User blog:LightStone123/398th Annual Hunger Games

Welcome everyone to my seventh ever Hunger Games! My last games, The 327th Annual Hunger Games, are still going on but they're ending soon and that's why I'm making these now. Also, in these games I will be making some changes in sponsoring and a few other things, my aim is to make things a bit more realistic. I hope you'll join as I plan on making these Games the best I can!

Introduction
The 398th Annual Hunger Games will be taking place as usual, despite a large scale rebellion that took place immediately following the 397th Games. The rebellion rocked the entire country of Panem with most of the District's fighting against the Capitol. This was not a small rebellion, and with the help of technology received from unknown sources, the rebels has the fighting lasting almost an entire year before the Capitol managed to crush it. However, the until then untouchable Capitol suffered many losses, including the life of then President Dolan Stryker, the son of Tiberius Stryker, who had been assassinated by rebel forces. At first this blow severely weakened the Capitol until Dolan's son, a boy who was only eighteen years old, took control. With this newfound leadership the Capitol struck back hard, annihilating the rebel forces and regaining control of the District's, which suffered immensely for their actions. Now, only a few months distanced from the end of the war, President Leopold Stryker announces that the 398th Annual Hunger Games will continue as planned...

Rules
1: There will be twenty-eight Tributes

2: You may have up to three Tributes (number may change)

3: Each Tribute has $150 in sponsor money for their mentor (creator) to use as they see fit. Yes, this may seem too low at first but sponsoring will be handled differently in these Games but more about that later.

4: I will write Reapings, Group Training, and of course the actual Games

5: I will not accept any Tributes that have been in my previous Games

6: Reservations last exactly 48 hours

7: The Capitol is a Career district in my Games

8: These Games take place seventy-one year's after my 327th Games

9: Tribute Form:

Name:

District:

Gender:

Age:

Personality:

Backstory:

Height:

Appearance:

Weapon(s):

Strengths:

Weaknesses:

Fear(s):

Bloodbath Strategy:

Alliance: (can be filled out later)

Alliances
Note: These alliances are not yet official and can change any time from now until the start of the Games

Careers : Trevor Gold (1), Trinity Mace (1), Avia Stafford (2), Luigi Wilkins (2), Sombra Celesta (3), Scarlet Avalon (4),  Buck Rockwell (6), Fiora Waltz (7), Juline Cenia (9), Zoey Proasheck (13), Odin Amarth (14)

Rebels: Aemilia Wonder (C), Aelia Freedome (0), Nikki Heart (4), Nick Maclachlan (7), Lyman Milton (9), & Stephen Star (10)

District 11 & 12 Alliance: Crimson Typhoon (11), Drago Fire (12), & Radiant Tayz (13)

District 3 & 8 Alliance: Shuppet Jorravaskr (3), Banette Tsukomogami (8), & Johnathan Mikeal (5)

District 6, 8 & 12 Alliance: Amore Madness (6), Aisha Hakeem (8), Celica Rotas (12)

Loners: Solar Energy (0), Lucinda Kidd (5), Cleo Royalty (10), Raven Night (11), Angel Orthodox (14), & Furcifer Soror (C)

Key
Bold signifies the leader of the alliance

Italics means the tribute is requesting to join the alliance but has yet to be accepted

Sponsoring
In these Games sponsoring will be different then my previous Games. Each tribute will initially only have $150 in sponsorship money, however more can be earned later on. At various intervals people who are reading the games, will be allowed to select up to four tributes to give $50 in sponsoring money. The four chosen tributes cannot be chosen in repeat BY THE SAME PERSON and at the next Sponsoring Period four new tributes must be chosen. After this, at the third period, the four tributes who were chosen at the first period are eligible to be sponsored again.

Example: Person A chooses to sponsor Tributes, B, C, D, and E at the first Sponsoring Period. At the next period, Person A will not be able to sponsor any of the four, however, Person B who had sponsored four different tributes, will be allowed to sponsor Tributes B, C, D, and E while Person A will have to sponsor different tributes. I hope this makes sense. If you have any questions feel free to pose them in the comments.

Along with this way, tributes can earn more money in several other ways. Training Scores will effect the amount, either positivity or negatively, depending on what score the tribute obtains. Making a kill during the Games will also increase a tributes total.

Items
Antidote (cures poison): $150

Anti-Infection: $125

Awl: $50

Alcohol: $75

Axe: $150

Baton: $100

Battleaxe $175

Blanket: $50

Blowgun: $125

Bow: $150

Bread: $50

Burn Cream: $125

Canteen: $75

Camouflage Paints: $100

Chakram: $175

Chlorine: $75

Cookies: $25

Crossbow: $175

Crackers: $15

Dagger: $100

Darts (12): $25

Dried Meat: $75

Dried Fruit: $50

Flail: $125

Flares x3: $125

Flashlight: $100

Hammer: $125

Instant Relief: $400

Iodine: $100

Knife: $50

Knife Glove: $100

Mace: $150

Mace (Chained): $175

Machete: $125

Matches: $75

Morning Star: $175

Gasoline $100

Hatchet: $150

Needles (3): $125

Net: $75

Net Trap: $125

Night-Vision Glasses: $150

Piece of Plastic: $15

Painkillers: $75

Poison: $100

Quiver of Arrows (12): $50

Raft: $125

Rocks: $15

Rope: $25

Scythe: $150

Shield: $125

Shield (Spiked): $200

Shurikens (5): $125

Sickle: $125

Sleeping Bag: $50

Sleep Syrup: $125

Slingshot: $75

Soup: $75

Spear: $125

Spike Trap: $250

Spile: $50

Sword: $150

Throwing Axes (3): $200

Throwing Knives (3): $200

Trident: $225

Water: $100

Whip: $75

Wire: $75

Wooden Club: $100

Wooden Club (Spiked): $150

District Zero: Aelia Freedome
The whistling wind wakes me from my sleep and when my eyes blink open I am staring at the wooden ceiling. Shivering, I pull the blanket tighter around me and try to get back to peaceful sleep. I feel myself drifting off when the howling wind returns, this time even stronger, rattling the wooden boards of the house. I won't be getting any more sleep this morning.

"I hear you, I hear you!" I grumble as I roll out of the bed and check on the small fireplace in the corner of the room. It's nearly out and I will have to find some more kindling later today. I recall my prior life,  living on a boat that was anchored just off shore of the District's coast. I smile fondly at the memory. That boat was a great living place. It had a generator on board which kept me warmed, now all I have is this dingy fireplace. Too bad the Peacekeepers destroyed when they found me.

With no running water in the house I take out a bottle of water from a pack that I keep under my bed, in case the Peacekeepers ever find me again, and pour some of the water onto my hands, which I precede to clean my face with. When I finish, I pull an old hair band out of a small drawer and look into a dirty cracked mirror on the wall.

"Looking good Aelia," I tell my reflection with a smile. "Looking real good" I don't know if that's technically true. While I have been called beautiful by many people over the years, I don't resemble that much right now. My skin is a pasty white from the lack of sunlight here in District 0, my face is tired looking from the night antics against the Capital, and my blonde hair is dirty and all over the place from a lack of viable washing methods. As I tie my hair back I think about how I use to live in District 4, where I had all the essential amenities of life. But only because the citizens of District 4 are the Capital's lapdogs, because they have no sense of morality and love competing in the Hunger Games.

The Hunger Games.

I can already feel the anger rippling through me as I think of the Games. The most inhumane thing the Capital forces upon us, where they force us to celebrate the death and misery it inflicts. I tighten my fists into balls in effort to prevent myself from punching something. I hate the Capital! I want to do everything in my power to dethrone them, to show they can't keep us down forever!

And I think I know how. Already in my short time here in District 0 I've been building up a rebel force. It's not enough to overthrow the Capital, not yet. What makes this even harder is that the Districts just had a rebellion. They actually rose against the Capital and fought back!

But they lost.

In the end the Capital crushed the rebellions and in an effort to stifle any further attempts they captured the leaders of the rebellion, paraded their entire families in front of them and had them publicly executed. It didn't matter the age. As young as two or as old as ninety, if you were related to the guilty you were killed. Simple as that.

I let out a screech of fury and punch the mirror and it cracks and shatters, leaving my fist cut and bloody but I don't care. I'm too angry to care. That should have been the tipping point, it should have shown everyone that we're not safe and we all need to rise against them NOW. They can't execute all of us! But of course, they didn't. They cowardly slunk back into the shadows, giving the Capital victory.

No...not everyone. The people with me still want to fight, no matter the cost. These people give me hope that maybe this war isn't over just yet. We can still win.

''Ding! Ding! Ding!''

I stiffen as I hear the bell. The bell that signals it's time to head for the District square for the Reaping. Dammit. I forgot it was today. I look down at my bloody hand and wince. Now that the adrenaline is wearing off I feel the pain. I should not have threw that punch. I look for a cleanish cloth and upon finding one I wipe the blood off  before covering it with a bandage from ny emergency bag. I then head for the square.

My journey to the square, which is about a twenty minute walk from my cabin, is made more difficult by the blizzard going on. The blessing and curse of District 0 is that it's always snowing. The blessing part is that the Peacekeepers hate the cold and often have difficulty enforcing rules on the outskirts of the district and that they rarely go out of their way harass innocent civilians. The curse is that the cold temperatures can often claim the lives of those too poor to afford warm lodgings and that it makes planning raids for my Rebel force difficult.

When I finally arrive at the square I join the jostling line of people as  they get their blood taken. I avoid showing my face to the blood taker as I am a wanted criminal. They don't recognize me and I take my place in line. I look up to the people on stage with utter spite. These people encourage the Games by not taking any effort to stop them, especially the escort, Elsa De`Cour, who thinks the Games are all fun and joyful. She's an idiot.

After everyone gets themselves in line the Mayor makes his usual speech but with a new addendum. "The Hunger Games are still necessary as the District's have shown that they still do not appreciate the generosity and love of the Capital. Thus, the Games shall go on for yet another year"

He's referencing the recent rebellion of course. I make sure I show no emotion as doing so in public would be a detrimental to my health. The Mayor finishes his droll speech and passes it off to Elsa who takes the Mic and immediately begins to blab about how great the Games are. The only good thing is that the wind has gotten so extreme that we can barely hear her.

"Lets see who are fine tributes will be!" She finally manages to shriek over the wind. The bowls are rolled over but the wind is savage that two men must hold onto it to prevent it from tipping. Elsa dips a hand in and tugs a slip free.

"And District Zero's female tribute in the 398th Annual Hunger Games is...Whoops!" She loses her grasp of the slip and the wind automatically whips the piece of paper away. I watch it disappear into the snowfall and Elsa shrugs before selecting another name.

"And the tribute is...Aelia Freedome!"

A shiver that has nothing to do with the cold runs along my spine as the name is echoed through the wind. How ironic that I would end up being Reaped. I, who fought so valiantly for the Games to be abolished would end up going into them as a sacrificial lamb. As I climb onto the stage I want to scream, to tell the people gathered below to fight, tell them not to accept fate as slaves and rise against the Capital. Individually we are weak but together we are strong. I want to tell them all this.

But I don't.

There's no point. Few would listen and I would most likely seal my fate. The Capital would have me die in the Games most certainly. Instead, I stand stoically beside Elsa as she draws the name of the boy going in with me.

"Solar Energy!"

The name hangs over the the crowd for a moment before a hooded boy takes to the stage. He doesn't say a word as he stands beside me, strands of red hair drooping across his forehead. As I feel for all tributes, I feel bad for him. But unlike most, who I cannot do thing for, I could possibly help this boy out.

"Give it up for the District 0 tributes of the 398th Annual Hunger Games!" Elsa claps wildly and a few people in the crowd join in. Elsa tells us to raise our hands but I give her a glare and refuse. I may not be able to say my mind but I don't need to act like it's an honour. Solar doesn't do it either, opting simply stare off into the distance with a glazed over look.

The Reapings come to a close and Elsa hands us off to the Peacekeepers who lead us toward the Justice Building. Already a plan is formulating inside of my head. Just because I'm going into the Games doesn't mean I'm done fighting the Capital.

District One: Trevor Gold
"It's Reaping day! It's Reaping day!"

The shout is picked up by the rest of the little children running down the street and I know that the shout will spread throughout the District. It's not like this is news though, people have been anticipating this moment for the whole year. It's Reaping day and that means two lucky kids get to represent District 1 in the most prestigious way. By being a tribute in the Hunger Games.

This year is my year. Not only will I participate in the Games but I will win them. I've been training for this my entire life and won't let myself down.

I jog down the streets of District 1, a smile on face. Everyone is getting excited for the Reaping later this morning and this is reflected on their faces, they all have smiles on their faces and joy in their eyes. I couldn't have asked for better weather either; it's a beautiful day, the sky is a pure blue with no clouds in sight and a slight breeze gently blows by.

"Hey Trevor!"

Two boys come up behind me and I smile and shake their hands. I know them both from the Training Academy, they're two years younger then me but are excellent fighters, I know that when their time comes they will do well in the Games.

"Hey Sheen. Mornin' Ray" I greet the two with a nod the head and Sheen grins.

"You really going in this year?" He asks. He already knows the answer to this. It's common knowledge amongst those at the Academy that I'm volunteering this year. No one really objects to this; I'm unquestionably the best person for the position and this isn't even me being arrogant, it's simply true.

"Yep. I'm definitely going to be the District 1 male this year"

"I thought you might decide to wait another year," Sheen says thoughtfully. "You have another year of eligibility after all" That's true enough. I could wait another year, brush up my weaknesses and further hone my strengths but I don't want to wait. I've already proven myself to District 1, now I need to prove it to the rest of the nation. I tell them both this and they concede that I'm right. I can't get much stronger  then I currently am

"The other District's could though," Ray says as we begin making our way down the sunny street and towards the square. "Who knows who Two and Four have been training up"

"They could have a real strong threat this year too though," Sheen points out and they begin to squabble about whether waiting is profitable or not when I cut in.

"It doesn't matter who they have," I tell them. "I'm strong enough to win. Austin Aitken in his prime could be out there and I'd still win. So don't worry about it!"

"I'm not worried!" Sheen tries to speak but Ray cuts him off and the two fall back into another argument. I don't bother interrupting this and instead ignore them. Today is my day and I should enjoy it  know that every day after this will be business.

When we arrive at the square we find already packed full of people. We all get our blood taken and then Sheen and Ray go off to the fifteen year-olds line and I take my own place in the seventeen year olds.

"There's Mr. Victor," a boy sneers as I walk by his line but I ignore him. He's one of those people who always hate on the highest ranked students at the Academy. They are always so volatile and upset that someone's better then them. I don't even rub it in and they still act like that, at least majority of people have the sense to know I'm only doing the District good.

"Oh please! You're just upset that your family is a bunch of nobodies!" Another boy comes to my defence and I hide my smile. That's another good thing about being the best fighter. People will come to your aid more often then not. The boy grumbles something derogatory and turns away as I place my full attention on what is happening on the stage. The Mayor is beginning to talk about the grandeur of the Games and District One's long history of excellence in them, something that he "wishes to continue this year". When he finishes he passes off to the Escort, a lady who seems to be trying her hardest to imitate a flamingos.

"Hello District 1!" She waves to the crowd whilst giggling to herself. "I'm Delilah Gaulle and I am your Escort!...but of course you already knew that!"

That's her introduction every year. I suppose she thinks it's funny because she always laughs afterwards and I guess it must be as most  the crowd always joins along.

"I wonder..." She places her hand on her chin as if she was thinking. "Does District 1have a Victor this year?" This is also apart of her shtick. She asks that every year and the crowd always answers with a resounding-

"YES!"

The crowd shouts the answer and Delilah excitedly claps her hands together as she takes her place in front of the first bowl. As she hypes the crowd up some more I ready myself for what comes next. My volunteering. I'm so busy thinking about this I almost miss Delilah asking for the volunteers, which everyone from the Academy knows will only be me.

"I VOLUNTEER!" I shout and the crowd parts as I jog for the stage, a wide grin forming on my face. Delilah claps with frantic excitement and the crowd for nuts as reach the stage. This is just like how I imagined it! The entirety of the District behind me as I go to conquer the greatest competition of them all. Delilah asks for my name and I waste no time in answering.

I'm Trevor Gold!"

The crowd let's out another round of rambunctious applause and I soak it all in for several minutes before stepping back and allowing Delilah to proceed. She doesn't waste another minute and steps to the girls' bowl and plucks a name out.

"Trinity Mace!"

The name floats through the crowd for a moment or two before a girl begins to head for the stage. I was kinda expecting some volunteers but then again I guess everyone at the Academy knew I was entering this year and didn't want to face me, or maybe they just didn't feel like entering this year. I don't know.

The girl reached the stage and while initially the name didn't ring any bells I recognize her up close. She's probably the best looking girl at the Academy with her flowing blonde hair and blue-grey eyes. It's not a surprise that many of us guys like her but she was always turning us them down, though I figured she wouldn't have turned me down, I had never tried her.

"Hey there!" I smile at her. Though she's going to have to die for me to win, we will be allies in the Careers at first and I might as well try my luck.

"Um. Hi" Her eyes dart around the stage as her fingers play with her hair. I can tell she's nervous, which for some reason makes her more attractive. Delilah motions for us both to join her in the centre of the stage and when we do she repeats our names to the crowd, who go nuts for us. I raise my fists to the sky as the crowd begins to chant Trinity's and my name.

These Games will be mine. I can feel it!

District Two: Avia Stafford
I absentmindly chuck knives at the wall, smiling as each one sticks into its hard surface. Knives are one the things in life that I care for. They don't judge you, they don't yell at you, they don't abandon you. They simply help you harm others.

I throw the last knife in the drawer when the lady who runs the orphanage comes in and immediately begins to scream at me for "being reckless and handling dangerous weapons". I ignore her jabber and she ushers me out of the kitchen and into the hall. She orders me to get dressed because she'll be taking me and all of the other girls to the Reaping soon.

I hate this place. I hate the people who run it and I hate the other girls here. I think I hate people in general. I don't bother getting dressed in any fine dress like all of the others. I don't need to look pretty or respectable. I sullenly join the other girls' in the main lobby where they all talk and gossip to one another. I don't join them and instead think about how I'm going to volunteer this year. I'm tired of living in this place and the Games seem like a fairly great way of getting out of here, not to mention I can enjoy all the killing and fighting it will offer me. I can finally fight without getting into any trouble. Unlike the time I broke two girls' noses and I was forced to listen to an entire lecture on how that's "inappropriate". I'm sick and tired of being confined to rules!

"Ready girls?" The lady comes down the staircase dressed in a sparkling satin dress and I snort loudly. What does she have to dress up for? She's not going into the Games! She can't! I'm suspecting she's trying to get some wealthy man to notice her so she can finally move on from watching us worthless scum. That's what the most of us are. Everyone of any worth is at the Training Academy, learning how to fight. I wish I had gone but the orphange doesn't put their kids their and I was forced to train myself. That won't put me in any disadvantage though. I'm tough enough to win regardless of any special training. "Then let's go!"

We're lead out of the building and down the street, towards the main square where the majority of District Two has already gathered. All of us girls are split into our correct lines and we wait as all of the last minute arrivals put themselves in position. I'm sick and tired of waiting on other people and wish they would just get this show on the road! Thankfully, it's not much longer before the Reapings commence. Soon enough things are handed off to the Escort Waco Dawls.

"Greetings to the glorious District Two! We have conjoined this fine morning for yet another Reapings!" The usual fare of applause and cheers greet this and a wide smile breaks out Waco's face as he continues. "On this day two fine children shall enter themselves into the most glorious and greatest of all things...the Hunger Games!" His shout echoes throughout the stone buildings that surround us and the crowd starts up a chant of "District Two!" which carries on for minutes before dying down. "These two children shall have the most prestigious honor of fighting for their District against the other thirteen contingents of Panem!"

I snort loudly. I couldn't care less about the honor of winning the Games. I only want the opportunity to fight, who cares if I bring "pride" to District 2? I don't. Wako continues on about this until he finally decides to head over to one of the bowls and speaks.

"Lets find out who our male tribute will be!" He digs a hand into the bowl but before he can latch onto a slip of paper many voices shout out "I volunteer!" and he turns to scan the crowd, making a big show out of it. He finally selects a tall haired boy in the front the crowd who heads to the stage showing zero emotion.

"Your name, my stupendous lad?" Wako grins as he asks the boy.

"Luigi Wilkins," He answers in a deadpan voice, staring straight ahead. I wonder if his stoicism is a learned habit from the training academy or that's just how he normally acts. I suspect the latter, as most District 2 tributes make a huge show of how honoured they are.

"Well Luigi, you're going to be representing District 2 in the Hunger Games! It's such an honor, isn't ?"

"It is" The boy doesn't elaborate further and Wako moves on to the girls' bowl, where I don't even permit him to reach a hand before screaming my volunteerism and rushing to the stage. The orphanage girls around me let out short surprised gasps but then I'm on stage and out of earshot. Wako grins like an idiot and shoves the microphone in my face, requesting my name. I tell him to shove the microphone where the sun don't shine and then shout my name to the crowd.

"I'm Avia Stafford! Remember the name because I'm going to be your next Victor!"

The crowd claps and applauds me, causing me to briefly flush with pride before shoving it away. I don't need their acceptance. I've already told myself that. But for some reason it feels great to be cheered and not ignored or insulted...No! I won't go weak on myself!

I turn my back on the audience as Wako begins to repeat our names and then we're led to the Justice Building where I unsurprisingly see no visitors. I suspect everyone at the orphanage is just as glad to see me going as I am at actually leaving. My next stop is the train station where the cameras film as Luigi and I board the train headed for the Capital. The thing is posh and looks just like how I imagined it would. I enter the amazing kitchen and immediately grab several fruits off of the table and stuff them into my mouth as Luigi calmly takes a seat around the table, his blue eyes silently taking everything in.

"You ever speak?" I ask throwing him a contemptuous glare. He's not exactly the raging beast boy that District 2 often has. He seems more like the silent but deadly kind. As I expected he doesn't answer, simply shrugging. Whatever. I'm too important to be talking to him. I content myself by staring out the window when our mentors come in and begin babbling about strategies. While Luigi seems to pay close attention I tune them out. I don't need any help. I already know these Games are mine for the taking.

District Three: Shuppet Jorravaskr
I stare out into the street as heavy rains pounds the cobblestone paths. The rain began early this morning and hasn't slowed down since. The entire District must be drenched by now and I know that the Reaping won't be any fun, not with us having to stand out in the downpour. Not like any of us have a choice though. We either show up for the Reaping or get executed later today when they go through the no-shows.

I sigh and look away from the doorway. I guess in a way that it's fitting for the day to so depressing when two kids will be sent to their deaths. The Rebellion that had taken place early this year hasn't changed a thing. We fought, we lost, and then we died. All of our fighting was pointless when you look back at it. The only thing it has done is made our lives harder. There's more Peacekeepers now then there ever was before and rules are enforced even more harshly. All too often do you see people begin whipped in the streets.

The little cuckoo bird in the clock goes off and I know that I have to get going soon. I find an old tattered jacket in the back of a closet and pull it on. It's not much but it's better then nothing. Stepping out into the street I'm immediately doused by the deluge and I shiver as I begin to run down the street. On my way I pass several of the factories where the technology is created. I figure that these factories are why District 3 suffered so heavily in the Rebellion. The Capitol figured that all of the advanced technology the rebels used. It would make sense that the District that specialized in technology would be the place where the most advanced technology was created.

But it wasn't.

At least, that's what the word on the street is. Many say that the Rebels weren't even the ones who made the technology. That it was granted to them by others.

Who?

I don't know.

I didn't pay attention or participate in the rebellion. If the rebels didn't create it where did it come from? The Capitol certainly didn't give it to them. But there's no one else who could have....is there?

I slow my walking as I approach the ruins of a factory that was destroyed in the Rebellion. The reason for its destruction was that it was where the Rebels had their meetings and made their plans. It was also where they stored their weapon caches. I stare out at the ruins, wondering if the Rebels had really made their own weapons. It's not like I can ask though. The only people who would know are the rebel leaders, and they're all dead.

As the rain slides off of the hood of my jacket I shake the thought away and realize I have to get going. I'm going to get sick if I stay out here. Not to mention the Peacekeepers might get suspicious. I turn my back to the factory and trot to the Reaping square. The citizens gathered in the square look as thoroughly unhappy as a bunch of starving, mistreated, oppressed people forced to stand out in a raging downpour could look. That's to say, very, very unhappy.

I join the blood taking line and the Peacekeeper in charge firmly grabs my arm and jerks me forward, taking my blood before shoving me back. Ow. I rub my arm ruefully as I realise that guys just sore that he has to sit out in the rain while his buddies get to loaf about on stage under the shelter of a veranda. I would be pretty phased if I was him too.

I join the other fourteen year olds in line and most of us huddle together in an effort to keep warm as the onstage antics begin. It seems to take forever and it goes even longer when the Escort Lysander Bilegin, a paper thin man with glasses perched on a long vulture-like nose and hair worn in a style that vaguely makes me think of buttercups, decides that it would be a good idea to give a verbal history of the Hunger Games, starting with the first ever games. He lists the name of each Victor and it takes forever to get going.

"How long will this dork blabber?" A dark haired girl who is standing beside me mutters. The other kids all murmur their agreement and it spreads throughout the crowd but Lysander continues regardless. When he reaches the point where games where won by living District 3 Victors he pauses to introduce the said person.

"And one of the Victors of the 327th Games, Watt Chargy!" He motions to an elderly old lady who gets a small reaction out of the crowd, which is surprising considering everyone is freezing their butts off. Lysander goes on to tell of the 328th games, which were won by a boy from District 6, when the girl sitting next to me has enough.

"Just SHUT UP you stupid nerd! Get on with the Reaping already!"

Lysander looks up from the huge book he was reading from in shock and gapes at the girl as the crowd begins to murmur in agreement. Just about everyone has had it with this guy! The noise from the crowd gets louder as Lysander looks back and forth from the crowd to his book. Finally he relents.

"Alright! Alright! Fine! I'll get on with it!....once I finish my reading. Now where was I...Oh yes! The 1st ever Hunger Games were won by..."

The crowd begins to shout in protest when a Peacekeeper fires his gun into the sky, effectively shutting us all up. After this Lysander seems to take great pleasure in drawing out each and every word and often looks up to smirk at the crowd. I hate that man.

The rain doesn't let up at all and by the time he finishes I'm so cold and wet that my hands are bone white and my entire body is shaking. I can't feel my feet and things are even worse for those who are younger or weaker. Lysander finally heads for the boys bowl and dips a hand in to procure a name.

"The male tribute from District 3 who will compete in the 398th Annual Hunger Games is...Shuppet Jorravaskr!"

A relieved hush falls over the kids around me as they learn that it won't be them going into the Games. I shut my eyes. Of course. Of course it would be me. That's just how awful this day has been. My feet move but I don't feel them. They carry me all the way onto the stage where the veranda shades me from the rain. I briefly note how weak I must look to all of those watching on TV. All drenched and pale, visibly shaking from the cold but they don't know that. They just might think I'm frightened, which is one thing I'm not. I'm not afraid of the Games or the people in them.

"I presume you are Mr. Jorravaskr?" Lysander asks in his grating nasally voice as he stares with a look that shows he thinks very little of me.

"What do you think?" I growl attempting, to no avail, to stop my body from shaking. It just won't stop. I'm so cold it needs to keep going.

He glares at me then clears his throat before announcing me to the crowd. They don't react and I didn't expect them to. I'm not some well-known person. I'm just some guy. Lysander reaches into the girls bowl and takes out another name.

"The female tribute from District 3 who will compete in the 398th Annual Hunger Games is...Sombra Celesta!"

I'm shocked to see the dark-haired girl in the fourteen year olds line, the one who stood next to me and yelled for Lysander to hurry, respond to the call and join me on stage. If the freezing rain effects her, she doesn't show it. Lysander must recognize her also as a grin breaks out onto his face and he lets out a snicker.

"I'm betting you wish that my speech had gone on a little longer now, don't you?" The girls expression darkens as he turns back to the crowd.

"Hey buddy!" She calls out to him and when he turns back around she raises both middle fingers in the air. "F--- you!"

I break out laughing at this as Lysander looks visibly flustered. I wish I had thought of that first! Lysander shakes a fist at us when the Mayor retakes control of the situation and Lysander let's out a complaint of him having "not finished!" I smile at the girl and to my surprise she throws me a nasty look.

"What are you looking at blue boy?" She sneers whilst turning her back on me. Whoa. That was unexpected. I had thought the girl could be a possible ally but that little interaction kinda just broke that possibility. As the rain continues to pour down onto the poor people of the District, I think about how the next week will be very, very interesting for me.

District Four: Scarlet Avalon
I stand over the crib smiling down at the two babies inside, sleeping gently. I whisper a goodbye to each and kiss them on the foreheads before exiting the room and shutting the door gently behind me. I go to the kitchen and sit myself down at a table though I have no appetite. I'm too apprehensive of what I am doing to eat. Another door swings open and my mother enters. She sits across from me and I smile weakly at her.

"How are Trent and Tyler" She asks me. She knows that I don't really like this plan but I really don't have another option at this point.

"They're fine. They're sleeping right now..." I fade off as I think of the two sleeping babies, my sons. I will be leaving them soon, but only because I have to. For their sake.

I once thought my life was perfect. I had a great family and a loving boyfriend. I didn't have any wants or needs and everything was great. But then I got pregnant and well....my boyfriend left me. He didn't want the burden of taking care of a kid and he was even more upset when he learned that there were two of them. I was having twins. I had thought he was the greatest boyfriend ever but well...when he left I quickly learned the truth about him.

I didn't care much at first. I pushed him out of my mind and moved on. My mother was still here and she was supportive of me. We were going to raise the twins, who I named Trevor and Tyler, and everything was going to be fine. We would all live happily ever after.

Until....

Until a doctor discovered that Trevor had a tumor deep in his brain and would need special surgery to remove it. If it wasn't removed, he would die. It was a frightening ultimatum and I knew I had to do all I could to save Trevor's life. But the surgery was too expensive. Neither me nor my mother could afford it and in the end we had to accept that Trevor would die or....

I would enter the Hunger Games.

My mother didn't understand at first. She was incredulously wondering why I would go off into the Games when I still had Tyler to taker care of. Then I reminded her that if I won, I would become filthy rich. I would have more money then I would ever need and we could pay off Trent's surgery. And if I didn't win....I still had her to take care of Tyler.

"Everything will be fine Scarlet," My mother reassures me and I give her a comforted smile. "I'll take care of the boys. Just focus on winning. You can do it, you've trained for it"

"I know. I know I can," My voice is cracking and I shut my eyes tight. I don't want to do this. The odds of me winning aren't that great, even with me being a Career. The other Careers will have all trained harder than I have in the past few months, they've all known they were going to be volunteering their entire lives. Whereas I only ever trained for the experience, thinking I would never have to actually compete. Even back then, when I was a huge Hunger Games fanatic and watched with gusto, I didn't actually think I would be in them.

"Don't look so down!" My mother scolds and I blink my eyes open and look into her face. "You were one of the best students at the Academy!"

"Yes, I was but I've been gone for months..." Ever since I learned about the boys I haven't stepped foot in the Academy. That's where my....ex-boyfriend works. He's a trainer there and I don't want to ever see him again. "I don't think I--"

"Scarlet!" My mother's voice is firm as she rounds on me. "You still have your skills don't you? You didn't lose them. You're still one of the best fighters in the District. So don't you dare make any excuses. You are going to win these Games. Don't disappoint me and your father!"

"Maybe if I win father will actually care about me!" I say bitterly and my mother glares at me reproachfully. The both of them were always telling me that I had to win the Games, that I had to push myself as far as possible. My father hasn't even spoken to me since I dropped out of the academy. I've barely even seen him in the last few months.

"You better get going," My mother says coldly and I suddenly feel bad. She's the reason I can even do this. Without her I would have no one to watch Tyler and Trent while I was gone, no one to take care of them if I lost. I shouldn't have said that about father in front of her. I try to speak but she cuts me off. "Get going! The Reapings will start soon. I'll bring the boys. Go"

She ushers me out of the house and into the bright sunny day outside. I wish I could enjoy the perfect weather, but I haven't been able to enjoy anything after learning about Trent. I slowly walk down the street towards the beach where the Reaping will take place. I zone out for most of the process until I am in the middle of the crowd gathered around the stage, my blood already taken and in my proper line. Karis Aeris is talking about the great history District 4 has in the Games when I start paying attention again.

"Will that thunder boom again this year?" Karis asks aloud. "Or will District 4 fail to live up to its history? We're on the road to finding out and let's see who are tributes will be!" Girls are first, as always. My body goes rigid as I anticipate my next move. Surely there are others who wish to volunteer but I can't allow them to do it before me. I shout out before Karis even reaches a hand into the bowl and I'm invited up onto the stage where I shake her hand and say my name to the crowd.

"Scarlet Avalon"

As I look out into the crowd I see "him" watching, his eyes narrowed as he examines me. Is he wondering why I'm volunteering? Does he even care? I doubt it. I'm sure he's hoping that I die in the Games so he doesn't have to see me ever again.

"You certainly are a brave young woman!" Karis beams at me and I offer a weak smile. Am I brave? I guess I am. I'm risking my own life for the sake of my son but isn't that what all mothers should do? Put themselves at risk for their children? Karis pats me on the shoulder and goes to select my District partner when I realize something: I'm going to have to kill other people.

It's something that I didn't mind before I had the twins. Something that didn't bother me. I watched kids die in the Games forever, not batting an eye. But now I feel differently. I don't want people to die, not for some stupid game. And I definitely don't want to be the person who kills them.

"Nikki Heart!"

I missed the name drawing and watch as an average looking boy takes to the stage. He doesn't look like the prototypical District 4 tribute and I suddenly have a strange urge to protect him, I guess it's just my motherly instinct, wanting to protect something I know will be in danger soon enough. When the boy reaches the stage Karis shakes his hand and then goes back to the mic. I watch the boy as he shuffles his feet nervously. I hope he will do well....

I'm lead out of the Justice Building and towards the train stations, tears still lingering in my eyes from a heartfel goodbye with Trent and Tyler. I'm heartbroken knowing that this could be the last time I ever see them. I could be dead within a few weeks. It's even worse, when I know that if I die so will Trent. And even Tyler could be in danger, as I know my parents will train him for the Hunger Games. They wanted a child to become Victor so bad that I don't doubt that if I fail they will force Tyler to try and succeed in my place.

Two Peacekeepers open the train doors for Karis, Nikki and me and then they shut behind us, the train beginning its journey to the Capital. Karis quickly excuses herself and goes to find our mentors. I sit down on one of the long couches and decide to speak with Nikki.

"Um. Hi there! I'm Scarlet!"

His eyes flicker towards me and he nods his head slowly but doesn't speak. I frown, thinking he's not exactly an outgoing person. I try again, asking him if he's nervous and he simply gets up and rummages through a drawer behind him. At first I just think he's rude but then he comes back with a sheet of paper and begins to scribble furiously in it. When he finishes he shows it to me and I read it aloud.

''I can not speak. I am mute. Sorry, but I can not communicate with you well''

"I...uh...oh" I don't know what to say. He seems to understand my discomfort and smiles reassuringly. I try to return it but it feels forced. I was sort of hoping that this boy would be able to join the Careers with me, despite looking decidedly average. But now I know that won't be happening. They would never accept a mute kid into the Careers. I want to say something to him, something helpful, when Karis returns with our mentors and they begin to give us a rundown of the upcoming things. I try to remember it all, knowing that it could be the difference between me and my family living...or dying.

District Five: Johnathan Mikeal
The man slides the crowbar out from the door and stares me down with a decidedly uneasy look. He certainly wasn't expecting my appearance.

"Should you report this the Peacekeepers or should I?" I ask him innocently. The man's eyes flicker from the door he was just attempting to break open to me and back. If my sudden arrival wasn't enough to unsettle him then my appearance certainly has. I'm nearly six and a half feet tall and very muscular. He may be an adult man but I am much bigger than him.

"How about you run off before you get hurt?" He snarls finally regaining his composure. I smile at the man, knowing full well I won't be the one getting hurt here.

"I'm still giving you a chance leave," I tell him. "You can drop the crowbar and go. I won't tell the Peacekeepers and everyone is happy"

"You think I'm afraid of you?"

"No. I was hoping you'd do the right thing. But people like you never do" The man springs forward as soon as I finish, swinging the crowbar straight for my head. Unfortunately for him I had anticipated such a move and calmly step aside as his weapon clashes against the brick wall of the alley. He staggers backwards, slightly confused, when I take advantage of the situation and slam an elbow into the side of his head. He falls into a group of trash cans and knocks them over sending the garbage inside all over the alley. A cat, startled by the ruckus, out from a dumpster and out of the alley.

"You done yet?" I ask him as he sits up with a dazed look on his face. I'd prefer to let the fight end here but oftentimes my opponent thinks otherwise.

"I-I I'm done!" He raises his hands into the air and stands up. For the first time I take in his ripped and filthy clothing and realize he might have been forced into this act through desperation and feel a pang of guilt for hitting him so hard.

Than his next move erases all that guilt.

He scoops up one of the empty garbage cans, raises it over his head and chucks it at me. I only barely dodge the throw and grab him by the collar of his coat. He yelps in terror and I throw him against the dumpster. He hits it hard and I bend down and pick up one of the fallen dumpster lids as he gets back up yet again.

"Seriously? Don't you ever give up?"

My question seems to only enrage him and he lets out a tremendous howl, beating his fists against his chest before charging me headfirst. I sigh and hold out the lid.

He runs full speed into it and knocks himself out. I shake my head in disappointment at his performance but am glad that he was subdued. It's a good thing I came along or he could have broken into the local bakery and potentially have caused some serious trouble for not only the baker but also his customers.

"What am I going to do with you?" I ask myself as I look at his unconscious body. Leaving him here would cause him to miss the Reaping and will put him in trouble. While he certainly deserves punishment, he deserves it for his proper crime and not some ridiculous Capital offense. I shrug as I come to a decision. "Guess you're coming with me"

I pick the guy up and sling him over my shoulders as I head off. The urban streets are empty as I walk down them carrying the man. Most of the District's population has already left for the courtyard of the largest factory in the District, where we hold the Reaping due to it being one of the few places large enough for all of us to gather. That's probably why the man chose to try and rob the bakery now, while everyone is at the Reaping he would have had an easy time getting in and out without anyone noticing. Unfortunately for him I just happened to choose that alley to head down.

The deep murmur of voices in the wind tells me that I'm close to the factory and the gigantic building soon comes in sight. The large black gates that lead into the clearing have been thrown open and the Peacekeepers have set up a checkpoint in between them.

Two Peacekeepers come walking up to me as I approach and I slide the man off from my shoulders and deposit him at their feet.

"I caught him trying to break into the bakery," I tell them. "Figured I'd hand him over to you" One of the Peacekeepers nudges the man with his foot and he stirs slightly, grumbling softly. The other nods at and thanks me. I brush it off and tell them I was only doing my civic duty and as they begin to pull the man to his feet I go get my blood taken. I like those Peacekeepers. They showed that you can't just judge someone because of their position. Everyone is different and you can't just make generalizations about people or you risk looking like a fool.

After getting my blood taken I enter the gates and join the enormous crowd that has gathered inside. The stage is set up at the entrance to the factory and from this distance it's difficult to see the people on it. I join the line of eighteen year olds and since I'm so much taller than everyone else around me I have a clear view of the stage, even if they're hard to make out. The proceedings begin soon and I'm able to hear due to the microphone sounding throughout the clearing. It doesn't take long before the brand new escort, Maxwell Ibrahim, selects the first name from the girls bowl.

"Lucinda Kidd!"

The name hangs over the crowd and then a girl from the front of the crowd heads onto the stage. I'm too far back to see her clearly but I can tell she's shaking Maxwell's hand and he then goes to pull out the boys name.

"Stewart Danby!"

I freeze. I know that name, I know who it belongs to. Who just got a death sentence handed to him. I see him now, shaking as he walks up the steps to the stage. I know I can't allow him to head to his death. I don't even think twice as I throw my hand in the air, shouting that I volunteer. The crowd makes way for me as I push through them towards the stage. Stewart stares at me in shock as I reach him and tears automatically begin to pour down his face. He's a small boy, probably only thirteen years old. I remember the first time I saw him, when he was being bullied and beaten up by a kid much older and bigger than him. I couldn't just sit there and let it happen so I stepped in attempting to stop the fight. The bully of course didn't listen and I was forced to fight and defeat him. I've looked out for Stewart ever since then and I will look out for him here too.

"I defended you once and I'll do it again," I tell him and he rushes forward to hug me. I clap him on the back and tell him I'll be fine. Stewart wouldn't last in the Games but I'm a different matter. If shown that I'm strong and can fight, haven't I? I could win. It will be difficult but certainly not impossible.

"Don't lose!" Stewart begs as Peacekeepers pull him down from the stage and Maxwell, who now that I'm closer I can see he has bright purple hair and is dressed in a business suit, pats me on the shoulder and shoves a microphone in my face.

"Well you brave boy, me and the entire District are just dying to know your name!"

i look out into the crowd. They're all staring ahead with varying expressions. Some are shocked, some are happy seeing that they have a strong tribute this year, and others seem to simply not care. Its not them on stage so why shoukld they?

"Johnathan Mikeal" My name doesn't drive the crowd to any real emotion beyond a quarter of them applauding for me. These people realize  that I am doing  this to save Stewart and they respect me for it. I respect them too, for they know what true honor is. I won't let them down. I will try to win these Games not only for myself but for them as well. I will also win for someone else. For Stewart. For a friend.

District Six: Amore Madness
I roll the apple across the table from one hand to the next. Back and forth. Back and forth. It's comforting repetitiveness makes me feel relaxed. The motion helps stimulate my mind. Back and forth. Back and forth. The door to the kitchen swings open and in come my parents, my mother sits down at the table beside me. While my father starts himself a cup of coffee. Both of them are dressed in Reaping day finery.

"It's okay to be nervous Amore," My mother says gently and I shrug.

"I'm not nervous. Why would I be nervous? There's no reason to be nervous!" My denial helps myself. Why am I nervous? There really is no need for me to be nervous. There's only a few slips of paper with my name on them in that bowl. There's tons of other kids with more slips in there. I shouldn't be nervous in the slightest. I'm not nervous in the slightest. Only a little bit wary.

"Being selected in the preliminaries doesn't mean anything," My father agrees setting his mug of coffee down at the table and joining us. "Loads of people get selected their" The Preliminary Reapings. The Reapings that decide whether your name will be in the final main Reaping. Most Districts don't have any preliminaries but due to District Six's sheer size they are a necessity, otherwise all of the citizens would have to cram ourselves into one tiny area and the bowl would have to be ginormous to hold all of the names needed. I smile to myself as I think of this bowl. It would look so comical and funny. I imagine District Six's escort Calpurnia Joffree reaching into the bowl and accidentally falling in and start laughing at the hilarious image.

"What's so funny?" My dad frowns and I quickly explain my mental image and start laughing again. My mother joins in and my dad simply shakes his head in amazement at our laughter and then looks at the apple in my hands. "You picked a nice red one Amore"

"Did I?" I stare at the fruit in my hands. I am color blind. I have been since birth. I've never even seen the color "red" and have no idea what it even looks like. Whenever I ask people about it always they say things like "its the color of an apple!" But that's not helpful when to me an apple looks just like everything else. A better answer is that its a color that reminds them of warmth or heat, because its the color of fire. It doesn't really help me visualize things but I always feel a little warmer when I see things that are suppose to be red. "Looks just like all of the others to me"

"Trust me. It's much redder then the rest. Probably tastes better too" I decide to trust him on this and take a bite out of the apple. He's right. It is one of the better tasting apples I've had in awhile.

"We should get going. The Reapings are about to start" My mother rises from her chair and heads for the door, grabbing her coat along the way. I slowly follow suit and as I reach the door my father speaks.

"Listen Amore," I turn to face him and see a serious glint in his eyes as he continues. "Even if in some chance you are Reaped, I want you to know you still have a shot of winning. Your mother and I have passed down our skills to you. You're a Madness and that means the Hunger Games are in your blood. You know what to do and how to do it. It won't be a death sentence. Not for you"

My mother nods sagely. Yes, the Games are in my blood. Both of my parents have won the Games before, they both are Victors. That's why we live in Victor Village, why my name is in the bowl so few times. I've never had the need to take tessarae and I never will. But that doesn't mean I can't get reaped. My name is still in there, in smaller amounts then others but still there. I could still get taken but....my dad's words encourage me. They've taught me how to survive in the wild and basic fighting skills since I was a small child. They always knew that in Panem it was important for any child to be prepared for the worst, even the child of two Victors. Especially the child of two Victors. The Capital would expect them to do well, to be strong.

"I'm not worried," I say once again, this time more sure of myself. I don't think I will be getting Reaped and if I do, well, I think I could handle it. "I'm just wary"

"Good!" My father smiles broadly and pats me on the back as he steps out the door. "Because a smart person is always wary. I learned that in the Games" He motions for me to join him and I step out onto the porch into the sunny morning. We all pile into the car and dad drives us to the parking area for the reapings, where we're forced to exit and continue on foot. The stage is set up at the foot of the train station and everyone whose name was drawn in the preliminaries have already gathered there, awaiting the two kids named to be drawn by the always ridiculously dressed Calpurnia Joffree.

This year she's dressed in some sort of ostrich costume, with a large feather that empirically swirls above her head. I can't see it but I'm sure its some gaudy color. People always tell me that the Capitol loves gaudy colors. Not that I know what a gaudy color is though...

"Welcome!" Calpurnia shouts into the microphone with a broad smile etched on her face. "Welcome, welcome to the reapings for the 398th Hunger Games!" She pauses for the small amount of applause and  then continues, the feather on her head bouncing around with every word. "This year two brave children shall face fire and tribulations of the Games, in an effort to emerge victorious and bestow upon District 6 the glorious honor and prestige of winning a Hunger Games!"

This sort of drudgery continues until she finally prances over to the girls' bowl and reaches in for a name. All the while I'm silently begging for the name not to be mine. For it to be anyone else s but mine. Despite my belief that I would do well, I don't want to see if my beliefs are well founded. I don't want to be in the Games. Even my parents, who try to conceal the agony the Games inflicted upon them, still have nightmares about what they faced. I don't want to face that possibility if I somehow survive. Calpurnia holds the name up to her lips, smiling as she reads it silently. Then she reads it aloud.

"Amore Madness!"

For all of those who could see it, I bet the color drained from my face. Silence befalls the crowd as I step forward. The faces of the people looking at me are all different. Some of them seem to recognize my surname and eventually an excited whisper starts as I ascend the stage and stand beside Calpurnia. She smiles at me but my eyes go to the ridicoulous feather on her head, I watch as it flutters in the wind. She's saying something but I'm so focused on the feather that I don't hear it. I think she's mentioning my parents but I'm not sure. I'm not sure of anything but that feather. I don't even pay attention to the rest of the Reaping until another name is called.

"Buck Rockwell!"

The owner of that name turns out to be a muscular darked haired boy. He climbs on the stage with a stony face and Calpurnia begins to congratulate him on being reaped. I rip my gaze from the stage and survey the crowd, trying to see my parents. I can't spot them and before I know it I'm being dragged away by Peacekeepers towards the Justice Building. Buck and I are both taken up a flight of stairs and into adjacent rooms. The Peacekeepers shut the door and then I'm alone.

I fidget uncomfortably in my chair. Where are my parents? Shouldn't they be here to say goodbye and giving me last minute advice? Why aren't they here? I'm starting to worry when I realize it hasn't been that long. They'll arrive soon.

But they don't.

I wait and wait but they don't show. I worry that they have given up on me but then I dismiss that as a stupid thought. They would never just give up on me. Never. But then where are they? I pace across the room and when I reach the far wall I hear voices on the other side. I recognize one as Buck's and can't help but pressing my ear against the wall to hear better.

"Rosalina I'm telling you, watch out for Joshua! He's the reason I'm going in the Games. I'm worried about what he might do if I don't come back!"

"Buck you're not making sense. Why would Joshua do that? Why would he rig the Reaping? He's our brother, he wouldn't want this..." The second voice is feminine and judging by what it said, his sister.

"He did it because I pissed him off that's why! And I'm afraid that if I don't return and you piss him off he'll do the same thing to you!"

"Buck, I really don't think-"

The sound of a door swinging open behind me has me swiveling around, taking my ear off of the wall and not hearing the end of the conversation. My parents have finally came!

No.

Two Peacekeepers come in, telling me that its time to go to the train. I try to protest, to tell them my parents have yet to arrive but they don't listen and I'm dragged off for the station. Calpurnia meets both Buck and me at there and we're passed off into her care. She drolls on about her makeup and hair but I don't think either of us really listen. I'm too depressed thinking about how my parents didn't come. Why? Do they not care if I never return? Maybe they're disappointed in me for getting reaped at all...

"You two hang tight!" Calpurnia is by one of the doors leading further into the train. "Your mentors shall be with you in a moment! I'm going to go freshen up. Ta-ta!" She prances out the door, leaving me alone with Buck, who is angrily scowling at everything and anything. When he scowls at me I can't help but lash out at him.

"What's your problem?" I ask him. "It's not my fault your brother rigged the Reapings!" His face flushes and he opens and closes his mouth several times. I feel slightly bad for making him so uncomfortable and about to apologize when he realizes something.

"Wait. How do you know that?" His eyes glow angrily as he comes to the only possible conclusion. "You were spying on me! Weren't you!?"

"What? No! I mean yes! But I can expla--"

He lurches across the room and grabs me around the throat, shaking me with a sudden fury that I've never seen. My breath is cut off and I struggle uselessly to escape his grip as he rants. "You STUPID little conniving bitch! You think you can just spy on me?!"

I try to shake my head but he's shaking me so hard I don't think he can even notice. I feel myself losing conciousness and I fear that he might kill me, I might die before I even get into the Games. But no. Seeing my condition he throws me across the room and I bounce off of a sofa, hittting the ground and rubbing my throat as I breath gratefully. I thought I was done for. Buck growls to himself and flips over a coffee table when the doors suddenly swing open and our mentors walk in. I gape in shock at their familar faces, their friendly eyes. I don't believe it but my eyes don't lie.

My parents are my mentors.

District Seven: Nick Maclachlan
The morning sun shines as I walk through the forest. Today is unquestionably the worst day of the year. Reaping day. The day where the Capital forces it's will and power upon us all and force us to send two kids to their deaths. Yes, they could end up surviving but they would be better off dead then living through the horrors they will endure in the Games. I don't understand why most people find it preferable to live in fear then fight for their rights. Not until the rebellion last year did anyone in District 7 other then me fight against the Capital. I, however, have been fighting majority of my life.

The first time I learned about the Games I freaked out. I couldn't understand why no one wanted to fight against them, why everyone just accepted everything. I fled from my home and somehow wound up in the Capital, where I set a building on fire and then proceeded to stab a person on the streets. I didn't care that they died. They weren't like us, they were evil people who enjoyed killing us all. One of them was even a Gamemaker. He deserved his death the most.

I try to purge my mind of these unpleasant thoughts as I stroll through the forest, enjoying its natural beauty. Life could be an enjoyable thing, if only the Capital didn't exist. A faint buzzing sound stops me and I peer through the thick foliage to see the outline of a fence. The fence that prevents us from going to far into the forest. This forest is different from most others as it is untapped and untouched by the logging industry. It's also the place where yearly escape from the District and head back to the Capital to kill more Capitolites.

My next journey to the Capital will have me targeting my biggest challenge yet. The Head Gamemaker. I have just narrowed down his location and I have a plan in place to get him. My original plan was to strike him down during the pre-game festivities. That would certainly bring disorder and terror to the Capital, seeing their head executioner killed.

But...

I could instead go now. Find him and kill him before he even has time to give his early thoughts on the Reapings. Nothing could stop me, I would be able to do it without much hassle. Except...I can't go today. Today is Reaping day and if I don't show up to the Reaping they will investigate and discover I'm gone. They could even punish my parents in my place and I don't want that.

Furiously I kick a loose stone into the fence, where it sparks and shoots off. That's just another way the Capital can control us. By threatening the ones we care about and not letting us do a thing about it. I close my eyes and take a deep breath. I have to get to the Reaping right now. I turn back and walk the path back the way I came, trying not to get myself too angry.

---

Stepping out into the clearing where the stage has been deployed I get my blood taken, trying to avoid looking into the face of the Peacekeeper. I might have an urge to punch him if I look at him. After this I get in my proper line and glare at the escort Wan Dirx. He's wrapped up in bandages, apparently trying to resemble a mummy or something, and is taking to the Mic to speak but all he says is that it is now time to reap our tributes. A bandaged hand goes into the bowl and a name is plucked out.

"Nick Maclachlan!"

My breath catches in my throat and I stumble backwards. No! I can't be reaped! I have to kill the Head Gamemaker! I can't go into his game! I will face certain death there. No! I turn and push through the crowd, trying to get the the edge of the clearing so I can disappear into the woods and escape. They will never catch me once I'm in there, I know the woods too well and I can slip out through the fence. They won't have me in their games.

No one in the crowd attempts to stop me as I push through them. Maybe they're just interested in seeing how far I can get. Or maybe they want me to get away. It doesn't matter. I reach the edge of the clearing when a group of Peacekeepers block my path. I turn to veer away when I'm grabbed from behind. I shout in protest as they drag me onto the stage but it doesn't change a thing. They have me.

"That was quite a show," Wan frowns as the Peacekeepers hold me in front of him. I shake their hands off of my arms and they let go. Apparently they don't need to constrain me on the stage. "Do you have anything to say about that young man?"

My answer is to spit in his face.

He wipes his face as I'm struck hard in the back of the head. My ears ring as I hear the crowd gasp and someone delivers a swift kick to my gut. I roll over in pain but refuse to show it. I can't let them win. A Peacekeeper goes to hit me again when the Mayor waves them off and they comply. I'm certain that was only to save face in front of the other District's watching on television then it was to help me. I try to get back on my feet when my hands are grabbed and held out behind me as they clamp a pair of handcuffs around them. Now totally captured, I'm forced to watch the remainder of the Reaping.

Wan ignores the previous altercation and goes to select another name with a giddiness. He's good, I'll give him that. He certainly knows how to ignore the cruelty of reality. As he pulls the next name out I notice Peacekeepers tightening around the crowd. They obviously hope to avoid another attempt at fleeing. But as it turns out, that wasn't necessary. Before Wan reads the name a girl in the audience volunteers.

I'm shocked, the crowds shocked, even Wan's shocked. No one expected a volunteer after what I just pulled. I myself am angry that some moron in the crowd has the audacity to want to be in the games.

The girl, who has black neck-length hair with red highlights and a fierce expression, wastes no time in climbing the stage. Wan smiles at her, his happiness at a willing volunteer apparent, and asks for her name.

"I am Fiora Waltz! Head of House Waltz and the greatest duelist that has ever lived! I am going to not only win these Games but dominant them! I will show all of Panem my skill and perseverance!"

The girls an idiot, I realize. Receive honour from winning the Hunger Games? Ha! As if! She's delusional, obviously eating what the Capital feeds her. Unfortunately her stupidity is encouraged by some morons in the crowd who actually cheer for her! I look around and see that the Peacekeepers have also joined in on the applause, Wan even has tears in his eyes! The world truly is stupid.

The girl has a few more things to say but already knowing her idiocy I tune her words out and wait for the Reapings to come to a close, which they do. Once they're finished I'm lead past the Justice Building and straight to the train, where I'm shoved aboard without even having my handcuffs removed.

There's not much to preoccupy me inside of the train car. I sit on an eloquent chair and wait, all the while taking in my oppulent surroundings.

Do they really think that this is right? That they can have this sort of stuff while the rest of us labor in the hot sun and slowly starve? Or do they realize it but simply not care? Either way, they're despicable and deserve death.

It's about a dozen minutes later when Fiora arrives. She sits on the opposite side of the train and stares at me. I try to ignore her for awhile but the burning intensity of the look and my hatred for what she did finally gets to me.

"Oh look! It's Fiora Waltz! The Head ouf House Waltz and the greatest duelist that ever lived!" I say the last part in a ridicoulous falsetto voice, complete with her horrid noble accent. She doesn't take this well, her face contorting in rage as she stands up and points an accusing finger at me.

"Words from a coward who tried to flee his fate! You're a disgrace to society!" I snort loudly and then let out a condescending laugh. I'm a disgrace to society? If that's true then society doesn't deserve to even exist!

"You think you will find honor in the Games? You think that anyone cares about your skill? Think again! All that's awaiting you is death and when it happens I'll be there laughing" I finish with a triumphant smile. Fiora stares at me with an uncertain look and I might have actually gotten to her.

I couldn't have been more wrong.

She leaps across the room and punches me square in the jaw. My hands are still cuffed and I'm unable to soften my landing as my chair flips over. Fiora doesn't give me an opportunity to regain my balance and mounts me, punching and clawing at me all the while screaming about me "insulting her honor"

I have no way to defend myself and curl into a ball as the beating continues. I just try to cover my face to avoid any severe damage and hope that it stops soon, which it does when some of the staff on the train appear and pull her off of me.

"What is going on?!" Wan blusters as he comes in. He's blurry and out of focus for me. My eyes both must be bruised and my lip is bleeding. Fiora is still shouting angrily as the staff drags her out of the room.

"Sheb attahced meh," I try to say through my swollen lips and Wan lets out a curse as he peers down at me.

"Why did you just sit there and take it?" He demands and I meekly hold out my handcuffed wrists. He shakes his head and mumbles something about the Peacekeepers and takes out a key proceeding to unlock the cuffs. "Next time don't antagonize her!" He snaps and follows the staff out of the room, keen to check on Fiora. The stupid little brat.

My face sore and bloody, I go to a mirror and stare into it, seeing the damage done. Damn. She really did a number on me. If this is just the start then I really have my work cut out for me

District Eight: Aisha Hakeem
As I sit in the crowd assembled affront of the stage where two kids will soon be sent off to the Hunger Games, I wonder whether I am making the right choice. Should I be volunteering for the Games? Am I moron for doing this? Maybe. But I don't see any other way for me and Colin to be together and I know that I couldn't stand not being with him.

I remember the first time I saw him, when I had awoken from being beat unconscious by a discriminating Peacekeeper. He helped me recover and brought me home when I might otherwise have never made it. After that moment I quickly fell for him and everything was perfect...

Until a year later, when I finally met his parents.

I shake my head as I remember. I always thought it was odd that for the entire year of our dating that I had never met them. I should have known there was a reason for that. I should never have urged him to have us meet and then this wouldn't be happening. We could still be together.

But it did happen and now I'm here.

"District Eight are you ready?!" Our escort Escrow Bestow screams into the microphone as he bounces back and forth on the stage with his disturbing velvet skin. For some reason he had a full skin transplant, changing his flesh into soft red velvet, years ago and now he looks like some sort of deranged, skinless monkey bouncing around on the stage with a mic. "We are about to find out who are tributes for the 398th Annual Hunger Games are!"

My eyes drift from the stage and begin examining the crowd, trying to spot Colin. I hope he understands what I'm about to do. Escrow continues talking as I search and then I see him. Not Colin, but his father. He's lined up with the other Peacekeepers at the edge of the clearing, his cold hard eyes analysing everything that goes on. As always, a shiver runs up my spine when I see him.

Because he was the Peacekeeper who beat me.

That's why Colin and I can't be together. The day I came to meet his parents I saw him and recognized him. He recognized me as well. And since he has a hatred for me and all other Muslim people, he attempted to attack me again. Yes, the reason I can't be with Colin is because I am Muslim. It's ridiculous but...

Colin tried saying the sane thing when he stepped in to stop the beating. But he didn't listen. I fled the house and Colin took the beating for me. The next day he called and told me we were done.

I can't say how much it hurt me for that to happen. Not only that we were apart but that I caused Colin pain. I, however inadvertently, made him suffer. I would have rather taken the beating then have him get beat. I would do anything to stay with him.

Which is why I'm volunteering today.

As much as his father despises Muslims he loves Victors. He thinks they are the best of the best and if I can somehow become one, he'll have to know I'm worthy of Colin. And even if he still refuses, I will be a Victor and those are the most influential people in the country. I could get anything.

"It is time to reap our female tribute!" Escrow shouts and digs a hard into the bowl. I take a deep breath, preparing myself. There will be no going back once I do this. I will have no choice but to go into the Games and fight for my survival. Do I really want to do this? I open my mouth to shout then...

I hesitate.

Fear grips me as I realize if I lose there will be no chance of being with Colin. But if I don't even try then there is no chance. Period. I watch as Escrow pulls a slip out, as he raises it to his face, as his lips begin to move. I make a decision.

"I volunteer!"

Gasps spread throughout the crowd. No one thought that there would be a volunteer. But they all thought wrong.

I climb the stage with everyone's eyes on me. Escrow laughs like an excited clown and smacks me heartily on the back. I avoid falling over and meekly speak into the microphone as my eyes search for Colin in the crowd. I spot him just as I finish my name. He's staring at me with horror filled eyes and attempts to move when a friend of his grabs him and prevents it.

I close my eyes, silently praying for him to understand why I'm doing this. Escrow doesn't seem the least bit effected by my reaction and continues blabbing furiously into his Mic, saying that he bets this year "will be the best year for District Eight ever!" Before going to select the boy's name.

"Banette Tsukomogami!"

Silence first then laughter. A group of boys point and laugh at a lone figure in the middle of them and then push him toward the stage as he remains frozen in shock.

I feel bad for the guy, with all of his peers laughing at him. It reminds me of how I'm always being judged. My pity grows, when I see that the boy, dressed in a black hoodie and bandana that covers his face, is crying.

This doesn't stop the boys though, as they continue to laugh and throw insults. I watch as he feebly climbs the stage and as he reached  us Escrow asks him what's wrong.

The boy looks up, his eyes a strange reddish pink. He stares straight into the crowd and then pulls the bandanna down, revealing a grotesque metal thing that at first I'm unable to recognize until I see the zipper hanging there. His mouth is a zipper.

The crowd gasps at this reveal and the boy unzips his mouth and let's out a shout.

"F---. YOU. ALL!"

Peacekeepers don't hesitate to grab him and they drag him off. He goes without resisting, merely hanging there as he's dragged off. I throw a glance towards Escrow and then more Peacekeepers surround me and I'm lead off after Banette and the others. I'm running the words I'll say to Colin through my head when I recognize one of the Peacekeepers with me.

His father.

I'm dropped off in a room in the Justice Building and as the doors sling shut with his father standing guard, I realize I won't be able to say goodbye to Colin.

District Nine: Lyman Milton
The old country lane that is so often empty is crowded with people as I walk down it. They're all gathered around something on the side of the path and I come to a stop, the others who also have come from the outlying fields of the District stopping as well. A Peacekeeper steps back from the group and waves a hand at us.

"Back off!" He orders us and the crowd all does as he says, revealing a oddly body shaped figure under a yellow tarp. "Get moving!" The Peacekeeper ushers the people along. "Get to the Reaping!"

The people who had gathered around continue on their way down the path and I, along with the others from the fields, look at the Peacekeepers with interest. It ain't every day when there's this much commotion going on near the outskirts of District Nine so 'course we're eager to know what's going on.

"What are you all gawking at?" The Peacekeeper demands when he sees that we haven't moved on. "I thought I said to--"

"Looks like a homicide Albus," Another Peacekeeper speaks as he peeks under the tarp. "Girl was seemingly bashed to death with a rock."

Homicide? It ain't every day when one of those happens here in District Nine. Usually it's the Peacekeepers doing the killing, executing rebels and those who simply don't co-exist with them. It's rare to see one citizen kill another.

"Well, do we have any suspects?" The first Peacekeeper says irritability turning his back on us.

"Not really, no. Could check the rock for fingerprints though" The two of 'em begin discussing theories when they recognize that we haven't left yet and one makes a sharp motion for us to get moving, which I do. It ain't worth it to get involved in something that likely won't ever 'fect me.

Besides, I got other things to worry 'bout. Reaping day is today and we gotta get to the square before it begins or we'll really be getting it.

Focusing all my energy on staring down at the simple dirt path below my feet I try not to think 'bout the possibility of me getting Reaped. Death would come to me for sure, District Nine hasn't had a Victor since way back in the 325th Hunger Games, where a lass named Hazel Dyer won. She had a polarizing 'fect on the District. Some people hated her, others loved her...at least originally.

Nowadays 'bout everyone curses her name. They all say she's the reason we haven't had another Victor, think that betraying and killing her own District partner cursed us. I don't know 'bout curses but I do know that all of our tributes have died since she won. I ain't expecting any different of a result this year. The poor saps who get put into the Games are gonna end up deader then driftwood. People say that the curse probably won't ever be broken until she dies, which hasn't happened yet. She's still alive living off in the Capital.

I keep my head down as I continue along to the main part of District Nine, where they keep all the buildings and houses. I usually ain't got no business coming up here. Those of us who live out in the fields don't need to come here often. There's no point.

"There you are!"

As we round a street corner we come into sight of the square and a weeping boy. A girl with long sunset orange hair rushes forward and throws her arms around him in a hug.

"I heard about Azera! It's just horrible! Who would do such an evil thing?!" The girl begins crying and it doesn't take a genius for me to realize they're speaking about the dead girl we passed earlier. I hadn't given any thought to the people that death may have effected but now I feel bad for the two of them as I walk past on my way to the stage but then, out of the corner of my eye, I see the girl smile over the guys shoulder.

Well, I'm bewildered. First she's crying her eyes out, now she's smiling while the guy comforts her? Something is fishy here or my name ain't Lyman Antonious Milton. But once again, this ain't my concern. I just gotta put my head down and keep moving, heading to the Peacekeeper booth and getting my blood taken and then joining the line of seventeen year-olds.

The Reaping doesn't begin right away, I was early and people are still shuffling into their places, the smart ones keeping their heads down and minding their own business. Ever since that rebellion stuff the Peacekeepers don't need much to set them off. They're eager to dish out the punishment for just about anything.

When the Reaping does begin it starts with the Mayor talking 'bout the first, second, and third rebellions and how they're the reason the Hunger Games are necessary cuz us District's simply won't accept the Capital's generosity and continue to defy them.

I ain't an expert on this but I didn't get the feeling that the Capital was going to be changing the Games if we didn't rebel. There had been a hundred years between rebellions after all.

"And now, I give to you, Pomona Radsi, our beloved escort!" Mr. Mayor sweeps his hands to the side, gesturing towards the small woman dressed in a sparkling golden dress with a gilly hat made of wheat.

"Well hello District Nine! I am glad to be able to join you on this fine day!" Pomona smiles sweetly as she speaks and though she is a nice enough lady, she doesn't get any reaction out of this.l crowd So use to death. "Today we will meet our...tributes...of the 398th Annual Hunger Games!" She struggles with the word tributes, well aware that it's more of the line of "sacrifices" or "victims" or maybe even "future corpses". All of those would be far more accurate. "And well...uh...let's meet them now! First the female..."

"I volunteer!"

A shrieking voice pierces the silence of the day. I look around, trying to see who volunteered but everyone else has the same idea and I can't get a good look. I can't help but wondering why anyone in their right mind would be volunteering. Everyone knows that no one from District Nine can win. It just ain't done. But this girl is certainly going to try.

"Come on up sweetie!" Pomona urges and as the girl listens I start in surprise. It's the girl who was crying over the death! The one I had a bad feeling about! Well, my feeling is even greater now. Why in the world would she volunteer at this moment? Right after learning her friend was dead? Something really ain't right.

The girl is swaying with delight as she stands on the stage and when Pomona offers her the microphone she doesn't hesitate to take it. "My name is Juline Cenia and I'm your next Victor!" She finishes with a smirk and tosses her hair as she crosses her arms. There's an awkward silence as we all think over her words. Next Victor? Good luck with that. She doesn't seem to mind though and she taps her feet impatiently as Pomona finally decides to select the next name.

"And Juline's District partner will be...Lyman Milton!"

Aww shucks.

I think about all of the District Nine lives claimed by the Games in this past century and feel an overwhelming sense of dread as I climb onto the stage. The crowd is dead silent as I stand before them, an obvious sacrificial lamb. Juline laughs at my appearance but I don't care what she thinks. She'll be as dead as me in a few weeks. I gaze over the crowd, searching for my parents. When I find them I see their sad faces and feel like I disappointed them, though I know there was nothing I could have done to prevent this.

"Why you look like a hardy young lad!" Pomona says to me as I hold off hope that there will be another crazy like Juline willing to volunteer in my place.

There isn't.

The Reapings go on as usual and I know that my fate is sealed. I will be going into the Hunger Games...and I will die.

District Ten: Cleopatra Royalty
Lounging around on my luxurious tan L shaped sofa with my cats beside me I feel as if life couldn't get anymore purrfect.

The purring heaps of fur roll around my ankles as I rest, content to rest in idyllic peace, my morphling inspired visions having died down, leaving me in a giddy state of mind. I wouldn't mind spending the rest of the day here, I would too, if it weren't for the Reaping later this morning.

Pah!

Who do they think they are?! Able to boss me, Cleopatra Royalty around? I am royalty! In both name and title! I deserve the utmost of respect and dedication! I shouldn't have to attend the Reaping if I don't want to!

Not that I don't want to attend though: I certainly do. I love seeing the horrified looks on the kids faces when they get reaped, knowing that they face all most certain doom. It never fails to pleasure me. I enjoy others suffering, almost more then anything else in the world.

Perhaps...perhaps I should volunteer? I would love nothing more then to receive the opportunity to inflict carnage and chaos on all of those unfortunate enough to get Reaped. It would most certainly be an adrenalin rush and I do so enjoy those...

I shall decide later. For now I shall content myself on getting to the District square.

I stand up and head for the door. My cats follow me, mewing at my feet. I bend down and stroke their soft fur as they purr contentedly. "You cannot come with me," I tell them with slight disappointment. They follow me around most of the places I go, but not to the town square. "Those Peacekeepers would never allow you in the square. But don't worry; I would claw their eyeballs out, oh yes I would! I would gouge out those mean old men's eyes for you sweeties!" I lose myself in this conversation and am only able to regain my composure when a clock chimes. I gently brush the cats aside and as they bundle off to chase a fly that had gotten in, I slip out the door.

I don't waste any of my valuable time, setting off down the streets at a brisk place. I live in one of the more glamorous and exorbitant parts of the District, not that there are many. My area and the Victor Village are about the fanciest things here, which is a disappointment to me.

"Out of my way!" I growl as I push my way through the streets that are gradually getting more crowded as I get closer to the Reaping area. "You are in the presence of royalty!" I shove one of the girls in my path so hard she falls to the hard pavement beneath her. She gets up, rubbing her elbows ruefully but knowing better then to try and argue with me. The last girl that tried that had my fingernails raked across her face.

The square is buzzing with people and voices and has a disgusting odor of cows and the sort. These hideous people tend to smell like manure, mostly because they spend all their time hanging around it. I impaiently wait in line to get my blood taken and as soon as its finished I shove myself past everyone to get to the front of the crowd.

"Hello District 10!" The escort Thaddeus Stubbins says, his long brown beard swaying in the light breeze. "I welcome you to yet another Reaping! May the odds ever be in your favor!" Compared to the style backwards people of District 10 he's dressed fashionably in a long black gown with gold fur rimmed edges.

"I hope you are all ready to find out who are tributes are!" Thaddeus rubs his hands together gleefully as he approaches the males bowl. He digs a hand in, taking his time rummaging through the slips of paper, trying to find one to select. He finally decides on one near the bottom and pulls it out, slowly opening it up.

"District Ten, your male tribute for the 398th Hunger Games is.....Steeeeephennnnnn Staaaaaaaar!" He draws the name out in dramatic fashion as he reads. I spin around, my elbow smashing into a nearby girl's face, and look for the selected boy. I spot him moving in the fifteen year-olds line. The boy looks decidedly average, brown hair, typical height, maybe a little paler then most citizens.

Ha! He's nothing special. Not that anyone in District 10 is special, besides for me of course. The boy, I've already forgotten his name, is shaking Thaddeus's hand and then he is brushed aside as he moves for the next bowl. As he digs for a name I contemplate volunteering but ultimately decide against it. I have a feeling this will sort itself out.

"And District Ten's female tribute is...Cleoooooopaaaaaatraaaa Royaaaaaaltyyyyyy!"

I beam at the announcement of my name and the spectacular fashion it was announced in. I shove past the few girls beside me and leap onto the stage. Thaddeus congratulates me and my District partner, Stave or something, offers his hand at me. I look at him with distaste. He is a mere peasant to me, true royalty. I don't interact with those below me, unless I am killing them of course.

Thaddeus finishes the Reaping off and then next few things just blow past. Soon enough I am sitting at a fabulous table in the train car with Thaddeus and Scrave. I pull a bottle of wine out from a bucket on the table and lounge back as I pop it open. I begin drinking when Stove speaks, staring at me with a dubious expression.

"Should you be drinking that?" He asks and I laugh in his face. What a ridiculous question! I can do whatever I please!

"I don't believe I permitted you to speak," I tell him with hostility and take a long drink from the bottle. It's exceptionally well aged and I must commend the Capital on their excellent wine. "So if you wish to keep your tongue you'd best shut up!"

"Should she be drinking that?" Striven a turns to Thaddeus. "And can she threaten me like that?"

Thaddeus shrugs. "I don't care. Anything goes in my book"

"You'd better listen to him Scoopin!" I laugh as I finish off the bottle and Chuck it over the back of my head where it shatters pleasantly on the floor. "Now pass me another slave!"

His eyes darken considerably as he rises and picks up the bucket of bottles. I'm thinking he's going to hand them to me when he faces Thaddeus. "Anything goes right?"

Thaddeus stares at him with an uncertain look. Even I am slightly unsure on his thoughts. "Um, yes. I did say that...anything beyond actual physical interaction..."

"Good"

Staten marches over to one of the trains windows, slides it open and chucks the bucket right out of the speeding train. Thaddeus sputters in disbelief, moaning about the loss of the wine but I couldn't care less. A cheshire like grin spreads on my face as I realize this boy is a fighter. He stares me down with a fierce look and I keep his gaze. I am quite intrigued at this show!

Finally, he breaks the gaze, striding across the room with authority. He swings the door open but not before turning to give me some last words. "And by the way, my name is Stephen!"

He then proceeds to slam the door shut.

District Eleven: Crimson Typhoon
I stare at the broken down fence, the barrier that separates the uncharted forest from the fields of District Eleven. I know what awaits me in there, I know the huge risk I will be taking in doing this. My hands are shaking, my body trembling. Not out of fear for myself but for Connor. He's in danger and the only way to save him is to put myself in danger too.

I throw a longing look at the forest behind me. I could just leave. Leave Connor to his fate and disappear into the forest, never to be found again. I could disappear easily, no one would ever find me and I would be safe from everything.

Except from my thoughts.

If I did that, if I left Connor to die, after all he's done for me...I could never forgive myself. I wouldn't be able to live with the guilt, it would crush me. I sigh. I look down at the letter in my hands, the letter that I've probably read a million times since receiving. The letter that orders me to volunteer for the Hunger Games or have Connor die.

I've had a very different life then most kids in District Eleven. I don't know if it's worse, I'm still alive after all and a lot of others aren't, but it certainly was different. Not at first though. At first I was just a normal kid. I went to school, got bullied, normal stuff. But one day I got fed up with a bully and wished that a tornado would come, pluck him into the sky, and kill him. Stupid threat, I know. But the strangest thing was, that on the next day, it actually happened. The tornado came, it plucked him up, it killed him.

It was just a coincidence, I knew. But everyone else thought differently. District Eleven is a very superstitious place and when someone makes a threat, especially a very obscure unreasonable one, when it actually happens everyone automatically assumes wizardry.

That's what they all thought I was, a wizard. I wish I was joking but I'm not. Everyone, including my own parents, chased me from the District and out into the forest that surrounds the outlying fields. I didn't, and still don't, understand that. Why would you want to drive off and anger a wizard anyways? Why not try to get him to help fight against your oppressors, the Capital? That's what I would have done. But of course they didn't.

I escaped into the woods, where I lived for a few days afraid and alone. Then I met Connor. At first I was frightened by his hardened appearance. He was only a few years older than me but he was bigger and stronger. He looked menacing and at first I feared he was against me but then he spoke. He told me about how he was also driven off from the District and how he learned to survive in the wild by himself. He offered me the chance to join him and he would teach me how to survive as well. I accepted and my life changed.

I learned, I became strong and fit. I was no longer a scared little boy but a fighter. Connor and I lived out in the woods for two years without ever contacting the District. But then, when we headed back into the District once, we were attacked by a group of men.

We fought back but there too many of them. We thought we'd lose when Peacekeepers came and killed several of the men. We automatically fled back for the forest and hid. Obviously the District still hated us. Two more years passed without incident then, when we were out hunting, we were attacked. It was one of the men who had survived the Peacekeepers. He knocked me down and kidnapped Connor before fleeing. I thought I would never see him again when...I received the letter.

Now here I am, waiting at the edge of the District, ready to volunteer to save my friend. I don't know what the man's motive is, nor do I care, I only want to save Connor and I can only do that with one thing. Winning the Hunger Games.

I'm strong, yes. But I'm no where near the strength level of the Careers or the raging beast tributes who seem to always be present. I'm from an outlying District as well. That will hurt my sponsors, at least early on, once I show them my fortitude I will gain their respect but will I last that long? I don't know. But I have to try.

I slip through the deactivated fence and into the fields. There's hardly anything out this way so the Peacekeepers don't even bother with the fortified fences they have elsewhere in the District and they're too frightened by the rumours of a "wizard" living in the woods to send any patrols. I guess my reputation has at least one benefit.

I encounter no people as I travel through the fields, towards the main part of the District. Everyone should already be off at the Reaping so that's not unexpected. When I do finally see some, a group of harvesters walking along one of the main paths, I hang back and try to conceal my face, least one of them recognize the "wizard".

I follow behind them all the way to the main square. Security has been ramped up immensely since the last time I was here, probably something to do with the supposed rebellion that was going on. Watch towers with armed guards loom over the proceedings and many Peacekeepers move amongst the crowd, daring anyone to try and make a scene. I duck into line and keep my head down as the escort, a vain woman by the name of Lillia Onslow, does the introductions with her ridiculous Capital accent. The whole time she speaks I can't help but think of Connor. What is happening to him? Is he being tortured? Beaten? Does he have enough food? Does he know I'm trying to save him? All of these thoughts and more run through my head, furthering my determination to save him.

"Now let's see our little male tribute, shall we?" Lillia strolls over to one of the large bowls and as I prep myself to shout I think about the irony of the "evil wizard" being about to save some kid from death. "Mongol Man--"

"I volunteer."

I don't even need to shout. There's not enough noise to make that necessary. No one moves an inch as I ascend the stage, every muscle in my body rigid in anticipation. Not until Lillia asks for my name and I answer does somebody react.

"It's the wizard!"

Panicked screaming results and I fear for ny safety when the Peacekeepers descend upon the crowd, whipping out batons and waving them menacingly at the more unpredictable citizens. One man has the idea of trying to fight back, he takes a concussion blow to the head for that and is quickly dragged off as everyone else begins to settle down. Lillia, urged on by the mayor, continues the Reaping as if nothing had happened.

"And the female tribute is...Raven Night!"

I look out into the crowd to spot the selected girl. She's a small twelve year-old with long black hair and pale skin. The crowd barely reacts, obviously upset with such a young child being picked but knowing they have no chance of changing anything.

The girl takes to the stage stoically enough, not showing much emotion as she stands beside Lillia, her wide eyes attempting to take everything in. Lillia introduces her to the crowd and then has us shake hands.

"Are you really a wizard?" She asks me with an innocent smile. I can't help but adore this little girl.

"No, I'm not a wizard"

"I knew it!" Her smile widens and I allow myself to smile back. She's just a little girl, someone who shouldn't have to be exposed to this barbarity. I want to help her in the Games, maybe ally with her but...I know there can only be one Victor. If I aligned with her I would have to be present when she died or even worse; be the one to kill her. No. I can't ally with her.

"You're a smart girl," I say with my voice cracking somewhat. I hadn't put any thought into it before but if I want to win and save Connor, then thirty-one innocent kids will have to die and I will have to commit murder. It's a hard thing to accept...but something I'm willing to do.

District Twelve: Celica Rotas
I slip under the deactivated fence, a small bag filled with two rabbits over my shoulder. Usually I would have a lot more then this but today my thoughts were clouded with fears of the Reaping. I missed a shot I would normally always make when my mind wandered off to what may happen later today.

I creep through the edge of the District, keeping a close eye out for any Peacekeepers. If I got caught hunting outside the fence in this post-rebellion period I would be shot on sight. Or captured and subjected to torture. Neither of which I desire.

The small tent soon comes into sight and I sigh. While the others won't voice any displeasure at this small haul, I will still feel like I let them down. I approach the tent and gently rap on the top. "I'm back," I say softly and then the opening is zipped open and a small boy a head peeks out.

"Look guys! Celica is back!"

He has such a look of joy that I can't help but smile back, though I still feel bad about the small amount of food I brought. "Calm down Niles," I say as I ruffle his hair and slip inside of the tent. "It's not that special"

He laughs and rolls on the ground. I frown as I spot the outlines of his ribs. We've not been eating well. A combination of the recent rebellion and my distraction.

"Whatcha got Celica?"

I look at the others. The other displaced people of District 12 who have nowhere else to go. There's currently five of us in total. Peter, a forty year-old man who broke his arm and couldn't provide for himself anymore and his wife then left him, Aurora, a relatively young woman in her twenties who was abused by her boyfriend, Rosary, an elderly old woman whose home was invaded and subsequently taken over by a gang and then Niles and me. Niles lost his parents to Peacekeepers and I, well....

I never knew my father and my mother wasn't the best mother. In fact, she was one of the worst. She was technically classified as "mentally sick" and often neglected me in place of many other things such as alcohol, drugs, smoking and wh---ing herself out. I didn't know she was a bad mother at first though, for years she was the only human I had actually even seen. I thought everything she did was normal. Like how she often forgot to feed me, or how she barely spoke to me, or how I was never allowed to go outside. One day she just disappeared. Apparently she had gotten murdered by some guy she was off sleeping with but I didn't know that and just wandered the house by myself for a week before accidentally creating a loud noise that brought the neighbours over. They found me, I was placed in an orphanage but only for a few years before they decided they couldn't support me anymore and kicked me out. That's when I met the others. I've been living with them ever since.

"Two rabbits," I answer Peter's question and drop the bag at his feet. He frowns as he picks the bag up, looking inside. I feel guilty and am about to apologize when he smiles at me.

"It's perfect. Thanks Celica. I wish I could help you more but my arm..." He trails off and I quickly reassure him, telling him I'm fine with it. He nods and goes to store the rabbits away when I look to Aurora.

"What did you two get today?" I ask her. Every morning Niles and her head out into the District where they do anything to find food or money. Stealing, picking pockets, begging. Anything that could supply us with food is done.

"I...we got some of these..." She digs her hand into her coat pocket and pulls out a fist full of coins. "Niles is becoming quite adept at this" I nod and smile, though I don't feel so joyful. We shouldn't have to be doing this. Niles shouldn't be becoming a good pickpocket. I shouldn't need to be illegally hunting in the forest, Rosary shouldn't need to work her fingers to the bone making snares and traps for us. We shouldn't have to do these things. But it's not like I can do anything to change it.

Aurora goes to help Peter and I sit down in the corner of the tent, thinking a bit. I don't think for long though before Rosary looks down at me. A gentle look on her face.

"Are you nervous honey?"

I open my mouth to deny it but don't. I don't want to lie. I am nervous. I'm frightened by what could happen today. Instead, I glumly nod. Rosary smiles and her old fingers wrap around mine.

"It's only reasonable to be nervous. It's okay to be afraid. Just don't let that fear control you"

That's an odd thing to say. But I understand. No matter what happens I can't let my fear get in the way. I have to power through. I thank Rosary for the encouragement when Peter calls us all together, saying it's time for us to get moving. Rosary and I get up, me taking a large breath. I'm the only one who has something to fear this day. The Peter, Aurora and Rosary are too old to be Reaped and Niles isn't old enough. I'm the only one with my name in that bowl. Mine is in there multiple times. I've taken tessarae despite the others advising against it, I just couldn't not do something that would help us get more food and help.

Now as I walk towards the small square, I wonder if this was helping me or if it was only making my odds of getting reaped that much higher. It was worth it though, no matter what happens.

I don't look at my surroundings for the first few minutes but once we get further into the District I start taking in my surroundings. I see the people, starving and beaten, and realize things could still be worse for our group. We could not have one another.

The people around me don't look at anyone else as they carry on their way. Peacekeepers stroll about, ushering everyone on towards the square. The District has always been this way for me but Peter has told me that once things were better, back when a pair of Victors named Soot Dustcloud and Charce Firre improved the quality of life for everyone. Things weren't that bad. But things have changed a lot since then. Especially thanks to the rebellion. District 12 had one of the larger rebel populations and thus has suffered for it. Already I have seen many stocks set up, where prisoners are still being detained and punished.

"There's the square," Peter says as we arrive. Security is tight. Peacekeepers form a taut line around the streets, snipers are poised on the rooftops and two large machine gun nests are set up on the corners of the stage. They could massacre about everyone in the entire square within minutes with those. "They really mean business, don't they?"

"It's scary," Niles complains as a shudder runs down my spine. What if I'm reaped? There will be no escape for me. I would be going into the Games bar nothing.

Peter reminds me that I need to join the other kids in line and I nod, moving to get my blood taken before squeezing myself into the fifteen year-old line.

Up on stage the Mayor and our escort, Pippy Kotu, are speaking. There's not much they say that's new or original: they simply repeat the usual stuff. I never paid much attention to it before and I don't this time. Whenever they finish speaking Pippy goes to one of the bowls giggles, "Gentlemen first!" And then shoves a fist into the bowl and pulls out a name.

"Coal A-!"

"I volunteer!

Usually the selected tributes are rather small and weak looking but this time a athletic looking redhead boy from the eighteen year-olds line comes up. I wonder why he volunteered. Judging from the unhappy on his face he doesn't seem to be one of those Games lovers. He looks more like he's desperate to get out of here. That's odd but it's what it seems to be.

"Why it looks like we have a volunteer, District 12!" Pippy squeals in utter joy and dances around on stage as the boy stares at her with a weirded out expression. She doesn't seem to be fazed by this though and asks him for his name.

"I'm....Drago Fire"

"Good! Good! What a splendid name! You will do well in the Games! I bet my feathers!" Puppy has always been this erratic and strange but I'm used to it. She's so stupid you kinda have to love her. "Lets see your District partner!"

Skipping over to the bowl she pulls a name out and then reads it aloud. I freeze automatically as the name is read. I didn't expect it. I wasn't ready. It came so quickly. I was worried, yes. But my sorrow had been evaporating as the Reaping went on, I began believing it wouldn't happen. But I was wrong.

Because the name that was Reaped is Celica Rotas.

District Thirteen: Zoey Proasheck
"Zoey Proasheck!"

Two words. Two words that have sealed my fate. Two simple words, read from a small slip of paper, coming out from the escorts mouth. My legs move me forward as the crowd stares at me in silence, watching the girl whose fate has been sealed.

Am I going to die? No. Not necessarily. I could still survive the Games. It won't be easy. It will probably be the hardest thing I will ever do in my life but I could conceivably survive this.

On the stage the escort has me shake hands with my already selected District partner, Radiant Tayz. He has a mop of messy black hair and a scar sits across his eye. He seems like he could be a tough competitor in the Games. When we finish with our handshake the Reaping is officially wrapped up and we're lead off to say our goodbyes. I get through mine quickly and then I'm lead to the train. Radiant is there as well and the both of us sit down on a long couch, settling into an awkward silence.

"So...ummm," I wrack my brain for something to say but come up empty. I can't think of anything relevant. But it doesn't matter as our mentor strolls in just then. He welcomes the both of us and then turns on the other Reapings that have already taken place. We start with District 1, which has the usual pair. The beautiful girl who seems like a airheaded clutz and the menacing looking boy. District 2 seems just as formidable. A strong but silent guy and the pompous arrogant girl. Despite their traditional looks they will almost certainly be a force to be reckoned with in the Games. It might be in my best interest to join with them...

District 3 breaks the mild with two almost gothic looking tributes. The girl blatantly flips off the escort and has a dark and somber tone and the guy has dark blue hair and almost hypnotic golden eyes. They're a far cry from the usual techno whizzes that hail from District 3. District Four is next and they have a strangely mute boy and a simple looking girl. As the District 5 Reaping comes on I turn to ask Radiant a question.

"What do you think about the Careers this year?"

He purses his lips and puts his folds his hands together as he thinks. He looks pretty relaxed but I'm wondering if this is all just an act and if he's really as nervous as I am. "They look very strong," he answers slowly. "I'm probably gonna have to kill them all"

"I think I'm going to join them," I say suddenly and Radiant raises his eyebrows at me, then after apparently deciding that I'm not joking he makes an amused expression.

"Seriously? You? An average girl from Thirteen? You think they'll accept you?"

"I'm a lot stronger then you think!" I snap angrily at him. I don't appreciate him taking jabs at my strength, especially since he knows nothing about me beyond my appearance. "How about I show you how strong I am?"

He laughs suddenly, almost maniacally, and I narrow my eyes at him as speaks. "I don't question that you're tougher then you look. But the question is, will the Careers? I don't think they'll be so easily persuaded"

"We'll see about that," I mutter darkly and turn my attention back to the television screen, where the announcers are now discussing the girl from District 6, who is apparently the daughter of not one but two Victors. That will make her a betting favourite and serious contender by default, despite her not-so strong appearance.

District 7 is next and they appear to be polar opposites. The boy runs from the stage while the girl runs towards it. They both look strong and hardy but that's not unusual for District 7. The next three District's aren't anything special. District 8 has a pair of depressed looking tributes, District 9 has a pair of redheads who Radiant jokes "I would fit right in with" and begins laughing at his own dumb joke until I punch him in the shoulder and he mumbles something about lightening up.

I don't take much note of District 10 and then District 11 makes a splash by having a boy volunteer, a rarity there.

"This is surely an interesting development!" One announcer joyously said, obviously glad that District 11 finally has something "entertaining" happening.

"Anytime District 11 has a volunteer you have to take notice!" The other agrees. The next Reaping then flickers in but I've already burnt out on watching. There's not much I can gleam from these Reaping's anyways. All of the real scouting will take place in the training period.

"Wonder why that kid volunteered," Radiant wonders softly. I shrug. Does it really matter? It's just another kid we'll have to face. Nothing more then an obstacle I our way. Radiant begins to say something about having participated in the Games before, which is ridiculous,  when the District 14 Reaping begins to start up and het leans in to watch as I head for the bathroom. I already have a game plan, now I just need to execute it.

District Fourteen: Odin Amarth
Today is the most glorious of days. Today I shall prove to the entire world the almighty power of Odin! I shall volunteer for the Hunger Games and win! No one shall be able to overcome the odds and defeat me! I am the invincible one!

I cannot wait any longer and drive myself out of the house and into the sunny day of the tropical District 14. I have always thought this was a strange location for me, Odin's chosen one, to be living. Odin himself lived in a cold climate and I'm in the District that basically is the furthest from that. The tropical jungles and beaches of District 14 stands as a stark contrast of Odin and his frosty biomes.

But it matters not!

I am his chosen hero and I will bring honor and glory to his name by conquering the Hunger Games! I break off into a steady jog down the jungle path as I head for the outset for the Games. The path curves and turns until it winds up leading me to a sunny beach. The sun reflects off of the sand a burns my eyes. I dislike bright lights almost as much as I dislike water. Another reason to not link this District, which is full of both of those things.

It's not that I can't swim. Swimming is something I do very well. No, I merely detest having to swim. I am always fearing that I will fail and end up drowning. I would never, and will never, tell anyone this but I am deathly afraid of drowning. It is one of my biggest fears and I hope that the arena will not contain vast amounts of water for this reason.

I travel to the west and over to the large docks that hang over a large stretch of water that connects the two main islands that make up District 14. The Reapings are always held upon the docks and I always hated this. Why not hold it over land? Why crowd everyone in the District onto a dock that creaks and groans under their weight? I should have this changed!

The blood taking station is set up as at the entrance to the dock and I get my blood taken and travel to the exact center of the dock where the stage has been set up and everyone is gathered around.

"Welcome people of District 14!" Our Mayor smiles down upon us all as he takes to the Mic. "I would like to welcome you to yet another brilliant Reaping! Let us hope for a pair of strong and righteous tributes this year!"

That they will receive in me. I am the strongest person here, stronger than even the Peacekeepers. I am the ultimate fighter! I am Odin! The mayor passes the microphone off to the escort, some foolish woman who has had some sort of surgery to make herself resemble a fox, and she makes haste to pull a name out of the girl's bowl.

"Angel Orthodox!"

The name belongs to a vicarious tan blonde who has crystal blue eyes and takes to the stage with an imperious attitude. Many guys in the crowd beside me make cat calls and a few other groan as they see the pretty girl get selected. I care not for anything but her strength. I wonder if she will be a worthy adversary for me? Perhaps. I will have the hour tenfold to examine her later.

"What a pretty young woman!" The Fox lady exclaims and has a short conversation with herself before going to pick the next name. I do not give her the opportunity to do so however as I shout out my volunteerism and the crowd parts for me to ascend to my rightful place.

Fox lady goes to ask me my name but I pull the microphone away from her and face the crowd. "I am Odin Amarth! Odin's chosen one! I shall conquer and vanquish these Games in honour of him and bring forth glory and prestige to his name! Almighty Odin!"

The crowd has no choice but to cheer for me, my presence and prowess showcases my ultimate strength. They all know that I will not be stopped!

I turn and thrust the microphone back into Fox lady's hands and go to depart this stage when Angel looks at me, smiling obnoxiously. "Oh...It's Odin's "chosen one!" Where's your brother Thor?"

This girl is peculiar. I have no brother named Thor. Her tone of voice is not quite up to snuff either. "Are you disrespecting the almighty Odin's champion!?" I demand, my voice rising. I do not tolerate disrespect!

"Oh no! I would never do such a thing! Disrespect the almighty Odin? Me? Never!" The girls tone is the same as her eyes widen in strange surprise.

I frown. I do not like her tone but her words clearly show she means no disrespect. Regardless of whether it was intentional though, it was done. "Next time show more care for the words you choose!" I tell her menacingly. "Or next time there will be severe punishment!"

She smiles sweetly and laughs a clear haunting laugh. "Oh I believe you. Next time there will be punishment!...Just not in the way you think..."

I move to respond to the girl but the Reaping ends and Peacekeepers arrive and take us away. I do not have time to deal with her. I need to prepare myself for the battles that lie ahead.

The Capital: Aemillia Wonder
I move the brush through my black hair, staring into my insecure hazel eyes that reflect back at my through the mirror. I haven't been here, in the lap of the Capital, for very long. Only a year at most. But already I am afraid that I am becoming one of them. One of those Capital freaks who love the Games and watching kids murder one another. I'm not afraid I'll start liking the Games, I know too much for that, but I am afraid I'll start becoming apathetic about the whole thing.

I finish brushing my hair and sigh. I used to be apart of a large rebel group that fought against the Capitol and the evil they stand for but not anymore. I miss those days.

Originally I lived in some other District, I don't even remember which one it was, but I was always one for running off and exploring new things, something that wasn't permitted by the Capitol. They prefer for you to know nothing but what they tell you so when it was discovered I was sneaking out of the District boundaries well....

I was beat and not gently. I still bear scars from that beating, I still feel where the whip stung against my skin. My wounds still burn when I think of the incident. It was beyond horrible. But...it only made me stronger and more determined to stop the Captiol's evil. I ran off from the District and never looked back. I ended up discovering District Zero and meeting a girl there. She hated the Capitol even more then I did and I joined her rebel group that worked against the Capitol. We worked tirelessly to fight them, causing havoc and chaos wherever we could. It was nice.

But I couldn't stay forever.

I hated the cold, I couldn't stand it. My scars also began getting infected and I had to leave just as things in the rebellion where getting heated. My friend understood and let me go with her blessing but...I feel like a coward. I feel as if I abandoned them when they needed me most. What kind of friend was I?

And now....and now I'm here, in the very epicenter of the Capitols evil. The Capitol itself. I don't even try fighting against the Capitol anymore. It's pointless. I'm only one girl. What could I do by myself?

Ugh! See! That's the apathy I was thinking about! I just can't shake it!

I drop the brush into a small box near my feet, my hands shaking, I sit down on a wooden bench and cover my face with them. To everyone else I'm dead. I died a long time ago. I know because I've seen my own grave. My parents have written me off and no one thinks I'm still alive.

That's good....in a way. The Capitol won't ever come hunting for me, not here in this tree-house on the very outskirts of the Capitol. I'm safe. Safe from everything.

But that hurts me more then the beating I took.

Why should I be safe when no one else is? Why can't I help everyone else? Why can't I be a great leader like my friend back in District Zero? Why can't I motivate people to fight with me? Why?

A loud trumpeting noise suddenly blares through my window and I jump out of my seat. The sounds of whooping and cheering reaches my ears and I recognize it as the annual Reaping Day parade. All day many large floats travel throughout the Capitol until dusk where they end up in front of President Stryker's Mansion. The Reaping then takes place and two tributes are selected to go into the Hunger Games and everyone celebrates as things are readied for the Chariot rides.

It makes me sick, the whole spectacle of the thing. But I still go. I don't have to, everyone thinks I am dead, they wouldn't notice if I didn't come. But I do anyways. I guess its a sort of penance I take for my safety. A way of putting myself into danger even though I don't need to be in it.

I guess I should be going then. If I can hear the parade now that means its heading up main street and will soon arrive at the Mansion. I throw all of my stuff into a box hastily and then slide down the ladder of the tree house and jog to the streets of the Capitol. I slide in amongst a large group of people watching the parade and walk along with them as we head for the President's Mansion.

Fireworks shoot off as we arrive and everyone goes nuts, cheering and screaming like maniacs. I try not to pay much attention to them. They're just brainwashed sheep, they don't know any better. It's a hassle for the Peacekeepers to settle everyone down and get every kids blood taken. When this is finished and everyone is put into a suitable crowd, President Leopold Stryker himself comes out onto stage followed by Stryker's Strike Force, his own personal guards.

They are the elite of the elite. Handpicked from the ranks of the Peacekeepers and pushed through a series of grueling training sessions to make them the strongest, toughest, soldiers possible. They listen to only Stryker himself and are completely ruthless, doing anything and everything he asks, even mass murder.

I glare at them as they surround the young President. My days as a rebel gave me some information of them and I know too much about both them and Stryker.

President Stryker.

He's young, very young. Only having recently turned eighteen. After his father was assassinated he took charge and his polices and tactics completely changed the course of the war. He stopped the rebels and captured their ringleaders, publicly executing both them and their families. He may be young, but he's still a monster.

"Hellooooo citizens of the Capitol! Are....you....EXCITED!" A wide grins breaks out onto his face as he speaks to the crowd, spinning around in his casual attire of a red polo shirt and black trousers. With his styled black hair and friendly green eyes he certainly doesn't look like a tyrannical maniac who wishes to enslave everyone. But looks can be deceiving.

"YES!"

The people in the crowd enthusiastically respond to his question and his grin gets even wider as he stops his spinning and rests casually against the mic stand. "Are you all ready to find out what two brave young man and woman will be representing the glorious Capitol in the 398th Annual Hunger Games?"

"YES!"

Another loud response. He really has these people in the palm of his hands. I wonder if any of them realize that or if its just me. Stryker goes on to ask them several more questions such as, "Do you think we have a Victor this year?" to "Do you think I should hand out free cake to everyone?" after each and every question the crowd shouts out a resounding "Yes!" and he bobs his head happily, as if he's listening to music. It's strange to think that this is the man who could so casually murder hundreds of people. I now certainly understand how he's fooling the Capitol into thinking he's a great benevolent ruler though.

"Let's cut pass all those boring formalities and get to the fun part, shall we?" He waves his hands and two bowls are rolled out in front of him. He asks the crowd which one they want him to do first and they scream out "Yes!". Stupid people. He just waves this off and asks them again. This time they say, "Girls!" and he nods in acceptance, plucking a fine envelope out of the bowl and ripping it open with no sense of grace or drama. "And your female tribute is....Aemillia Wonder!"

I don't believe it but it's true. There's no contesting the name that was drawn. I was Reaped. My name shouldn't have even been in that bowl. I was dead to everyone, how could it have been?

Everyone in the crowd are moving their heads about, looking to see the "lucky" girl. I don't want to have the Strike Force swoop down on me so I move my unwilling feet and head for the stage. The crowd notices my movement and they begin to applaud me, something that hurts me more then the shock of getting Reaped. I don't want to be cheered for being put to death, I want them to object to this barbarity and fight against it. But that's too much to ask.

President Stryker smiles at me when I reach the top and I'm suddenly even more nervous then before. My body begins to shake uncontrollably as I look into his eyes. He sticks his hand put but I don't want to touch him. I don't want to show him any respect. He deserves none. Besides, I can barely move my arms right now.

"It's not polite to ignore a government official," he says softly, so softly that even I, who am only a foot away, can barely here him. His words sound kind, but there's a harsh edge to them, as if it's a warning to me. I have no choice to comply.

I reach my hand out and shake his. He nods his head and mouthes "better" before turning to the crowd and asking for them to give me a round of applause, which they do. He then laughs and says that I'm so excited that I simply can't stop!

That gets a laugh out of the crowd and I realize he's trying to save face. Me acting like I was frightened or nervous wouldn't play well for the cameras, instead, he decides to spin it to fit his own agenda. I want to say something, to make some sort of protest, but at the same time I don't. The Strike Force on stage frightens me and I'm not willing to do anything to upset them. Once again I'm appearing apathetic.

"Who wants to meet our male tribute!" President Stryker asks, throwing his arms in the sky and grinning wildly. The crowd goes nuts and he goes for an envelope in the second bowl. He opens this one as quickly as he did mine and he reads it off.

"And your male tribute is...Furcifer Soror!"

The boy who answers the name isn't one of the many dressed up, coloured freaks but a rather tall pale boy with dark hair. He simply takes to the stage and President Stryker greets him with much gusto.

"It's an honor to have you here Mister Soror!" He smiles as they shake hands. I get the feeling that he's happy that not both tributes were shaking messes.

"Please, call me Furs"

Stryker inclines his head slightly at the boys request. "Why most certainly Furs," He turns to the crowd and raises the boys hand. "Ladies and gentlemen of the Capital please welcome your male tribute in the 398th Annual Hunger Games, Furs Soror!"

The crowd goes wild of course. They never do anything differently. It's always a celebration for them, not caring at all that both Furs and I could soon be dead. And why should they? Even if we both perish in the bloodbath they still have thirty other tributes to root for and one of them is guaranteed to survive. Why care for two unimportant kids?

President Stryker concludes the Reaping but not the celebration. That will continue long into the night. The people of the Capital will be partying as us tributes lie in our beds, thinking about all of the horrible ways we could die..

Banette Tsukomogami (District 8)
The beeping of a clock, combined with the sound of shouting voices, roused me from my sleep. In this way it's not much different than back home. There someone was always yelling for me to wake up too.

I stare up at the ceiling above me. Training is today. It will begin the three day period of training before we're thrust into the actual Games. I have no particular interest in attending but the voices that are still on going seem to indicate that I don't have much of a choice. Attendance is mandatory, at least for District 8. Apparently Escrow Bestow doesn't want to look bad in his first year on the job.

I roll out of the bed and notice that my bandanna is still drapped over my face. I must not have taken it off last night. I don't remember much about it. I argued with my stylist over whether or not I'd wear a ridiculous costume for the chariot rides and after I won that argument and the rides ended and we returned to the apartments I crashed onto my bed and fell asleep instantly.

I beam a pillow at that alarm clock that incessantly beeps and boops but it does nothing and I have to walk over and forcibly unplug the damn thing. Afterwards, I fall back onto my bed and close my eyes, hoping to have some dreams that aren't haunted by the destruction of Shuppet...

I don't even get the privilege of trying. The door swings open and Escrow stares in at me, tapping his feet impatiently. "Where you just going to ignore me?"

"I was trying to, yeah" Escrow frowns unhappily but I couldn't care less about what he thinks. His just some guy obsessed with kids killing one another. I don't need to please him.

"Well, you'd best be moving young man!" He blusters at me and herds me into the hallway and towards the dining room. "District Eight will not be the laughing stock of these Games! Not with me around!"

He is the laughing stock here but I don't have the opportunity to tell him so as I'm ushered into the dining room and see the table laden with all sorts of delicious food. My stomach growls, reminding me that I hadn't eaten last night. I step forward but Escrow pulls me back by the collar. "Ah ah ah! You missed your breakfast! We need to get down to the Training Center. The other District's are already there!"

I try protesting but Escrow isn't having it and he has several Avoxs clear the table as I'm led to the elevator, where I see Aisha waiting. "Why is she still here?" I mutter indignantly, noticing how she avoids making eye contact with me.

"I couldn't send one down without the other! That just wouldn't do! No. The both of you must go as a pair!" Great. We get to arrive as a pair. That will go down just swell. "Now off you go!"

Escrow pushes the button and then Aisha and I step in. The doors shut behind us and we're alone as we begin to descend. I shove my hands into my hoodies pockets and lean against the wall.

"You're not wearing the training outfit," Aisha comments throwing a sidelong glance at me. I shrug. Why would it possibly matter? I'll stand out either way. She will too, now that I think of it. Her ethnicity is different from all of the other tributes I saw on the TV during the train rides. She'll stick out like a sore thumb and possibly be a target to those slow thinking Careers.

Aisha looks like she's about to comment further when the elevator reaches the bottom and the doors slide open, revealing a line of tributes assembled before the Head Trainer. Of course they all turn to gawk at us and Aisha murmurs a quick "good luck" before speed-walking to the end of the line.

I simply step out of the elevator, the doors closing behind me, and with my head and face covered by my hoodie and bandanna, stare back at the tributes. I don't care for them, for their judgment and mocking faces. They're just like the bullies back home, the ones who tormented me each and every day. Nothing more then a bunch of frightened children wishing to make their self feel better by insulting another. Back in District Eight there was nothing I could do to stop them but out here I'm allowed, no encouraged, to fight back. To hurt them. To kill them.

So I stare back, knowing that they don't have anything I don't, that we're all in this together. We keep this up, starring at another, until the Head Trainer calls for everyone's attention and their heads swivel around like owls.

I don't listen to anything the man says. I really don't see the point. I wait for him to finish and then when he finishes he starts the timer and training begins. Immediately the Careers head for the weapons and start calling for everyone who wants to try and get into the Careers to join them. I'm not joining with them of course. Instead, my eyes search out the boy whose stood out since I saw his Reaping. The one named Shuppet.

Shuppet...the name alone makes him interesting but I get the feeling that he is more like Shuppet then just in name. I see him now, as he make  his way through the mass of tributes towards the climbing station. I waste no time in heading over to him and he looks up at me as I arrive.

"Allies?" He offers a hand to me and I stare in silence. Never before have I simply accepted someone as an ally, as a friend. But this time I feel a strange pull. As if I can feel that this boy is trustworthy and deserving of life. I look into his strange golden eyes and come to a quick decision.

I reach out and shake his hand. "Allies"

Luigi Wilkins (District 2)
"What the hell do you mean?!"

Trevor, the boy from one, glares furiously at the giant from District 5 as he blatantly turns down an offer to join the Careers. Already at least a half a dozen tributes have approached us, asking for acceptance into the alliance. However, seeing this boy's enormous size we went and asked him to join. And he just declined.

"I mean no!" He stares down at Trevor with a cold look that tells me he doesn't think very much of the spiky haired boy. "You guys have no honor! You enjoy fighting and killing, you target the weak and defenceless. You are despicable and I refuse to be apart of your alliance!"

Strong words. False words.

"We have no honour?" I speak, something I don't do very often but right now I feel the need to. "We do this, everything, for honor. We aim to bring honour to our names and glory to our District's by winning these Games. We have more honor then you ever will"

"You really believe that to be true?" He asks me with a stony gaze which I return.

"No. I know it's true. We have honor. You do not."

He looks to make a response but then he shakes his head and turns his back on us, walking away. Trevor spits out curses at him as he goes then stalks back to the rest of the Careers, all of whom were watching the interaction. That boy made a mistake. I give him only a few days of living in the Games and then he will die.

"Okay. You all want in with the Careers?" Trevor strolls in front of the possible recruits. There's six of them altogether, the gothic girl from 3, the boy from 6, the pompous looking girl from 7, the redheaded girls from 9 and 13, and the long haired blonde boy from District 14. "Well first you're going to have to prove your worth," Trevor stops his pacing in front of a rack of spears and after pulling it down he tosses to the boy from 14, who catches it with ease. "You first!"

"I am Odin Amarth! Odin's chosen one!" He lets out a bellow and charges a stand of dummies, slashing and slicing at them with the spear. He makes quick work of them, leaving them with many tears and rips, then he does a complete 360 and throws his spear twenty feet across the gym, where it hits a dummy in the chest so hard it gets knocked over.

Impressive.

Trevor nods and then motions for the girl from three, who introduces herself as Sombra Celesta "eternal enemy of the Spectrus family" and then goes to make some decent work with an axe. I look to the faces of the other Careers, Trinity from one, Avia, and Scarlet from Four. Her District partner didn't join us. He was mute and decidingly average looking. It wasn't a big loss.

Sombra finishes with the weapon and shows off some snare making skills. Trinity leans over to whisper something into Trevor's ear and he nods. They are most likely discussing the great help we could get from her traps.

When she finishes the other recruits go. Buck (6) is great at lifting weights and improvising with weaponry, Juline (9) despite being from an outlying District that hasn't won in decades, unleashes a flurry of sickle swings, and Zoey (13), like Sombra, is decent with an axe. However, unlike Sombra, she doesn't have great trapping skills.

I stand around the other Careers as they discuss what we just witnessed. They almost come to a decision when Scarlet points out that there is still one more recruit left and they go to face the girl from 7, who introduces herself in a tone as pompous as her appearance.

"I am Fiora Waltz! Head of House Waltz and the greatest duellist in the whole of Panem!"

Big words. Avia rolls her eyes and Trevor lets out a small grunt, urging her to show her work off. She steps forward with a flourish and then begins to go over the rack of sabres and rapiers, finally selecting one and approaching a dummy.

"She's gonna suck," Avia whispers. "Everyone that is that arrogant has no skill" Behind her back Trinity and Trevor exchange an amused look. Avia herself is about the definition of arrogance.

As it turns out though, Avia was wrong. Fiora shows unheard of skill, as fast as lightening as her rapier darts in and out of the dummy. She has the most skill in a single weapon that I've seen. When she finishes she drops the weapon behind her head and grins.

"Amazing!" Scarlet (4) breaks into applause for the girl but the rest remain silent. Avia even has a furious glare on her face as Trevor backs off and calls for us all to talk over what we're going to do.

"I like them all," Scarlet says immediately and Avia turns her glare on her as Trevor sighs.

"We only choose the ones we need," he says throwing a look back at the assembled recruits. "We don't need the ones that are similar to what we already have"

"I don't want Fiora!" Avia tries to say but she's cut off by Trinity and they both begin squabbling until Trevor quickly cuts it off. The four of them then continue the conversation until coming to a decision. We will be accepting them all except for Zoey, who Trevor describes as "Sombra without the traps" thus he says we have no need for her.

"Listen up!"

Trevor calls the recruits over and they quickly assemble their self in front of him. He tells them all that they showed sufficient enough skill to get into the Careers with the exception of Zoey, who needed "to try a little harder"

"What?! No!"

Zoey (13) protests but is drowned out by the rest of the other recruits who all start speaking at once. Trevor step away and we all turn and follow him.

Drago Fire (District 12)
I watch the boy from 13 run across the gauntlets. He does a decent enough job of avoiding everything and gets to the end without losing his balance. He did a good job.

The first two hours of training have already gone by. At first it was complete chaos with everyone wandering around looking for allies and trying to get to their desired stations. I wanted to try out the weapons at first but the Careers were hanging around there holding their tryouts and I didn't want to possibly anger them by interrupting. I already have enough people with me on their watch list. I am one of the largest tributes here, in height and width. Only Luigi (2), Buck (6), Odin (14), and Johnathan (5), are bigger and of them three are Careers and the other is Johnathan, whose some sort of giant. I don't have the skills or strength of them.

Well, since I couldn't use the weapons right off the bat I instead spent some time trying my hand at shelter making. I wasn't great but I think I did a passable job.

The Careers eventually spread out after they finished their recruiting process so I finally got my chance at using some weaponry and swung some swords and threw a few spears. While I wasn't anywhere near Career level good I did better then most of the other tributes I watched go.

Now I've finished with that and I'm trying to find what I should try next. My District partner, Celica, is off shooting arrows. I could join her but I have zero skill with a bow and I know it takes a lot of practice to become competent enough to use that as a weapon. Even if I spent the whole training period practicing I probably wouldn't be skilled enough to dependably hit my target. So that's not something I should try. The boy from Nine and Ten are at the Edible Plant station and seem to be struggling slightly. I keep my gaze spinning around the gym and finally settle on the boy from Eleven as he makes snares with rope. Deciding that this is a decent course of action I approach him.

"Uh. Hey there!" I smile awkwardly at him and he looks up from the complex looking snare, rubbing his hands together.

"Oh, hello. You're Drago, right?"

He must have seen my name during the replay of the Reaping on the train rides. I can't seem to remember his name though and I simply nod.

"Oh right, I didn't introduce myself. Names Crimson" He offers me a hand and I shake it, happy that I've met someone whose willing to be cooperative. He asks me if I know anything about snares and I shake my head. I know next to nothing about those. I never had any need to learn this sort of stuff back in District 12. "It's not that difficult really," Crimson (11) says as he begins to make a trap before me. His fingers weave rope into complex knots and I watch in amazement as he works, all the while explaining how to do what he's doing. It's incredibly informative and by the time he's done I can make myself a decent enough replica of his snare.

"Nice job!" We high five and continue with the snares for awhile. While we work he tells the tale of his life and how hee was forced into the woods and had to learn how to survive. As he tells his tale I can't help but wonder if I should tell him about myself. About my...problem.

"I think we're about done here," he says after we finish one of the hardest snares available. "We should learn some other stuff. Maybe should check out the fire building station"

He says more but I don't hear him. I zone out at the word "fire"'. I freeze and my arms begin to shake as sweat pours down my head. I can't build a fire! I can't! If I see a fire, even the tiniest of one, I won't be able to stop myself from burning this whole place down.

Crimson stops as he notices my condition. He pokes me gently and I finally regain control of my body and back off, shaking my head furiously. "No...No! I can't build a fire! I can't!" His eyes widen and he says my name as I begin to breath heavily. I can't do this. I can't alienate my only friend here. I try to calm my mind. I haven't seen any fire yet, I tell myself reasonably. I won't lose control unless I do. I can approach this rationally, tell Crimson what's wrong.

"I...I can't see a fire," I stammer out. I'm probably ruining my only chance of having an ally, after all, who would align with a pyromaniac who could set you on fire at any moment? "I'm...I....I lose control at the sight of fire. Immediately I try to set anything and everything on fire but once I do...I regain control of myself. And I what I've done and....and...."

I can't finish. My tears are running down too fast. I expect Crimson to leave, to back off like any sane person but he doesn't. He pats me on the shoulders and asks me if I'm okay. I croak out a small "yes" and he nods. I'm gratified that he didn't leave me. He's already a true friend.

"It only happens when you see fire?" He asks me and I nod, going on to tell him I'm fine every other time but just lose it when I see any flame. He takes this in stride, saying we'll just avoid fires. I can't believe he's not deserting me but I nod. I should be fine as long as we don't see any fire.

"So...," he turns and surveys the rest of the gym, who somehow didn't see my breakdown. "I guess we should go make some hammocks?"

Fiora Waltz (District 7)
Things have been going as well as planned so far. I may not be the leader of the Careers as I had originally thought I would be but things are going as smooth as possible despite this.

My first order of business was to secure myself some competent allies. Not trustworthy ones, none of them are trustworthy. You'd have to be stupid to trust anyone out here. No, I don't trust them but I know they're competent and good at following orders and killing. Take the girl by my side for an example, Juline (9). She's made herself my right hand so to say. She's acts nice and sweet and with her pretty red hair and innocent looks no one would think otherwise. I, however, can sense her true self. She's a coldhearted killer who has no mercy. That makes her even better of an ally.

I have other ideas and plots as well. Buck (6), I am looking at bringing on as an enforcer. He's tough and strong but doesn't look like one of those pesky "alphas" who always need to be in charge. He's more of a follower and getting him to follow me would work out very well. And perhaps I should set Juline on attempting to seduce Odin (14). If I can get him in my pocket then I'm well set on my way to becoming leader.

Not that I have any current plans to displace Trevor (1). He's a useful asset and more importantly, if an outside alliance where to try and cut the head off the snake...they would go for him and if they were to be successful in killing him they would simply put me, with the support of my three inner allies, in charge.

I smile to myself. It takes more then just brawn to win these Games and while I have plenty of that I also have a huge amount of intelligence. Those without a plan never when the Games. It's always the one who thinks out every little detail that comes out victorious. And when I do, I will show the world that the Waltz family still has honor and prestige, despite what my maggot of a father has wrought upon its once sacred name.

"You're a little bitch, you know that?"

I spin around to find the speaker and see Avia (2), a disrespectful sneer on her disgusting face. She opposed my induction into the Careers and has been extremely vocal in her hatred for me, much like my District partner Nick (7) has been. Also like Nick, she's a cowardly little weasel.

"Shut up Avia!" Juline (9) comes to my defence but I tell her to be silent. I can handle my own battles. Especially ones against jealous little girls.

"No, you shut up Juline!" Avia (2) rounds on her with a ferocity. "Who do you think allowed you into the Careers? Me! I let you in and God help me I'll kick you right back out!" I smirk and she turns back to me. I watch her angry features with much amusement. It's cute how she believes she has that power over us, that she's in charge here.

"I was under the impression that Trevor was in charge here,"I say slyly knowing well that this will rile her up even more. People like her hate being told they're not in control. "You didn't even want me to join but I did, didn't I? And you couldn't stop it!" Her eyes darken considerably as she begins to breath heavily out of her nostrils. I'm hoping that shouldn't will attempt to strike me, so I can beat her into a bloody pulp but she doesn't. She merely backs off muttering many curse words under her breath.

"He's not the boss of me and neither are you!" She tosses her long hair over her shoulder as she retreats with her tail between her legs. "I'm my own boss! And if I were you I'd watch my back. Because you never know when I'm going to plant a knife in it!"

Oh. I'm counting on it.

Solar Energy (District 0)
The lunch bell rings, drawing the attention of every tribute. They march like ants over to the tables and take their places. The Careers are the loudest and most boisterous, they commandeered the largest table for themselves and they all sit around it laughing and telling jokes while the other tributes nervously claim their own tables, or in the case of loners, sit by themselves or join other loners.

I slink around the outskirts of the dining area and sit at a small table in the way back. I have zero desire to interact with the other tributes. Why get to know someone you will soon be fighting to the death? Better they remain a faceless person in the crowd then get to know them and learn their every quirk. That would just make coping with their deaths even harder then it already is.

But that doesn't mean I won't keep an eye on everyone. I still need to know just who I'm going up against. My eyes watch the second largest alliance, the one led by my District partner Aelia. I've heard they've been calling themselves "The Rebels" which doesn't seem very smart considering the rebellion that just went down. The Capitol won't overlook that slight. But dangerous name choice aside, they appear to be formidable. Not anywhere near as strong as the Careers of course but anytime there's an alliance of six tributes you have to take notice.

Other than them and the Careers there are two smaller alliances of three. One has the males from District 11, 12 and 13 and the other has the giant Johnathan (5) joining with the males from Eight and Three.

I'm going to have to keep a sharp eye out for them in the Games. I couldn't possibly take on three tributes by myself so avoiding these alliances will be a major priority.

And all of the other tributes are loners as of right now though they keep bouncing around speaking to another or the already formed alliances. I wouldn't be surprised if another alliance was formed in the last few hours or tomorrow. There's too much potential with the remaining loners for that to not happen.

My examinations done, I focus on eating my meal and I soon finish that. Most of the other tributes are still eating with the exception of Furs (C) who is practicing wrestling with a trainer.

I slip out of the dining area, keeping my head low as I approach the spears station. I already have a slight skill with these from my occasional training back home. I never accomplished much but I've read a lot about proper techniques and fighting styles.

I select a sharp looking spear from the rack and test its weight. Feels good. I experimentally lift the weapon and note it's lightweight design. I'll make sure to try and get my hands on a weapon like this in the Games.

I select a target and then wind up and heave the weapon, putting my whole body into the throw. It sails across the target area and then smashes into the direct center of the target. A smile breaks onto my face. I may be a dark horse, but I certainly have a shot at winning these Games.

Aelia Freedome (District 0)
Have you ever had a friend that only was around for a short while? One that in the short time you interacted was one of your best friends? And then did that friend leave and make you wonder whether you'd ever meet again? And did you finally meet up with that friend once again, but this time the both of you were stuck in a game where you where pitted against one another in a fight to the death? No? Well all of that just happened to me.

I look at my friend, Aemillia Wonder, the female tribute from the Capital. I had never expected to run into her here, of all places. When I was Reaped I'd figured we would never meet again. But here we are. Rebels in arms once more.

"I still can't believe this," Aemillia (C) sighs as we sit on one of the many dining tables. Lunch finished awhile ago but the both of us decided to hang back as the other members of our alliance train. "The both of us being in the same Hunger Games? I never thought this could happen!"

I can hear the disbelief in her voice and it echoes what I think. This was the most unexpected of things. But it's not all bad. We have a mighty alliance at our backs and I still have my trump card in my pocket. I glance at the other willing tributes who aligned with me. Nick (7) is off swinging an axe and I must admit he was the most eager of everyone to join. I approached everyone asking if they wanted to be apart of an alliance of rebels and he jumped at the opportunity, saying he was thinking of making the very same alliance himself. He's probably one of our best fighters and I think I trust him the most, just behind Aemillia of course.

"It's a good thing we have such strong allies," I speak to her right now. "It would be much worse if we were alone" She nods and I seek out two more members of our alliance, Lyman (9) and Stephen (10), as they quietly debate over the best way to start a fire. The two of them had already paired up when I first approached them about joining. They had been shocked I was willing to have them and Lyman (9) said he was "just a little ol' country boy". But I knew the Both of them were more then that. They're fighters, the kind of people I want on my side.

My gaze slides to the last member of our alliance, Nikki (4). He's from a Career District but he's nothing like them at all. He's a shy quiet boy who goes unnoticed by everyone. The fact that he is mute might have something to do with that. Aemillia was skeptical about bringing him into the alliance, after all it would difficult to communicate with him. But I knew sign language from having a mute kid back in the rebel force in District Zero and I was willing to be his translator. I just had this connection with the kid and I couldn't just leave him by himself.

"How are we going to win this?" Aemillia (C) speaks, her eyes trained on our allies as well. "And how are we suppose to let our allies die? Or even kill them?"

"We don't need to," I say quickly and she raises her eyebrows in question. She's probably wondering if I've gone nuts. After all, there's only one Victor in the Hunger Games right? Well....not if the Games don't end. "Do you trust me?" I ask her, lowering my voice a after glancing around to make sure no one was close enough to hear.

"Of course I do!"

"Enough to not tell anyone, not even our alliance, what I'm about to say?" She's surprised and looks uncertain on where I'm going but she nods. I take a deep breath, wondering where to start. "You know the group I have back in District Zero? The rebels? Well, I've tasked them with our biggest job yet. I having them come here and...I don't know what. Figure out a way to stop the Games. To free us. If they succeed we can all escape, not just our alliance but all the tributes, we could escape!"

I don't know if she believes me. She scratches her head and looks around murmuring in a low voice. "I don't know Aelia..."

"Look, I'm not saying it will happen, just that it might. And if it does...I want you to be ready for it, okay?" She nods and gives me a confirmation. I smile at her and she returns the smile. I have no idea if my friends will be successful in finding a way to get us out of here. But I do know that I have to trust them....because if you can't trust your closest friends, the who can you trust?

Buck Rockwell (District 6)
I don't think my mentors give a damn about me. And why should they? I'm just some guy who's competing against their precious daughter, who they're also mentoring. They have no reason to mentor me.

I watch the weird silver haired girl now, as she sits across the table from me laughing hysterically at her own jokes that she's telling her parents. She annoys me. Greatly.

"How has your search for allies gone?" Her father asks and she looks up with a now non-happy expression.

"Not so well," she mumbles suddenly looking bashful. "I forgot to ask anyone and now most alliances have already been selected. I don't know if I'll be able to get one now"

I can't help but snicker at this and they all turn to look at me. I shrug and then shovel the rest of the food on my plate into my mouth. "Your not going to find any alliance," I tell Amore (6) as I stand up and cross the room to the elevator. "So good luck on dying early!" I press a button and slide in, the doors shutting behind me. Heh. Stupid girl. Only the dredge is left to choose from now. All of the tributes of any worth have already chosen their alliances, all the smart ones joined the Careers.

When the elevator deposits me in the gym I cross over to where the Careers are readying themselves for a gauntlet run. I take my place behind Trevor (1). Odin (14), after shaking off Juline (9), joins us with an irritated look. Trevor asks him what's the problem and she complains about Juline constantly flirting with him.

"Think she's annoying? Try hanging around Sombra. That girl is insufferable!" I glance at the dark haired girl now as she crosses the gauntlets with only slight hiccups. I don't really like her attitude either but I can deal with having her as an ally. I'm about to complain about Amore being the worse of all when we're interrupted by the arrival of Zoey, who has a determined look set on her face.

"Back again? I already told you, you're not good enough to join us. Not even if you keep asking"

Trevor sounds annoyed at her arrival but she's not effected by this and crosses her arms. "Oh yeah? Even if I told you that I had medical knowledge? Enough that could save your life?"

"How did you learn that?" Trevor asks with disbelief in his voice.

She shrugs. "My moms are nurses"

"Moms?" Odin (14) mouthes silently to me and I shrug. That would explain the girls quirkiness alright. Trevor doesn't pay us any attention and asks Zoey to showcase her abilities and she goes to show it off. I don't know a thing about healing stuff so I don't pay much attention to the things she does but once she finishes Trevor calls Odin and me over to discuss her inclusion, along with Trinity who joins us.

"She certainly has some skill in healing," Trinity starts the conversation.

"But we'll seem weak if we let her in after denying her yesterday," Trevor grumbles throwing a covert look at the other tributes. "And we don't want them to start thinking they can take us. Thinking you can do something is the first step to actually accomplishing it!"

"But if we don't take her," I begin and the others turn to watch me speaking. "Some other alliance will. While we may not need her healing hands all that my much; the others do. We don't need to make them any stronger then they are"

The others see the sense in my words and nod. But I still not certain if they're going to accept, after all, to some people their egos are more important then logic. So I add a bit more for good measure. "And I doubt she'll be much of a threat to us anyway. We could end her anytime we wished"

"True enough," Odin says and the others murmur their agreements. Trevor orders Trinity to go inform the others of the new arrangement and then goes to confront Zoey.

"We thought it over," he begins, making sure to stand over her with an authoritative presence. "And decided that our victory is so guaranteed that we will accept you anyways, even if you don't meet the minimum requirements" True to self he found a way to make himself look superior. Zoey either doesn't notice or doesn't care as she thanks him and says she'll be a useful asset to us. Trevor gruffly orders  her to speak with the others and she speed off to do so.

"Nice job on that one!" I highfive him and he grins.

"Yeah, she's no threat to us. We'll use her healing skills for a bit, then once we've outgrow the need for that, we can cut her loose!"

Perfect.

Nikki Heart (District 4)
I sit silently as on a small wooden stool as I watch my allies train. Nick (7) is swinging an axe while Aemillia (C) watches. She keeps on letting out giggles as he stops to let out a boastful comment after each swing. I think she may have a crush on him.

Lyman (9) and Stephen (10) each take turns chucking spears as Aelia (0) stands by, giving tips and techniques to the two of them. I notice several tributes keeping eyes on them, including a few Careers. I have some strong allies. But...

I can't help but feel like an unnecessary component. I know none of my allies feel that way, but I do. I can't speak with them, so I have no real way of connecting with them. The only reason I'm even in this alliance is because of Aelia asking me. I don't know why she did. Maybe she thought that since I was from District 4 I was stronger then I really am.

I really have to stop thinking like this. I need to concentrate. My only hope of regaining my ability to speak and having a shot at getting a somewhat normal life is hinging on these Games. I need to win.

But so does everyone else. We're all in this "kill or be killed" situation where you literally have to kill or be killed. No one is looking out for anyone but their self and I should be doing the same. I need to stop worrying about my allies whether I'm needed or not. I should focus on learning all I can.

I rise from the stool and head for the Plant Identification station. The girl from District 5 just finished with subpar results and I check out the board, immediately committing everything I see to memory. If  there's one thing I'm good at its memorizing things and figuring our patterns. My mind is my greatest weapon here.

I spend a few more minutes studying them and then I decide to take the memorization test available. I fly through it, perfectly matching each and every plant to its name. The trainer is surprised, congratulating me when I finish, saying that I was the first to completely ace the test this decade. I smile at him and to myself. I may not be as strong a  most of these other kids but I do have some advantage.

"Good job Nikki!"

I didn't hear Aelia (0)  as she came up behind me. I smile at her and she embraces me in a hug. "You did even better then Nick and he's from District 7, there's loads of plants there!"

I pull a small sticky note out of my pocket and hastily scrawl 'Thank you!' on it and show it to her. She smiles warmly and then walks off back to Lyman and Stephen, who are now having trouble constructing a shelter.

I'm glad I could make her proud, even if it was only over for a training exercise. But...I feel a sinking feeling in my stomach as I remember the fact that if I want to survive these Games and get my life back, that not only will she have to die but so will the rest of my allies.

It's a depressing thought.

Furs Soror (The Capital)
I've been flying pretty low under the radar since the Reapings. No one has ever paid me any attention. Maybe that's good or maybe that's bad. I don't know.

What I do know is that I'm not underestimating myself. In my eyes I'm the odds in favourite to win these Games. No one else is as likely to succeed as I am.

I bring my attention back to the Ropes Course that sits before me. Most tributes have attempted this already. Very few made it all the way across but I'm certain that soon I will be added to that list. At least I think so.

I reach a hand out and touch the thick coarse rope and give it an experimental tug. Seems sturdy enough. I slowly transition my other hand to the right side and when I make certain that I won't fall I slid  my feet off of  the platform.

Things seem fine at first but then I quickly realize I didn't factor in that I would need to move my hands along as I go. I throw my right hand forward and catch a further part. I travel along, moving one  hand at a time for a few more paces when the ropes sway slightly to the right and my wrists turn at an odd angle. I kick my feet out in a futile attempt to grab on when my grip loosens and then I'm sent plummeting to the padded mats on the floor. A booming laugh is directed at me and I look up to see the familiar face of Odin (14) grinning down at me.

"Foolish mortal! Did you think you would succeed with those puny arms?"

"Think you could do better?" I grumble at him as I get back onto my feet.

"I will most definitely do better!"

"Then prove it!"

He shoves himself past me and climbs onto the platform, effortlessly transitioning his hands onto the rope. He begins making his way across with ease and I grimace. I don't want him passing my mark. Without thinking about it, when his eyes are focused on his left hand, I jump up and grab the side of the ropes. The sudden addition of the weight causes the ropes to spin to the side and I let go as Odin shouts in surprise and falls.

"You could do better huh?" He glares at me then looks up at the ropes, grumbling about sudden swinging. "Maybe you should call your brother Thor to help"

"I do not have a brother Thor!" He shoves past me once again and I watch him walk away with a grin on my face. Of course he doesn't. Thor is supposed to be Odin's son, not brother. But mythological thematics aside I'm happy that I just proved that I can out think the Careers.

Aisha Hakeem (District 8)
I sit with my two allies as the lunch period begins. This morning I was worried I wouldn't be able to find myself an alliance when I bumped into Celica (12). She immediately asked me to join with both her and her other ally, the girl from District 6, Amore.

I accepted of course. I didn't have any other alliance to choose from. I think the two of them have some potential as well. Celica has already shown how skilled she of with a bow and Amore is the daughter of two Victors, making her a very rare and useful ally to have.

"It's weird how we were the last ones to get allies, huh?" Amore (6) grins as she faces us. "I mean, everyone else who doesn't have an alliance right now obviously isn't trying to get one. It was just the three of us who no one had any interest in aligning with!" Somehow she finds that funny and breaks out laughing. I don't exactly find that funny but I guess people's humor differs.

"I was expecting it," Celica (12) shrugs as she lifts a spoon of mashed potatoes into her mouth. "Back home no one wanted me either"

I smile. That's another reason I like this alliance. It has people like me, people who aren't just simply accepted by most of society. Celica has been an outcast her entire life, Amore has her share of friends but a good deal of people brush her off as a quirky oddball who has no practical use and for me....I've been rejected and mocked more times I can count. Not being invited into an alliance is nothing compared to other things I've been through.

"We're just the weird ones then!" Amore grins happily. "And I've always liked being weird!"

"Nothing fazes you, does it?" I ask with a wry smile. She beams back at me and shakes her head.

"Nope!...well I haven't been through any real trying stuff yet. Who knows how I'd react to my arm being chopped off?" She goes on to give a detailed account of what she thinks it would be like, complete with the things she'd shout, and I exchange a glance with Celica. The girl certainly has a sense of humour alright. Maybe I should be more like her and less...mopey I guess. I've been stuck dwelling on the upcoming days and the prospect of having to kill the rest of these tributes. Maybe some levity would be good for me.

"The private training sessions are tomorrow," Celica says. "Do you guys have any ideas on what you will be doing?"

"I haven't put much thought into it," I answer truthfully. "I'll just show off an assortment of skills I guess"

"I'm going to do something amazing!" Amore exclaims excitedly. I let out a laugh and ask what that will be but she shrugs and tells me she has no idea. I think back to my own session. What will I do? Something that will get a good enough score to impress Colin's dad...but how high will that have to be? An eight? Nine? Ten? Even higher?

Oh great. Now I have another thing to obsessively worry over...

Angel Orthodox (District 14)
I watch the girl from District Ten run across the gauntlets with lithe agility and amazing athleticism. She's a real talent...and a sure fire enemy.

As she finishes with a flamboyant flip of her hair I let out a condescending laugh and her eyes immediately swivel to meet mine.

"Do you find something amusing?" She asks me darkly. I smile but remain silent, watching the fury that reveals itself in her eyes. She's not use to people ignoring her. She gets angry when someone laughs at at her...we have a lot in common. And that means she is a threat.

"I was merely amused that you thought what you did was impressive...because it was pretty mediocre!" As I anticipated she steps towards me, her face controting in rage. She is so easily manipulated! I smile again and she throws an open palmed slap at me. I move fast enough to grab her wrist and yank backwards. She lets out a gasp of pain and as I stop to smile about my victory she sweeps my feet and as I hit the ground she mounts me and holds my hands down.

"You thought I was weak?" She hisses in my face and I smile coyly. She may think she's in control but my plan is going as expected. "Well you just learned that no one can out plan Cleopatra Royalty!"

I smile innocently. "Oh, is that so? In that case....HELP!" I let out a scream that immediately brings the attention of everyone else in the gym. "Help! I'm being assaulted! Help!" I smile wickedly at Cleopatra as two training staff members appear at her side and pull her off. She tries to struggle free but it's impossible and she's dragged back into the elevator.

Ha!

Now I just limited her training time substantially, thereby weakening her and showing her up. No one out plans Cleopatra Royalty? Looks like that's a farce, because I just did!

Juline Cenia (District 9)
The day of training begins to wind down and a few of the tributes begin to turn in early. Not me though. I want to get as much training in as possible, especially since this is the only time I've ever gotten my hands on actual weapons. Back home I had to make do with improvised weapons and simple farming sickles but here, here there's tons of wonderful, flesh cutting tools to play with.

"How goes your play to get Odin?" Fiora (7) asks as she stops beside me, examining the smooth edge of a sword. I grunt irritably. Odin has been avoiding me all day. I think he's on to me and I tell Fiora this. I expect her to be upset but she merely shrugs it off. "His loss. If he doesn't want to join the strongest side then that's on him"

"You're not upset?" I ask incredulously. I've only known Fiora for a few days but in that time she's made it clear that she's not a person who takes well to roadblocks.

"Did I say that? No! So don't be stupid!" I flinch at her reprisal but then she continues with a less cutting tone. "I'm not going to outright tell him I'm mad but I'm not going to forget his actions either. Once I become leader he'll wish he had chosen differently!" Now that's more like her! She nods curtly to me then goes back to swinging her sword and I start practicing with my sickle. By tomorrow I want to be the best fighter possible.

I hack and slash at the dummies, imagining if they were real people. This makes me think of back home when I killed Azera. Did they ever figure out it was me, I wonder? Or did they give up on the whole thing? While I'm interested in it, it doesn't really bother me in any way. Whether they know I did it or not there's nothing they can do to me once I win these Games. I'll be untouchable. My Victor status will ensure that. I smile, imaging the looks on Azera's parents faces when they learn that fact. Oh how marvelous it will be!

But first I have to deal with these Games.

Odin refusing to join us could be a setback. It now means that whenever it is that Trevor (1) dies Fiora and I will have one less person supporting our leadership, and even worse, we might have opposition. He could try and get himself in that leadership role. He made himself go from ally to liability. We'd be much better off without him breathing now.

A whistle suddenly blows, signalling the end of training. I, along with respect other tributes still present, walk over to the elevators. I climb into the one heading to the District Nine with Lyman who tries his best to avoid looking at me. He's avoided me since the Reaping. I think he might have made the connection between me and Azera and figured out I was the one who killed her. I don't really care if he did but I enjoy the fact that I scare him.

"You and your alliance won't last long," I comment off-handedly as the elevator begins its ascent. "Naming yourself the Rebels? Dumb mistake. You just brought on the Capital's ire!"

"You don't know that!" He mutters quickly, his eyes locked firmly on the ground.

"Maybe not. But I do know that the Careers will be targeting you guys. We even got specific people to kill. And guess what? I got you!" This is a lie of course. I have no idea what our plan is and I definitely wasn't told to kill Lyman. But seeing his terrified expression was worth it!

His eyes are glancing around with fear as the elevator comes to a halt at our floor. He slowly steps out into the hallway and then hand shoots to the buttons and he presses each and every button. I shout him and try to get out but the doors slide shut too soon and I'm locked in. I let out a loud curse as I realise I'll have to go all the way up to the rooftop before being able come back here.

That Lyman may be a scared weakling but boy is he intuitive!

Training Scores & Odds
This time around Training Scores will effect the amount of money a tribute has available to them, either negatively or positively. Below is the key that shows you what score earns what.

12= +$100

10/11= +$75

8/9= +$50

7= +25

5/6= -$25

4/3= -$50

2/1= -$75

Trinity Mace (District 1)
I'm woken up early this morning by an Avox and I quickly take a shower before joining Trevor and our mentors in the dining room. Trevor is irritability listening to his mentor, getting last minute advice. He's been in a bad mood ever since the Training Scores were revealed last night. He was banking on the fact that he would receive the highest score. That wasn't the case.

Five different people received higher scores then him. Fiora, Odin, Luigi, and Johnathan. That last one hurt him the most. Being outscored by a non-Career was almost unbearable for him. It was made even worse by the fact that he had defied him in training.

I myself was just happy with the eight I received. Despite majority of other Careers getting higher I know that having a high score doesn't mean anything once the Games begin. A higher score won't stop a sword from cleaving through your neck.

"Eat a hearty breakfast," my mentor tells me as I sit down before the food laden table. "You never know when you'll get time to eat in the Games"

"What are you talking about?" Trevor snorts indignantly. "We'll have a full cornucopia of food to eat once the bloodbath ends!"

"You can't count on that," His mentor warns him. "In my Games another alliance gained control of the cornucopia and I had to fight for my food and drink!" Trevor shrugs this off, saying that as long as the Careers have him they won't be losing the cornucopia. Our mentors don't argue and instead concentrate on eating. When we finish they lead us to the elevators and tell us that we'll receive further instructions once we reach the bottom.

I take a deep breath as the doors slide shut. We're nearing the start of these Games and I can feel the intensity.

Raven Night (District 11)
The elevator rumbles as it heads down. I give Crimson a frightened glance but he doesn't see it. He's too busy staring ahead determinedly.

He's the only person here who I feel safe by. For most of training I had silently followed him around, too afraid to branch off on my own. I didn't ally with him though. I was too nervous to even ask and besides, Idon't know if he would have accepted me. His two current allies are too of the older, stronger guys from fellow outlying Districts. I'm afraid of them but since I can trust Crimson I know they're good people.

"Are you scared?"Crimson's head turns around around and I'm surprised to see that he was paying attention to me.

"I...uh....yes"

I don't want to lie. I am scared, scared out of my wits. Just about every single other tribute could kill me. I'm not stronger then a single one of them.

"That's normal," Crimson nods his head. "I would be surprised if you weren't"

"Are you afraid?" I ask with a sudden surge of confidence. Crimson slowly nods his head, his blue eyes misting overwith sadness.

"Yes. But not for myself"

I don't understand. He's not afraid for himself? Then who is he afraid for? I'm going to ask him when the elevator doors slide open and two Peacekeepers approach us. I shrink back in fear behind Crimson as they order us to head down the hallway and enter the hovercraft.

We follow their instructions and as we come to the hovercraft we see the other tributes climbing aboard. We do the same and take our seats inside as the others do the same. We buckle ourselves in and when we're in people come to insert our trackers.

I wince in pain and involuntarily let out a gasp of pain as the tracker for into my arm. Crimson smiles reassuringly at me and I try to return it but I'm too nervous to really smile right now.

"Lets get this party started!" The boy from 6 let's out a joyous shout and his fellow Careers howl in laughter as the hovercraft takes to the sky.

Stephen Star (District 10)
I don't know how long the hovercraft flies for but eventually it touches down and our buckles come off and we're each lead down off of the craft.

We're in a large circular room and there's many different branching hallways, each with a District name above it. A Peacekeeper orders me and Cleo (10) to head down the "District 10" hallway. We follow orders and walk down the long straight hall in silence. My mind is going over all the possibilities of what could happen in just a few more minutes. I could be lying on the ground, bleeding out for all I know. The moments before the bloodbath are the most agonizing, my mentor told me. And it turns out he was right.

"Girl to the right. Boy to the left!"

The Peacekeeper we've been following stops at a two way intersection of the hallway and stand still as he dishes out the orders. I waste no time in heading down the left path and after going down a long, Amber coloured hallway, I come to a door and enter into the Launch Room.

"Hey Stephen," my stylist is inside, waiting. For someone from the Capital she's rather normal. Apart from golden skin and bright emerald green hair she's not creepy looking and she doesn't try to tell me that the Games are awesome or anything.

"Hi"

I nervously sit down on a bench as she pulls the arena wear out from a locker. The first thing I see is the pants. They're military style and black with dark brown stripes, the official colour for District 10. Next, I'm given a normal tee shirt, also dark brown, and a jacket primarily colored brown but with some secondary black.

"This is pretty tough," my stylist says as she rubs her fingernails across the jacket. "It should protect you from bumps and bruises"

"What about weapons?" I ask nervously.

She gives the anticipated answer. "Won't stop them. This seems more designed to protect you from falls and trips" I guess that's good...She then hands me a pair of thick woollen socks and black combat boots. I put the outfit on and stand before her as she analyses the outfit.

"Expect a rough environment," She tells me. "And possibly some cold nights." I nod. I'm from District 10, I'm use to rough environments. Just then a voice informs us that I need to step into my tube and I say goodbye before doing so.

As the door shuts, locking me in the tube, I feel my legs trembling in fear and anticipation. There's about a million things that could go wrong up there and only a few that could go right. I could get slain before the eyes of my family and friends...I would never get to play basketball again...

The tube begins to rise. My stylist disappears from view and there's nothing but the pounding of my heart until the platform for up and light pours into my eyes. It takes a few seconds for them to adjust and then I see the golden cornucopia lying forty feet away. I notice the ground, which looks like a road and then see the large shadows looming behind me and I see them.

Buildings. Large buildings.

We're surrounded by them. As I gaze in awe at them I notice that they're all run down and desecrated. They're like the ruins of a modern civilization. With us tributes at the center. I look back to the cornucopia just as the voice of Tomas Tompkins rings out.

"Ladies and Gentlemen! Let the 398th Annual Hunger Games begin!"

The Arena
The majority of the arena is large urban, desecrated city. Tall buildings are present everywhere in the city and offer many landmarks, abandoned cars also litter the streets. The cornucopia is located in the exact center of the city and has streets leading to many other of the arena's venues. Notable buildings include, a restaurant, a gas station, a library, a church, an abandoned fighting arena, and a grassy park.

The eastern and southern sides of the city are bordered off by a lake which is unreachable for the tributes. The only way to the surface is through a twenty foot drop into the water from the pathway that borders it.

The western edge of the city gradually fades into a small forest like area. This place contains several non-mutt animals that can be hunted for food as well as a few berry patches.

The northern edge of the city gives away to a desolate plain which eventually leads to a small farm area, which holds some sheds and a small farmhouse

Shuppet Jorravaskr (District 3)
Sixty seconds. The countdown begins from sixty seconds.

I glance around in search for Banette (8) and see him not far from me, only about four spots to my left. Johnathan (5) isn't close by but I can spot his large frame sitting on a platform all the way across from me. He should be fine. He's strong.

This arena, however, was surprising. Tall modern looking buildings surround us, though they're so dilapidated that they look more like something out of a monster movie. The cornucopia appears to be in some sort of intersection. Four different streets lead away from it, all in different directions. Which way should we go? I try to catch Banette's eye and succeed. He nods his head towards the northern street then points at his own chest then at the cornucopia and all of the items spread around it. He's obviously going to try and get something, which means I need to go in and help him, despite his obvious instructions for me to run north. He's my closest friend and I'm not letting him face any dangers alone.

Thirty seconds.

All of the tributes around me have their faces set in determined lines. But not all of them are pointed in the same directions. Aelia (0), who is on my right, is facing down the cornucopia with a stone cold look. But Raven (11) who is on my left, is looking straight down the road directly behind me, obviously eager to get as far away from here as possible. I try to look for an item around the cornucopia, something for me to target when the gong rings, but nothing stands out to me. I'm just going to have to wing it.

Ten seconds.

Banette is primed, his hands clenched in fists at his side, his pink eyes peering out from his bandanna, focused in on something. I focus on him. Five seconds....four seconds....three seconds....two seconds....one second....

GONG!

Banette leaps off of the platform and goes sprinting towards the cornucopia. I hesiate for only a nanosecond and then I take off after him.

Trevor Gold (District 1)
I take off for the cornucopia, easily out pacing Amore (6) who runs besides me. I am one of the first to reach the cornucopia and after ripping a sickle off from a rack I turn to watch the others.

Already Solar (0) has a backpack drapped over his shoulders and running down one of streets as most of the other tributes are still running for the cornucopia. I watch as both Trinity (1) and Scarlet (4) arrive and I quickly bark out orders for them to encircle the cornucopia and let no one escape. They nod and move off as I go to turn around...and come face to face with Lucinda (5).

She starts in surprise and attempts to move but she's too slow. My sickle slashes across her throat and blood sprays from the wound as she collapses to the street, gurgling and choking.

I smile as I realize I just made the first kill of the Games. I may not have gotten the training score I desired but I just showed that I'm a force to be reckoned with.

Luigi Wilkins (District 2)
I start for the cornucopia and as I do so the boy from District 10 comes bumbling towards me, a backpack clenched tightly in his arms. As he runs past I throw an arm out and clothesline him. He falls, smacking his head hard against the concrete ground. I strip him of the backpack and chuck it deeper into the cornucopia. No one is getting away with items if I have a say in it.

I run straight towards the mouth, avoiding Buck (6) and Furcifer (C) who are rolling around on the ground, their hands clenched around each other's throats. and grab a sharp silver sword off of the side of the cornucopia. It's perfectly designed for both thrusting and slashing. I look around for a target to test my new weapon out on when someone leaps out from behind a crate, brandishing a hatchet.

I recognize the enraged face of Nick (7) as he furiously swings the hatchet at me. I back off as he unleashes his barrage. They have a lot of force behind them but they're wildly uncoordinated and I have no problems avoiding them. I realize I could easily dispatch him just as soon as he gives me an opportunity.

He swings the hatchet toward my head and I duck. I hear the clang of metal against metal and Nick lets out a growl of fury as his hatchet sticks into the sun softened side of the cornucopia. I smile as I realize he just gave me my opportunity.

My sword drives itself into his chest. The force behind the thrust is enough to push it's way through his ribs and I grimace at the sound of them cracking apart. I savagely pull the weapon back out and his body collapses to the ground.

"Good job!" Trinity (1) appears at my side, a hefty mace in her hands. I'm surprised that such a small girl can even lift that weapon, let alone use it. Looks can be deceiving.

"Anyone else down?" I ask her as I scan the battlefield. The girl from the Capital is running off for the shelter of one of the buildings as majority of the other tributes remain fighting.

"Trevor got Lucinda but that's it for now," Trinity informs me.

"Then let's get to work"

Scarlet Avalon (District 4)
With a black and silver trident in hand I circle around the outskirts of the cornucopia, following Trevor's earlier orders. Already a few tributes have slipped away with items. Just now the boy from District 13, Radiant I think his name was, is running for a building with both a sword and backpack.

I contemplate throwing my trident after him but I know that it won't reach him; I'd only be disarming myself.

But it doesn't matter because as soon as he's gone another tribute comes running. This time it's Angel from District 14 and she appears to be wearing a jacket full of knives. But unlike Radiant she doesn't go running away from the bloodbath.

She comes running towards me.

My trident is thrown before she even fully adjusts her trajectory. She sees it at the last moment and dives to the ground and just narrowly avoids a certain death.

I run towards her and she quickly pops to her feet, slashing at me with a knife. But I know more about fighting then just tridents and I grab her wrist, twisting it backwards until she's forced to drop the weapon.

She hisses at me and throws a savage headbutt, knocking me back. It's a dizzying blow but she's just as effected as I am and by the time she has recovered so have I. A feeling of adrenaline pulses through me. I can't lose this fight. Losing means dying and dying means I lose Tyler and Trent. I will not allow that to happen. Ever.

I punch Angel in the face and she falls down, a large black bruise forming on her otherwise perfect face. I fall on top if her and my hands fly for her throat. I squeeze, trying to cut off her breath. She thrashs about desperately but is unable to escape my grasp...until she pulls a knife out from her jacket.

Her knife slashes across my forearm and I let go, screaming in pain. Angel gets up quickly and grabs me around the throat, raising me up. Tears pour from my eyes and I look off into the distance.

"Tyler... Trent.....I'm sorry. I couldn't save you..."

A sharp pain digs into my head and then...nothing.

Banette Tsukomogami (District 8)
I quickly stick two knives into my jacket pocket. I only need to get myself a few weapons and a pack then get the hell out of here and join up with Shuppet (3) and Johnathan (5) a few blocks north of here.

I see a relatively close backpack and as I sling it over my shoulder as shadow descends upon me. My hands instantly fly for the knives in my pockets but they're in a clumsy position and before I can reach them a knife slashes across my face.

The blade slices through my bandanna and I instinctively reach for my face. There's a small rip in it and beneath I can feel blood coursing out from a cut in my skin.

"Damn you!" I scream at my assailant and try to get up when a swift kick hits me in the back of the knee and I buckle, falling to my knees where another kick smashes into my ribs. I roll over on the cold hard concrete, groaning in pain as my attacker leans over me, a cheshire like grin on her face.

"Aww. Are you in pain?" Cleopatra (10) asks me with faked concern. "Do you need a bandage?"

I throw a punch at her stupid smug face but she dances out of the way, giggling to herself as I climb back to my feet. A little scratch and a few kicks aren't enough to keep me down. She eyes me as I stand, pulling the two knives out from my jacket. I'm going to end her. She's just like those bullies back home. She deserves death.

I take a step forward when she suddenly pulls a knife out and draws it back. She's going to throw it when a heavy object slams into her back and she crashes to the ground.

"Shuppet!" I scream at my friend as he smiles grimly at me, standing over Cleopatra.

"Oh, hey Banette. I thought it would be a nice time to drop in!"

"I said to meet me north!" I growl in annoyance at his confidence. "I was supposed to do this alone!"

"I couldn't just let you face the danger alone! And besides, now really isn't the time to be discussing this--Ahhh!" He breaks off, howling in pain as Cleopatra digs her dagger into his thigh. I scream in anger and charge her as she stands, not thinking things through in my single-minded fury. She hurt Shuppet. Just like those people back home. I'll make her pay!

She blocks my two swings of a knife and plants a kick to my chest, driving me back to the ground. I spring up immediately but by the time I do she's holding Shuppet, her knife pressed against his throat.

"NO!"

I failed. I was supposed to protect Shuppet and I failed. Cleopatra lets out a ringing laugh and as she's about to finish him she's savagely hit from behind. She tumbles to the ground, her knife harmlessly skittering across the concrete, away from Shuppet. I start for Cleopatra, eager to finish that bitch off. She looks up at me, her eyes wide in surprise, when a foot brutally kicks her in the head.

I can hear the pop of her neck as it breaks and beneath my bandanna I smile at this welcome surprise.

"Good thing I wasn't late," Johnathan, the new arrival and saviour of Shuppet, says as adjusts his boot that just smashed Cleopatra.

"Pick Shuppet up!" I order him, quickly pulling a backpack off of Cleopatra's back. We have no time for speaking or thank you's. We're in the middle of the bloodbath and could get attacked at any moment. "We need to get out of here!"

He nods and complies immediately, picking him up with only one arm. The other holds a spear. Shuppet only makes a groan of pain as he's lifted but doesn't object. I take a look at our surroundings and seeing that we're clear I lead us out down the northern street., away from the carnage.

Fiora Waltz (District 7)
The rapier is perfectly shaped, perfectly created. I admired the silver blade, the smooth black handle. This weapon is a true masterpiece. And now it's mine.

All around me people scream and howl as they fight. Nearby Odin is brawling with Lyman. He's beating the smaller boy to a pulp, dealing several punches to his face before hoisting him up and tossing him into a pile of crates.

That's the reason I had wanted him on my side. His strength and superior fighting skills. Too bad he had to have an ego and refuse to pin with us. But alas, there is nothing I can do about that right now.

I don't know how I know. One moment I'm just watching Odin (14) pick up a spear and the next I sense something coming at me from behind. I spin around and my rapier slashes a knife out of mid-air as Avia (2) howls in fury. She glares at me and I see the two knives in her hands, knowing full well that she just attempted to kill me.

"So, not only are you a traitor but you're a coward too!" I throw out the accusation.

Her face contorts in rage and spittle flies from her face as she hisses at me. "No! I'm not the traitor! I'm trying to protect the dignity of the Careers by getting rid of swine like you!"

"Oh ho ho! So you say!" This girl has infuriated me since the day I met her, caring for nothing except her own ambitions...just like me. And that makes her dangerous. Too bad she's so stupid or she may actually have been a viable threat. "Whose the one who's skulking in the shadows, attacking people while their backs are turned? Not me. If you wish to find some swine, look no further than yourself!"

"Just shut up and die!"

Her knife flies past my head pitifully. Her rage has gotten so great that she cannot even properly throw her own weapons! I glance around my surroundings and spot both Juline (9) and Odin (14) watching. They both will act as witnesses that Avia clearly attacked me first, so now I have nothing preventing me from acting out my desires.

"Your reckoning has come coward!" I shout at her as she stares me down with two fiery eyes of fury. "You will pay for betraying the trust of your allies!" I never trusted her and I doubt many others did as well. But I need to put on a good show for those who are watching, let them believe they can trust me. Avia must see that the writing is on the wall. She backs off slightly, her eyes trained squarely on my rapier. She knows that her puny knife is no match for me and my skill. She will die here. Now.

I lung forward, my rapier going straight for her heart. She didn't have a chance. My weapon rips through her like a knife in hot butter. She falls to her knees, staring up into my face with hate filled eyes. I regard her coldly. Not only was she a coward but she was an unworthy opponent. She deserves no honour in death.

I slap her across the face in a sign of disrespect and then pull my weapon out. She falls face forward onto the cold concrete and I calmly wipe the blood off of my weapon. My first threat is dead and I'm well on my way to dominating these Games.

Aisha Hakeem (District 8)
This may have been a reckless, foolhardy decision but I ran straight for cornucopia's mouth the moment I had a clear shot. Now I'm inside the golden horn, a curved knife gripped tightly in my hand as I pull a backpack off of a hook on the very back wall. Surely this pack must contain something extremely valuable. Why else would it be positioned in the deepest part of the cornucopia?

I want to look inside right away, see just what I'm risking my very life, completely disregarding my mentors wish, to get. But I don't. I know I don't have that much time before the Careers kill or drive everyone else off and I have to be far away when that happens. I strap the pack to my back and turn to leave when I see that my way is blocked.

The girl from District 13, the redhead, is standing in the mouth of the cornucopia, an axe in her hands.

My lips briefly move to ask for her to spare me but I stop myself. Not only is there no chance she would listen but I would make myself look weak as well. And that's one thing I cannot afford to do.

The girl spots me immediately and comes hurtling towards me. I dive behind a crate as her axe swings where just moments ago my head was. This girl is not from a Career District but she's tough. She knows how to use a weapon and she has no qualms about killing me.

I poke my head over the crate and immediately duck down again as her axe swings for it. I roll out from my cover and onto my feet. The girl is still recovering from her swing and I get a free opportunity to rake my knife across her face.

She staggers backwards as a large gash opens up just under her right eye. Her hand touch's the wound and brings it up to her face, where she sees the blood.

I spring forward as she examines it but she side steps and I hit the wall of the cornucopia and bounce off, my head rattled. What happens next is in slow motion. The girl swings her axe at me, perspiration falling off her face due to the pressure of battle, I duck my head under the swing and slam myself into her stomach, dagger first.

And then we both slam into the back wall of the cornucopia.

My head once again hits the hard metal and I literally see several stars floating around my head. Everything feels dreamlike and I become aware of a wet feeling on my hand. I curiously pull it back and hear the noise of a a sharp metal object being pulled from flesh and I'm staring at a bloody hand holding a dagger.

I gasp and back off, finally becoming aware of the girls body, right next to mine.

A large bloody hole is in her stomach, right where my dagger entered. Blood trickles from her mouth and her eyes are dull and lifeless. I feel bile rise in my throat but I desperately choke it back down. I killed her...I killed her...

"Aisha!"

I'm faintly aware of a voice calling my name but it's not until a hand grabs my shoulder do I turn around and see Celica's brown eyes staring into mine, a quiver and bow is drapped over her shoulders.

"I didn't mean to! I didn't try to!" I don't know why I'm defending myself. After all, didn't I volunteer for this? So I could prove myself to Colin's father? Why am I so upset?

"Aisha I don't know what you're say--" Her eyes drift over to where the girl from Thirteen is lying against the wall. Dead. By my hand. She shows concern in her eyes but then quickly shakes her head. "It doesn't matter! We have to go! Now!"

I don't resist as she pulls me along and once we exit the cornucopia my feet begin moving by their self again and I follow Celica (12) as she runs over to Amore (6), who is watching with wide eyes from the outskirts of the cornucopia.

"Go! Run! The Careers are distracted on the other side of the cornucopia!" Celica urges us on and we run. But when we're just reaching the platforms that raised us into the arena, Amore trips.

"My ankle!" She howls and clutches her foot as she rolls on the ground. "I think I sprained it""

"God dammit!" Celica lifts Amore left arm and inserts herself under it, ordering me to the same with her right. I do so without question. My mind is still back inside the cornucopia.

With our support, Amore can hobble forward and we all retreat down the southern street, into the dark and menacing city.

Drago Fire (District 12)
I'm trapped.

The Careers are descending upon me. Their faces twisted into cruel sneers, their weapons shining brightly in the mid-morning sun. There no escape for me.

I clutch the container of gasoline I've received tightly against my chest. I didn't want to, I didn't plan to go get this but...the moment I saw it while surveying the cornucopia I lost control. I went for the gasoline and now I have nothing except for it and a lighter.

"Face it. You're not getting out of this alive!" Trevor (1) laughs cruelly as they slowly approach me. I could try to flee, but I would only be run down from behind. I couldn't out run them all. Besides, I'd be placing my allies in danger. I can see both Radiant (13) and Crimson (11) behind me, watching from behind the corner of a building. They know I'm trapped.

I turn to face the Careers. I may be done for, but I'm not going to go down without a fight. I lift my head high as I address them. "Who wants to take me? Huh?!"

They laugh. They don't fear me. They know I don't have a weapon...or do I? I look at my hands and see that I have a way out, an escape. I just have to be willing to use it.

"Someone cut his throat already!" Trevor shouts arrogantly. "We haven't the time to be twiddling our thumbs!"

Before he's even finished speaking someone steps forward. Sombra, the Career recruit from District 3. Her face shows nothing but arrogance and cruelty as she approaches me, her lips curling into a distasteful sneer. I shakily pull the cap off of the container and she lets out a condescending laugh.

"What are you going to do with that? Hit me over the head? Splash me with water?"

Of course she doesn't know what's inside. Why would anyone think someone would pass over nourishment and weapons for some gasoline? No one does that. Except me.

"Don't come any closer!" I shout in warning. "You'll regret it!" This is for me and for her. I don't want to harm anyone else I don't want to be like this anymore. But I want to live too.

"Oh? So I shouldn't do this?" She slowly and deliberately moves her feet forward. I swallow nervously. I only have one shot. She continues moving closer, the other Careers cheering her on. When she passes a certain threshold I act. Throwing the container at her, the brown gasoline splashes over her entire body and she sputters in disbelief. While she is distracted I quickly light up my lighter and toss it forward.

She goes up in flames immediately, screaming hysterically as the flames spread across her body, engulfing her, making her a human fireball. The other Careers shout and scream in shock as I turn tail and run.

I run for my allies on the corner. They shout praises at and run alongside me while the desperate screams of Sombra fill our ears. Tears slide from my face as we go. I had volunteered to stop my pyromania, so I wouldn't hurt anymore people. But here I am, setting people on fire. As we run to who-knows-where I realize that nothing has changed.

I'm still a pyromaniac.

Trinity Mace (District 1)
Sombra collapses to the ground, thrashing about in unnatural ways as the flames wreak havoc on her body. The fire was so quick, so instantaneous, that none of us had a thought to move or even to try and catch the boy from 12, who has long disappeared into the horizon.

"Somebody put her out!" Trevor (1) is the first to recover and barks out orders. Odin (14) and Buck (6) quickly fetch some water canteens and pour them out onto the now still Sombra. I'm afraid that it's far too late to save her and when the fire is finally extinguished my worries are shown to be just.

Majority of her skin has burnt away, leaving fleshy red blobs and bone behind. It's a gruesome sight, one made worse by the fact it happened right before our eyes. Trevor is livid, shouting about how someone should have chased the boy down then at least her death would have born some fruit. No one feels like pointing out that he didn't move either but I don't blame him the slightest for his anger. He's just venting out his frustration at this situation.

A frustration that is made even worse when we discover the bodies of Scarlet, Zoey, and Avia. Four Careers down in the initial bloodbath and only three others. A pitiful performance.

However, Fiora (7) quickly points out that Avia had gone rouge my attacking her. Normally I wouldn't believe a thing that girl said but both Juline (9) and Odin (14) vouch for her, saying they witnessed her betrayal their selves. I don't miss her then but Scarlet and Zoey are another matter. Scarlet even had two little boys at home...thinking of them now being motherless saddens me so I quickly push it out of my mind, following Trevor as we rifle through our hard-won possessions.

"That sucked!" He growls under his breath as he compares sickles. "I knew those recruits were useless!"

"We still have four of them," I point out fairly but he shakes his head in disgust.

"Maybe. Or maybe they'll decide they don't need us anymore!"

"They wouldn't do that!"

"Don't be so sure. Just look at them over there!" He gestures to where Fiora is standing with Juline and Buck, picking out their items they'll carry with them. They appear to be in deep conversation and Fiora is quite animated.

"They're just talking," I tell Trevor. There's certainly no harm in That but he's already shaking his head.

They're talking in low voices!" He whispers fiercely. "And that's suspicious!"

"We're talking in low voices. Are we suspicious?"

"That's completely different!"

I don't see how it is but there's no point in arguing further. The cameras may not be able to pick up on our conversation but they can surely tell we're disagreeing and I don't want us to appear inadequate in any way. "Just don't start anything, okay? We already have eighteen other tributes going for our throats. We don't need to add our allies to that list!"

"I'm not going to start anything! They are!" He shakes his head like a moose being troubled by gnats. "And keep in mind how many victors there are in this game. Or should I say, how few there are!" He turns and walks away, leaving me with that thought. There is only one Victor here, we can't all just walk across the finish line holding hands. But that doesn't mean we need to start accusing each other of betrayal. We still have always to go before that becomes an issue.

I walk across the clearing, making sure to steer well clear of the  bodies of the people killed at the bloodbath, and collect my items. I tuck a few knives into the holsters on my boots, the ones my stylist pointed out to me, and an extra mace before joining the others in a semi-circle around the cornucopia.

I look at their faces and despite myself I wonder whether Trevor was right and if I can trust any of them. Fiora (7) and Juline (9) are both conniving vixen but at least I know what I'm getting with them. Buck (6) strikes me as the sort of mercenary type, a person who would align himself with whatever side offers him the most. Odin, well, Odin is kinda weird with his "champion of the almighty God Odin" thing but he sure is handsome. Then there's Luigi...truth be told he creeps me out. He's always just standing there with a vacant look in his eyes. Who knows what goes through his head?

"Listen up people!"

Trevor calls for our attention, walking into the center of the circle armed with two sickles. "We need to clear out so they can collect the bodies, but we're also going hunting! I want to find each and every tribute hiding out there and teach them that no one messes with the Careers! No one!" He seems to be striving for our applause and he gets it, though it's not as rambunctious as he would hoped. Regardless, he leads us out into the city with an air of confidence. I hope the other tributes are ready, because we're coming.

Solar Energy (District 0)
Panting heavily, I come to a stop. I've been running since the gong rung out. First to the cornucopia to grab the closest bag and then away from there and all of the bloodshed. I've followed my mentors advice to the letter. Now I just have to find water.

I walk down the streets with an uneasy feeling. The dark shapes of the window could conceal any watchers that may be lurking. It's a disturbing thought, that I could be being watched without my knowledge.

But who would be watching?

I was the first tribute away from the cornucopia and I didn't see anyone else running this way. No one should be around. But I still have that nagging feeling...

A sudden noise alerts me to its presence. The sound of moving water! I confused first, until I turn away from the buildings and see behind me is an empty horizon. I walk over to a guardrail alongside the sidewalk that travels parallel to the road and when I look down I see water. Lots of it.

It's a lake of some sort. It's vast and I can't see the end of it, not that it matters. There's a twenty foot drop from the sidewalk to there and from what I can see, that extends through the whole duration of the city.

Well, I found water, just like my mentor told me. But I can't drink any of it. I'm wondering what I will do for my thirst when I remember the backpack retrieved from the bloodbath. No better time then now to open it I guess.

I find a small bench near the rails and I sit down, pulling my backpack up and unzipping it. What I find is a treasure trove of items.

Bread, cheese, strips of dried beef, a bag of candy, a small knife, and two canteens of water! This could sustain me for days with proper rationing! And that's a very good thing because with this urban environment I don't believe food or drink would be easy to come by.

I pop a few of the sweets in the candy bag into my mouth and begin sorting the items when my hand brushes against something else and I absentmindly pull it out. I nearly gasp in shock at what I find.

Instant Relief.

In each Hunger Game  I've ever witnessed there was only ever one--if any-- of these items supplied at the cornucopia. And majority of the time it was found by a Career or some other strong tribute who braved the battles and fought to the way back of the cornucopia. Never was it received by someone who was considered an underdog

Until now, I guess.

I briefly hold the item up, hoping the sponsors see it and learn that I'm worthy of their sponsorship, before stowing it back into my bag. So far things have been going my way but I'm still too exposed. I need to find better cover before nightfall.

I get up and stealthily head off, my destination unknown.

Celica Rotas (District 12)
We push through the door into the restaurant. Inside many tables and chairs are positioned around like those in a normal restaurant, though there's a thick layer of dust covering nearly every item. The place seems to be a decent place to hang around and more importantly, and it was nearby.

I lead Aisha (8) who's helping me support Amore (6), behind the counter and out of sight of the wide windows. Amore grimaces in pain as we set her down gently and I slip the quiver and bow off of my back.

"Are we safe here?" Amore asks as she slowly pulls her right boot off. Her ankle is red and swollen. It looks pretty nasty but it will only effect her for a day or two. As long as she doesn't need to run anymore we should be fine. I stand up and load my bow with one of the three arrows in my quiver. I look around the dining area, searching every nook and cranny and then my gaze switches to the kitchen where I also thoroughly look it over. I don't want to take the risk of another tribute hiding in here and getting the drop on us later. But everything seems clear so I turn back to the others and answer Amore's question. "Yeah. Yeah we should be safe here"

I see that Aisha is quietly hugging her backpack, her eyes blank and staring. I'm going to ask her what's wrong when a cannon rings out, then another and another. I count along as the cannons continue, all the way up to seven. "Seven tributes dead!" I announce to the others.

"And I killed one of them!" Aisha puts in bitterly. Ah. So that's what's bothering her. It's kinda unexpected as she had volunteered for this but then again no one could anticipate how you'd feel after ending someone's life. I'm not entirely sure that I won't feel the same way after making my first kill.

"It wasn't your fault," I say trying to make her feel better. "She attacked you first!"

"Yeah! She deserved it!" Amore pipes up. "If you kill someone whose trying to kill you then that's just poetic justice!"

"And furthermore," I try to bring some cold hard truth back into this conversation. "She was going to die anyways. Everyone but one person is going to die here. What difference does it make if you're the one who killed her versus her being killed by say, Angel?"

"Because I have her death on my conscience!" Aisha responds fiercely her eyes flashing. "And I...I....Oh nevermind!" She buries her face in her backpack and I share an uncomfortable look with Amore. Maybe I should have been more comforting. After all, this is a huge thing for her. I'll try again later I guess. Right now I have to focus on our physical condition over our mental condition.

I didn't get any supplies from the bloodbath beyond my bow and quiver but Amore retrieved a small duffel bag and we go through it now, finding a flashlight, a pocketknife, and a digital watch.

"I guess we can now tell the time," I say as I pull out the last item. I hand the pocketknife and flashlight to Amore and congratulate her on getting the items. I decide to take a quick look through the kitchens pantries and cupboards in search for food or water. This is   kitchen, it has to have food in it, right?

Well, yes it does. I manage to find several pastries in the furthest cupboards and I bring these to Amore and Aisha. I then try the sink and to my surprise it actually funnels water through the faucet.

"Good news," I say shutting the tap off and returning to my allies. "We have food and water" They murmur in appreciation for the new found supplement. I sit down next to them and Aisha looks at me.

"I'm...you're right Celica," She begins and I raise my eyebrows. I am? About what? "I shouldn't let...that girls death effect me. I'm not going to forget!" She adds quickly. "But I'm not going to let it affect what I must do next"

Okay. Good. I smile at her and then she tells us that she's going to open the bag she received. We're pretty certain that it contains something good. It was positioned deep in the cornucopia for a reason. However, when she unzip the bag and empties it out out on the ground only a lone canteen falls out.

We all stare at the canteen in silence. I'm not convinced that is the only item in the bag until I take a look for myself and see that it's true. Nothing is there except for the canteen. Aisha picks it up and takes the cap off, looking inside. It's empty.

She throws the canteen with all of her might against the wall and it richoets off and bounces around the room for a moment before falling still. None of us speak as we realize that Aisha had fought that girl for nothing but an empty canteen.

Eventually Aisha let's out a loud breath of air and goes to into the kitchen. I feel as if it's best for her if we let her have some alone time. I turn to Amore and tell her that we'll hang around here for the day she asks me what we will do if the Careers come and I shrug.

"I'll shoot them," I answer simply.

"But you only have three arrows!"

I shrug again and state what I believe to be true. "Three arrows gives me three shots, three shots mean I will take out three Careers. The others won't be so eager to rush us when they watch three of their friends go down with arrows in them"

Johnathan Mikeal (District 5)
"This place looks pretty good!" I comment as I walk around the interior of the gas station, periodically stopping to examine the almost bare shelves. Every now and then I find the a few items, such as a roll of bandages or a Crunchy Ben's candy bar. Back home I use to eat those a lot. "We could stay here, if you guys wanted"

Banette (8) looks up from where he has just finished stitching up the wound in Shuppet's (3) leg, the one he got from Cleopatra's dagger. It was a good thing that we found not only a pair of needles but some string here in the gas station. Otherwise we might not have had a way to fix his leg. "We'll stay here," Banette responds. "If only for the rest of the day"

I glance out the window and we see that it's about the middle of the afternoon. There would be plenty of time to find a new spot before dark, if we so chose.

"Sounds good to me!" I say cheerfully. I look down at one of the bars chocolate in my hands and offer them to my friends. "Want a Crunchy Ben's?"

Banette shakes his head but Shuppet gratefully accepts the one I toss him. I tell them both that I will go watch the door and I drift over to the entrance and sit down on a small chair, holding my spear in hand. Banette and Shuppet sit in the back of the station, speaking in low voices. The two of them are close, brother-like even. They make excellent allies for me to have and with the supplies Banette retrieved from the cornucopia we are well set.

I watch the city through the window, wondering what the other tributes are doing right now. Are they desperately searching for food and water? Seeking shelter? The thought of this surprisingly saddens me. None of these kids, save the Careers and the few volunteers, asked for this. It was forced upon them against their will. I don't want any of them to die but...

I think of Banette and Shuppet. Both of them are good people, worthy of life. I made the ultimate sacrifice for Stuart and am certainly willing to make it for them. That leaves me with the fact that my days are numbered. As long as a tribute worthy of life still breathes I have no intention of winning these Games.

Hours pass as I stand guard. I watch as the reflecting sun off of the tall buildings turn a shade of orange. I'm dozing off slightly when I'm patted on the shoulder and Banette (8) arrives.

"I'll take watch," he tells me. "You should get some rest"

I nod, thanking him and get up, walking away when Banette says my name. I turn.

"Yeah?"

"I...I want to thank you. For saving Shuppet" I can sense his discomfort and understand the reason. All his life he's been alone, never having anyone to rely on. Now he does and its an odd feeling. He's not sure what to do or how to act.

"It's fine," I tell him. "I was helping my friend out. Like any good person should"

"Yeah...there's not much of those," he says softly.

"Much of what? Good people?" He nods his head and I bite my lip. That's sort of true, isn't it? But it's also not.

"There's lots of good people," I say slowly. "Just quietly living their life, doing good deeds.  They may not be in plain sight but as long as you keep your eyes open, you'll find them"

He nods. His face is still concealed by his bandanna but I can see in his eyes that he's taking my words in. I start walking, ready to check on Shuppet but first I have something to do. I slip a Crunchy Ben's out of my pocket and toss it to Banette. He catches it easily and examines it as I continue walking. As I do, I hear Banette speak.

"Thank you Johnathan"

Radiant Tayz (District 13)
The sun is slowly setting behind the hills of the plains as we trek across them, on our way to well...somewhere. We don't exactly have a destination in mind but Crimson (11) has lead us away from the city and into the plains beyond.

It's been a long trek and many times I have wished we could stop to drink water but we don't have any. There was none in the backpack I received nor in the one Crimson got. Obviously water will be an important thing for us to get our hands on. I know from my past experience in the Games before I was resurrected by accident that water is very important.

"Look! Buildings!"

Crimson gets my attention as he points over the crest of the hill. I jog up to join him and see several buildings, spread about thirty yards between one another.

"It's a farmhouse," Crimson says instantly. "There's loads of those in District 11.  And I bet those smaller buildings are storage sheds"

"Lets check them out then"

We head for the buildings, careful to keep an eye out for any danger as we do so. There's more to worry about then just tributes out here.

The shed is dark brown and as we push the door open we learn it's also musty. A strong sense of abandonment hangs over the place but I know well enough that no one ever used this building. It was merely created for the Hunger Games.

"Look for anything useful!" Crimson orders as he steps into the cluttered room. I rummage through a stack of boxes that lie near the door. I find a bunch of wet newspapers in them and a old busted lantern. Nothing that will help. I go outside and stand guard, waiting for Drago (12) and Crimson to finish.

When they do come out they're armed with makeshift weapons. Drago has a shovel and Crimson holds an old rusty pitchfork. "You could give someone tetanus with that!" I joke and he smiles wryly.

"If they're lucky"

"Not much stuff of immediate use in there," Drago says slowly. He still seems effected by his close escape from the Careers. "But maybe we could use some of it later"

"What kinda stuff?" I ask having only gotten a brief look myself.

He shrugs. "A broken lawnmower, some batteries, a few lanterns, and a tool box"

Hmm. Some of that can certainly be useful, even right now. We have a short discussion over what to do when we eventually decide to carry the stuff from the shed with us up to the farmhouse. "Less chance of someone stealing it from us that way" as Crimson puts it. We load the stuff in boxes and bring it up onto the porch where Drago (12) stands guard over it while Crimson and I go investigate the house and make sure it's clear.

There's only a few rooms, namely a kitchen, a living room a bathroom and a small loft between the ceiling and the roof. While there's furniture in each room there's not really anything we could use.

"The place is pretty spiffy though," Crimson says as we climb down from the loft. I agree. This place could be fortified rather easily from attacks, as long as we block the windows. I'm telling Crimson this when we hear it, a shrill feminine scream.

Coming from the porch.

"Drago!" We both come to the same thought and rush out to the porch brandishing our weapons. I don't know what I expected but what we find wasn't it.

Drago is standing tall, the edge of his shovel pressed against the throat of Raven, the little girl who happens to be Crimson's District partner.

"Stop!"

Crimson leaps forward, pulling Drago and his weapon away from the girl. She immediately crawls away backwards, her a large dark eyes watching us fearfully.

"She snuck up on me!" Drago says defensively. "I thought she was trying to slit my throat!"

"I wasn't!" The girls voice is barely over a whisper as she shakes her head. "I wasn't trying to kill anyone!"

"Oh yeah? Then what where you doing?" I demand, giving the girl a scrutinizing look. Twelve years old or not I'm not about to immediately trust her just because she claims to mean us no harm.

"I was only following you guys because of Crimson!" She further defends herself. "I...I... he's the only person I feel safe around"

I look to him now and see that his expression has gone soft as he stares at her. Obviously he trusts and believes her. I just don't know if I can.

"How did you know where to find us?"

"I saw you guys running through the city and followed. You never stopped moving but I kept up. When I saw you guys enter the house I was going to rest on the porch. My feet really hurt" She sounds pitiful as she finishes and while all of my misgivings don't suddenly vanish, I realize there's not much she can do unarmed against three larger, armed boys.

"Guys..." Crimson tugs us back, out of earshot of Raven. I know what he's going to say before he even opens his mouth. "We should trust her. She's not going to hurt us. Why not let her ally with us?"

"I guess..." Drago doesn't sound too sure of himself but he agrees. I do too. The girl won't betray us, I know. But will she slow us down? Hamper our mobility? I don't know but Crimson is willing to take the risk.

When we tell the girl, she's elated and asks Crimson if we have any food because she hasn't eaten all day. Crimson tells her that yes, we do have food and that we will be eating shortly. He then tells Drago and I to bring in the boxes from the shed. While we do this the sun continues to set and by the time we're finished, night has fallen on the arena.

Furcifer Soror (The Capital)
Slipping through the numerous alleyways in the cover of night is an exhilarating experience. It makes me feel like a bandit or vigilante on the prowl. Unfortunately I am neither of those. I'm just a guy armed with a simple machete wandering a city filled with people attempting to murder me.

I turn down yet another alley and break into a jog, right before bouncing off of a brick wall. I rub my shoulder ruefully and stand back up. This alley was a dead end. The wall blocks any further travel down this path.

"This is annoying," I mutter as I pick up the machete I dropped and look around the alley. There's a few garbage cans but nothing else. I walk over to the cans and lift the lid, peeking in. Nothing.

I drop the lid in annoyance. I was hoping for something. The only thing I have is this machete. No food, no water, no supplies. Nothing else. Well, I won't find anything by moping around. Maybe I should swing back to the cornucopia and see if it's being guarded. If  I can find my way out of these alleys that is...

Scrape!

I freeze. A scraping sound, like the nails of an animal across a tile floor briefly fills the night and then it's gone. I'm confused but on alert. Is someone-or something- in these alleys with me? I adjust my grip on my machete and start for the other end of the alley when I hear something I recognize instantly.

A growl.

I backpedal away when a large, four footed animal leaps into the alley. It lets out a loud growl and lungs at me. I dive and the thing misses but it lands lightly on all four and turns around. The alley is dark and its too fast for me to make out any solid details but the creature resembles a dog. A much bigger, scarier dog.

The beast lungs for me again but this time I'm anticipating it. As the animal flies at me I duck and jam my machete forward. The creatures momentum has it fly right into my weapon, my machete sinking into its neck.

The heavy creature drops dead instantly and I free my weapon from the animal, expecting the weapon to be bloodied. But it's not. Instead of blood my machete is caked in a thick black tar-like substance.

"What the hell..."

I look the creature over some more and quickly see that it has course blood-red fur. On its shoulders it has two bone looking plates and on each plate is a foot long spike-like object that appears to be connected. My mind is racing. This has to be a mutt, it's obviously not a normal animal. Normal animals don't look like this.

I further examine the animal and quickly discover that the mutt's thick knotted fur is covered in an oily substance. I try poking my machete against the fur and am surprised to see that it is unable to penetrate it. Curious, I check out the wound I made in the neck and see that there is fur there but the weapon got through anyway. The force of the mutt jumping into my machete must have been enough to penetrate.

My examination complete I stand up and get ready to move on. I've learned all I can from the body. I need to be on my way. But before I can go another loud growl pervades the night.

Fearfully I look to the alley entrance and not one but three almost identical mutts pad out of the shadows towards me.

"Oh crap..."

I beat one on sheer chance but there is no possible way I could defeat three. I think of running but  remember that the back way is blocked by a brick wall. I take a step back when suddenly one of the spikes on the mutts shoulder launches forward at me. I duck wildly and the projectile sails over my head. Those spikes are weapons!

I spin around, desperate for escape and see the ladder leading to a fire escape hanging nearby. My only chance of safety lies with that ladder. I look back to the mutts and then to the ladder and back.

Then I run for the ladder.

The mutts let out fierce growls and barks. I leap for the ladder and as I grab on two more of the spikes fly past my head. I start climbing and throw a look back, quickly wishing I didn't.

One of the mutts leaps at me, it's fangs snapping at my feet. I pull them up higher just as the mutt's teeth sinks into the metal rung of the ladder. I reach the first landing and then climb onto the second ladder as another spike is shot towards me. These mutts aren't giving up!

One of the mutts launches itself into the air and somehow makes it high enough to reach the lowest landing. The entire fire escape lurches and swings under its weight and I hug the ladder for dear life. But I can't just sit here.

I start climbing again as the mutt angrily attempts to pull itself up the second ladder. I reach the third landing when yet another spike is launched, this time it's deflected by the guard rail. Once again I'm saved by sheer luck.

I'm ascending the fourth ladder when a second mutt jumps onto the landing. The escape shakes and rumbles. I spot a screw coming loose and realize that this whole thing is coming down with me on board.

I desperately search for yet another escape route and see one just as the third mutt launches itself. As the fire escape begins to collapse, I throw myself through the glass window to my right.

I hear nothing but the sound of shattering glass and collapsing metal as I hit the ground and roll. Shards of glass cut my knuckles and face and when I finally stop rolling I can hear the pained yelps  and howls of the mutts below. I hope that fire escape crushed them!

Clouds of dust circle against the ceiling as I lay flat on my back, exhausted from my flight for survival. Eventually, I sit up and take a around. I'm in an empty room, on the third floor of some building. I look at my bloody knuckles and think of how it could have been worse. Much worse.

Taking a look out the window I see a twisted pile of rubble that once was the fire escape. No mutts are in sight, which is disappointing as I raealize that they must still be alive. Well, no matter. They're now some other tributes problem.

I slump against the wall of the building and close my eyes. This entire day has been so tiring...I think I'm just going to rest for a bit...

Nikki Heart (District 4)
Our alliance walks through the dark forest with caution. You never know what could be lurking around and while most of the other alliances wouldn't attack us directly we still have to worry about telegraphing our position to them.

I'm just happy that we're out of the city. That place frightened me. I was always uneasy as we wound our way through the city streets. We could have chosen to enter any of the buildings but Aelia (0) was dead set on finding the edge of the arena. I don't know why.

"How much further?" Stephen (10) asks from the back of the line. During the bloodbath he took a nasty bump to the head and a large lump is visible on the back of his head. It's not as bad as Lyman (9) though, who has a crooked nose, two black eyes and a face caked with dry blood thanks to his run in with Odin.

"Not much, I'm sure," Aemillia (C) responds. She's up in front with Aelia and unlike the most of us she bears no wounds from the bloodbath. Like me, she only got what was close by before running for cover. She tries to put on a brave face but I can tell that the death of Nick is weighing heavily on her. We all miss him but she was the closest to him.

"We can't keep going much longer on the dark!" Stephen (10) complains and Aelia stops moving. At first it looks like she's going to object but then she nods and tells us that we will camping out here. Stephen and Lyman go over to rest beside a beech tree and the two girls sit down next to a holly bush, examining the packs Aelia has. I shift my feet uneasily as I watch them. I'm not sure where I should go. I finally decide to go sit in the sprawling roots of a tree when Aelia calls me and I jog over, wondering what she wants.

"Did you open your pack yet?" She asks me sweetly and I shake my head. I had completely forgotten about it. "Well, let's see!" I open the pack and pour the items out in front of us. A bag of apples tumble out along with a tin can of a cream of some sort.

"Those are some nice items Nikki!" Aemillia (C) tells me and I smile at her for the lack of better response.

"Those are some nice additions to our supplies," Aelia agrees and then when she sees the enquiring look I give her she gestures towards the packs she got. "Those contain some containers of water and a few supplemental items like a spile, net and etcetera" I nod. Sounds good.

The Anthem kicks in just then, illuminating the forest and shining lights onto our faces. Stephen and Lyman come over and we all watch the sky as the face of the girl from 2 appears. We're surprised. District 2 isn't known for losing a tribute this early. The next two faces are also surprising, Sombra and Scarlet from District's 3 and 4 respectively. The others murmur in content as they see them but I feel rather somber. Scarlet was so nice and she had two kids...

Lucinda, Nick, Cleopatra, and Zoey are the other four faces. Stephen isn't as sad to see his District partner go as I was and snickers as he sees her face. I have a feeling they didn't get along. And when Zoey arrives we're all stunned. Four Careers? In day one? Is it even possible?

The Anthem ends and then the forest is back in darkness. Aelia is the first to speak. "I'll take first watch. After a few hours I'll wake Lyman who--"

GONG!

The loud ringing of a bell, the kind they have in District Four's square, rings out. The bell rings again and then again and again. I lose count as the sound rings throughout what I presume to be the whole arena. Finally, it stops.

"I counted seven rings," Stephen is the first to recover.

"So did I," Lyman says.

"I also heard seven," Aelia says thirdly and then discussion about the reasons begin. Aemillia thinks that it was a reminder of the amount of dead tributes but Stephen shoots this down by pointing out that they have already done that with the Anthem and cannons earlier today. Lyman suggests that it may have been a warning but for what? None of us can come up with anything so we end up heading to sleep without an obvious reason for the bell.

"Get a good night's rest!" Aelia tells us as we settle in. "Because we might not be here for as long as they think..." What does that mean? I want to ask but I don't think I'd get ananswer. I watch as she moves between us, a spear in hand, and eventually drift off to sleep...

"Wake up! Everyone wake up!"

My eyes blink open. Beside me Aemillia (C) stumbles to her feet, looking around groggily. It's still dark out and I can barely see anything as I get up, nearly tripping over a root as I do so.

"What's wrong?"

Ahead of me in the clearing I can see Aelia addressing Lyman. His face is flushed and terror filled as he frantically points across the clearing to the shadowy trees on the other side.

"I saw em'! I saw em'!" He shouts repeatedly. Amelia grips his shoulders, her face set in a serious expression.

"Saw who Lyman?"

"I-I don't know! People! Lotsa them!"

Careers! I instinctively press against Aemillia, my eyes scanning the dark trees around us. I cannot trust my eyes, which show shadows dancing around. Have they surrounded us?...No. Stephen pulls a flashlight out of Lyman's bag and shines it across the trees, revealing nothing out of the usual. It was just my imagination.

"Lyman are you sure you weren't dreaming?" Aelia sounds exasperated as she addresses the energetic boy.

"I weren't dreaming! Honest! There where people or my name isn't Lyman Antonious Milton! Which it is!"

Aemillia throws me a sidelong glance and I shrug. Now that the sluggishness of sleep has worn off and Lyman's claims appear to be less real I'm no longer afraid. Just annoyed.

Aelia sighs, obviously thinking Lyman was just dreaming. "Okay. Where did you see these people?"

"Over there!" He once again points across the clearing and Stephen's flashlight searches the area, showing nothing but trees and bushes. Aelia takes a step forward, obviously planning on investigating the area herself, but I see something. Something alarming.

I leap forward and grab Aelia's shoulder, pulling her back. She gasps in surprise and looks at me questionably. "What are you doing Nikki?" In answer I simply point.

She gasps as she sees it, in the middle of the clearing, the shimmering transparent grid that marks the forcefield. "You nearly walked right into that Aelia!" Stephen admonishes as we gaze at our new find. We where much closer to the edge of the arena then we had thought.

"But...but...." Lyman trails off as he realizes that the people he saw couldn't possibly be real. No one can pass the forcefield. If he saw anyone beyond it he must have been imagining or simply dreaming. "I swear I saw them! They were as real as you and me!" Amelia doesn't answer. She's gazing at the forcefield as if she had just found the Holy Grail. I don't understand her fascination with it. Why were we even searching for it in the first place?

"Dude you should get some rest," Stephen mutters to Lyman who looks at his feet, mumbling about telling the truth. Eventually he turns and follows Stephen as the two return to their sleeping positions. Aemillia steps forward to gaze with Aelia at the forcefield and I'm as equally as confused as I was before. What is with them?

I want to ask but I don't. I go back to my tree and huddle amongst it's roots with my blanket as they begin to speak in hushed voices. I watch them for what seems like hours before falling to sleep for the second time this night.