.:.:Athena Montgomery, 18:.:.

"Mama! I met my little brother! He's- he's… Mama?"

"Daddy, what's happening? Why won't Mama wake up?"

"Mama's not sick! She was fine when I saw her!"

"She- she will survive! Mama! Mama, answer me!"

"I don't want to hold him! I-I hate him! He made Mama sick!"

To be honest, I don't know why I hate my brother so much. I know now I'm eighteen it wasn't his fault – my mother died because of illness which she got after giving birth to him. If she was infected when my brother was in her belly, they both would have passed on, so I must be grateful at least one of them survived. Still, I found no relief when I see my brother. It's all a combination of hate, anger and hostility.

The shower's cold water streams down my forehead, onto my nose, my cheeks and eventually down my neck. I decided to wash my hair today because I need to look the best for my last reaping. I've already picked out my outfit I was going to wear.

Soon enough, I'm done with my shower and I wrap myself with a towel before walking into my room. I put on my plain but pretty navy blue dress and a pair of black high heels. These were one of my nicest clothes, though I had fancier dresses tucked away in my closet. My family wasn't exactly on the rich side of the district, but we definitely had enough money for at least a bit of luxury.

When I'm dressed, I take out a hairdryer from the drawer of my makeup table and start drying my hair. I do this for around fifteen minutes, and when my hair is perfectly dry with a white hairband on it, I walk out of my room and go up to Electryon's bedroom door.

"ELECTRYON! HURRY UP! WE'RE LEAVING IN HALF AN HOUR!"

I know I was being unfair. Electryon didn't have an alarm clock like me so he must have only woken up when I banged on his door. Whatever, it's not like I care about him. He can miss the reaping altogether for what I care…

…but then I realize it's his first reaping.

Oh well, it's not like he'll be reaped anyway. He's only got his name in there once.

.:.:Electryon Montgomery, 12:.:.

The yelling outside my room makes my fall onto the floor with a loud thump.

I glance around my room for any sign of what time it is. The sun is already up and it's quite bright, and it's usually still a bit dark when I wake up on time. I'm late, that's certain.

I scurry onto my feet and dash for the door, which was left open for me by my lovely sister. I run to the bathroom and even with the little time I had, I took a quick shower. I needed to look my best for my first reaping to make a good first impression.

I brush my brown curls into place and put on my nightclothes before running back to my room to get dressed. My suit is laid on the ironing board in the corner of my room. I'm the one in charge of laundry in the house. When I'm in my white shirt, black trousers and blazer, I struggle with my tie. I give up on it and run downstairs, throwing it on the floor.

Athena is at the table, eating breakfast with Dad. Dad smiles at me, but Athena gives me no more than a glance.

"Sorry, kiddo," he says, standing up and collecting his and Athena's plates. "I thought you'd already woken up. Do you want me to make you something? We won't be that late for the reaping."

"No thanks." I open a drawer and take out a glass. "It's my first reaping. I don't want to be late no matter how I dread this day."

He nods, taking out a carton of orange juice from the fridge and giving it to me. I hear a slam coming from the front door. Athena had left to go to the reaping on her own. Dad sighs.

I feel like everything's my fault. Dad always wanted to have a normal father-daughter relationship with Athena but she would never let him. He's always too nice to me, and Athena doesn't approve of that. She has despised me with every fibre of her being from the day I was born. Well, technically, a few weeks after that. My mother died of a horrible fever which she got after giving birth to me. She was too weak to fight through it. I don't remember anything about her funeral, but I know that was the day Athena declared her hatred for her little brother.

I wouldn't blame her. I know it's a bit immature, but if my mother had died after giving birth to a younger sibling, I would hate that younger sibling as well. I remember reading from somewhere that 'forgiveness is the only way out of the labyrinth'. Well, I guess the labyrinth of 'screw-you-little-brother' isn't as simple as that.

I poured myself some orange juice before quickly drinking it. When I'm done, I put the glass into the sink before following Dad out the door.

My eyes hurt. It's an overly sunny day today. It usually is in this part of the district. We generate our power with solar panels. I put my arm over my face, trying to block out the light. I didn't have to do that for long, though. I got into my dad's car and we drove off.

We live closer to the factories. The factories are on the outer parts of the district, so it's quite far from the town square. I don't know how Athena would get there, but she always does and is never late. We never ask her because she wouldn't tell us anyway.

The town square comes into view not long after. It's crowded, that much I can say. The crowd is made up mostly of kids, but there are quite a few adults accompanying the children. I step out of the car just after Dad does. We walk to the town square to sign in. I don't see Athena anywhere.

Dad gives me a hug before joining the other parents. I go to the twelve year olds' section by myself, but a few of my friends join me. At least I'm not completely alone.

"Welcome, children of District Five!" I notice that our last year's escort was nowhere to be seen. Instead, there was a man with turquoise blue skin and golden hair. "My name is Adonis Satin and I am your new escort!"

Even though he sounds cheery and happy, I see s twinge of sadness in his eyes. He's upset. By the way he embodies the ocean and sand, I can tell he was from District Four. They haven't won in a while, so he must have been demoted. I almost feel sorry for him.

Almost. I don't really because he's already got a perfect life.

He gives us a speech about the dark days and how the Hunger Games began. That was usually the mayor's job but I think he's too old for that now. When he was done, he walked over to the girls' names.

I feel as if somebody is watching me. I turn my head to look at the piercing green eyes of my sister. Her stare is completely blank and her eyes dart back to the stage.

I don't know why, but I don't want her to get reaped. This is her last year and she's free after this. She deserves that freedom after what she's been through. So I repeat in my head, Please don't let it be Athena. Please don't let it be Athena.

.:.:Athena Montgomery, 18:.:.

Please don't let it be me. Please don't let it be me.

It is me.

Adonis Satin calls my name out loud and clear. People look around to see who the girl is. They don't know me. I'm not surprised.

I inhale sharply before stepping out of the crowd. They stare at me. Some are relieved that it isn't a poor, innocent twelve-year-old. Others look sorry about the fact that I, an eighteen-year-old, have lost my chance of freedom.

I silently step onstage. Adonis is beaming but his eyes are blank. Are all people in the Capitol altered to be so emotionless and yet act so friendly? I figure I would find out soon enough.

The crowd continues staring at me. I exhale a breath I didn't know I was holding before giving a slight nod. It probably gave me the tough girl look. I suppose I would get quite a few sponsors.

"Alright then," Adonis says, passing me and going over to the glass bowl containing the boys' names.

I think about who would be chosen. It's not like I have anything to worry about now. I don't mind going into the Games. I won't have fun or anything, but I won't hate it. If I die in the arena, then I should at least die while protecting someone. My district partner. Well, we could win together this year, but that's unlikely because the gamemakers would probably try to tear us apart. So I hope for a partner who I would easily get along with.

"Electryon Montgomery!"

My breath hitches in my throat. He… he was reaped. Electryon was reaped.

Sure, I might have wished him to hell or wished him to die a torturous death but I never meant it. I would always regret it after though I wouldn't actually say it. Still, I never wanted my brother to go to the Hunger Games. He has a good future ahead of him. He studies hard for school. He makes lots of friends. He is loved by everyone.

I never wanted him to get reaped. And I wasn't the only one.

As he emerges from the crowd, I see he's shaking. Only a little bit, but I see it. He goes onstage and stands next to me. He looks at me for a while, before giving me what I supposed was an encouraging smile. Good luck, I supposed it said.

"Ooh, a twelve-year-old and eighteen-year-old from the same district! It's all a completely different world from what you expected, isn't it?"

We're silent. Everyone else is too. All I hear is a few cries of pity from the mothers and our father being comforted by his friends. He stares at us. I feel so sorry for him. I barely talk to him, but now I understand why he tries so hard to be nice to us.

We are all that he has.

"Shakes hands!" Adonis says after the awkward pause.

I walk towards him. Just as he was going to extend his hand in greeting, I pull him into a hug.

"I'm so sorry," I whisper. "I'm so sorry I was ever so mean to you. I'm so, so sorry."

He hugs me back.

"My, are you two siblings?"

I glare at him. "You dimwit. Did you not notice that we have the same surname?"

His smile falters but only for a while. He grabs our hands, a bit too harshly, and makes us face everyone in the district.

"District Five, I bring you your tributes for the 100th Annual Hunger Games!"

There is very little clapping. I'm not surprised.

.:.:Electryon Montgomery, 12:.:.

Dad visited Athena first so my friends said goodbye to me while he went.

I was quiet, which is unusual for me. My friends notice that but they don't have the heart to point it out. They also barely say anything. They hug me, each of them, mumbling some words of 'good luck' or 'be safe'. We chatted for a bit while we still had time. There wasn't much to talk about other than the death I'm being sent to, but they tried telling me what they thought I should do. In the arena, I mean. Some had good ideas while the others were pointless.

They left when the peacekeepers ushered them out. A man with dishevelled brown hair and green eyes comes in, not giving me a second to breathe before he engulfs me in a hug. I've done a lot of hugging that day and was tired from it, but the sad look in my Dad's eyes made me hug him back.

He cries into my suit. It's a nice suit and will probably get ruined, but I'm most likely not going to wear it again. So I let him.

We didn't say much before the peacekeeper made Dad leave.

"Promise me you will always stay teammates with Athena," he had said. "Promise me that you will never, ever betray your sister."

I only nodded, and then he was gone. I waited for a minute or so until the same peacekeeper led me to the train.

I survey the train for a while when I'm on board. The finest from District 6, I supposed. I sit at a couch at the lounge, and only moments later, Athena comes out of a room. Her eyes are slightly – very slightly, but I noticed it – puffy and red.

"Hey." Nice one, Electryon. Try another one of those brilliant conversation starters with someone who just walked out of a room where he/she has been crying in.

She nods. I don't know why, but I urged her forward and she complied. She sat next to me.

"Dad told me to promise him I would never betray you." She nods again.

"He told me to never harm you in any way and do everything I can to protect you, no matter what circumstances. I was unsure at first. So then he went to you and asked you to never betray me after I gave him my answer."

It was my turn to nod. "But what did you answer?"

Athena smiles and pulls me into another hug. I was somehow expecting it while not expecting it, so I quickly return it. "I said yes, of course. Of course I will try my best to protect you at all costs no matter what, even if it means my death."