A/N: Hey guys! Sorry this update took so long, I was really struggling for ideas.

This tribute, Chanel Mallory, was submitted by hermione-amelia-rose1479. I submitted the male tribute, Lux Johnstone.

I have been requested to make Chanel's character a "complete contradiction", so I have tried my best.

I am also writing two other stories at the moment, so updates might not as fast as you might like. But this story is my top priority. I'll make you a deal. Read AND review one of my other 'in-progress' stories, you'll earn yourself an extra 20 sponsor points.

Thanks to all you amazing people who submitted tributes, followed and favourited the story and the like. I took MidnightRaven323's advice and filled the remaining spots with bloodbath tributes. I also submitted two tributes of my own (I promise, they won't be the victors. You are all on equal terms).

This author's note is getting awfully long, so I'll stop the chit-chat. Here's the first chapter: District 1's reaping. Enjoy! :)

Chanel Mallory, District 1

I am in the Games. Running from my enemies. I am speedy, but not as speedy as the other Careers who have been trained since they were five. I haven't been trained for the Games. I am not prepared. I never was, and I don't think I ever will be.

I can hear the whoops and cheers from the impending Career pack. Thinking I was one of them, they hung around with me until they realised how undertrained I was. They are vicious monsters. I never wanted to be here. I never dreamed of this the way Careers usually did. Sure, I was reasonably skilled with weapons, but I always hung back, letting the other murderous children take the spotlight.

When I break through the bushes into the clearing, I see him.

He is hot. A mixture of all the best looking characters in my sci-fi stories. And he is staring straight at me.

I walk straight towards him, caught in his spell. I am hypnotised. He takes my hand, and kisses it, sending shivers through my body.

Then gripping my arm tighter, he draws a knife from his pocket. My eyes widen in horror. I struggle and squirm, but I can't escape his grip.

"Trust me," he purrs.

He buries the blade deep in my wrist, and everything goes black.

I snap awake in my cocoon of soft blankets. I am in my bedroom, tucked into bed. The light of a new day streams in through my window. I am safe. I can finally breathe again.

The smell of breakfast wafts through my open door. Eggs and fresh bread. I can hear my older brother attempting to sing. Someone tell him to stop!

I sigh and roll out of bed, slumping to the kitchen. I feel like a zombie, still half asleep but refusing to wake up. I reach the kitchen, where my brother is flipping eggs. He drops one on the floor.

"Oh, brother Kyle, can't you just face the fact that you are not skilled?" I tease.

He turns around, and pulls the most ridiculous face, which makes me giggle. "At least I'm cooking you breakfast! Wouldn't want you to starve to death like all those poor souls in the outer districts, now, would we?"

I sigh as he sets two slices of warm, soft bread and a fair serving of eggs on my plate. I dig in to the food. To his merit, the food is excellent. The bread is warming and filling, the eggs soft with gooey yolks seeping into the bread. I finish every bite of the meal.

"See? Who's skilled now, huh?" he asks.

"I smell breakfast, must be my darling cooking!"

Kyle's girlfriend, Ruby, waltzes into the kitchen and wraps her arms around my brother. He returns the hug. They look sweet, but I could never see myself in a relationship like that with a boy.

Ruby has become like a sister and a mother to me. She's such a sweet, lovely, beautiful girl who's just perfect for my brother. Ever since my parents were assassinated, I have lived with my brother and his girlfriend. You'd expect me to hate her, but she's just so nice to me. We've grown so close. Together, we have become sort of like a family.

Ruby and Kyle have been a couple for ages. They have always stayed together, never seen another person outside their relationship. I could never see myself like that. All the boys I know are immature and only looking for one thing. I wouldn't want to put myself with any one of them, no matter how good they look.

I guess you could say I'm kind of afraid of falling in love. Hence, I would never want to lose control of how I feel about certain people.

Ruby tears herself away from my brother and then skips towards me, wrapping me in a warm hug.

"And how is my little Chanel doing this morning?" she asks.

I smile at her, even though I wouldn't consider myself little. She has long, effortlessly wavy brown hair, pale, smooth skin and big blue eyes.

"Fine, considering it is the day of the reaping," I say.

"Oh, you shouldn't worry. After all, you have been able to survive the last 3 years. And even if you do get picked, you can bet one of those training kids will step forward. Happened to me when I was 17!"

Yes, that's right. Ruby has been reaped before. But one of the 18 year old training kids volunteered to take her place. Those kids are so bloodthirsty, it's just plain scary. The girl who volunteered apparently had a talent with axes.

She died from eating a poisonous berry.

Even though I'm not a trainee at the training academy of our district, it is still compulsory at our school to train in at least one skill. I took up two: combat and archery. I have pretty good aim, and for my size, I'm pretty strong, yet still swift.

But even with my talents, I still don't want to be a tribute in the Games. I'd rather stay safe until I'm 18, then live out the rest of my life in District 1. I'd rather die in my district surrounded by people I love, than cold and bleeding in the arena. I think I'm the only one.

I should relax. Ruby's right. Even if I do get picked, one of the training kids will be lunging forward to volunteer for me, and life will be all sweet.

Kyle gives me a glass of orange juice, which I sip on. Kyle and Ruby sit at the table with their breakfasts. They eat in silence, savouring the food.

My parents were assassinated when I was 10. Neither me nor Kyle know why, but apparently it was an accident. They were filthy rich, and left me and Kyle in a comfortable state. Kyle took over the family business making fine jewellery for the district citizens. Ruby moved in with us, and we've been like this ever since.

I've never had to take out tesserae. My name is entered 4 times this year. Most of the training kids take tesserae on purpose for more entries. So the chances that I will be chosen are very slim.

After I finish sipping on my juice, I straight away start my preparations for the reaping. I slip into the shower and wash my hair, scrub my body and let the warm water wash over me. Being one of the rich districts, we have hot and cold running water. One of the perks of living in District 1.

Stepping out of the shower, I dry myself on a fluffy towel and skip to my enormous closet. Running my fingers through my many outfits, I pick out my favourite. A dark purple dress, just above knee length. It has a tight, cross-pleated silk bodice and flows out into a chiffon skirt. I slip it on, then start on my hair. My hair is dried and only slightly curled at the ends. I leave it hanging down my back in a silky dark waterfall. I slip on some black heels studded with gems. Looking in the mirror, I amaze myself. The purple dress suits my slim figure, the colour of the dress contrasting my light, flawless skin. The heels make my legs look long. I smile, happy with the outfit. I prance to the living room where Kyle and Ruby are sitting.

"What do you think?" I ask. Their eyes are wide with surprise.

Kyle is the first to speak. "Wow, Chanel. You look-"

"Amazing!" Ruby finishes.

I grin. "I know. You guys don't look so bad yourselves."

Kyle is wearing slim black trousers and a light blue shirt with black shoes, his tousled hair left in its usual style. Ruby is in a knee length scarlet dress with glittery silver heels. They too have to attend the reaping. It's compulsory for everyone to attend. Unless you're dying. Officials will come around to see if that is the case. If not, you'd be punished.

After a few final touch-ups, we leave the house. We live near the town square, so it wasn't that much of a long walk. I farewell Kyle and Ruby, who are going to go shopping for dinner before the start of the reaping. I immediately go to registration, where the Capitol workers prick my finger for the blood that will reveal my identity. Then I meet with my friends, Sapphire, Hershey, Billie and Caramelle. Surprisingly, they're all sisters. Well, not all. Sapphire and Hershey are sisters, and Billie and Caramelle are sisters. We're all friends, though. We do everything together since Caramelle, Sapphire and I started school. Billie and Hershey just tagged along, since their sisters hung out together, and they were in the same year too. I'm the youngest, being 15. Caramelle and Sapphire are 16, and Hershey and Billie are 19. Hershey and Billie stand with their sisters, as we meet up before the reaping.

"Nice dress darling!" says Sapphire.

"Yes, very chic!" says Billie.

I smile at all of them. They all look beautiful in their dresses too. We all kiss each other's cheeks, then Billie and Hershey say goodbye and move to the side. This is their first year of freedom. They're finally out of the age bracket for the Games. Just four more years, and that will be me too.

I walk with Sapphire and Caramelle our respective age areas. With a final hug from each of them, I make my way to the 15s and stand with pride. Most of the girls stare daggers at my dress, and I see some of the boys on the other side of the aisle crane their heads around to get a better view of me. I wink at some of them, and they blush. The other girls go tense with rage. I smile sweetly and just stand, not paying attention to the jealous girls around me.

As the clock strikes eleven, our mayor, Velvet Stein steps forward and recites his yearly speech on the history of the Games. He speaks about the Dark Days and the wars that divided our nation, Panem. The Capitol won, the treaty was signed and the Hunger Games was born. And every past year for 34 years, we have sent one boy and girl between the ages of 12 and 18 to fight to the death. This has resulted in us gaining eleven victors. By the formation they're sitting in, this year's mentors are Satin Clymont and Chyna Tallow.

After the speech, our escort trots onto the stage. It's Clarabelle Glassie, in her usual turquoise suit and streaked wig.

"Welcome, welcome District 1! Happy Hunger Games, and may the odds be ever in your favor!" she trills.

The crowd goes wild with whoops and cheers. The reaping in District 1 is a joyous occasion, as we have a reasonable amount of victors. We love the Games.

"I can tell you all don't want to wait any longer! Let us find out who our tributes will be in the 35th Annual Hunger Games! As always, we'll start with our lovely ladies!"

As she walks over to the bowl holding the names of all the females, some of the girls around me straighten their outfits and their hair, in case they're the ones to be called out on stage. Clarabelle comes back with the lone name. She opens the card and says the name in a loud, clear voice.

"Chanel Mallory!"

Did she just say my name?

One of the girls gives me a hard shove into the aisle. The reality sinks in, my name has been called. I have to go up on stage. I walk calmly and briskly to the stage, slightly shivering.

Keep calm, Chanel. One of the training kids will step forward and volunteer, just as Ruby said.

I reach the stage, and still, not one girl has stepped forward to volunteer. I walk to Clarabelle, and she wraps her arms around me and pulls me into her side with so much force, I almost stumble in my high heels.

"Any volunteers?" she asks.

The crowd is unusually silent. Many of the girls attend the training academy, and not one is going to step forward? Not even the 18 year olds who have trained for this very moment, this very opportunity?

Did the world really hate me that much?

Tears sting my eyes as the reality truly sinks in. I have been reaped, no one has volunteered. I am the female tribute for District 1 in this year's Hunger Games.

Clarabelle looks truly stunned. "Well, this is a first. A reaped tribute. Ladies and gentlemen, how about a round of applause for the brave Chanel Mallory!"

A quiet round of applause, worlds away from the cheers and the whoops at the start of the reaping, is given in my honour. I want to run away, to run into my room and cry into my pillows. But I can't. In fact, I'm not even sure if I will ever see my house again.

"Now to find out our male tribute!"

As Clarabelle walks over to the second bowl with the male names, I find Kyle and Ruby in the crowd. Kyle is already crying into Ruby's shoulder, Ruby clinging on onto him with a grief stricken face. Clarabelle comes back with the second name.

"Ritz Engelmann!"

As the 16 year old boy walks through the aisle, another boy from the 18s section shoves him aside. "I volunteer!"

This enrages me. Why couldn't someone volunteer for me, but they could step forward for this obvious weakling? Didn't they know that I didn't want to be a tribute?

As he walks forward, I get a good look at him. And he looks hot! With tousled dark hair, sleek facial features and a strong body, he's sure to be a contender in the Games.

Then a shiver runs up my spine. He looks too familiar. I haven't seen him lurking around the district, but I have seen him before.

It hits me like a ton of bricks. He looks exactly like the guy in my latest dream. The guy who stabbed me in the wrist…

He walks over to Clarabelle, and wraps his arm around her. She giggles like a schoolgirl.

"Well, well, well! What do you know! A volunteer! What's your name, gorgeous?" she asks. I roll my eyes at her giggling state.

"Lux Johnstone!" he states with obvious pride.

I think I've just found out the name of my killer.

"Well, there you have it, District 1! Your tributes in the 35th Annual Hunger Games. Chanel Mallory and Lux Johnstone!"

As she motions for us to shake hands, I turn to Lux and extend out my hand shakily. He takes it in his firm grip, and we exchange a small hand shake. He looks almost normal. But in his hazel eyes, there's a ruthless, bloodthirsty monster lurking within.

It's official. I cannot possibly trust Lux Johnstone.

Hope you enjoyed that. Review for some extra points and maybe, some quicker updates. Speaking of points, here are the totals as they stand. I will put the updates on sponsor points at the end of every chapter.

hermione-amelia-rose1479 - 41 points

Raven Knightly - 38 points

MidnightRaven323 - 76 points

EndToBegining - 10 points

SeekerDraconis - 49 points

Wisteria22 - 13 points

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CalliLily - 18 points

Remember to go back to the sponsor guide to find more ways to get points! Please PM me if your total is wrong.

Next will be District 2's reaping. I will try to update quicker, for all you guys.

Until then, may the odds be ever in your favor! :)