Seni Gold, District 1

I couldn't help feeling a bit annoyed as I looked down at the tiny girl in front of me. Just great. I finally get my chance to volunteer for the Games, and this is the district partner I get stuck with? Not some gorgeous, and hopefully slutty, 16 or 17-year-old from my school, but this...this child! I was in for some lonely nights in the Capitol.

I guess the kid wasn't actually ugly. In fact, in a few years, she could easily grow into someone I would go for. The problem is that she isn't quite there yet. It would just be wrong of me to pursue a girl her age. I may try to hide it, but I do actually have some morals.

"So what can you do?" I asked, folding my arms and narrowing my eyes at the little girl. "You have to be good at something. You're a freaking volunteer!"

"I, uh, I'm pretty good with a bow," she stuttered, not meeting my gaze.

Good. I intimidate her.

"Pretty good? You'd better be bloody excellent to stand a chance of getting in with us Careers!"

"My dad taught me when I was little," she said in a small voice. "He's a victor, you know."

I couldn't help being slightly impressed at this, but I didn't show it. I needed to have this girl under my thumb before we even reached the Capitol.

"Yeah, what Game?"

"Twenty-fourth."

I was surprised to find that I actually knew of that Game. My father had shown it to me to prepare for this one. It was one of the most bloody Games to date. The final showdown, where the victor bludgeoned the last remaining tribute to death with a rusty mace, was voted the most gruesome final of all times. So this was the child of that victor. Maybe she had some blood lust in her after all.

"Shooting arrows doesn't seem like your father's style," I said dryly. "He seemed like more of an up-front type of guy."

"Can you see me trying to fight with a mace like he did, or even a sword for that matter?" she asked, sounding slightly amused.

I looked her up and down. She was very small, very weak looking. I highly doubted that she'd even be able to lift a heavy weapon like that off the ground.

"You'd probably take yourself out in the process," I replied, smirking. "Stick to your little arrows."

The door of our train compartment opened and our escort, Dysis, popped her bright blue head around the side.

"Maddie, Seni, dinner's ready," she said in her sing-song voice. "Just down the hall, third door on the left." She paused, beaming at us. "And your mentors have arrived! Isn't that exciting? I bet you can't wait to see who you two got this year!"

Well she was right about that. I was quite curious about who they've chosen to mentor District 1 this year. A good mentor can mean the difference between life and death in the arena and, since I was planning on winning, I needed the best one around.

Without giving Maddie another look, I left the compartment, following idiotic Dysis down the train's corridor to the dining room. The soft patter of little feet behind me indicated that Maddie was following closely. The kid had a lot to learn about stealth.

The two figures sitting in the lavish dining room stood up as we entered.

"Hi," said the man, taking a few steps forward and offering his hand out to me, "I'm-"

"-I know who you are," I cut across, grasping his hand and shaking it firmly. "Lucero Fitz, victor of the 45th Hunger Games. You used to go to my school."

Lucero grinned, shaking his shaggy blond hair out of his chocolate brown eyes. "Well I'm flattered you remember me," he laughed. "You must have been quite a bit younger then me."

I nodded. "I was thirteen when you won. But how could I not remember you? You were like my idol! All those girls just throwing themselves at you, like all the time. Respect."

Lucero raised his eyebrows. "From what I hear, you're not that different."

"Well-"

"-I don't like where this conversation is going," interrupted the female mentor who, although was still quite pretty, looked about ten years older then Lucero. "I'm Meer," she continued, introducing herself, "and I won the 33rd Hunger Games." She paused, looking both me and my district partner up and down. "Interesting contrast," she observed, her lips pressing together to form a thin line, "but let's not waste any more time now. They're showing a recap of the reapings now. This way."

Meer led us to the end of the room where there was a large, flat screened TV opposite a long purple couch. She settled herself down comfortably and turned on the TV. The Capitol's anthem had just finished playing and they quickly cut to a shot of District 1's reaping. My reaping.

And sure enough, there was Maddie, raising her little hand in the air to volunteer. I was next, pushing through the crowd to get to the front. No one else even tried to volunteer. They knew I would have killed them if they did.

District 2 was quite surprising. It started off like it normally did, with a vicious-looking blond girl volunteering herself for the Games. The surprise came after, when her brother's name got pulled out of the glass reaping ball. Well these two are certainly going to be interesting.

I didn't take much note of District 3. They were usually bloodbath deaths anyway.

District 4 produced a giggling blond who looked absolutely excited about being chosen. I smiled to myself as I watched her run up to the stage. Now that was more like it. Someone I could have a bit of fun with. Her district partner looked a bit withdrawn, but his strength would make up for that.

So there they were. My allies in the Games, since the tributes from Districts 1, 2 and 4 traditionally team up. They looked like quite a strong bunch, especially that District 2 girl. This was all going to be too easy. And after we've hunted down and killed the rest of the pathetic tributes, I'll have no problem with slitting each of their little throats. Maybe I'll even do that before we split up. Would be a nice show for the Capitol.

After checking out the rest of my future alliance, I basically just sat there and rated all the other girls who went up on stage. There certainly wasn't a shortage of pretty girls this year. District 6 was particularly good-looking, good body with nice legs, but she looked a bit too tough for my liking, especially with that bruise on her right cheek. District 7 wasn't bad either; I've always had a soft spot for blonds. District 8 was pretty cute, District 9 and 10 too young and District 11 just plain scary. Don't get me wrong, she definitely wasn't ugly, but a girl like her belonged in a Career district, not a poverty stricken place like District 11. Maybe one of the other Careers would try to recruit her. If not, we'd better take her out fast. There was something quite alluring about the District 12 girl. Maybe it was her hair that I found so striking? I'd never seen hair that shade of red before. It really complimented her features.

Complimented her features? God, what was I thinking about?

Meer switched off the TV and turned to Maddie and me.

"So what do you think of your competition?" she asked, watching for Lucero's reaction out of the corner of her eyes.

I shrugged. "I just checked out all the hot girls," I yawned, stretching my arms up above my head. "Seems to be quite a few this year."

Meer ignored my reply and asked Maddie the same question.

"The Career group looks very strong this year," she said, looking more at me than at Meer. "I'm just glad that I'm not going to be the one hunted by them."

Lucero nodded. "I agree. Actually," he winked, "I agree with both of you."

I burst into laughter, laughing even harder at the angry looks that came his was, courtesy of Meer and Dysis.

"Dinner time," said Dysis, quickly getting up and rushing over to the table. "We'll be in the Capitol in about an hour and I want you all fed well before then!"

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