[Well, my story got taken down, but I am re uploading it and this time I am following the rules. Unfortunately that means that a couple things about the story have changed, namely how the interviews and Chariot Rides would work, but I hope everyone can just enjoy the story as is!]

District 1

4 hours before the reaping

Rebekah Michaels wished there was a better way, or at least an easier way to tell her 10 year old brother she was volunteering this year. But as she stared into his eyes, she found herself stuttering.

"What is it?" He asked, concerned.

"Well, you know that I've been training for a while now." She said slowly.

He nodded, but said nothing.

"And you know that I eventually wanted to volunteer for the Games, that was the whole point of training." She continued.

"So your volunteering this year." He said quietly.

"Well, yeah. But I'm ready, the trainer said I was the best female tribute in class. This is what I've been training for everyday." She replied.

They were both very quiet, and said nothing.

"I'll be fine, Marvel." Said Rebekah, breaking the silence.

"Do you promise?" Marvel replied, his eyes tearing up.

"Nobody I know is a better shot with a bow then me."

"Nobody?"

"Nobody."

"You still didn't promise." Said Marvel, crossing his arms.

Rebekah laughed, "I promise I'll be fine. Are you happy now?"

Marvel nodded, but she could tell he wasn't happy in the least.

Marvel and she were very close, despite their age differences. Their father was the mayor, and although he tried his best, he rarely ever had time for the two of them, and their mother was just as busy. So growing up, they had been each others company, and they had become very close. But when Rebekah was chosen to train as a career, they found they had less and less time to spend together. So Rebekah would always sneak Marvel out with her, and he would watch the training, and then they would train together at night. She knew very well it was only a matter of time before he was chosen to train in the early classes of careers. Although she would be proud of him if he did get accepted, she'd be lying if she said that she'd be happy.

Being a career had it's benefits of course. It commanded respect, and the group of careers had a certain camaraderie that she hadn't experienced with other school mates. She knew full well that Marvel would succeed in that kind of atmosphere. But part of her didn't want him to. He was such a kind boy, and she was afraid that being a career would change him. She had noticed that a lot of the careers had become cruel and bullies to the kids who weren't careers. She was worried what they would become in the arena, if seeing blood and death would unleash a whole new kind of monster.

Not all of them were like that, but certainly she had a few she was worried about. She didn't want Marvel involved in all of this, and she wasn't sure why. District 1 viewed the Games so highly, and it was a great honor to even be chosen to volunteer. If you happened to win, then you were a hero until you died. She wanted all of this for herself, but not for Marvel. Not to say that she didn't want Marvel to be happy or successful, it's that she didn't want him to experience the Games. Unlike her other careers, she knew how bad the games could get. The televisions portrayed the Games in a noble and admirable light. But she knew the gritty and difficult truth.

"What are you guys up to today?" Yelled a friendly voice.

They both looked over to see Rebekah's friend, Ric.

He was a skinny and tall boy, with floppy brown hair, and around the age of 16. Rebekah and he had always been friends, even after she had become a career. He was a pacifist, as he called it. Known to be very calm, and wise beyond his years. Rebekah was 17, and had long curly blonde hair. She however, although kind when she tried, had a short temper, and a wicked competitive nature.. Whereas he believed problems were solved through talking, she believed problems were solved through action. How they had become friends, neither could remember, but she was the Yin to his Yang, and was grateful for his friendship.

"Not to much." She said quietly.

"Rebekah's volunteering…" Noted a still angry Marvel.

Ric seemed shocked for a second, but then his calm demeanor came back,

"You hadn't told me this, Rebekah." He said, sadly.

Rebekah hadn't told him for this very reason, seeing as he was a pacifist, he would never want her to do something like this. He would probably try to debate this, or beg and plead with her to change her mind. But no matter what he said, she would still volunteer.

"Good luck, then." He said.

Rebekah was shocked, he hadn't even tried once to convince her! Even worse, there was no remorse or even concern from him. Was he even worried for her at all?

"Marvel, I brought you something." Ric said, and handed him a small leather ball.

"What is it?" Marvel said, inspecting it.

"It's something I made. Here watch this," Ric replied, taking the ball.

Then he tossed it up in the air, and caught in on his foot. Then with a little dance, tossed it from his left foot to his right foot over and over.

"The goal is to see how long you keep it going." He said, handing it back to Marvel.

Marvel smiled and ran off holding his new toy.

Rebekah was still angry at hurt at Ric, he should have at least been worried. After all, they had been friends since they were kids.

"Care to go for a walk?" He said.

Rebekah frowned, but agreed.

As they walked they said nothing, and she was curious what the point of this walk was. Still Ric said nothing, but was leading her toward the edge of the fence. As they reached the fence, she couldn't hold it in any longer,

"I'm going into the Games! Don't you even care a little bit?" She screamed.

Ric sighed "Of course I do. More than anything, but I didn't want to show Marvel how worried I was. In his mind, you should be confident and obviously going to win. If I was worried for you, so would he."

So that's what it was, Rebekah knew that he had to have cared. He was Ric, after all.

"I suppose there is no way I could convince you to stay?" He said with pleading eyes.

"I've made up my mind." She said.

Ric rubbed his forehead, "It's beyond me why you don't want Marvel in the Games, but you could care less if you're in them."

Rebekah hadn't thought about that, and her answer was the first thing that came to mind.

"I suppose I don't care as much for my life as I do for his."

"Are you crazy?" Said Ric, surprisingly getting angry.

"What do you mean?" Asked Rebekah.

"You have so many people that care about you. Nobody wants to see you do this." Ric replied, emotional.

"You couldn't name one person besides Marvel and maybe my Dad that cares about me that much." She frowned.

"Well," Stuttered Ric, "I do."

Rebekah smiled, "Well of course, we're friends. Who else would you eat lunch with?"

Ric shook his head, "It's more than that. Its-"

Rebekah frowned, what was he getting at? She had never seen him this tongue tied.

"I love you Rebekah." He said, almost shouting it.

She didn't know what to say, but all she did was step foreword, and kiss him.

The kiss lingered for a moment, and they both were comforted in each others embrace.

"Now do you see why you have to stay?" He whispered softly in her ear.

Everything changed when she said,

"I can't."

As she said this, Ric slowly stepped away. She could see the tears in his eyes, and she knew that she had hurt him more then anyone else ever had. He nodded, and he walked away.

As he walked away, she wondered if she would ever see him again, and for the first time she was a child, she cried. Not for fear of the Games, or even or own life. But the prospect of not seeing Ric again, was all together to much to bear.

District 1

4 Hours before the Reaping.

Watching them infuriated Emerald Kyle. He hated everything about them, how they moved, how they talked, how they trained.

He was staring at his fellow careers, and he knew he was well above them. Everything about them shouted amateur, to their slow swing of the sword, to even their stance. They all feared whenever he stepped into the sparring ring, because none of them stood a chance one on one against Emerald. But he had given up those things a year ago, he had decided that when he was 17, the trainers had taught him everything they could, and they were holding him back. Now that he was 18, he knew even the trainers feared him. He insisted this was to be the year he volunteered, and they agreed. Even though he required no more training, he came to watch the careers, and study their moves. He knew this sort of sloppiness and inexperience would be found in every district, and he wanted to study every aspect of it.

He had never understood these things, he had been clean, thorough and successful since he was a child. He never made a mistake that he couldn't fix in a minute after making it, and he was damn proud of who he had become. His parents were never ones for this sort of things, they never wanted him to be a career. They died when he was ten.

They never believed in him.

They were holding him back.

They deserved it.

All thoughts that flurried around in Emeralds head everyday. The district had concluded that they both suffered from heart failure while having dinner with him on a cold winter night. People thought it was odd they both had heart attacks at the exact same, but eventually people forgot. Besides, they mayor himself announced that it was the only clear cause. But that look he gave Emerald that day, he had to have known.

He knew that Emerald killed his own parents.

Emerald was just learning the ins and outs of poison, and he had finally concluded that his parents were restricting his training. So, he poisoned their plates, and finished his meal while they lay dead on the table.

He now knew why the mayor hadn't turned him in, its because the mayor saw his potential. He what Emerald would become, and he wanted him to represent the District during the Hunger Games. But things take time, and it was a long ploy. Recently, the Mayor had come up to him, and said,

"This is your year, boy. All these years must have been worth it. Do your parents proud." He said, with a menacing undertone. As he said "parents" he had a coy smile that made Emerald realize he knew. Emerald was surprised by the first feeling he had.

Guilt.

How could he feel guilty? Emerald Kyle never felt guilt, because guilt was the byproduct of a mistake. Emerald Kyle never made mistakes.

But for some reason, his heart fell to his stomach, and the smell of smoke on the mayors mouth made him uneasy. He said nothing, and the Mayor walked away.

They mayor would have to pay for humiliating Emerald like this. But for now, he would focus on the Games.

And focus he did. This is where he was left, staring at the Careers in disgust. He almost laughed to himself how far he was ahead of them, in intelligence and in strength.

"Hey Emerald." Said one the girl tributes, who was walking his way.

He didn't know who she was, he didn't even bother to learn their names. But he knew that if decided to "be himself" that he couldn't manipulate people like he needed to, he was well aware to be he needed to be likeable.

"Hey you!" He said with a smile.

She blushed, just as he expected her to. He was incredibly handsome, with short brown hair, and deep brown eyes. He was over six foot, and muscular. Every girl in the District had their eye on him, and he knew it. He was very good at using his looks to his advantage.

"Well, you see. A couple of the guys and I were wondering if you wanted to train with us? You know, give us some pointers? I mean, if you wanted to, that is." She said slowly, obviously taken with him.

"I'd love to honey, but I only have a little bit of time left, and since I'm the volunteer this year, its best I save my strength." He said.

"Oh. I-I- didn't know you were the volunteer. I thought the trainers were still deciding."

"Well, they told me and Rebekah it would be us this morning, they interrupted my nap to tell me!" He said with a chuckle.

"Oh, um… well…. you know, may the odds be ever in your favor, Emerald." She said softly, lowering her head.
He stood up and lifted her chin with his hand, "I'll be alright. I wouldn't want someone as pretty as you spending a second being sad."

He wanted to laugh at how ridiculous he sounded, and then laugh at her for buying it.

But she smiled and thanked him and went back to training, her heart full of joy and hope for them being together one day.

Yeah, that's never going to happen, "honey". He thought with a smile.

He really wasn't sure why he was messing with her, he gained nothing from it, perhaps it's because he was just bored. That was a problem he suffered from, he had graduated from school early, eons head of his classmates and others his age. He seemed to have mastered all that he could master. So often he found himself becoming very bored because of this. So he decided to mess with peoples heads, they often didn't even realize they were being used, and he got endless amounts of entertainment from this. But entertainment is fleeting, and it is gone just as soon as you have it. What he truly wanted was that feeling he had the day he killed his parents. That sort of adrenaline rush he never felt again and craved.

Did that make him crazy? He often wondered if it did, and yet he didn't care. Crazy or not, he couldn't care less. Everyone in this District was just a puppet on his string, they danced for him as he controlled them behind a silk curtain.

All of them but the mayor.

The man that not only stood up to Emerald, but had actually made Emerald uneasy, scared even. He couldn't figure out what it was exactly, but something about that man drove Emerald insane. Maybe it's because he was the only man that really knew who Emerald was, he could see past the smile, and the kindly vibe he tried to give off.

He could see right into Emeralds soul.

Emerald hated that man more then ever, and he swore that he would make him pay.

He would make the mayor afraid to say the name "Emerald Kyle".

The Reaping

Rebekah hadn't seen Ric for the rest of that day, and now that she was standing in the crowd with all the other people, she still couldn't see him. There was so much she wanted to tell him,

That she was sorry.

That she loved him too.

That she wanted to be with him forever.

But this was her duty, this was her job. She had been training her entire life for this moment, this moment to prove to everyone how strong she was.

But then there was Ric.

Her Ric. The Ric that had been by her side all these years, the Ric she didn't even know she loved until today. It was like there were two parts of her, each trying to fight for what they wanted. Part of her wanted to prove herself in the Arena, the other part wanted to run to Ric's arms and never let go. She felt remarkably cold, and never had she felt more torn about something in her life. She tried to relax, and look at things logically.

She did love Ric, that much was clear. She had all along, it just took something like this for her to realize it. But as much as she loved him, she had been training for this her whole life. It wasn't just that, the Hunger Game was her entire life.

Besides, she was obligated to volunteer. She was chosen out of all the female tributes to fight alongside or eventually against Emerald Kyle.

As much as she loved Ric, these were undeniable facts. It was an honor she couldn't get out of if she tried. She lowered her head, deciding that it was best for her to volunteer after all. As she came to this conclusion, the red lights on the cameras turned on, and all eyes moved to the stage. Out stepped the escort for District 1 escort, Alon. He was a very short, petite man. He was covered in diamonds and jewels from head to toe. He reached foreword and grabbed the microphone, " Lets get this thing rolling!"

The crowd cheered and let out a loud applause.

After the speeches and promotional videos he whipped out the bowl of female names, and placed it on the podium.

"Sapphire Tem." Alon said with a wide smile.

Before Sapphire had a chance to get on stage, Rebekah shouted,

"I volunteer."

Nobody was surprised, but everyone clapped. Sapphire just smiled and nodded, and went back to her friends.

Alon seemed to know all along it was her, because he shouted,

"Everyone welcome Rebekah Michaels!"

The crowd cheered once more, and between the whistles and yells, she finally saw Ric.

He was staring at her, his eyes full of tears.

She wanted to run to him, to tell him she would be back.

But she stood frozen on stage, waiting for Emerald to announce himself.

Emerald smiled. He had seen Rebekah training, and had even bothered to learn her name. She was a tough fight, but nothing he felt as if she would be an easy target for him somewhere down the line. But it would be wise to get her to trust him, and follow him blindly. She would be a very good asset to have. But for now, he would just play things by ear, maybe study her a little bit. Find out what weakness's she has, and exploit them. She would be putty in his hands by the end of the week. But for now, he would just wait for Alon to announce some kids name for Emerald to volunteer for.

He announced the kids name, and for a second Emerald wanted to wait for a while, and give the kid a heart attack. But he had an image to keep up, and he finally volunteered. The boy ran back in the crowd and disappeared as Emerald made his way to the stage.

"Welcome Emerald Kyle!" Yelled Alon.

Emerald nodded at him and raised his arms and the crowd cheered. He noticed some girls in the crowd were tearing up.

He walked up to the microphone, "To the girl I never got to say I loved: I'll be back for you."

All the girls smiled, and Emerald winked at the crowd.

The beauty of that move, was that all the girls probably thought that was directed right at them. He thought he should have a little fun before he left.

As he shook the hand of Rebekah, he noticed that she didn't appear taken with him at all. Well, that ruined several of his manipulation plans. But still, getting her on his side would be the easy part.

Killing her would be the hard part.

[End of District 1 Reaping!]