A/N: It's finally here! (: The last reaping! I hope you enjoy, and make sure to give me your feedback by leaving a review! Stay tuned for the next chapter; I'll probably post it later tonight or tomorrow after school.

On that note, school started again for me Thursday past. I can't promise that updates aren't going to slow down, but I'll try my best to keep them coming as constantly as possible. :)

Marina's POV:

I crouched, poised, and ready to attack. My entire being was focussed on the rabbit that was sniffing the ground about fifteen feet ahead of me. It was an easy kill.

Hunting was the only thing that made me happy, the only thing that took my mind off the pain of reality.

I gripped my spear firmly in my hand, aimed at my oblivious target, and threw with such force that the spear struck the rabbit's head, killing it instantly.

It wasn't much, but Mark would be satisfied. I looked at the sun, and by judging the shadow it cast, I realized it was time to get ready for the reaping.

Life in the Seam was dreadful. With practically everyone scraping around for their next meal, it was no wonder many people, teenagers like myself, mostly, hunted to keep their families alive.

The quickest way home took me through the Hob. There, I passed my boyfriend. Xavier, obviously trying to haggle a price.

"But you see, sir, I understand that you're charging thirty dollars for this gold chain," I heard him explain smartly to an impatient and overly tough looking cashier. "But you'll never sell it around here for such a high price. Besides, just by looking at it, I can tell it's fool's gold. Sorry to tell you, sir, but you've been duped. Here, I'll let you keep your dignity and give you fifteen dollars. For that, I'll take the old thing off your hands and nobody will know what you've done."

Xavier flashed a smile. He was so handsome; I couldn't believe he was interested in someone like myself. Sure, we both had that typical Seam look about us; cloudy gray eyes, dark hair, and olive skin. But Xavier had a smile that gave him individuality and made him undeniably adorable.

Xavier turned and grinned when he saw me. "I was just about to go looking for you, Hunter Girl. Happy birthday!" He held out the gold chain he had just bought.

I laughed, giving a skeptical look. "You know it's not my birthday."

He chuckled softly. "I know, but it's real gold, at such a steal price. I had to get it for you!" Obviously he didn't know that I had overheard the last part of his conversation with the salesman. I wondered who he had told the truth to, and then decided I didn't care.

"Thank-you, Xavier, you are so sweet!"

"I know you hate wearing rings, so I figured this would be an easier way to keep your mom around." Xavier took my hand, and gently slid off the engagement ring I always wore that once belonged to my mother. It was an annoyance to wear it, but I just couldn't bear not to.

Xavier then strung it on the chain and tied it around my neck. "Thanks," I smiled, kissing him on the cheek. We weren't the type of couple to flaunt our relationship; we rarely even hugged in front of people, so he was taken aback by this public display of affection. I could tell he liked it all the same.

Xavier had always been there for me. I met him shortly after my sister died. When I was ten years old, my twin sister and I were out hunting, and we were chased by a wild dog. We were forced to split up, and I never saw her again.

"I have to go and get ready for the reaping. I'll see you in a bit, ok?"

"I'll meet you in town square," Xavier responded.

Xavier's POV:

I watched as my girlfriend Marina walked toward her home in the Seam, where we both lived. She and I were different in the way that she was very quiet and soft spoken, but beside that, we had an awful lot in common.

Both of us lost our parents at a very young age. Mine died in a mine explosion when I was six; hers were killed by peacekeepers for illegal hunting when she was seven. Both of us hated the Capitol for those reasons.

Each of us were raised by an older sibling; I by my sister Tara and her husband Sam, and Marina, by her brother Mark.

And, both of us loved hunting, although we did it a little differently. Marina hunted animals, and I threw knives at targets in my backyard as training. It wasn't like I would have volunteered for the Games; I always hated watching them on TV. It was just a precaution, especially this year, since it was my last reaping; I had more slips in that glass ball than ever. Three tesserae every year since I was twelve had added up over the years.

When I returned home to get ready for the reaping myself, Tara met me at the door. She was twenty-two years old, and possibly the most overprotective human being to ever exist.

"I hope you aren't coming from the Hob again, little brother," she said sternly, wagging her finger at me as she spoke.

"Of course not, sis," I responded, smiling for good measure. Tara despised the Hob, and the fact that I went there often. That was precisely the reason I didn't mention that I had conned a creepy guy out of an authentic and priceless gold chain for cheap.

She rolled her eyes and shooed me upstairs to change.

Marina's POV:

Once I had combed my long tresses and changed into a simple black dress that used to belong to my mother, Mark and I headed to town square. Mark was only twenty, but needed to take on a parenting role at a young age. Because our parents were executed almost a decade ago, he found himself in the position to look after myself and my sister when he was ten years old.

Mark and I were accustomed to loss. Although it didn't make it any easier, when my sister died, we knew how to grieve. We hunted. It was therapeutic in a way, although it was the reason my parents and sister had died in the first place.

At town square, I moved toward the group of seventeen year olds. I spotted Xavier almost immediately. He was in front of me, in the section of eighteens, and when he saw me he moved closer so we could stand together.

Before long our district escort was choosing a female tribute. And before long I heard my name being called.

"Marina Mellita, you are this year's female tribute!"

Xavier's POV:

I felt a scream catch in my throat. Was that Marina's name I had just heard? It must have been. She was now walking toward the stage, tears streaming down her cheeks.

Next I heard a male name being call. I didn't quite catch it; something Mellark, I thought, but I threw my hand in the air and claimed that I would volunteer.

I felt the eyes of every citizen shooting daggers into my back as I walked up to the stage. How could someone from the Capitol's most ignored district volunteer to be a part of their game?

Once I reached the stage, second thoughts poured into my head. I looked at Marina. She was terrified. What was I thinking, that maybe I could protect her? I had been training, but not well enough to look after myself and my girlfriend.

"What's your name, sweetie?" the escort asked with an unnaturally large smile.

"Xavier Storm," I said shortly. Why hadn't I just let that Mellark kid go into the Games?

The reality of my situation was now dawning on me. In order for Marina to live, I would have to die.

Was I ready to do that for someone?

How was that? Let me know! :)