Hello! Welcome to Firefly. This is the sequel to a series I wrote a while back called Faith. You don't need to read that story to read this one, I promise. It's pretty terrible anyway. I hope you enjoy!

Lilith

This is truly the best day of the year.

The best month of the entire year was about to start. A month where we hardly did work in school. A month where our parents would let us stay up late watching TV. We'd eat popcorn and pizza and glue our eyes to our screens. This month, my friends would crowd into my living room every day, making bets between each other, hoping our favorites would make it, just for today. We could do whatever we want; my parents were usually out all day and night betting on tributes, and watching the Games with their friends from work.

But this year would be the best Hunger Games of all.

It would start as normal; we would have the day off and the whole family would watch the choosing ceremonies together in our living room. Just the four of us, for now. My parents liked it to just be us at the very beginning, so that they could lecture us on exactly what was happening, and what the Hunger Games meant.

But then, in exactly one week, the opening ceremonies would happen. The Tributes would come to the capital, and this year I would get to go. I would get to see the Tributes in their lavish costumes as they faced the Capitol and Panem for the first time.

I had begged my Dad to take me. He and Mom went every year, being as important as they are, and last year he finally promised to get me a ticket as well.

"It's very crowded, you must understand," he told me, "And it can get rowdy. You're just not old enough."

But this year, I was.

Damian was very upset when he found out he wasn't allowed to go. But he's four years younger than I am. He can wait. And he would be going to the interviews with us too, right before the Games started. It would be the first year for both of us going to the interviews. My parents used it as a social event, and thought having us there would make it difficult for them to start making bets. But this year, they finally gave in. After all, all of our cousins got to go to the interviews.

This would be the best month of my life.

All of my friends were jealous, of course. Every since we were little, we had always dreamed of going to all of the ceremonies, being able to see the Tributes in person and not on screen. We could always try to see them when they fist came in on the trains, but it was always very crowded, and my parents wouldn't let me skip school to go.

Castalia was almost angry with me when I told her I would be able to go to both ceremonies. She didn't talk to me for a week, and when I finally confronted her, she told me that, "It's not fair that you get to have everything, Lil," and then accused me of bragging just because my father had a better job than hers. I don't believe I've ever done that. When I asked Abel if I ever acted snobbish, he just scoffed and said, "Don't listen to Cas. She's just jealous. You're one of the most humble people I have ever met."

I couldn't be mad at Castalia though. Her parents work in economics too, but they didn't hold as high of a position as my father. They started having hardships last year, when their parents bet a lot of money on Rone, the boy from District 4, very early on. They weren't the only ones, but they placed so much money with Rone. He ended up dying not long after the bloodbath.

Not only was Cas's family humiliated, but they lost a ton of money. Things had been stressful at her house ever since.

I had a couple more friends too, like Ronan and Parker and Jade and Hecate-but Cas and Abel had always been my best friends. Abel, unfortunately, wouldn't be coming over for the Games this year. I had tried to make plans with him, but he shrugged me off, saying that he was just going to watch them with his family. Ever since we've been friends, which is since we met in First Year, he's been coming over to my house for the Games.

I didn't ask why. He'd been acting aloof and strange for the past couple of months. I didn't push it, I figured there was some family stuff going on at home he didn't want to talk about. His older brother left to go train Peacekeppers in District 2 several years ago, and I thought it may have something to do with that. Children of well off parents like his didn't go off into the districts to go train police officers.

"Call Castalia!"I said before I got out of bed.

In a few seconds, she shows up on my screen, her face ten feet tall. Her, long, light brown hair was already curled, dancing around her head and gliding off of her shoulders. Her makeup was done as well, light green eyeshadow and brown eyeliner around her brown eyes. She was sitting on her bed, already dressed in a white and green polka dot dress and matching heels. On her head, she wore an emerald crown.

"Oh districts, Lil," she exclaimed, "You're not even out of bed!"

"It's seven in the morning," I yawned, swinging my legs out from under the covers.

"Yes, and the reapings start in two hours!"

"So, that means I have plenty of time to get up," I stand up and scratch my arms.

"Oh would you-stop!" she looked disgusted, and I laughed. "This is not funny!" she pursed her lips, making her mouth incredibly small, "If you don't start putting more effort into your appereance, when you're older-"

"When I'm older," I muttered, "I'm already older."

In six months my regular schooling would end, and I would be expected to start working toward a career. Most everyone around my age already had their heart set on something, but me, I kept pretending the day would never come at all.

"You should have been up an hour ago, at least!" Cas kept blabbering on.

"It's my day off!"

"You need to get into the habit. On school days, you do the same thing!" She started pacing around her room as I started to brush out my hair, "You practically where the same outfit every day, and everyone notices-"

"Do people really care about me that much," I roll my eyes and start looking through my closet.

"Yes!" she practically yelled, "Because you're a rich girl and you dress like you don't care!"

"I don't care," I yawn again as I examine a gray dress.

"Exactly. Hera Wilxon things you're starting a rebellion."

"She gets all of that from the way I dress?" I chuckle to myself. Hera Wilxon wasn't incredibly smart, and she thought everyone was starting a rebellion after studying the 75th Hunger Games in class.

"Didn't she say you were starting a rebellion because you flirted with her boyfriend once," I reminded her.

"So Hera was a bad example, I'll admit," Cas shrugged, "But honestly, it's hard being around you sometimes. Just plain hard. People are always asking me about you, wanting to know why you're so strange-"

"Your life must be so very difficult," I'm practically ignoring her, trying to decide between two different gray dresses.

"And what do I say?"

"That you're not some bitch who judges people on the way they dress?" I decide on the gray velvet dress with the red bow.

"It's not just the way you dress Lil, we've been over this," she sighed, "It's everything about you."

After Cas cuts off the connection, I put on my smooth gray dress and tie my blonde hair up into a bow. I dressed a bit differently from the others; I opted for more neutral tones instead of colorful clothes, but it wasn't like I was the only one who did that. And there were other things too, for sure. I could be outspoken in history class, sometimes being on the unpopular side of debates, but it wasn't like I was alone in that either.

Everybody had differences, something that made them different from everyone else. I didn't know why I had to be perfect just because of who my parents are.

I exit my room and walk down my hallway, past my bathroom, closets, and entertainment quarters. I enter the main part of the house and see my father looking down at his portable screen. As I said before, he works in the economy. I didn't understand his job; I never really cared for it.

And then I see my mother, already sitting at the dining room table.

Helen Snow. The sister of the president.

Posy Snow had been elected not long after his father, the former president died. My mother was his little sister.

"Lilith!" My father sees me staring down from the balcony, "Just in time for breakfast! Your brother, on the other hand..."

"I'm here!" Damian rushes in next to me from his hallway. Even Damian wouldn't sleep in late on reaping day.

We both make our way down the main staircase. At the bottom is the foyer, where my father was sitting. The dining room, where my mother is, is just to the right. On the left is a sitting area where we will watch the ceremonies today. Our house is bigger than most, but not as big as it could be. My parents didn't want too big of a house. My mother grew up in the president's mansion, and she said it often felt empty and hollow.

My family sits at the dining room table while one of our servants, Vera, brings out our breakfast. Usually breakfast is an assortment of fruit and wheat toast to keep us healthy. But today we are celebrating. She lies dishes of scrambled eggs, bacon, mini sausage, french toast, pancakes, and waffles out on the table, far more than is needed for just the four of us. I figured the servants eat our leftovers. At least, that's what I hoped happened. It seemed wasteful to me to throw all of this food out.

Today, I gorged myself. I figured holiday's were when people could let themselves go and do what they wanted. I would get the full enjoyment of today's reaping day.

I ate until I didn't feel I could felt like I was going to pop, like a balloon with too much air. Vera took the plates away, and my parents both fell silent, staring down at their portable screens. My father was probably doing something for work. My mother was just probably speaking to a friend. Being the president's daughter, she had never had to work a day in her life. She didn't want to get into politics like her brother did.

"All I wanted was to build a family," she told me once.

I'm used to this silence; after all, we can't all be attentive to each other all of the time, with there being so much going on in the world. My brother was also looking down at his screen, probably talking to a friend, so I pulled out mine and sent a message to Abel.

He didn't answer.

I sighed. I hoped that everything was all right with him at home. I wanted to help him, but at the same time I didn't want to pry. Abel was the type of person who liked to keep some things private, which I respected. But I just hoped that whatever was making him act so distant lately didn't ruin the games for him this year. He loved the games so much, almost as much as I did.

Time passed, all of us still sitting at the dining room table like statues, hunched over our own devices. Abel still didn't respond. I talked to some other friends, all of us making guesses about what type of people would be reaped. It was five minutes to nine before my mother looked up from her screen and.

"It's almost time!" she said with a smile.

We all made our way to the other side of our house, the sitting area, with the broadcast screen that covered almost the entire wall.

Right now, Caesar Flickerman was talking to some other guy. The screen was muted, and I couldn't hear what they were saying. My parents wanted to make their speech first.

"You all know that today is a very special day," my father began, straightening his red necktie, "The Hunger Games are a very important part of our countries history."

"Yeah, we know," Damian rolled his eyes and slumped back into his chair.

"Listen to your father," my mother warned. She sat up from her red chair and stood up next to him, "The games are always a fun time in the year, but you must know the history that goes along with it to truly understand why we have them."

"It is because we can never forget history," I piped in, "If we forget history, we will make the same mistakes in the future. The Hunger Games serves to remind the districts why Panem is the way it is."

"And to remind the districts of the mistakes their ancestors have made, correct Lilith," my father beamed at me. "So you must understand, we cannot go forth with the Hunger Games if we forget our history. Then, the games will have no point."

My mother turned the sound on the screen on, and we all watched as we were brought to district 1, where the first reaping will take place.

Moonlight

I've known that I would win the Hunger Games for years.

Ever since we started watching it on TV, ever since I started going to the training center. When I started receiving top marks and my parents would look at me with pride in their eyes. I knew that one day I would go the Hunger Games and I would win.

And that's exactly what I told everyone. An eight year old with no filter, I pissed a lot of people by boasting that I was going to win one year. I always talked about how I would volunteer, and who I would beat. Everyone got annoyed. Those who trained with me tried to sabotage me, tried to injure me, but I only got better. Even my younger brother, Sun, started to get annoyed with me, telling me that I should talk about the games a little less.

Why should I? I was going to win one day, and everyone knew it. That's why I stopped going to the training center a few years ago; I was afraid someone would injure me and I would never be able to compete. Didn't they want me to bring pride to the district? I trained at my home now, alone, with my little sister. My brother stopped training altogether, having no interest in the games.

My sister, Star, on the other hand, was my biggest supporter. Right from the moment that I said that I was going to win, she believed me. Each year, since I was eligible, she kept asking me when I was going to volunteer. She's ten now, and still years away from the games. She says she wants to win like I will. I'd started to let her train with me. I wasn't sure if Star could win, but I still had plenty of time to talk her out of volunteering. After I'd won, she wouldn't need it anyway. She'd get plenty of glory just by being my little sister. We were a package deal.

That's why she was the first one in my room this morning, jumping on the bed.

"Today's the day Moon!" she giggled, "Today! Get up!"

I laughed. She was so small, her brown hair bouncing everywhere. Her dark hair was unusual here in District 1. Her dark eyes were as well. Me and Sun looked more like most people in the district, with blond hair and light colored eyes. Mine blue. His green.

She leaped off of my bed, "You're still volunteering, right?"

I nodded, smiling, and sat up. I promised her this year, my sixteenth year, would be the year that I tried for the first time. I would have waited until I was 18, and had as much training as possible, but there was no guarantee that I would be able to make it to the stage before all the other people volunteering. This way, I had three chances. I knew it was likely that I would get there first, I was a fast runner and I had strong arms to push people out of my way, but I wanted to be sure.

"Good," she said, with a grin on her face. I saw that she already had a dress on that she would wear when she stood with mom and dad in the stands. Her hair wasn't done yet though, still tangled and sticking in every which direction. She didn't have her shoes on yet either. I checked the clock next to my bed, realizing I slept in and I didn't have that much time to get ready. My parents probably figured I was already awake.

"Go finish getting ready," I tell Star, "And wake up Sun, too, if he isn't up already."

Sun was 14, so this would be his first reaping. Even though he didn't want to go into the Games, he had nothing to worry about. Even if he did get reaped, which was unlikely, someone else would volunteer and take his place. Today would usually just be another day for him, except the fact that I was volunteering.

Ever since I told the family last week, he hadn't spoken to me. My mom thought he would come around, but so far, he hasn't.

I get out of bed and quickly take a shower. I can't show up to the reaping day all gross. Once I'm clean and dry with my makeup on, I go into the closet and take out the dress that I've had picked out for a month.

It's a red fabric that looks like lace and wraps around my torso. The bottom half is lose and short, so I won't have any problem running to the stage. For my shoes, I wear flats that I've been practicing running in for a month for a year. I was just as fast in them as I was in running shoes. Some kids show up to the reaping in normal clothes and sneakers, but I wanted to make an impression. This was my Hunger Games, and I wanted to make that very clear from the start.

I tie my hair up in a bun. Not only does it look elegant, but I won't have to worry about my hair getting in my face when I'm running. I hold it in place with a silky red bow.

Finally, I put on jewelry. Nothing clunky or loose that could deter me. Just a simple red bracelet that is tight around my wrist, and a red choker that my mother gave me. Less is more, I learned, when it came to fashion. The people of the Capitol may believe otherwise, but they all looked ridiculous, and everyone knew it.

When I get down to breakfast nobody but Star is dressed. I need to show up earlier than most people to ensure that I get a good spot. If I'm forced to stand in the back, there is no way that I'll beat the other volunteers on their way up to the stage. Sun isn't there yet, my sister tells me that he has refused to get out of bed. I had been hoping to see him before I left.

I eat some fruit and some juice, not feeling very hungry, but knowing that I would need my energy. I was too excited, I didn't care about food. Finally, around seven, I told my parents I was on my way.

The reaping didn't start for a few more hours; District 1 had the earliest reaping for Capitol viewing pleasure. But people would start arriving soon, other volunteers, people I needed to beat.

My parents look proud, but there is a hint of sadness in their eyes as well. I've never been apart from them for very long, so this next month is going to be difficult for them. They didn't doubt my ability to win, of course not. They were my parents, my biggest supporters. They'd paid for me to go to training, and when I decided to start training at home, they made sure I had everything I needed. This was their dream as much as mine. Both of them had tried to volunteer when they were children but never made it. I was their hope.

I hug them both and Star before I head off.

"Starlight," I hear my mother say to my sister before I leave, "Go wake your brother up, and tell him there are no excuses this time."

The reaping will be taking place in the center of District 1, which was a couple of miles from where I lived. I took the shuttle, which would be stopping down the street from me in two minutes. I rushed the to get there, jumping on a cart and getting a seat.

My cart was empty, but looking back at other carts, I saw a scattering of other kids, some dressed nicely, some dressed for war. I knew I wouldn't be the only one with the idea to get to the square early.

It takes only five minutes for the shuttle to arrive outside of the square, and I hope off and walk quickly to the check in. There are a few people around, just talking in groups, clearly not in a rush to get anywhere. Then there are people like me. People who have their sights right at the check in booth, which wouldn't even be open for another hour. Already there was a small line forming. I rushed over, and stepped in line. I was about twenty people back. This wasn't bad at all; there was plenty of room down at the front. Twenty people could fit, and half of the people here were boys anyway, I wouldn't have to worry about them.

I had been standing there for not even five minutes when I heard a familiar voice from a few people behind me in line.

"I need to stand right near the aisle," the girl said, "Or else I'll never make it."

Shine Evers.

In fifth grade, when I was climbing the high rope, she moved the mat out from underneath me. Luckily back then I was already a strong enough climber, and I shimmied back down. The next year, we were spar partners, and she would keep attacking my legs where I wasn't padded. She wasn't trying to beat me; she was trying to wound me.

She was the reason I left training, and I scowl now, hearing her voice behind me. Last year, Shine was reaped. Her name came out of the bowl. It's a worst nightmare for someone who wants to volunteer. When you're reaped, you can't volunteer, and you can't oppose any of the volunteers. When she was reaped, she knew there was no chance that she would make it into the Hunger Games. The girl who volunteered for Shine, Jewel, placed third at least years' games. I was going to win this year. I was going to win for District 1.

"Yeah, and make sure you're up close as possible," I heard Belle, one of Shine's friends. Well, not friend exactly, more like a minion. Following Shine around, thinking that if Shine won the Hunger Games, then she could become rich and famous, to. The Victor's best friend.

I knew from the very beginning that Shine could never be a champion, that spot was reserved for me.

I stand for the next hour, listening to their conversation. Shine is so certain that she'll make it, I'm almost embarrassed for her. I risk a quick glance around. She's wearing cargo pants and running shoes, of course. She probably thinks that will give her an advantage over me. It doesn't. I had always been faster and stronger than Shine. Always. There was no way in hell I was letting her get in front of me.

Finally the check in starts. When it gets to be my turn, the lady pricks my finger, and I can see my name show up on her DNA scanner. Now it's time to take my place.

I walk, quickly, to the stage, where the few people before me in line have already gathered. The girls were on the right, the boys on the left, with an aisle in the middle. I make my way right up to the velvet rope, getting as close to the alley as possible. There's a few people in front of me, but I can easily grab their arms and pull them beside me. These girls are not stronger than me; there is no way that they have had the same intense regimen that I've had.

The crowd fills in, and I can see the rest of District 1 filling in the stadiums. I try to find my parents and Star, but I can't. They're too far away, and there's too many people.

I peer my neck over at the boy's side, trying to find Sunlight. I finally find him in the back, wearing usual clothing, not looking happy to be there.

I try to send him a wave, but either he doesn't see me or he ignores me.

Clarissa Dunkin walks to the stage, our escort, along with the two mentors this year, Glow and Pearl. Ugh, Pearl had won her Hunger Games by hiding until everyone else died. Not exactly what I wanted from a mentor. Did Cashmere not want to come back this year? Maybe she was getting too old.

Clarissa taps the microphone, and the crowd is silenced. I tense up. I'm ready.

Coda Fredericks

"I don't understand," I pant, "Why," I pant again, and then swing my staff at my Dad. He ducks, but I didn't want to hit him anyway, "We have to," I duck from his swing, "Do this," I jab my staff right into the padding at his chest, "Right now."

My Dad took off his mask and laughed, "No time like the present to get a little training in."

I've been training every day since I was five years old. I thought today, the reaping day, I would be able to relax in the morning a bit. Apparently that didn't match with my father's training regimen.

"I've got to go shower," I say as I take off my mask. I only have a few hours until the ceremony starts.

The cold water feels amazing over my sweating skin and aching muscles. I'm so tall, I have to bend down just to get the water in my hair, but I don't care. I like being one of the taller kids, it makes people less likely to cross me. today, at the Reaping, it will ensure that I have less people trying to get in the way.

I'm 18, and this is my last chance to get into the Hunger Games. Everyone knows it's gonna be me this year. They didn't even both to go over the volunteering rules yesterday at training because everyone knew that it was my turn to volunteer. It was in my blood.

My uncle had been the Victor of the Hunger Games fifteen years back.

He didn't have any children of his own, so my Dad had decided I would be the one to carry on his legacy. I was my Dad's only child. It had to be me, I'm pretty sure the minute I was born, my Dad saw me as his Victor. Mom did too, up until she died. She was a peacekeeper, and was killed during a small rebellion in District 12 a few years ago.

My uncle, unusually, was the only one who didn't seem to support the idea of going into the Hunger Games. I would think that he would be proud of me supporting his legacy, and for a long time, I thought that was the truth. Until one day a few years ago, when I crept downstairs in the middle of the night to get a snack, I heard them talking in the kitchen.

"You can't keep forcing this on him, Drake," I heard my uncle whisper.

"I'm not forcing anything on him Devin, this is what he wants-"

"What he wants, or what you've told him he wants? I don't know why you'd want your own son to go through that."

"You went through it," my father sneered, "Do you think that he just doesn't have the strength? Oh so he's my son, so he's not strong enough?"

"Of course I think he's strong enough Devin, you've built him like a god damn machine! How could he not be strong enough! I'm just saying you don't know what goes down in the arena. You don't know what I had to go through."

"Oh, I don't know what you went through! I watched it on the TV! With Mom and Dad biting their nails the whole damn time! Wondering if their kid was going to come back-"

"And you wanted to do that again? You want to sit here every day wondering if Coda is going to make it out alive? That's what you want?"

There was silence for a moment before my father said, "I know he'll make it out alive."

"Even if he does survive, Devin, there's a toll that places takes on you. One that doesn't go away. Remember when I came home, how I didn't speak for a month, there are days where I wished that I had died in there, I wished I had died so I wouldn't have to see the faces of everyone I knew and died every minute."

"Don't say that," my father stammered, "Don't say you would have rather died, mom and dad went through too much-"

"And you want to go through that?"

"He will be fine. And besides, you got better."

"That's what you think."

I went up to bed then, hiding my father underneath my pillows, pretending that I hadn't heard anything. I had never told my Dad or my uncle what happened that night, and things went on as normal.

After my shower, I got dressed in fairly simple clothes. Just dress pants, a shirt, and a pair of my Dad's nicer shoes. We were well off enough, but we didn't particularly want to spend much money on clothes. Most of our money went toward my training and equipment. The few times I had an inkling that I wanted to quit, to give up on the Hunger Games and just live a normal life, I remembered everything that my Dad had put into this. Most of his money. Most of his time. The guy hadn't had a day off in years, ever since Mom died. If I gave it all up now, all of it would have been for nothing. And I couldn't do that to him.

He left the training center then. His Dad had already gone home to get ready there. He would see his Dad later, but right now he had someone else he wanted to see.

Walking past the stores in the center of town he saw her, sitting at the coffee shop that she always went to in the morning. Most stores were closed on the Reaping day, but everyone needed coffee. The store would close soon anyway. her red hair slid off her shoulders, and she had a cup of coffee in her hand, while she flipped through a magazine. She had on a white dress and matching heels, already dressed for the reaping.

"Anna."

She looked up at me, and when she saw it was me a smile formed. Normally I would have loved this, but this wasn't a smile that meant she was happy to see me. It was not love in her eyes. It was pity.

"Codaaaa," she said, pretending to be glad I was there, "What's up?"

"I'm just waiting, you know, for the reaping," I rubbed the back of my neck. This girl was the only person in the entire world that could make me feel small.

Today should be the best day of my life. When I imagined going into the Hunger Games, I imagined Anna waiting for me to get back. When I told her I was for sure volunteering this year, she broke up with me.

That was two months ago. We've barely spoken since then.

I didn't understand. She had known that this was my future, just like everyone else had. Why had she dated me for two years if she didn't want me to go to the games so bad. Did she think she could change my mind?

This was my destiny. Nothing could change that.

"I knowww," she said, taking a sip of her coffee, "I'll head over there soon, I guess."

I looked again at her outfit. There was no way that she was volunteering, she wasn't dressed for the fight. Anna had always been opposed to the games and the training, I just always thought I was the exception to her her rule.

"I just, I..." I didn't know what I wanted to say. I didn't even know why I wanted to see her so bad. Did I think she would rush into my rooms after barely speaking for two months?

"I wish you luck," she said, ignoring my muttering, going back to her magazine. She had ended the conversation, she wanted me to go. It wasn't fair, I never got to say what I wanted when the relationship ended. When she ended it.

I could stand here and tell her everything that I felt. How betrayed I felt when she left me for something that was so deeply a part of me there was no way that anyone could ever get rid of it. Not even her. She couldn't change my destiny, no matter how hard she tried. Why should I be punished for that.

Instead I turn around and start walking back toward my house.

"Stupid," I said aloud to myself, "Stupid, stupid, stupid."

When Anna had broken up with me, I threw my life into my training even more than before. I didn't talk to people, I didn't sleep, I barely ate, I just trained. Eventually I got better, once my Dad noticed there was something else. But still, two months later, I got the urge to just train and block the world out.

I guess that was what I was doing. Going into the Hunger Games would be like blocking the world out. Once I left today, I wouldn't have any contact with my family until I get back.

If I get back.

No, I can't think like that. I have to think like that. If I remind myself that it's possible that something will happen in the arena and won't make it back out in time, then I won't have the strength to carry on. I won't have the guts to go up there and volunteer today. I would chicken out, and everything that my dad has done for me will be for nothing. He will never be able to look at me again without remembering how much I disappointed him, and I would never be able to look at him again knowing how much he lost for nothing.

When I step into my house my father is already fully dressed.

"Son," he said, "Shouldn't you be on the way to check in by now?"

"I wanted to come back first," I said, "You had left the training center by the time I got out of the shower."

"Yes," he admitted, "I wanted to shower here, at home. Now go on, get going.

He turned back to the sink, and started to wash some dishes.

"Dad..." I began to say.

He turns around and looks at me, the slightest hint of irritation in his eye, "Yes, son?"

"You know I love you right?"

"Of course, Coda. We'll have time to talk later. Go on, you want a good spot. Just in case."

Just in case. Just in case someone takes my spot away from me.

I decide to walk to the square instead of taking a shuttle. I still had plenty of time, and I knew that I could get a spot at the front no matter how late I showed up. By the time I got there, a sizable crowd had already formed. Several people turned around and stared at me when I was in line. They knew just as well as I knew that this was mine.

I had just gotten to a good spot a few rows back from the stage when the music started playing, and the ceremony began.

Emerald

I want to sleep in, since school is off and all, but Wolfgang clearly doesn't understand that. He licks my face and jumps on me until I finally groan and push him off.

God, I wish I could just sleep through today.

I should probably dress in something nice, due to the occasion, but I'm just not up to it. I throw on tan-colored pants and a purple shirt, and tie my hair back in a ponytail. I don't even bother to shower. I'm not exactly dirty anyway.

Wolfgang follows me around the room, watching me get ready. He clearly doesn't know what today is, he doesn't know that two people from the district would be leaving today and very well not returning.

I look down at my outfit. We're supposed to dress extra nice on the reaping day, but this is just something I would wear to school. I put on my brown boots, for the only other shoes I own are white heels my sister gave me. I've never worn them. I never plan to.

When I get downstairs, I see my sisters already sitting at the breakfast table. This is the first and last year all four of us will be eligible for the reaping.

Alexandra looks at what I'm wearing and scoffs at me. She's the one who gave me the heels. At 18, this was her last reaping, and she was nervous. With Tessera, her name was in there about 34 times.

Jade, her twin, was also having her last reaping. her name was also in 34 times.

I'm in the next oldest, and my name is in 9 times.

Peridot sits quietly, not eating, examining her fingers. Her name is in only once, the rest of us decided that she shouldn't have to collect tessera. We didn't need it this year, we got by on just the three of us.

The future, though, when we wouldn't collect from Alex and Jade anymore, was a different story.

"I don't feel like dressing up today," I snickered and sat down at the table. I wasn't very hungry, but I stuffed down a few pieces of toast, not wanting to waste food.

"They won't appreciate that," Alex went back to her oatmeal.

"They don't have to appreciate anything," I muttered. I'll show up. I'll put my name in. But I'm not giving them anything else.

Alexandra is acting even more petty than usual, which means we're nervous. We all are.

Jade seems the most collected, pouring herself over her school books, as if the next few hours couldn't change the course of her life forever. As if the next few hours couldn't sentence her to death.

"Where's Dad?" I ask, forcing myself to bite into my toast. Wolfgang whines for food next to me. My Dad didn't want a dog because of all the money they would cost. But when we found Wolfgang in our backyard, my sisters and I couldn't bear to send him to the shelter where he would be killed.

"Still sleeping," said Jade, mouth full of food. "He hates this day, you know."

Who the hell does?

It's like this every year. Dad won't get up until we leave. He'll come to the ceremony, but only because he has to. And then after, he'll be happy, and we'll eat dinner together and laugh, and we'll pretend none of it ever happened.

Peridot is still staring at her food.

"Come on, Peri," Jade urges, "Eat something. You have to. You'll feel better."

"Don't force her," Alex mumbled through bites of oatmeal. "She'll eat later today."

I tried not to think of later today. Of who would be chosen. Of course, I hoped it wouldn't be me or my sisters, but there were so many other people it could be. Would it be a friend from school? Would it be someone I knew? I hope it's not anyone I know. Every year, I've made it out with nobody I knew too well getting picked. But each year, this could change.

"We're going to be late," Alex warned, finishing up her oatmeal. "Jade, put that book down. You live in District 7. You're not going to be a doctor."

"Doctors are needed everywhere," Jade pointed out.

"We have all the doctors we need."

"We're going to need new ones someday."

"The doctor's children will take over. Your parents are lumberjacks, Jade. None of them will ever train you," Alex snatched the book out of her hand. I could see now that it was a biology book.

"Well, at least becoming a doctor is better than trying to move up the social classes by marriage."

All of Alex's boyfriends had been rich boys. She crinkled her nose, "It's the only way around her, and you know it."

We walk as a group to the center of town, where the ceremony will be held. I hold onto Peridot's hand, guiding her along. Her shoes are dragging in the mud below us.

"Don't get your shoes dirty," Alex warned her, "Those are new."

After we check in, Alex and Jade go to the back of the group with all of the other 18 year olds. Normally, all of the twelve year olds go to the front, but Peri stays with me, holding my hand.

This truly was the worst day of the year.