The sun was crazy this morning.

Talia woke up confused, automatically reaching out for her cat, Ernie, who always slept next to her. He purred seeing her awake, immediately coming to sit on her chest and gently lick her on the face. His presence has always comforted her in all times tough, his unconditional love for her got her through all days in which she had no hope, even though he was just a little, blue eyed, ginger kitten.

Her parents waited for her with her reaping outfit downstairs. Her second reaping, five to go. Eigth entries already. And although she knew she should stay strong, all she wanted to do was curl up on the floor and cry. She didn't want to have to leave her family. She didn't want to become a worthless Captiol pet. But most of all, she didn't want to die. She was only 13, had everything ahead of her, she wanted to marry, have children, become someone in life later on. What could be broken at any point in the next 5 years. The grim atmosphere wasn't eased even after she slipped on a gorgeous light green gown bought especially for the occasion, to cheer her up. What will it matter when she'll get slaughtered for the fun of all those pigs? She put on a big belt with a poach on, where she's put her kitten, who, used to travelling in it, has gave her a reassuring bite on the hand and made himself comfortable in the big pocket. As her mum couldn't be with her and she had no siblings, at least he could be her company as she stands there waiting to hear the name of the new corpse.

"Count me in, mister." said a huge, olive skinned bloke to his friend next to him. "I am Howard Eaton, I'm 17 years old and I will win the 9th Hunger Games." His friend gave him a questioning look, from under her long black eyelashes shadowing over her beautiful green eyes. "Maybe don't drink anymore." Ali liked Howard, but his tendency to say stupid things aggravated her sometimes. Hunger Games were nothing to joke about, and here even the trained careers were to her personal despisement. She then sighed, sipping the last bits of her beer.

She wondered how it's like to be poor sometimes. To have none of this, none of these big houses, sparkly decorations within, not always enough food, parents who weren't betters and sponsors in the despicable Games. True, they managed to save a few out of the 9 victors of past years, but didn't know how horrific it is. Her good friend, from the poorer part of the district, won. And what do her prizes matter, if she can't sleep through a night without nightmares, cannot trust anyone and her world is flooded with awful pain? "Ha, Ali, I wasn't even drinking." He showed her the liquid in his glass, which was inevitably just coke. "I'm joking, too. Unless a little child or someone I know gets picked, I won't lay a finger, but I might have to volunteer otherwise. And you can't stop me." he pinched her on the nose. "You are past all of this anyway, I envy you. 19 and free to do whatever." "You're 17 and free to do whatever too. True, I won't stop you, no idea how I could-" she compared her petite frame to his gianormous height and muscles, there was at least 2 feet and 10 stone of difference between them - "but don't do anything dumb,I want to have my drinking partner for longer." she climbed on his lap to lightly punch him the chest. Sometimes she wondered how they weren't married, and to be honest, her heart swelled for him in a strongly romantic way. But he never seemed to care about her in a more than friendly way, so she quenched the flames, what was, as she often said, the hardest task of her life. And she would give up all her worthless millions of money just to have his love. "Ali, you lass... you're irreplaceable. I'm so glad to have you. Shame you can't be with me in this... reading thing." "Reaping." she corrected him, her eyes looking away into the space, watering.

Nobody was really sure why, but the atmosphere during this reaping was even more sorrowful than usual. District 4 has so far been the most succesful district when it comes to winners, catching 3 out of 8, but at the same time they were also the most divided, hateful district. Few could trust anyone other but their family, everyone kept to themselves, there was no compassion or empathy shown, and unlike in many other districts, when the time came, they did not talk to each other or nervously hold hands, didn't try to reassure each other: they just coldly stood there, waiting for the verdict.

Ali wondered if Howard really is going to volunteer. As his best friend and only person who cared for him like family, she really didn't know what she'd do without him. For the first time she wished she was younger, so if the worst happened or he stood up for someone, she could volunteer too and be with him. Even if it meant her death. She wished she could have told him her feelings sooner, maybe they'd have been together by now. He might have been a short tempered, too outspoken of a guy for a general District 4 folk, but his selflessness and timeless friendliness was a quality she valued above all, which was so hard to find in their district, which drew her to him like no other. She remembered all these times when they went swimming, drinking, learned to use knives, strolled through woods for ages, talking about nothing and everything. She didn't want this to end. They were both too young. A tear ran down her cheek. A small, blonde girl in the cutest green dress and a ginger kitten in her belt has just been picked. Her name was apparently Talia, Talia Neal. Only a 13 year old, nobody volunteered. Looking at her little face, it was obvious that she knew what was about to happen, yet couldn't control her emotions, could make anyone upset. Her cat was taken off her, what made her cry even more. "I hope they don't kill the poor red thing." Ali thought.

The all dressed in crimson, high voiced escort was just about to draw out a boy's name. She prayed it wouldn't be him. Not him. Not Howard.

But it was him.

Ali was too dehydrated from alcohol,she couldn't produce a tear to save her life. Walking to Howard's room, she could see the little girl's parents cuddling her like a doll and crying, crying like hell, crying like wolves howling to the moon. She never heard a sound that would contain as much pain as then again. She promised herself she'll visit her as soon as she walks out of Howard's room too.

Disregarding Peacekeepers who looked at her as if they wanted to shoot her any second, she just went straight inside his room. He was sat on the bed, which looked dazzingly luxurious, but his face expression contained a mix of puzzlement and sorrow. As she approached him, he looked up to her and, what was unexpected to her, he picked her up and embraced her in a strong hug. "Ali, I'm so scared." Only now she noticed how much he must have cried, his eyes were red and swollen, and his voice had that specific hoarse edge to it. "I know." She gently stroked his face. He didn't resist, what made her blush. "But you'll be alright. You're big, strong, you have a chance to win." her other hand reached into her bag. "Here, take this." she passed him a brown bracelet, he immediately slipped on his big wrist. "Remember those birch trees we went to walks in most often? I scraped a bit of them and made this a long time ago. You'll make an use of it in the arena, hopefully. So it can remind you of home... Maybe me." she shivered. "Don't let fear overtake you." "I won't. But this is just so unfair. If I at least saved a little child or someone I love through volunteering, I wouldn't be that bad. But now I can't help but be terrified..." he cried, putting his head against her temple. It was a bit too close for comfort for her, but for his sake she withstood that without giving too much away. "Just be strong. And try to win." However, the image of the little girl with her crying parents still haunted her in her mind as she said that. She worried about her too, a lot, even though she's never seen her before. Unexpectedly, he gave her a gentle kiss on the cheek. "Maybe... if I come back... I'll have a surprise for you."