Chapter One:

Today was the most dreaded day of his life, but it happened every year. Here, in Division Eleven, everyone would be gathered in the village square to listen to our new mayor declare who would be the "lucky" children to go participate in the 61st Hunger Games.

William walked quietly to the square, his mother at his elbow, his father holding his mother's hand, and his five younger sisters swirled around him. He was the oldest, at seventeen. The next was Aileen, who just turned eleven. At least they didn't have to worry about her yet.

"Will, if your name is called," his father began.

"I'll have to go, father," Will replied in a shaky voice. "I'll do the best I can."

He looked pained. "William, listen, I am telling you, that no matter what happens, our family loves you. Those Careers will get the best advantage, but...I believe you can do it."

William looked at his hands sadly. "Thanks, father. And hey, I haven't been chosen yet! My name has been entered five times now, and nothing bad has happened."

"Don't be overconfident. We panic every year, son," his mother said quietly.

"And, first, we shall choose the boy," stuttered the new mayor, Mayor Dudley. He picked out the name with a trembling hand. In a loud voice, he called, "William Ericks."

William felt like someone had dumped a gallon of lead on him. "Th-they said m-my name, father."

His mother turned in to his father's embrace, sobbing. William roughly pushed past a young girl, an older couple, and a small family to climb on to the stage. He looked out at the crowd, seeing the misery on their faces.

"And for the girl," Mayor Dudley stammered, lifting a piece of paper. "Kayla Newers."

The young girl he had pushed by, trembling and looking shaken, followed him up on to the stage. William was lucky he was in shock, for he'd probably be panicking once everything hit him.

"No!" wailed a young man, probably her age. "You can't take her away!"

"I volunteer!" cried the other young man.

Mayor Dudley said sadly, "You cannot. It is against the rules for a boy to volunteer for a girl."

William frowned at the girl, feeling sorry for her. She was a small thing, only 5' 5". Sure, that was tall compared to the kids. Next to the other tributes at the Games, she'd look tiny. He knew her vaguely. She was a quiet girl, shy and withdrawn. She cared very much about other people and was a natural with helping out. Will knew that her love for people wouldn't help her in the Games at all.

"Alas, the reaping has ended," said a bubbly young woman, who had won the Games six years ago, when she was twelve. She had been the youngest at the Games, and the boy from the division had helped her, but he ended up dying because of a poisonous bite. "And I shall be your mentor!" She shook their hands, and introduced herself, "Dasha Serecks."

The girl was quiet, refusing to meet anyone's glances. "It's a pleasure," she mumbled.

"Same," William replied softly.

Dasha smiled a little painfully at them. "I'll be picking up you two tomorrow morning."

Will nodded, and avoided the crowd as he pushed past them, ignoring their shouts and questions as he walked home, his family following him silently.

William sank weakly in to a chair, and started to cry. He had never cried in his life before, except for when he dislocated his left shoulder. He didn't understand why he cried now.

"Will, we can..." his mother faltered, and spoke in a trembling voice. "We can make it through this."

Aileen through her arms around him, crying too. "I'm so sorry, Willie. I'm so sorry. I don't want to lose you!"

William patted her back, holding his sister close to him. "I love you, Aile. It's okay. I promise."

"You win this, you hear?" demanded Aileen. "I can't...I don't know what I'll do if you never come back."

"There's people who've trained for these Games since they were two, Aile. I don't know how I'll..."

"I DON'T CARE!" Aileen shrieked. "I can't lose you!" she sobbed.

"Aileen, go to your room and compose yourself," his father said softly.

Aileen turned and ran in to her room, slamming her door and her sobs filling the small house.

"Isabella, Annalie, Karalin, Terralla, go to your rooms," his mother ordered. All his sisters quietly walked in to the room after Aileen.

William looked up at his father. "You want to tell me something." It was a statement, not a question.

"Yes, I do, William Isaac Ericks." He walked over to the window, looking out it for a moment. "You take care of that little girl."

"She's not little," said his mother shortly. "She's almost fifteen."

"Yes, but do you know how small she'll seem compared to the other tributes?" his father snapped, not out of anger though.

William asked, "Why?"

He sighed. "Listen, before I married Adelaide, I dated the girl's mother."

His mother elbowed him. "I thought we didn't talk about th-"

He continued anyway, "Her mother, of course, lost interest in me and married the man who works in the farmhouse. Her mother died a few years ago, and she's lived with her father ever since. I don't care what happens, Will, you will take care of her."

William looked at his mother, who just shrugged and had the look that said, "just go along with it, 'kay?" He looked back at his father and nodded. "Yes, Father."

"Thank you."

There was a loud knock on the door, William walked to answer it. At the door, stood the man his father just previously talked about. The man who worked at the farm.

"Mr. Newers," William said, surprised.

"Mr. Ericks," replied the older man. "I have something for your family."

"Please, come inside," William offered, leading him and the girl inside.

"Thank you," He handed a plate of something to his mother. "Adelaide, John, I made these for you. It helped me feel better, and I thought your kids may like them."

Adelaide pulled the foil off to reveal some cookies. "Oh, thank you so much," she sniffled.

John put his arm around Adelaide. "Would you like to have dinner with us?"

"Much obliged," he replied, smiling in the same painful way Dasha Serecks had. "Kayla, this is John, Adelaide, and William. This is my daughter."

"I'm sure you were very saddened to hear the results of the reaping," said Adelaide.

"I'm sure you were as well," he replied, sitting down.

Kayla stayed standing, looking awkwardly at her hands. William was surprised when she spoke. "William, I'd like to speak to you."

He wasn't sure if she had even spoken, for she continued to look away. Everyone looked at her in mild surprise. William stammered, "Me?" He wasn't sure what about this girl made him feel so cornered and nervous, but he grabbed her elbow and pulled her in to a different room.

"I, um," she began quietly, staring at the opposite wall. "I am really scared." She hesitated, and then continued, "Are you?"

William felt shocked. His mouth was dry, so he licked his lips nervously. "Uh, yeah. Of course I'm scared."

Kayla looked at him in the eye for the first time. "I don't think I'll make it very far. I have confidence that you will win. If you do, can you take care of my father? He hasn't been the same since my mom died, and he...I don't know what he'd do without me."

William gulped and stuttered, "Kayla, I...I think you'll do fine."

"You think?" she said, a look in her eyes beyond comprehending. "I can't hurt anyone, William. Even if they're hurting me, I won't be able to do anything."

"Look," he started again, but she cut him off. "No, William. Just promise."

"I promise," William said after a long, uncomfortable pause.

There was a different look in her eyes now. Surrender. Sadness. Grief. "Thank you, William." She walked back in to the other room, leaving Will in shock.