Disclaimer: 1ST off. Than you to everyone reading & reviewing. I really appreciate it.

I still do not own the Hunger Games.

Thank you to FBL for Ivanna Gaunt, to IamNightLocked for Caspian Cress, to Elim9 for Marley Jensen, and JabberBlabberInk for Evelyn Altier.

Also, please note, I did alter the 1st round / 2nd round option for Caspian because it worked better in the context of where this district was heading. Hope that's okay.

District Four: Dark Inside

Viggo Helden – District 4 Victor of the 24th Annual Hunger Games.

Would it be him? The question racked Viggo's thoughts as soon as he awoke in the morning. Even now, the day of the Reapings, he was conflicted. He didn't know whether to hope he was chosen, or to hope he wasn't. In any case, it felt good to have the decision out of his hands. The adults had already voted yesterday; no matter what, the decision had been made already.

One thing he knew for certain, though, was that he wanted to avoid his mother this morning. He wanted to avoid Excelcia. As a matter of fact, until the votes were public, he just wanted to avoid everyone. That way he couldn't say anything stupid that would incriminate him one way or the other.

He knew, almost certainly that his mother had voted for him. He had lain awake last night contemplating that. He'd heard his father arguing with her about it a couple of nights ago.

"Cerise, he's you're son, you're only son. Don't ask him to do this," his father had whispered in what he thought was a voice too low for Viggo to hear. But after being in the Games, after learning to be attuned to every sound, to every voice, even in the huge mansion in the Victor's Village, Viggo heard everything.

If he had been his brother, winning once might have been enough. But Sean was dead and Viggo was all she had left. And he simply wasn't enough. He knew that.

With the same skill he'd demonstrated in the Games, Viggo climbed out of his window into the daylight. His mother wouldn't notice; as long as he got himself to the Reapings on time she would assume he was at the training center, like Sean would have been, getting in some last minute practice.

Well, she couldn't have been more wrong. Right now, training was the last thing Viggo needed. He simply needed solitude.

"Just where do you think you're going?" a friendly voice called from behind him and Viggo reluctantly turned around.

"Casp, I really just need to be alone," Viggo begged. He could feel the frustration boiling up in him again and he clenched his fists trying to keep it under control. It wasn't directed at Caspian, not really. The two of them were friends, close friends, but right now, Viggo just needed to be alone.

"That's the last thing you need before the Games. Besides, don't you want to wish me luck?" Caspian flashed him a smile.

Viggo sighed. Of course he did. Caspian had run what seemed to be a very successful campaign, one Excelcia and Aufelion both had supported, but would it be enough? Viggo couldn't be sure and he hated that more than anything. In fact he hated all of this.

He couldn't bear to shrug Caspian off, though. No, as much as he needed to be alone, Viggo clenched his fists even harder, swallowed his pride and managed a reluctant smile at his friend.

He didn't understand. The way he viewed the Games had been the same way Viggo looked at them before they claimed Sean, before they ripped apart his family, his life, before he himself had been a tribute. And now he might be again.

Maybe it would be a mercy for everyone, he thought as he made mindless small talk with Caspian. If he was selected everyone would get what they secretly wanted. The Capitol would get quite a show, his mother would get to see his life endangered again, and no one else would have to risk their life again. Maybe it was better for him to go in after all.

"Who do you think the girl will be?" Caspian asked, in a failing effort to keep the conversation off of the reapings.

"Who knows," Viggo thought. "Maybe Ivanna." There were several girls who would have made wonderful choices, but Excelcia had backed Ivanna. She had tried to remain impartial, or at least maintain the illusion of impartiality, but it was no secret that she, perhaps alone of anyone in District Four, did not want Viggo in the arena.

Viggo, for his part, had publicly said little to promote his campaign, especially after Caspian had started his. He knew to do anything different would crush his friend, but ultimately it was the district's decision. Despite Caspian's strength and excellence at training, Viggo wasn't certain they would choose him, in part because of how he'd been bullied in the past. If any of the kids thought that was a weakness, it might rub off on their parents.

Viggo realized it was time, and reluctantly rose, wordlessly. He and Caspian entered the square together, perfect opposites in their suites. Caspian's was a dazzling white suit coat with a teal dress shirt and a tie while Viggo's suit was black with a red dress shirt beneath it. Caspian always said it brought out the blue in his eyes.

"Good luck," Viggo managed, patting his friend on the shoulder as they separated. Though they would have been in similar age groups, the Peacekeepers motioned for him to move towards the stage and join the other victors.

He settled in as Titan introduced the victors in the ceremony, not really paying attention. All he wanted to do now was to punch something, someone in the face for delaying all of this. What was all of this pomp and circumstance worth? Just call the names and be done with it! He wanted to shout, to move, to do anything, but he was stuck on the stage, until his fate was decided.

"As always, we will call the name of the lady selected by your district first. A reminder to all you hopefuls out there, this is a selection process that was completed last night. There will be no volunteers. Absolutely no volunteers."

Viggo braced as he could feel the punch coming. The girl's name and then, almost certainly, his own. The way Titan had said what he just said, looking pointedly at him almost sealed it. He knew the second envelope contained his own name.

"For the girls, your district has selected Ivanna Gaunt." Titan announced. Cheers went up from the 18 year old section and high fives were doled out generously as Ivanna took her time processing to the stage. She looked truly glorious in her white gown, matching her pristine blonde hair. Viggo had never seen her like this; at the training center her hair was always strictly back and she was always in a tight jumpsuit uniform.

She smiled familiarly at all the mentors and Excelcia beamed her approval.

"For the gentlemen, I am pleased to announce Caspian Cress."

It wasn't his name! Caspian nearly leapt in the air in disbelief as Viggo felt the desire to punch something even more strongly. As friend made his way to the stage, Viggo settled for high fiving him, perhaps with more force than he ought to have, for he nearly made Caspian stagger. The other boy still beamed, though, seemingly overjoyed.

Viggo stepped back, waiting for Titan to finish up.

"For any of you who feel you have missed your opportunity, by decree of the Capitol there will be a second round, held as a reaping."

There was a palatable mixture of anticipation and confusion in the air as the district allowed this to sit in. Excelcia even looked surprised. No one had seen this coming. Could this possibly have been orchestrated to get both he and Caspian into the Games.

Viggo composed his face into a stone like complexion as Titan drew the girl's name.

"For the second round girls' pick, Marley Jensen."

"I volunteer!" hollered a voice from the crowd, ignoring what had been said. From the seventeen year old section, Charlotte Jensen, a girl Viggo recognized as one of the promising hopefuls from the training center rushed forward, pushing the younger girl, who must have been her sister back in line in the fourteen year old section.

"I do apologize, young lady, but there are no volunteers for this year," Titan pronounced. He did actually sound a little sad; he probably would have preferred Charlotte to her sister any day.

"She's just a kid! Wouldn't you rather have me? You deserve me!" Charlotte protested. A couple of the trainee girls began adding their voices to the mob.

"Ladies, settle down. There's always next year. This year, however, is strictly a reaping and it is Marley that has the honor of representing your district."

Charlotte continued to protest, but the younger girl, dressed in a simple grey t-shirt and loose olive pants stepped forward. She placed a hand on her sister's arm in farewell, and then stepped forward. She took her spot on the stage and seemed to put on the same iron-clad mask that Viggo wore, the mask of someone trying so desperately to look like a fighter.

"For the boys, Evelyn Altier."

It took a moment for a boy in the 16 year old section to stumble forward. He nearly tripped, stumbling into the boy in front of him. Viggo could see him mumbling an apology as he continued onwards.

He certainly wasn't what Viggo thought of when he imagined a fighter, but it was clear there wasn't really another option. His only advantage that Viggo could see was his height. At nearly six feet tall he stood taller than most other boys his age. His long-ish hair waved in the wind as he stood there on stage, staring nervously out at the audience. He clearly hadn't expected this, no one had, really.

"Now shake hands," Titan urged, seeming annoyed at having to prompt them.

All of the tributes shook hands. The two first round candidates first and then the second two round tributes.

As they were ushered off, Viggo glanced up at Excelcia, certain she felt as scorned as the other tributes that had tried to volunteer. He imagined that she would be furious that instead of her entire tribute selection being trained Careers, this year she would have to settle for a mere half of them. But when he looked at her, she seemed serious, almost lost in thought. She managed a smile at him before ushering them to the train.

"Come, Viggo. We should be there before the tributes."

This year all four of them would be on the train for the first time in years, Excelcia, Aufelion, Mags and himself. Yet, Excelcia said nothing. In fact, the silence that surrounded them was eerie.

Caspian Cress Age 17: Round 1 Male Tribute

"I thought Viggo was going to be here," Caspian observed. He was sitting comfortably in the Justice Building, about as pleased as punch. His family had already come in and told him exactly how proud they were of him and his ego couldn't have gotten any bigger. Now he sat with one of his two best friends, Vienna Dwell.

"Don't be silly. You're going to get to spend tons of time with him as your mentor, so it isn't like you'd be saying goodbye to him," Vienna scolded him playfully. "Besides, I think Excelcia whisked him off."

"I still can't believe I won!" Caspian said, breathing a sigh of relief.

"Don't tell your mother that. She worked so hard to make sure you did," Vienna smiled. Neither of them said the unspoken truth, that Caspian had started campaigning, had been so insistent when he'd noticed Viggo considering making the motion himself. After all, it had never been explicitly stated that he couldn't go back into the Games. But now he was forever safe from that and Caspian could do what he had dreamed of, be at Viggo's side and make his friend proud of him.

"Now you really should tell him," Vienna encouraged, but Caspian shook his head. When he won, then, only then, when he could prove that he was as strong as Viggo would need him to be, when he could prove that he deserved to be with a victor, only then would Caspian reveal his feelings for his friend. Until then, he could support him as a friend in the Games, as one of his closest friends, and his mentor. Until then, they could be nothing more.

"We got you something," Vienna said. "Viggo helped me pick it out and I know he'd want to be here when you open it, so just leave it wrapped for now." She handed him a package, elegantly wrapped, so he knew she had done it; Viggo would have gotten frustrated with wrapping anything and would have resorted to plopping whatever the gift was in a paper bag.

"What about you?" Caspian asked, certain that Vienna was dying to see him unwrap it.

"Well, win the Games and tell Viggo how you feel about him and that'll be enough present for me," Vienna sassed him and then she was gone.

Caspian leaned back and smiled, holding his present close to his chest. Yes, he was ready for this.

Marley Jensen Age 14: Second Round Female Tribute

The room had been dysfunctional since the outset, her family being ushered in one by one. They all wanted to be there at once, but her parents had organized it so of her six siblings she had a little bit of time with each of them. Now, at last, after saying farewell to her parents, her four older siblings, Virgil, Kira, Roland, and Mason, and her nephew, Ahren, it was Charlotte's turn.

"It should have been me!" Charlotte yelled again, whether in anger or frustration or grief, Marley wasn't sure.

"Well, I wish it was, too," Marley retorted.

That was enough to get her sister's attention.

"You know I'm not mad at you, it's just so stupid. You don't want to be there and I did. Why won't they let me?"

"Because it's the Capitol. How often would they do what we want them to do?" Marley pointed out.

"You did train, though, remember? If only for a little while," Charlotte was reaching, knowing her time with her sister was drawing to a close. Apparently she didn't want to come off as a complete lunatic. Marley scoffed. She'd stopped training exactly because Charlotte had started. Being the youngest child, she never wanted to be compared to her siblings, not even one she admired.

"So, any last minute advice?"

"Well, I wouldn't go anywhere near your . . ." Charlotte stopped short. "No, wait. No, way. If I give you advice you're going to do the exact opposite, you twat!"

"No I wouldn't!" Marley insisted innocently. She honestly didn't know what she'd do or why she'd asked her sister for advice. She just wanted to stay here for a little longer, no matter what that meant.

"That's what you always do, though. If I tell you to charge the Cornucopia you'll run away. If I tell you to make allies you'll go it alone. If I tell you to not jump off a cliff you'll go and do just that, Marley." Charlotte was trying to keep her temper in check, but was failing miserably.

"Maybe you should calm down. After all, it's my life at steak, not yours. If I take my own path, what's that to you?"

"Marley, you're my sister. I want you back," Charlotte struggled, fumbling for words. "You can do this. I know you can."

Ivanna Gaunt Age 18 District One Female

"You're going to make me very proud," Justin Gaunt smiled at his daughter. In the back of her mind she could still hear him yelling commands, training her, as he had for so many years alongside Excelcia and Aufelion at the training center. He had helped Excelcia to establish the center years ago and used his experience from the war to benefit all of the trainees who had passed through his doors. None had benefitted more than his daughter, though.

She knew she owed a lot of her experiences to him, a lot of her successes, and, undoubtedly, the fact that she was sitting here, on the precipice of her dreams.

"I will," she promised, beaming back at him. She could already imagine what it would be like in the arena, could already feel the weapons that she was so familiar with in her hands. She would prove, once and for all, that the Career system and the academy were the superior forces in the district.

"Remember, chose your allies wisely," her mother advised her, weakly. It was all she could do to make it out today, and was leaning heavily on her father. Ivanna gave her mother a hug, not too tightly, but enough to assure her that she would be coming back. She studied her face so that she could remember it when she was in the arena.

Her mother, Odette, was the real reason that she volunteered for the Game. Her father had driven her, yes, but her mother's illness, the time limit that was now being imposed on their relationship, that had been what sealed her decision. If she could come back as a victor they would never want for medicine again, they would have access to the best doctors in Panem. They could save her mother. And this, this was the only way to get her hands on what she longed for: more time with her mother.

"I love you," her mother whispered weakly. Ivanna could tell that her mother's strength was waning, but she wanted her to stay, needed her to stay. She took her mother's hand, because she couldn't ask her to do any more.

"I love you too," Ivanna whispered and then her father ushered her mother from the room and she became a dream to cling to.

Evelyn Altier Age 16 Round 2 Male Tribute

"You ought to know what you have to do," Michanna scolded him. Evelyn braced at her earnestness. His parents had just said their goodbyes along with his older brother. Evelyn had almost thought the Peacekeepers wouldn't let Michanna come, given the mischief she was known for getting into. But sure enough, both she and his friend Rhode, his two best friends in the world had managed to get in to say goodbye to him.

Evelyn shrugged, feeling certain Michanna didn't mean the obvious. Obviously he had to find some way to make it home. His mother was depending on him to take over her store while his older brother helped out with his father's fishing boat. It was clear that his place was here, not in the arena.

Michanna would have slapped him across the face if Rhode hadn't stopped her hand.

"Are you trying to get kicked out?" he demanded.

"I'm trying to get him to pay attention. I'm sorry you're in this mess Evelyn. Really, there's no worse person they could have picked."

"Trust me, I wish they would have allowed volunteers. I know any of the boys from the training center would have been itching to get in."

"I would have taken your place if I could have," Rhode offered. Evelyn wasn't sure if he meant it, but now they were words, and they were well meant.

"You're going to have to stop being so damn polite," Michanna pointed out. "You can't let anyone tell you what to do. Maybe your mentors, but no one in the Games. It's your life on the line and we need you back here."

Evelyn nodded.

"I'll make it back. I promise," he said. He knew they were just words, but he was going to try. After all, it was a promise, and he never backed out on a promise.

"Don't get too close
It's dark inside
It's where my demons hide"