A/N: Thank you so much, XxStarZephunaSakuraxX, for my first review on this story! I don't think I specified this earlier, but this story will mainly contain characters from Mineral Town (FoMT/MFoMT) and Forget Me Not Valley (AWL/DS), though a few characters from other games (AP, ToTT, ANB, etc.) will make their appearances as well, so be on the lookout for them!

-CCM

Chapter 2: Like Father, Like Son

Almost there... Just a few more steps…

Hugh Cassia grit his teeth and pushed himself to run harder, even though sweat was now dripping freely down his forehead, into his eyes, and the muscles in his legs were practically screaming out in protest.

Ugh... Come on, pick up the pace...

His breath came out in shallow gasps. Pumping his arms furiously, ignoring the pain in his straining calves and the uncomfortable stickiness of his shirt clinging to his sweating back, the boy managed to pick up speed as he caught sight of his father on the turn up ahead.

The older man nodded at his son as the boy came sprinting around the bend, though he kept his eyes focused on the stopwatch in his hand. "Good, good… You cut six seconds off your time, Hugh."

Six seconds. Puh-lease. He could do so much better than that, Hugh thought to himself. He needed to do so much better than that, if anyone was to actually take him seriously.

He didn't want people to see him as just some stupid little kid, pretending to look tough, but with nothing to show for it. All bark and no bite, so to speak.

No, Hugh wanted them to see him as a Career. A Victor. Because that was what he was going to be, after all. It didn't matter that he was only just thirteen, or that his name was only in the Reaping twice. He knew he could do it.

Hugh Cassia was going to win, and nothing was going to stop him from getting there. Soon enough, everyone across Panem would know his name.

Glancing up at his father, Hugh thought to himself, yet again, that he wanted to be just like him. Wally Cassia was a Victor of a past Hunger Games, the 36th (or something like that). And he was Hugh's Hunger Games inspiration.

Wally had won his Games in the typical Career way – creating alliances with the other Careers, killing off tributes with his skill in swordplay, and eventually betraying and defeating those he had become allies with. In his prime, at the epitome of physical health, he was a cunning backstabber and a powerful force to be reckoned with. Nobody could have stood in his way. And although the effects of aging were now beginning to show on him, he was still incredibly strong and agile for his age, still had those muscles that had aided him in reaching the top nearly fifteen years ago.

Hugh had watched Wally's Games twice before, and both times he was amazed at what his father and mentor had accomplished as a teen. Wally's biggest wish was for his son to follow in his footsteps. Carry on the family glory, and all that.

One thing Hugh would be proud to do.

Hugh and his father ran all the way back to their home in the Victor's Village. His father was always helping him train, teaching him to fight with swords and knives, going on runs with him all over District Two to build up his endurance to the max. Hugh beat him to the house rather easily, and waited for him on the front steps as the older man came running to catch up to him, panting slightly.

Not five minutes later, Chris Cassia smiled at her son as he plopped himself down at the dinner table, still sweaty from his run just moments earlier. "How was training today?"

Hugh shrugged as his mother set a plate of food down on the table in front of him. "Fine..."

His mother stared at him, quickly inspecting his appearance, one hand on her hip. "You're getting to be such a handsome young man. Look at those beautiful blue eyes!" She nodded in approval and then took a step back as Hugh stifled an eye roll. "I'm very proud of you, and I'm sure your father is as well."

"Oh, but dear, your hair is sticking up again..." she added, and then proceeded to try and pat down the blond cowlick protruding from her son's head as usual, causing him to cringe and squirm in his chair.

"Stop it, Mom... You know how my hair is; that's not going to do anything."

She looked as if she wanted to argue that idea, but was interrupted by her husband's entrance into the room before either of them could say another word.

Wally stepped up behind his son and set his hands on the boy's shoulders just as the young man began shoveling spoonfuls of mashed potato into his mouth. A towel was draped over the older man's broad shoulders. "Hugh's been doing very well...nailed all the dummies in the Training Center with that dagger we've been practicing with, and then he got his fastest times yet while we were out running afterward."

He nodded thoughtfully. "By the time he's eighteen, he'll be unstoppable. A Victor for sure."

Hugh nearly snorted into his food. Eighteen? He didn't want to wait that long. Sure, his father had been training him to compete in the Hunger Games when he turned eighteen, and not a moment before, but Hugh was Victor material now... he just needed to push himself a little harder. He could show all those other Careers just how formidable he really was, if he only set his mind to it. He had what it takes; he didn't want to wait, and let his chances to volunteer slip away...

And just imagine how impressive he would be, winning the Hunger Games at a mere thirteen years old! He would show them. The Capitol would love Hugh Cassia.

Wally smiled down at Hugh. Not a huge smile, since he wasn't really that type, but the kind of smile that shows he's proud, if even just a little bit. "Eat up, son... you need to keep up your energy."

He narrowed his eyes at the boy slightly, as though he could see what his son was thinking and didn't particularly approve of it. Chris, meanwhile, completely oblivious, beamed at him. "Well Hugh, that's lovely. You'll be just like your father in no time."

Correction – Hugh Cassia would be even better than his father.

After quickly eating a hearty supper of meat and potatoes, and downing his large glass of milk, as was customary, Hugh stretched and yawned. He had a big day tomorrow, and needed to get a full night of sleep – he couldn't show up exhausted to the Reapings. Especially not if he were to volunteer this year.

With a brisk nod, Hugh's father shrugged the towel off his shoulders and tossed it down at Hugh before retreating back to his room to wash up. His mother soon followed, leaving Hugh alone at the dinner table.

Seconds later, the doorbell rang. He heard his mother's footsteps cross the hall toward the front door, pulling it open with a creak. Some murmurings of conversation that he couldn't quite make out, and then she called out, "Hugh? It's for you!"

Hugh grinned and tossed the towel over the back of his chair, jogging into the front foyer where his mother was standing with a short, freckled brunette girl in the doorway. His best friend, Kate.

Kate was almost a full year younger than him, but she was cool. Some of the other guys at school made fun of Hugh for hanging around with a girl so often, but Kate wasn't anything like the other girls he knew, that was for sure. She had no interest in makeup or clothes or gossip, all those girly things. In fact, she was constantly complaining to him about how her mother was always trying to make her wear frilly dresses or do something pretty with her hair or whatever.

Unlike most in District Two, Kate's parents did not work in the stone quarries. Rather, they lived and worked in the large market square. Though her parents therefore lacked the muscle that most people in the District took for granted, they always had more than enough money for the most trivial things, like pretty clothing and hair accessories for Kate.

Hugh knew Kate better than her own family did. She would much rather race him down the street or jump around in the mud than get all gussied up in colorful dresses and hair bows. And she was never afraid to stand up and speak her mind. That's one of the things he respected her most for; one of her qualities that really stood out to him when he first met her.

"Hey!" Hugh called out in greeting as his mother turned and wandered back into the kitchen with a smile on her face, giving the two young teens some privacy as her son gestured for Kate to come in.

"Hello, Hugh..." Her tone was guarded as she took a small step inside; he could tell that something wasn't quite right. Kate didn't normally come visit at this time of day... It was already getting dark. Kate's parents never let her out late. No doubt they had no idea about this particular visit, and Kate would be reprimanded by them upon her return home.

"So... What did you come to see me for? It's, um, kind of a weird time." He shrugged sheepishly. "...Anything in particular?"

Kate narrowed her eyes at him. Boy, could that girl read his mind like a book... He squirmed uncomfortably under her scrutinizing gaze.

"You weren't planning on volunteering for the Hunger Games this year, were you?"

The question took him by surprise, and he gaped at her. "Huh..."

Kate rolled her eyes, swinging her chocolate-brown braids behind her back. "You heard what I said."

A strange feeling fluttered in his stomach, and Hugh realized that he was getting nervous. Though from the thought of entering in the Hunger Games or from Kate's presence, he couldn't tell.

"Maybe..." Hugh got the feeling that telling the girl his plans directly wasn't such a good idea. However, his evasiveness did nothing to deter her from realizing his true intentions.

He saw Kate's eyes widen, and heard a faint gasp escape from her mouth. "But, Hugh... you can't! You – You're too young!"

Hugh snorted derisively. "Too young? What are you saying?"

Annoyed, he shook his head at her. "I thought you would be proud to know that your best friend, Hugh Cassia, is going to be the Victor of the 51st Hunger Games!"

His outburst did not have the desired effect on Kate. Not at all. Instead, she pushed him away disgustedly. "You're even crazier than I thought!"

"Huh – wait... You thought I was crazy?"

Kate merely rolled her eyes. "How can you be so thick-headed?"

His heart lurched. "Don't you... don't you believe in me?"

Quickly, she turned until her back was facing him, so that he could no longer read her expression. "Of course I believe in you, Hugh..."

"But what if you don't come back?" She added in a whisper, so faint he almost couldn't hear her. Hugh didn't even know if he was supposed to hear her, but responded anyway. He had never seen her act so... fragile.

"It'll be fine, Kate. More than fine, actually. I've been training... since I was born, practically. My dad's been teaching me everything. I have what it takes. I know what I'm in for, and I'm prepared to face the challenge." Hugh tried to smile confidently at her as he awkwardly put his arm over her shoulder, but it didn't work. She sighed.

"Just... be careful, okay? Promise me that, at least. Whatever you decide to do."

Hugh watched in astonishment as his best friend abruptly turned and walked back out the front door. Almost immediately, a terrible sinking feeling erupted in his stomach, planting itself down firmly and refusing to go away, even when the boy settled down for bed later that night.

As much as he hated to admit it, Hugh knew what that feeling was...

It was the terrible sinking, prickling feeling of doubt.

A/N: So, Hugh, Wally, and Chris might be a bit out of character here, since they just have a smaller part in the game and I honestly don't remember much about their family. I just thought it would be an interesting idea to make Hugh one of those people who specifically train for the Hunger Games, since he's always running around town with his father in AWL, and aspires to be just like him, as I recall.

Also, be sure to let me know which characters you would like to see in this! Not promising anything, since most early chapters have already been decided on, but I still like to know what you think! Even if I haven't planned them, I still might be able to sneak a mention of them in there, haha.

-CCM