*Author's Note: I'm going to be switching between a District (or two) and it's tributes for each chapter until the games begin, for this chapter I'll be writing from the POVs of District 4 and and one tribute from District 1!*

Ariel's POV

Quickly after Eric and I boarded the train I rushed off to my room. I didn't want to see his face. How could he volunteer when I was chosen? Doesn't he realize only one of us can live?

"Gosh he makes me so mad!" I shout as I flop down on my aqua-colored bed, I knew what he was planning. He was going to protect me and then kill himself in the end! How awful!

The only strange thing is… I don't remember volunteering. All I saw after that Kibagashka, or whatever her name was, girl was chosen was Ursula's (Our District's escort) seashell necklace. It glowed purple and… I clumsily made my way towards it, I opened my mouth twice, each time seeming to say something first I uttered it as I climbed over a couple of other… volunteers? The second time I stood there staring into the pitch black darkness while standing beside the purple seashell.

As soon as I gained my consciousness back I was curtsying on the stage. Ursula drew from the boy's bowl and drew some guy named Milo but within seconds I could see Eric, he screamed volunteers and he tumbled up onto the stage. There was something off about him though, His pupils were stationary, just gazing out in space. Ursula asked him what his name was and he replied correctly but… monotone. He didn't even look at me! Ursula drew a big smile as Eric suddenly became normal-looking again. He glanced at the crowd, and then he saw me, we stood on the stage together. He was more confused than I.

I was suddenly drawn out of my thoughts by Sebastian, my mentor, opening the door without even asking and demanding that I come watch the other tributes' reaping with Eric. I yield (eventually) and we stroll to the cart containing Eric and the television.

Eric's POV

There was something very peculiar about this year's reapings. For one thing everyone (including me and Ariel) volunteered. Not a single tribute who should now be riding the trains to the capitol was initially chosen. The way they volunteered also bothered me. Every single volunteer (again, including me and Ariel) did it without emotion, until they reached the stage- that's when they seemed to regain their emotions and self-control. District 7 had the worst reaction- the poor girl vomited on-stage! But then why would she volunteer? It was like we were all possessed. There was only one exception though, District 1's male volunteered with emotion and energy, he pushed people down as he fought his way up, laughing sometimes. He said his name was Hans and that was the end of it, but the female, I think her name started with an 'm' appeared as if she'd never seen him before in her life… Very mysterious.

Ariel walked in with Sebastian while I was pondering everything.

"Hi, Eric." Ariel utters as she slowly sits beside me, "Can you replay them for me? I want to examine our competition." Not even a please? Was she mad at me?

I reply with a yes and we watch every single one together. After finishing I could feel that her anger levels had lowered. Good.

Hans's POV

"WHO ARE YOU AND WHERE DID YOU COME FROM?"

I was immediately greeted by my district partner with a choke-hold as soon as the large train started moving.

"Could you please let go of me before I explain to you?" This girl was crazy, I had to try being polite. She agrees and loosens her grip on my neck. "My name is Hans and I'm your District partner. We are going to compete in the Hunger Games together."

"I know that you fool!" The girl's accent made me have to contemplate every word before I could understand what she meant, "What I mean is, why have I never seen or met you before?" She was onto me. I had to think fast.

"I recently moved here from… District 3! Yeah, in fact, I even know the tributes who were chosen this year for District 3. You can ask them when you meet them." Man, I was good, "I've still been trained for the Hunger Games anyway so we're practically equals."

The girl had a fiery-red mane that bounced around as she walked. Speaking of which, she walked towards a knife on a nearby dinner table, she picked it up in her hand, and threw it at a painting on the wall. She missed horribly.

"Oh, please. It's done… Like this!" I grabbed it, placing my fingers in the right positions, and let it fly through the air, watching as it lands perfectly in between the woman in the painting's eyes.

"Well… that was actually pretty good!" Her face into a smile, she bought my act, as she strolled towards me to shake my hand. "My name's Merida by the way. What do you say we examine our competition?"

Apparently she wasn't questioning her possession at all… maybe she meant to volunteer? It was futile though, she would die anyway.