, it's a big moment. I'm barely hungry as is; my appetite is gone at this point.

My brother walks out of his room dressed in a clean white shirt. He gives me a slight nod but turns away to grab his own bowl of cereal. A creak comes from my left and I see a familiar figure. My mother, on the other hand, is finishing up the laundry and folding the remaining clothes. She walks to Brandon and gives him a peck on the top of his head. He shrugs and sticks a spoonful of cereal into his mouth. Brandon is 21 years old; he's grown passed the maximum age to be included in the Reaping and he's been working on the Capitol ships to provide some funding for the family. My mother has also helped to keep us protected after all these years. My father was lost at sea during one of his fishing expeditions and jobs with the Capitol. He never came home, he never said goodbye.

My mother puts away the last of the laundry and comes out in a simple dress. She hands my brother a belt and me a pair of shoes. It's about time we need to get going. The lines will be long for the children to sign in and get the ceremony underway. I only have two more ceremonies to go before I won't have to go through this anymore. When Brandon had survived past his final Reaping, my mother was so proud. She couldn't stop crying and hugging her son, knowing that he wouldn't be lost in the arena. He, on the other hand, was more somber. He didn't make it through the Reapings without losing some friends along the way. He told me during one of his earlier Reapings when I was younger, a girl around his age from his class was chosen to compete. She didn't make it far. He doesn't like to talk about it; I think he knew her pretty well before she died.

I slide on the shoes and place my bowl in the sink. Brandon is still shoving his face. I stand awkwardly at the door, watching him as finishes up the bowl. He's not leaving without a full meal. My mother fixes the back of my shirt and Brandon joins us at the door. He steps passed me, beginning to walk down the path to the meeting area. My mother rubs my shoulder and gives me one final hug. Giving me one final peck on the top of my head

"You'll do well Leith. Just keep believing that you'll survive. I know you will."

My mother is always like this. She has so much hope that things will turn out well. I'm glad that she's optimistic and hopeful; I'm more realistic than anything. There's a huge chance that I could be reaped for the Games and if that were the case, there's a big chance that I won't survive. Many of the tributes who are chosen and trained for this are bloody warriors that stop at nothing until their victims are eliminated. I don't ever want that to happen to me. There are plenty of things I don't want. Fishing, working in the sea, spending my entire life on a Capital ship. I just need to get through this and then I can focus more on the future.

My mother and I continue walking down the path, staring at families who join us in the march. Brandon is far up ahead, already reaching the meeting place. The Capitol arrives every year and turns District 4 into a spectacle with large television screens, Peacekeepers and music. A camera flies overhead and a man with orange hair – most likely from the Capitol – is recording the faces of people walking to the Reaping area.

Children start splitting off from their parents, heading to the check-in table.

"Go on Leith. I'll be here waiting for you once it's over."

She gives me a tender smile and walks to join Brandon with the other adults. He's already standing with the other parents and waiting for the show to start. The preparation for this event always takes longer than the actual Reapings. Time goes by extremely fast when two people hear they're going to die. It's almost instantaneous.

"Excuse me. Sorry!"

A little girl accidently bumps into me as she walks to the lineup. I begin walking to the line with the other children and join her in waiting. This is it. Once I check-in, I'll be officially registered and then the draw will take place. There are plenty of names in that bowl; anyone could be reaped into the Games. Slowly but surely, child after child begin to move out of line and join the larger group. I reach the front and the male attendant stares at me for a moment.

"Hand, please."

I'm never ready for this.

Simone POV

The waiting never ends.

The setup takes almost an hour or so before the District Escort arrives to start the show. My family tends to arrive early. We never really had to handle the check-in or reapings until I came of age last year. Luckily my name wasn't drawn, but the fear after experiencing the draw hasn't quite gone away. Mother said that I need to be a big girl and handle this situation with kindness and grace. I tend to believe her and follow her lead. I looked behind me in the group and I can see my parents with the other adults and families waiting at the back of the area. My father is staring blankly at the screen while my other is cradling someone in her arms. She looks after my little brother, Benjamin, and keeps him in his arms during the ceremony. He's only three years old after all.

Cleo Yardis and Waterlilly Danvers are standing to my side. All three of us are in the same class and we basically grew up together; I consider them my sisters if anything. Waterlilly is afraid, she cried after last year's Reaping and can barely keep a composed face this time. Cleo, on the other hand, is keeping her head held high and staring toward the front; she's going to signal us both once the ceremony has begun. I grab Waterlilly's hand and give her a sympathetic nod while whispering...

"It's going to be alright."

"I'm really scared..."

"We can't change what happens. We'll be fine, just like last year."

Cleo shakes my shoulder and points toward the stage. Olivier Haines, the District Escort for District 4, steps onto the stage with his signature dark blue suit. He loves the colours blue and silver. I think it's one of the reasons he's asked to always return to District 4 as the District Mentor. I heard from a reliable source that he tries to design his outfits and appearance to look like sea creatures. Oh wait...I'm gossiping again. I promised Mother I would stop that.

The District Escort begins to babble on about the Hunger Games. I tend to lose focus whenever the video is aired. I've seen is plenty of times and it's basically filler until the draw is made. My parents told me not to take any of the tessarae. Their work keeps our home supplied with food and we never really had to gone without. Besides, business at my mother's shop has gone pretty well in the last few years. There's no need for me to add my name more times into the mix. This is my second Reaping so only two names are included in the bowl meant for the girls.

Cameras move overhead and the screen returns back to Olivier. The video has finished and a few Peacekeepers have finished clapping. The District Mentor always starts with the girls. A female tribute is selected first and then we find out which boy is chosen next. Last year's selection did alright but our current District Mentor, Isolde Irving, won about two years ago for District 4. It was a memorable Games for me as it was the year before I became eligible for the Hunger Games. If District 4 can claim victory from the Games then I know that it is possible, our District can win the Games.

Olivier walks to the first bowl, sticking his hand inside to draw a single slip of paper. He returns to the microphone and unfolds the paper. Cleo and Waterlilly grab onto my hands, squeezing tightly before the results are read. Oh please, don't let it be any of us.

"...Simone Yu."

Simone. Simone Yu. That's me. He just said my name out loud. My name was only included in the bowl two times. Two times! It's statistically impossible for me to be chosen. Oh no! My parents must be devastated right now.

Cleo lets go of my hand and stares at me. Waterlilly has broken down; she can't control the tears at this point. All the girls are staring at me, giving me sympathetic looks and stepping out of the way. Peacekeepers are walking down the path to escort me to the stage. I try to move but Waterlilly is holding onto my arm. I move to her and whisper that she needs to let go. She's crying more but Cleo comes to break her free from the grip. My best friends...my sisters...are heartbroken.

I walk to the stage and Olivier is excited to see me. He introduces me to the Capitol viewers and gives me a round of applause. I can barely hear him at this moment. The world is completely silent to me. I stare to the back and see my father, head held up high while my mother is crying softly into my little brother's shoulders. I don't think he knows what's going on. Someone will tell him in the future...if I don't make it back. Someone will tell him that his big sister loved him.

"Leith Wallis."

Olivier must have drawn the name of the boy tribute while I was staring at my parents. I'm not familiar with Leith. I don't believe that I ever heard that name before.

A tall boy with light black hair comes walking to the stage, but he doesn't look at me as he's climbing the staircase. He looks to be one of the older male tributes in the district and from the initial appearance, he does look strong. I won't deny that he is somewhat cute. Though, I can't really think about that now. Only one of us will return from the Hunger Games this year. There's no point in thinking someone is cute or not when chances are one of us...or neither...will be returning home once the Games are finished. Leith is strong and would catch the eyes of the Careers and other tributes for a potential ally. There are the advantages, but the Hunger Games is an individual game. They'll want to work with him, not me.

I turn my head for one more quick look at Leith. He's staring back at me with a focused expression. No smile. No furrowed brows. He's just looking at me; judging me as his unofficial partner and potential enemy. The Games have begun and I think I'm already at a disadvantage. I'm 13 years old and the Hunger Games favour the strong and the old. I need to figure out a way that people would want to work with me on my own and not deem me a liability.

I need to figure something out.