I'm drifting . . . drifting above the sea and across the sky. Nothing touches me, my body still yet it feels as light as a feather. That what I feel like now, I can't tell if this is real or not. How long has it been? How long have I been here? I don't know, I vaguely remember how I got here in the first place. No, now that I think about, the memories come flooding back in. It had just an ordinary day. I woke up, went to school, hung out with some friends before coming home to my mother, father and little brother. We were eating dinner, enjoying a family meal together when suddenly, Peacekeepers came knocking at our door. Upon entrance, they claimed I had been selected for a special program in the Capitol and demanded I follow them quickly. My parents were quick to answer questions. What kind of program, they asked. How long will I be gone? The Peacekeepers denied them answers, only telling them that if I did not come willing, they would take me by force.

I was frozen in time then, wondering how this all happened and why me. District 2 was full of children ripe for the picking, yet I ended being that one above all else to be selected. Maybe this is how the tributes feel every year . . .

The thing is the Hunger Games aren't so bad because over here in District 2 we know that if you're selected for a special program in the Capitol, you're not coming back. That was a definite. I've seen it once. My classmate, Jane, a quiet girl who did her work with a pretty face and body to match, wouldn't have thought she would be selected. She just stopped coming to school one day, we haven't seen her since. Her parents don't speak of her much now, like she never existed but the grief is written all over their faces. We think she's dead but we'd never say this to them and there's no sure fire way for us to know. All we know is that being selected for special programs was something you wanted to avoid.

Knowing all of this, I didn't want to go with them. I was scared out of my wits! I wanted to beg them not to take me, trade me in for someone down the block maybe, just don't take me away. I was only seventeen, my life hadn't even begun yet and they were planning to uproot from my family, my home, everything. But then I felt a warm hand intertwine with mine. I glanced over to the side, looking into the chocolate brown eyes that belonged to my little brother.

"Aubrey, just go. It's gonna be okay." Jake told me, giving my hand a light squeeze with a reassuring smile on his face to comfort me. As I looked back, I didn't see the little boy I used to know. This boy looked at me with eyes full of understanding, wisdom beyond his years. He understood the dangers of defying the Capitol's wish, saw the horrors in the hunger games each year, the ugliness of this world we live in now. No, he wasn't a little boy anymore. That little boy that I grew up with, the boy I would rock to sleep when he woke from nightmares, that boy was long gone now replaced by a man like my father who stood before me now. I take a deep breath then, calming my nerves. I have to be strong for them.

"Thanks Jake. You'll hold down the fort for me while I'm gone right?" I said with some humor in my tone, trying my best to look nonchalant, acting like this was normal when on the inside I was dying. I returned the squeeze with a hug. Before parting, we touched, forehead to forehead for a moment, no words needed for us to understand each other. I then pulled away, whispering, "That's my little bro."

I couldn't say much to my parents. However, Dad was in much better shape than Mom. He remained strong for me, hugging me tightly, almost like it was the last time he would see me because it probably was. "I'll see you later then, pumpkin."

"Yea, Dad," was all I could say because I felt my own voice crack. I only realized then how badly I wanted to stay in those strong arms, protected and safe from harm. Pulling away, I looked over my mom, the sight of her almost bringing me to tears, actually causing a single tear to escape down my cheek. Her face was drenched in tears and though she was desperately trying to hold back sobs, some managed to escape. We hugged quickly, knowing the Peacekeepers would probably have to pry me from her if I stayed longer, and she kissed my forehead before sending me off.

As I followed the Peacekeepers, I took one last glance at my family over my shoulder, leaving my life of safety among them. I waved goodbye before walking out. I never looked back then.

Everything after that is a blur and before I knew it, I was here, drifting endlessly above the sea and across the sky. I'm not even sure if I'm alive at this point. Maybe I'm in heaven . . .

"Experiment 009 ready for testing, President Snow, sir." the voice reaches me and echoes throughout my brain as the world around me comes to crushing halt. Darkness surrounds me instantly; a scorching headache pulsates through my skull. What's going on?

"Wake her then, I'd like to see this one in action sometime soon." A person says, but the voice seems so much closer than the other and more sinister sounding. My nose catches the faint scent of roses and . . . iron? No, this smell is almost rotten, I can feel my nose scrunch up at the underlying scent. It's blood. I know it . . . Did the other person address him as President Snow?

I allow a light yet low groan to emit from my lips as I try to move around, my eyes remaining closed. I could only move my head from side to side, for all of the other body parts had been restricted. I had been strapped down like I was an animal. "Oh, so she can hear me. She's responding well then, I presume?" President Snow says.

"Experiment 009, age seventeen, height five foot and ten inches, has succeeded to retain sanity and adapted to chemical FX12 while obtaining new abilities beyond our own understanding at the moment. So far 009 has sustained a satisfactory level with all her training. We are going to run some tests and place her in a combat session between her current equal 008 and then analyze any new information we gain. If you would like, you are more than welcome to view the session as well, President Snow, sir." the first voice continues. The way he addresses me begins to irk me. My name is not a bunch of numbers, its Aubrey, Aubrey Jones. I wonder why that asshole addresses me like that but then I realize from the conversation, they're treating me like a lab experiment. Is this the program I was signed up for? To be treated like lab rat? My body does feel foreign to me now. I begin to wonder . . . what have they done to me?

It was then that I let my eyes lids flutter open. I couldn't see at first, a bright light blinding me but soon enough my eyes adjusted. "Ah, awake now, are we, my dear?" The President said and I turned my head to get a full view of his face. His face was the epitome of every child's nightmare, snake-like eyes, lips pulled back beyond non-belief and snow white hair with the smell of roses and blood that lingered around him. Oh yes, I think Jake has mentioned a face like this in his nightmares. Jake . . . I wonder how he's doing; I wonder how all of them are doing? Why won't they just let me go home? Why did I get picked in the first place?

"You should let this one get up and walk around a bit. Don't want our little star player to get stiff now, do we?" President Snow suggested with a twisted smile that made me feel uneasy. The fact that he referred to me as their star player didn't make me feel any better, and with his eyes constantly on me, recording my every move, every twitch, I had to look away. I distracted myself then, taking in my surroundings, becoming aware of the beeping of the heart monitor next to me. Then I noticed another guy walk up to me and begin to undo the belts around my body. "Miss, would you mind telling me your name?" President Snow asked me so suddenly. I snapped my eyes back to his with a frown on my face. He just continued to smile that twisted smile.

The lab worker blurted out, "Oh, President Snow, sir, the patient is probably unable to-

"Aubrey." I interrupted him. I wasn't going to let this guy assume I was unable to communicate with another human being just because he drugged me, god knows how many. But I swear that twisted smile on the President's face grew wider from my answer.

"Aubrey." He repeated my name, purring like a cat. "Well, it's nice to meet you dear."

~0~0~0~0~0~

Bad place to end I know but I was running low on inspiration. I don't think this is enough to review on because I'm not so sure if you're getting an idea of what is going on here and where this plot might be headed but if you'd like to leave a review to say you're interested in it, then you're free to do so. So yea, if you haven't figured it out, my OC is Aubrey Jones.

You're going to get to know her better in later chapters so critics refrain from criticizing her at the moment. If you're not a big fan of OCs, don't read the stories and then have the nerve to talk shit about them.

So yea . . . Hope you guys are interested and I will see you in the next chapter!