Chapter 1 – The Reapings.

Silence. All I hear is silence. The girl that's being dragged towards the stage by two very threatening looking peacekeepers turns her head round, frantically trying to get a look at me. When she does, she stares longingly towards me.

The split second our eyes meet feels like an eternity, before I notice that everyone in the square is staring at me, each and every camera trained either on my face, or the girl who's life I just saved. I look to the girl, and notice the peacekeepers have not moved.

'You heard me, I volunteer! Let the girl go.'

I say loudly, my voice booming confidently around the confines of the square.

The peacekeepers look at me, and back to the girl, before sharply pushing her out of the way. It's when the girl falls to the floor that I finally get a good look at her.

She's thin, her features almost fox like, with light amber hair that falls softly over her shoulders. She slowly stands up, feebly brushing the dirt from the scruffy garb that would easily be recognised as her finest clothes, and looks my way. I notice that she has strikingly green eyes, and they're fixed on me.

In the background, I hear a shrill shriek, followed by little footsteps behind me. Before I have the chance to turn round, I feel a small pair of arms wrap around the back of my legs. 'Thank you thank you for saving Quinny!' mutters the being that is clinging to my calves. I still haven't taken my eyes off of the girl, so I'm plenty surprised when she slowly, cautiously walks over, grimacing at the sight of the small girl attached to me.

'Finch.. come on.. please.. leave the lady alone..' The way she looks at the body behind me is so caring, so loving, so beautiful. The little girl walks over to her, and I notice that she's a spitting image of her mother.

In the few seconds since the girl was called to the stage, I had completely forgotten that I had just volunteered for the Hunger Games. Before I have a chance to move, the peacekeepers are already by my side, and I am gripped roughly from both sides. I try and struggle, I can walk on my own. But they take this as me trying to escape, and grip me tighter, practically dragging me towards the stage.

Typical peacekeepers, all brawn and no brain. I volunteered for the games, why would I suddenly change my mind? I've been training for this my whole life, why would I turn away now? Eventually I just give up and let them lead me towards the stage. They let me go just before I'm brought to the steps, and I flash the cameras my most winning smile, confidently walking up the small amount of stairs before taking my place on the stage, next to our district mentor Tyrin Alcovae.

He turns to face me, a few strands of shockingly green hair fall over his face, and he brushes it away. 'So, I take it that was your friend?' His voice is so grating, ladled with the patronising accent that belongs to all Capitolites. 'No.. we've never met. I just didn't want her to steal the opportunity of seeing such a beautiful place like the capitol! After all, this is my last year.' I squeal with a goofy, girly grin upon my face. Anything to please the people who will be sending money to save my life. 'So what's your name darling?'. 'Ivory. Ivory Mason.' I mutter, barely audible over the deathly silence that has filled the square. 'Well onto the boys then.'

Tyrin walks over and places his hand into a glass ball, filled to the brim with names. Of course it is, this is district 5, everyone has to take out tesserae, weather they like it or not. If they don't their families would starve. Before my thought even ends, he's pulling out a name. He slowly breaks the seal on the paper, obviously for dramatic effect, and reads out the name.

It sounds vaguely familiar.

'Joshua Riddley'

Joshua. I will remember that name when I am on my victory tour, I will make sure to say some comforting words to the crying boys family, who is now being practically dragged towards the stage. When he gets here, I shake hands with him, and then we receive a mandatory round of half-hearted applause, before being lead into the justice building by yet another set of peacekeepers.

I'm shoved into a room I've never seen before, and I step carefully onto the immaculate carpet. I've never seen a room so fine, the dark blue satin curtains, the light blue carpet, made by the finest thread. I walk over to the long plush sofa, perching on the edge of it, before I catch a shine in the corner of my eye. It's a mirror, a large, full length mirror. I've never seen such a mirror in my life. The biggest mirror I've ever seen is the very small, dusty and cracked mirror that sits above my bathroom sink. I slowly step over to the mirror, taking in my reflection clearly for the first time.

I look down at my tattered shoes, you can barely see the old grey fabric underneath the layer of dust that has collected from my little escapade in the square. I look up to see my dress, floaty and white, it's the finest garment I own, made of soft cotton. My straight, ebony black hair falls softly around my face, perfectly complimenting my ivory skin. When I look into my eyes, I notice that I am crying. Tears roll freely down my cheeks, and my brilliant blue eyes are framed with red, something I'm not use to. I will admit, I am beautiful, but that is said out of truth rather than arrogance.

I hear a small cough behind me, and swiftly turn round, frantically wiping away my tears before again setting sights on the young girl who was reaped today. I vaguely remember her name being Quinn. She smiles in my direction, and I smile back at her, before she slowly steps closer to me, looking into my eyes with eyes that resemble emeralds.

Suddenly, she pulls me into a hug, wrapping her arms tightly round me. I let my tears fall freely, returning the embrace. After a few minutes, I pull back, and look back into her eyes. 'Thank you..Thank you for saving my life..She...She would have died without me..' she sniffles, it's kind of cute. I take her hand and lead her onto the sofa, where I go to open my mouth, but she suddenly cuts in.

'Okay we only have 5 minutes so I'm going to say this once and only once. You are going to come back home and you're going to take Finch and you are going to give her a good life. I'm not giving up on you Ivory. I owe you my life. I'm going to scrape up every penny I can find and I'm going to sponsor you, and you're coming home.'

Sponsor me? This is a girl I've only just met 15 minutes ago, who I have spoken to all of 5 minutes, this girl is trusting me with her life, the little girls life.

'Quinn.. I can't let you do this.. I c-'

'No. Ivory. I owe you my life. Please, let me do this. Not for you, but for Finch. She's my sister. I know that if you win Finch will be fed.'

I sigh, before smiling at her.

'Fine..'

Before I know it, the door swings open and in comes the same peacekeeper that brought me in here. He gestures for Quinn to leave, and she stands up, hurriedly pulling at something around her neck. Just as the peacekeeper comes in to take her away, she yanks at the thing clasped round her neck and it comes loose, and she tosses it to me. 'Use this as your token, Ivory, plea-' The door slams behind her, and that is the last I hear of Quinn.

A few minutes pass, before a peacekeeper opens the door, and I stand up, walking confidently out of the door without a single word. As soon as I step out of the justice building, I am ushered into a car, where for the first time I get a good look at the boy who is now to be my district partner. He's small, thin, and he has obviously been crying a lot by the look of his puffy eyes.

He's staring at me, a look of either terror or disgust plastered upon his feeble face.

'How could you volunteer.. How could you throw your life away?' T

his causes me to laugh, which makes me instantly feel guilty.

'Throw my life away? Hah, darling this /is/ my life. I was born into the Hunger Games, and I shall die in them. Seems only fitting, right?'

the young boy nods, before leaning solemnly against the car window.

'Look..Joshua.. I know this must be hard for you, you're only 12, you're from district 5. We've only had 4 victors in the last 65 years. But trust me, I will avenge your death by bringing glory to our district. I will make sure your family gets extra food and your death won't be in vain. But I assure you the victor for the 65th Hunger Games will be from district 5, and it won't be you.'

I can feel everyone in the car staring at me. I forgot there were other people here. Our escort and two mentors are here, plus the man driving the car. The car comes to a halt, and the car door opens, causing a now sobbing Joshua to tumble out onto the floor. He picks himself up, still sobbing, and races towards the tribute train, not looking back.

I follow suit, and end up standing in front of the train with my two mentors on either side and Tyrin behind me, posingd with smiles and waves to the ever present cameras. Eventually, they open the door to the train and everyone steps inside. The first thing I hear is a loud gasp from Joshua as he races to the centre of the fine train. I can't say I'm surprised or even impressed by the décor of this train, but it looks beautiful non-the less.

You see, this isn't the first time I've been here, no. In fact I think this is actually the 19th time I have set foot on a train similar to this. You see, I was born in the Capitol, almost 19 years ago. My father, a mere escort at the time, didn't want me to grow up among the corruption which is the Capitol, so me and my two sisters were sent to the districts.

However, there was a few issues, and my and my sisters were separated. Bonnie and Twee were both sent to district 8, whereas little Ivory was sent to district 5. Luckily, my father had struck a deal with one of the few district 5 victors, in exchange for a break from some sort of appointments, as long as I was kept alive. So I was adopted by Elena Mason victor of the 39th Hunger Games. She's 41 now, so apparently she doesn't need to worry about these appointments, but Elena got so attached to me that she's kept me with her ever since.

Every year, Elena takes me with her to the Capitol, where she mentors for the Hunger Games. She is one of the 2 only living victors at the moment, so she has no other choice but to mentor with the 65 year old victor, Vincent. Vincent won the 17th Hunger Games, and is the 2nd oldest living victor to date, only exceeded by district 4's Mags, who is 66, and who also has to mentor this year. I have come very well acquainted with all the victors, and every year a party is held in the control room, as my birthday falls in the middle of the games each year. Of course, this automatically makes me a target to other tributes.. great.

Within a few minutes I have already shut myself inside the cabinet that I have claimed as my own, and perch on the edge of the bed. I've trained for this, I've trained my entire life for this moment, so why do I feel so scared. The door opens a creak, and as expected, in walks Elena. She looks at me with a look of pure grievance on her face, and sits down beside me.

'Why did I have to volunteer Elena.. I didn't want to. Why did you train me up my entire life and make me volunteer?'

It's all coming out now, all the questions I've been wanting to ask my entire life are coming out now, I suppose when you know you're going to die, you do things you normally wouldn't.

'It's for the best, Ives, trust me.. Everything is going to be okay, you were born to survive, and survive you shall.. Just not the way you think, you're just going to have to trust me. Ok?'

I sit in silence, before scooting over to her, and she pulls me up into her lap. She wraps her arms tightly round me, and I curl up into a ball, leaning against her and resting my head in her shoulder.

'Ives?'

She's looking down at me, that warm, motherly look on her face that she always wears before she tells me bad news...great.

'Yeah?'

'I love you, Ives. And you're going to make me proud, bring another victory to the Mason name. Okay?'

I don't know why she wants another.. Surely one is enough? Perhaps the woman I've grown up to call mom is a little bit status crazy. This is when I realise that I've become lost in thought, and I'm quickly brought back into reality when Tyrin barges through the door.

'The recaps are.. .. .. on.. now.'

Stupid Capitolites. The newest craze is to put unnecessary pauses in the middle of sentences, apparently it makes you sound 'sophisticated.' I carefully prize myself from Elena's comforting arms, and stand up, walking out to the living room to see that me and Elena are not the only ones missing. I take a seat next to Vincent, and am quickly joined by Elena and a still snivelling Joshua, before Tyrin realises that everybody is now here and turns on the large television just in time to see district ones reapings.

By the time the first name is called out, there is barely a fraction of a second before a loud and very Capitol accent calls out.

'I volunteer!'

I pay close attention as a very striking girl takes the stage. She has long blonde hair that is curled, and falls neatly round her shoulders and down her back, porcelain white skin and stunning blue eyes that make even my eyes look dull. She is very slim, and perfectly figured, and stands on the stage in a very beautiful sea green gown, which compliments a single bow of the same colour which holds back a few strands of hair.

The girl smiles flirtatiously at the camera, and states that her name is Eleanor Traveth. No matter how beautiful this girl is, I know not to underestimate her, because this girl will be deadly. The man who is called out strides confidently towards the stairs. He looks fierce, and has a terrifying look about him that makes me realise that winning will not be so easy, and by the way Elena tenses up beside me, I can tell she thinks the same.

When it moves over to district two's reaping, the escort barely has time to pick a name out of the reaping ball before a very loud voice screams out.

'I volunteer!'

The girl walks up to the stage, and I can tell already that she is nothing like the girl from district one. This girl is the most terrifying person I've ever witnessed in the Hunger Games. She is tall, very tall, and she looks incredibly strong. Despite this, she is also unfathomably gorgeous. She has long black hair that falls all the way down to her hips, and dark olive skin, set among them are two very menacing and very dark blue eyes, which tell the cameras that she is going to win, and I believe them.

The boy who steps up is almost her twin, he is tall, dark skinned, muscularly and horrific, his coal black eyes glaring into the camera. They both state their names as Stuart and Lucieina, and I know that district two will be my biggest threat. Next is district 3's reapings, and two names are called out. When the girl steps up, there is a loud cry coming from the 14 year old boys section. She stands on the stage, emotionless, and I see that this really is the true beauty of these reapings. The girl is wearing no fancy clothes, no make up, no fancy clothes or fancy hair, but she really was the most beautiful girl I've seen so far.

What is with all the beautiful girls in these games? I can tell there will be a huge competition for sponsors. The girl from 3 has bright green eyes, tanned skin, but hair so light blonde that it almost looks white, she's wearing a simple dark blue dress and slip on shoes, and she looks stunning. And she's only 14. When the next name is called, the girl on stage, I think her name was Deena, lets out a grief stricken cry, before burying her face in her palms and starting to sob.

This is when I notice that the boy, who wastes no time in running up to the stage, is the same boy who called out when her name was called. The boy has the same name as my district partner, but I can tell he isn't as pathetic. He wraps his arms around Deena, and she does the same with him, and it is the moment they embrace in a passionate kiss in front of all these people that I realise these people are lovers, and they will both have to die if I am to get home, for Elena, for Quinn, for Finch.

'Emilana Dawn'

I am snapped out of my thought by the mention of the female tribute for district 4, the final district of the careers. She steps up to the stage, and I take a moment to look at her. She has ashen brown hair, and a look so calm, so.. so loving, as she takes one last look at her home, knowing it will be her last. This girl seems to have accepted her fate, but somehow, I feel like she isn't going to go down without a fight, and that is why I choose not to underestimate this girl, because for all I know, she could be just as much of a threat then anyone else I've seen so far.

The male tribute for district 4 comes up, and wowee, this is one hell of a fine tribute. I take back what I said about district 3, because this is the most beautiful person I've ever seen in my life. This man looks like a god among peasants, a diamond in the rough, and I can tell that already, this man is racking up all the sponsors, because he is honestly the sexiest man I've ever seen in my life. Despite only being 14, this man who's name I remember as 'Finnick Odair', is tall, and very very muscularly. He has dirty blonde hair, which is spiked up ever so slightly. A strand has come loose and it dangles over his sea green eyes, which stare motionlessly into the camera. He has golden, tanned skin, which just makes him look completely supernatural. No amount of surgery or spray tanning could ever make any Capitol man look as good as Finnick Odair, because what he has is natural, which somehow makes him even more desirable.

By the time I'm finished daydreaming, I feel both Vincent and Elena tense beside me, so I turn my attention back to the screen just in time to see Quinns name called out, along with a lot of gasps as I volunteer. It shows me and Quinn catching each others gaze. Now I realise that we looked at each other for less than a second. When I was there, it seemed so much longer. It shows the peacekeepers throwing Quinn to the ground, and then dragging me up to the stage. It then shows Joshua being called out, and being pulled up to the stage snivelling and sniffling. Pathetic. We shake hands, and then it's on to district 6's reapings. The girl that is called up is called Lia, she looks oddly confident, and stands on the stage with pride, until the boys name is called out, and she suddenly turns pale. I then realise that the both have the same sir name. Samuel and Lia Ignatius are siblings, and they're both in the games together. This can't just be a coincidence.

The next two reapings pass by, and I vaguely take note of the tributes, passing them off as bloodbath victims. Then it gets to district 9's reapings. The girl that steps up is clearly 12, but she looks so much younger. She has light green hair, and looks so pale and so underfed. She is unhealthily skinny and has a look of pure horror on her face as she ridgedly shakes her district partners hand. I feel so sorry for this girl, that I decide that I am not going to kill her. Mintila Vervi will be on somebody else's conscience. District 10 and 11's reapings pass by, until it gets to district 12. District 12 are usually the first to die, but by the look in this girls eyes, I can tell that this girl is smarter than her district gives her credit for. This girl looks mysterious, she looks sneaky, and its right there, on this very sofa that I choose my first ally. I am going into the arena with the 14 year old girl from district 12. I am going into the arena with Georgia Butcher.

Soon enough Georgia shakes hands with her partner, another bloodbath, and the Panem anthem begins to play. I find myself humming along. I know people are turning their noses up at me but, this is a very catchy tune! After a few minutes of awkward silence, Tyrin walks in.

'Come come come everyone...Dinner...is served!'

I roll my eyes at his accent, and walk over to the dining cart, sitting down at my usual place and starting to feebly pick at some lamb stew.

'Ives, eat up. You're going to need all the energy you can get to endure that prep team, we arrive first thing in the morning.'

I look over to Elena, to see Joshua beside her shovelling down food like he's never seen the stuff before. Tyrin tuts loudly, and smacks Joshua's hand with one of his own.

'Oh what terrible manners! You disgusting district pigs! Why can't you be civilised like poor Ivory here? Think of her! She has to put up with you for the next few days.'

Joshua suddenly drops the piece of bread he was holding, turning to face Tyrin.

'District pigs? Think of Ivory? Think of me! We both know that I'm going to be sent to my death in less than a week, and don't say 'oh you have just as much a chance as everyone else' because I know you're all putting your bets on Ivory!'

He turns to Elena.

'Don't pretend like you haven't been training her up for this. She's always had enough to eat, always had enough to eat, never had to take out tesserae no. She's been living the high life in victors village when we all sit there and starve! You've been training her up for this moment, and what have I got? Nothing. A starving family. 3 brothers that are all going to die now because I won't be there to feed them!'

He turns back to Tyrin.

'And as for 'district pigs' are we really the pigs? The Capitol is sending 23 children to die, 23 children who have family, who could have had lives, they could make something out of themselves, but no, you're sending us to die just so you can have a little bit of television entertainment. Who do you think you are telling me I have bad manners? Because I think forcing 23 children out of there homes, taking their lives away, rounding them into an arena and slaughtering them all, where the 24th child gets to live a life of luxury and guilt, plagued with nightmares of the people he was forced to murder to get home to his family, is a little bit rude!'

Everything has gone completely silent, even Tyrin, who never shuts up is silent, we are all gawking at Joshua in amazement. How can a 12 year old come out with that? How can he dare to start screaming a string of profanities about the Capitol in a most likely camera rigged room on a Capitol made train? He must have noticed that every pair of eyes in the room is fixated on him, because he gets up, pushing his chair onto the floor, and runs into his compartment, slamming the door shut behind him. Vincent quickly gets up and follows, his face plastered with concern.

A blonde haired avox runs into the room, hurriedly picking up the chair and tucking it back under the table, before rushing back out the room, just in time to run into a very disorientated Vincent, a pink hand mark across his face. She looks bewildered, and quickly picks herself off the floor and practically runs out. Vincent sits back down at the table, and me and Elena both burst out laughing.

'I have no idea how you won your games Vincent but you must have been against some pretty weak people if you can be beaten up by a 12 year old boy.'

I chortle, leaning against Elena.

'Yeah Vince, I thought you were some steely man!'

Everyone is laughing now, except for Tyrin. He sits in his chair, still staring emotionlessly into the space where Joshua once stood. I take this as my queue to move, and go back to my compartment, flopping onto the soft bed, and trying to forget about the horrors of which await me tomorrow.

The 2nd chapter should be up tomorrow.. Please review so I know where to go with this story, and I'll gladly take suggestions or PM's!:D