Abigail Fuse POV

I didn't even know anything had happened until it was dinnertime and Mom and Dad both weren't home yet. Then Mrs. Nesbit from next door came over, and everything blurred after that.

I woke up from a nightmare and found myself on our dirty living room couch. I couldn't have slept more than an hour at a time, and I would have turned over and gone right back to sleep if it wasn't Reaping day. Even with my father clinging to life after a hit-and-run, the Games went on.

My mother was slumped over at our kitchen table. She jerked up when I came in.

"Is he all right?" I asked. Her eyes were bloodshot and her face was red like a bruise.

"He's stable," she started.

"But will he be all right?" I pressed. She looked down like she didn't want to tell me.

"He's going to need a lot of operations," she admitted. I knew we couldn't afford that.

"What are we going to do? I can get another job," I said. I already had two, but they were part-time. I could fit one more in.

Mom pressed a hand to my cheek and her voice wavered.

"Don't worry about it. Just take care of yourself. We can talk more tonight," she said. "I love you."

I didn't want to go, but of course I had no choice. I was silent as I trudged toward the Reaping center. I hugged myself tight and tried to ignore the tears that dripped from my lowered head. The blood drawing, Anthem, and video passed by without my notice.

We can't afford medical help, I thought. We hardly even eat. Mom and Dad were already too thin from giving me all their food. My father was going to die.

Bubbles called out some name. Then a wild hope burst up in me.

"I volunteer as Tribute!" I yelled. Everyone around me turned to gape at me. I ran up to the stage before Bubbles even acknowledged me and stood staring at the audience in determination. Mom and Dad had sacrificed enough for me. This was the only way I could pay them back. Some boy joined me, and I thought of my parents as we raised out hands.

I knew Mom wouldn't be happy I volunteered. When she came in, I held up my hands and tried to explain. She barreled toward me and smacked me, something she hadn't ever done in my life. She was shimmering in fury as she addressed me.

"Isn't it enough I have to deal with my husband dying?" she hissed, but by the end of the sentence it was a sob. "I can't lose you both." She dissolved into anguish and knelt on the floor with her head in her hands.

"Mom," I started when I recovered from my shock. "I just wanted to help Dad-" I bent over her to help her up. She shoved my hand aside.

"You're already dead. You both are," she sobbed. I was so scared and shocked I started crying along with her, and neither of us stopped until a Peacekeeper gently took her away. I was left staring at th door, wondering where I'd gone so wrong.


Cordin Magnetism POV

I'm glad Telle and Cable are six. That means they don't have to go to the Reaping with me. Most of the kids in the orphanage don't have to, since most of us get jobs and leave as soon as we can. I work too, as a maid in a factory, but I like it here. The kids are nice and it's safer than the outside world.

"Goodbye, Cordin!" Telle and Cable chorused as I left. I saw them waving in the window as I walked. I waved back and smiled. It wasn't all bad, even at the Reaping. I got to meet new kids, and Three won once before. Acee was so cool.

Bubbles was wearing a purple dress with black stripes and a yellow hat with black spots. It sure added some color to the Reaping center. Since my birthday was just yesterday, I took my new place with the other fifteen-year-olds. I was a little nervous, but I knew it wasn't likely I'd get picked.

When Bubbles called the female Tribute, another girl volunteered. I don't know if Three had ever had a volunteer before. She must have been really confident. Maybe we'll have another Victor this year. When the girl went onstage, I saw she had brown hair and was about my height. She didn't look like a Victor, but she must have known what she was doing. Bubbles reached into the boys' bowl.

"Cordin Magnetism!" she called. Before I knew it, I was screaming. Everything crashed down and tears ran out of my eyes.

No, I don't want to die, I thought. I started to run, smashing into the boys around me. A Peacekeeper caught me at the end of the line and carried me onstage as I kicked and screamed. He held me in place and forced my hand into the air with Abigail's. After the annoucement, he threw me backstage and left me pounding on the door. My breath was so shallow I started to feel lightheaded, and I sat next to the door.

When the door finally opened, Telle and Cable came in. Our caretaker, Miss Tapp, was behind them. The boys piled in next to me and looked up at me with smiles.

"What are you so worried about?" Telle asked. "You'll come home!" He saw my expression and looked confused.

"You're always happy. What's wrong?" he asked. Cable took something out of his pocket. I didn't want to scare them, so I tried to smile back.

"We made this for you," Cable said. He gave me a piece of paper. I unfolded it and saw a drawing of the sun with my face in it. Telle and Cable were dancind underneath it.

"Don't let it get wet," Cable said. I folded it carefully and put it in my pocket.

"Thanks, guys," I said. Maybe it wouldn't be so bad. If I won the Games, I could get all sorts of nice things for the whole orphanage. I just needed to stay positive.

After the boys left, I alternated between hyperventilation and nervous laughter. My chances seemed so small, but they were the same as any of us. I'd either face everything I'd ever been terrified of or bring back riches for everyone. All I could do was hope for the best.


I don't have both Tributes from One or Two yet, so I got impatient and skipped to Three. I'll come back to the others when I have them. I need Annietreasure and Ultimatemaxmericashipper to send in their Tributes so I can write about them. Unless you guys already did, in which case please remind me because I done messed up again.

Abigail's token is a friendship bracelet she was wearing. She just didn't think about it during the chapter.