Non Hunger Game people: There's a country called Panem and every year it makes each of the 12 Districts send two tributes (one guy, one girl) between the ages 12-18 to the Capitol where they compete in an arena controlled by crazy guys. The tributes fight to the death. The last one standing wins and their district gets prizes (like food) until the next Hunger Game.

Non Night Angle people: Kylar grew up in the slums, but is now training to be a wetboy (an assassin, but better) under the tutelage of Durzo Blint (the best of the best). Kylar has already killed before and is trained with every weapon. The Sa'kage are the masters of the underworld. Kylar stays with the Drakes during his tutelage and became friends with Logan as his first assignment.

"So you're not worried at all?" asked the doubtful voice of Logan Gyre.

"Of course I'm worried," Kylar scoffed. Lie. "You'd be stupid not to…We just have less to worry about than most people."

Logan sighed apprehensively. "I suppose…"

"Logan, you'll be fine," Kylar said. "You didn't sign up for any tesseraes." And the tributes for years have coincidentally been the children of the people who get on the Sa'kage's bad side around reaping time. Ever since the Flokes have been getting cozy with the Peacekeepers…well, let's just say, fortunately for the male tributes and unfortunately for the Flokes, their son is at the ample age of 15. May the odds be ever in his favor.

"What about you?" Logan asked.

Kylar smiled at his friend's concern. "Sign up for a tesserae? Why would I?" Haven't needed to for years.

"Glory, I guess," Logan mumbled.

Kylar snorted. "If I wanted 'glory,' which I don't, I'd volunteer."

Logan nodded, slightly appeased. "Let's go say hey to Serah."

"Should I let you guys say 'hey' in private?" Kylar teased, amused to see a blush creep on Logan's face. Kylar internally sighed as they made their way to Count Drake's manor. Logan was always frantic on reaping day, anxious one of his friends would get chosen. Not himself though, which only added another reason why Logan would always be a better man than Kylar.

"Hello, boys," greeted their District's escort, her accent betraying her Capitol upbringing. "Excited for the reaping?"

"Definitely," Kylar assured her, careful to speak before Logan. Kylar would've thought since Anita "down-graded" to District 5, she would've discovered the Hunger Games isn't all the festivities it was at the Capitol. No such luck.

"I'm hoping we'll get a fighter this year," Anita continued, oblivious to the seething Logan was hiding, rather badly, under a mask of calm. Kylar casually shifted his body between her and Logan. "The last few tributes…"

"Seemed like they were picked just to be slaughtered?" Kylar asked innocently. Logan blinked at him in surprise.

"Exactly!" Anita said.

Kylar ignored the questioning expression Logan was sending his way. He really hadn't meant to say that out loud. "So do you know where Serah is?"

"Can't say I do," Anita said, her long, glittery green eyelashes flashing as she checked her watch. "Now excuse me boys while I fix myself up. We're live in an hour!"

"Bye, Anita," Kylar said. Logan waved half-heartedly.

"How can you be so friendly with her?" Logan hissed, not even waiting until she was out of earshot.

"Probably the same way you're nice to everyone."

Logan scowled. "That's not even remotely the same. I don't pretend to be buddy-buddies with anyone!"—Kylar hid a flinch—"I definitely don't agree with this…this…"

"Event?"

"Monstrosity!"

"I don't agree with the Hunger Games," Kylar snapped. "I just don't see how being mean to one person, who might be oblivious, but didn't actually harm anyone, would make a difference."

Logan glared, but eventually turned away from Kylar's steady gaze.

"Yeah, I know," he said sheepishly. "I just get a little wound up during this time. It's just…the Hunger Games are so…"

"Yeah," Kylar said. They really were. "Hey look. Serah."

"I'm so glad she's one year older than me," Logan breathed.

"Yeah, at least it's your last year so she can finally stop worrying about the ogre who's not-so-secretly in love with her," Kylar said with a wicked grin.

"I'm not that obvious!"

Kylar made a noncommittal noise.

"I'm not," Logan muttered.

"Hey, Serah!" Kylar said brightly.

Serah turned and gave a genuine smile. "Hey, Logan."

Logan smiled softly.

"You look nice," she said.

"I'm fine by the way, thanks for asking," Kylar continued.

"Thanks, you too." Logan only had eyes, and ears apparently, for Serah. Whatever, only his best friend over here.

"Well, I suppose I'll go help Illena and Mags. You know, where I'm appreciated." Still no response. For people who don't like each other 'like that'… Kylar shook his head in disgust as he walked into Drake's manor.

He arrived to see Illena pacing nervously around the room, piles of her clothes scattered across the floor while Mags fixed her hair in a mirror.

"Should I wear my lavender dress?" Illena asked worriedly. "Or something that will make me blends in with the crowd…?"

"I don't know," Kylar called from the doorway. "Don't you want to look nice for the cameras if you get chosen?"

Illena paled noticeably. Mags shot Kylar an irritated glare as she turned to her little sister. Kylar turned away sheepishly. He wasn't used to dealing with innocent little girls who weren't hardened enough to treat the games as a spectacle. An enriching spectacle that gave street rats a chance to earn cash with bets ranging from the first tribute to die, who will betray their "allies" first or who plays with their kills—Kylar shook his head. That wasn't his life anymore.

He glanced guiltily at Illena, who looked frail and nervous as she listened to her sister say how little chance she had of being picked, after all, it was Illena's first reaping. Night Angels, he was so insensitive.

"Sorry," Kylar said. "I was trying to…lighten up the mood."

Illena gave him a watery smile. "I know, Kylar."

"It's ok, Lena," Mags said. "Boys have a weird sense of humor."

"And cooties," Kylar added helpfully, earning him a genuine smile from Illena, but making Mags' eyes gleam in a way he found not entirely comforting.

"Yeah," Mags agreed. "They're really gross…"

Illena giggled. "And silly."

"And smell funny."

"Are socially awkward."

"And always think with their—"

"Alright," Kylar interrupted. "I think that's enough of let's-pick-on-Kylar time."

Mags and Illena laughed.

"Is that what you're wearing to the reaping?" Mags asked, her nose wrinkling.

"Yeah, why?" Kylar looked down. It wasn't like his clothes had stains on them.

"But what if you get picked?" Illena asked innocently. "You'll need to look nice for the cameras."

Mags gave an unladylike snort while Kylar rolled his eyes. Lena has way too much sass for a 12 year old. But he couldn't quite keep the small smile off his face.

"You should wear that one shirt you got for Christmas," Illena said helpfully.

"Oh, the one you and Mags got me?"

"Yeah, I like that shirt," Mags said.

"And tie."

Kylar threw up his hands in mock-exasperation. "Fine! I guess I'll go make myself presentable!"

Mags and Illena's laughter followed him out the door.

Kylar quickly changed clothes, to appease the girls, and headed toward the gate. The reaping was starting soon and he, the Drakes, and Logan were going to head down together. Strength in numbers and all that. Kylar was personally looking forward to the feast the Drakes prepare every year. This year's feast would be much bigger so they could celebrate Logan's last eligible reaping year, which his parents were obviously invited to. Kylar wasn't particularly going to enjoy Mrs. Grye's company, but at least Logan's dad was decent.

"Alright." Mr. Drake clapped his hands together. "Is everyone ready?"

A general consensus was given and the group was off, the giggles and teasing subsiding as they neared the square. Kylar glanced at Logan, who happened to be looking at him so Kylar quickly offered a smile that was hopefully reassuring. Kylar hadn't been worried about reapings for the last three years. Once he was under Master Blint's tutelage, which meant lodging with the Drakes and no longer putting his name in more than twenty times, Kylar always felt much more relaxed. Also, Master Blint successfully picked out all of the male and female tributes in the last four years. This year he believed Kusco Floke and Mallory Beanie would be chosen, which Kylar had to agree with. Their families really didn't take their actions, the oncoming reaping day, and the vengeful Sa'kage into consideration.

"Ok, well, I'll see you guys soon," Mrs. Drake said, blinking back tears. One of her daughters was away from the threat of the Hunger Games forever, but her youngest one was entering. Mrs. Drake pulled her daughters in for a hug.

Kylar and Logan shared a look and turned towards the square in unison, silently agreeing that they should give them some privacy. Kylar was unexpectedly, for him at least, pulled back.

"Where do you think you're going?" Mrs. Drake asked as she hugged him fiercely. Kylar tensed for a moment before he felt his body relax and he returned her hug, his reassurances that they really had no chance of being chosen drying up in his throat when he saw the scared look in her eyes.

"See you in a bit," Kylar said lightly.

Mr. Drake patted his arm as Kylar walked past Serah and Logan kissing. Well that was fast.

"Come on," Kylar said to Illena and Mags. "Let's go."

The girls nodded stiffly as they made their way to their age groups. Kylar stopped with the rest of the 17 year olds and stared forward. A solemn mood overtook him as he saw Anita make her way to the stage. Logan brushed by Kylar as he walked toward the rest of the 18 year olds. Logan grimaced at him, but Kylar was feeling optimistic so he assumed Logan was attempting to smile.

The mayor stepped onto the platform and began his speech. The exact same speech delivered every year by a very nasally Mayor Gunder. Kylar sighed. Some people lacked creativity. Kylar turned his attention to the District 5 victors which, as some Capitol commentator is probably ironically pointing out, now numbered at five. The District's oldest victor and the four victors that he helped mentor all died from food poisoning five months ago at a party. The Sa'kage claimed they had nothing to do with it. Kylar swept his eyes across the remaining victors: two morphlings, a robust man who made a point of nodding occasionally during Mayor Gunder's speech and an old lady who was snoring in her seat. Most of District 5's victors were terrible. Most, but not all. Kylar finally let his eyes rest only victor that gave all tributes a fighting chance, Durzo Blint.

Of course, Durzo wasn't Durzo. He was Master Tulii, expert swordsman and maniac with a crossbow. Durzo was reaped before Kylar was born, but apparently, the Sa'kage put Durzo in the arena to teach him a lesson that, of course, backfired. The master wetboy's house in Victor's Village was all he needed to remind the Sa'kage they were not as omnipotent as they claimed. Durzo sat emotionless in his seat, his eyes lazily scanning the crowd.

"So who's excited for the reaping?" Anita exclaimed. Kylar was hoping she wasn't actually waiting for a response. "Let the odds be ever in your favor! Who should go first this year?" Anita paused theatrically and, after it became apparent that no one would speak up, continued. "Ladies it is!" She plunged her well-manicured hand into the bowl, building up the suspense by making a good show of stirring up the ballets. "And…the female tribute for the 67th Hunger Games is…Mallory Beanie!"

Kylar released a breath he didn't realize he was holding. Durzo was 9-0. Kylar watched as Mallory, a chubby girl of 13 with short, red pigtails, climbed on stage. She looked shell-shocked. Kylar assumed the guilty and horrified looking man in the crowd was her father, the man who kept putting off repaying the Sa'kage until he could "win it back."

"Congratulations, Mallory!" Anita said perkily, apparently oblivious this girl was being sent to her death. "Do we have any volunteers?"

A required question, always with the same response. Silence resounded through the square. Mallory looked down at the stage, biting her bottom lip so she wouldn't cry on camera.

"Now, it's time for the boys!"

Kylar easily spotted Kusco in the crowd of 15 year old boys, but forced himself to look away. He didn't want to see Kusco's expression when the inevitable happened. Kylar instead focused on Anita's hand. Huh, one of her nails is chipped. What would the Capitol say?

"Kylar Stern!"

Wait—what?

Kylar almost refused to believe he just heard his name. His eyes meet Durzo's. He looked shocked…well, shocked for Durzo anyway.

Fuck.

Kylar slowly made his way toward the stage, passing Logan. He numbly climbed up the steps, his face expressionless.

"Kylar!" Anita said with way too much enthusiasm. Kylar was beginning to feel the beginnings of a migraine. "Congratulations." Kylar smiled sardonically at her. "Do we have any volunteers?"

Kylar glanced briefly around the square. He took in the horrified expression on Mrs. Drake's face, the silent tears on Mags and Illena, the anger on Mr. Drake's, the disbelief in Serah's, and…the determination in Logan's?

"I volunteer!"

Idiot.

The square murmured in surprise as the crowd parted for Logan. "I volunteer as tribute."

"Marvelous!" Anita exclaimed.

Wait one fucking moment…

"Hold on," Kylar said, anger leaking into his voice. He could not let Logan die in the arena. Logan needed to live and make the world a better place by being Logan. Kylar was a killer. He could take care of himself. "My name got called so don't I technically have the right to be District 5's tribute?"

The crowd started buzzing. A tribute who didn't want to be saved by the rare volunteer? Unprecedented in the poorer districts.

Logan looked confused. "Yes, but I volunteer. You don't have to do this."

"Neither do you," Kylar snapped. "I have first dibs. Right?"

"That's one way to put it," Anita nodded, her sheen curls bouncing. The excitement of some action before the Hunger Games was almost too much for her.

"Right, well, I want to be the tribute," Kylar said, feeling ineloquent, but determined not to let Logan unnecessarily throw his life away. Logan stared at Kylar uncomprehendingly as Anita chattered about the technical rule that proved that Kylar indeed had "first dibs."

"District 5, I give you, your tributes!" Anita exclaimed. Kylar and Mallory shook hands as the crowd gave a thunderous applause, apparently all the drama gave them hope for a decent representation this time. Another year, more dead children, yippee.

Oh and Mags is not the eighty year old in the Hunger Games book. She's the middle Drake daughter. I couldn't remember her name so I had to look it up. Imagine my surprise