Gauze Weaver’s POV:

‘’ But what if they pick me G? I don’t want to get hurt.’’ Asks my little brother, this is definitely the most scared he’s ever been.

‘’ Don’t worry; this is your first year, barely anyone gets picked on their first year.’’ I explain and regret my choice of words immediately.

‘’ Barely anyone?’’ Repeats Binn, sounding petrified.

‘’ Yes. Of course it’s possible to be Reaped at age twelve, but I’m sixteen and still standing, so you’ll be fine.’’ I smile.

‘’ But what if?’’ He continues, clearly not satisfied with his safety by my words.

‘’ Well, if you’re picked, I will volunteer to take your place and then I will come home a Victor and we’ll all live happily ever after.’’ I vow and he smiles.

‘’ Now come on, we have to go sell all this.’’ I say, holding up the bag full of dead woodland critters that I hunted down in the forest this morning with my crossbow.

‘’ OK.’’ He smiles as he climbs out of bed. ‘’ When will you let me come out with you? I know you said when I’m fifteen, but that’s way too long! You’ve been going out there since you were my age. It’s not fair.’’

‘’ I’ll tell you what. I’ll take you out tomorrow and teach you how to shoot. Does that sound good?’’ I promise and he grins broadly at me.

‘’ That sounds awesome!’’ He cheers.

‘’ Quieten down.’’ I laugh. ‘’ You’ll wake mum and dad.’’

He quickly dresses and we leave the house. It is early and the sun still hasn’t emerged over the horizon. The streets are reasonably quiet apart from a few people getting some trading done – like us – before the Reaping.

We move through the alleys and make our way to the trading area. It is inside a large – and apparently abandoned – factory that used to house the cereal crops and fruits before the Capitol gave our District a grant for a much large one.

Even though trading is illegal in the Districts of Panem, the peacekeepers in Eleven are nowhere near as tough on us as they used to be. For a small amount of the daily intake, they keep their mouths shut – after all, they have their own families to feed.

‘’ What should we get for breakfast today?’’ I ask Binn. ‘’ I caught the most I ever have today, so we can really afford to eat.’’

‘’ How about we exchange most of this for money, and then head over to the bakery and get some bread, butter and a cake for mum and dad’s wedding anniversary.’’ Suggests Binn.

‘’ I think that will be delightful.’’ I grin and we head inside.

Consider from the outside of the building it appears the entire District is still asleep, the inside is pretty busy and the giant room is full of people going from stall to stall with what they have to trade.

‘’ Hey G!’’ Smiles a man as we step up to his meat stall. ‘’ What have you got for me today?’’

‘’ Morning Al.’’ I respond and empty the bag onto his table. ‘’ Three foxes, twelve rabbits, four squirrels and a pheasant.’’

For a moment, Al is speechless, then he begins examining the catch and laughs. ‘’ Is this stuff real?’’

‘’ Of course it is!’’ Replies Binn and myself and Al burst into laughter. ‘’ My brother is the best crossbow carrier in all of Panem.’’

‘’ He was only messing Binn.’’ I grin.

‘’ I know, I don’t doubt that. You’re brother is a natural with that thing. Look, he gets them right in the heart each time.’’ Explains Al and shows Binn the mark my crossbow darts left in the animals’ chests.

‘’ How much can you give me for all this?’’ I ask.

‘’ Enough to keep your family going for at least two weeks.’’ Smiles Al and I grin excitedly back.

He hands me my payment in a bag and I shake his hand gratefully. ‘’ Thanks Al, you’re a lifesaver!’’

‘’ You’re saving more lives than you think you do with all this.’’ He responds. ‘’ Now go get yourselves something nice, and good luck today.’’

‘’ May the odds be ever in your favour.’’ I respond in the annoying nasally voice of a Capitol citizen.

Al sighs. ‘’ Alas, the odds are never in our favour. See you tomorrow.’’

‘’ Cya.’’ I smile.

‘’ Bye.’’ Adds Binn.

We wander around the building for a few moments, looking at the different items on display.

‘’ We should get mum and dad something for their wedding anniversary.’’ Suggests Binn. ‘’ Look at that necklace, mum would love it.’’

‘’ I’m sure she would, but that costs half of what we have.’’ I explain.

‘’ Well you go out every morning and you’re an amazing hunter. You’ll make up for it.’’ He details.

‘’ Well let’s go have a look at it then.’’ I smile after a few moments of silent contemplation and we head over to the stall.

‘’ Morning boys.’’ Greets the wrinkly old woman standing at the jewellery stall.

‘’ Hi.’’ We both respond in unison. ‘’ Can you help us? We’re looking for something for our mother and father, it’s their wedding anniversary.’’

‘’ How much can you give this to us for?’’ Asks Binn, picking up the necklace with green emeralds encrusted onto a silver apple shape.

‘’ Oh that’s quite expensive, it’s worth a lot to me.’’ Explains the woman.

‘’ What do you mean?’’ I ask. ‘’ It’s yours?’’

‘’ Yes. My husband crafted it for me before he died.’’ She continues.

‘’ Oh no. We can’t buy that. Why are you selling it if it means so much to you?’’ I question.

She sighs. ‘’ I need the money, badly.’’

‘’ Binn we can’t take that off the poor woman.’’ I explain, then turn back to her. ‘’ Have you got anything in mind that would suit this occasion?’’

‘’ Well actually I have a beautiful necklace set. They are two necklaces with pieces of hearts on them and they slot together. I will show you.’’ She begins and I immediately am against them already.

The idea of something like that seems very unoriginal and somewhat tacky, although when the woman takes out the necklaces, my opinion changes quickly. On one half of the necklace, is a silvery shaded shape, it has a smaller shape cut out of the centre with two small precious stones inside. The other half is golden, and it almost looks like a drop of water, it too has a shape cut out of the centre with two stones inside.

Neither look very heart-shaped alone, but together they slot perfectly together and make a heart. Emerald – my girlfriend – would love this. It would be the perfect gift for her, especially considering what I want to ask her. No. It’s for mum and dad on their special day. I will get another chance to get something for Emerald.

‘’ They’d love this. We’ll buy it.’’ I say and the woman smiles.

I place half of our money on the table and the woman’s eyes enlarge.

‘’ Boy, this is twice as much as it costs.’’ She explains.

‘’ I’m aware. But now you won’t have to sell your necklace. Promise me you won’t sell it.’’ I reply.

The woman smiles warmly at me. ‘’ God bless you boy, take this as a token of my appreciation.’’

She takes her necklace of the stand and wraps it around her neck, then she picks a ring of the table and hands it to me. I examine the ring, it is golden with engravings of vines around it. There are little stones – what seems to be diamonds – at the end of the vines where the flowers should be as well as a much larger one on the top.

‘’ What’s this for?’’ I ask.

‘’ For the day you fall in love. If that hasn’t already happened yet.’’ She smiles and winks at me.

I take Binn and the two necklaces and we head toward the bakery.

Blossom Abernathy’s POV:

I stand in the crowd amongst the other twelve year old girls of District Eleven. My legs feel as though they are made of jelly. My stomach feels funny.

My first Reaping.

‘’ Ladies and gentlemen, boys and girls! The time has come to select our tributes to represent District Eleven in the Hunger Games!’’ Yells our escort in her piercing voice. ‘’ Welcome to the Reaping for the one hundred and twenty fifth Hunger Games! May the odds be ever in your favour!’’

I stare it her. How can she do this? How can she be so positive about sending kids to their death? She can’t be right in the head.

‘’ Before we begin, I have a small clip to show you all, so sit back and enjoy!’’ She smiles and plays the film.

The short movie is played on a giant projector so everyone in the audience can see it clearly. It begins at the rebellion, detailing how the thirteen Districts of Panem staged an uprising and lost against the ‘almighty Capitol’.

It then goes on to highlight the first ever Hunger Games and then it moves onto the Quells throughout the years. It then shows us multiple clips from the Ultimate Games that happened just twenty five years ago, in which a District Four boy without an arm named Pod Pratchett took the gold for his District despite all odds. What an inspiration!

How I would have dreaded to have to take part in the Ultimate Games. All that bloodshed – even more than ever! It would have been horrific to take part in it, there were so many psychopathic tributes.

As if reading my mind, it shows a clip of Florence Tempera from District Nine, the red-haired and sadistic psychopath that relished torturing and killing the other tributes. If I had seen her Games, I would probably still be having nightmares to this day from the stories I have heard from her.

The video then switches to a clip of the final few minutes in the Ultimate Games arena. I’ve heard about this tapes so much, heard how Pod couldn’t kill Phoenix, how he begged her to kill him.

How sweet. Pod definitely was the most deserving of the Ultimate Games crown. If Reina had lived instead of Phoenix, then the ending would have been a lot more brutal and a lot more bloody and the victor would have been the axe wielder from District One.

The clip ends with the Capitol’s anthem and then our escort skips cheerfully over to where the podium is and takes a stance beside the two Reaping bowls.

‘’ Now then, it is time. As per usual, ladies first!’’ Smiles our escort and dips her hand into the Reaping bowl.

She jumbles up all the names in the bowl, and finally plucks one from the bowl after a long few moments of silence. She clears her throat and reads the name out loudly.

‘’ Blossom Abernathy!’’

My legs feel like they are going to give way beneath me, however I make my way to the stage regardless and climb the steps.

‘’ Abernathy.’’ Repeats the escort. ‘’ Interesting...any relation of Haymitch Abernathy? The District Twelve victor from seventy five years ago? He won the second Quarter Quell.’’

‘’ I know who he is yes. He was my grandfather’s brother, however apart from that and the fact that he won the Hunger Games, I know little more about him.’’ I explain.

‘’ Oh. Well, maybe you will prove victorious just like he did!’’ Smiles the escort. ‘’ What age are you by the way?’’

‘’ I’m twelve.’’ I reply.

‘’ Another twelve year old! How exciting! Please, tell me...if you could describe yourself using just one word, what would it be?’’ She continues.

‘’ I don’t know, kind.’’ I reply honestly.

The escort laughs aloud. ‘’ What a dear! Kind she says!’’

I don’t really understand the joke so I make my way to the seat on the stage. Apparently nobody else gets her joke either, because nobody makes a sound.

‘’ Tough crowd eh? Lighten up!’’ She laughs again. ‘’ Now then, for our male tribute!’’

She sticks her hand into the male Reaping bowl and plucks out a name.

‘’ Binn Weaver!’’ She yells excitedly.

A young boy – that looks about the same age as me – begins to make his way to the stage.

‘’ I volunteer!’’ Yells a boy from one of the sections further back in the crowd and he steps into view and runs to the younger boy.

‘’ G!’’ Yells the younger one. ‘’ Please come back to us!’’

‘’ I will.’’ Says ‘G’ and approaches the stage. ‘’ I’ll see you soon.’’

As he steps up onto the stage, the escort beams happily at him.

‘’ What is your name my brave little friend?’’ She questions.

‘’ My name is Gauze Weaver m’am, but I’m not your friend.’’ He responds cheekily and a few in the crowd giggle.

‘’ Ooh, this one’s got some sass! Well I bet that was your brother, wasn’t it?’’ She smiles.

‘’ Yes.’’ He replies.

‘’ So Gauze, or can I call you G?’’ She begins.

‘’ I only allow people I like call me G, so it’s Gauze to you.’’ Replies the boy, again a few people laugh.

‘’ OK then Gauze, what word would you use to describe yourself?’’ She questions.

‘’ Sassy apparently.’’ He replies and joins me on the stage.

As he approaches he grins at me and I laugh aloud – as do the majority of the crowd.