My seventeenth birthday came right with the 250th reaping. It's kinda funny how I was born on the same day as this even happens.
"Happy Birthday, Mason!" My younger sister; Chloe hugged me.
"Thanks, Chloe." I answered.
Chloe is 12 years old and I love her more than anyone.
I'm glad that no one from my family can get picked today. This year is the 10th Quarter Quel and only men can take part in the games. My younger brother Ernest is too young for the games in general, he is 11.

Let me give you a little introduction around my family. Our family is obsessed with games each year my mother gives the oldest from our family who volunteers for the games. All of them died.
Janett died at age 18 a year ago in 249 games. She made it to the final two but she got killed by a girl from 11, who was the victor.
Alvin age 13, died 3 years ago in the 257th Hunger Games. He got killed by tigers mutts on the second day.
Tris age 15, died a year ago. She got killed by a tribute from 4 when she was one of the final three tributes.

This year is my turn not only because only men get picked but because I'm the oldest. I'm 17 years old and I have to take part. I want to take part so none of my siblings will have to die again. If I die, Chloe will have to take part age in 13 after that Ernest will die too and after that the kid that is inside my mum's stomach now.
We all trained for this hard each day but none of us ever won.

I can't let it happen again.

When I almost left the house, my gave me a certain look. It was the look that said that I have to volunteer.

...

Everyone gathered in the main square.
"Welcome, welcome, Happy Hunger Games and may the odds be ever in your favour." She said.
After a quick talk, she put her hand in the bowl.

She took out the first slip,
"Troy East!" She said and a twelve year old boy got out of the crowd.
"I volunteer as a tribute!" I yelled.
"What's your name?" The lady asked.
"Mason Bell." I answered.
I got on the stage and everyone started clapping.
"Let's pick the next one," the lady took a slip from the bowl.
"Ryan Stark."
Surprisingly, no one had volunteered. I don't know why.
"These two man will represent District 1 in 250th Hunger Games. May the odds be ever in your favour."

After saying goodbye to my family, I got on the train. Me and Ryan stayed in silence. Soon our mentors came Eleanor, Silver, Roman and Lena. That one that I remember the most is Roman. He was my sister's District partner. Tris, Roman and other careers including the girl from 4 were allies. The girl from 4 betrayed them and killed Tris, that's when Roman killed the girl from 4.
"You're her brother?" Roman looked at me, is he reading my mind or something?
"Yeah. Tris was my sister."
"I'm sorry, man." He put his big hand on my shoulder.
"Thanks."

We had a talk about the games, they told us to focus on fighting skills rather anything else.

In the end of day we looked at the reapings from all the other districts. We looked at the tributes from 2 and only one of them were a volunteer, it was Ethan age 18. The other guy was William at age of 14.
"Should we team up with them?" Ryan asked.
"I think that you will have more chances of winning if you team up with them only for the first day." Sliver said.
"Yeah, they might be useful during the Bloodbath but not later." Roman added.

The night came and I began to think about the games. 23 boys that I have just seen on the tv are going to die soon. If I win, Ryan, Ethan, William and everyone else will die. Death touched me more than once, I hate it.

My name is Mason Bell.
My home is District 1.
Three of my siblings died in the games.
I'm a career.
I hate Hunger Games