Winona Espero, 17

District 6 Female

It was unbelievable, the things one had to endure in District 6. Everything and everyone was dull and miserable, and it was no wonder. The district was hell on earth. Some people used drugs to avoid the pain. Some used alcohol. Some just succumbed to it and carried on with their lives in monotonous ignorance. I wasn't going to be one of them.

Three years ago, I left home. The older I got, the more my parents changed. They got colder, more closed off. They gave in to their various addictions, and barely cared that they had a daughter. I figured I was better off on my own, and in a way, I was right. Money was harder; I lived in a tiny studio apartment and worked two jobs. But I was my own person, and I was free from the shackles of my parents' home and life.

Though unfortunately, work had been grueling in a way it usually wasn't. I had been paired with Tess, a dim-witted girl from the far side of the district who seemed barely capable of doing basic math, not to mention designing and producing new models of tires.

As I shut the door to my apartment, I let out a loud groan and slumped to the floor. My head aches and my feet hurt, but I had to suck it up. Tomorrow would call for my full strength.

Sometimes I wondered what it would be like to live in a Career district, where people had good jobs, easy access to food, and just decent lives overall. In the year since Axel Early won the Hunger Games, I'd been thinking about them more and more. It was unfair that the Careers won almost every year. Their districts didn't need the aid that winning the Games provided, and since they were trained, they got the Cornucopia every year.

So, over the past year, I'd devised a plan. I would volunteer, ally with every non-Career, and take them all out in the bloodbath. I'd even trained a bit with a makeshift ax I made myself. My odds weren't the best, I knew that, but I knew death was a possibility, and I'd done my best to come to terms with it. I had nothing to lose.

Truthfully, death did scare me a little. I'd put so much dedication into fighting for a life that the possibility of having it all ripped away was… a lot. But I knew it was important, and giving up my life would mean saving someone else's. And that was worth it.

Ronald Jones, 18

District 6 Male

The sun was setting over District 6, spilling soft orange light over the concrete buildings and uniform streets. I stood in the shadows, watching the darkness slowly creeping out. It was time to come out and play. I was on a job, but that didn't mean I couldn't have some fun.

My target today was some kid named David, a scrawny 15-year-old with buck teeth and glasses who seemed like he could be knocked over by the wind. But the Mad Dogs insisted he was dangerous and needed to be taken care of swiftly and discreetly. And they were paying a hefty sum of money for his death. So I was going to kill him.

I'd been in this line of business for two years now, and I'd never been happier. It definitely beat rotting away in the prison our district called an orphanage, and it was better than living in terror, the way I did as a kid, before my parents were killed. They were caught in the crossfire of a gang fight when I was 13, and that was the end of that.

When I finally left the orphanage at the age of 16, I had a realization. I could continue to be the victim of crime my whole life, or I could embrace the crime and come out on top. And being on top was clearly the superior choice. I even had a nickname now; the Conductor of Aggression. People whisper it in fear, struck by my intimidating skills.

The sun was even lower in the sky when I shook myself from my thoughts. I'd been on plenty of boring stake-outs, and revisiting my successes was a favorite pastime for them. But Vera said David would be walking home at sunset, and was usually alone. It was time to focus.

Suddenly, I spotted a shadowy figure peeking out from behind a dumpster. I lowered my body so that I was nearly flat against the roof and watched them. They seemed to be waiting, just like I was. Vera said David was a dealer, but that he was more dangerous than most. Could this be someone waiting to make a trade?

Sure enough, my scrawny target appeared a few moments later. His beady eyes darted back and forth before he hurried over to the dumpster. He and the other figure began to talk in hushed voices. I carefully began to climb down the fire escape.

David was just placing a vial in the other person's hand when I lunged forward, sweeping their legs out from under them and stomping down hard on their head. They tried to scream, but it was cut off by my boot. David tried to run but I grabbed his shirt and punched him in the nose. He groaned in pain.

A few more swift punches, and he was limp in my arms. I checked his pulse. Nothing. So I let his body fall and flexed my muscles, relishing the adrenaline rushing through my veins. Only a few nail scratches on my arms showed any sign of the fight. Pathetic, really.

Axel Early, 17

District 6 Victor of the 57th Hunger Games

It was reaping day. My first day on a stage since my Victory Tour six months ago; and I was freaking out. Before the Hunger Games, I was always a bit of a loner. I had a few friends, but nobody close, besides my grandparents. Now, everyone wanted to be my friend. I was famous. And I hated it.

Being in the spotlight was awful. Aran said I'd get used to it, but I felt like I never would. And this year, I was mentoring. I'd be back in the Capitol, away from my grandparents again. But at least there was no more arena, and I'd have Journey with me the entire time.

Despite it being the middle of summer, it was still a gloomy day in District 6, with smoggy skies and cold wind. Hundreds of kids were in the pens, waiting to see if they were the ones being sent into the Games. It made me sick. Journey put a hand on my shoulder.

"It's going to be okay," she whispered. I just nodded in response as Hestia Locke took the stage. She had a blinding smile on her face, and her lips were colored a dark purple to match her black and purple sparkly suit. Her heels clicked when she walked.

"District 6!" she cried. "I am so happy to be back! We brought home a victor last year, and I couldn't be more proud. Put your hands together for Axel Early!"

As the crowd began to cheer, I pushed my brown hair back and out of my face and walked out, waving slightly to the crowd. I searched for my grandparents in the throng of people, but I couldn't see them.

"What a welcome!" Hestia gushed. "Now, give it up for our other victors; Autus Hoffman, Aran Beauregard, and Journey Holton!"

I applauded too as my fellow victors joined me onstage. It was still crazy to think that I was one of them. But strangely enough, it was a good feeling too. Sometimes.

Once all the victors were seated, Hestia played the mandatory Capitol video. I saw a girl in the front row watching it with wide, teary eyes, and forced myself to look away. I wanted to cry too.

Once it was over, Hestia dabbed an imaginary tear from her eye.

"How moving," she said with a smile. "Now, let's select our tributes!" She clicked her way over to the girl's bowl and drew a slip from the top.

"Liberty O'Reilly!"

I almost gasped as the girl I saw before burst into tears, but then a call came from the back of the crowd.

"I volunteer!"

A muscular 17-year-old with choppy black hair stepped forward, her fist held high in the air. She marched forward, pausing only to put a hand on Liberty's shoulder before climbing the stairs to the stage.

"What a surprise!" Hestia gasped. "Welcome young lady. What's your name?"

"Winona Espero," she said into the microphone. I scanned the crowd, but no one seemed to be reacting much. Why did she volunteer for that girl?

"Well, time to select your district partner," Hestia sang. This time, she took her time selecting a slip, letting them sift through her fingers before selecting one.

"Ronald Jones!"

A stocky black boy stepped forward. His eyes met mine and a chill ran down my spine. They were cold and dark. Somehow, I knew this boy would be a major threat. And I had to mentor him. He cracked his knuckles as he climbed the stairs, a smirk on his face.

"Hello!" Hestia chirped, clearly oblivious to the boy's sinister aura. "Please, shake hands with your partner."

He turned to Winona, who looked up at him and held out a hand. She had a determined look on her face as they shook.

"Panem, I give you your District 6 tributes: Winona Espero and Ronald Jones!"

Hey everyone! Here are the District 6 intros! Thank you to Gomex for Winona and wiifan2002 for Ronald. I hope you like them! I wrote Winona's POV while I was pretty sick, so I'm sorry if it's not the best. I'm still pretty sick actually, so that means either lots of chapters or none at all. Anyways, please leave a review and tell me what you think of these two. I've decided that reviews cure colds :)

Have a nice day, be kind to each other, and never stop reading!

- Fiona