Ok, so we always hear about how someone wants to volunteer or are picked. Either way, they go into the games. But what about the people who are volunteered for? How do they feel, what were their thoughts?

I was about to die. This was District 11. No one would volunteer for me.

I walked slowly to the stage, then risked a look at Annika. In her big brown tear filled eyes, I saw my life. My family laughing, who would die without my support. Nika smiling at me when I first told her I loved her. The joy in her face when she said she was pregnant. Me getting my grandmothers wedding band, which I had planned on proposing to Nika with after our last reaping. Today.

That thought snapped me back to the present. I was halfway to the stage. Judging by everyones glances toward Nika, I could tell they were already sorry for her becoming a single mother. I climbed atop the stage and looked out towards the audience. A sudden scream came from the eighteen year old girls section, and Nika came sprinting at the stage.

"No!" She sobbed while being restrained by the peacekeepers. "You can't leave me, you can't leave our baby, please I love you!"

I felt my heart ripping in two. I longed to reach out to her, and almost did before hearing the most surprising sound of my life.

"I volunteer."

I looked up at the boy who was now my savior. A tall, slightly bulky while somehow still gangly boy walked out of the sixteen year old section. I recognized him as Chaff, a charming, if somewhat impulsive teenager who lived across the street from me. As he strode onto stage, my brain began to comprehend what exactly he just said. He'd take my place. Nika won't be alone. My family won't starve. My baby will have a father...I'll be alive.

I looked into his eyes. His grin told me he knew how grateful I was and patted me on the back. I jumped off the stage and grabbed Nika's hand.

I'm going to live.

So, what'd you think? I'm thinking that if you like it enough, I might put up a story of Chaff's games up after my current story. It will include a bit more about the couple from this extremely short one shot.