A/N: I'm not going to pretend I'm not nervous about posting this, because I think this is the most nervous I've been about posting something. I've been a complete nervous wreck getting the nerve up just to write it. The scene on top of the Cornucopia actually made it hard to watch Cato die, that I just had to write this, and I can't believe I did. This will contain elements of the book, the movie, and a little from me. This story has been sitting on my computer for well over a year and a half, being scrutinized and rewritten. But it's finally ready to be seen! I hope you all enjoy it. I encourage constructive criticism!

Disclaimer: Sadly, Suzanne Collins owns the Hunger Games and everything involved with it, but I own my characters. So, don't steal them. Please? Thank you.

Cause it's not my time, I'm not going
There's a fear in me, it's not showing
This could be the end of me
And everything I know
Oh but I won't go

Chapter 1: Doomsday

It was the day of the Reaping in District Four, and I was the only one awake it seemed. I had done this every Reaping day since my brother had been reaped. I would get up just before the sun rose over the Eastern horizon, make my way to the fishing wharfs and stick my feet in the ocean. The fishermen weren't out because no one worked on Reaping day and never had as far as I could remember. The sea air took over my senses, and a smile made its way across my face. It was nice to be able to get away from the troubles that awaited me once the day was in full swing. I had always found that the sea and the sunrise calmed my nerves on Reaping day, but I'd have to return to reality at some point.

My brother had been chosen eight years before, two days before his fifteenth birthday making him one of the younger tributes, and unfortunately for him, victors. I was nine at the time, and I still hadn't fully understood what the Games were, though I'd been training for two years at that point. My parents didn't want me seeing them, but that was almost impossible when it was mandated that every citizen watch. I looked on as my brother joined the alliance of wealthier districts, breaking off in the top eight so they could pick each other off one by one. I was thankful that my brother had won the Games, but it was hard to erase the image of your brother spearing the last remaining tribute through the neck.

I pulled my legs from the water and began to make my way toward my brother's house. I still lived in our old house with my mother and father, because they said Merrick had earned his house in Victor's Village. I always scoffed when they used that term. I stayed with Merrick from time to time so he wouldn't be alone and kept my nicer clothes there. His house was where I would be getting ready for the Reaping, my next to last one. Father would be helping Wade get ready, who had turned fifteen two weeks ago, while Mother laid out the clothes she and Father would wear.

I made my way past the gates in front of Victor's Village, passing houses of people I'd come to befriend. There was Finnick, who was quite the charmer, at least for the Capitol, and had won his Games only at fourteen. If I was older than seventeen and he wasn't in love with Annie, I might think twice about him. I'd known him for too long, though, that he seemed like another older brother to me. And Annie, her Games were the first Games I'd ever cried while watching. Annie had a pure meltdown as she watched her district partner get beheaded. I was thankful Finnick had taught her how to swim years ago, or she wouldn't be here right now. Now, Annie takes a long time before letting someone into her life.

I hadn't met everyone in Victor's Village, though. With trained tributes going into the arena, our District had one of the highest victor pools out there. Although, there was a nice old woman, Mags, a few houses down that would cook me shrimp when I stayed with Merrick. She never spoke a word, she would just waddle down the street, hand me a plate and waddle back to her home. Finnick had told me she cooked shrimp for me because Merrick was a lousy cook. I had giggled at the truth.

I reached the porch and opened the door to Merrick's house slowly and quietly, not sure if my brother was awake yet. I learned quickly after he returned from the Games that it wasn't a good thing when he was startled awake. My question was answered when I heard his shower running upstairs. Looking around the house, I thought about how it came into my brother's possession. It was an ugly memory—more so for him, I'm sure, but I still shuddered at the images that entered my mind. My brother jumping out of the river, shocking the girl from District Two before running her neck through with a spear still felt as fresh in my mind as it had all those years ago.

I heard the shower turn off and the door to his bathroom open. "Hey, Apricot!" He yelled down without even appearing, using that stupid nickname that only he used. Apparently, when I was born, he said my head looked like an apricot, and he had become fond of calling me that and had done so since I was little. From the ages of four to six, I was convinced that was my real name.

"Do you always have to call me that?" I called back up to him, glaring at the opening of the hallway.

He stuck his head out from the upstairs hallway, grinning like an idiot. He knew exactly how I felt about the nickname but continued to use it anyway. "Well, what would you have me call you?"

My arms flew up in exasperation, eyes rolling back in my head in time with them. "By my real name, asshole!"

A mock look of offense crossed his face then. "Language, Apricot," he scolded in a teasing tone.

"Or Apricot," I said sarcastically, giving him a disapproving look. "That's fine, too."

"Well, forgive me, April," he said, trying to sound sincere. I let out a long sigh as he disappeared back into the hallway, knowing there was no getting through to him. "Come on, Apricot, if I didn't call you that, you would think I was mad at you."

He appeared at the top of the stairs in his dress pants and the undershirt he'd be wearing. He had to look nice, because as a previous victor, he had to sit up on the stage during the Reaping. As a mentor this year, it was very likely he'd be helping two kids survive as long as possible before their untimely deaths. If he was lucky, he would get a tribute that was smart enough and strong enough to outlast everyone else. Even then, Merrick would be ruining a life. He could attest to that. One of the joys of being a victor, I suppose.

I smiled sadly at him as he made his way down the stairs. "Cheer up, Apricot. Shower's clear. Pressure's acting kind of funny, though. I'll check it out when I get back." He made his way past me and walked toward the kitchen. "Feel free to stay here whenever while I'm out. Just make sure to clean up your shit."

My smile faded as I padded up the stairs. He always talked like he knew I would be in District Four the day after the Reaping. Merrick's name had only been in the bowl four times when he was picked. Two less time than mine would be in this year. I was always told not to worry; there was always a greater chance for people who had taken tesserae to get picked over me, even though few people in our district ever needed to take them. But, when it came to the Reaping, I was always worried. Even with the six years of training in our district's acadamy and the rest by Merrick and Finnick, I was always worried.

Even though I was from one of the wealthier districts, I didn't understand why the Games were something to be loved. Almost two thousand children had died so far because of the Games. Some of the children didn't even stand a chance when they were picked, just little twelve year olds trying to understand why it had to be them and why they could never see their families again. Those were always the worst deaths, and most of the time, I couldn't bear to look at them. The day the Games ended would be a great day for the world. If they ever ended.

I opened the bathroom door and the steam from Merrick's shower rolled out and laughed at the quality we both shared: the hotter the shower, the better. I stripped down and climbed into the shower after I turned the water to as hot as I could stand it. Letting my worries wash away under the water, my sun kissed brown hair darkened as the water soaked it. I felt at home in the water. Growing up in the fisheries district, you had to be. I would stay in the water for days if I could, but not today. Today, I had to be at the Hall of Justice to see whose lives would be ruined by the Games. I washed myself thoroughly, from every strand of hair on my head, to the spaces between my toes, rinsed myself off, and begrudgingly turned off the water. I threw a towel around me before stepping into the hall and walking down to the room I normally stayed in.

Voices floated up from downstairs as I dug through my closet, and I assumed Merrick's girlfriend had shown up. She really was a lovely, young woman, and I wondered when he was going to ask her to marry him. She was one of the few girls that hadn't flocked to him for the riches that had been bestowed upon him. Paisley was a good soul, and he was lucky to have her.

Trying to decide what dress was appropriate to wear to someone's doom was extremely difficult. The Capitol hated when people wore black to a Reaping, because, according to them, the Reaping was a time of celebration, not sorrow.

Up yours, Capitol.

I heard footsteps coming up the stairs and moments later, Paisley appeared in my doorway. "Good morning, April," she said, smiling as she walked to my side and looked in my closet. "Having trouble deciding for today?" I nodded and she stepped forward immediately, digging through my dresses that hung in the closet before her. I heard some hmm's, some no's and some maybe's before I heard a definite yes. She'd pulled out my sea blue sundress. She looked giddy on the outside, her soft facial features lighting up and her blonde curls bouncing as she leaped with excitement, but on the inside, she hated this as much as everyone else.

She laid the dress out on the bed before making her way to the door, waving as she left. I pulled on my undergarments and slipped the dress on over my curves. I heard Paisley say goodbye to Merrick and the door shut behind her. I brushed my hair out and dried it quickly, letting my hair fall into its natural place, resting in the middle of my shoulder blades. Picking out a blue ribbon from the drawer, I pulled my hair over my shoulder and tied the ribbon around it. That was as much as I was willing to doll up for the cameras of the Capitol.

I walked out into the hall and then down the stairs, finding Merrick searching through his downstairs closet for a shirt to wear. I walked to the closet, looked at the side rack and pulled out a sky blue button up. He smiled at me before taking it and slipping it on. I pulled out a nice tie as well. If he was going to be a mentor this year, he'd be a well-dressed one.

I slipped on some sliver, dressy sandals I had stashed in the downstairs closet before making my way to the door, with Merrick close behind me. We walked swiftly to the Hall of Justice, ready to get this over with, though Merrick's journey would last longer than mine. He gave me a quick hug before heading to the stage with the other previous victors that had already arrived. My eyes landed on Finnick, and he sent me a wave as I stepped into the check in line. I waved back as the line moved forward and quickly found myself at the table getting my finger pricked.

I scanned the crowd as I walked, looking for my school friends and eventually I found my best friend, Nixie, saving a spot next to her for me. As I stepped next to her, she grabbed my hand instantly, something we did every year.

"How many times is your name in this year?" I asked, honestly not sure.

She gave me a sad smile. "Business hasn't been good this year, so I had to take some tesserae..."

I dropped my head. "How many times, Nix?"

She made a face. "Just sixteen."

That was almost triple the amount of what mine was, and my heart sank at the thought of my best friend's name being called. My hand immediately found her, giving it a squeeze before scanning the crowd for my brother, Wade. He was two sections over from me and I smiled at how handsome he looked. He already had to fight ladies off with a stick, and I loved teasing him about it. If he got any better looking, it'd just be funny to watch that. If he could just make it to eighteen, he'd be able to get his pick of any girl he wanted. I prayed he could find that happiness.

Our district escort, Cicero Marks, took the stage and approached the microphone. He was a bit of a pudgy man, his bright cyan suit looking a bit tight on him. His ugly comb over matched his suit, as it did every year. I remember two years ago his suit was green and his hair literally looked like seaweed. I would never understand Capitol fashion. Cicero tapped the microphone before announcing it was time to draw the names of the tributes for this year. He gave us a brief speech about how honored the tributes should feel, how he felt this would be a good year for District Four and of course, "May the odds be ever in your favor," he said, his tone too chipper for me.

My breath hitched in my throat as Cicero walked over to the container that held the girl's names and stuck his hand inside. It felt like years before he finally pulled a name out. I shouldn't really be worried. My name was in there five times. Nixie had a better chance of being chosen, which wasn't any better. I decided I wouldn't be worried as he opened the paper. I was wrong to feel safe.

"April Hylet!" Cicero called out. I felt Nixie stiffen beside me and heard my mother squeak out a sob somewhere in the crowd. Shock washed over me and for a moment, I completely forgot that it was even my name. It was like an out of body experience, the poor girl getting called scared stiff. I heard the name called twice more before it finally dawned on me that it was indeed my name. I put on my best face as I gave Nixie's hand a squeeze. I heard her start to speak, knowing she was going to volunteer for me. Whipping around to glare at her, her mouth closed quickly. I wasn't going to let her go to her death for me. She may be mentally strong, but when it came to physicality, I knew she wouldn't last two minutes in training, let alone the arena.

"I'll be fine, Nix," I whispered, letting go of her hand

I made my way out into the open and the Peacekeepers walked me to the stage. Cicero congratulated me and walked over to the boy's container. As he was digging, I made eye contact with Merrick, who was seated on my right. My brother had to train me knowing I didn't have the highest chance of making it, though I was certain I would at least make top eight. Of course, that would all depend on the crop of tributes for the year. As Cicero walked back to the microphone, I was snapped from my trance and held back tears, needing to be strong for the cameras, thinking this couldn't be a worse day. Life seemed to take my thoughts as a challenge.

"Wade Hylet! What a treat!" Cicero announced, his voice sick and twisted with happiness. My mother let out a choked sob from the back of the crowd. Rage and panic rushed through me at the sick turn of events. My older brother would have to train his two younger siblings to fight to the death. I would have to be in the arena with my younger brother. Before his name was called, I had the chance to come out of the arena alive, but with him being in there with me… I made the decision right there that I would die if it meant he could come home.

I knew one thing: The Capitol would eat up a brother and sister having to fight each other. That would be too rich to pass up. I couldn't even look over at Wade as he walked slowly up to the stage. He was probably thinking the same thing I was, hoping and praying that it wasn't really happening.

My sadness was short lived. Wade was almost to the stage when a boy I knew all too well stepped out in the open. Crest Bane. He was a year older than me. He had brighter than bleach blond hair and a slightly muscular build. His sea green eyes showed a familiar determination that I had always known to be there. He was a good family friend, had been for as long as I could remember. He had never really had a family, said he never knew what happened to his parents, and he worked around my father's shop a lot, helping out in exchange for food. He probably loved my family as much as I did.

The crowd around him turned toward him, and he yelled, "I volunteer!" I was in shock. I couldn't bring myself to be upset by his actions. I no longer had to worry about Wade. I was almost sure they wouldn't let Crest volunteer, though, the brother and sister fighting to the death almost too much for them to pass up, but I looked over and Crest was standing on the stage with me. Cicero had us shake hands, and the scene before me quickly changed from outdoors to the inside of the Hall of Justice.

I was placed in a room inside the Hall of Justice to await the goodbyes that were coming. I knew Merrick wouldn't show up. I would see him on the train. I wouldn't see everyone else for quite a while, as District Four was one of the first to get reaped. I would possibly never see them again. We still had to travel through districts five through twelve for their Reapings. Other than District Four, I had never seen a live Reaping.

I shook my head as I walked over to the window, looking out to watch the crowd moved from the square east toward the train station. My eyes spotted a speck of dirt on the window, and I tried to brush it away, but it refused to move. I focused all of my energy on that tiny piece of dirt, willing to use anything as an excuse to to think about the journey that lay ahead of me. It was too much to even begin to process, and I wanted to stay in my tiny bubble, just me and that dirt, until the last possible second.

That bubble was burst as my family came through the door.

CATO OC CATO OC CATO OC CATO OC CATO

There's chapter one. Right now, I think you guys can get an update sometime every Saturday. If I have to work then it'll be later in the day. I put lots of thought and effort into this story, and I hope you all enjoy it. Let me know what you guys think :) Reviews are definitely appreciated! Don't just tell me I suck, though. Give me pointers and such if I need it! And thank you for even making it this far. If you've read this far, I already love you.