Here's the next chapter. To those who are there, Read and Review. It encourages me to keep going. =B

As usual, I do not own or claim to own anything Hunger Games related- I'm simply borrowing from Ms. Collins. No suing please. I'm broke :)

Chapter Two

By now the suspense is killing me, leaving my guts in knots. She stops the ball and sticks her hand inside, taking a slip of paper. She glances at it before raising the microphone to her lips.

"And the female tribute of District Three is..." she pauses for dramatic effect. "Alana Wen!"

While the outcome isn't really that shocking, hearing Elatia's voice calling out my name makes this official, makes it real. I'm going into the Games. The girls beside me have varying reactions, some smiling wearily, happy that they've been spared this time around while others look around to try and see who reacts to the name called.

All eyes land on me as I step out of the group and, without waiting for the procession of peacekeepers, walk up to the stage, head held up high. I climb the stairs and take my place beside Elatia. She wraps a violet-shaded arm around my shoulders briefly before heading to the boys reaping ball.

I look out in the crowd as she spins it, trying to locate my parents. I don't have any luck, only meeting the pitying gaze of an random stranger.

They should be here by now, I think to myself, irritated. Why aren't they here? Father said that it'd take him no time to find mom.

"And the male tribute is... Gloxen Tribune!" brings me back to the immediate situation. Stepping from the the thirteen year old section, a thin pale boy in dress clothes a size to big makes his way out, his curly blond hair blowing into his face.

Out in the crowd a woman- I assume his mom- cries out, trying to run to him. She's promptly caught and held off by peacekeepers, forced to watch helplessly as he mounts the stage.

"Well let's give it up for the 74th Hunger Games District Three tributes, Alana Wen and Gloxen Tribune!" The crowd claps briefly. Elatia turns to us.

"Go on, shake each others hands."

Gloxen and I face each other and extend hands. His- or mine, I can't tell- palm is sweaty and is shivering slightly. I catch a glimpse of his eyes, brown and glossed over with freely running tears before I let go and turn away.

We're both ushered into the Justice Building, past the well decorated lobby filled with camera technician's monitoring screens of the stage and the important officials of Three then, put into separate rooms across from one another. It hasn't changed much from the last time I was here. Once the door closes behind me, I begin to pace back and forth, my feet sinking into the plush carpet.

They didn't show, my parents. How could they not, knowing how good of a chance it was of me being reaped. Even now, when they should be rushing in to console me, to at least say their final goodbyes, they're no where to be found.

Anger and hurt rage on in me, making it hard for me to keep the tears at bay. I blink repeatedly to stop them from falling. It doesn't help to think that I am in the same room Chloe was last year.

I flop down onto the love seat, brushing away the few strands of hair that come flying on my face, and begin to take deep breaths to calm myself. What's done is done. I can't afford tears now, especially with the cameras that are sure to be at the train station. I can't afford to look weak.

When I feel I'm more under control of my emotions I stand again and glance out the window. Most of my view is obscured by a neon green banner, but from what I can see most of the crowd has already slunk away, just a few taking their time to go on with their business.

Tinkering behind me has me turning to see the door opening. My mouth starts running before I can help it.

"Well it's about goddamn time you showed up! What took you two so-" The door opens quickly and a peacekeeper comes rushing in, shutting the door behind him then rushes towards me. I'm reacting purely on reflex, dodging to the side before kicking at my assaulter s side.

A voice in the back of mind tells me that I should be yelling out for assistance, but I don't. The peacekeeper recovers, moving in once again while deflecting my punches. He reaches a hand to grab at me, but I jerk away and reach forward, slapping him across the face.

Not a smart move on my part; he's wearing a protective glass covering. If anything, it only hurts me and makes him angry. He tackles me to the floor, settling his weight down on my legs and pins my hands above my head with one hand. I'm defenseless, subjected to whatever it is that he'll try to do.

I'd think being chosen tribute would keep me relatively safe until I reached the arena, but I guess that I was wrong. After all, Snow could always reap another girl from the district and say that I was eliminated for trying to escape or something similar. I wouldn't put it past him.

The peacekeeper reaches with his free hand to his side. The only thing visible to me from there are the handle to a knife... and a pistol. I know struggling is useless, so I do the only thing I can; I scream.

He jams his fist over my mouth with unnecessary force, then hisses, "Shut the hell up, Alana!"

I stop, not because he asked, but because of his voice... He sounded just like... He lifts the cover up to reveal the face of my best friend's brother.

"Buzz?!" It's the only thing I can say, can think of. He's stares back at me for a moment, eyes devoid of any emotion, then releases me and stands up. I slowly rise, confused and wary of him. Why was he here now, after avoiding me for so long. We were never close, never even friends, our only form of connection being Chloe. Then there was the questions of why he was dressed up as a peacekeeper and why'd he attacked me in the first place.

I open my mouth to ask him all of this, but he speaks quickly, cutting me off.

"Your father sent me here to tell you he couldn't come and to give you this." He reached down into his pocket and pulls out a letter, which he then carelessly tosses to me. "It explains everything." I lean forward, barely catching it, then look up to see him half way to the door.

"So that's it? You have nothing to say to me," I ask.

"What exactly is there to say?"

"How about you why you choose now to make a appearance. Or how you decided to attack me instead of just handing me the letter like a normal person."

His face goes from blank to furious in the span of a second, taking me by surprise.

"I don't owe you a damn thing, not an explanation or anything for that matter," he snarls coldly. "And you should be glad that all I did was tackle you. It could have been much worse."

There's a brief pause as I wait for him to calm down before responding.

"What did I ever do to you?"

A cruel half smile appears on his face as he answers, making my blood run cold.

"You killed my sister." And with that he's gone, the door is slammed and I'm left all alone.

-o.0.O.0.o-

I'm left to wait for the last twenty minutes of visitation alone. I just sit their, switching between confusion, fear and hurt. Confusion as to why my father and mother decided to leave me an note instead of seeing me off.

The fear is for the obvious, the Games, but also for the letter. I haven't opened it because I'm sure it contains something I won't like, something horrible. I don't need that at the moment; I'm already at the edge and it won't take much to send me off. For the cameras I must be strong.

Hurt. That's the worse of the three, much worse. Buzz made sure to let me know his opinion concerning Chloe, only confirming what I believe myself; I killed my best friend. Because of me she's gone and I did nothing to stop it.

When she volunteered last year I did nothing, still frozen from hearing my name being called and made more stiff as I watched her mount the stage, bright blue eyes determined and long ebony locks pulled back with the black and red friendship scrunchie I'd given to her two years before.

I didn't protest or shout. I did nothing but look on as she went on in my place, even let her reassure me when I visited her in the Justice Building, tears running down my face. I was safe at home as I watched her wave cheerfully at the cameras during the chariot parade in nothing but coils of lights, as she manage to surprise the Capitol with her training score of 8, as she flirted with the crowd and told of her fear of losing me, causing her to volunteer during her interview.

And I watched as she struggled through the arena, partnering with the boys from 5 and 6 and girl from 8, as she fought for her life from the the career pack with nothing but a thin sword, from the eagle-wolf mutts who tore two of her partners to pieces right before her.

I looked on as she made it from the final six, to the final four, to the final two, coming so close to being back home only to be choked to death by the boy from 1. And here I was, alive and well watching what should have happened to me.

I don't blame Buzz for feeling the way he does. He's right; he could have done a lot worse. After all, I deserved it.

The peacekeepers come in to retrieve me. Once Gloxen is out of his room, we're both lead into a car, along with Elatia, then driven to the train station. The ride is less than five minutes, but I try to imagine it is longer, glancing out my window to drink in every last detail of District Three.

We're there too soon. Before stepping out I turn to Gloxen and grab a hold of his hand. He stares at me for a moment before looking down. He doesn't take his hand away though. Together we step out onto the platform, allowing the paparazzi to get photos. I place a fake bright smile on my face and glance at a nearby screen. It looks genuine, for which I'm glad. Gloxen is giving a sad half smile that's both heartbreaking and adorable all at once. Eventually Elatia pulls us forward toward the train doors.

The doors shut behind us, cutting off the thousands of questions of 'how excited are you for the Games' and 'are you really the daughter of the Nimmo Redpath' and the flashing lights from the cameras. I let go of Gloxen's hand reluctantly before turning to Elatia.

"Thank the heavens that that is over. Such a dreadful event it is." I'm just left staring at her in shock. I've never exactly met a escort before, but I doubt that this something of the ordinary.

"Hmm. Surprised, are you? Just because I have gotten this job doesn't mean I'm happy to do it. Anyway dearies, let's get you to your rooms." She walks off into a nearby door. I glance to Gloxen, who looks confused before following after her.

After we've caught up, she points to two rooms across from one another.

"Here you are. You van freshen up or rest for a bit before lunch. But I don't suggest taking a nap. We're only five hours away the Capitol." She heads past us back to the room we just left, but pats our shoulders before continuing. "Meet back in the dining area for lunch on thirty."

We nod and she's off. I open the door to my room to see a beautifully decorated room. There's lavender everywhere, blended into several shades of purple and black. I walk over to the king sized bed and sit on it's edge. The material is soft and fluffy between my fingers. As I shift slightly to watch the surroundings pass by through the window, I feel paper crumple in my jacket pocket. The letter.

I'd completely forgotten about it. Sighing to myself, I pull it out and begin to unfold it. Once that's done, I begin to read.

To my little girl,

Alana, I am so sorry for leaving you like I did but you must know that it was for you and your safety. There's no easy way for me to say this but I must. Jacqueline... your mother... they got to her. She's gone. It had to have happened sometime last night, because... the blood. It had dried and there was so much. She was so cold. So cold

Snow has lost interest in me. I'm wanted sweetie. I can't stay here in Three or he'll send them again. By the time you read this, I'll be long gone, Hopefully you are reading this, but just to be safe I haven't disclosed where I'll be.

As ironic as it sounds, your being in the Games is your protection. As long as your in the public eye, your safe. In the arena, they're likely to give you hell, so during the interview and training, do your best to win over the crowd. If you're a fan favorite, they'll have to keep you around.

I know you're probably scared and confused, probably even angry, but sweetie, if you know anything know that I love you.

Dad

P.S. Destroy this letter as soon you've read it.

REVIEW PLEASE

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HG94