Hey guys! I hope you like my story so far! There will be many upcoming and action packed chapters soon! In this chapter, we'll get to meet everyone's 'favorite' male tribute, and Daisy's final goodbyes with her family and friends. What will Belle think about this, and Jaxson?

Shock. The only thing that could explain my facial features. My mouth was dry, and my body felt like one thousand weights were lifted upon it. I should've crossed my fingers. Amber was choking back a sob, and she had to slap me to bring me back to reality.

I slowly emerged from the crowd and began inching towards the stage. Soon, Peacekeepers came and grasped me by the arms to bring me to the steps faster. My breathing was shallow and I scanned all of the pitiful eyes watching me go to my death, and that's when I met the eyes of Jaxson.

He was crying. He promised me I'd be okay, but I was still reaped anyways. Four changes in thousands, but it didn't matter, my name was pulled anyways. Belle was latched on my mother's hip, who was staring dumbfounded at her sister leaving her. And my parents... Mom's lip was quavering, but trying to keep strong for Belle, and my father was blankly glaring at the ground. They couldn't believe this as much as me.

After the walk that seemed for eternity ended, I took a deep breath and mounted the steps, after the Peacekeepers returned to their original spots. I stared at my feet carefully, like one misstep would destroy me. We were on camera after all.

When I was up on the stage, the escort extended her bony hands to my clenched tan ones, and I reluctantly took it, like her altered Capitol skin would turn to dust at physical contact. No such luck.

She pulled me beside her and pulled the microphone over to me.

"And you are?" She asked, and it already seemed she was too dense to remember my name after five minutes. Probably a glitter overload to the head.

I peered over the crowd, beyond the town shops, and tried to look for my unreachable home that was miles away.

"Daisy Crossley."

"We'll isn't that a marvelous name, for a beautiful lady!" She shrieked. "Do we have any volunteers for Miss Daisy?"

Silence.

Just as expected. We hadn't had a volunteer in the last decade. Not since the Games got more rabid, and I could only imagine what was in store for me. Amber could've volunteered for me, but she didn't. I wasn't mad at her, it was just sensible. If she were the one going into this and I'd be my life or hers, I'd chose mine. Just another way the Capitol makes us suffer, feel guilty about being able to save someone, but chose our lives over theirs.

"Alright then. May we pick the boy tribute?" The overly cheery woman wailed and made her way over to they boy's bowl, and did the same dramatic hand sequence that lead me up here.

She grasped a card and made her way back over to my side. After several failed attempts of trying to pry open the slip, she finally slid her fingernails under the black tape and detached it from the card.

"Drew Dekker!"

As if on cue the boy emerged from the crowd and swaggered his way to the stage with a smirk. He looked like he was sixteen or seventeen, and could crush me. It didn't look like he was very overwhemed that he got reaped either. I wonder why.

"Hi Mr. Drew, is it? Any volunteers for him?" She asked as he made his way to the stage.

Again, no one volunteers.

"Alright then. May I present your District 10 tributes of the 68th Annual Hunger Games!" The escort cried. She then gestured us to shake hands.

I turned straight to him, trying to keep a straight face not to show any sign of weakness. I was met by his signature arrogant smirk. He took my hand with a firm shake, but then he did something very unexpected. He brought his lips down and... kissed my hand? I knitted my eyebrows together and broke the hold first, the tiniest bit flustered by his actions. But that was soon replaced by anger. Who the hell did he think he was? And this was going to bite me in the ass in the end. Knowing the Capitol, they'd make a huge deal about this and assume we were in love. The last thing I needed. I know I'm going to die, but I don't want to die loving someone I don't.

I'm going to die.

Despite my current situation, I seemed to forget all about the fact that I'm about to be slaughtered. Bile began to rise it my throat, but harshly was forced back down as the escort finished her speech and Peacekeepers ushered us inside the Justice Building.

I'd never been inside it. I was taken to a room with lavish furnishings and expensive décor. I say myself down on on a velvet couch and began stroking my fingers over the fabric. My visiting hours had began, the last hour I'd ever spend alive in District 10.

The door burst open and in came Jax, Mom, Belle, and Dad. This was the first time if seen him today. It was also the last. I immediately stood up and walked into them. We embraced for what seemed like forever.

"I'm sorry I wasn't there for you..." Father said fighting back tears.

"It's okay. I love you." Was the best I could respond.

Mom was the next to jump in. "And whatever happens. You will always be us. Always be our daughter." and then she lost it breaking down into a fit of tears. A few of my own rolled down my cheek.

"Daisy, where are you going?" Belle asked innocently. I started to sob but pulled through at the end. And I gave her the first answer that popped into my head.

"I'm going to the Capitol where me and some other kids are going to play hide and seek tag."

"You'll come home right?" Her wide eyes pleaded.

I started crying. Sobbing uncontrollably, trying to get the strained answer out of my mouth, "O-of co-course."

Apparently satisfied with her answer, she went back to hide between my parents, to ask why we were all crying, and I'm sure after today, she'd understand the Games.

"I'm sorry." Was the only thing that came out of Jaxson's mouth.

"There's nothing to be sorry about," I sighed. "No one can ever determine the odds of this. I guess the odds just weren't in my favor today." I managed to smile a little.

Then the Peacekeepers came. Too soon. Jax was struggling as mom and dad were crying and Belle was fearful. The last word from my family, from Jaxson, was barely a whisper.

"See you on the other side."

And then they were gone.

The other side of what? But my thoughts were interrupted by Amber bursting into the the room.

"I-I should've volu-unteered for y-you!" She sobbed pulling me into a bone-crushing hug. "Why you? Out of the thousands of us, why YOU?"

"Shh it's okay, Amber calm down. I'll be fine. And if not, I'll be onto greener pastures, greener than the ones here, because we both know they are anything but green." I tried to soothe her, and she laughed a bit through her sobs and tears.

"That other guy seemed like a real dick, didn't he?" Amber asked, her eyebrows raised.

Him.

"Yeah, he seemed so... confident."

"Do not get involved with him. He's the last thing you need to worry about." She warned me. "Oh, before I forget, I have a token for you."

A token was a thing we could take into the arena, and I straightened up, eager to know what it is. It was a photograph. Of our two families together. And it was perfect.

"Thank you, Amber. I'll treasure it forever." I gasped, but I had no idea how much of forever I had left.

"All of my money is going to you, you know that right?"

We both started to cry again, and we looked at the picture for the final seconds left with each other. We looked happy, and I tried to lighten my mood as the Peacekeepers bust in.

She walked willingly towards the door, but not after whipping her head back to say her final farewell.

"See ya later, Dais."

The door shut and I was left wondering. It's like she was going to see me tomorrow. But tomorrow was distant, a hell I didn't want to face. But sometimes you have to face problems, that's easy. But it's hard when you have to muster up the courage to do it.

Not expecting anymore visitors, I began to trudge towards the door, about to depart, but then a tall and slender man came in. I recognized him as Blaze Ornell, the victor from five years ago. What did he want?

"Daisy Crossley? I believe we haven't formally met. I am Blaze Ornell." He stated.

"Pleasure," I replied, still a bit taken aback by his sudden appearance. "Um, not to be rude, but why are you here?"

"Drew Dekker."

"My district partner? What do I need to know about him?" I said with the tiniest bit of impatience.

"Everything."

My lips formed into an 'o' shape as he lead me over to the sofa.

"Sit down," he demanded tersely. I did. "Now Drew Dekker is a very... interesting eighteen year old. You see, he was put into the Games on purpose."

Something between a choke and a gasp escaped out of my mouth. "He what? That's impossible! Does he know about this?"

Blaze hesitated a bit before answering. "Erm.. no. Mr. Dekker assumes he was reaped fairly like everyone else." I snorted at the word 'fairly'. "You see, his parents died when he was eight, and the orphanage took him into foster care. Since then, he's had anger issues, murderous even. We think it's best to put him in these Games so he doesn't falter the District's safety."

"And how does this include me?" I questioned. That explains the cocky smirk and smoldering eyes.

"When you were reaped, he seemed to have an... interest in you." Good, I wasn't imagining it. "So, we ask you to keep your distance from him at all costs. Understand?"

Nope, but I nodded anyways. Then he stood, holding his hand out for me to shake it. It was a firm shake, though I didn't squeeze hard enough. Then he leaned and centered his face merely five inches from mine.

And that's when I saw it. He was handsome, only twenty years old. Deep brown eyes, and shaggy brunette hair that ran to the middle of his ears, bright smile and masculine build. He was reaped at fifteen just like me. But behind his face were unmistakable dark circles around his eyes, and other worn features signaling many sleepless nights of mourning and dispair.

He cleared his throat. "Well then, I'll see you on the train." And he flashed a small smile before being escorted out of the room by Peacekeepers.

I sighed and soaked in the last few moments alone, because from here on out, I may feel alone, but I'll always be seen. I was a tribute; the one in twenty-four sources of hope for Panem. But in a matter of weeks, only one source will take home the glory, and I knew it wasn't going to be me.

I looked back at the Justice Building one last time, as I was escorted into the car by Vienna, the escourt's name I learned after I left the last room in District 10 I'll ever be in. A car waited for us. I'd never been in a car, they were only common in the first four districts, where luxury and industrializing was key. I snuck a glance over to Drew, to find him staring out into the distance with his hands behind his back.

As we got into the car, Vienna settled between us, which was the first sensible thing she'd done all day. But then back to her shrill voice and Capitol enduced comments.

"You know, the Capitol isn't all that bad, she began. "Think of this as, as sort of a luxury right now. You get to represent your district which is a monumental achievement, and you get to experience things others don't!"

Like a bloody death, I thought.

I decided to hold my tongue and stare out the windows for my sake of sanity. The crowd was large, and I passed many cheering faces egging us on to the Capitol. Probably just enjoying the thought their children didn't get reaped.

And then I saw it.

A flash of brunette hair, and a worn grey suit. It was Jaxson. He caught my eye as I passed, and did me something we hadn't used in a long time. He crossed his fingers and drew an imaginary 'x' over his heart. It was a sign we used to use when something went wrong, before Jax's Reapings when I was ineligible. It meant hope, that he was keeping a promise. He might've promised me not to be reaped, but obviously that didn't work. But this was different. It meant he loved me; that I was going to live.

And then he was gone.

Soon after the ride to the station, we arrived at the train tracks, where the huge Capitol speed demon awaited. We departed from the car, where the mayor, Blaze, and a woman stood; the female mentor. Blaze caught my eye as Drew and I stood before them. I reluctantly inched away from Drew, but his fingers clasped around my forearm in a vice grip. I met his gaze telling me I was his property, I belonged to him. Bullshit I did. My eyes whipped up to Blaze who face palmed for me disregarding his careful instructions.

"Let.. Me .. GO!" I growled through clenched teeth as I pried my arm away from his grip.

"Now, now, precious. We've barely met each other, we should get to know one another," he seductively whispered as I rushed over near Blaze. He shook his head and muttered profanity before the mayor began.

"Tributes, I'd like to thank you for good luck, but show sympathy for your current position. We shall keep you in mind in the upcoming weeks, and be praying for the best. Thank you," he declared, and then faded out of the picture.

"So if you didn't know, I'm Blaze Ornell, your male mentor for the Games. I won the 63rd Games and will be willing to help you in any way possible," he explained, while his eyes darted to mine at the last part.

"And I'm Maylee Hayes, and I won the 53rd Games at sixteen." Her dirty blonde hair cascaded in waves down her back and onto her slim figure. Her calculating eyes scanned over me before meeting Drew. A small smile formed onto her lips as she turned to Blaze.

"I'll take the boy," she claimed. "He already looks like a victor." I could tell she was an arrogant one unlike Blaze, humble and kind.

"That leaves me with Daisy then," Blaze nodded at Maylee, the two agreeing in who mentors who.

"Alright then! Who's ready to board!?" Vienna finally interrupted. The three adults gestured us towards the train. I hopped up onto the platform when everyone except Drew and I were boarded. And then he grabbed my arm again.

"Let's you and I have a little talk later? Maybe set something up?" He smirked, making me uncomfortable. I gulped and he brought his lips once again to my hand. After he was satisfied with my discomfort, he swaggered into the train leaving me alone.

So this was it. The last time I'd ever see my district. I turned around one last time to take it all in. The rolling hills, red barns, dirt streets. I sucked in a large breath and closed my eyes. I was back at home, none of this was real. I was back at home with Jax and Belle, but I was only brought back by the train whistle. One last painful look, I etched into my brain before reluctantly turning around to face the speed bullet. I slowly shuffled forward into the train and turned around in the doorway, but the doors were shut, and District 10 was gone. Gone. I would never come back again, but it wasn't true. I would be coming back to my district, but it was my fate to chose if I was dead or alive.