Nathan Brooke's P.O.V.

Lisa hugs me one last time before I head off to the Reapings. I told her not to come, because if I did get picked, I didn't want her to be there. She would flip out and run up to the stage and probably punch a peacekeeper or two on her way there. That wouldn't be good.

As I walk away, I turn around to see her still standing where I left her. Please don't let this be the last time I see her.

I finally arrive at the town square and find my section. There are huge screens hanging from nearly every building around the square. The mayor stands on the stage, which was set up in front of the Justice Building just yesterday, as he says his speech.

Finally, our escort, Juniper Junday, prances onto the stage.

"Hello, hello, District Nine. I hope you're all ready for the Reapings, because I am! Quells are just so exciting!" she squeaks, as she jumps over to the glass bowl.

Her fingers trace the rim of the bowl before she finally dips it in and fetches a card.

"Let's see," she says with a long pause, "Don Jandin!"

A muscular boy from the section behind mine jogs up to the stage.

"I'm seventeen, and I will make it to the final round," he says with a slight smile.

"Ok, and now for our last, lucky boy," Juniper leans over and picks another name, "... Nathan Brooke!"

I jump at the last two words. Why me?

Somehow I find myself on the stage with everyone staring at me.

"Umm...sixteen."

"Fantastic! Now shake hands and go on into the Justice Building," she says.

I shake Don's hand. He grabs it so hard that I almost think it's broken when he releases it.

"Happy Hunger Games, and may the odds be ever in your favor!"

District Ten's Reaping

James Oxford's P.O.V.

"Welcome to the Reapings, everyone. I wish you all the best of luck. And now, let the Reapings begin!" our escort shouts happily, "Our first lucky tribute is... Kiel Raxer!"

Kiel slowly walks up to the stage, his eyes wide with fear.

"Thirteen," he says with his eyes looking at the ground.

"Take a seat please, Kiel," she says calmly, pointing to a chair at the back of the stage.

When Kiel sits down, our escort hops back to the bowl and proceeds to swirl her hand in the bowl. After shuffling the names to her liking, she plucks out a single card.

"James Oxford!"

At first I look around to see where James Oxford is. I know that I know him. It wasn't until a peacekeeper starts walking through the crowd towards me that I know that it was my name she called.

When I finally reach the stage, I manage to say that I'm fifteen.

Somehow all of this doesn't seem real. My life was perfect one moment, and who knew that one little card, that just so happened to have my name on it, could change my life as I know it.

"Have a Happy Hunger Games, and may the odds be ever in your favor!" the escort says as if she was wishing everyone a "Merry Christmas".