Cyber Magnet, age 16

District 3 Male

Cyber looked out the window of his home to the square. The reaping was today. He saw at least a hundred kids there already. Soon he would be out there. Just as soon and Spark was ready.

Spark came down the stairs, adjusting his shirt. He was twenty. He had already survived the reapings. Cyber could only hope he would live, too.

"Ready for today, Cyber?" Spark asked.

"Ready as I'll ever be," Cyber said jokingly. He had to joke because otherwise, he would be scared out of his mind. His parents came down the stairs. His father was the owner of the electric shop in the square. Cyber was lucky enough to not have any tesserae, but there was always the reaping.

"Good luck today, Cyber," his mother said, hugging him. Cyber whispered thanks, but he wasn't sure if she heard.

They headed into the square and Cyber walked alone to check-in. He winced at the sharp prick of pain on his finger as the Peacekeeper signed him in.

Cyber walked to his section, which was already crowded. His friend Tech made his way over to him.

"Ready for this, Cy?" Tech asked. Cyber nodded.

"You're so lucky," Tech said. "No tesserae. I have six."

"You'll be fine," Cyber said, as the mayor, the escort Jasmine, and the only living victor, Data Wire took the stage. The other victor, an older man named Beetee, had died a few days ago. It was bad luck, as Cyber thought. A victor dying before the reaping.

Jasmine took the microphone. "Welcome, everybody," she said. "I'm very excited to be back here. Almost as excited as I am to choose this year's tributes!"

Of course you are, Cyber thought. She was always happy to come here and bring kids to their death. But maybe that was Cyber's negative side talking.

"Let's get started," Jasmine said.

Via Cable, age 14

District 3 Female

Via looked forward, trying to spot Electrica. Her sister was seventeen, and her name was in there about thirty times. The odds weren't in her favor.

Via began to tremble as Jasmine pulled out a slip. Her limited bravery and courage evaporated and Via felt her stomach cramping up. She doubled over, trying to make it stop. All the girls took in a collective breath. Jasmine reached the microphone.

"District Three, the young lady representing you in this year's Hunger Games is," Jasmine said, unfolding the piece of paper. Via was trying to compose herself, but she was nauseous with fear.

"Via Cable! Where is Via?" Jasmine announced. Via fought back a scream and her tears. She was shaking hard. Via knew that she wouldn't be returning to District Three. But she had to hope, right?

Peacekeepers came to bring her to the stage. A tear trickled down her cheek as they forcefully brought Via to the stage. She climbed the steps.

"Any volunteers?" Jasmine asked. Via stared into the girl's side of the crowd, hoping somebody would come forward. She spotted Electrica, but even her sister didn't try to save her. That was expected. Even the most loving family wouldn't save you from the Games.

After a few more seconds of the silence, Jasmine sighed. "Well, here is your female tribute this year, District Three!" A few people clapped. Via barely heard. Images of past Games flashed in her mind. Last year, when Mimosa Oakley had axed the girl during the bloodbath. Three years ago when the boy was knocked off of a cliff and fell to his death. Even when Via was five, when the two tributes almost made it to the end, then the boy burned to death and the girl was beheaded. She imagined these in the arena happening to her. She shuddered. Then she cleared her mind.

Think positive, she reminded herself, but she couldn't. She was going to die in the arena.

Jasmine was at the reaping ball. She pulled a paper and called out the name of a boy Via didn't recognize. Cyber Magnet. Via watched as the boy stepped from the sixteen year old section. Would he ally with her?

Jasmine gave her closing speech, and motioned for them to shake hands. Via stuck her hand out, and Cyber took it. They shook.

One or both of us will die in these Games. I want to live. Via thought. Then the Peacekeepers marched them into the Justice Building.

Cyber Magnet, age 16

District 3 Male

"Come back, Cyber," Spark commanded. "Promise you'll come back home." Cyber looked at his brother. His parents had already said goodbye, and left a wreck. Cyber didn't want Spark to leave like that. His brother meant too much to him.

"I will, I promise," Cyber said.

"I just… I can't lose you," Spark said. "Not after—" Spark bit back a sob. "What happened to Disa…" Cyber nodded. Disa was Spark's fiancée, and she lost her little sister to the Games two years ago. She was found by the Careers, then tortured. They were at her for an hour, slicing, until the boy from One stabbed her in the heart. Cyber remembered it vividly. It made him sick to his stomach. Would be suffer the same fate as the girl? He shuddered.

"I know," Cyber said, giving Spark a pat on the shoulder. "I'm gonna win this thing, watch. I will come back."

"I love you, Cy," Spark said, and gave Cyber a hug. A lump caught in Cyber's throat. What if this was the last time he would ever talk to Spark? His parents?

No, you're coming back to them, Cyber told himself. You better because you have to. And he did. If he died, it would crush his whole family. The business would suffer. They would lose money, and might starve. He couldn't let that happen.

The Peacekeeper opened the door. Spark let go of his brother.

"Just come back," Spark practically whispered.

"I will," Cyber promised, and Spark went out. Before the door closed, Cyber caught a glance of Disa. She smiled sadly at him.

Then the door closed, shutting them all out. He was alone. And probably would be for the short remainder of his life. Because no matter how much he promised, Cyber knew the truth: he wasn't coming back.

The whole district knew. The sooner Spark figured it out, the better.

Via Cable, age 14

District 3 Female

Electrica burst through the door, crying. Via immediately went into her outstretched arms, tears running down her own face. Via still didn't believe that Electrica didn't volunteer for her. She was only fourteen! The only fourteen year old winner was a Career, and it was before the third Quell.

"Promise me you'll fight out there, Via," Electrica sobbed. "You have to come back."

"I will," Via responded, trying to staunch her tears. "I'll fight my hardest."

Via thought hard about her promise. She couldn't win. Electrica must know that. Might as well come out with it.

"Electrica, I can't win," Via admitted, and her sister sobbed harder. "I'm too small and too young. But I'll fight."

"Get them to like you," Electrica said. The door opened. "Then you'll stand a chance." The Peacekeepers pulled Electrica off of Via. Via watched in horror as her sister tried to fight the Peacekeepers.

"I love you, Via!" Electrica screamed wildly, before being knocked unconscious by a Peacekeeper. They dragged her out.

"Love you, too," Via whispered to the closed door. She wiped her tear-stained face. She didn't want the rest of her family—her mother, her father, Gadget and little Theta—to see her crying. It would destroy their little hope they must have.

The door opened again, and the rest of her family was there. Her mother was weeping. Via's throat constricted. The effort to fight back tears was too much.

"I'm sorry, Via," her mother sobbed, hugging her. "I shouldn't have let you take the tesserae." Despite her efforts, Via felt a few tears slip past her guard.

"It's not your fault," Via comforted. "The odds just weren't great. But I can come home. I'll fight my hardest. I promise."

"You're so brave, Via," her father said. "I love you, no matter what happens in that arena."

"You're...you're coming back, right?" Theta's small voice asked. Last year she'd watched her first Games. It had terrified her, and now her sister was participating in one.

Via knelt next to her sister, who was tiny for six years old. "Of course I am, Theta. Have I ever broken a promise?" Theta shook her head. "See? I'll be back before you know it."

"I love you, Via," Gadget said. He wrapped her arms around her. It seemed like a second later the Peacekeeper ripped him off her, and took her family from her. Via noticed something on the doorknob. She took off a silver locket. It was her mother's. Via had a token.

Hey guys! Here are the next two tributes, Cyber and Via. Let me know what you think. Who do you like better? Reviews make my day! Until next time! (PS, if you read the 4th Quarter Quell carefully, you may recognize the girl tribute. If you do, don't spoil it for everybody else!). :)

-D9T