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Heather Aurum, District Eight

Barry's yellow eyes blinked down at me, mewing quietly. He licked at my face and the smooth, warm padding of his paws swatted my forehead. I turned over, pulling my blanket over my head.

"Five more minutes, Barry," I groaned. Usually, I'm eager to get up and start the day. But it's reaping day. And after pacing late into the evening with worry, I was tired.

Little claws scratched at my coverage, meowing again. Suddenly, he hissed and I heard his little feet plod away. A restraint came to my blanket and the person gripping it tugged hard. I flipped off with the fabric tangled up in my limbs. Giving in, I sat up, glaring at the girl standing over me.

"Good morning, sunshine," Leera said. We've butt heads on more than one occasion. I'm nice to her for our friends' sake. They like her for some reason.

I scowled at her, sitting up. Barry climbed into my lap, relaxing there. His nose nudged at the inside of my thigh. I stroked the tuft of hair behind his neck.

"Good morning, Leera," I said with as much of the animosity I could drain from it as possible. It still came out sounding rude. I promised never to sink to her level but that smug grin drove me nuts.

Alene peeked in, cringing uneasily. "Oh, sorry, H, I thought you were up already." Her eyes darted to Leera and scowled for a moment. The girl shrugged, marching out the door.

"Happy Reaping Day," Alene said in a low tone, that wasn't at all happy. I swallowed hard. Climbing to my feet, I lifted Barry up and snuggled him in my grip. Reaping Day. I wish I were like Barry and didn't have any worries. Just sleep out in the sun while people rubbed my belly.

I shook my head. Don't be so negative. I smiled at Alene, pressing my side to hers with the cat bundled up in my arms. My cousin smiled back at me calmly.

"Sorry for the wakeup call, really," she said, eyes crinkling apologetically. I laughed softly, hiking Barry up higher so he didn't slip from my grip.

"It's alright. I was up late so I guess I was late to rise." The cat's ginger strands were soft and cuddly. Barry's head lolled off, awfully comfortable. Alene scratched his head before picking up the sheets from the floor and tossing them onto my bed.

"Clean up and get ready. Your mom is making breakfast. And you promised you'd be the one to clean out Barry's litter box." I wrinkled my nose at those words.

"But remember last time? I sent kitty litter everywhere…." I groaned.

Alene rolled her eyes, a loving little smile on her face. "That's what you said last time. And you always manage to mess up doing your chores." I shrugged a tiny smile on my face. Maybe I do, maybe I don't.

"Make Leera do it," I said. Alene chuckled, stepping towards the door.

"I would, but I fear for Barry's sake." As if he understood, Barry meowed in consent. We both laughed now at this and I put the cat down. The ID tags of his collar clinked as he plodded across the wooden floor and his fluffy tale disappeared behind the doorframe.

"Just get to it. I think your other friends are here anyway." Alene closed the door as she left the room. I sighed, getting to the duty of making the bed. I wish Barry hadn't left; he would have made good company.

I ran a brush through the tangles of my hair until they finally represented actual curls. I pulled out my favorite old dress and slipped it on. It was a few years old, one of Alene's old ones passed onto me, and it came a little bit too high up over my knee. I definitely wasn't going for sex appeal. But it was still pretty comfy and didn't ride up much and it gave me some comfort. Although, those few inches were definitely bothering me.

My parents weren't poor. Just not very wealthy. I remember two years ago, for my birthday, Mom had asked what I wanted for my birthday.

"I was thinking about getting you a new formal dress," she suggested. I smiled eagerly but Dad peered curiously over his coffee mug.

"Why not a cat?" he said. We both looked at his oddly but he seemed serious.

Guess which one I got? If you guessed Barry, well, I love him more than any dumb old dress, no matter what my friends may say about him.

I frowned at my uneven nails but shrugged it off. Why does having cruddy fingernails today vary from any other day?

My shoes clicked against the flooring as I finally left my bedroom. I try to avoid heels. Not after that one experience with Barry. I puffed out a breath of hair, trying to relax. Today could go horrid. For any one. I could be reaped. I never, ever use my powers. I can control it pretty easily, but it doesn't better me in the long run in any way.

Barry brushed up against my leg, his tail wrapping around my leg. I stroked his neck again before walking into the kitchen. I was struck my Dad's scowl towards me and then Leera's loud burp of "X…Y…Z." Alene washed dishes while Mom massaged her temples. The only time she ever cooks is reaping day. Breakfast is never necessarily…good on this day.

I shrugged, smiling apologetically, but something else had already caught my attention.

"Who fed Barry?" I asked. Mom's eyes widened.

"Well I did," she said. Ebony and Tetra looked up with the same curious look (being twins and all) and Alaina tilted her head. Leera leaned in, amused.

I looked over at his bowl and noted the particles of food that weren't quite licked clean. "What mix did you use? Wet or dry?" I gnawed on my lip, anxiously watching my mother. The other girls at the table grabbed a piece of extra crispy toast, biting sparingly on it.

"Just the wet." I was already shaking my head.

"You need to give him a little wet and a little dry," I explained.

Alene dried her hands off in a hand towel, eye going from me to Mom. "Well, Aunt V didn't know any better, H…"

I shook my head. "We've had him for two years. Mom, you know, he needs the wet and dry."

Mom shrugged. "Sorry, honey, I didn't." Dad shook his head, sipping his coffee.

I was ready to continue when Alaina jumped to her feet. "I think it's time for us to go." Ebony and Tetra both agreed, but Leera tilted her head, eyebrows furrowed.

"No, we have plenty of time," she said. Alaina shot Leera a look and my cousin stepped in.

"No, A's right; you may be late. We were just about to leave now too, right?" Mom and Dad jumped at the chance, nodding in agreement.

Leera rolled her eyes. "Whatever."

I brushed aside Leera's lackluster attitude, the presence of actual friends bringing a smile to my face. I looped my arm through Alaina's, and the twins went on either end of us. Tetra (or was it Ebony?) smiled at me, then to Leera who popped up beside her.

There was a giggly struggle as we exited the house and we ran ahead of my parents and cousin. Alene's parents, in late years, were having trouble financially. The girl moved in with us, having on me and eventually Barry to support, and agreed to help with the money.

I skipped ahead with Alaina, clucking over my shoulder, "Keep up, slow pokes!" Leera kept up at a sluggish pace and we often had to stop and wait as everyone caught up.

All too soon, the outskirts of the town square came up. I jolted to a stop and felt all trace of happiness clear from my face. I stared wide eyed, Alaina gripping my upper bicep area.

I relaxed, taking her hand. "Come on." We walked to the fifteen year old section. Normalcy was all too comforting about now. A normal day, just a normal day. The opening speech started and I tried to retain my usual peppy self.

"To start, let's go to the young ladies," the escort said as if suggesting. I breathed slowly. There were plenty of other girls. It can't be you.

She took painstakingly slow to draw a name and unfurl the paper. "Heather Aurum."

For a moment, I can't draw in breath. I'm too shocked. My fingers shake slightly and Alaina's fingernails drive into my palm. I begin walking forward.

Oh no. Oh no, oh no, oh no.

Brodric "Bro" Loveless, District 8

The individuals around the table scowled as I played my hand. "I believe I win this round." The groans of the hefty guys and click of their coins brought a reflexive smug grin to my face. Good, they didn't see the switch. Carlos smoothed his dwindling stack of bills out, not at all showing any nerves. We'd divvy up later. Alondra wasn't as trusting. His eyes set themselves upon me tentatively. The downwards curve of his lips mashed together made me question my planning. They were good poker buddies, to have on my side and play against.

I readjusted my arms on the table. The overcoat hid more than my bony structure and it was a risk leaving it on when the men requested for me to take it off. This was a stupid plan, on reaping day especially. Long sleeves would have worked too! I've done this before, not with such experienced and cut-throat players.

The pounding of the door brought our eyes flickering up and then to the most accessible clock. Shit, the reaping. It was late; I knew it was going to go late. Starting off with big wins just makes the other guys suspicious and

I collected the money on the table, Carlos and Alondra joining in. The coins fumbled through the gaps of my fingers and rolled about the creaky floor. The men were clearing away their beer cans and the green fabric of the poker table. I reached down stolidly for the few escaping bills and felt the smooth surface of cards slip from my sleeves. I acted nonchalantly to this, as if it were nothing. But, inside, my mind whirred with panic.

One of the men's voices, from the cacophony about, spoke in my ear, his breath warm and overbearing. "Now what may this be?"

Burly fingers dug into my skin, finger nails dragging along, until he had a firm grip on my collar. The other hand reached for the cards strewn across the floor.

"Someone doesn't like playing fair," he growled aggressively. The knocking off the door became heavier. Voices from the other side mingled in with the disorder within our space.

The man, Barney, I think they called him, yanked me to full height. Carlos's shoulders shrunk in as another man grabbed his collar. His confident grin shrank with his body.

"Well, hey, fellas…" he laughed. Alondra stood stiff between us. He glanced to his brother, who nodded perceptively.

Johnny Boy, a kind of guy you don't want to meet on a dark alley way in the midst of the night, latched scarred hands onto Alondra's shoulders. As his grip tightened, he suddenly was lifted off his feet and propelled forward over the boy (note: he does not withhold the ability of super strength). I drove my elbow into Barney's ribs and made for the open window. A drop hit the pit of my stomach as one of the men, Harlan, revealed a sharp, silver object from his jacket.

"Just give us our money back, kid, and we won't kill you."

"It's my money, asshats. I didn't cheat!" Carlos leapt out the window, using leverage off his twin. Why'd I let them go first? Note; steak out better next time before coming.

I crossed my hands across my chest. The men frowned at the gesture and Harlan advanced forward with his knife.

Ping!

Harlan didn't pick up the sound. My clothes were tougher to move but tougher to break through. I crouched to ease the impact. The larger man swung down the knife and it was like taking a full thrust punch. I laughed up at him and his confused expression.

I scrabbled through the open window and took off. Coins, a few money bills, and stray cards scattered in my path. Damn, that was my favorite deck. I heard the door finally give way and the Peacekeepers pounding on it swarmed in. I paused, fighting in for breath. Too close for comfort, that one. And to egg the man on? Some of the things that come out…

I glanced back over my shoulder. A man stood on the porch of the home and my heart picked up as I realized he was watching me, trying to make something of where I just came from. I tapped my shoulder, focusing. Making things hard was the easy part. Making them soft…

Pong!

I blew air from my lungs. The fabric allowed for better movement and I began sprinting in the direction of the center of town. I shoved through the crowd of people at the square's limits and watched large screens set up. The girl had already been reaped and she stood on the stage, limbs fidgeting. Silence passed over, no volunteers stepping forth. Not a surprise. The boy tribute from last year, I think his name was Nugget. Everyone loved him. Me, uh, I barely knew the kid. But everyone else loved him. Yet, no volunteers.

"Now for the boys!" The people of the mass allowed minimal space for me to pass through. Carlos and Alondra must have been anxious to get to the reaping on time. They usually always hang around for their cut of the winnings. Sometimes, they become rushed and doubting of me and demand their earnings in the most obvious and boastful spots. Have my workings put out there for everyone's business. That's murder!

I stumbled out finally. Peacekeepers watched me wearily and I skirted by them to the pen. It was in the eighteen year olds section and I managed to blend in. I'm above average height, so I was as tall as the shorter end guys. My sudden appearance earned questioning looks.

"Brodic Loveless? Do we have a Brodic Loveless?" Brodic…Loveless…that's my name.

My limbs tensed up. No, no, I couldn't have been reaped. But that was my freaking name.

Breathing out slowly, I stepped out boastfully. An arrogant, confident grin stretched across my face and I strode to the stage with an easy gate.

"Hello, ladies," I said. The escort grinned closemouthed towards me. "Happy Mutant Games."

The girl blinked at me, and I finally recognized her. Heather Arum or Aurum, something like that. Thick, curly brown hair as girly as her outwards disposition fell a few inches below her shoulders. Her rosy cheeks puffed out and thin pink lips pressed together in thought. Finally, she smiled at me. I didn't know what to make of it.

"Now to display the abilities," the escort announced. Without the need of a machine, I pinged my overcoat again. I slipped it off, holding it up for the crowd to see.

"Hey, Peacekeeper," I called. One of the men, quite uneasy, stepped forward. It seemed more like he was shoved and he covered it well. I draped the coat over the main machine.

"You got a gun?" he frowned, shaking his head. I won't even comment on that. A comrade tapped his arm with a firearm and he took it awkwardly.

I stepped aside, pointing to the overcoat. "If you please, gentleman, shoot it."

He blinked, muddled by the request. But he didn't think much after that. Raising the gun, he shot once, twice. Everyone flinched with the sudden crack of sound, including myself. Did it work?

I examined where he had shot, a self-satisfied grin creeping up on my face. "Heather, can you find the holes in this?"

The brunette, after a moment, walked beside me. Her finger, thin and shaky, trailed along the rough fabric.

"No, I can't," she announced. With a flick of my wrist, I pulled the coat down and slid it back on. Heather frowned at the dents in the metal. Her hazel eyes trailed up to mine and she was close enough I could examine the specks of yellow and orange towards the center.

Those eyes were drawing me. After a second, I realized I was being drawn in. My eyes snapped shut and when I reopened them, I felt different. Shorter and fabric scratching in different places.

I gazed at myself and the gawky features that make up me. I gazed down at the body I occupied and found two extra friends I normally don't have. Heather was one of the scary ones. You don't realize how intimidating she is until you realize this could make or break you when you're in a Game for your life.

Somehow, if I reached out, I could feel my own heart beating, like staring through a memory. I couldn't control my body, which freaked me the fuck out.

I flicked my, er, Heather's head, the body I was in. I winced at the pain. Okay, that's how that works.

The crowd looked awfully confused. With some of Heather's gesturing and other odd movements from both of us, they slowly caught on. The Heather-me patted down the frenzied black strands of hair and stumbled back. She already managed to claim my clumsiness. Me-her looked up with too large gray eyes and smiled sweetly. Wow, I do have a nice smile, now I get the effect I have. My voice is pretty warm sounding too.

The sucky feeling came on again. I blinked and nearly toppled with the force of slamming back into my own body. Heather and I stared at each other panting.

"I announce the tributes of District Eight; Heather Aurum and Brodric Loveless."