If you have noticed, I did not do a district 9 reaping. Thats because the two tributes, Saffy Reid and Lawson Moren will not live very long into the games, and trying to write their reapings will be a pain in the arse. Warning: EXTRMEMELY LONG CHAPTER!

calamity11 owns Malia Saunders, calico101 owns Holden Wise. Everyone who reviewed; YOU ARE AWESOME! Keeps writing reviews, It'll speed up the progress of this story.

-Malia Saunders- 15 years old

If there is anything more for me to hate in my life, its reaping day. Why? Because reaping day is the day when a girl and boy are chosen from every district to be prettied up and act like pet dogs to the Capitol, then be killed for their entertainment in a fight to the death.

It was quite like what we did with cattle in district 10; we bred and raised them, took them to livestock shows and auctions, then had them slaughtered in the stockyard.

Of course, we never ate the beef ourselves. No one in district 10 could afford even the scraps to feed ourselves. Instead, we shot hares for met that passed by the ranches.

The moment I opened my eyes to today, I knew it was going to be a bad day, because reaping days are always bad; thats when I have to spend the entire damn day with Ashley and Fae.

Heavy footsteps trudged up the stairs and I buried my face into my pillow. I could pretend I was sleeping, and get away today.

"Malia?" he said and knocked on the door. "It's time for breakfast."

I stayed silent and hoped he would go away.

"Malia, really, you're more mature than that." He opened the door and I pretended to go to sleep. He shook me strongly and pulled my pillow away. "We have to go to the reaping, added to that. Come on, I know you're hungry."

I glared into my father's eyes and sat up. "I'm not hungry. Go away," I growled.

He laughed as if it was a joke and slapped me between the shoulders. "I'm serious. You don't want to starve, do you?" He left the room and out of eyesight. I sighed and stood up. I might as well eat, since I was hungry anyway.

I brushed off my nightshirt and began to leave the room. For a second, I hesistated to go. I didn't have to go. I could spend the rest of the day up here. No one could tell me what to do anymore; I was unofficially an adult. But I was sort of hungry...

I walked down the stairs and heard the sound of words being passed. Ashley, Fae, and my parents were crowded around the television and worried looks crossed their faces.

"What's wrong?" I asked. Ashley shuffled to the right and I joined in.

A slim brown-haired woman wearing a gray suit was sitting at a coffee table with a cup of tea. On the other side of the table was a tall, ashy blonde clad in a silvery dress and super-high heels. A thick layer of unmistakeable scarlet lipstick coated her full lips, her hair was up in a tight bun.

I recognized both women; the woman with the suit and brown hair was the President White, the blonde was the temporary host for the Hunger Games, Rilanna Remark, I think her name was.

"So, Miss White, what are your plans for the 29th annual Hunger Games?" Rilanna asked.

"You'll be suprised what our gamemakers have devised this year," White responded in a pleasant tone. "I have it in mind that we will-"

The television suddenly turned off and Ashley's face was stricken with fear. "Well, why don't we have breakfast now?"

"What's going on?" I asked. "Why are you all looking like I grew a second head?"

They remained silent until my mother broke the silence by saying, "Who wants eggs for breakfast?"

Why did no one tell me anything important? I was an adult; I had the right to know. My mother dropped a plate of eggs in front of me and I began to stuff my cheeks with them. "Since today is the day of the reapings," Da announced. "I plan to spend the whole day with just our family."

I nearly spat out my eggs and outrage crossed my face. "I'm not wasting a day of my life with those two bitches."

My mother's upper lip stiffened, then she stood up. "Young lady, what did you just say?"

I got up in my turn, and faced her angrily. "I said, I'm not spending my day with those two bitches." She reached for my shoulder, but I stormed out of the house and slammed the door in her face.

I made a run for the open plains, beyond the wire fences where the cattle grazed. I laid down, and began to scream my heart out and rip up the dirt and grass. No one understood me. No one knew how I felt, or cared. I wish I could press a button and make Ashley and Fae disappear off the face of the Earth. Then I'd be happy.

Years of frustration and anger were bottled up in my heart me and ate away at my insides, like the duststorms that plagued district 10. Ashley and Fae. Ashley and Fae. Those were the only things that were of meaning to my parents. They spoiled them, loved them to the bottom of their hearts. I was cast aside, like an orphaned puppy that followed people for handouts.

I wished I belonged somewhere.

-Holden Wise- 17 years old

The worst and best part about living in district 10 have to be the coyotes. I was scared somethin' terrible of them, but no one knew, and none needed to neither.

I had to go out and calm down the horses 'cause of the thunderstorm rolling in and booming overhead, and was coming inside to rest up. The wind was howling and blowing dust into my eyes. I blinked it out well and slammed open the rusty old door.

Pop was frying up a rabbit and sprinkling it with pepper. It was just Pop and me, because my Ma died some years ago from the fever that killed nearly a thousand people in district 10 and more in the other districts. Pop was always saying how glad he was that he had a son, and I'm glad he's still around. He's a victor, he is, and we spend our weekends training to bring some honor to our name. He was in the games at age 17, and expects me to do the same. I've been waiting for the proud day when I'll make him proud, for him and Ma.

Pop turned off the stove and split the fragrant meat in half, on for me, one for him. I took my half to the worn-down couch in the center of the house, careful not to sit on the loose spring, then turned on the TV. I needed to get this all right if I wanted to stand a chance against the competition. There were pretty good players out there, and I needed to catch a sponsor's eye quick.

I played the recording on, and watched the district 1 reapings from last year. The boy was going up with a look of confidence on his face and sayin' "I volunteer" before the escort even called out the name. I could try that out, but it was a hit or miss. I only got one chance to get it right.

The girl was reaped, and held her head up high like she was some mighty queen. It made me wonder who my district partner would be. A skinny 12-year old was my best shot. But too many of our 12-year olds had died durins the flood last year, that killed most of the children and our livestock. Many folks went hungry during the winter.

"Holden," Pop said. "Eat up. I want you to impress those people, not let them be able to count how many ribs you got."

I piled the meat into my mouth and tried to chew it all at once. The meat was tough and stringy, unlike beef, which was tender when beaten properly.

I patted my hands on my jeans, but Pop snorted at that. "You better be thinking of wearing something nice, because jeans and a tee won't cut it."

With a heavy sigh, I walked upstairs and looked into my closet, chose a tux, and took off my shirt. I hated suits. They were stiff at the collars, itchy at the pants, and made me sweat somethin' awful. But if Pop thought it was the right thing to wear, who was I to argue?

I slipped into the cotton socks and combed my hair. It was fairly clean, since I hadn't done no hard work in a matter of days, so I finished in seconds. I walked back down the steps to watch the recording again.

Oh yes. The reapings. I turned on the television, but it went to some strange program. Two women talking? I couldn't change the setting; it wouldn't change.

"I have had many inconviences with peacekeepers, that I may even decide to-"

"Holden Wise, what junk are you watching again?" my Pop yelled. "I told you get ready for the reapin' not stare at the television."

I hung my head in shame and walked to the front door. "Yessir," I said. "Going to the square right now."

I ran down the sand-beaten streets, and shielded my eyes from the dust beginning to rise from the west. I was worried, 'cause of the dust that seemed to increase every summer. If this went on for much longer, we'd lose the cattle. The wind and dust storm slowly subsided, and I lowered my hand from my eyes. But I wouldn't like to see what I did then again. Dust. Everywhere, there was piles of dust and debris. Across the streets, on people's clothing, covering everythin' like a dirty blanket.

I kicked a pile of dust and it collapsed with a poof. What should I do when I volunteer?

I walked into the square and signed in-at the lines for identification checks, then went to my section. 17-year old boys. There weren't too many of us anymore 'cause most left to run away into the desert. Fools. They'd be hoping to escape to the woods, but they don't know nothin'. Most'a them died on the first day or were shot down by the hovercraft. I didn't dare leave; my Pop would skin me alive if he found out I did.

I brushed the dust off'a my pants and redid my collar. I was here early, most only came at the last minute, but Pop was the only victor for district 10 and made me go as early as he did.

There was'a no one else here, so I sat down and began repeatin' what Pop told me to say and do when I volunteered.

-Malia Saunders-

Once I cried my soul out and felt content with myself again, I got up and wiped the stinkin' dirt off my shirt.

How long had I been here? Minutes? Hours? Had I missed the reaping? I looked up and read the position of the sun. Almost noon. Darn. I still had two hours to get there, enough time for any excuse not to count.

I limped towards the first sign of civilization, a small house in the distance. I was completely parched, dirty, and starving. How did I even become so angry that I'd insult my own sister, then run away and roll in the dust? It made me feel even stupider than I already was. Ashley and Fae. This was all their fault.

I walked under the sun for what felt like hours, until I reached that tiny house. I didn't recognize this part of the district; it was occupied by richer people and included the victor's village. Only one house was inhabited, of course, the winner of the 5th Hunger games, Mr. Wise. All the kids were rumoring that he shot cows for fun, and ate sheep's brains. I didn't believe them; I think I hated everyone too much to really pay attention. All I knew was that he had a son, that was supposed to be good-looking, but that was wish-wash. He wasn't so good looking. He had the face of a cow.

I walked down the street, but women form the merchant class started screaming for me to go away. I was the no-good folk from the prairies that's only use was that we were good with animals.

I ran faster and faster as my sore wind-blown feet could carry me, and tried to push out the hurtful words. I didn't care. I didn't care what anyone thought of me.

I climbed up the scraggly old sycamore tree behind my house and into the open window. I almost wanted to run back to my family, but I remembered what I'd said to them. I walked downstairs, and expected someone to welcome me back in.

They had left for the reaping without me. I tried to contain my disappointment and anger inside me, but it hurt to do so.

I went through Fae's clothing and picked out a pretty blue denim dress that I'd always liked. She wouldn't care if I stole from her dresses; she knew I thought they were awfully pretty. I dressed into the outfit and admired myself in the mirror.

My mother always used to say, "Eyes are the windows to the soul". All I could see in mine was dark brown and anger in it's rawest form. Ashley had beautiful azure eyes like the sky, and Fae, soft gray and filled with pity.

Ignoring the sudden pang of pain, I tied my hair with a strip of cloth in a loose ponytail. I didn't look half so bad.

I slipped my feet into the dress shoes that belonged to Fae last year. Hand-me-downs. I never got anything "new". Only Ashley got them, and most her clothes were worn by our mother.

The cool wood of the front door never felt so good to me. Like I was leaving behind the empty shell of a memory.

I twisted the buttons on my dress as I walked to the reaping. It would be best if I stayed quiet, then they wouldn't see me. I didn't think I'd react very well if I saw either of their faces now. But it was too late. Fae's eyes met up to mine as I entered the square.

"Malia?" she said softly. I looked down to my shoes as Fae eyed me. Wearing her dress. I twisted the button a little faster.

"Malia?" she repeated. I walked into my section and refused to acknowledge her presence. I didn't want her. No. Never.

She put her hand on my shoulder and I faced her. She wanted it. "Leave me alone!" I yelled. A shocked expression crossed her face, and I shoved her hand off me. "I hate you! I hate you all!"

I ran deep into the seas of people and buried my face in my hands. Why couldn't they just leave me alone?

-Holden Wise-

The mid-noon sun was really heatin' things up, especially at the square, where the reaping had been set up. Water seemed to hiss and boil when it touched the air, as vicious as a rattlesnake's bite. Pop was sitting on the stage, eating a fat steak and having a drink. I wish I had something to drink.

People were filing into their sections silently, while I was sweating my skin off. Why did we have to do it on the hottest day of summer? Even if it was rainin' so hard the sky cracked, it would be better than today's weather.

Not to mention the dust, which made things a thousand and one times worse.

"Holden Wise, you get up here now!" I turned my head, and Pop was waving and shoutin' to me. I stomped up there, careful not to slip on the dust, and Pop slapped my back.

"You give them your best, you understand?" I nodded rapidly. This was my moment to shine. What I've waited nearly ten years to happen. I look from the high point in the stage, and look at the grim and gray faces of the people. A small girl holding her grandpa's hand looks up at me.

Which brings me to the other girl...

-Malia Saunders-

I couldn't believe it. Ada White was trying to put on a district 10 accent and act like a dumb rancher who'd had too much to drink.

"Howdy, district ten," was the first thing the escort said. She was trying to humiliate us for having a "southern accent". Isn't that what all escorts did? She sounded even more bizarre with her Capitol accent right on top of it.

Great. Being humiliated on live television again.

I, in all my experience, have never heard anyone in my district ever say "howdy" before. It was an obsolete greeting that was used hundreds of years even before Panem existed. Ridiculous.

Everything about this day was awful. The film, the speech, the letter, and on top of it, the reaping. I hated my life. Why did I even have to live anymore? I was no good. I was too ugly and rude to even find a half-deaf or blind person to marry.

All I wanted was to go up to the stage and slap that woman. It wouldn't matter if I was arrested or got my family in trouble; I wanted to die. But another thought condensed in some dark, cruel corner of my mind.

It probably wouldn't work. But why not give them a goood show while I'm at it?

I almost laughed at the thought. Pathetic. But hey, it was worth a shot.

"Now, time to choose our honorable district ten tributes." She bent over the glass bowl, and winked at us. Quite sad. "Let's see, Con-"

"I volunteer." A volunteer? What?

I turned my head in the direction of the voice. Tall, fairly good-looking, and a well built body. Even I knew who he was. He was already pushing his way through his section to get to the stage. It didn't matter if he took his time. No one else would dare to volunteer.

People were cheering him on, girls waving to him, and guys yelling his name to get his attention.

He and the only mentor of district 10, Mr. Wise, had the same dark eyes the shade of charcoal and dust-colored hair. Father and son. Obviously.

"What is your name, young man?" Ada asked.

"Holden Wise," he said, and gave a pearly white smile. Now it was my turn.

"Let's find out who will be our gal tribute this year!" I took one deep breath, then said the words.

"I volunteer as tribute."

-Holden Wise-

No was was flashing smiles at me anymore. No one was waving. All I could hear the dust blowing in the distance. Someone cried out. Another began to weep. This was going completely wrong.

There was no time to be disappointed. A skinny, malnutritioned girl lifted her head high like it was nobody's buisness and lifted herself up next to me. Everyone was starin' at her with astonishment, even me.

Although she appeared to be small and harmless, I saw something mighty dangerous in her eyes. It was the same fire a bull got in his eyes before he was about to charge. The air around her glowed with defiance, even when it was only me who saw it.

"Well...how interesting," the Capitol woman said. "Let's have our volunteers a handshake to congratulate their success."

This is not a success. That was supposed to be my day, no one else's. It would have gone perfectly if it wasn't for her stealing the spotlight.

She was going to pay for this.

-Malia-

"Why," Fae cried out. "Did you volunteer?"

My chest heaved with irritation and fury. All my glory and energy at the reaping was now replaced by old pains. "What good am I? I'm too dumb to go to school, I'm bad with livestock, I'm too ugly to get married, and I have to live with you!"

"Don't say that!" Fae yelled. "You're smart, you're a good person, and everyone in this family loves you."

"Love?" I scoffed. "Like the love you gave me when I was thrown aside for you and Ashley?"

"And you," I pointed to my parents, whose faces had turned ashen. "Ashley and Fae, Ashley and Fae, that's all that matters to you. Has it ever occured to you that you have, perhaps, three daughters instead of two?"

"Oh, Malia," Fae said, with tears streaking across her cheeks. "I'm so sorry. Whatever I did to you, whatever Mom and Dad did to you, forgive me. Forgive us."

I hesitated for a second to strike back.

They hate you, I reminded myself. They threw you away when you needed them the most.

"I hate you!" I yelled at them. "If you want to be forgived, get the hell out of my life!"

The peacekeepers outside must have heard the shouts and screams, because they came in and said it was time for them to leave.

"Malia," Fae said. "Here." She unclasped something around her neck and handed me it. I timidly took it and rolled it in my palm.

A blue glass pendant in the shape of a jabberjay. So sweet and delicate, just as our fates. Words so bitter on my tongue brought hateful pleasure. Telling them I hated them. One part of me was content, the other rueful.

I guess I would never find out what would happen if I didn't say it, but I knew I'd always feel the say way about myself.

-Holden-

"Holden?" Pop whispered. His head was in his hands. He looked terrible, like he hadn't slept in days. "I'm sorry."

"For what?" I asked. There was nothing to be sorry about. My wish was granted. Honor and peace would be connected with the Wise family name for decades.

"For bringing you into this." Pop looked up and sighed. "The games aren't what you think they are, son. No one who enters comes out the same person. I've seem horrible things. People killing themselves after experiencing it. People going mad, people turning into monsters."

I paused and tried to understand what he was saying. "But you always said that the games were easy. You said that they'd be the gateway to glory."

"I still have nightmares, Holden. The people you've killed with always come back and haunt you, for the rest of you life. You'll be forced to train and watch the kids who have become to close to your heart be slaughtered mercilessly."

"I-I...don't understand." I said. What was he talking about? A peacekeeper came in the room and escorted Pop out.

If only I knew the horrors I'd face in the arena very soon then...

This is my excuse of why I haven't updated in forever. I've had final exams the past two weeks, and been so busy studying and working on end-of-the-year projects. There. I am not irresponsible, I am not lazy, I will update more now that it's summer, but sorry, I just didn't have the time the past weeks.