When I look into her deep brown eyes, I can see the pain, the suffering, the sadness. But they also have a hunger for revenge. The same hunger I have.

(Jinx's POV)

I open the door and walk down the decrepit set of stairs placed at the front of the house and immediately turn and start heading for my old home. Although I can't see it because of the dense fog, it's part of my daily routine to visit and I know the route so well that I can do it blindfolded. Finally, I see the sunken-in roof and I quicken my pace. I go straight to the yard in the back and I kneel down in front of the worn, faded piece of concrete that marks my brother's grave.

I remain there for several minutes until I hear the familiar voice of Chrome over the loudspeaker, "All Citizens report to the Justice Building at once, the Reaping is about to start."

Before I turn away from my brother's grave, I read the inscription one last time.

R.I.P.

Lucas Ballast

49 A.D.D. - 62 A.D.D.

"Remembered by his loving family: Mommy, Daddy, and little brother, Jinx"

I begin to tear up as I look at the little handprint on the grave... my handprint... when I was 6. I was 6 when he died. No. Died isn't the right word. More like, killed, murdered. I touch my handprint on the marker one last time as I slowly get up and begin my way into town. This was the year that my brother would be avenged.

I walk to the Justice Building, got checked-in, and took my place amongst the other 15 year old boys of the District.

I hear Chrome, the escort for District 6, begin to speak, "Welcome, citizens of District 6, to the annual Reaping Ceremony. As part of the tradition we will start with..."

I think about my parents. They disappeared the year after my brother entered the arena. It wasn't a mystery as to why it happened. Another boy across town was reaped for the Games the year after my brother was. My parents went over to his parents' house all the time to console them. They talked badly about the Capitol. One night a Peacekeeper was eavesdropping and heard them talking. He called in back-up and arrested them with the charge of treason. I'm assuming they were taken to the Capitol and killed since I haven't heard from them. I've lived with my foster family from then on. They're nice and let me do whatever I want, but I've never gotten really attached to them, and when I told them about my plan, they understood.

With their approval and support, I began to train everyday in the privacy of their large basement. I started to prepare for what I was eventually going to do. Volunteer.

And this year, I feel prepared enough.

"And now... the time everyone has been anxious for... The Reaping!" says Chrome excitedly. "Ladies first."

Chrome's hand moves sporadically all over the glass bowl containing the names of every girl between the ages of 12 and 18 of the District.

His hand suddenly snatches up a folded piece of paper with an unfortunate girl's name written on it, "Adrianna Pendolino," he announces.

I look over to see the 17 year old girl beginning to cry as she reluctantly walks toward the stage via the cleared aisle that separates the boys and girls.

As she takes her place on stage, Chrome starts to speak, "And now for the gentlemen."

I look around at the boys who are lucky enough to be spared this year. Their pointless worrying. But none of that matters, I am going to volunteer no matter who gets reaped.

Chrome searches for a paper and slowly unfolds it, "Sawyer Carrak," he reads.

Sawyer was a cool guy. He's loved by everyone in school and I'm glad that I'm saving him from the Games.

Sawyer takes his place on stage next to Adrianna as Chrome speaks the words I've been so anxious to hear, "Now that we have our two tributes, would anyone like to volunteer for either of them?"

My hand immediately shoots up towards the sky as I shout, "I volunteer!". Then...I realize that I didn't hear just my voice, my hand wasn't the only one raised. There was another volunteer.

"Oh my! We have two volunteers this year! How wonderful!" Chrome exclaims.

The boys clear a path for me to the stage and as I walk up the steps I turn to see who else raised their hand, a girl my age walking up the opposite set of stairs. Wait... I knew who she was. She goes to the same school as I do, but we never talk. The thing I can't figure out is... why would she volunteer?

"What's your name?" Chrome asks me.

"Jinx Ballast."

"And you?" He moves the microphone over to her.

"Ryleigh Aileron."

"Well District 6. There you have it. Now won't you give your tributes a round of applause for being so eager to volunteer!"

The crowd cheers out of gratitude for the sacrifice that we are making.

Chrome nudges us to start walking into the Justice Building, "You two have a few minutes to say good-bye to anyone you'd like before we set-off for the Capitol."

"I won't need that, I have no one to say good-bye to." Ryleigh says with an expressionless face.

"...Okay... Well, how about you Jinx?"

"I've already said my good-byes."

"Good. With that, let's get to introducing you to your mentors."

I cross my fingers that I wasn't given any of the morphling Victors as my mentor.

A door leading to the mayor's office opens and emerges two women. I breathe a sigh of relief as neither of them were morphlings. Instead, I recognize these two Victors as Nova and Cassandra.

"Jinx you will be given Nova, and Ryleigh, you have Cassandra."

Nova walks up to me and says, "I've heard alot about you. When I heard that you voulunteered I demanded to be the boy tribute's mentor this year. I knew your brother and if you're here for the reasons that I think you are, I am going to do everything in my power to help you accomplish your goal." she smiles.

Ryleigh's head turns my way and she asks, "Wait. Why are you doing this?"

"I should ask you the same thing. Why did you volunteer?" I question.

"Are you serious? You don't remeber his parents?" says Cassandra.

"No. What does that have anything to do with this?" Ryleigh's voice escalates.

"...Wait...Ryleigh..."

She turns her head towards me.

"Did your parents have the same two visitors over at your house all the time?" I wonder.

"Is this a game of 20 questions or something!? What does this have to do with anything!?" Ryleigh yells.

"Answer the damn question!"

"Yes...but why...?"

It all hits me at once. I know exactly who she is.

"Those were my parents..." I yell.

"...Wait. What?"

"Those were my parents."

I look into her eyes and I can tell that she understands. We've both been through the same thing. I can see tears forming at the corners of her eyes as I open my arms to comfort her.

"It's okay. It's okay..." my voice shakes.

We hug for at least 5 minutes and then I can feel her releasing her locked fingers from behind my back.

When I look into her deep brown eyes, I can see the pain, the suffering, the sadness. But they also have a hunger for revenge. The same hunger I have.