A/N: Hey guys, I know the reviewing has been weird for the past few chapters, and I don't think it will be fixed for about another two. I really hope people are reading this, and you will start reviewing when it is fixed.

On a separate note—I am looking for a Beta. If you are interested, or know someone who might be, please PM me!

Enjoy the chapter!

Chapter Three: Unforgettable

"I'd imagine the whole world was one big machine. Machines never come with any extra parts, you know. They always come with the exact amount they need. So I figured, if the entire world was one big machine, I couldn't be an extra part. I had to be here for some reason. And that means you have to be here for some reason, too."

― Hugo Cabret

Vida Heller POV (District Five)

My feet pound franticly on the cobblestone street and my heartbeat echoes in my ears. From a ways behind me I can hear the butcher's yells growing fainter, and I allow myself to smile slightly. Hugging the stolen deer leg to my chest, I make the sharp turn into the alley where I live. My foot catches on a loose stone, and I tumble to the ground, letting out a sharp cry of pain as my ankle comes in contact with the rock.

I hear the butcher's triumphant shout, and see him run closer to me, his double chins shaking and his meaty belly rising and falling with every step he takes. His apron still has blood on it, and his scraggly beard is unkempt and dirty. However, no matter how unappealing his appearance may be, he will send me to the Community Home if he catches me. That is not an option.

Picking up the meat, I brace myself against the alley wall and rise to my feet unsteadily. The pain in my ankle is immediate, and over whelming, but I manage to take a few steps. It is all I need. Pulling back a dirty grey blanket that blends into the wall, I reveal a small, wooden door. Quickly, I step through the door, pull it closed, and lock it.

The butcher's steps slow and then stop as he looks around for a girl who seems to have vanished into thin air. A couple of minutes later I hear him stomp away from the alley, frustrated. I let out a large breath of air, and relax my muscles. That was close—too close. I have to be more careful next time.

A light flickers on over in the far corner of the room, and Watt and Dina's worried faces are thrown into light. Watt and Dina aren't my biological siblings, but we have formed our own little family after each of our parents died. Both of my parents perished in an electrical fire seven years ago, and I knew I couldn't go to the Community Home. Children there are beaten, starved, and forced to take tereasse, and I knew I wouldn't last long there.

So, I started stealing. It began as a way just to survive but, one trip to the baker went wrong. Isaac, the baker, had me pinned against the wall and the people from the Community Home were on their way. Suddenly, a plank of wood came out of nowhere and crashed into Isaac's head. He crumpled to the floor and I was greeted with two pair of green eyes.

Dina and Watt took me back to this room, and gave me some water and an apple. Ever since then I have been their surrogate big sister, providing them with food while they get the water. They walk over and grab the deer leg.

"Nice," Watt grins. "We can make this last until tomorrow!"

Dina grabs some of the firewood in the corner and starts cooking the meat. I try to stand up to help, but collapse with a gasp of pain when I put pressure on my foot. Watt's grin fades and he bends down by my foot. "Did you fall?"

"Yeah, my foot caught a cobblestone when the butcher was chasing me. I think it's twisted."

Watt fetches a roll of bandages and expertly wraps my ankle. "Here," he says, handing me a washcloth soaked with cold water. "Keep off of it until the reaping and then I'll give you a crutch afterwards."

I give him a thin smile. "Thanks, Watt. You're a lifesaver!"

My mouth waters as the smell of cooking meat invades the small room. Dina pulls the leg off the fire and cuts off three small pieces. Watt frowns. "Don't we get more?"

Dina smiles and shakes her head. "After the reaping I can probably buy a couple of apples for less than usual from the market. You know how the manager gets on reaping day. Then we can cook those into a nice apple deer stew. We'll feast like kings!" She holds up an imaginary sector and adjusting her crown.

Watt and I laugh, and dig into our lunch. The meat is flavorful and juice runs down my chin. This is the best meal we have had in days! After we eat I wash our plates in a little bin we have filled with water. "Come on you two; we have to get ready for the reaping."

Dina and I playfully shove Watt out into the alley while we change. Being the only boy living with two other girls must be tough, but it's nice being with another girl like me.

I dig through the crates that act as our drawers until I find my reaping outfit: A black skirt that reaches my knees and a fitted, green top that matches my eyes. Slipping on some black shoes, I look at myself in the mirror leaned against one of the walls.

I look much older than my sixteen years. My red hair is out from its usual ponytail, and hangs in waves down to the small of my back. My cheeks are still slightly flushed from my escape from the baker, and I bite my lips, bringing some color into them.

Dina joins me at the mirror. We are both sixteen, but she looks much younger than me. Her wide, brown eyes and short auburn hair makes her face look rounder than it really is, making her look like she still has baby fat. She is wearing an orange dress that reaches mid-calf, and has a swishy hem that sways when she walks. They match her brown flats, giving her the look of an autumn leaf.

"Watt should be done getting dressed," I say. "And you look stunning!"

Dina blushes. "Thanks! So do you!"

Watt walks back through the door, dressed in a charcoal grey shirt and navy blue pants. I reach over and ruffle his hair. "Don't you look handsome!"

"Stop!" He complains, ducking away from my hand and fixing his hair. "We have to get to the reaping."

We checked in minutes later at the square, but then had to go our separate ways. Dina and I go to the seventeen year old girls section, while Watt breaks off into the seventeen year old boys section. When the mayor begins his speech introducing the Games and the escort, Dina and I made eye contact with Watt.

Suddenly, I was terrified. Not because I might be reaped, but because I was worried Dina or Watt would be reaped. Misty Qeun, the escort, prances over to the girl's bowl, shrieking in her shrill voice, "Ladies first!"

Digging her pink-painted claws into the glass bowl, she plucks a single slip from the bowl. Unfolding it, she screams to the cameras, "Vida Heller!"

Dina goes limp and falls against me. It takes me a second to process what Misty has just said. Me. She called me. I'm going into the 35th Hunger Games, and there is nothing I can do about it. I slowly make my way up to the stage, trembling as I stand beside Misty.

She faces the crowd, and shrieks, "Ladies and Gentlemen, may I present to you… your tribute for the 35th Games!"

A smattering of applause sounds from the audience, and I move to the back of the stage. Misty walks over to the boy's ball and selects another slip. Her voice echoes in my ears, yelling, "Bolt Huxley!"

A fourteen year old boy walk up to the stage, eyes full of tears and visibly terrified. He shakes my hand tentatively, barely even squeezing at all, and makes his way to the back of the stage. Peacekeepers usher us to the Justice Building, where I will have a chance to say goodbye to Watt and Dina for the last time.

Without me, Dina and Watt will probably be sent to the Community Home. I'm the one who is better at stealing and they might not be able to get food. I can't let that happen to them. All my life, I've been their protector, and I'm not about to stop now.

I have to make it home to them, and I will do absolutely anything to make that happen. No matter what I have to do.

Eicendetta Glowing POV (Capital)

This is bad. This is really bad. Lilith, my assistant, has just informed me that President Snow wishes to speak to me in his office tonight at five o'clock or—as people around the office call it—fire o'clock.

Sighing, I slide the tribute forms into my files, and close and lock my office door. I pass the Control Room, and wave at everyone inside. Strange—I don't see Leto, the Head Gamemaker.

Two Peacekeepers open the golden double doors and usher me inside where President Snow is sitting with his back to me. Hearing the disturbance, he slowly swivels in his chair and looks at me, his hands cupping his chin with his hands.

"Hello, Eicendetta. There have been some… complications in the current Gamemaker Staff. Leto has decided to… take time off to be with his family. You know what this means, don't you?"

I honestly don't. Of course I know that Leto has been killed, but I don't know why that includes me. I hope he doesn't think I had something to do with whatever Leto did. "No, sir, I don't know what this means."

President Snow stretches his bloated lips into a tight smile, revealing his scabbed gums and shiny white teeth. "Why, Eicendetta, this means that you are now the new Head Gamemaker!"

I would have rather gotten fired. Everyone knows that the only way out of the Head Gamemaker position is in a body bag, and I don't want that kind of pressure. I smile shakily and say as happily as I can, "Thank you sir. It is an honor."

"It should be. Tell me—how are you coming along on the tribute's profiles?"

"I'm doing well. District Five's results have just come in. The boy is nothing special, but the girl is rather odd. It seems that nobody in the whole District has ever heard of her, but both the baker and the butcher say she has stolen from them."

"Look more into that. If she is a thief, make sure she dies early on. It wouldn't do to have a Victor who is hated."

"Yes sir."

I turn to leave but President Snow stops me. "Eicendetta, I need you to do one more thing for me."

"Anything, sir."

"I need you to make these Games… unforgettable."

Back in my office I lean back in my chair, rubbing my tired eyes with my palms. Lilith comes back in and sits on the edge of my desk.

"I just heard the news. How are you taking it?"

"You know… the usual. I joined up with the Gamemakers to make a name for myself in the Capital but… as the years go by… it's all starting to see so… inhumane."

"You know you have to keep doing it, no matter how much you hate it. Here—the tribute analyses just came in for District Six. I thought you might want to take a look."

I grab the paper and look at Kiva Martin and Apollo Brunel. Kiva doesn't look like anything special, but something in Apollo's eyes makes me pause. He has a certain fire that intrigues me, and I'm going to take a special interest in him once the Games start.

Pushing aside my doubts about the humanity of the Games, I busy myself with improving the Arena design. Oh yes President Snow—these Games will be unforgettable.

Apollo Brunel POV (District Six)

I've always been a fighter. At least, that's what my parents have said. Even when I was a baby I would wave my tiny fists, kick my feet, and bite people's fingers. Dad has a scar running from fingernail to the second knuckle on his pinky finger because of me.

Growing up I lost my fighter's spirit. I focused instead on making friends, and hanging out with my family. However, Mom and Dad still called me their little fighter.

Now I'm eighteen, and this will be my last year in the reaping. I've never been so happy to no longer have to worry about the Games. My twin sister, Artemis, has been saving for a dress for months, but I still don't know what I'm going to wear.

I thoughtfully search through my closet, selecting a silvery-grey shirt and black pants paired with black shoes. Walking out the door I bump into Artemis, who is in a silver dress that flairs below the waist.

"Look at us," I joke. "We look like twins!"

She laughs, and jokingly punches me in the shoulder. "Is there ever a time where you're not making jokes?"

"You know you love it!"

"Come on, dummy. We have to get to the reaping."

Calling out a goodbye to my parents and my eight year old sister, Hestia, Artemis and I walk to the Main Square and sign in. We are directed to separate sections, but we are close enough to keep talking.

"Who do you think the unlucky tributes will be this year?" Artemis asks in a whisper as the mayor makes his way to the stage.

Last year it was Cooper Bale and Juliet O'Hare, who ended up winning. She came back from the Capital last night, an engaged woman to District Six's own Ian. She is now sitting tall on the stage, her ring glinting in the light and a smile on her face.

Our mayor introduces Shade Shadow, who plucks a slip from the girl's bowl without a sound.

"I guess we'll find out in a second," I whisper to Artemis, but her face has turned a pasty white and I don't think she is listening.

"Kiva Martin," She calls, and I freeze. I know Kiva—not well—but I know her. We are in the same class at school, and she briefly dated my friend Oliver. Of course I understood that the reaping was dangerous, but no one I knew had ever been reaped! Suddenly, the severity of the situation his me like a jet engine airplane as Shade pulls a slip from the boy's ball.

What if it's me? It can't be me. I may have the willpower to live, but I'm no good with weapons! The Careers would catch me and run me over like a train during the Bloodbath.

Shade calls out, "Apollo Brunel!" Artemis lets out a shriek, and I can hear Hestia start crying somewhere in the crowd.

I'm hyperaware of everything happening around me. I can see the small mole on the left of Shade's chin, and the makeup smudges from where she tried to cover it up. I hear the faint rumble of plane propellers and bells of the trains in the distance, and I am aware of the tangible weight my clothes leaves on my skin.

This is happening. I have been reaped. I have to kill children if I want to make it home to my family alive. I have to do this.

I stride up to the stage with fire in my eyes, and shake Kiva's hand firmly. She is shaking on the spot, barely standing, and I offer her a smile. Her eyes fill with tears and Peacekeepers come to take us to the Justice Building.

My parents have always called me a fighter. It's time I lived up to that reputation.

Hope you all enjoyed the chapter! Remember, if you are interested in betaing, send me a PM!

~TrackerJackson