Author's Note: Hello again. Here's your district 4 boy, Landon Leigh. I had a good time writing this chapter. Enjoy and don't forget to leave me a review. :)


I walk down beside the turquoise waters. The waves sweep up over the sand and my feet, cooling them, then wash back to their origin. I've grown up by the water. I love it here, almost as much as I love to train.

"Don't worry about it Landon. I was reaped and I made it home, just like I said I would. Besides, it's not even your year to volunteer." She smiles, her sea blown dark hair whipping across her face.

I nod and smile back. Karrie's smile is contagious.

"I know, I know."

"Well, that's not to say that the Games are really a fun thing, but it's not impossible to make it out alive." Karrie sighs and her smile fades away. Her big, green eyes begin to look a bit sad so I change the subject. I know she doesn't like to talk about the Games much.

"Hey, want to go on one last swim before the reaping?" I grin and don't even have to ask.

Karrie laughs and pushes me into the sand as we both scramble to get to the water first.

"Hey, no fair! Pushing is against the rules!" I laugh and splash her in the face.

She screams in delight and tries to splash me back.

I met Karrie when I was six. She was ten. We've been close friends every since.

"Cannonball!" Shouts a new voice and a gigantic wave ensues as they enter the water. I roll my eyes. It can only be one person, my best friend Sie.

"Hey Sie, finished your job for today?"

"Yah, I'm done. My parents let me off early to have a little fun before I have to get ready for the reaping. It's such a downer."

Karrie and I nod. Sie's a seafood trader in town. He's never trained to be a Career like me, but he has a good life.

I think back to all the times I'd spent at this beach as I float casually in the cool water. Basically my whole life, I was even born here, but that's a long story. I knew my parents always wanted me to be a fisherman when I grew up, but after I met Karrie I knew that just fishing wasn't for me. It's not that I like the Capitol, which I don't. They've given me a great life, but I just can't stand them all the same.

When I was just little I'd come out here and have competitions with friends. Running, swimming, climbing trees, you name it we had contests in it. Karrie had already started her Career training when we met. She took me with her one day and I had a blast. Unfortunately, my parents didn't approve of me being a Career and stopped me from training. After a couple years of persistant pleading they finally gave it. I was a lot older, at eleven, to be starting than most of our districts' Careers who started their training around age six or seven. Still, I did well and finally got to work with a weapon. My choice was the sword.

"You who…Earth to Landon…"

I snap out of my memories.

"Time to wake up dolly daydream. We better go get ready for the reaping. It's in half an hour."

The three of us trudge, soaking wet, back to shore and break off in different directions to go home. Karrie heads to the Victors' Village, Sie to the other side of town, and me just a few minutes away to my home near the docks.

I don't even get to the door when I already hear the shouts of my little brother and sister. Cody, who's thirteen, is complaining about having to wear a collared shirt and Laurel, who's eight, is simply running around like mad with some seashells she must have found out back.

"There you are Landon! Go get ready, it's almost time to go." My mother scolds me good naturedly.

"Gosh Mom, calm down, I don't take forever to get ready." I groan and hurry to my room where I take a quick shower and change into a dark blue collared shirt, black shorts, and some black sandals. I don't have time to sit in the sun for my hair to dry so I spike it up and hurry out to find my parents and siblings ready and waiting for me.

"Ready son?" My Dad asks. I nod.

We make our way casually to the reaping. Cody and I brake off into the line to check- in then find our way to our sections.

From the fourteen year old guys section I turn back to the stage to see Karrie standing by the side next to our other victor, some older guy who doesn't look to pleased to be here. I believe his name is Aliat.

Our district's escort, who always seems to match the ocean, steps to the stage. His name is Luno, but I'd be more likely to call him Looney. His hair is bright blue and just sits there on his head, like a shelf, like an ocean wave before it crashes to shore. I roll my eyes as the Capitol video begins. Such trash. They try to feed us this junk, but I'm not going to buy it. Yah, like the Capitol really ever loved us? Give me a break!

"Our female tribute for the 47th Annual Hunger Games will be… Scarlett Willows!"

A girl who comes from the fifteen year old section steps forward. She looks confused and as she passes by other girls in her section I can tell she's pleading desperately for someone to volunteer for her, but strangely enough no one does.

Our volunteering system is not nearly as precise as the ones in districts 1 and 2. We're a Career district, but we're not quite as intense as the first two districts.

"Now for our male tribute… Codreith Leigh!"

It takes a second to sink in, but before I even know it I'm on the stage instead of my little brother.

"Tell us your name so everyone will know who the brave district 4 boy is."

"I'm Landon…Landon Leigh."

I look down to see Cody's befuddled expression before I shake hands with Scarlett and am whisked off into the justice building. This will be an interesting goodbye.

My parents come in first followed by Cody and Laurel.

"Mom, Mom, I'll be alright." I say, my voice muffled since she's busy squeezing the living daylights out of me.

"I'm proud to call you my son. God be with you Landon." My father says, putting his hand on my shoulder and giving a forced smile.

Once my mother finally lets go I give a quick hug and kiss to Laurel who isn't exactly sure why I'm leaving and then I say goodbye to Cody. His face is pale.

"It's ok Cody. Don't worry about me. Just promise you'll root for me."

"I promise." He gives a little grin and we hug goodbye.

As my family leaves one last visitor sneaks in. It's Karrie.

"Sie says goodbye and not to die." She whispers.

I nod.

"Listen Landon. You have to win this thing. I know you can do it. You believed in me and I won. I believe in you."

I nod again, not quite sure how to respond.

"This is for you to wear in the arena. I wore it when I went it. It says Alpha Vivere ad Culpis. That means live to win…" Karrie's voice trails off and I slip the silver necklace around my neck.

"Thank you Karrie." I whisper and she suddenly grabs me in a tight hug.

She's a lot taller than I am so she almost picks me up off the ground, but that's when I truly realize the magnitude of what's happening to me. I'm leaving and I may never come back.

Karrie gives me a little smile and before she leaves she kisses me on the cheek.

"Prove they're not going to mess with you." She whispers in my ear and then she's gone.

I know exactly what she means.