A/N: We (Better a Freak Than a Fake and I) decided to launch this story again. Except this ime we fixed what we felt were the problems. We hope you like this first chapter!
Enjoy!
Chapter 1
Katniss was nervously waiting in line with all of her District. They were here for the reaping as they were every year. She was a bit more nervous because this time Prim was in there and though the odds were low she would be drawn they still did exsist. She also hated this whole thing every year and just wanted it over with as she heard her heart beat in her ears as Effie Trinket drew a name from the girls ball.
'Not me, please not me' She thought.
It wasn't, it was Primrose Everdeen.
'NO no no no!' She thought as Prims ghostly pale figure walked toward the stage.
She shoved her way to the aisle. "PRIM!"
She was caught around the waist and held back by peacekeepers.
She struggled against the peacekeepers desperately, "I VOLUNTEER!" She shouted breaking free of their grip. "I volunteer as tribute!"
"Well I believe we have a volunteer!" Effie said surprised as this had not happened in 12 since before she was born.
Prim turned back to Katniss in horror. "No! NO!" She said trying to go to her but Gale broke out and stopped her.
Katniss nodded as she headed to the stage.
"What's your name sweety?" Effie asked.
"Katniss Everdeen." Katniss muttered softly.
"OH I bet that was your sister wasn't it? Couldn't let her have all the glory could we?" Effie asked
Not waiting for an answer she said, "Come on everybody, let's give a big round of applause to our newest tribute!"
No one clapped not even a little. Instead, they put the three middle fingers of their left hand to their mouths then held them up in the air. Katniss was surprised at the show of respect from them, never thinking she would receive this. That gesture was used so rarely anymore and usually only at funerals when it was.
"Well alright and now for the boys," Effie said.
She went over to the bowl quickly and grabbed the first name she encountered and zipped back. "Castro Yew!"
Katniss watched as an olive skinned black haired boy with dark green eyes. She knew immediately he was from the seem he looked starved, but not overly so like most people.
"Any volunteers?" Effie asked for Castro.
Shockingly, a younger boy looked like he was about to before Castro sent him a glare.
"Well then you two shake hands!" Effie said
"I give you the tributes of District 12!" She said as they shook hands.
Again, there wasn't a single clap.
They let go of each others hands and were lead into the Justice building.
Castro sat in the room he was put on knowing who was definately going to come first. Sure enough the door opened and his little brother pelted in ahead of his parent and hugged him. Castro picked the little boy who almost volunteered up holding him close.
"Castro, why?" He asked.
Castro just looked down confused not understanding the question.
"I mean why didn't you let me volunteer?" He asked
Instead Castro raised in eyebrow at him asking why he tried to.
"We can't lose you, I don't know what I would do without you," He said
Castro sighed and gently rubbed him little brother's back letting him know it's okay.
"Please talk to me," The little boy said
"You'll be okay, I'll try everything to win." Castro asked in a rough voice having not been used in long a while.
"Thank you, Castro please come back?" He said as their mother and father walked in.
"I got Castro to talk." The little boy told his parent's proudly but obviously still very sad.
"That's good Maize," Their mother said smiling though she had tears in her eyes as they joined in the hug.
"You realize you'll have to talk at the interview, right?" Maize reminded.
"Yeah, I know I'll cross that bridge when I come to it," He said in his raspy voice.
"Well, this is a start I guess." His dad said relieved that he's talking but sad as his wife was.
"Yes it is," his wife said.
Castro just rolled his eyes at that.
"Sorry son you don't talk often enough anymore," She said
"You know why that is." He said looking down.
"I know, but you can't let that rule your life," She said carefully.
Castro sighed, "I don't have much time left for it to do that."
"You'll make it, I know you will," His mother said
"Not with Katniss in there." Castro reminded, "She's too good and I could never kill her."
"Maybe you won't have to," His dad said
"Right, someone else might." Castro sighed.
"Just promise us you'll try," His mother said desperately.
Castro nodded, "I promise."
Just then the peacekeeper came in and Maize started crying again.
"Time's up." The peacekeeper said but Maize still held on for dear life.
"Maize you have to let go, It's alright, I'll do everything in my power to come back to you okay?" Castro said hugging him close.
"Okay." Maize she letting go still crying.
"Wait I have something for you," He said digging into his pocket.
He pulled out small iron chain necklace and put it in his older brother's hand. "Take it with you, it's for luck."
Castro smiled and nodded "Thanks"
"My pleasure." Maize said as he was pulled out.
Castro sighed as he was all alone again and not expecting any more visitors.
So he was certainly surprised when the door opened again and Gale came in.
He and Gale knew each other, but were not nearly as close as Gale and Katniss. Castro raised an eyebrow at him.
"Don't think I've been ignorant to how you've been watching Catnip all the time. This is the perfect opportunity for you isn't it?"
"Not really what with fighting for our lives," Castro said carefully.
"Exactly, and there's only one winner. So, get any sick fantasies out of your head before you dig yourself a bigger hole."
"Gale, you do not want to fight with me, we both know if it comes down to me and her she's coming home I will make sure of it," Castro said getting annoyed.
"You still wish you could come back too?" Gale asked
Castro shook his head.
"You don't want to come back?" Gale asked.
He shook his head again and it was true, not at the expense of Katniss' life.
"You really care about her?" Gale asked.
Castro nodded.
"Well then you'll make sure she comes back?" Gale asked.
Castro nodded with no hesitation.
"Good do what you can," Gale said smiling a little.
"I will." Castro promised.
"You know, your a pretty good guy," Gale said.
"I try to be." Castro shrugged.
"Good luck," Gale said.
With that, he left the room and Castro felt a cold breeze.
He turned and gasped. He found a young male ghostly figure clearly having been from the Seam when he was alive. "Slade?" Castro asked in shook.
The figure nodded smiling.
"I wasn't expecting to see you again." Castro said but was smiling. "Not since your games."
The ghost shrugged and smiled.
"It's good to see you though, especially right now." Castro said albeit awkwardly.
He smiled.
He pointed to the room Katniss was in with his eyebrow raised.
"She's going to win, I'll make sure of it." Castro sighed, "I have no intention of winning this."
At that he raised another eyebrow that seemed to say: "Really still her?"
"Yes, still her." Castro said seriously.
He smiled and seemed to chuckle.
"It's not like you didn't Luquertra for the longest time before the Reaping." Castro reminded.
He shrugged and smiled
"You can't fool me, Mateo."
He shrugged then looked at Castro worriedly.
"Don't look at me like that. I don't want to be worried about right now."
He looked apologetic.
"It's okay, that was to be expect I guess." Castro shrugged with a sigh.
"He smiled sadly gliding over and looking like he wanted to hug Castro.
Though Mateo wasn't actually tangible, Castro did the closest he could to fulfilling that request. He smiled a bit at that looking happy
"Glad I could make you happy." Castro said noticing that.
He nodded then pointed to the clock. He disappeared right as the door opened for the last time and the Peacekeeper said, "It's time."
Castro nodded and followed the man out.
He was quiet as Mateo as Katniss joined and they headed to the train.
"So I guess we're partners?" Katniss asked.
Castro just nodded.
"Well it's nice to meet you I'm Katniss," She said offering her hand.
"Castro." He said in his raspy voice shaking her hand.
"Are you okay?" She asked noting his voice.
Castro just nodded.
"Do you ever talk?" She asked
"Not really any more." Castro sighed.
"Really why not?" Katniss asked
He looked down not wanting to talk about that.
"Oh sorry I touched a nerve huh?" She asked awkwardly.
He nodded sadly not looking up.
"I'm sorry I didn't mean to," She said.
"I know you didn't." Castro said but didn't look up.
"Lets just go eat?" She said.
He nodded and the got on the training heading for the dinning car. They arrived at the same time as Effie and Haymitch
"So, what's the plan?" Katniss asked taking a seat.
"Try not to die," Haymitch said
'No promises there.' Castro thought.
"Not funny," Katniss growled.
"Okay," Haymitch said taking a drink from his liquor glass, "embrace the probability of you imminent death."
"If you have nothing of any use to say then why are you a mentor?" Castro growled in annoyance.
"The refreshments." Haymitch said holding up the liquor bottle. "Besides, there isn't any other options."
Before Haymitch could take another sip Castro's steak knife flew through the air and shattered the bottle spilling the contents on the floor.
"This is not a joke to either of us," Castro growled.
Haymitch stood up angrily. "Listen you two, you want to know how to stay alive? You get people to like you and so far both of you are doing a terrible job at that."
"Well you are not exactly helping," Katniss said
"You just barely got here." Haymitch reminded.
"You are not taking us seriously," Castro said.
"If either of you do win and become a mentor, you'd under stand, looks like I just might have gotten myself a pair of fighters this year, though." Haymitch observed.
"Yes you did," Katniss said.
"So, I already know Castro's good with knives." Haymitch observed though angry about his chosen target.
Castro nodded smirking
"What about you?" Haymitch asked turning to Katniss.
"I'm pretty good with a bow and I can hunt," She said
"If your 'pretty good' with a bow and arrow then I have no idea how to throw knives." Castro countered. "Even the best career can't dream of being half the archer you are."
"What's that mean?" Katniss asked.
"You always hit targets right through the eye I have seen what you sell at the hob I bought some of them as well," Castro said.
"I've also seen you shoot a few times for myself." He admitted awkwardly.
"You have?" She asked.
Castro just nodded hoping not to make this more awkward.
"How?" She asked. She only ever shot in the forest.
"Where do you think I got all that knife practice?" Castro asked. "I have a family to feed, too, you know."
"You hunt?" She asked.
"Yeah, I could never dream of being as successful as you and Gale are at it though." Castro shrugged.
"I have never seen you in the forest."
Castro shrugged not sure why she hadn't besides Gale possibly distracting her.
"It's weird," she said.
"I'm not denying it." Castro said simply.
"I usually see everything," she said.
"The silent steps of a hunter?" Castro shrugged and Katniss thought of her and Gale's first encounter in the woods. How she had no idea he was there till he spoke up but she wasn't as experienced then. She never imagined it could happen recently.
"Do you follow me?" She asked
Castro shook his head, "I just happen to come across you occasionally. That's why it's only a few times that I've seen you shoot."
"Oh well alright," she said awkwardly.
She turned to Haymitch hoping against hope that he'd say something useful.
"If you both hunt you must be good trackers," Haymitch said
"Well, animal's anyways but my hunting partner, Gale, insists that there's no difference." Katniss answered. "He's wrong though, human's are smarter… in some cases, and squirrels are rarely ever armed."
"True, but it'll help," Haymitch said
"Yeah, it's certainly better than nothing." Katniss said awkwardly.
"Exactly," Haymitch said.
"That's what you usually get, huh?" Castro asked trying to better understand where he's coming from with his original comments. "Tributes that can't do anything?"
"Yes that and they don't seem to fight," Haymitch said.
"I've noticed." Katniss said thinking about the games she's watched.
"This time though I have fighters," He said sizing them up.
Castro knew that was only true with Katniss though since he plans on dying. Just as he had promised Gale, not what he promised his family. He honestly lied to them on that.
"Are you okay?" Katniss asked
Castro nodded.
"You seem off," She said carefully.
"Given our current situation, that is to be expected." Castro reminded that being the first thing to come to mind. "In a few days we will be fighting to the death after all."
"Right," Katniss said
Castro nodded, "Every non-Career's going to be off."
"Yeah, they are" Katniss sighed.
"You'll be fine though." He told her confidently.
"You think so?" She asked
"Of course I do. You're Katniss Everdeen!" Castro said in the most duh! voice he can with the way it still cracks hoarsely.
"So?" She asked.
"You're the heroine of the story, you can't be killed."
"Heroine? Story?" Katniss asked confused not knowing how to break the fourth wall.
"Nevermind," Castro said.
"So, anything else?" Katniss asked Haymitch.
"For tonight? Sleep," Haymitch
"That's propably going to be easier said then done." Katniss sighed.
"I know that, but you'll need it," Haymitch said
"Alright then, where are our rooms?" Katniss asked.
"Down the hall to the right and left," Haymitch said
"Okay, I guess I should go at least try now." Katniss said getting up.
"Yeah me too, goodnight," Castro said
Haymitch watched them leave but knew that even if one of them wins, a goodnight will never again exist for either of them. He just hoped that whether they win or not, they play by the Capitol's rules. Nothing good ever comes out of not.
A/N: Let us know what you though with a review! We will see you next chapter!