A/N: Hi, I'm AzianxPersuasion, and I share this account with SnappleSauce, author of The Protector. Recently, A Game of Chance has been removed, and as for the reasons, I do not know. So, for the time being, enjoy A Game of Chance from the beginning. For the next few days, there will not be new content. However, I do love reviews, so review and send me message.

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Sorren Princeps – District 1

Sapphire sits across from me, messing with her hair. It's already perfect so I don't see why she keeps playing around with it. I guess for the Reaping she wants to look her best. My mother is applying makeup to her face, even though she has enough on. My father strolls into the breakfast room, tying his tie.

It seems like I'm the only person not worrying about my looks. Sure I was a bit concerned about my hair sticking up in front of some girls, but not like the rest of my family. Finally, after my mother finishes applying about two tons of makeup, she has an Avox make breakfast. Father doesn't eat, like usual, and leaves about fifteen minutes into the meal. He works at the jewel shop he owns and never likes to be late.

Sapphire eats in complete silence, glancing from me to my mother and back to me. Mother is always the one to talk, even though it's normally about herself. "So, later today, after the Reaping, the girls and I are going to the club to celebrate," mother says excitedly. "Sapphire, I'd like you to join us too." Mother turns to me for a mere second. "You need to train some more with your father after the Reapings. It may be your last year, but it's not your sister's. You'll have to help her train too." She looks at my sister and puts a finger under her chin, gazing into her dark blue eyes. "Are you sure you're getting enough sleep, sweetheart? You're not seeing that boy, are you?"

"No, mom," Sapphire says, pulling away from her. She's the only one that calls mother 'mom.' Mother likes her best, so it makes sense. If I called Mother 'mom' she would scold me.

"Because, the girls at the club say that boy is bad news."

"Dandef says he's planning on volunteering for the Hunger Games this year," Sapphire adds.

"Oh. How wonderful," Mother says, smiling. "That is great. He could win, I bet." She lets go of Sapphire's face, then glances around the room. "Look at the time. Time to go to the Reaping. Sapphire, smooth out the crinkles in your dress. Sorrenson…" I hate it when she says my full name. My father named me Sorrenson because his name is Sorren and I'm his son and so, son of Sorren. To be honest, he probably couldn't think of anything creative and my mother was probably disappointed I was a boy, not a girl. "Fix your tie and your shirt is wrinkly. You ironed it right?" Before I can answer, she's already pulling back Sapphire's hair and primping her dress. Mother ties a light pink ribbon into Sapphire's hair and tugs at the neckline of her pink dress.

Without another word, Mother grabs her purse and clip clops away with her ridiculously high heels. She has a friend in the Capitol that helps her keep up with all the latest fashions. Sapphire and I follow her out the door, heading towards the District Square. Everyone is in their designated groups. Sapphire breaks away from me, greeting her friends and goes to stand in the sixteen year old section. Hannah says hello to her first. They're best friends, inseparable. Then, Skylar comes along, making me chuckle to myself. He's got the biggest crush on my little sister and I doubt she even realizes it.

"Hey, mate," a voice says. My friend, Grays, grins at me, wrapping an arm around my shoulder. "I see your pretty little sister there with her friends. Where's her boyfriend, Dandef? I can't believe she's dating him. He's a douche." He scoffs at the name. A while back, Dandef made some snide comments about Sapphire. When the word got back to me, I punched him in the face. A fight ensued and we've hated each other ever since. Sapphire knows I hate him, but she still fell for his "charms" and decided to date him. Although, I have a theory that she's dating him for a better social status at school.

"I'm right here, mate." I turn to face Dandef who's staring at me with hard eyes. Behind him are two of his friends, who are both my height. "What did you say about me? Something like I'm a douche?" He narrows his eyes, closing in on Grays and me. We instinctively back up and I gnaw on my bottom lip.

"No, no," Grays says, shaking his head. "I said you're a…a…coouche." Dandef raises a brow, confused by Grays's words. "All the cool kids are saying it these days. How crazy is that?"

"I think it's time we go," I whisper. I hear a scream and spin around. My sister's grinning and runs to Dandef, leaping into his arms and kissing him. I groan and look away, unable to handle their "love fest." "Hey, man, why don't you take your grubby hands off my sister?"

Sapphire stares at me, shocked. Dandef lets go of her, pushing her behind him. "Excuse me?" I straighten myself, trying to look taller. He's only about a couple inches taller than me, but he's still scary as hell. "I can do what I want with your sister. She's mine. All mine!"

"I'm not all yours," Sapphire objects. She moves from behind him, but he shoves her backwards.

"Don't push her," I say.

"Or what? You gonna hit me with your silk tie?"

"No, but I can strangle you with it!" I throw myself at Dandef, punching him in the nose. I hear a crack as it breaks. He pushes me off of him and forces me onto the cold ground. He pins me on the shoulder with one hand and socks me in the face with the other. Sapphire is screaming at Dandef to stop when there's a whistle come from a Peacekeeper. They drag Dandef off of my and shove me towards Grays, who had gotten into a fight with one of Dandef's friends. Other Peacekeeps swarm, breaking us up.

"Act your age!" one Peacekeeper shouts, once they have us under control.

I wipe my mouth and walk away from everyone. I move towards the middle of the crowd of eighteen year olds. Grays joins me, snickering. "You taught him a lesson."

Rosea Viridis marches onto the stage, her pink hair in an elaborate do on her head. She grins, standing at the podium. She begins her long speech about the history of Panem. She claps her hands and two bowls are brought out. One for the girls and one for the boys. Our current victor is Beatrix Soner, who won two years ago. Her auburn hair glimmers in the sunshine and compliments her lavender dress. She looks bored with it all and sick of mentoring kids.

"Ladies first!" Rosea exclaims. She sticks her hand in the bowl, pulling out a single piece of paper. Being part of a Career District, one, no one takes tesserae, and two, one of the Career Tributes usually wins. No one's really worried about who will be picked. Actually, it's a great honor to be chosen. "Sapphire Princeps!"

The group of sixteen year olds separates, and suddenly there's an aisle with Sapphire standing in the middle. She looks stunned, too numb to walk. Her face is frozen with fear. Hannah pushes her forward. Sapphire stumbles in her high heels, but makes it to the stage.

No. Not her. It can't be her. She can't. She won't survive. Not my sister. She just turned sixteen. Why isn't someone volunteering? No one is volunteering! Normally someone jumps at the chance of volunteering. Even Dandef isn't volunteering.

"Now, the gentlemen!"

"I volunteer!" The shout rings throughout the square. People stare at me and begin to clap. It'd been a while since we had a volunteer. A while meaning a couple of years. Then I realize why they're staring. I volunteered. This happened two years ago. In District Three, a brother volunteered to be in the Games with his younger sister. Neither made it out of the arena. I've just repeated history.

I chew my bottom lip, which starts to bleed. It's my last year, and I just ruined it. One or both of us is going to die. I hike up the stairs, palms sweating, and fingers shaking. My mind is a blur right now, but I try to keep thinking about how I have to protect my sister in the arena.

"What's your name?" Rosea asks, running a hand through my hair.

"Sorren Princeps," I say slowly.

"Sibings! How wonderful! Well, Sapphire and Sorren, may the odds be ever in your favor!"