Chapter 1

My mother zipped the back of my dress. Today was the reaping and I was everything, but happy about it. My twin brother on the other hand was excited, this was his year to volunteer and I say more power to him. I love my brother to death and he loves me, but to everyone else we're cold and unemotional. We've been trained our whole lives to kill and I could honestly care less. Yeah I know how to kill you with a spear amongst other weapons, but I don't want to. I never volunteer for the games and intent on keeping it that way.

"Cata you look so beautiful," my mother smiled.

I gave her the blank stare that I give everyone except Cato. I'm wearing a dark blue sundress and silver flats. The only chance I'm going in the games is the slim chance that my name will be drawn. My mother sighs and walks out of my room while I sit on my bed. I felt my knuckles hurting knowing my brother punched the wall again.

We have that twin sense where we know the others movements, which rocked in partner training, and we even know when the other's hurt like now. I learned really quick when my knuckles hurt that Cato punched a wall. The thing that we share the most is our temper. It doesn't take much to piss us off and when you do you will regret it.

"CATO, CATA COME DOWN HERE!" I heard father yell.

I sighed and stood walking out of my room. My brother walked out of his room doing the same. We walked down the stairs and into our father's office. He was sitting behind his desk looking at the two of us. We were dressed up for the reaping, me in my sundress and Cato in a dress shirt and pants. Our father's eyes looked us over before he stood.

"Now this is your last year to participate in the games. Cato I know that you are volunteering and I am proud of you. Cata on the other hand if you are not chosen and do not volunteer you will be getting married to a man of my choosing," he said.

"That's not fair," I said gritting my teeth.

"Life's not fair, and I'm not letting all my time and money in your training go to waste. Now we will be leaving in an hour," he said.

I walked out with Cato on my heels. I went up to my room and jumped on my bed. I started crying, I will never be able to have my own life. I felt the bed dip and my brother's hand rub my back.

"Cat I promise when I win, I'll come back and make father change his mind," Cato said.

"It doesn't matter he won't, he's a fucking asshole," I said.

"Cat come here," he said pulling me up.

He pulled me over on to his lap. Sometimes I hate how strong he is, while I'm the quick and flexible one.

"Here's the plan when I get home we'll kill him. Now I know even you would get joy out of that," Cato said.

I can honestly say that he's right, I hate that bastard.

"Cato you're the only person who understands me," I said smiling at my brother.

"We're twins, I mean come on we feel each other's pain," he laughed hugging me.

I hugged him back I love my brother and I'm the only one who knows what he's really like. It wasn't much longer before we were in the car on our way to the reaping. Living in District 2 had privileged us to have nice things, not nearly as nice as District 1 though. After father found a parking spot Cato and I went to register.

I sighed; I was standing by all of the other girls. Each hoping that they would get picked and if they weren't they were going to volunteer. Let them because I know I'm not, this is my last year. Keegan Knight the escort for our district took the stage. He was one of the Capitol escorts that wasn't peppy and happy and for that I was happy. He showed the video from the Capitol and everyone cheered at the end.

"And without a moment to spare let's begin with our lucky lady," he said picking a card out of the bowl. "Cata Valentine. Now would anyone like to volunteer?"

Fuck my life, of course no one's going to volunteer I'm Cata Valentine and I could bring pride to District 2. I sighed and walked to the stage keeping my cold composer.

"And now for our gentlemen…Verse Tanner. Any volunteers?" Keegan asked.

"I volunteer," I heard my brother say as he walked on stage with me.

"And you are?"

"Cato Valentine."

"Are you two brother and sister?" Keegan asked.

"Twins." My brother and I said together.

===2

"Those are our children making us proud," father said when he came in the room.

After the reaping we were escorted into the justice building and put in a room together since we're twins.

"How can you be happy about this? You're losing at least one of your kids," I said looking at my father.

"And sweetie you are going to be that one we're losing," he smirked at me.

I always knew this ass didn't give a shit about me. He loved Cato because Cato's a guy and I'm a girl, who should stay home with mommy and do housework.

"That's enough, I will fucking kill you with my bare hands. You do not talk to my sister like that," Cato glared.

"Watch your mouth boy."

"And you watch yours; you sent me to the academy to be the ultimate killer now here I am. I hope you get what's coming to you, you piece of shit. Now get the fuck out," Cato said.

"Cato stop," mother said pleadingly.

"No, now get the fuck out of here," Cato growled.

Father grabbed mother's arm and dragged her out of the room. I let Cato calm down, if there's anything I learned its leave him alone when he's angry. After he calmed down he sat beside me wrapping his arm around my shoulder. I looked over at him and smiled. I love my brother he's the only person in my life that I can stand. There's no way we'll be able to kill each other. I put two fingers on his cheek. That was our district's way of saying 'I love you'. He smiled at me returning the gesture.

A few minutes later we were escorted to the train for our short ride to the capitol. And ultimately our fates.