"No, Brian!" Tiny Sue kneeled before the chair, on which her big brother was showing her a play, using her favourite dolls. Brian just showed her a scene they both witnessed on the television once, but Sue was too little to understand - a tribute from another district killing their friend, unfortunately reaped then, in the arena. The true meaning of it was unknown to her before, and truth has hurt her innocent mind. He let out a slight laugh, then ran to hug her. "Oh, dear little one, I hate to show you this, but now that you're 12, so a big girl, you need to understand this. I assume they taught you a lot about this in school, but I need to break it to you bluntly."

Sue raised her head and looked Brian in the eye. They had the same eyes, both were of very unusual beauty for District 1, with their black eyes and dark hair. Some less educated folks even called them demons.

"Capitol isn't there to support and help you, they are vile and they'll want everything you have. Even your little black pearl necklace mum gave you for your birthday. I don't need to explain reaping to you, since I believe you know how it works" - she nodded, still staring him in the eye nervously - "but remember, no matter what happens, you need to stay strong and yourself. You may come from a district that has a bit more of their mercy, but you can still become their slaughter meat in the arena. And they'll love to watch you go in pain. You only have one entry anyway, so almost zero chance to get picked…" He stopped for a moment. "Are you scared?" he then asked, while tucking one of her shiny black locks behind her ear. She shivered. "I… don't know. I know I'm in almost zero danger, but I'm still very uneasy about all that. If I get picked, I'm a corpse. I can't do anything. I can't fight, I'm not very smart, neither am I good with survival. But what scares me the most… what if you get picked? What will I do without my big brother? You have so many entries…" He breathed heavily, trying to defend himself from how true this was and how scared he was. With tesserae's taken out for 7 family members every year since he turned 12, he now had over 40 entries. Odds were not in his favour. "Please don't say that. We'll both be fine."

"Brian, Sue, come down for dinner! You'll need to be getting ready soon!" - their mother, Felicia, shouted from downstairs in an emotionless voice, almost as if she was trying not to scare them. Brian picked Sue up and they both went downstairs. The atmosphere during eating was very awkward, neither of them felt like eating anyway, what their mother did understand and didn't attempt to force them. Their father, Adam, was sort of awkwardly staring out the window at the kids who were already off to the square. All so glamorous, dolled up, yet sorrowful. He was glad he raised his family differently, that they didn't go abiding the Capitol, that he named his children normally and they led a normal life of a sometimes starving, but happy family. Except for that damned reaping, damned Hunger Games. He went through all the reapings safe himself, but always feared for his children's lives. One day, someone from his family might not be so lucky. He looked at Brian and Sue's awfully scared faces and suddenly felt very tearful.

"My.. lovelies…" he let out through his numb throat "Just, remember, I love you. I love you so much. Please, be safe." he didn't manage to hold a tear, which then burned his cheek like lava. Sue looked at him, the warmth of her eyes said more than any words. She walked up to him and spontaneously cuddled up to him. "My little doll…" e cried. Brian soon joined her, making a perfect family embrace soon to be broken by the cold tone of their mother.

"The time has almost came. We might be late. Let's get ready." She led them to her room, where their reaping outfits waited. Brian wore a plain black shirt with dark jeans, an outfit simple yet accented, while their mother helped Sue dress into her old reaping outfit, a classy yellow dress, to at least make her stand out a bit between all the sparkly filth. She was a woman naturally unable to cry, but the pain filling her chest burned her so badly she couldn't speak. She kissed Sue on the forehead, then walked to kiss Brian on the cheek. He hugged her warmly, wanting to give her a slight reassure it will all be okay. "We'll be back. And we'll celebrate." said Sue, sounding a bit less worried than before.

"After all, we're District 1, even if the worst happens, we'll probably get outvolunteered by the trained kids. - noticed Brian, mortified more than ever. He didn't let it show though, and caught Sue in his embrace too. "I love you. I love you both. I love you all. We'll get out of this, we will be fine, and we will today be together again."

Then they've set off to the square, holding Sue's hands.

Walking, as they haven't lived far from it at all, his mind wandered away. He wasn't able to think of anything but the Hunger Games. What if he or Sue get picked? What if one of his friends gets picked? What if his girl gets picked? What would their family do if they lost one of them? Why do they do this, why do they kill them for fun, why are they so cruel? What if.. both he and Sue get picked? What if there will be nobody to volunteer this year? Even if he somehow won, with his huge frame, strength and good survival skills learned in a traveller's school he could have probably stood a chance, it wouldn't have to necessarily mean the end. More evil could arise in such a possibility, even if they wouldn't lack anything in material possessions again.

His girlfriend, Tamara, awaited him at the square in his age category, 16 years. He thanked God they dropped separating the sexes in their district's reapings, so they could all be together... if they were in the same age group. Far behind the littlest, he had to bid Sue goodbye, while he joined his girl in the agony of waiting. "Is the tiny un' alright?" Tamara asked, in her usual chavvy accent, seeing how worried sick Brian looked as Sue went away. She loved her as if she were her sister too and was genuinely worried about her fate. "Yes, I think so. She seems to have understood my lesson pretty well, and gathered the true meaning of this mess. I only hope she won't get picked..." "Oi, she only has one entry, there's close to no chance, babe. Just be strong. " She layed her head on his arm. Her blonde hair, in the strong sunlight were almost blinding him. What if she gets picked with him? He could never ever face the possibility of someone close to him dying with him in the arena, even though he knew he couldn't off himself before it happened either, they can prevent suicide quite efficiently during the preparations. He tried not to think of how he'd feel during being raised up into the field on those metal plates, as a strange woman and a few other people made it to the stage. An incredibly weird looking woman put two bowls full of paper chunks with all of their names, then took the microphone.

"Welcome, District 1. My name is Cynthia Colada, and I will be your escort."

Brian noticed that she wasn't as passionate about her job as many of the escorts he's seen before; her movements were sluggish and she spoke in a slow, emotionless manner, as well as there was some sort of guilt in her eyes when she looked at the youngest crowd closest to the stage. Might it be that she's forced to do it? After her brief, short speech, the screen started to play the usual film stating the history of Panem, Dark Days etc. Despite her young age, Sue could recite it all in her sleep. She's managed to calm down now and simply waited, with the best poker face she could adapt, to hear the names of the unfortunates. After the screen stopped, Cynthia took to the microphone again and scowled in a louder, angry voice

"Let's get to it. Ladies first." Her hand wandered deep into the bowl and soon drew out a piece of paper. "Please let it not be Sue or Tam. Please. I'll give every..." thought Brian, while a drop of sweat ran down his forehead, but the next second he felt as if someone shot him in the head. "Sue Blythe"

Sue was so shocked she couldn't even feel anything. As Peacekeepers came to collect her, nothing struck through her mind. She wanted to cry, scowl, wail for her family's help, but she couldn't do anything but coldly obey from shock. Nobody seemed to come out to volunteer either, even after Cynthia's question. There seemed to be none of the trained kids this year. At least between the females. "Okay, now the boys." her hand sank deep in the other bowl, drawing out another name - "Brian Blythe."

The crowd has frozen in disgust, as for the first time ever siblings have been picked, when Brian walked up to the stage himself, followed by the Peacekeepers. He felt angry and helpless. He knew nobody's going to volunteer for him, as the trained kids were late, he saw them drinking under a pub right near the square just 5 minutes ago. Pitted against his only, dearest sister. He felt that he's not gonna cope with that. His hearted burned, truly burned for the first time in his life, his veins felt as if there was liquid iron flowing through them. He looked at Sue, who looked like a stone statue, so pale and blank-faced. They briefly shook hands, as ordered to by Cynthia. From the most loving siblings, to enemies that have to kill each other in battle. But both of them knew they could never act like so, both knew they're gonna die for each other if they have to and could never harm each other. Soon after, Sue almost jumped in Brian's arms, and they both started crying, as Cynthia bid goodbye to the crowd and they all walked off the stage, then a couple of Peacekeepers took them to the Justice Building, where their family would say their goodbyes to them. Even the ruthless killing machines they were, they had no heart to separate them, and so were they put together in one room, instead of separate ones.

A few hours later, Tamara came to visit them. Her hands were bleeding, Brian knew she always bit her fingers when she was depressed, and this time she had literal wounds on ther fingers, blood was flowing out of furiously. She reassured them both, told them to stay calm and gave them district tokens: black pearls, similar to the one Sue already had as a necklace, but imbued into rings. Then cried while she held their hands, knowing one or both of them is never gonna come back.

"You know... Brian... I love you both so much. I want you back badly already, but if you decide to sacrifice yourself for Sue, I will understand. But if it comes to it, please make sure she comes back home then. Okay?" she whispered into his ear, still holding his hand. He nodded lightly, trying not to cry again, his face felt hot and really numb. He kissed her on the lips then. It was a long, passionate kiss, but a kind of kiss that said goodbye. A goodbye that could be eternal. They were almost forcefully separated by a Peacekeeper who threw Tamara out of the room. "He must hate looking at people kissing." noticed Sue, making Brian giggle a little. Their parents and grandparents came to visit them afterwards. Sue was mortified at the sight of them, they all looked as if they recently died. The sorrow in their faces was unreal, it was visible a part of each of them has died today. They both didn't even think much but came to hug them, and they all stayed like this for a while. They couldn't force themselves to let go.

- Brian... Sue... I could never predict anything like this... - said Felicia, with tears running down her face. - Please... be careful... I hope one of you comes back...