I fumble with the sheets as I shift through them looking for my necklace, the one my mother left for me before she passed. Around me, my siblings fumble with their sheets trying to get our room looking halfway decent before tonight. My three younger siblings rush about the room trying to find our most decent clothes to wear for the Reaping in a few hours. My older sister, who still lives at home, sits relaxed on the bed, as is understandable. She turned nineteen three months ago, taking her out of the Reaping. Only four of us are left for the Reapings.

My family is rather large for a District 8 family. My mother and father had 8 children before my mother passed away giving birth to the ninth. We live in a two bedroom apartment over my father's tailoring shop in the square. He makes enough money from the Capitol people sending a constant stream of clothes to be altered for their increasingly shrinking figures. All five of my older siblings work in the shop along with the rest of us after school. This year, the four youngest, including myself, are in the Reaping. The five oldest have already moved forward with their lives, having never had to bare the hardship of the Hunger Games. With any luck, the rest of our family should make it through the Reapings. We only have seven more years left.

My oldest brother, Mason, is 25, married to a woman named Adrianna, and has two children, Samuel(4 years old) and Suzanne(2 years old). My oldest sister, Morgan, is 23, married to a man named Luke, has a son named Turner whose 3, and is six months pregnant. The next oldest is a pair of twins, Melva and Melvin who are 21 years old. Melva just married a man named Nelson and she is only three months pregnant. Melvin is just married a woman named Twill who just gave birth to their first child, Beatrice. Next is Mira, who is 19. Mira is still living with us but is engaged to a boy named Norris and will be moving out within the next couple of weeks after their marriage. After Mira is myself, Molly. I'm sixteen but I turn seventeen within the next two weeks. After myself is Morton, who is 15. Then is Maddie, who is 13 years old. The final sibling is Myron, who just turned 12 last week. My father is Maxton, age 47. My mother was Myra, who Myron was named after. My mother was only 42 when she died, leaving behind nine children, three of which would never remember her and myself, who would only have flashes of her in my memory.

I'm quite literally jarred out of my thoughts as Morton and Myron start a shoving match behind me and I have to pull the two apart while Mira merely watches from her bed. After sorting the two of them, I spot Maddie holding my necklace, waiting for me to get through with our brothers. While Morton and Myron finally finish getting dressed, I take my necklace from Maddie and the two of us walk downstairs. The shop front is closed but Father is steadily working on a dress in the backroom, where the only staircase to our apartment is.

Father glances up and gives us a smile, "Hello, dears. I've just got to get this dress ready for the escort. She insists that the dress she planned isn't TV ready as she thought. It should be ready for the Reaping though." Father turns back to the dress and starts sewing on it again and Maddie walks up behind him. Father turns around to give us another smile before returning to work.

I gaze about the backroom, were my family works on all the clothes that come through the shop. It's jumbled with notes, clothes, and stray strips of clothes piled high. You wouldn't think we could work in this jumble of a mess, but we can hardly find anything when its clean, at least my family can't. Maddie starts helping my father with measurements and I head out into the shop front. In the front of the shop is my best, well only, friend, Will.

"Molly! I was wondering when one of you was coming down. You'd think that with six people in your house, you'd be all over the place!" Will laughs as I move around the counter.

I give a small chuckle, "Well, today is a weird day. How are you doing?"

Will's face drops and gives a shrug. "I'm alright. It's only my second year. Woof and Cecelia have been doing it for years."

The tension in the room rises and I shift my gaze from my friend to the backroom. "I'm sorry, you know. I know that it doesn't mean anything but I truly am. I just wish there was something I could have done."

Will turns and gazes out the window. "There was nothing anyone could have done for me. I was Reaped and sent into the Arena. There was nothing to stop what had happened for 65 years before and will continue for who knows how long." Will gazes down at me with a small smile. "Today's Myron's first Reaping isn't it? Is he nervous?"

I nod my head. "Yeah, Myron's nervous and Maddie had another break down this morning. It's her sixth one this week. It's only her second Reaping so she's only in twice but she's terrified. I'm in five times, far less than some but there's still that chance. I think that is what's got her so worried."

Will places a hand on my shoulder. "There are thousands of other girls getting Reaped today. I highly doubt that you will be Reaped with those odds."

I roll my eyes. "The odds are never in our favor, no matter what the crazy people from the Capitol say."

Will sighs, "Not all of them are crazy." He gazes out the store's window front before turning it to me. "Do you want to walk to my house with me? I have to have the Capitol team go over me with a fine tooth comb. It's been a year since they've tortured me, they look forward to it every time. But I would like the company."

I grin. I've never been in Victor's Village. In two years' time, I've either pushed away because one of his episodes or something with my family has came up. Will stayed in school for a short time after her got back from the games but after a while he couldn't hide his episodes from everyone. Cecilia, a previous victor, suggested he drop out before someone got hurt. After that, Will and I spent even less time together.

"Let me just let my father know. He's fixing a dress for the escort," I inform him, ecstatic at the invite.

Will rolls his eyes, "Kaila Kat is a unique woman." He turns his gaze back to me and smiles. "I'll be waiting outside for you."

Will strolls out of the shop and I rush into the back room. Mira is descending from the apartment and stalking through the shop. "I'll be at Morgan's! Where those two hellions can't trash my side of the room!"

With a slam of the shop's front door, Mira has left and Father is rolling his eyes. Maddie sighs and props against the counter near her workspace. Father turns back to his work and tries to ignore the banging around from upstairs.

"Father?" My father glances over his shoulder at me before turning back to his work.

"Yes Molly, what is it?" He's frustrated and I can't blame him. Kalia is a big name client of his and all the ruckus isn't helping him.

I move closer slightly, gazing at the dress. It likes only a few more stitches before he can add the pile of ruffles that is waiting him. "Will invited me to come over before the Reaping. I'll meet you guys at the check in as usual before making the way into the Square."

A huge thud is heard from upstairs and Father gives a frustrated sigh. "Can you drop Morton and Myron off at Mason's first? Maddie's fine here helping me with this dress. We'll meet everyone at the usual spot."

I grin widely before planting a kiss on my father's balding forehead and rushing upstairs to gather my brothers. When I reach the room we all share, I find Morton and Myron wrestling on the floor. I reach down and jerk Morton up. He's my size and is stronger than me, but he relents when he sees that it's me. Myron, on the other hand, stumbles to his feet and launches himself at Morton. Myron's small for his age and can barely lift a bag of cloth, so I easily shove him back and contain him to the bed.

"Stop it you two! What if one of us get Reaped today?" I shout at the two of them. "Would this be the last thing you would want to remember? Fighting with each other?" The two of them look guiltily at each other before casting their gaze to the floor. "Now what were you on about?" I ask while keeping a calm attitude with the two boys.

Myron points at Morton with fresh tears trailing down his face. "Morton said it's my fault. He told me it's my fault that Mother's not here with us. He says that I shouldn't have been born in the first place!"

I let out a soft sigh and pull Myron into a hug. Calmly I rub his back as he releases the tears, a few sobs escaping. While doing so, I send a glare at Morton. He shouldn't have said anything about Mother, especially not today. Morton rightfully looks guilty and is analyzing his shoes.

It takes a little while but when Myron's finally settled down I point at my bed. Obediently they both take a seat. I turn to Morton first and give him a hard look.

"You were only three when Myron was born and Mother died. You don't know what happened, you don't understand," I state calmly.

Morton snorts and rolls his eyes. "You were only four when Mother died, how do you know so much?"

I sigh, "I remember Mother, mostly her being pregnant, but I remember bits and pieces. You do too, Morton. You remember how sick she was during the pregnancy. She was sick before she even got pregnant, she knew what she was doing. We are lucky enough that Myron survived being born a month premature. Do you think she would want you blaming Myron for a decision that she made? Myron couldn't help that he was conceived while Mother was sick. Myron didn't have any more control over being born than you did."

Morton avoids my stare so I turn to Myron, "Myron. Do not blame yourself for Mother's death. Like I said, you had no control over that. She made her decision and we have to honor it, do you understand? Without her sacrifice, you wouldn't be here right now."

I look between the two and pull them into a sudden hug. Morton squirms a bit before finally giving in to the hug. "Now, what do you two say about a visit to Mason's?"

Morton and Myron both jump up and start down the stairs at the mention of visiting our eldest brother. I just roll my eyes and follow the two downstairs. When we reach the backroom Maddie gives me a sad smile, "Will had to leave, sorry. He said you could just meet him at his house, if you wanted. He said it's the first on the left when you enter Victor's Village."

I sigh and shake my head. Once again, I lose time with Will because of my family. I decide to meet Will at his house to salvage a little time before him leaving for a month to the Capitol. After dropping off Morton and Myron at a much stressed Mason's house, I hurry to the small community that lies fifteen minutes from the Square. A glance at the huge clock tower says I have two hours before having to meet my family and two and a half before the Reaping starts.

During the short walk, I notice the number of Peacekeepers roaming about but shake it from my mind. Will says we have the second most lax Peacekeepers out of all the Districts. As I enter Victor's Village, I see the train. It's the same train that has transported over a hundred District 8 tributes to their death and brought back only five. On the side of the train is, in large letters, printed DISTRICT 8 TRIBUTE TRAIN. At the mere sight of it makes my nerves fray a little. I take a deep breath and start the trek back towards Victor's Village.

Entering Victor's Village, it looks almost deserted. Only four large houses look lived in, but I know that only three are occupied. The second Victor to District 8 died four years ago during a hard winter. The other three belong to living Victor's. One is to our third Victor, Woof. The next is to our fourth and only female Victor, Cecelia. And finally, our most previous Victor of only three years ago, Will.

I start up the steps of the house that Maddie said was Will's when shouting can be heard. Out of the house comes District 8's very own escort, Kaila Kat. You can spot her a mile away with her snow white hair and matching cat ears, tail, and whiskers. If the cat details were not noticeable, her outfits surely were. She always wore something with ruffles and lace. Right now she had a skin tight lace dress that stopped at her knees and had ruffles sprouting out the back into a trail of sorts that billowed out behind her. Her heels were so high that I was sure she would fall down the steps.

She notices me and gives me a grin, making her whiskers rise up into the air a bit. I've never been this close to an actual Capitol person before and her appearance startles me with all the detail.

"Hello, dear. Are you a friend of Will's?" Kaila asks. Still stunned at her appearance, I only nod my head. Kaila takes my silence as a compliment. "Oh, you've noticed my cat details. They are wonderful, aren't they? It's a shame you in the District's can't enjoy our happiness with animal splicing."

Before I can say anything another woman comes out of the house. This one is another face I recognize, Cecelia. The only female victor our district. She gives me a soft smile and extends her hand. "You must be Molly. Will's told us all about you. He's in the parlor, arguing with his prep team again." Cecelia leans forward and whispers, "I'd be careful. He threw a knife earlier."

I give her a shocked look and Kaila shakes her head. "He has such a temper. It's not good for his image."

I knew Will had a temper that got out of hand but throwing knives? Before the Games I would say he had lied, however, after watching him in the Games, I knew it was very possible.

Cecelia glares at Kaila, "His image, or yours? I heard whispers that whoever is the escort of this year's Victor will get moved up to District 2."

Kaila rolls her eyes, "Please, his image has nothing to do with it. I'm just worried about whether or not he will help produce a winner this year. Same with you Cecelia, I'm worried that you will be to worried about your newborn to even think about producing a Victor for District 8's honor."

Kaila turns around and stalks off towards the Square, maneuvering on heels that I couldn't take a step in if I tried. Cecelia huffs and stalks towards the house across the street with pure anger etched across her face. I just stand on the steps for a few moments trying to digest what just happened. After gathering up courage, I knock a few times on the door. After no answer, I open the door and peek inside.

"Will? Will, where are you?" I shout into the house.

Finally, after no answer, I enter the house and follow the sound of voices. I reach a large room with a bunch of equipment to see Will standing with his arms crossed glaring at three obviously Capitol people. There is woman with pink tinted skin and purple spiky hair. A man, at least I think it is, has long, pale, green hair and bright, orange lipstick. The last Capitol person is woman. The only way she would be normal was if she was a tiger. Her body and hair have been dyed black and orange to match a tiger's fur. Along with the fur she sports, just like Kaila, cat ears, whiskers, and a tail. All three of them wear bright, wild clothes that I can't even begin to describe. I notice a couple pieces as some that I either tailored or saw a family member tailoring.

"I told you that I don't care what my stylist said, I'm not dying my hair jet black. I don't care if he wants that bad boy edge style. I'm not dying my hair, I'm not piercing myself, and I sure as hell am not dying my skin and getting spliced! You all can go to hell if you think I'm going to do any of that!" Will screams at the three of them.

The pink skinned and purple haired woman starts tearing up and the green hair man wraps his arms around her trying to comfort her. Tiger woman huffs and grabs a suit and tosses it to Will. "Fine. Cupid knew that you would refuse and said if we couldn't get you to see our way, to have you wear this."

Tiger Woman and Green Hair helps Pink Skin out of the room, passing me without a second look. I turn to gaze at Will and see him watching me carefully.

"You should have knocked before coming in," he simply states before walking past me and up the stairs.

I follow him and reply calmly, "I did knock. Several times but no one answered. Cecelia told me that you were waiting on me anyway, so I figured it wouldn't matter."

Will continues to climb the stairs as he responds with slight venom in his voice. "Cecelia should have turned you around. She knows how I get when I'm like this."

"Like what, Will? What's going on? You never tells me what happens when you have an episode. Only that you get dangerous and someone could get hurt."

We reach the top of the stairs and Will starts towards a room, but I call out another question. "Is there anything I can do to help?"

It happens so fast that I barely process Will slamming me against the wall and pinning me to it with his forearm. I grip at his arm as his presses across my chest. Our eyes meet and I see a look in his eyes that I have never seen before.

"Get out of here," he tells me. "That's how you help. If I hurt you I could never live with myself." He drops me to the floor and backs away slowly, his hands held up in the air. I see tears starting to form before he turns and stalks into a room down the hallway. He slams the door to the room shut and I can hear it locking it behind him.

I sit against the wall for a moment trying to gather my breath. I'd never seen Will cry before. Tears start to tumble down my face and in the distance I can hear the town bell, it's time for everyone to start making it towards the Square for the Reaping. After another moment of gathering my wits I head down the stairs and back to the Square. Will's reaction at the forefront of my mind.

I find my large family at our usual meeting point. Father's standing with an arm around Morton and Myron's shoulders talking to them about dinner tonight when I arrive. Father pulls away from my brother's and kisses my forehead in welcome. All of my older siblings gather around the four of us that will be in the Reaping and wrap us in a large group hug, Father being in the center with his arms hugging as many of us as he can reach.

After we break apart, I take Maddie's hand and wrap my an arm around Myron. Maddie looks like she's going to be sick and Myron looks far to pale. Morton stands slightly behind me and places a hand on my shoulder and on Maddie's. Father stands before us and just like every year tells us the same thing.

"No matter what happens today, we are family," he reminds us. He glances around all of us and narrows his eyes. "We do not volunteer for anyone. Do we understand?" Once all four of us nod our heads, he reaches out and pulls us into a finally hug. He kisses our foreheads and lets us go.

Our older siblings hug us and we hold on for a moment longer than we usually do, savoring something that may not come again. Finally, the four of us part from the others and head to the lines for check-in. Morton and Myron head to the boy's side and Maddie and I head to the girl's.

There are no specific lines for ages so I put Maddie in front of me and we get in the longest line. She's still looking like she's going to be sick so I need to talk her down before we get seperated.

"It's going to be okay Maddie. You're only in twice. Not to mention there are thousands of other girls here today. Your name being drawn is the same odds of Morton and Myron going a week without fighting," I tell her.

Maddie frowns. "I know. But still. There is that chance. Not only of my name coming out but what about you? You're in five times. Morton's in four, and Myron's in once. All together we have 12 chances of someone in our families name being drawn."

"We are far more blessed than other families, Maddie," I remind her. "Some people have their names in the bowl five times as many as our whole family. Think of how that 1 kid is feeling right now. They are probably a lot more worried than you are. So count our blessings and think about the dinner we are having tonight."

Maddie nods her head and turns around. I run my fingers through her long red hair and play with it while we wait in line. I've braided it and unbraided it several times before Maddie is finally the next in line. My hands fall to my sides as I watch Maddie slowly walk up the the female Peacekeeper. Her hand is extended out, awaiting Maddie's hand to prick for blood.

Maddie flinches when the needle pierces her skin but the Peacekeeper shows no emotion. Instead she looks up at my sister and asks, "Madalynn Morris?" With a nod of my sisters head the peacekeeper waves over another peacekeeper, one of the many standing in line awaiting instructions. "13 year olds, put her near the aisle."

Maddie turns to me with a look of panic but I can barely register it. My heart has started hammering in my chest. With District 8 being so large they have a preliminary drawing and place those in the preliminary drawing near the aisle for easy access when a name is drawn.

"Do as they say, Maddie. It's going to be okay," I tell her.

I try to show a calm exterior but I'm not so sure how that's working. As Maddie is lead away by the Peacekeeper, the woman doing check-in waves me forward. I step up to her and she pricks my finger. I flinch when the needle punctures my skin but I'm still focused on Maddie. The crowd is so thick that I can't see her anymore.

"Molly Morris?" she asks.

I turn back to her and nod my head in confirmation. At this she waves forward the next Peacekeeper. "16 year olds. Put her on the aisle."

My head starts to spin at this information. The last person in my family to be picked for preliminary drawing was my father and that was when he was 14. Now, Maddie and myself have been chosen? This isn't good.

As the Peacekeeper leads me away from check-in and towards the square I keep an eye out for my brothers. I can't find Morton anywhere but I up on one of the huge screens I see Myron front and center of the male 12 year olds. The Peacekeeper stops by the 16 year old female section and doesn't move until I've stepped over the rope.

More Peacekeepers line the aisles, ensuring those that are meant to stay near the aisle do so. During my first Reaping a boy in the 13 year old section tried to run when he was put in the aisle. He made it to the runoff street for the 14 year olds before the Peacekeepers shot him down. Ever since then we have a heavier presence down the aisle.

I watch as Peacekeepers come and go, bringing more kids to fill the sections. As time passes I zone out. My mind wanders between worrying about my siblings being Reaped and how Will reacted earlier. If possible I would go talk to him tomorrow but I know he'll be escorted onto the train immediately after the Reaping ceremony.

I get drawn from my thoughts as Kaila Kat walks onstage and says the dreaded words, "Happy 68th Hunger Games and May the Odds be Ever in Your Favor!"

Author's Note:

For those that follow me, I'm know this isn't what you were expecting. I'm still working through my Young Justice stories. This was a small story of mine a few years ago were I got writers block and gave up on it after a while of re-writing it. I've recently stumbled upon it again and I just couldn't help myself. I got to writing and I've got a few chapters. It's my first Hunger Games story and I've got big plans for it. However, updates are probably going to be inconsistent after Christmas. I'm still in college and will be taking several hard classes. That's for this story and my Young Justice ones.

For my new readers, Hello! I'm dorkmaster42! I'm not new to Fanfiction but I am new to writing Hunger Games fanfiction. I'm all for being in touch with my readers and I welcome constructive criticism. Leave me a review or send me a message. Heck, do both! I look forward to hearing from you!

To both new and old readers, let me know what you think of Molly, Will, and Molly's family. If you have any questions, leave them in the comment section or send them to me in a message. Can't wait to hear from everyone!