Prologue Part 2
Night Before the Reaping
Safe and Sound

District Two Population: 256,930
Reaping Age Population: 23,946

Tabatha Flint, 27
Victor of the 16th Hunger Games

"So who'd you vote for?" Tabatha's mother asked as the five of them – Tabatha, her mother and father, and her two younger sisters – sat down for supper. Tabatha couldn't help a smile. A subject like that might be discouraged in other districts, where being voted into the Games would practically be a death sentence. But here…

Here in District Two, potential tributes had practically been begging for votes. Not that she blamed them. She would probably have been doing exactly the same thing, if this had been her last year, her last chance at the Games. So she'd voted for two of the eighteen-year-olds from the academy. There were seventeen and even sixteen year olds campaigning, but they would have their chance next year. She'd waited until she was eighteen to volunteer, and so could they.

As long as a majority of the district shared her opinion, of course. Maybe some of them would vote for the younger contenders, but surely not any too young. The youngest Victor had only been fourteen, after all, and he was the exception. There had also been two fifteen-year-old Victors, but the rest had been at least sixteen. And this year, surely the other districts would be sending their best, as well. In an arena of older tributes, anyone too young would be at even more of a disadvantage than usual.

"Garrett and Ebony," Tabatha answered. "You?" Her mother named two more of the older trainees, her father a different pair entirely. Her sisters had each voted for a separate pair. Tabatha chuckled. She hadn't realized quite so many of the trainees were running serious campaigns. If her own family was any indication, it could end up being a pretty close race.

But, unlike in other districts, she didn't have to worry about her own sisters being caught up in that sort of mess. Belinda was too old, and Roxanne was only sixteen. Sixteen and not campaigning in the slightest. The chances of her being voted in were next to none, especially since she'd made it clear that she didn't want to follow in her older sister's footsteps.

Neither had Belinda, and Tabatha had never begrudged them that. The Games weren't for everyone. Before she'd volunteered, she hadn't even been certain they were for her. But her time in the arena … it had changed her. Maybe for the better, maybe for the worse. It had certainly made her much more appreciative of the life she had, of the family she had learned to treasure even more since her return.

If her sisters didn't have to risk their lives in the arena in order to learn that lesson, all the better. There were plenty of Career trainees who were ready to step in if either of them had happened to be reaped in a different year, and this year, with all the trainees vying for a spot, no one would waste their vote on someone who didn't want it. Her family was safe.

District Eleven Population: 148,732
Reaping Age Population: 13,758

Isaac Finch, 20
Victor of the 22nd Hunger Games

"So who did you vote for?" Isaac flinched at the sound of his little brother's voice as he entered the room. Their mother had already prepared supper, and his little brother Asher and older sister Meredith were seated around the table. His mother and sister had voted earlier in the day, but he'd been putting it off as long as he could.

"Not you," Isaac assured Asher. And surely no one else would. There were plenty of other names to choose from without having to resort to choosing a thirteen-year-old, even if his brother was a Victor. "And not anyone you know." Asher had given them a list last night of all his friends at school, all their older siblings, anyone else he knew. All the names he could think of that they shouldn't vote for.

Isaac sat down, and the four of them continued to eat in silence. Why should the fact that his brother happened to know someone make their life any more important than another child in the district? Why had it been easier to circle the name of someone he was certain he didn't know? Someone he was certain that no one in his family knew?

What if the name he had circled ended up being the same person whose name was called tomorrow? What was he supposed to tell them? Was he supposed to apologize for not knowing who they were? For not having some connection to them before they were chosen for the Games?

"Isaac?" His mother's voice startled him out of his thoughts, and he practically jumped out of his chair. "Sorry," she quickly apologized. "Didn't mean to startle you."

They all seemed to say that these days. As if startling him might send him into a rage or something. It wouldn't. Surely they knew that. Even in the Games, he'd never been that unstable. He'd killed, yes, but only one person. Only at the end. Only when he hadn't had any other choice.

Only, only, only… It was always easier that way. To think of it as just one kill. Practically every Victor – with two exceptions – had more kills than he did. Raven in District Nine – she'd only killed one tribute. And Atticus…

Atticus was the exception. Everyone knew the rule. The only way to survive the Hunger Games was to kill. He shouldn't have to justify that to his family. He shouldn't have to justify that to anyone.

Even himself.

Isaac shook his head. "You didn't startle me. I was just … just thinking. What were you saying?"

His mother forced a smile. "I was just telling Asher that there's practically no chance he's going to be picked. No one's going to choose a thirteen-year-old – not when they'd have to flip through so many pages of older kids in order to even get to your name. Right, Isaac?"

Isaac nodded. "Right." He hoped it was true. Hoped that his brother's age would be enough to keep him safe. His family had already been through enough. His mother had already been through enough. The district wouldn't put her through that again. His brother would be safe.

District Five Population: 132,581
Reaping Age Population: 11,833

Mina Temple, 24
Victor of the 18th Hunger Games

"So who'd you vote for?" Atticus asked. Mina glared at him as the pair of them made their way out of the Justice Building. Didn't he have anything better to do? It was bad enough that they had to pick two children to go into the Games. Did he really want her to announce her choice in front of the whole district?

"None of your business," Mina muttered, heading back towards Victors' Village, with Atticus close behind. Atticus was barely tolerable on a good day, and this … this was not a good day for anyone. And tomorrow would be even worse.

"Afraid you'll jinx it?" Atticus prodded.

"What?"

"You know, a jinx. You're afraid that if you say their names out loud, they'll be the ones who are picked tomorrow."

"That's ridiculous."

"Then why not tell me?"

Mina sighed. "If I tell you, will you leave me alone?"

"I don't think that's really an option, considering both of us will be heading for the Capitol together tomorrow, but I can try to—"

"Tonight, then," Mina growled. "If I tell you, will you leave me alone tonight?"

"Of course."

Mina rolled her eyes. "I voted for the mayor's kids."

Atticus almost laughed. "What? Why?"

"Because no one else will. That way, whoever gets voted in, I know I had no part in it."

"Interesting."

"What?"

"Nine kills in the arena, and you're worried about having one vote on your conscience."

Mina shook her head. "I don't suppose it's something you'd understand, since you managed to weasel your way out of playing the Games properly."

Atticus fell silent. He always did, when she brought up his Games. Maybe it was a cheap shot, but it didn't seem fair. He was here, safe, in Victors' Village along with her, without a drop of blood on his hands, without a single care in the world. He hadn't killed. He'd barely fought. But here he was, safe and sound.

Maybe she shouldn't be so hard on him. Maybe she should just be glad she had any company at all in Victors' Village. But even after seventeen years of mentoring, he still didn't get it. He still didn't understand. Maybe he simply couldn't understand.

Mina sighed. "Look, I'm sorry I snapped. So who did you vote for?"

Atticus shook his head. "None of your business," he muttered, and turned left, heading for his own house. Mina rolled her eyes and turned right. Fine. She didn't have time to worry about Atticus right now. She'd be spending enough time with him soon enough. Right now, she just wanted one more good night's sleep before the reaping.

District Three Population: 184,559
Reaping Age Population: 15,026

Tobias Newton, 31
Victor of the 8th Hunger Games

"So who did you vote for?" Tobias asked as he and Addison headed back towards Victor's Village. The sun was beginning to set, but there were still plenty of people standing in line, waiting to cast their votes. He could only hope that enough of them would have the sense to vote for one of the older, stronger options, instead of…

"I didn't vote for your niece, if that's what you're wondering," Addison assured him. "I wouldn't worry, Toby. Deanna's what? Fourteen?"

"Fifteen," Tobias corrected. "Older than I was during my Games."

"But the district didn't vote you in," Addison pointed out.

Tobias shrugged. "Nobody stopped me from going in, either." No one had volunteered to take his place, even as he'd stood weeping onstage, hoping that somebody would.

"That's different," Addison insisted.

"Maybe," Tobias agreed. "But tell me you're not worried about your … what? Sister's husband's brother? Cousin?" Why did family trees have to be so complicated?

Addison couldn't help a nervous giggle. "Co-brother-in-law. The word you're looking for is co-brother-in-law."

Tobias shrugged. "Technically, that's four words."

"Not if you hyphenate it."

"Fine. Your co-brother-in-law. What's his name? Edward? Edison?"

"Edmund."

Close enough. "He's thirteen now, yeah?"

"Just this month, yes."

"Tell me you're not worried. Not even a little. Even though you know there's practically no chance, even though you would never vote for a thirteen-year-old, tell me there's no part of you that's wondering whether someone else might."

Addison looked away. Of course she was. Just like he was. Finally, she shook her head. "Damn, it'll be good to get tomorrow over with."

Tobias shook his head. "You always say that. And then the next few weeks just end up being even worse."

"I know."

The two of them fell silent as they entered Victors' Village. District Three's only Victors. But it was only a matter of time before they got lucky again. Addison smiled a little. "Tell your niece I said hello."

Tobias smirked. "And your cousin-in-law."

"Co-brother-in-law."

Whatever. "Him, too."

Addison giggled a little. Worth it. Hearing her laugh was always worth it. "Good night," she called as she headed down the path to her own house, and he turned and headed for his. The lights were already on; his sister Felicia must have made it home before him. And Deanna would almost certainly be home from school. Maybe already tucked in bed, safe and sound. He just hoped she would still be safe tomorrow.

And here's our second batch of Victors. Submissions are still open until the 22nd, so there's plenty of time left. Feel free to submit more than one if you like. I could certainly use more, particularly on the male side. Right now, I've got three times as many females as males, and both those males were submitted by the same person. Districts 8 and 12 in particular could also use some attention.