Loreli Lovecott's ( Escort) P.O.V:
I stand from behind the high red velvet curtains that shield myself and some camera crew from the view of the public. I am ecstatic! My first year as an escort. To think I of all people would be chosen for District One, it's truly an honour. I beam happily into the mirror as my stylists do my hair. They twist my bright blue locks into curls that hang by my shoulders. They add extensions to my lashes and paint my eye-lids a silver colour. My lips are glossed and they take me to a full scale mirror so i can see my blue dress that stretches to the floor.
I take my position behind the curtain and listen to the mayor finish up his speech.
'' So, in other words...the Capitol can do what they wish and if any of you try to resist we will wipe you out. Every single one of you and you'll end up like District Thirteen. Now, without further ado, I introduce your escort for District One, Loreli Lovecott!'' He says and smiles happily towards me.
I skip across the stage and receive two kisses on each cheek from the mayor. I smile at the crowd and most stare back, neutral expressions painted across their faces. However, in each age section, there are a couple of beaming faces smiling excitedly back at me. I walk up to the microphone and address the crowd.
'' Happy Hunger Games! And may the odds be ever in your favour!'' I say, as instructed and then continue. '' As you all know, there will be six tributes from each district. It will be random so it could well be all boys! '' I pronounce and approach the reaping ball.
I stick my hand into the ball.
'' Giddeon-'' I begin.
'' I volunteer!'' Yells a happy male voice from somewhere in the audience.
'' Come on up, come on up!'' I say and see a tall, muscular boy appear from the ' seventeen year old' section. He walks up onto the stage, turns the the audience and bows.
'' What is your name?'' I question happily.
'' Linus Williams!'' He yells to the crowd as well as me.
'' Wonderfull! '' I scream and he sits down in one of the six chairs.
I go back to the bowl and stick my hand in. I ruffle the sheets of paper for some dramatic effect and pull out a slip.
'' Tina Kelling!'' I yell excitedly and hear a gasp.
A little girl steps out of the 'twelve year old' section and slowly shuffles towards the stage.
'' No! Wait, I volunteer!'' Screams a young girl and she comes sprinting from the 'sixteen year old' section and grabs the small girl. A peacekeeper grabs her and escorts her to the stage.
'' What is your name?'' I ask.
'' Ayla Kelling.'' She mutters back.
'' Ooh, how exciting! You took your sisters place. I thought a career would have.'' I say.
'' I am a career.'' Says Ayla and takes the seat beside Linus.
I slip my hand in again and pull out another slip.
'' Gina-'' I begin but am interupted again.
'' I volunteer! '' Says a girl already running towards the stage with a smile on her face.
'' What is your name?'' I ask.
'' Phoenix Mayflower!'' Replies the girl happily.
'' What age are you?'' I ask.
'' Eighteen!'' She smiles back and dashes over to join the other two tributes.
My hand goes into the bowl again and I churn the slips of paper about in the giant glass sphere. I can see the faces of some people getting impatient so I pull put another slip.
'' Jack-'' I begin.
'' I volunteer!'' Yells another voice and a girl steps out of the ' eighteen year old' section.
'' Another career!'' I shout as the girl walks towards the stage.
'' My name is Reina Wilcott!'' Says the girl, answering my next question for me.
'' Good luck Reina! Please go take a seat with the other tributes!'' I say and the girl skips happily towards the seats, like the way I did earlier.
'' Four down, two to go!'' I say and the crowd cheers. I reach into the bowl and pull out another slip of paper.
'' I volunteer!'' Says a boy before I can speak and I laugh. '' Very eager aren't we?''
The boy runs up to the stage and smiles at me.
'' My name is Mitch Jacobson and I am seventeen.'' Says the boy and I pat him on the back as he walks over to the others.
'' One more to go!'' I say and the crowd cheers. I stick my hand in the glass bowl and pull out a slip one final time. There is complete silence and nobody is moving.
'' Jen-'' I say.
'' I volunteer.'' Says a boy that has just stepped out of the ' seventeen year old' section. He bounds happily onto the stage.
'' What is your name?'' I ask.
'' Howard Duncan.'' Says the boy and I gesture the other tributes to come over. The six of them stand in a line with me. Three on either side.
'' This concludes the District One reapings! We have six careers, three girls and three boys! So give it up, one more timefor our tributes, Linus Williams, Ayla Kelling, Phoenix Mayflower, Reina Wilcott, Mitch Jacobson and Howard Ducan!'' I exclaim happily.
The anthem plays, the crowd cheers wildly and we exit the stage. My first reaping is finished.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Mia Defour's P.O.V:
I stand amongst the other twelve year olds of District Two. It's my first year to be reaped. My sister told me not to worry, her last reaping was two years ago and she said she never feared getting picked. Because we live here, it's always careers that go into the games, so I should be OK.
The giant town clock chimes ten times and the mayor, as if on cue, stands up in front of his podium to address us. He starts with the history of Panem, then moves on to the rebellion and the birth of the Hunger Games. He then reads from the seemingly never ending list of past victors from District Two. He then explained the rules of this years Games, twenty four will enter, six from each District. Eight will survive this games and be entered into the Ultimate Games in which only one tribute will survive.
'' And now, I am pleased to introduce the escort for District Two since the 90th Games, Mystique Merriman!'' Announced the mayor and there was a half hearted applause. The woman with bright green hair tied up in a bun hopped out onto the stage.
'' Hello District Two, and a Happy Hunger Games to you all!'' She squeks in a nasal Capitol voice.
'' As you all now, this year is the One Hundreth Hunger Games and the Fourth Quarter Quell. So There will be three times the amount of tributes from each District! How exciting. Now, let's begin. Good luck and may the odds be ever in your favour!''
She approaches the giant reaping ball. Normally there are two, one for girls and one for guys. But because there can be any amount of tributes from a certain gender we only need one. So in a way, my chances of being picked are slightly less. She sticks her hand deep in the bowl and pulls out a slip.
'' Indiana-'' She begins.
'' I volunteer!'' Says a voice from the crowd.
A boy from the enclosure beside me, 'thirteen year olds' steps forward. He casually strolls up the steps and receives a hug from Mystique.
'' What is your name and age darling?'' She questions happily.
'' My name is Blue Jackson and I am thirteen.'' He smiles happily.
'' Wow! That has to be a new record. A thirteen year old career!'' She yells happily and instruct Blue to a row of chairs.
The reapings continue, there are two more tributes picked but before Mystique can finish calling out the name, two careers volunteer. Their names are Jake Perron, aged sixteen and Tom Bruce, aged seventeen. They both look tough and very eager to win.
''Now, for our fourth tribute!'' She beams happily at the crowd. She rustles the papers and pulls out another slip.
'' Henrietta-'' She begins and laughs comically when interupted again.
'' I volunteer!'' Says a male voice.
'' Another career! We are going to end up like District One!'' She yells excitedly.
'' My name is Bryce Cameron and I am sixteen.'' Says the boy.
She kisses him on either cheeks and ushers him towards the other tributes.
'' Two left.'' She says and grabs another piece.
'' Daniel...'' She pauses, as if waiting to be interupted again. '' Daniel White!''
There is a cry of terror near me. A little boy is trying to hide but the children around him are stepping away, leaving the boy in a small clearing amongst them. He is crying on the floor. A peacekeeper pushes through us and lifts the boy up and carries him to the stage.
'' David White everyone! Age twelve!'' Laughs Mystique and the peacekeeper brings Daniel to his seat. '' One to go!''
That's five boys, is this going to be an all male tribute District? We could be in with a big chance of getting through if all our tributes teamed up. We would-
'' Mia Defour!'' Yells Mystique and my heart stops beating.
I slowly walk out of the enclosure and make my way to the stage. Mystique greets me but I just walk past, wearing a blank face. I sit amongst the other tributes, I am silent. The peacekeeper is still standing beside Daniel who has stopped crying but is still sobbing quietly.
'' We have our six tributes!'' Exclaims Mystique happily. '' Blue Jackson, Bryce Cameron, Jake Perron, Tom Bruce, Daniel White and Mia Defour!''
We begin to follow Mystique off the stage, one by one we shuffle towards the steps leading backstage. All the sound is blocked out, my heart is thumping. Then the ground flies up and hits me in the face.