User blog:WiressFan21/The 437th Hunger Games

inally finished ALL kWelcome! Welcome to the 437th Annual Hunger Games!

Years have passed. More victors have died. The Hunger Games still go on. The Capitol still is coming up with new ways to make the Hunger Games more interesting. However, in the last fifty years, the Hunger Games haven't gone on. Rebellions went on, but what caused the destruction of Panem wasn't something you could just kill by shooting it in the heart. No, it's something more advanced. It was the Panemanian Plaque.

Fifteen years went on and, during the 385th Hunger Games, the victor became a drug addict from District 10. During the Hunger Games, he ate some bare flesh so he could have enough energy for the final fight. However, the combination of flesh and beer didn't go so well. He became sick and started to spread it all over the place. The Plaque caused the people to develop peeling skin and failure in their legs and other limbs. Eventually, District 10 wasn't the only infected area, as Peacekeepers were occasionally leaving to other districts and, little did they know, they too were infected.

Very few people weren't infected. Those that were had very little chance of survival. As the terrible, infect year pass, many destructions have happened. While bringing Capitol representatives to the other districts to video tape and interview the Victory Tour, the conductor succumbed to the Plaque and the entire train pllunged into a mountain, killing all the passangers, victor and mentor along. Another happened when the own President of Panem succumbed to the Plaque and fell off of his ledge on the terrace.

Eventually, Panem was able to heal. However, the toll of people whose lives were taken weren't entirely made up for. Fourty-five years after the Plaque was introduced, the Plaque finally left their system. A well known doctor, or now a well known doctor, found out the cure to the Plaque. After finally, using it as a last resort, since they were desperate to find a cure, the vaccine was spread to everyone in Panem, whether they wanted to or not.

After five years have passed, the doctors checked and researched everything there was and how the vaccine was doing on a person. Finally, they gave the "okay" that the Plaque was completely out of the system. Throughout the years, since actors could no longer act, most of the television channels were replays of the Hunger Games. As the new President of Panem took place on the throne, they remade the Hunger Games as most citizens of Panem have been watching the Hunger Games while they were sick. This year, it's going to be interesting.

Rules
1. The only rule that I have is that you must either have the following tribute template or add more. Please, try to have only one of the listed strengths or weaknesses.

2. I may swear during these Hunger Games and there will be a lot of blood and gory. Sexual references might be included and other inappropriate content for some ages. However, this won't happen too often.

3. These Hunger Games will involve three major parts. The Reapings, the Group Training and the actual Hunger Games will be included. Each district will be included in the Reapings, but the Group Training and actual Hunger Games may be all over the place. The same tribute might be getting the same point of view each day for the Hunger Games, however, this doesn't exactly mean that person is the victor, it might be I just like how they improve.

4. Advice is allowed after each day. However, you must post it within 24 hours to 48 hours, depending on the time given. Even if I don't post the next day within 48 hours, you cannot post advice since I'll be planning what happens the day prior to the actual day.

5. You may have up to two tributes in these Hunger Games. However, more may be possible over the length it's taking to fill. Reservations will be allowed as well, but only for 48 hours. I will not add any more time under no circumstances. If there's a prior arrangement you made with me, then I'll give you an extra 12 to 24 hours, but no more than that.

6. These Hunger Games are not reliant on random.org. This means two things. One, you need to make your tributes very well and creative if you want them to last far. Two, both of your tributes might die on the first day when another person's lasts until the last day.

7. I have the right to deny any tribute that I find either too overpowered, too underpowered or too basic. If you give me a backstory with one sentence, expect it to be denied. Also, any tributes that are too mental or too cliche will not be added. However, don't think that making a tribute from District 1 a Career is cliche, in fact, I'd rather prefer it. Finally, the only other tributes that I will not have are ones that don't follow the template.


 * Side Note: The Reapings will go in order from The Capitol to District 14, going in girl-boy form. That means the female tributes from The Capitol and Districts 1, 3, 5, 7, 9, 11 and 13 will have a point of view. Male tributes from Districts 0, 2, 4, 6, 8, 10, 12 and 14 will have a point of view.

8. Please, have fun and please comment and give advice after every day. After every day, I'll ask from a range of two to five questions about these Hunger Games. This is very similar to what Annamisasa does, so give her the credit. Some of the questions may also be similar to hers.

Tribute Template
Name: (first and last)

Age: (12 to 18)

District: (0 to 14 and Capitol)

Gender: (male or female)

Personality: (please be precise and explain)

Weapons: (1 to 3)

Backstory: (describe anything that happened in their life)

Appearance: (lunaii, please)

Strength: (choose one of them below)

Weakness: (choose one of them below)

Allies: (will they ally? yes or no)

Strengths and Weaknesses
Speed: How fast they can run.

Agility: How quick and light they are on their feet.

Strength: How strong they are.

Intelligence: How smart they are.

Stealth: How quiet they can move.

Hand-to-Hand Combat: How well they fight.

Accuracy: How well they aim and hit the target.

Climbing: How they can climb trees or mountains.

Swimming: How they can swim or tread in water.


 * Please Note: You MUST choose only one of these for the Strength and one of these for the Weakness of your tribute. If you give me a tribute with more strengths or weaknesses, they'll just be given the first strength or weakness you listed.

Preferences
Blanket (Cap) will only ally with an alliance he think will make it far.

Lulu (Cap) will ally with anyone.

Star (0) will ally with his sister and anyone whose trustworthy, weak or nice.

Luna (0) will ally with her brother and anyone whose trustworthy, weak or nice.

Lorcan (1) will ally with the Careers.

Juliet (1) will ally with the Careers.

Zach (2) will form the Anti-Careers.

Shermaine (2) will ally with the Careers.

Ciel (3) prefers not to, but will allow two to four if asked.

Euphora (3) will ally with two to four other tributes who are trustworthy and strong.

Shuppet (4) will form an alliance called the "Hellspark" for tributes that are evil or have a bad history.

Clefter (4) will ally with the Careers.

Sammy (5) will ally with one person who he really trusts.

Yuna (5) will ally with a young tribute who needs help or anyone that asks her.

Buck (6) will try to ally with the Careers.

Spirit (6) will ally with trustworthy tributes.

Allen (7) won't ally.

Selena (7) will try to ally with the Anti-Careers.

Banette (8) will only ally with one person, but will be fine alone.

Tart (8) will try to ally with the Anti-Careers.

Jake (9) will try to ally with the Anti-Careers.

Azalea (9) won't ally.

Sonic (10) will try to ally with the Anti-Careers.

Ari (10) will try to ally with the Careers.

Triticale (11) will ally with someone he actually cares about, but prefers to avoid alliances.

Zedoary (11) will ally with tributes from outlaying disticts, such as District 12 or 13.

Mike (12) will ally with someone trustworthy, but won't completely trust them.

Andrea (12) will help form the Anti-Careers.

Patrick (13) Need!

Caster (13) will only ally if requested by another tribute.

Able (14) won't ally.

Aiyanna (14) will try to ally with the Anti-Careers.

Bonus Money
 Spelling/Grammar Errors 

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 The User Games 

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 Predictions 

Awl
Cost: $100

Type of Weapon: Melee

Image:

Description: An awl may be used as both a weapon and a tool. The handle allows an easy grip for the tributes to hold it, but when slick or wet, may be a little unstable to hold as it's wooden. The point is made of metal and is basically a larger needle.

Recommended Tribute(s): Yuna Besaid (5).

Axe
Cost: $150

Type of Weapon: Melee

Image:

Description: A weapon mainly meant for tributes from District 7, the axe is an easy weapon to use and adjust to. In The Capitol axe (although not seen in the picture), there's a rubber grip to help keep a firm grip, whether in the rain or sun. The handle is made up of wood, with the exception of the handle, and in the head, there's two different sides. Unlike normal axes that only have one side, The Capitol axe has both the basic axe head with a litlte spike on the back, posing as a threat whichever way someone is hit by it.

Recommended Tribute(s): Blanc "Blanket" Bonaparte (C), Zach Wilson (2), Selena Quails (7).

Blowgun
Cost: $200 (18 inch); $250 (24 inch); $300 (36 inch)

Type of Weapon: Launcher

Image:

Description: The Capitol's blowgun is specificially designed to both carry and shoot darts. At the Cornucopia, there's two sizes of the blowgun: 18 inch and 24 inch. The 18 inch blowgun goes 100 feet per second, but will only go about 30 to 40 feet. The 24 inch goes 150 feet per second, but will only go about 45 to 50 feet. The 36 inch blowgun could only be obtained via sponsoring. It will go 200 feet per second and have amazing range, going from 90 to 110 feet.

Recommended Tribute(s): Lulu Glades (C), Star Sunkin (0)

Bow
Cost: $250

Type of Weapon: Launcher

Image:

Description: The metal bow from The Capitol allows the bow to last through many challenges without breaking. The string, itself, seems like it would be breakable, but only breaks when cut or brought back to an excessive distance. The bow can only be used with an arrow, but can be used to suffocate or choke another person.

Recommended Tribute(s): Star Sunkin (0), Euphoria Tenate (3), Spirit Soul (6), Zedoary Withers (11), Aiyanna Migwan (14).

Chained Mace
Cost: $300

Type of Weapon: Melee

Image:

Description: The chained mace is similar to the regular mace, but has a chain separating the mace ball and the wooden staff. Since there's a chain, it allows the tribute to swing the mace ball without moving the staff a lot and more power to go to the ball. The ball is spikes and will stab into the targeted tribute on impact, but may also pose a threat to the mace-bearing tribute.

Recommended Tribute(s): Satart "Tart" Miles (8)

Crossbow
Cost: $300

Type of Weapon: Launcher

Image:

Description: The Capitol's crossbow looks more like a shotgun, but instead of shooting bullets, it shoots arrows. The stock is made of fine wood, meaning that it's breakable and flammable, but this is highly unlikely. The string may also break, but this is only if exceeding it's limits or being cut by a figure. To reload, you'd need to carefully place the arrow between the hole and push the string back until it clicks. Then, you push the trigger and the arrow goes flying.

Recommended Tribute(s): None.

Knife
Cost: $100

Type of Weapon: Melee

Image:

Description: The Capitol's knives are much different than the knives you see in the kitchen. These knives have a custom grip for each individual tribute so it could be easily used by them. The knife ends with a minor curved tip which is barely noticable. On side of the knife, the side which has the little indents for your fingers, has a sharp edge that is easy to cut with and stab with. The other side is mainly meant for cutting large and heavier things, such as wood.

Recommended Tribute(s): Lorcan Madden (1), Sammy Pologna (5), Banette Tsukomogami (8), Satart "Tart" Miles (8), Jake Price (9), Azalea Toyo (9), Ari Jalence (10), Zedoary Withers (11), Andrea Flame (12), Patrick Pryor (13).

Sheath of Arrows
Cost: $100

Type of Weapon: Ranged

Image:

Description: Arrows come in a sheath of twelve arrows to be used for either bows or crossbows. Without a bow or crossbow, arrows could be thrown, however very difficult. The Capitol's arrows have the perfect balance (not necessarily even), but perfect for shooting. The tip is sharp, to ensure that it can go deep through skin, and the feathers on the back allow farther distance. In the sheath, the strap allows easy transportation of the arrows.

Recommended Tribute(s): Star Sunkin (0), Euphoria Tenate (3), Spirit Soul (6), Zedoary Withers (11), Aiyanna Migwan (14).

SpearSpearHG.jpg
Cost: $200

Type of Weapon: Melee/Ranged

Image:

Description: In The Capitol, the spears are long and thin, but don't break easily. The spears are made of metal and only come in one size. The spear is excellent for throwing, but also could be used as a melee weapons. Unlike throwing knives or throwing axes, the spear is designed for both throwing and melee, making it more threatening and much stronger than regular weapons.

Recommended Tribute(s): Blanc "Blanket" Bonaparte (C), Luna Sunkin (0), Juliet Carter (1), Yuna Besaid (5), Buck Rockwell (6), Ari Jalence (10), Aiyanna Migwan (14)

The Capitol: Lulu Glades
"Why the hell am I in here?" I whine, bored. I've been stuck in this high-security, ill-minded center for too long.

"You know why." The guard says, screaming at me.

"Why can't she get out?" One of the new guards ask. This is what really gets me annoyed. People thinking that I'm not much of a threat. All these people have underestimated me too much. I'd love to scream into the guard's face, saying Well dipsh*t, I've killed 20 f***ing teenagers and laughed as I ripped them limb from limb. But if I did that, I wouldn't get out of here.

"She killed over a dozen of people!" The first guard screams, slapping the new guard on the back of the head. For some reason, this starts making me laugh. Not the guard slapping the other guard in the back of the head, but listening to another person talking about how I killed twenty teenagers.

"Well, today's the Reapings. Everyone needs to go . . . don't they?"

"The Reapings!" I scream. I really badly want to see one in real life. I want to see who'll be Reaped and watch as they die right away. Usually, I'd be watching the Hunger Games replays in my free time, but ever since I accidentally killed a guard when I went all crazy after watching the bloodiest Hunger Games ever! That's when it clicks in my head that before, everyone was required to go to the Reapings.

"No, she can't . . . she just . . . but she . . . urgh! You're right." The guard mumbles, fumbling the keys in his finger until finally, he finds mine. His eyes turn to me as he unlocks the cell. "There better not be any crazy stuff, you got it! No killing!"

"I'm not like that." I say as I finally get a fresh breeze of air. Not really much different, but now I'm free for the next few hours, it feels so different. "Where's the exit?"

"Down there." The newest guard says, pointing down the hallway.

"Thanks!" I say. "Oh wait, I forgot!" I turn right around to both of the guards and kick the new one in the nuts. The other guard tries to get in the way, but I kick him in the stomach before banging his head repeatedly in the metal bars. I make sure to feel his pulse, so I can't be charged for murder, but I still feel it. The other guard is laying on the ground, still grabbing at his privates. "By the way, I'm not very 'helpless.'" And with that, I kick him right in the stomach, listening as the air quickly leaves his breath, followed by panting. "I'm not helpless!"

The Reaping Square! I love! I can hear all these little twelve-year-olds breathing heavily and crying into the arms of their parents. All these emotions. All of these tears. They all just make me laugh. So many adults stare at me with an angry glare in their eyes, but I just stare to laugh even louder. The only noise that finally makes me shut up is the sound of the escort tapping on the microphone.

"Testing, testing 1, 2, 3. Okay! After 50 years have passed, the Hunger Games will resume. Over these 50 years, we've gone through many troubles and . . . " The escort quickly flips through all of the note-cards that she has in her hand. "Um, does anyone really expect me to read through all of this! I think we just want to know who's going to be Reaped!"

Everyone's quiet as the escort's heels echo throughout the Square. I stare with anxiety, wanting to know who will die next, but other's are sweating a lot, scared about their possible death. The first people, like in the previous Hunger Games, are going to be the females. Ranged from ages 12 to 18. They'll fight to the death. But I'm pretty sure we all knew that already, since the only shows on TV were the reruns of the Hunger Games.

"And the female tribute in the 437th Hunger Games is . . . pause for dramatic effect . . . Lulu Glades!"

I laugh hysterically as the suckers name is announced. However, this loser is so much of a wimp, that they don't even walk onto stage. Many people are staring around the crowd of females, wondering who is this so called Lulu Glades. . . wait. . . I'm Lulu Glades!

"That's me! That's me!" I scream and run onto stage, knocking all the other fourteen-year-olds and everyone else who stands in my way. People are eventually getting the idea and just create their own opening, allowing me to get through faster. When I'm finally on stage, I'm about to scream something into the microphone, but the two guards that I beat up just arrived and point a gun right towards me. Peacekeepers force them to put it down and the escort just carries on.

"And the male tribute of the 437th Hunger Games is . . . pause for dramat―okay, now I really want to know―Blanc Bonaparte!"

As the name was announced, a woman fell down onto her knees and started screaming. She's yelling over her baby and I just start laughing in her face. As the paranoid boy starts to walk onto stage, my laughter seems to get louder and louder. I can literally hear it bouncing all over the walls. That's when I realize, I'm actually laughing into the microphone! I just start to laugh even louder!

"And . . . these are The Capitol tributes for the 437th Hunger Games!" The escort quickly says before pushing us both inside the Justice Building as fast as she could. I laughed. Blanket just had little tears in his eyes as the entire audience was weeping for him. Or maybe I made them cry.

District 0: Star Sunkin
Earlier this year, after the entire Panemanian Plaque finally seemed to dwindle in the population of people, Luna and I were kicked out of the house. We didn't mean to actually do anything. In fact, we were just trying to knock my older sister, Opalia, off of her throne. The bowling ball wasn't intended to kill her, maybe just knock her out. But someone stopped her. A young girl who was throwing up blood all over Opalia's shoes. Opalia stopped and we flung the bowling ball and then. . . she was gone.

Luna and I were shunned. Luna was trying to make it better. She was cheering us both up, trying to think on the good side. The main reason we didn't go crawling back was because the rest of my family was still going through the disease. If we went back, we could have got the Plaque and died. For all we cared about, we no longer had the painful headaches from the screaming in our household.

Then, the Reapings came. Neither of us could have though in our minds that we'd both be Reaped. But it happened. We were Reaped. We were going off to our doom. Neither of us were ready for this. In fact, Luna just was standing on stage, mumbling something about how this could not be happening. I wish that didn't happen. I wish that I was still standing in the Reaping Square, watching my other siblings go off to their doom. But it was us and we have to accept our fate.

Now, in present time, my sister and I are separated. Two siblings into separate rooms in the Justice Building. I haven't had anyone come in yet to talk to me, but I've heard a lot of noise coming out of my sister's room. Many tears being shed. The voice of my mother and father not even arguing comes to my attention and I put my ear up to the door, trying to hear what they are saying. But tears drown out the words.

Then, everything gets quiet. I push my ear closer and closer to the door. I hold my breath, trying to hear everything that they might be saying. The tears have stopped, but I know secrets are being spread. My parent's are probably telling her that they want her to come home. Use my abilities and in the end, stab me in the back. Anger starts flowing through my body as this possible hypothesis starts finding more and more evidence this might be true. I want to punch something, but something seems to punch me in the face as the door is opened abruptly. I smack my head against the door and put both hands over my forehead, feeling for a bump.

Two hands greet me and they seem to massage my shoulders. I just slap the arms away and look up to stare at the two people. Surely enough, they're my parents. Never have they stared at me with such sentiment and fright. Usually, they would just hate me and not tolerate me. They probably still don't, but want to act like good parents, saying goodbye as their child goes off to their doom.

I want to wrap myself in their arms. Be so close to them that I can barely breath. But I force myself to remain a solid face. The corners of my mouth are trying to creep over to each cheek, but I bite down on my tongue to avoid it. If I smile, they'd think they were good parents. Letting their kids go off on the street because they shunned me doesn't qualify. In fact, I'd feel joy when watching them beg at my feet to forgive me.

"Why'd you come?" I manage to say, speaking softly so my voice doesn't crackle. I can't handle staring into their eyes, afraid that tears might pour out of my eyes in buckets. Instead, I stare at the ground.

"We wanted to say we were sorry." My mother says with so much emotion that I can almost feel like she means it. But I highly doubt it. Peacekeepers are staring at us and listening to our every word. My parents can't let them think of them badly.

"Really?" I chuckle a little at the thought. "You didn't apologize when you left me on the street!" I scream the last part loud, trying to have everyone around me hear it. Trying to let the whole world know what they did, but I know it won't help. What happened, happened. I can't reverse it now.

"That's because you did something bad." My dad says offended. "You think that you can go around ki―"

"He means!" my mother stops him abruptly. Her tone very alarming as the Peacekeepers around us are still listening. "He means that we are sorry. We didn't mean for anything bad to happen. Nothing like this . . . "

"Then why―" My voice crackles and a tear starts to roll down my face and drips onto the floor. "Then why didn't you say anything other than: Leave!" Before I know it, tears are repeatedly rolling down my face and my mother raps her arms around me, hugging me. "I'm sorry mom." I say, quietly into her ears, "I'm sorry."

District 1: Juliet Carter
Three years ago, exactly on this day, my brother died. The vaccine was being spread to each district, but during a train crash while being transported, there was a shortage of amount. of vaccine in the district. Many people were left to strive for themselves, left on the street while others quickly were given the vaccine. My family was among the first, but my brother didn't take the shot right away.

As other people perished, the hospital kept the little shot for my brother left, but my brother was a strong man. He didn't like to watch others perish and would much rather kill himself to let someone live. I still respect him for giving the shot to a poor little girl along the streets, but he died right after, succumbing to the disease. My parents think of him as a disgrace, that he ruined the entire family name. But I didn't think so.

"Hello?" The quiet voice of the girl my brother saved says while peeking open the door. Today's the Reapings and I will be forced to volunteer. I already can imagine death. It's biting at my face. I'm tempted to not volunteer, but I can already assume that I'm going to get it if I don't. Because I was scared, she promised she'd say goodbye before we left for the Reapings.

"In the living room!" I scream, straightening up my stance and wiping off some dust on my blue, sleeveless dress.

"You look beautiful!" She complements me and sits down by a nearby couch, picking up a picture of my late brother. "He died on this exact day . . . "

"Don't hold yourself accountable for his death." I say, sitting down next to her and rubbing her back. "He died for a wonderful friend."

"Are you scared?" She asks, placing the picture back on the table. "Are you afraid of being Reaped?"

"No." I say, without giving reasoning. "I'm not scared about being Reaped."

I stand straight and proud on the stage, trying to push my chest out to show that I'm a threat, but my stomach's still churning as fright brews inside of me, thinking about the possible death trap of an arena it could be this year. Not only that, but the male tribute from this district could also be a major threat. I know that I get attached to people fast, so whoever this tribute may be will determine my faith. I hold onto my breath as the escort inches her mouth closer to the microphone, opening it slowly to reveal the male tribute.

"Flick . . . " Flick! The name runs through my head so fast and loudly that I can't even hear the last name of the boy. Flick. Sounds like an unusual, but threatening name. But when I see that this Flick is just a little boy who looks like he's never wielded a weapon before.

"I volunteer!" A boy from the 13-year-old section screams out as Flick starts walking up the steps, followed by a chain reaction of other males screaming that they want to volunteer. But both the escort and I saw the face of the 13-year-old boy who screamed that he'd volunteer before everyone else joined in.

"Lorcan Madden." The muscular 13-year-old says into the microphone after walking onto stage. Lorcan doesn't even dare look into my eyes as he shakes my hand, instead, he stares at Flick, who has been hugging his parent's tightly ever since Lorcan volunteered. The only time I'm able to actually looking into his brown eyes is when we crosses paths while walking into the Justice Building. All I saw was determination, not fear, despite his young age.

I quickly walked inside the Justice Building shortly after, sitting in a room, waiting to be accomanied by the girl my brother saved. It seems like minutes at first, but then it feels like hours and then days. Anxiety and fright spread through my body as I pace back and forth in the room. Finally, the door cracks open and their she stands.

"I thought you said you weren't scared?" She says as I run into her arms and embrace her.

"No, I said that I wasn't scared of being Reaped." I say in her arms, sensing some tears as we're going to say our goodbyes to each other. "That's because my parent's forced me into these Hunger Games."

District 2: Zach Wilson
"I volunteer!" The words still ring around my head. This year, since it's the return of the Hunger Games, many people volunteered, but I was the one that said it first and was noticed by the escort. So was Shermaine, but that's mainly because the other girls who tried to volunteer quickly withdrew their words and made a path for her.

Both of us sit on the train, getting use to the new place. Right away, we separated and went into different rooms. Neither of us bothered trying to know each other, mainly because I was eager to get away from her. Although we are the same age and went to the same Career Academy, we didn't really know each other a lot, but I know her dad owns a Career Academy in the district. She also has a nickname: Pain.

I force my mind to try and think of something other than Pain, but every time I do, I just keep getting mixed feelings and reactions. My eyes keep staring out the window, wondering if we'll see District 12 on the way to The Capitol. My dad was a Peacekeeper there, after he was the mayor, but I don't see why he wanted to move to the polluted air and dusty area. My mom's still a nanny and she's probably at home with my other three siblings. They won't be happy I volunteered, especially since dad's still in District 12. But I just have to encourage myself I made the right decision.

See, this is the one thing I have different from most Careers. Even though I might be a little arrogant or rude, maybe even a bit of an a**hole, I also have a sane part of me that won't die. While many people change in these Hunger Games, I know that I won't. I'm always going to be the nice Zach back home, even though I may kill some people gruesomely while I do.

"Food's ready!" The escort screams from behind the door to my room.

Man, being sent to your death really makes you think about your life.

At the dinner table, I eat quickly, glancing as I push the peas on my plate in circles around the middle with a fork. I don't dare look into the escort's eyes, since she will be all I have until the start of the 437th Hunger Games. Within these last few years, all the victors have succumbed to the disease and died. Those that survive were killed by a group of Rebels in attempt to stop the spread of the disease, even though they aren't any different than any humans.

"So, do you like this train so far?" The escort asks, probably sensing the awkward silence to be growing a lot past it's limits. "Almost 600 miles per hour and we can't even feel a thing! The lovely Capitol is always expanding their technology!"

"Stupid Capitol." Pain says, stabbing her butter knife into the table.

"Look." The escort says sentimentally, making me look into her eyes as she speaks. "I didn't mean for this to happen to you two. Knowing that only one of you could come home, your family must be terrified."

"We aren't related." Pain says, pushing the butter knife further into the table as her knuckles grow red. "Just because we have the same last name doesn't make us siblings."

"Well, I just assumed―"

"Don't assume." Pain says, yanking the knife out of the table, leaving a long puncture in it. "If you really want to know what's real and what's fantasy, then look it up online. Or maybe The Capitol made another invention to allow you to have fantasy become reality!"

"Well you're not in a good mood!" The escort screams, pounding her fists into the table, accidentally knocking over a bottle of wine that she was drinking all over the floor. "Little Miss, if you want to get sponsors, I've known a lot of them for many years, so don't expect any help from sponsors in the Hunger Games if you won't cooperate with me."

"Don't call me 'Little Miss'." Pain threatens.

"Yeah, she likes to be called 'Pain'." I say, accidentally butting into the conversation.

"Don't call me that!" She screams and kicks my chair in a fit of rage.

At least now I know why they call her Pain, it's because she's a pain in the a**.

District 3: Euphoria Tenate
Earlier today, I was getting ready for the Reapings, now I'm getting ready for the Hunger Games. I anxiously pace around the room of the Justice Building. My father had to return right back to his job after the Reapings, so only a miracle could happen for him to come here. However, since my mother is a teacher and they didn't have school today, she'll probably come. Caleb's probably rounding up our six little siblings and grandmother to talk to me, but the main question I have is if Bronson, my boyfriend is coming.

In the other room, I hear Ciel talking to somebody named "Sebastian". I'm a little confused though, since I can't hear this "Sebastian's" voice, though, I'm already starting to be a little frightened by Ciel's presence. Altogether, I feel really bad about him being Reaped. Every year, some poor child that doesn't even deserve their upcoming fate is Reaped and die. Sadly, this year, it's Ciel who's both fourteen and delusional. At least it's not me.

Part of me thinks that my parents won't even show up, but finally, the door opens and I see the nine shining faces that I might never see again. My younger siblings, some in which also had their names in the Reaping Bowl, have puffy eyes and hug me right when they see me. I'm suffocating by their giant hug, but I don't refuse it as it might be my last. Finally, they release their hands and run over to my mother.

Caleb just sits down in a chair next to my grandmother. He barely stares at me straight, but when he actually does, I realize how much tears he must have shed. In his sleeve, multiple tissues are peeking out, all in which seem slightly damp and soggy. Once he reassures that my grandmother won't fall out of  her chair, he gives me a giant hug and we both cry into each others shoulders.

My mother and grandmother, however, just remain still and comfort my other siblings. Grandmother strokes the hair of my brother once he sits back down, and hands him multiple tissues as he blows his nose into them. My mother is still being embraced by my younger siblings, despite the fact she isn't going into the Hunger Games, I am.

"Don't be sad." I say, fumbling over the words. I'm sad, myself, so I might be a little hypocritical. "This is going to be my fate. Plus, I might win, you never know."

"But if you don't . . . " Caleb says before turning into my grandmother's arms and crying right into her.

"But I will. You guys know me, I've lived with you for my entire life. Nobody volunteered for a reason. Just like how I don't volunteer for someone I want to save, because that might mean death. For me, it'll be different. I'll make it different. I'm going to do my hardest and win for us." Anxiety starts rushing into my voice and the adrenaline is start to flow faster throughout my body, numbing my emotions.

"Yeah, she might!" My mother tries to say enthusiastically into the herd of younger siblings around her. Although they might be young, not even a baby could think she was being honest. There was a bit of doubt in her voice, which frightens me a little bit because "mom knows best". What happens if I do die and no longer support and help my family.

"No matter what." I say. "You'll still be my family. I love you all and want to thank you all. Mom, you and dad have both given me life. I tried to follow in your footsteps and respect you. Please, tell dad I love him. All of you have given me an 'interesting' life. We might be oddballs, but we're still a family and a family stays together until the end."

"Thank you, Euphoria." My mother smiles before Peacekeepers walk in and escort all of them out of the Justice Building.

"I'll try to win!" I scream as the doors about the shut. "For you!"

Once again, I'm alone. Waiting for the train station to depart, but there's still a little time left before we have to board the train and, honestly, I'm not in the mood to leave District 3. The arena could be anything. We might even be in a recreated version of District 3 or a gigantic pool, something that frightens me. But as the time ticks away, I'm just about to be escorted away and I take one last look of District 3 before being dragged by Peacekeepers out of the Justice Building.

I buckle myself in the car and stare out the window in awe. My boyfriend. . . he never came. Am I not that important that he won't even say bye while I'm off to my doom? Did he even love me? Was he dating another girl behind my back? I try to shake the thought out of my mind, but we're only 16 and not everyone is who them seem to be. Bronson could have been a completely different person than I assumed he was.

Ciel jumps into the car and is placed next to me, still talking to this so-called "Sebastian" but there's nobody around except for the driver and the escort who are in the front. I wonder if he's just going insane from being Reaped, but I didn't assume that a 14-year-old could lose his sanity within just the call of his name. But I'm not the person to argue against that, since I as well feel like I might go insane from being Reaped.

The driver starts the car, but a large boom sounds out and smoke erupts from the engire. "Sh*t!" He cries as he opens up the door and pops open the liquid before being surrounding by smoke. He blows it away with his hands before checking to see what the issue was. Great! Now I have to wait longer before going to The Capitol, not that I'm happy or ready to go there, it's just I'd rather not sit still while my boyfriend might already have moved on.

It's about an hour before the driver actually finishes the engine and is able to start to car. During that span of time it took, my escort could not stop whining about the new Capitol trends and, whenever she heard a song she recognized, she would start singing it loudly and off-key. And while that was happening, Ciel was screaming at "Sebastian" about how upset he was when his parents died and was trying to be sold? This kid has some really big issues.

As we're driving through the streets of District 3, I finally see the train station in view. But as we're about to pull in, a mysterious figure comes right in front of the car, signalling for it to stop. In it's hand is a heart and a bouquet of flowers. Only at the last second do I realize the beautiful complexion that tries to stop the car, which was way out of his mind. Bronson. The driver doesn't see him right away and, once he hits the breaks, it's already too late and Bronson is hit by the car and goes flying over the hood.

"Stop!" I scream at the top of my lunges, trying to speak over my escort whose screaming at the driver for hitting a child. "Let me get out!" But even after my demands, the door remains unlocked so I grab onto a radio that was helplessly laying on the ground and throw it through the window to get to my boyfriend.

"Bronson." I let out a shrill cry as I see his body laying face-down on the ground. "Are you okay?" I say as I get to my knees and grab the bouquet of flowers he gave to me. Surely, they are slightly damaged, all of the stems are broken in half and many pedals fell off, but I'm too happy that he actually came that I don't care.

Wait, but he might be dead! I start pounding against his body, trying to hear for any noise, any heart beat, but there's none. I grab the box of chocolates and flowers, shoving them both on the ground before stomping on them repeately.

"Uh . . . " I hear the faint moan from Bronson's body.

"Bronson!" I scream and hug him tightly. He doesn't resist my hug, even though he seemed pretty hurt when I first hugged him, and is now embracing me in his arms. "I didn't think you would come."

"Why wouldn't I? My girlfriends off to become a victor, why wouldn't I say goodbye before we see each other again." His words seem to become less useful and more cocky than I would expect. I know he's trying to sound sympathetic and inspirational, but it's not working.

"You know only one can come out." I say, pushing him a little back so I can look into his eyes.

"Well, you'll be the one." He says with a faint smile.

"It'd be nearly impossible." I say with a little laugh.

"Well you'll beat the odds." He says before tears rush into his eyes. "You're going to go there and win. You will come home and win. Not for me, not for us, but for you. You need to win."

Just then, my escort gets out of the car and grabs my shoulder. I try to stay by Bronson, but she screams that we're already behind schedule and we must hurry if we want to get to the buffet. I merely wave by to Bronson, but he doesn't wave back.

"It's okay!" I scream before entering the train station. "I'll beat the odds!" I say proudly, feeling confident, especially as Bronson smiles. I'll beat the odds. I'll beat the odds. . . I'm not so sure about that. But for him, who risked his life to give me flowers, I must give him a little hope. I must. I will come home.

District 4: Shuppet Jorrvaskr
I sit in the train, all alone again in the alcohol car. I'm only 16-years-old, but after being put in these Hunger Games, being drunk is the least of my concerns. After taking a few sips out of a bottle, my chest starts to engulf in flames and I have to stop drinking as my chest starts to cool. When I put the bottle back up to my lips and take a few more sips, Clefter walks into the car and screams, causing me to drop the bottle and have it shatter all over the floor.

"What the hell were you doing?" She screams.

"Want to have a beer." I laugh, grabbing two more bottles from a cooler.

It seems like she puts this up for consideration before slapping it away. "I'm not going to drink, there's much more to think about other than drinking."

"Well, we might die in a few days, might as well just try a beer before we die." I chuckle. I don't die, no. But she might. I might only have one person to get back home for, but I could see the two of us together for a while, maybe even getting married.

"No, I'm not going to drink." She screams before walking away. "Do what you want for all I care!"

''Wow! She's a little cranky''. After taking a few more drinks and gulps of beer, I start to feel a little woozy and someone somes to my aid. But it's the escort.

"Stop your attitude!" She screams smacking away the beer bottle and taking the cooler. Her accent, like one of an old British maid, pounds into my brain like a knife. If she's always talked like this, I haven't noticed until right now.

"Why? Have you been Reaped for the Hunger Games?" I talk back. I'm so tense right now and she doesn't even f***ing understand! Nobody cares for me. Nobody knows what I've been through. I only know that one person actually care for me and, with my luck, she's probably dead right now from the Plague.

" . . . " She just remains silent, trying to say something, but nothing's really coming out. "Just get ready for supper, we'll be eating shortly and then watching the Reapings."

"Great . . . " I say sarcastically and watch her walk away. Just what I needed, to see the other tributes who could possibly kill me.

Suppers finished and we're already sitting down watching some television before the Reapings. I'm already exhausted, but the escort won't let us go into our rooms to bathe because she wants us to be with her when she watches the Reapings. With her little notepad and frantic eyes, she sits close to the screen. Her pencil keeps tapping against the notepad as she waits, anxious to see the first faces.

When the Reapings start, I peer over her shoulder to see what she's writing.

''The Capitol: Boy looks like dog. Girl looks nice, but is insane. Allies ''

''District 0: Poor Siblings, neither will win. Once one dies, the other will commit suicide. Allies  ''

''District 1: Oh Hell Yes: Potential Allies. Boy & Girl look strong and amazing.''

''District 2: 17-Years-Olds. Potential Allies. Both will be perfect for allies.''

''District 3: NO WAY! Young, stupid, weak. Allies. ''

District 4: I know that one is going to win, preferably Shuppet.

"I know you're behind me." My escort laughs as she erases her District 4 Notes. "I'm in charge of mentoring you and you really need to become more stealthy! Here." She hands me another small notebook that she has and gives me a pen. "Write notes if you're just going to be staring at mine."

I grab onto the pencil and ingore all the Reapings from The Capitol to District 5, mainly because I didn't get a good view and I already know I'm not allying with the Careers.

D6: Weird, strange, spooky.

''D7: Weird. Girl seems ghetto or goth. ''

''D8: Banette. Keep name in mind for allies. Let Hellspark Rise!''

D9: No

D10: Both look fat

''D11: Triticale and Zedoary! District's messed up and needs better names.''

D12: Boy looks like a monkey.

D13: Nope

D14: Nope

"Now you may go to bed." My escort says as she turns off the television. "Do you know who you want as allies?" She laughs, staring at my notes.

"Yes." Her eyes lock into mine as she dreads the word that comes out of my mouth. "Banette."

District 5: Yuna Besaid
The anxiety is already spreading throughout the Reaping Square. I wrap my arms around my stomach, trying to embrace the cold air that has been in District 5 for the last few weeks. My nose is red from sneezing so much and I can't keep all my snot in my nose, pulling out a tissue every time a sneeze comes on. The only time I felt warm was when I went to someone else's house to tend to the needs of a sick patient. As for the house I was provided when I went to different parts of the district, the house was obviously abandonned a long time ago since cobwebs were everywhere and the house was like an ice cube.

I wonder how these Hunger Games will even be like. Most people are still trying to heal from the Plaque that spread and so many people died from it, like Luana. If The Capitol was really smart, they'd never even hold another Hunger Games since it just destroys the population, for many adults have been going through abortion to prevent their child from ever entering the Hunger Games. Children are very scarce now, The Capitol must know that. If they really want the Hunger Games to contine, they better be very careful with the remaining children.

It takes roughly an hour before everybody comes in and, luckily, I was one of the first people at the Reapings so I didn't have to wait in the long times. I sit down along a bench as I wait for the escort to reveal his or her face to us, the citizens of District 5. When the escort finally comes through the doors, she makes a large entrance, pounding her feet hard against the ground, so her heels can echo throughout the entire Square. She keeps a steady smile, constantly looking down at her feet, but not moving her head an inch. When she finally gets to the microphone, she pounds on it so hard that it accidentally tips over. Trying to cover up for it, she quickly starts to talk about the entire Hunger Game's concept, even though the President gave a speech about it days ago. After picking up the microphone again, she lets out a little laugh and speaks loudly and proudly.

"As you know, there will be two tributes from District 5 and the other districts. One male and one female will be brought to The Capitol where they'd live in fame and fortune for a week before the Hunger Games begin. Shall these tributes be you? Depends on whether you volunteer or are Reaped." The escort says. I know she's just trying to make someone volunteer. Odds are the Career districts are already screaming to be a volunteer, whereas districts like 5 and 8, we don't really care. Whoever's chosen is the loser.

"And the female tribute . . . " She starts walking closer and closer to the glass bowl. I can't help but feel a little frightened. If that slip has my name on it, there's no way I'll be able to get someone to volunteer for me. Nobody that I would rely on to do anything. The district would need a new doctor to step up since theirs would return in a wooden box.

Stop thinking like that! My mind nudges. ''You haven't even been Reaped yet, but you're still worried about surviving. Just focus on what's happening right now'.''

" . . . Yuna Besaid!" The escort says in a somewhat surprised tone. I, too, am surprised by my own name being Reaped. Carefully and slowly I walk onto the stage. I feel like someone has just shot me in the chest, but I know that somewhere Luana is watching me. She wouldn't want me breaking down and crying, begging for someone to volunteer like a little girl. I need to be strong like I've been since Luana has passed.

" . . . Sammy Polgona!" My thoughts have blinded me from reality. I stare at the crowd, picking out different males who have moved since the name has been called. Finally, a red-haired boy in one of the younger sections slowly starts to walk onto the stage. He stares at some of the older children like they're going to eat him and stays close to the Peacekeepers who escort him to the stage.

When he finally gets on stage, I'm able to depict his freckles and his nervous expression, although he tries to hide it with a little smile. He looks fragile and weak, but he's scared for I notice a tear rolling down his cheek. The escort tells us to shake hands, but when our hands meet, his is shaking rapidly and I feel so bad that I go into for a hug. He doesn't resist the hug and cries quietly in my shoulder.

"It's alright." I promise, whispering into his ear. "We'll be okay."

Nobody decided to even see me. Nobody cared to even walk in the Justice Building to talk to me. I feel somewhat offended, but also very upset that nobody really cares for me in my district. However, across the hall, I heard Sammy crying and other people talking to him―probably his parents. I, on the other hand, have no parents since Luana died and never really met my dad.

After the Reapings and Justice Building, we were put in a limo that brought us to a train station. Not a lot of people are allowed to travel to another district, so the train station wasn't busy at all. On the train, it took forever for Sammy to stop crying, but once he finally did, I thoroughly introduced myself, although he obviously heard my name when I was Reaped. And I know his because he was Reaped as well.

"Why are you so sad?" I ask Sammy, trying to make eye contact with him, but he's either being rude or too shy to talk about his feelings. "I know that we're going to go through hell, but it's fine. You never know who might win."

"But . . . But I kn-know that I'm goin- most likely- possibly going to die." Sammy stutters. "I don't want to die."

"Nobody does." I say, patting his back. "But things happen like they do. You know when it's your time, that it's time for you to die- Not that you might die or anything, but . . . "

"But what?" He says, standing up.

"Nevermind." I say with a laugh. "I just mumble a lot."

"Can I tell you something?" Sammy asks me with wide eyes and moves his head closer to mine. I nod. "I know that I'm going to die. In fact, I hope that I do. Not because I want to die, but there's always someone that deserves it more."

I look at him with a saddened face when he gets up and walks away, towards our escort. He's a sweet boy and deserves to win. But if he wins, then I'd be dead. And I don't want to be dead. But if it's down to the two of us, I'd commit suicide in an instance. These Hunger Games are tearing people apart. People like Sammy don't deserve this. No, nobody deserves this fate.

District 6: Buck Rockwell
I tighten my orange scarf around my neck as the cool morning breeze smacks me in the face as I open the door. My hands are shoved in my jacket's sleeve in fists to leave all the cold out. My shoes are still damp from the rain that hit yesterday, but I ignore it because I still got my family some food on the table. I quietly shut the door behind me as I start to make my way towards my destination: the school.

I mainly rely on the early morning sky as light, although the sun has yet to reveal itself. There's so many mistakes I make that I start to lose my temper and find myself throwing rocks agressively against building walls. What usually is a ten minute walk turns into a hour-long search for the school. But when I finally get the view of the large flag poll that hangs The Capitol flag with the District 6 flag underneath, I start to speed up, knowing that I'm already late.

When I get to the school, I head straight to the back where the dumpsters are placed. Nobody's here to meet me, but I received a letter about a new task someone wants me to do. I figured that this was going to be a trap, but it turns out it wasn't. Behind the dumpster, like the letter said, there was an envelope. Instead the envelope was a wad of cash along with the person I'm supposed to beat up. I gulp as I'm supposed to beat up the biggest bully at school. Even his strength challenges mine, but I know that I just need to surprise him.

I start to walk on the way home, staring at the address of the bully when the sun finally starts to rise. I stare with satisfaction as it seems so beautiful. Well, at least for a second. For when I turn around, as if just by magic, was the bully. My soul almost jumped out of my skin as he just stand their and I let out a little yelp from the shock. The bully just laughs in my face and I feel my muscles starting to excelerate.

In the middle of his laugh, which was more like a snicker, I lung towards him, tackling him to the ground right away. He tries to get up, blindly punching away at me, but I have a firm grip on his leg. I mercilessly twist his foot, hearing the snap of his ankle and listen to him cry. He kicks me in the gut with his other foot, causing me to lose balance and my breath, but I recover quickly. The bully tries to crawl away, but I jump right on his back and, with brute force, repeatedly bang his head against the sidewalk. Until I finally notice he's not even trying to deny it and there's a big puddle of blood surrounding his face, I decide to stop and walk home. Today, I just earned enough money for a feast after the Reapings.

The feast is never going to happen. Not for me at least. Now I'm going into the Hunger Games. Off to my possible doom, but I still have a chance. Most tributes will probably be weakened due to the Plaque that's been around, but I've been healthy from it and have even been getting stronger. The Careers would be my only concern, unless if I ally with them. If I ally with them, I'd be fine. There'd be nothing else I'd need to worry about since I could just rely on them.

I remember Spirit Soul, whose now my district partner. She and her brother, Ghost, were both Reaped this year, but I was kind enough to volunteer. Either because I felt like I had a chance or the adrenaline was still running since I beat up that kid this morning. I also remember Spirit since rumors were spread that both her and Ghost could see ghosts. However, I thought this was just an inside joke between the two because their names are Spirit and Ghost. Turns out it wasn't.

Although my time that I spend alive could have just been gravely decreased due to my stupid decision, I honestly can't wait. For the first time in my life, I'll feel rich. All the food is wonderful and I've just had some regular chips. In fact, I learned that there's something called lunch and snacks. The thought of having food between breakfast and dinner sounds satisfying to my hunger needs and snacks? They're for whenever you're hungry, but don't want a lot. Right now, I couldn't be any happier.

District 7: Selena Quails
Last year, on this exact day, my friend was sent off to her doom in a Fake Hunger Games. In District 7, we had, and still have, a crazy mayor whose been in love with the Hunger Games ever since he was a child. He was able to be Reaped in one of the Hunger Games, but there was always someone volunteering, since he originally came from District 2. That mayor tried to recreate the Hunger Games within District 7.

The mayor grabbed twenty-four children, randomly chosen from a bowl. Twelve males and twelve females. They were placed in the woods of District 7 with multiple cameras around the trees, since The Capitol were always spying on District 7 to see if they were really doing their jobs. Weapons were placed in the middle of the woods and each child would stand around it, waiting for the okay.

Dominica, my friend who was only twelve-years-old at the time, was placed into those Fake Hunger Games after being selected. I planned on volunteering, but there was a frog in my throat. Nothing came out of my mouth, except for a stupid huff. My mother tried to reassure me, saying that Dominica was a very strong twelve-year-old, like me. But we were way over our heads. She placed second. After being pinned to the ground by an older female who moved here from District 1, she had her throat slit and died because of me.

I'm still affected this day from it. Wondering what difference I might have made if I went into those Fake Hunger Games, but there's no way to change it now. Dominica's dead, and she could have been alive today if only I volunteered. I still stand in the same spot I stood last year. I might not be in the same position where this is a Fake Hunger Games, but I'm going to do what I should have done last year. I'm going to volunteer.

I volunteer! The words still echo throughout my forehead. I keep repeating them over and over to prevent messing up, but my throat is starting to dry up. The escort needs to hurry up if District 7 wants a volunteer. As if an answer to my prays, the escort quickly grabs onto a slip from the glass bowl and recites it.

"I volunteer!" I say confidently. I did it! I volunteered. But now. . . I'm going into the Hunger Games. I might die. Hell no, I'm going to die. If I survive this, then it means I could have spared Dominica's life and I don't know if I could live with that.

"Allen Greensworth!" The escort says and I quickly turn my attention towards a young boy who starts walking onto the stage. I feel so bad for him, like I could just hug him because he's so young, but he keeps a blank expression. I don't know whether he's happy or sad. Angry or hateful. In fact, he doesn't even move his lips to a smile or frown, just keeping it at a straight angle.

As we shake hands, he just stares me in the eyes as we shake. I try to understand his feelings, but he's acting like he's stone. He's probably shy, but it's starting to seem rude. I try to nudge him to say something, even the littlest thing like, "It's fine" or "Sorry", but nothing's working. Finally, I secretly steal something that was in his pocket, but I don't really take a look at it to avoid him noticing. All I know is that I'm going to get him to say something, even if I need to force it out of him.

District 8: Banette Tsukomogami
It's the night before the Reapings. It's going to be the first time that I could go into the Hunger Games after almost fifty years of it not happening, it's finally back on. The other boys at the orphanage are slightly scared, but they channel this fright into anger and let it all out on me. They hid my doll, Shuppet, a few days ago, but I found it wedged between the garbage can and the wall. Now, I'm no longer alone.

I stare at the doll sitting on my bed. This doll has been my only friend my entire life. Everyone at the orphanage knows it so they try to hide or rip the doll apart, but it never works. Honestly, they try to look like they actually will, but I could tell they were bluffing. They're smart enough to know that Shuppet came from a dead child that used to be at the orphanage. The boy or girl's death remains a mystery, but the doll was found by their dead body.

I lower my bandana and look at a mirror. Cautiously, I feel at the zippers I sewed into my lips. It slightly hurts, but the pain is numbing more and more as I adjust to it. I feel at the zipper and slowly start to zip up my mouth, feeling my lips being forced together by this gold-colored plastic. The teeth of the zipper are jagged, since it was hard to keep still when I was sewing, but it's still at a good distance from each other to allow the slider to do it's job.

Once I finish zipping my mouth-zipper, I lay down in bed, hugging Shuppet very tightly. I might be Reaped tomorrow and I could be taken to my doom. I would die with my only friend being a doll and the entire district would just laugh at me, as if I'm a joke. I could die at the hands of the youngest male or female, humiliating my entire district. But I can't think of this right now. I might not even be Reaped tomorrow. I grab onto Shuppet tighter as I close my eyes.

And when I'm finally about to go to sleep in peace, I hug Shuppet as tight as I can and say, "Good night, Shuppet."

"Shuppet! Shuppet!" I scream loudly, pulling off all the covers on my bed. It has to be somewhere, hopefully somewhere safe. But he's not anywhere in my room. I flip over my bed, trying to see if he fell under, but he's not here. I rip open every drawer in my dresser and yank all the shirts from my closet. Not here; not anywhere in my bedroom. "Shuppet!" I scream as I start walking down the hall.

I hear the other boys snickering as I go past their rooms, but I ignore them and head straight for the kitchen. The foster mother starts yelling at me to get dressed for the Reapings, but I tell her to shut up as I pull open all the drawers in the kitchen and rummage through them. I get cut by some knives that were lying carelessly in the drawer, but I ignore the minor injuries to search for Shuppet.

He's not in the kitchen, my bedroom or even the dining room. I'm starting to lose hope when it clicks in my brain that if the boys took it, they would have hidden it somewhere I would never search. Like their bedrooms. But when I get upstairs, their doors are closed and locked, so I use all my energy to pound my back into one of their rooms  until finally, the door's hinges break and falls down.

I look around the bedroom where the boys decided to gather. I find their expression to be slightly humorous, but I ignore it and quickly yank the covers off of the boy's bed. He yells at me to stop while the other boys are just laughing, saying how I'm a baby who lost his doll. The adrenaline just pumps more throughout my body as I flip his bed over. That shuts the boy up.

After going through his entire room, leaving no shirt unturned, we're called by the foster mother that we must leave. The car's leaving right now so, unless we want to get killed, she suggests we get down here and in the car. Angrily, I stare at the boys, but they just let out a little snicker. They won this battle, but it won't be the last. They should be Reaped.

District 9: Azalea Toyo
I stand in the audience, waiting impatiently for something to happen. The escort is waiting inside the Justice Building, but I want to get this over with. My mother wants to do a "counciling" session with me after this, but I'm close to the exit so I can leave before she has the chance to catch up. The longer we wait, the more flaws I find in my plan and I don't like it.

When everyone's finally in their sections, except for me as I pretend like I'm a 12-year-old, standing in the back row. My eyes remain towards the exit, but I do make sure to listen to the escort, in case Sebastian gets Reaped and I go talk to him after. Whatever happens, I honestly don't care as long as my mother stops counciling. And I mean I would rather get Reaped than listen to her speak about my issues.

"Azalea Toyo!" The escort announces and I realize that I've just been Reaped. Oh my God! No more counciling. Maybe being Reaped is the best thing that ever happened to me, but also the worst because I may die. Whatever, I'm out of couciling.

I start to make my way to the stage, but as I get towards the older children, I start being shoved around and pushed to the ground. One group of older kids start to beat me up with a stick, but I push it away and try to continue on stage. Eventually, one of the Peacekeepers yank me out of the sections and drags me up on stage. When I get up stage, my hair's messed up, I have holes in my shirt and gum is stuck in my hair.

The escort just gives a disgusted look before reading the male slip. "Jake Price." She screams into the microphone and I notice a whole group of children taking a step away from a boy with white and red hair. He gets pushed by one of the kids to start moving, but doesn't fall on his face like I did. When he makes it on stage, I stare at him and he at me.

"And that is the end of the Reapings!" The escort announces into the microphone and turns around. I still stare at Jake, whose older than me, but feel so bad. Both of us were treated badly by our district and the escort thinks we could just walk away.

"No it's not!" I scream and run up to the microphone. "You just don't understand, do you? This district is sick! It's madness. Nobody gives anyone respect around here. District 9 is the worst district ever you b*tches! So grow up and be mature!"

After having my meltdown, the Peacekeepers brought me straight on the train. I sat down as they stared at me and waited for my escort and Jake to get on the train. The Peacekeepes left after and I was able to sit alone for the first time today. I grab onto a piece of paper and grab a pencil before writing a letter to someone I need to.

Dear Sebastian, 

''You are my best friend, actually, my only friend and I want to thank you for being there for me. I'm going on a trip I plan to never return on so I just wanted to tell you a few things. First,  I lo  ve you you were the only person I was actually able to talk to. I told you how I felt, even some things I wouldn't tell my mother. But when I told you these things, you felt for me, unlike the counselors who just nodded their head and pretended to be listening. ''

''When you get this, I'll already be dead, so don't feel bad about it. This is my fate, my journey. I'm sad that you aren't here with me, but also happy that you won't have to die. This is the journey where I'm all alone. Nobody can help me on this one. I either have to kill or be killed. And there's two things that I'll dread if I come home: ''

''1. My mother's counciling. ''

''2. The fame. I don't want you to drown in my fame and me not being able to hang out with you. ''

''When you get this, tell my mom I love her. Also mention that she should quit the counciling because counciling just makes children think they have issues, which makes them do things they wouldn't have done. Tell her that I'm sorry for keeping some things from her. I never felt very close to her as she was always working. ''

From, 

Azalea

I place the note inside an envelope and stare at it, thinking about my life. I'm going to die. I specifically mentioned that in my note, but I don't want to. This isn't right. My escort walks in the room with me and hands me a letter, saying that it's from Sebastian. I guess we both had the same ideas. However, instead of trying to read it, I crack open the window and send it flying outside. I can't handle anymore emotions right now.

District 10: Sonic Star
District 10. The place where the Panemanian Plague started. Yet, I remained healthy and unaffected. Mostly, I was hiding in my basement playing games, becoming more and more anti-social as the clock keeps ticking and the time moves on. The Plague seemed to get worse and worse and I talked to my infected friends over the phone, knowing that they could possibly die.

Now that I'm finally able to get out of the house, I've been able to see some of my friends once again, but they don't look that much better. I make sure to keep my distance and stare at the stage of the Reapings. The last time the Reapings took place was before District 10 was hated and ridiculed by every other district in Panem.

I remember how long I was downstairs during that time. The Capitol took out a large portion of our population with their militia and brute force, but we fought back. My neighbors rode on horses and used porcupine skin as a weapon. Some of them never came back. It wasn't a smart idea, but eventually the butchers supplied knives and swords, originally used to slaughter animals, but now to slaughter human beings.

The escort walks onto stage, wearing a unique leather dress. Her makeup is done very poorly and she looks like she's drunk. There's tears dripping down her cheeks and onto the floor. One of her high-heels are broken on the ball of the shoe, but this doesn't cause her to lose her fine posture.

When she gets to the bowls, she knocks both of them over and grabs onto two names onto the ground. She falls to the ground as she bends down and then gets up. Her hands shake and she looks like she might collapse when she gets back to her podium and announces the names:

"Sonic Star!" She says my name with disgust and I feel like I've just been punched. "And"

"I volunteer!" Screams an eighteen-year-old.

"Why'd you volunteer?" I ask Ari, my district partner, when we're seated on the train. Our escort is passed out in the alcohol car, so nobody's watching over us. "Your family's rich! Your grandfather was victor, you didn't need to."

"Yes, I did." She says, staring at the floor. "That's exactly why I had to."

That's when it clicks to me. Grandfather. Victor. Hunger Games. Since her grandfather's a victor, she was obviously trained like one and was pushed to the hardest to become a victor. Her father or mother wasn't able to go into the Hunger Games so now, she was pushed to do what her parent's never could: become a victor.

"My family originally came from District 4." She says. I raise an eyebrow. "Stop staring at me like that! Just because my grandparents were rich doesn't mean they were smart. They moved here to congradulate the victor, but then the virus spread and they couldn't leave."

Couldn't leave. Neither could I. I didn't leave my house, I listened to others describe their pain and how their family's were dying. Lucky for us children, the Plague wasn't as severe as it was for some of the parents. My dad and mom suffered for quite some time. They were as good as dead, but the vaccine saved them. The vaccine saved everyone.

District 11: Zedoary Withers
It's nearly eight o'clock in the morning, yet I'm already out of bed and have been working for about three hours in the orchard. My back aches, my fingers shake and I can barely think straight! I'm still in my pajamas due to accidentally sleeping in to five o'clock―work is supposed to start at four―and now, since it's capital punishment, I'm stuck working late.

I look around the orchard and notice some little children―probably not even eight years old―scaling a tree to reach some of the ripe apples near the very top. Usually, we'd knock our bodies against the trees until the apples fall off their stem, but now, The Capitol has become greedy and won't even allow bruised apples in their marts. Any apples that are bruised are thrown at the District 11 citizens as punishment.

After another three hours of working, they allow all of us to finally take a break. I look down at my hands and stare at the gushing blood in my palm. I wipe my hands along my pajama bottoms before quickly running to my "home" and putting on some actual clothes. When I'm half-naked, I hear gunshots outside and duck underneath my bunk.

"Anyone in here?" One of the District 11 citizens say. He's not a Peacekeeper, but he still holds a gun.

"Yes." I barey croak and reveal my face.

The man kneels down next to me and drags me out from under the bed. "We're getting out of here." He says, putting my arms on his shoulders and pulling me up on his back. "We're going to leave."

"We can't!" I say, even though I so badly want to go. "It's Reaping Day today, there's far more security than on regular days."

"You want to be Reaped!"

"No. But I'd rather not die trying to leave the district than in the Hunger Games."

The man shoves me to the ground and looks at me with disgust. "I thought that you would want to leave after what happened to your siblings." Then, he leaves.

I walk towards the back of the group with about fifteen people in front of me and a twelve-year-old girl to my left. We walk silently and in rhythm, making sure that we walk at a normal pace so we aren't going too fast nor too slow. Surrounding us are armed Peacekeepers, holding their guns close to their chest. There's some whips tied on the holsters of their belt.

My mind can't stop thinking about the man. Maybe I should have gone with him, maybe I should have tried to escape. I would have gotten out of poverty. . . no, I would have gotten free. I'd still be poor, but I would learn how to hunt and build. It would be peaceful and I would learn about the world. But there's also the possibility of him dying.

The girl to my right trips, but doesn't fall. However, she's slowed down and bumps into the Peacekeeper that follows behind us. He pushes the girl to the ground and grabs onto his whip, multiply whipping the girl. I scream, but quiet down when he raises his whip towards me, but it's more of a warning as he just hits my foot.

I start to run to the Reapings. Peacekeepers try to grab me to slow down, but I elbow them in the gut and run towards the Square. My breathing speeds up and heat fills in my chest. I feel myself huffing and puffing when I hear screaming and a whole crowd of people surrounding something. I stop, mid-step, and start to run towards them.

I crawl underneath their feet and almost cry when I see the sight. Blood around some rope with some type of device above head. The device is large and black and looks like something I saw when I was playing "Hangman" with some friends. The rope is short, so it must have suffocated someone to death. And when I finally see the body, I shudder.

It's the man who tried to bring me out of the district.

District 12: Mike Matthews
I lay in my bed, staring at the ceiling. The Reapings are tomorrow and I'm deeply considering volunteering. Nearly three years ago, I left school and ever since, I've been a disgrace to my family. But that isn't the entire story. Nobody cares about the entire story―about what I think! The reason I left is because I'm way too smart for school.

I know what you're thinking: Are you delusional or something? No, I'm not. I'm able to think about stuff strategically and quickly, which gives me a large advantage. Science, physics―anything really. Just try me! I know the entire Periodic Table and can draw the entire electron configuration. I don't want to sound like I'm being cocky, but after all these years of being seen as an idiot for leaving school, I deserve this.

I roll over to my side and stare at the closet. Maybe I should volunteer? I remember trying to commit suicide just a few weeks or months ago. Going into the Hunger Games, nobody could stop me from dying. There'd be thirty-one other tributes, giving me roughly 3.125% chance of winning. Then, I'd have to put in the advantages of the other tributes, bringing me possbly down to a 1.45% chance of winning. And there's the bloodbath. ..

During the bloobath, I can admit it, I'm not that strong or fit so that if I run towards the corncuopia, I have a 87.5% chance of death. But if I get away, I have a 43% chance of dying from dehydration and starvation. The only way I would survive the Hunger Games is if I sneak and just grab a bag in the cornucopia and get away.

Wait, why am I thinking about this? I haven't even been Reaped yet!

Oh my God! I was just Reaped!

I breath heavily and frequently and can't stop pacing back and forth in the train. Should I be happy? Should I be upset? Should I be thankful? Should I hope that my death is fast? I don't know! Part of me is happy and thankful that I was Reaped, since I can get away from this f***ing district. But another part of me wants to be upset, since I don't really want to die.

Maybe, if you win, then your district will accept you again! I hope and pray, but my gut isn't into it.

Or they might never accept you, even if you win. My negative side says.

I don't know what to do! I feel like I'm going insane. My mind keeps mixing up radon and radium, something that never happens if I'm calm. I know that radon's atomic number is 86, but is the symbol Ra or Rn? Radium is either Rd or Ra. Why can't I think? No. . . why can't I think like a normal person?

District 13: Caster Liupin
My palms are sweaty and I have to wipe my palms on my pants to try and hide it. The orphanage children were the first people here, mainly because the foster mother was in love with the Hunger Games, although she's never experienced one before. She's now trying to make all of us go into the Hunger Games so that we can make her proud. Well, I don't want to.

There's only a few other families that are filing into the Square, but I just remain quiet. Another sixteen-year-old stands next to me, but we ignore each other. After a few more come, she starts to talk to the one on her left, and I listen to them. I hear them say a few words―"orphanage" and "train" and "Hunger Games"―it doesn't take a genius to know they're talking to me.

Eventually, everyone's in and I'm shoved between two, bloated sixteen-year-olds. I try to keep still and look forward, avoiding any eye contact with the fatties to my sides. Come on escort, show your face. Show your face right. . . now. Now! Now! Come on. . . now! Finally, the escort walks broadly through the doors and taps onto the microphone, getting all of our attention.

"I don't think any of you need to know that these are the Hunger Games." She looks around the crowd. "Otherwise you wouldn't be here. Now, let's start with the females!"

Her high-heels echo throughout the Square and I have to wipe some sweat away from my eyebrows. My palms still shake and I wipe them along my pants. When she finally gets to the bowl, she swoops her hand down, but then grabs a slip on the far left. My hands start to shake, so I cross them over, trying to avoid having anyone see me.

"Carter Liupin!"

I sit down on the couch in the train and look out window. My mind starts to drift away from here and now to the time where I was free with my money. Poor, but free. But then, she was unable to keep me anymore so I went to the orphange, where my life was ruined. I was trained for the Hunger Games, even when I was diagnosed with the Plague. Now, I've become trained, but not enough.

I wonder what would have happened if I stayed with my mom. Maybe I'd be dead already. Maybe I'd be in my district and never have gotten Reaped. Even better, I could have been free and do what I wanted with her. But it would be hard to live on the streets like I was. Maybe the orphanage wasn't that bad of a thing?

No, it was. It has to be. Training for my inevitable death! That's evil. Being poor on the street. That's reality. But if this was going to be my fate either way, I would go with the orphanage. The only good thing that I could have picked up for the Hunger Games on the streets is lasting long without food. Now, I'm strong. I might even win.

District 14: Able Williamson Jr.
"Ariz Williamson!"

Ariz. My brother. Going into the Hunger Games. Should I let him go? Should I let him die like our mother? He did cause her death. If I could choose between Ariz and my mother, my mother would obviously be my first chose. But no, we're "lucky" that I now have a brother. But my mother could have had another baby and still be alive today.

But I can't do that to my brother. I can't let him die. The Capitol are the only people who love watching people die, no matter who they are. Well, I'm not The Capitol. I can't sit by and watch my brother walk onto that stage and die. The Peacekeepers seem to be dragging him on stage and he's just about to get up there, but I can't. I must volunteer.

"I volunteer!" I scream and everyone turns towards me. I give a meek smile and walk up on the stage. I cross over my brother, but don't look into his eyes. I turn to see the crowd and realize how many other people could have volunteered, but they didn't.

I shake hands with the female contestant and I smile at her. She looks nice. Her skin is tanned and she wears a blue shirt. I try to change my focus on her, but it doesn't look like she's in the mood to talk to me. I just turn away and walk into the Justice Building, waiting for my brother and father to talk to me.

Before I even sit down in the chair, my family barges through the doors and stares at me. For a few minutes, we just stand their, looking at each other. My father holds onto my brother's shoulders, as if he's trying to steady him or hold him back. Eventually, the eerie silence gets to my head and I have to start the conversation.

"It's fine." I barely manage to say.

"That you volunteered for me?" Ariz raises an eyebrow. "I thought you hated me."

''I do. ''I feel like saying, but I realizes that I can't put blame into one person. My mother's death can't be taken back anymore. I can't go through the rest of my life―which might end in a few days―just blaming my brother. I need to learn to forgive, but how can I forgive someone who killed our mother. No, I might not want to forgive him, but I must.

"I can't go through life blaming you for mom's death." The words come out of my mouth slowly and quietly. "I just have to forgive and forget and apologize for blaming you."

"You're forgiven." He says and we embrace until the Peacekeepers pull the two away from me.