Thank you for reading my story. I want to let you all know I will now be merging stories now so it will be in a pair of reaping's and at the end I will make a complete chapter containing after shows for all the districts Also I will be going on a small holiday and won't to publish, but I will write so when I come back I will publish the chapters I write.
Capitol
Finley Rinehart, Head of cybersecurity – POV
"Today is not a good day for me". I say to myself as I straighten my tie and fix my vest while I walk to Mr. Mino's office.
Thanks to that group of punks I now have to deal with Mr. Minos temper. I just pray I don't end up like my predecessor Miah Levitz; my first day was his last. He had been asleep when Zero launched swarms of a mutant form of a Trojan horse within the system; a number of our hovercraft had crashed into each other a lot of people died. I was glad and excited to have such a lucrative job be a man his 20's from district 3, but then he showed me what was left of his corpse his eyelids were torn off and his eyes gouged out of his skull as a reminder to never ever forget to protect the safety of Panem at any cost, and in the two months I have been here I have successfully defend cyber-attacks from Zero, until now.
As I entered the reception room I am greeted by his Secretary Amber Penny. I remember her because she looks like a normal person, not someone from the capitol, and because she is so pretty.
"Hi, Amber" I greet
"Hello Finley "she greets back.
"I will let President Minos know you're here" she calls Mr. Minos to tell him, then puts the down the phone and tells me I'll have to wait.
"from a scale of 1 to 10 how bad will it be when I get in there, 1 being told it's not my fault and 10 being Levitz" I ask
"Hmm, 5 or an 8" she estimates
"Really, wow, do I look nervous, cause I feel nervous" I say tightly.
"Well I think you look handsome" she says in a husky voice.
I feel my cheeks blush a little "Thanks, um since I might die in the next, like 3 minutes do you want to go out with me…., if I survive of course" I say jokingly to hide my nervousness.
Before she gets to answer I hear Mr. Minos say "get your ass in hear, Rinehart"
I get up and walk to the door and I hear her say. "If you make it out of there, I will be sure to give you my number so we can organize a date, good luck "she says
"Thanks" I say in a throaty tone, and open the door with a smile on my face, but that smile drops to the ground smashes to a million pieces when I look into President Minos's dark grey eyes.
"Take a seat, Mr. Rinehart" he gestures to the seat in front of me.
"you have worked here for two months, and in those two months you have done an exceptional job, but how I wonder did a group of terrorists hack into the broadcast that streams all across Panem". He asks tonelessly.
That tone of his voice always frightens me so calm, so….. Cold, it always sends unpleasant chills up my spine. I prefer it when he gets angry.
"Well, well ah…" I stammer.
I hear a loud bang that makes me jump. I realize he just slammed his hand on the table. "Well spit it out!" Minos commands
"Yes of course sorry, they were able to hack into the broadcast because the seconds before they had implanted our systems with a mutant version of a Tannenbaum virus "he states.
"What on earth is a Tannenbaum virus" Minos questions.
"Ah, the Tannenbaum is a polymorphic infector that when executed, infects all files in the current directory and all files listed in the PATH variable. It moves a 1,539-byte-sized portion of the beginning file to the end and overrides the original portion. If the file is smaller than 1,539 bytes, Tannenbaum will add extra junk code to it to make it larger, but seeing… but I am interrupted by Mr. Minos.
"Rinehart, I didn't understand any of that, so please explain it to me in layman's term "he asks
"Oh, forgive me I am just nervous, um so basically it is a virus that enlarges occupying files within a system to overwhelm it causing the system to hang" I pause to see if he understands, he motions for me to continue. "When this happens an image appears on-screen. In the old world it was a Christmas tree with a German phrase beneath it that translates to' and its still alive: The Christmas Tree this would usually occur around Christmas day it "I am again interrupted by President Minos
"But, it's July "he states.
"If you would let me finish I will be sure to explain" I recommend, then I pause to see if he allows it.
"Well, go on with it then" he declares.
"This was a mutant version of the virus so every time we would remove one, two more would occur this went on until it caused the system to hang, and the image that appeared was the terrorists symbol a Zero with the words: 'we are alive, we are Zero', I don't know if they were trying to stick with the phrase, but sir why would they say they are alive? I ask.
He looks me in the eye for a long time; I don't look away out of fear of upsetting him.
"Understand something Mr. Rinehart, if you listen to what I am about to tell you, you can never repeat it. You will be shown something only a handful of people know about. I say this to you, I offer this to you because of the work you have done, because although you are not of the capitol you show a devotion to it that has been noticed "he informs me.
He gets up, and leans against the desk in front of me, and looks down at me with those eyes of his. I know what he just said to me sounded like a choice, but from the look in his eyes I know it's not.
"So Mr. Reinhart do you want to listen to what I am about to tell you" he asks me, but I know I have no choice; it is either yes or die.
"Yes, I do President Minos". I reply.
District 4
Madison Burbank- POV
As I stand in front of the mirror I think with a smile on my face. Today is my last reaping no more will I have to worry about whether me or my sister Cobalt being reaped I can now just worry about her, my lovely sister although she maybe be blood she is family. I can still remember the day my parent brought her home I was only 12 she was 10. I loved her straight away, I finish brushing my hair and go down stairs to have breakfast and see everyone one is in the kitchen. Dad is making pancakes, mom is making juice and Cobalt is reading. I sit down across from Cobalt, and then mom puts a glass of juice in front of me and kisses me on the cheek.
"Morning Madison" she greets
"Morning mom" I reply
Dad then places a plate of pancakes in front of me "morning squirt" he greets, and then ruffles my hair.
"Dad, I just brushed my hair" I groan, and try to fix my hair.
"Sorry Maddie it's just an important day, because after today you will be free from ever having to go to the Hunger Games" he says with a smile.
"Then in another 2 reaping's, Cobalt will be too". My mother adds
"Are you nervous, Coby" I ask
"A little" she mumbles from behind her book.
"What are you reading" I ask as my parents sit down.
"Why do you want to know" she snaps.
"Cobalt, you don't be rude to your sister she was just asking you a question" scolds my mother.
Cobalt slams her book on the table" she isn't my sister, and you're not my mother. My mother is in a mental ward" she snarls, then storms out of the room.
"Whoa, whoa Cobalt come back here, and apologizes to your mother "my father demands.
" no, I am going to go visit my mother the only real family I have left, so I don't intrude in yours" she yells from outside the room, then I hear a door slam, and we all jump a little.
I am standing my line in the crowd for the reaping, and I'm still thinking about what Cobalt said. Does she really not think of us as her family even just a little? I ask myself.
"The female tribute for District 4 is….. Madison Burbank!"
I stand there stunned, barely able to hear my mother scream, when a peacekeeper grabs my arm to move me.
"I volunteer" I hear someone declare.
I look to see who said it and see my sister
"Cobalt no please" I scream
The peacekeeper let's go of me escort Cobalt.
As she walks past me "it's okay, mom and dad need you more, because they love you more" she whispers.
"What, no" I start to run after her but I am stopped by a peacekeeper.
"Get back in line" he commands. I pull against him.
He turns me to face him he looks young barely 19." please get back in line" he pleads, with a desperation in his eyes. I do as he asks, as a get in line I see my sister on stage.
"Now was that your sister, you just volunteered for" Delos asks.
"Yes, it was" Cobalt replies.
"So brave, now what's your name?" she asks.
"Cobalt Burbank" she answers.
"Pretty name, now for the gentlemen" she announces.
Jin Cohen – POV
As I walk to the town hall I see my best friend Marcus walking up the hill towards the cliff edge. "What the hell is he doing" I wonder out loud.
I run to him to him stopping a few feet away when he reaches the edge of the cliff. "Whoa, what on earth are you doing Marcus!?" I shout.
He turns to look at me. "Why the hell are you yelling? I'm just looking at the ocean, what you thought I'm doing?" he asks.
"Sorry I thought you were going to….." I falter
"To what Jin" he demands walking up to me.
"I thought you were going to jump" I confess.
"Hahaha, you thought I was going to jump. Please I would never do that only weak people do that" he says.
"Yeah I should have known, it's just I know what this day means to you and…" I am then cut off, when Marcus pulls me into a hug. I hug him back, then he pulls back and grabs my shoulders reassuringly.
"Thank you for caring Jin, but I would never kill myself that is not the best way to honor Jenna's memory" he puts he arm around my shoulders, and walks us down the hill.
" I am glad you're my friend Jin, I don't think I would have survive the past year without you, I would probably be in my room now with the lights off crying" he confides.
"I am too. You're the best friend a guy could have" I say
"Oh, you" he jests.
"Race you to the town square" I say, and then start sprinting before he has a chance to respond.
"You're on cheat" he says from behind me.
"Now for the gentlemen" she says then pulls out a slip.
"And the male tribute is…. Jin Cohen!" she exclaims.
I hear a shout beside me. "I volunteer" Marcus says.
"Marcus you don't have to do this" I insist
He grabs my shoulders and looks me in the eyes. "Yes I do" he whispers. He then walks to the stage.
"Was that your brother?" Delos inquires.
"No he is my best friend, but I do consider him a brother" he replies.
"Aw, that is so sweet, now we have of tributes for this year's 103rd Hunger Games.
