AN: Thanks to everyone who read and reviewed this first chapter and asked for more :) I changed the cover art for this fic because I thought it would look better, let me know what you think. Here is chapter 2, I hope you like it.

Chapter 2

The Sister

Miele lay silently in her bed, listening to her mother and Flora discuss something inside their lounge room while a particular spot on the ceiling had caught her attention. Today was the day of the reaping, her first one, and the emotions swirling around her body ignited a flame in her stomach. Not a burning one that threatened to consume her entire being, even though she wanted nothing more than to lie underneath the bed and pray for it to be over. It was a nauseous feeling that grew and grew to the point of pain, making her roll onto her side, clutch her knees to her chest and close her eyes.

The door to their home closed and she knew that Flora must have left for her usual walk in the forest. Then the door opened to her room and her mother Lily walked in. She knelt next to her as Miele opened her eyes. "It's going to be ok," she soothed. "Today's just, another day; there's nothing to worry about alright." Miele nodded as Lily placed a hand on her shoulder.

"That's my girl, come on we should get you something to eat so you can get ready."

Later that morning Miele sat on the floor, staring at nothing in particular as thousands of thoughts ran around her head. What if she was picked? What if she was taken away from her family? What if she had to kill someone, she didn't want to hurt anyone, and she hated it when her friends at school picked grass from the ground or hit the odd bug with their hand. She was as gentle as a butterfly and just as innocent, hurting others wasn't in her nature. But if she wasn't going to hurt the others than that meant that she would be killed. She'd never see her family again.

Taking a breath outwards her shoulders shuddered and Flora reacted immediately, putting the brush down and kneeling before her. She took hold of her sisters shivering body and Miele leant into her touch, burying her head into her shoulder. "It's going to be okay, Miele. They won't pick you." She consoled, but something was telling her it wasn't true.

It was almost like some kind of sixth sense that she had developed. When their father had been bitten by the snake she suddenly felt sick and told her mother something wasn't right. And it turned out that she was correct. Now the same feeling, the same pain, resonated within her heart and although her older sisters encouraging words had tried to ease it, it hadn't worked. "It's going to be okay. You'll see, once the reaping is over we'll come home with mum and everything will be back to normal." Miele smiled, slightly, trying to relieve the tension building behind her eyes but she had no such luck. The smiled did, however, settle Flora a little who offered her own half-hearted smile. Her thumbs wiped away the tears from her eyes. "Now, let's finish getting you dressed."

Standing in line, her hands slowly sweating and lungs refusing to breathe, Miele waited for the moment her life would change forever. And it did, as her voice echoed around their standing area. The children around her stepped aside, allowing her to pass to the passageway and start for the stairs. Tears slipped out of the corners of her eyes with every step she took, slowly crunching the dirt beneath her shoes. Her arms shook but before she could step up she felt a hand pull her backwards as Flora guarded her using her body.

"I volunteer!" She announced. "Let me take her place!"

When the mayor nodded his head Miele gripped tighter to her sisters legs, stoping her from moving. "Please Flora! No, no you can't go! You said everything would be okay!"

"And it will be I promise."

Miele continued to sob until a guard's strong arms pulled her away from Flora. Her grip slipped as she looked into her older sisters green eyes. 'I love you' Flora mouthed before turning her back and walking up what felt like the never ending staircase while Miele clung to her mother's body and sobbed her heart away.

"It's time to leave," one guard explained, forcing Miele and Lily out of the Apartment of Goodbyes and off the front porch. They stood, staring at the wood that help their beloved family member beyond before turning and seeing just how many people were congregated. Hundreds stood in a silent vigil and Miele felt her mother's hand touching her arm, silently asking for her strength. She gave it to her, interlocking their fingers as they walked through the passage and to the end, as close to the ship as they could get.

When Flora walked down the rose petal covered pathway Miele was full of dread. Flora was going to the games because of her. If her name hadn't been picked than they both wouldn't be in this situation. The games were going to change everyone and Miele was sure they would change her life forever. Because she didn't know whether her sister was coming home, or if she would ever see her again.

When the two tributes stood at the ship and looked back at the crowd, Miele nodded at Flora, making sure that she remembered the promise she had made. To try and win. Then their interlocked hands rose into the sky and Miele and Lily were the first to follow. When the doors shut and the ship flew into the air, blowing stray hairs away from her eyes, Miele whispered a silent prayer, a prayer of hope, safety and above all Flora's homecoming.

The morning of the games Miele sat at the table in their dining room, staring at the beautiful meal that she had prepared before her. Toast with butter and jam, an egg and small piece of bacon. Since Flora had volunteered for them they had received bread and local produce from other people in the town, showing them their support. Though, looking at what Flora probably would have called a 'blessing' that 'shouldn't be wasted' made her feel nauseous.

"Miele, sweetie you need to eat something, you haven't had anything to eat for the last few days."

"I'm not hungry." It was the truth, and she emphasised her point by pushing the plate forwards making Lily sigh.

"It's not your fault…you know that right?" Miele remained silent, looking at the mahogany table without a word passing her lips. Her eyes wandered upwards for a moment but returned back down. "It's not your fault…Flora did it because she loves you and she didn't want you to get hurt."

"Because I'm weak," Miele sighed, so softly that Lily missed it.

"What?"

"She only volunteered because she knew that I was weak and that I would never survive the games…if I was stronger…if I was stronger than she wouldn't have had to." Lily reached her hand across the table but Miele looked away from it.

"Miele, Miele look at me!" She did. "This is not your fault, it's not anyone's fault. You didn't know that you name would be called, you only had…you only had your name in there once. It should have been impossible! But it wasn't so it's not your fault. Flora did what she thought was right because she loves you not because she thought you were weak." She paused for a moment as Miele wiped a tear from her eye. Lily got to her feet and walked around the table, taking the young girl into her arms as she knelt by her side. Her daughters chin landed on her shoulder and the cries entered her ears. "Shh," she hushed, placing a hand on the back of Miele's head and smoothing out her hair.

Once the spell was over Miele leant back and looked into her mother eyes, which were also glistening with unshed tears. "You know what Flora would say? If she saw you were wasting food?" Miele nodded before laughing a little. Lily smiled before pulling the plate closer to her again and casting a small but effective heating spell to warm it up again. "Come on, you need your strength, today's going to be a big day."

The screens hanging on almost every building in the district ignited to life making those who had remained inside their homes venture into the streets to watch. Miele and Lily exited their home with trepidation in their every limb, and the recognition on others faces told them that they were scared to. Every year Lily had seen child after child enter that ship and never return, be beaten and bloodied and killed right before her eyes, but now it was her own daughter. Miele's sister. Their world had been turned upside down. Miele lifted her head and saw an older man standing by himself further away from the group, his eyes carried the same worry that theirs did and so she walked towards him. Clouds above began to rain water on those below, but no one moved. "Miele!" Lily called, following her daughter through the crowd until they reached him. Miele reached forwards and took a hold of his hand and he offered a kind smile.

"I'm sorry, she's just scared."

"Aren't we all," the older man answered, offering his other hand to Lily. "I don't think we have formally met before, my name is Saladin."

"Lily," she replied, taking a firm grasp before looking down to Miele. "This is my daughter Miele."

"You are Flora's family correct?" He asked and she nodded her head. Silence filled the space for a moment before he spoke.

"I am Helia's." Lily's head whipped in his direction as he gave a kind smile. "This is going to sound strange," he began. "But I'm kind of glad that someone else if feeling as anxious as I am right now."

"Me too."

"Let the games begin!" The Ancestral Witches spoke, vision from the inside of the Magical Reality chamber showing all twenty four tributes standing on their platforms. They went through them all, one after another, until District 12 was announced. The entire district held their hands to the sky, feeling the odd drop of water from heaven on their fingers. "The games will begin in 10, 9, 8, 7, 6, 5, 4…" Miele felt both adults grip on her hands increase as the countdown neared its end.

"3…"

"2…" Her eyes were trained on Flora so intently that she didn't blink.

"1…"

The canon fired and every heart and eye leached onto the screen, wanting to see what was happening in the middle of chaos. Miele watched intently, her eyes searching desperately for Flora's figure but she couldn't see her. Then the cameras focused on Rose impaling her sword through Troy before a dagger hit Sponsors in the eye, killing him instantly.

Silent tears rolled down Miele's cheeks as Lily knelt by her side and pulled her into an embrace, hoping to shield her innocence from such catastrophe. She squirmed around though and looked back to the screen. "Miele look away."

"Where's Flora? I can't see her."

"That could be a good thing; it means she got away from it all." Kylar's arm was cut off and Miele turned away, moments later Saladin exclaimed, "I see her!" Miele refocused on her sister. Flora was running, she managed to grab the backpack and made a sprint into the woods. "She's safe," Lily articulated as Miele pushed her head into her mother's shoulder, breathing in her scent and hoping with all of her might that she would be ok. One part of her wished that Flora was safe, but the other part of her knew the truth… the games had only just begun.

Lily shushed the young innocent before looking up at Saladin who was standing as still as a statue before her. "Helia?" she asked and he shook his head.

"I can't see him."

"That could be good news."

"Or bad," he replied when the canons stared to fire, one after another. Miele counted them, five in total before the heavens opened and rain poured. Several families ran back into their homes but Lily, Miele and Saladin all remained, waiting for the sun to disappear from the horizon and the sky's orange hue to become purple.

The stars didn't shine that night and the candle Miele held in her hands as the rain eased to nothing did not offer the smallest hope of warmth. The Anthem started to play and the Tribute of Honour display began.

District - Diaspro

District 2 - Kylar

District 5 - Sponsis

District 6 - Troy

District 10 - Andy

After the faces of the dead faded and the music did the same Miele felt instant relief spread through the entire community. Their tributes were still alive which gave them the hope of a new victor but the dread of what was sure to be one of the most life changing games they would ever know.

AN: Thanks for reading and please review!