District One Reaping

Carson Lear

Two more years. I only have to wait two more years until I'm free. I'll be free of the Hunger Games, and I will finally be safe. Don't get me wrong. I love it when the Games are on television, but I only like to watch it. I never would want to actually be in the arena with everyone else, fighting for my survival.

I can kill people. Don't get me wrong. I can do some serious damage with my bow and arrow. I think the Hunger Games are a great way to control the other districts, but I do not know if I would survive the Games. The thought alone is quiet scary.

Some people call me stuck up. I just say I'm sophisticated. I don't really think it's the same thing, but if I need to be stuck up and mean to win the Games, I will be mean and stuck up. There is only one person who I worry about more than myself. The one person I would die for. My sister.

My twin sister, Aurora, is very similar to me, in a way. People call her stuck up and conceited, but again, I just think she's sophisticated. She thinks the Hunger Games are also a great way to control the districts. My sister and I are very similar, but we don't always get along. Trust me. There have been moments in our lives when I have wanted to kill her. I used to dream of the moment when she would be reaped to go into the Games.

Though, if Aurora ever did end up in the Games, I don't think I could possibly stand it. I never say it out loud, but I love her. She's my twin. Of course I love her! It just wouldn't be easy sitting at home and watching her suffer and struggle for survival. I would personally die for her.

"Carson, if you want to get to the Reapings, you're going to have to move faster," Aurora says from behind my bedroom door. I groan and shake my head.

"I'm tired," I mumble from beneath my bed sheets.

"I'm tired too, but you have to get up," she says.

"Can you just tell Mom and Dad that I don't feel well?" I ask. She opens my bedroom door and stares down at me with a death glare.

"Carson, we all have to go to the Reapings. It isn't voluntary. Besides, what if my name gets drawn today? Wouldn't you want to see me before I left?" she asks. I sit up in my bed and look at her. No, she is not going to be reaped. I won't allow it.

"Aurora, you won't be picked," I say.

"Even if I don't get picked, I'm going to volunteer to go into the Games," she says. My head snaps up and I stare into her gray eyes, which match mine perfectly.

"What?" I ask. She nods her head and smiles.

"Carson, I've been training for years now. I think I can win this. I'm not scared of fighting. I'm only scared of dying, and I know that isn't going to happen," she says. I shake my head and stand up from my bed. I pace around my bedroom.

"Aurora, you can't do this. You're not strong enough. You're thin and frail," I say. She looks down at her light weight body and shrugs her shoulders.

"Are you going to stop me?" she asks. I stare down at my twin sister. I see her long, blonde hair that resembles mine. Her skin is perfectly tan, also resembling mine. I shake my head. I know I can't stop her. She has a mind of her own.

"No, if you want to do this, fine. Kill yourself then," I say. I push my way past her and walk out of my bedroom.

I storm into the nearby bathroom and slam the door shut. I have to think of a new plan. If Aurora volunteers before anyone else volunteers, she is going into the Games. This means my sister is going to fight for her life.

I stare at my reflection in the mirror. I look at my tall, muscular frame and smile. Aurora and I have always made the perfect team. We have a connection. I mean, we're twins. We're almost the same person.

I know what I have to do now. It might be crazy, but I have no other choice.

Aurora Lear

I step outside my house after my argument with Carson, and walk over to the garage across the street. I walk into the garage, and quickly change into my training suit.

"Carson doesn't think I'm strong. Well, I'll give him strong," I say to myself. I pick up a knife and throw it across the room toward a dummy. It stabs the head, and I smile to myself.

"I'm definitely ready to win this," I say.

"Aurora! It's time to leave!" I hear Carson yell from outside. I groan and walk over to the garage door. I step outside and see him wearing a training suit, similar to mine.

"Were you just training?" I ask him. He shakes his head and frowns.

"No," he says. I stare up at him and shake my head.

"Yes, you were. I can see sweat dripping down your forehead," I say. He flexes his muscles and smiles.

"Okay, I was doing a few push-ups. What's the harm? Let's go!"

He grabs my hand and drags me away. Once we arrive at the Reapings, everything becomes a blur. I am separated from Carson. I look for my parents, but I can't see them anywhere. I stand next to Ariel, Charlotte and Vivian – my three best friends. They cling to each other for support. I shake my head and smile. They're scared about the Games. They think they're going to get picked. Little did they know that their best friend was going to volunteer.

"Aurora, what if Carson gets picked?" Ariel asks me.

I glance over at Carson. I've been forcing myself not to think about that every year. I don't want to think about Carson going into the Games and dying. Yes, he's very strong. But, can he win? I don't think so.

"Shut up," I say.

I notice Lulu walking over to the microphone. She taps it and smiles at the crowd.

"Hello and welcome to the 100th Annual Hunger Games! This is going to be quite an exciting year. And may the odds be ever in your favor!" she shouts.

She walks over to the girls' name bowl and reaches in. I close my eyes, and pray for my name.

"Vivian Inglesfield."

I open my eyes and look at my best friend. Her hands tremble with fear. She shakes her head and covers her mouth with her pale hand.

"No! Please, pick someone else! Please! Somebody, volunteer for me! Please! I'm not ready for this!" she shouts. I stare at her and quickly raise my hand.

"I volunteer!"

The crowd gasps as they turn to look at me. I step out from the crowd and look at Lulu.

"I volunteer for the girl tribute for District One, ma'am. I am ready to win," I say. I confidently walk up the stairs and make my way to the microphone.

"My name is Aurora Lear, and I am ready to win this thing!"

Carson Lear

"I volunteer!"

I turn and look at the direction of the voice. I know that voice. I see Aurora step out of the crown.

"I volunteer for the girl tribute for District One, ma'am. I am ready to win," she says with determination in her voice. She confidently walks up the stairs and walks over to the microphone. I close my eyes and shake my head. You're so stupid, Aurora.

"My name is Aurora Lear, and I am ready to win this thing!" she shouts.

Lulu pats her back and smiles at us.

"Well, Aurora. You seem pretty confident about the Games," she says. Aurora smiles and catches my eye.

"I've been training for years. I can do this. No one can stop me," she says. Lulu smiles and walks over to the boys' name bowl. She reaches down and casually snatches a slip of paper into her hand. She walks over to the microphone.

"Carter Wilson!"

I gasp and look at my best friend, Carter. He looks down at Brock, my other best friend. He turns to look at me. He smiles and nods his head.

"Well, it's been nice knowing you," he says. He steps out of the crowd. I reach up and grab his arm.

"Carter," I whisper. He looks down at me and smiles.

"Don't worry, Carson. I'll keep her safe. I promise," he whispers. I shake my head.

"No, Carter. You can't do this. If someone is going to go into the Games with Aurora, it's going to be me," I say. I step out of the crown and look at Lulu.

"I volunteer for the boy tribute!"

Aurora gasps and covers her mouth with her hand. She shakes her head and grabs the microphone.

"Carson, you don't know what you're doing!" she shouts. The district guards grab my arms, but I push them away.

"Don't push me. I'm above you, and I can walk by myself," I say with a death glare on my face. It's game time.

I walk up the steps and walk over to the microphone. Lulu smiles, and motions for me to stand next to her.

"What is your name?" she asks.

"Carson Lear," I say. She gasps and looks at Aurora.

"Are you two siblings?" she asks. We both nod our heads.

"We're twins," Aurora says. She grabs my hand and leans up into my ear.

"You're crazy," she whispers. I stare down at her and smile.

"If you're going into the Games, so am I. I'm going to protect you because I want you to win, sis. You're going to win," I say. She looks up at me and shakes her head.

"I hate you," she says. Lulu clears her throat. We snap back to reality and look at her. She turns to face us and leans into the microphone.

"Well, may the odds be ever in your favor."