Madge wakes up the morning of the Reaping with a lock of hair between her lips. It might be a bad omen. Her blonde hair is long, maybe too long, and after her shower, she ties it up in a pretty ponytail. Madge watches the sun rise in the sky and thinks she should have done this more often while she had the chance. After today, everything will change.

Madge pulls a red ribbon from her dresser and ties herself a bow for her ponytail. Looking at herself in the mirror, she notices that her mother is right. She looks just like her Aunt Maysilee. And, just for today, Madge is alright with that.

Her father hugs her extra tightly at breakfast, and they walk to the square in silence. Her mother is much too ill to come out for a reaping of all things.

Madge is almost happy that her mother can't come, because it means that she won't see it happening.

It's unfortunate for Madge that Katniss and Peeta have very little friends.

Standing in a tight circle are three girls and four boys.

Delly Cartwright is a good friend of Peeta's and Madge knows that she's scared out of her mind. Dressed in a pretty green dress, Delly looks like a leaf as she shakes in fright in front of everyone. Delly wouldn't last two seconds in the Games, Madge thinks, and what a waste it would be. Madge reads her father's papers and she knows- she knows- just how bad it is in the other districts. There was a lot to lose should District Twelve not make an impression in these Games. Madge thinks Delly is too soft, too kind for the Games- but then again, so many would say the same of herself.

Next to Madge is Prim. Prim. She's hiding her face in Madge's arm, avoiding Katniss' hard gaze. It isn't fair, she thinks. Madge stares back at Katniss and swallows. Katniss looks ready to snap, ready to push Effie off the grey stage and instigate a full scale rebellion in Twelve, but Peeta's grip on her hand seems to be grounding her to her spot from Madge's point of view. She wants to yell at her, tell her to do something, but Katniss can't do anything and neither can Peeta, or Haymitch. He refuses to meet her gaze. Madge is sure he's drunk on stage again.

Just the statement President Snow wanted to convey- victors are powerless against the Capitol.

Effie's gold painted hand dips into the glass bowl and fiddles with the three slips inside. It doesn't matter to Madge whose name comes out of the reaping bowl, because she knows what's going to happen.

She's known ever since the Quell was announced. That's why her father has to ask why he hasn't heard her playing piano, or why her hands are covered in blisters, or why she doesn't come home on time anymore.

Madge is ready, maybe.

More ready than Prim or Delly at any rate.

Madge is ready to give them a show and go out with a bigger bang than her aunt. She wants to avenge the fallen tributes- not only the aunt she never met, but all of them.

When Prim Everdeen's name is called for the second time, Madge peels the girl off her arm, hands her to Delly, and volunteers.

-oOo-

Gale knows that while there are four slips of paper in the boys bowl, they all have his name on them. He knows this for a fact, because Katniss knows this for a fact because Snow told her so. He doesn't expect Peeta's brothers or his friend Derek to volunteer.

He's spoken to his mother, given Posy an extra tight hug and Vick a good hair ruffling. It all feels so final.

Rory stands next to him, trying to act strong, but it doesn't work considering the kid's barely turned 12 and shaking like a leaf. Gale's already warned him not to do anything stupid. Since the day the Quell was announced, he's taken time to teach Rory snares and some basics about survival in District Twelve. He'll have to know how to take care of their family once Gale is gone.

When he goes into the arena, Gale won't expect to come back. He's told himself time and time again that the Capitol won't let him live. They want to make a statement: No one is safe.

That's not to say he won't try to win. He's not going to let the Capitol kill him without putting up a good fight.

But the odds are definitely not in his favor.

Effie draws the girl's name first and he's not surprised to hear Prim's name again. He's prepared for that. He's ready to protect Prim.

He's more surprised when Madge Undersee volunteers. Katniss is surprised too.

Madge helps Delly hold onto Prim before she casually walks up to the stage. The red ribbon in her swaying ponytail stands out as she climbs each stair with deliberate steps. When she shakes Effie's hand, Gale flinches. She's angry and he can tell. Madge looks almost scary.

She is not the same girl he used to sell strawberries to.

Gale almost feels bad for her- it isn't fair, the Games are never fair - until his name is pulled and Rory opens his fucking mouth.

"I volunteer!"

He'll kill him himself.

Gale's grabs his little brother by the shoulders and shakes him angrily, shouting, "Rory-"

"They need you more than me!" His brother sobs and Gale shakes his head and pulls his brother behind him when the Peacekeepers come to escort him to the stage.

"He didn't mean it!" Gale growls when one of them asks Rory to come quietly.

"Rules are rules. Stand aside, Hawthorne."

"Get away from him!" Gale's just about to punch the Peacekeeper when Peeta and Haymitch come stumbling off the stage to calm things down. But Gale will not be calm, he will not let his brother do this, he won't let them-

"He's not going!" He pushes Rory further behind himself and he seethes. Peeta and Haymitch try arguing with them but victors have no say.

Gale reaches behind him but comes up empty. He spins around to find that Rory has moved around them all and is climbing up the stairs. Madge is trying to get him to go back.

The last thing he remembers seeing is a fighting Madge being hoisted out of sight by two Peacekeepers, and then it's black.


A/N: A little project that was inspired by Gadge week. More chapters to come, let me know what you think.