Chapter 1 Friends Forever

The Training Center is full of noise. I stand in front of at the targets, aiming carefully. I pull back my arm and let my knife fly. It hits the dummy right in the heart and I smile proudly.

"Nice throw, Faye!" yells a voice from behind me. My best friend Cato Cretan saunters over, a big smile on his face. I'm still surprised he hasn't stayed in the Capitol. Being the strong, handsome victor he is, all the Capitol girls throw themselves at him. But he stayed. Part of me wonders if it was for me.

Cato has been my best friend since my first year at the training center. Being two years older than me, he showed me how to use almost every weapon there is. He's protected me and been there when I needed him. Cato is my everything.

"Well, I was taught by the best," I say, smiling back.

"Yes you were," his lips twitch up into an almost real smile. "Hope you're prepared for tomorrow. It could be you."

My stomach drops. Tomorrow is the reaping for the third Quarter Quell. One tribute will be drawn like normal and the other will be drawn from the districts remaining victors. There will be no volunteers this year. I'm not just scared for me. I'm scared for Cato. He just got back and he's never been the same. He often tells me I'm the only thing keeping him sane.

We finish training and Cato walks me back home in silence. When we get to my door he turns to me and hugs me tightly.

"It's going to be okay, I promise," he whispers in my ear. I nod and open the door. "See you tomorrow," he says.

"Yeah, see you tomorrow."

I toss and turn in my bed unable to fall asleep. Aggravated, I get up and pull on my boots. Quietly I walk out of my house and through the deserted streets. I ease my way through the gates of Victor Village and make the familiar route to Cato's house. I walk through the door, which always seems to be unlocked and make my way upstairs. I open his door and his voice in the darkness makes me jump.

"Couldn't sleep either, huh?"

"Nope." I tiptoe over to his bed and crawl under the covers. He wraps his arms around me and pulls me close.

"I don't want to go," I whisper into his chest. "I don't want you to have to go back."

"Who said it was you or me?" he asks. "We won't know until tomorrow. We really need to get to sleep."

"I couldn't bare it if you had to go back." I begin to cry into his chest and he hugs me tighter.

"Shh, it's okay," he whispers. "I'm here. I'll always be here."

When I wake up the next morning all I feel is two string arms wrapped around me.

"Morning sleepy," comes Cato's groggy voice, barely inches from my ear. "We're supposed to be at the reaping in twenty minutes."

I jump out of bed. "Twenty minute?! Come on get up! If we're late we'll be whipped in front of the whole district!"

"Not me," says Cato, getting up and stretching. "I'm a victor."

"Well I'm not. Now hurry!"

Fifteen minutes later I'm standing in the seventeen year old section, waiting for our escort Albany to make her way onstage. When she does, I have to suppress a chuckle. Her outfit is even worse than usual. She welcomes us and introduces the video. I glance over at Cato, who makes a funny face at me. Brutus, another former victor, elbows him which only causes me to laugh harder.

"Time for the first tribute," says Albany in her thick Capitol accent. "As you know, this can be a boy or a girl. Now, let's pick."

She sticks her ridiculously manicured nails into the bowl and pulls out a piece of paper. She opens and pauses for dramatic affect. "Our regular tribute is…Faye Evans!"

I freeze. That's me. That's me! Someone pushes me out into the aisle and two Peacekeepers take me to the stage.

"How old are you Faye?" Albany asks.

"Seventeen," I answer numbly.

"Well, congratulations. And now, for our victor. As you know, this can also be a boy or a girl." She pulls out a piece of paper from the other bowl and opens it up. "Our victor tribute is…Cato Cretan!"

My stomach drops and my head spins. This can't be happening. For a moment, Cato looks astonished, then he regains his composure and makes his way back on stage. We shake hands as if nothing is wrong and are taken off stage. No one comes to visit me. Both my parents are dead and Cato is my only friend. Through the ride to the train station Cato grips my hand tightly and doesn't let go even for the cameras. Once we get on the train he sits in a plush chair and pulls me into his lap. Brutus, Enobaria, and Albany can tell we want to be left alone, so they leave for another part of the train.

"I promised I'd always be," Cato whispers in my ear. "I will always protect you."

I cry in his chest. The last thing I remember thinking is that I am living my worst fear. I'm going to be in the Hunger Games with my best friend.

That's the first chapter. Please review. Next one will be up soon! :D

Love,

Audrey