Present day

Tiana Golding (17)- Citizen of District 9

I'm sweating. My breathing is heavy. There's almost complete silence around me. I can hear only the rustling of leaves due to a gentle breeze coming from the east. That's how a fight works. It is made of actions and breaks. You attack, you defend yourself, you study your opponent- in this case, a girl with flaming red hair, deep brown eyes, and athletic build. Her cheeks are flushed because of the exertion. It feels like watching a tiger- you cannot help but admire her beauty, even though you know how dangerous she can be. Her hair colour enhances the tiger metaphor. At some point, she puts one leg in front of the other, getting her weight over her front foot. She's ready to resume the fight. I just need to wait and then dodge her blow.

"Aaaaah!" she shouts to pump up.

Here we go… the tiger has roared…

She charges at me, wielding her baton. I block her blow with mine and then counterattack, but in vain. She tries to hit my legs, but I dodge with agile leaps. At some point, I stub her toe. She groans, while lowering her gaze for a moment… more than enough for me. Taking advantage of her momentary distraction, I use my baton to make her stumble and fall to the ground.

"Hey! That was unfair!" she complains.

"You cannot always expect your opponent to play fair, Rye," I reply with a shrug.

I stretch my hand out to help her get up.

"You're right!" she says, pulling my arm.

I lose balance and fall to the ground. I immediately roll belly up, trying to defend myself, but Rye is already over me and blocks my arms and legs. She caresses my cheek and then kisses me.

"Hey! Treacherous kiss!" I complain, trying to free myself.

She giggles in response. She loosens her grip, so we can both get up again.

"Good job," I compliment her, panting.

"You too. I think it's enough for the moment, but we could train again this afternoon. What do you think?" she offers.

"But you never get tired of training!?"

"Training is our best bet… you know, in case…"

"I know it."

In case we got reaped, we would have more chances of surviving. Today, there's our penultimate Reaping. I hope everything gonna be alright. I don't want to end up in the Games… I don't want anyone I know to end up like that, especially not Rye. She's my girlfriend, and I wouldn't know what to do without her.

"Ah! To hell with the Reaping! Would you like a beer?" she offers.

"Sure," I reply with a wide smile.

I sit at the table on the wooden porch. Rye's house is really nice. It belonged to her dead mother. It is located in one of the small villages scattered among the golden wheat fields. A house on two floors and with its piece of land, where Rye grows vegetables. Her products cost less compared to those coming from District 11. Besides, they're fresh and not frozen. In fact, she has no rivals at the market. Her condition is not that bad compared to that of the majority of District 9. On the other hand, I know that some landowners have proposed to her to sell her piece of land, but she has refused, and I totally agree with her. Many landowners remained loyal to the Capitol during the war, and they even sabotaged rebels. Among them, there are also those who made their own fortune in this way. They're nicknamed " the new rich"- greedy people who would like to possess all the lands available, even those of poor people who struggle to make a living. I cannot stand them!

Rye emerges from the kitchen with a pair of beer bottles. The bitter taste combined with the freshness of the beer relaxes me.

"You know, sometimes I envy you. You've got your house, you're independent..." I say.

She shrugs. "Just because my mother left me all this. I often wonder what having a real family means."

I put my hand on her shoulder. "Hey, you have a family, okay?"

She smiles in response and then takes another sip of beer. "I'd be lost without you, Tiana," she replies.

"That's for sure!" I joke, giggling.

She bursts out laughing as well. I love these moments. Rye is always nice and smiling, but I know that deeper down she's still suffering for her mother's death. She was a great woman, who had managed- don't know how- to live many years with an abusive husband until she found the strength to get divorced. Rye has never confessed it, but I suspect that her father was abusive also to her during her childhood. That's the most disgusting thing I can think of!

My thoughts are interrupted by the arrival of a little girl, who's shyly waiting outside the wooden fence that surrounds the house. She's dressed in rags and has messy, blonde hair and blue eyes. She looks alarmingly pale and underfed. Rye isn't worried though, she seems to know her.

"Hi, Angelica. Please, come forward. I'll be back in a minute," she greets the little girl.

Rye goes inside and returns with a wrap in her hands. She gives it to Angelica, who has approached the house in the meantime.

"Oh, thank you, Rye, thank you very much!" replies the girl, grateful.

"You're welcome."

The little girl walks away. Rye sits again at the table.

"Angelica is an orphan; she lost both her parents due to the war and has two younger brothers to look after. So, I save up some food and money for her," she explains.

"You're always so nice, Rye. But maybe you should call the peacekeepers, those siblings cannot live like that!" I rebut.

"No, they would end up in a community home, and those places are worse than hell. Actually, it's a miracle I didn't end up there myself, given that I'm not yet of age."

I sigh in response. "Everything was messy after the war. They couldn't help everybody… maybe just the neediest. District 9 is large."

"Yeah, you're right."

"Anyway, Angelica and her siblings could join that new project launched by President Smith," I add.

"The Repopulation Project? Ah, I don't believe it works!"

"Why not? I've heard that the supervisor is doing well here in Nine."

"It doesn't convince me, that's all."

I take another sip of beer. "Because this project is supported by the Capitol?"

She doesn't say anything in response, she just looks away.

"Okay, I'll give up! I've seen that you don't want to talk about that. I'd better go home and have a shower before the Reaping," I say while getting up.

Rye watches me again. She looks sad. "Okay, see you later, then."

"Remember to wear something nice!"

"Okay," she replies with a slight smile on her lips.

…...

Some months before the Reaping

Alder Polliark (48)- Supervisor of the Repopulation Project in District 9

I put the key in the lock and turn it. We enter our new house. It's quite nice and definitely larger than the flat we had in the Capitol. Many believe that all Capitolites are filthy rich, but it's not exactly like that; there are many people like me and my family who have just an average income and that cannot afford all those surgical alterations that are so popular in the Capitol. Nevertheless, getting used to living in an outer district like Nine won't be easy for my family.

I've been assigned an important job, if not prestigious: I am the supervisor of the Repopulation Project in District 9. Even though the war lasted only some months, it has decimated the population of Panem, so our new president has launched this project to promote demographic growth. The first phase consists of making people move to those districts whose population rate has plunged the most… like District 12, for instance. In a second stage, the government will provide incentives for couples who decide to have children. In any case, someone has to make sure that the rules are followed and that nobody tries to profit from this project; that's precisely my job, that's why I've moved to District 9 along with my family.

"So, here we are. I hope we'll settle in soon, though I doubt it. Alejandro has asked me if there's a cinema nearby… a cinema here!? We're not in the Capitol!" says my wife.

I nod. "We'll do our best. A simpler life isn't necessarily a bad thing," I reply.

"Don't get me wrong, I'm glad for your new job, but moving to a district will disrupt our lives to a certain degree. I mean, the districts have just lost the war, will they accept us? Besides, our sons have to attend school here now, and I don't want them to be discriminated," she goes on, putting her hands on my shoulders.

"A little discrimination is unavoidable, you know how cruel teenagers can be. But our sons are strong, they'll make friends sooner or later," I say with a smile, trying to reassure her.

"I hope so."

The truth is that taking this job was not an easy decision. I considered both pros and cons: on the one hand, the opportunity for a new beginning, but on the other hand, the fear of change. I'm worried for our children and our future as well, but let's play this game!

Suddenly, Alejandro enters the hall and starts running around.

"Wow! This house is huge! I want to see my bedroom!" he shouts enthusiastically, while running upstairs.

"Ale! Don't run! Where's your brother, by the way?" says my wife, following him.

Yes, where's Xantinus? I haven't seen him enter the house. I look outside the front door, which is still wide open. Xantinus is sitting on the steps leading to the hall. He's writing something on his notebook. Knowing him, he's probably writing a poem. Xantinus is indeed the kind of boy who likes isolating himself to collect his thoughts and perceptions. He defines these moments as "artistic". I know he wouldn't like anyone to disturb him right now, but he usually writes poems when he feels sad and nostalgic, and I don't want him to feel like that.

I approach him and sit down on the steps next to him. "Hey, Xanti. Is everything okay?" I ask my son.

He nods in response, without looking away from his notebook. At least, he realized my presence. Sometimes, he's so immersed in his work that he loses track of time and touch with reality. This attitude worries me; after all, he cannot always spend his time alone with his thoughts, he needs to live in the real world too!

"Why don't you enter to see our new house? You'd better join your brother upstairs, otherwise he will choose the largest room for himself…" I go on.

"He can choose the room he wants, I'm indifferent to that," he replies.

I sigh. "Xantinus, I know that this situation is difficult…"

He interrupts me: "I just miss home and my friends, but you don't need to worry about that. I'll get over it."

I take a look at what he's writing and see the name "Rodrick". It must be Rodrick de La Cruz- Xanti's closest friend when we lived in the Capitol.

"Rodrick's family applied for a transfer like we did. I could offer them to move to District 9, what do you think?" I say.

In response, Xanti looks at me. His eyes light up. "Would you really do it? You're not joking, are you?"

"I'm serious," I reply with a smile.

"You would make me happy, father!"

…...

Present day

Rye Freshna (17)- Citizen of District 9

I have a shower. I'm sweaty due to training with Tiana, and I cannot show up at the Reaping like that. As a matter of fact, people are supposed to look at their best on such occasions. It's a bit macabre, though… I mean, you basically dress well for your own funeral… at least, this applies to one of the future tributes. Anyway, I should try to think positive. Yes, I've got some extra slips with my name in the Reaping ball, but I'm trained- not as well as a Career is, but better than nothing. Even if I get reaped, I'll stand a chance, after all.

I get out of the shower. I wrap a white towel around my wet body, then I dry my hair. I know what to wear at the Reaping: a knee-long, sky blue dress. It is short-sleeved and has a V-neck. Tiana says that blue matches the colour of both my eyes and hair. I must look nice enough, then. One thing is certain: the colour of my dress is so bright that I will stand out from the crowd. I use a ribbon to tie my hair. It's not exactly my style- to be sincere, I'm usually a tomboy- but Tiana will be happy to see me in a more girlish outfit.

I head to the bus stop. On Reaping days, District 9 offers a free bus service for those who live away from the main town, where the Reaping takes place. I take the bus along with other eligible kids and their families. There's an unnatural silence that is almost frightening. I can hear only the humming of the bus engine and the noise of the wheels on the unpaved road. After a trip that was not exactly comfortable- country roads are quite uneven- we finally arrive at destination. I get off the bus, reach the main square by foot, present myself to the peacekeepers, and join the seventeen-year-old section. Tiana is already there. She smiles when she sees me.

"Hey, you look wonderful, Rye!" she compliments me.

"Thank you," I reply, blushing.

I kiss her.

Unfortunately, there's no time for effusions, because the escort from Capitol City mounts the stage, followed by the mayor of District 9. The mayor reads the Treaty of Treason, then the escort takes the word. Apparently, she gesticulates a lot, because she never keeps her hands still, neither when she's seated.

"Hi, everyone! I'm really glad to be here for another Reaping!" she basically shouts, as if there was no microphone onstage. "We're all eager to know the tributes of the 76th Hunger Games, I assume, so let's find out who they are! Ladies first!" she continues, approaching the girls' ball.

She plunges her gloved hand into the sea of paper slips therein and picks up one of them. Please, not Tiana…

"Rye Freshna!"

Luckily, it's not Tiana… but it's me! I look at my girlfriend. She's about to say something, but I immediately silence her. "Don't even think about volunteering," I whisper.

That said, I leave my section and mount the stage.

"My name is Rye Freshna, and I'm the female tribute of District 9. I don't want anyone to volunteer for me, so we can move on to boys," I say to the mic.

"As you wish, dearie. Your district partner is… Rodrick de La Cruz!"

"I volunteer!" someone shouts, immediately afterwards.

A boy emerges from the eighteen-year-old section. I know who he is, since we attend the same school: he's the elder son of the supervisor. He's Capitolite of birth. If the Games weren't a death sentence, one could consider this situation comic… I mean, an eighteen-year-old from the Capitol is forced to attend only one Reaping in his life, and he ends up in the Games!

My district partner introduces himself once onstage: "My name is Xantinus Polliark."

"Umm… Polliark? It sounds like a Capitolite surname," comments the escort, a bit uneasy.

"I used to live in the Capitol, but I'm a citizen of District 9 now," he explains.

"Very well! I give you the tributes of District 9, Rye Freshna and Xantinus Polliark! As always, happy Hunger Games! And may the odds the ever in your favour!" she chirps, eager to finish the ceremony.

We enter the Justice Building. They show me a waiting room, where visitors can come to say goodbye before I leave. There's a peacekeeper standing at the door. I cannot figure out whether it's a man or a woman due to the helmet they're wearing.

I address them: "I want to see only my girlfriend, her name is Tiana. If anyone else comes, please send them way."

The peacekeeper nods in response.

Luckily, it doesn't take Tiana long to show up. She immediately hugs me while sobbing. Some tears wet also my cheeks now. I cannot help it. Tiana is the most important person of my life, and I'm about to leave her, maybe forever.

She breaks our embrace after a while. "Why didn't you let me volunteer?" she asks me.

A sad smile forms on my lips. I caress her cheek. "Tiana… you've got a family that loves you, you have more to lose than me. I couldn't let you end up in the arena knowing that it was my fate and not yours."

"You're part of my family as well, Rye," she rebuts.

Holding back my tears is almost impossible, but I must stay strong for Tiana!

I put my hands on her shoulders. "I promise you that I'll be careful, and that I'll do anything to come back to you. We have trained a lot together, you know that I've got more possibilities than many others," I say, trying to reassure her.

"I know it… just try not to overestimate your skills, especially if you deal with Careers."

I nod. "I'll do my best."

Tiana gives me other tips. She hugs me again before leaving.

"Good luck, Rye," she whispers.

When Tiana is gone, no one else visits me, as I told the peacekeeper. I just hear activity from outside the room, at some point.

"She's my daughter!" I hear my father shout.

I immediately freeze, but luckily the peacekeeper sends him away. I breathe a sigh of relief. I cannot let my past haunt me, not now that I'm a tribute, not now that the Hunger Games loom over me.

…...

Xantinus "Xanti" Polliark (18)- District 9 male tribute

Only one Reaping… we had to attend only one Reaping! And poor Rodrick was reaped! Whoever rules destiny must find it funny, I suppose. I don't know where I found the strength to volunteer, but I did it, that's what matters. Rodrick is safe and he's no longer eligible.

The arrival of my family interrupts my thoughts.

"We're proud of you, Xanti, you showed great courage at the Reaping," my mother compliments me… there's a hint of sadness in her voice, though.

"The fact that you come from the Capitol should advantage you, so remind them of your origins. You're the first Capitolite tribute in the history of the Games," says my father.

"The escort has already done half the job," I point out.

Yeah, the escort… she's not a woman who goes unnoticed. All that gesticulating was really nerve-racking to see, and her high pitch was the icing on the cake. I can understand now why the districts find Capitolites weird. It makes you wonder… we're used to looking down at district citizens, we consider them uncivilized, but we have never taken into account how they see us. I cannot help but worry about my predicament. Thanks to the escort, everyone in Panem knows that I'm Capitolite of birth, also my fellow tributes. How will they react? How will they behave towards me?

"The Capitol has a special place in your heart, but you're here to represent District 9… things like that will certainly be appreciated during your interview," my father continues.

My parents go on talking about how I should present myself, but they're overlooking the most important thing: I might die. Aren't they sad for that? Do they realize that I'm in danger? When I was at the Reaping, I saw the other eligible kids scared to death. In the Capitol, the Games are a form of entertainment, but here in the districts they're all afraid of them. There's something wrong with that. Should twenty-five kids really die as a punishment for the rebellion? As a matter of fact, the Games couldn't prevent the districts from rebelling a second time, so what's the point of reintroducing them? The Capitol could certainly find other forms of punishment.

Anyway, my parents don't say a word about the fact that my life is at stake now, only my brother looks a bit sad for my departure. Maybe, they haven't realized yet what's happening.

Once my family is gone, Rodrick visits me. I'm glad to see him, but the way in which he storms in the waiting room suggests that he doesn't reciprocate.

"Why did you volunteer?" he asks me in an angry tone.

I'm taken aback by his behaviour, the only thing I can say is: "You're my best friend."

"Oh, really? I didn't think you were that selfish!"

"Selfish?" I echo him, confused.

I volunteered for him. Not to cross the T's, but that's the opposite of selfish.

He sighs. "This Reaping was my last occasion to change things. I had even planned to volunteer…"

"Change things?"

"Please, Xanti, stop parroting!" he shouts.

"I'm sorry, but I cannot understand what you want to say," I apologize.

"My family has always been poor, even when we lived in the Capitol. I've spent all my life dreaming of things I could never have. But then we moved here, and when the 76th Hunger Games were announced, well… I thought it was a great occasion. But you've ruined everything!" he explains.

Now, I feel guilty, but how could I know that he wanted to be in the Games? He hasn't told me anything before! I don't know what to say. I can barely hold his gaze now.

"No need to say anything, I just wanted you to know what I think," he says.

"Rodrick…"

But he slams the door in my face. I cannot follow him, I'm trapped here. I sit on one of the couches of the room. Tears start flooding from my eyes. When a peacekeeper eventually enters the room to accompany me to the train station, my vision is completely blurred. The room looks like a flickering shape.

So, another Reaping is done. Special thanks to Pacecca (Rye Freshna) and santiagoponcini20 (Xantinus Polliark) for submitting the tributes of District 9. I think that one of the most interesting parts of this chapter is Xanti's reflection about how you see people and how you're seen by them. How do you think Xanti will be treated during the Games?

Thank you a lot for reading :)