AN: When I started writing this chapter, it was June 27th (in the real world, that is), which means two BWU birthdays, Shadow's and Hyaline's! Happy birthday, you crazy victors.

Charlotte "Twitch" Zimmer

"Twitch," Sarcina hisses. "Twitch!"

"What?"

"You're crushing my fingers."

"Oh." I say, looking down and loosening my death grip on her hand. "Sorry."

"He's going to be fine," she assures me. "Look how many victors we have. You don't have to worry like this."

"I know," I tell her, trying to mean it. "It's just kind of hard not to, you know?"

Ever since the end of the 74th Games, I've been spending more and more time in the Village with Shadow. Mainly because he's only gotten worse since the announcement of the third Quarter Quell. Partially because the Training Center is full of pissed eighteen-year-olds who can't volunteer this year, all packing their bags to move back home, and that's the kind of situation I tend to try and avoid. And to a certain extent, because I want to spend time with Shadow. That is, any time we might have left.

I've been trying not to think about it like that.

I train my eyes on the escort, who has taken the stage. She doesn't seem quite as sparkly as usual. Excluding her dress, of course, which is just as covered in glittering rhinestones as it is every year. But, as she reaches into one of the glass bowls to pick the name of the female victor, she looks as if she's fighting back tears.

It's almost funny, watching her like this, because it's not as if any victor here is her friend. To the Capitolites, tributes are more like the characters in a television show. You root for your favorites, you cry when they die. That's just the way the Games work there.

"Enobaria Agyemang!" announces the escort. For some reason, the dark-haired woman who is called doesn't look the least bit surprised.

I remember watching Enobaria's Games in training. The conditions in the arena were brutal that year, so much so that after the initial fight, the surviving tributes became desperate to escape it. Enobaria, sixteen at the time, had been at her wit's end in there for so long that she tore out the second-place tribute's throat with her teeth. What we were supposed to learn from that show of desperation, I still don't know.

By this time, Enobaria has taken her place on the stage and the escort is approaching the second glass reaping ball. Time to pick the male victor. Despite myself, I feel my grip on Sarcina's hand start to tighten again. This time, she says nothing.

She fumbles with the seal on the paper, trying to keep hold of the slip between her long fingernails. It takes forever for her to read the name, to fan her eyes a little to dry them, to clear her throat and say it.

"Athelstan Corelli!" My heart sinks right into the dusty ground. They've picked him. Out of all the victors in this district, of course it had to be him. It had to be him…

I spot him breaking free from the group of male victors, shuffling his way into the aisle as if his shoes are filled with stones. His hair's slicked back from his head in a way that's so un-Shadow-like I'm almost unconvinced it's him.

Almost.

"I volunteer!" comes a loud voice from the cluster of male victors. "Send me back in!"

A large man in his forties nearly knocks Shadow over in his hurry to get to the stage. For a moment, I'm too shocked to be relieved. I didn't think anyone would be crazy enough to willingly go through the Hunger Games twice.

I guess I was wrong.

Turns out it's Brutus, up there. I don't know why I'm surprised that he wants another shot at the glory of victory. On screen, he'd always struck me as the ambitious type. A double-victory would be the ultimate achievement.

Or maybe he just didn't learn anything the first time around.

...

I catch Shadow after the reaping, standing stock-still in the middle of the square, in the same place he'd stood for the ceremony. I throw my arms around him, and he returns the hug with his good arm, with a grip that rivals mine on Sarcina.

"They wanted me to go in," he says, breathless. "Why did they want me to go back in?"

I pull back from him. "You're so recent, Shadow. They all still remember you."

"I wish they wouldn't," he mutters. "I've been trying so hard to forget, they could at least make an effort…"

I grin a little. I hadn't expected the old Shadow to show himself today.

I start to tell him, "Hey, it's not your fault you're so memorable—" But then I see a glimmer of silver on his chest, and notice that he's wearing a necklace. It's a ring, engraved with almost illegible script and hung on a black cord. His 'ring on a string', he used to call it, up until it became his token for the Games.

"What's wrong?" he asks, frowning.

"You're wearing your token," I point out. Shadow looks down at his chest, then back at me.

"I am."

"Did you think…" Even before the whole question has left my mouth, I feel ridiculous for asking. Of course he thought he would be picked. All of the victors probably did.

After a moment, he shrugs in his lopsided way. "I wanted to be ready this time."

"I'm glad you didn't have to be."

"Me too." He doesn't miss a beat, but he also doesn't look at me.

"Hey, what is it?" I ask him.

He shrugs again. "I just wish they'd forget about me already." Some of his hair has fallen out of place, and I feel like I should reach up and push it back, out of his eyes. I decide against it.

"They will," I lie. "Eventually, they will."

"I hope you're right," he says, and after a moment. "I should get to the Justice Building. I want to say goodbye to Brutus."

"To Brutus?" I ask, "Why?"

"I don't know," he says, scraping back his hair and looking towards the Justice Building. "I feel guilty, I guess. Like it should be me in there."

I snort. "I'm sure he doesn't feel like it should be you in there."

"I know that. But it just doesn't feel right."

"Believe me, nothing about this Quell is right." I tell him. "But Brutus made his choice."

Shadow looks uncomfortable. "Well, his choice saved my skin. I should go."

He seems so ill-at-ease with the idea of going back into the Justice Building, that I find myself wanting to reach over and give his good hand a squeeze.

No, it's not like that, I hear myself say. It's not a good time.

So instead, I shrug. "Have fun."

That's it for chapter 20, which means that it's time for another pronunciation cheat sheet! I plan to make the story exactly 100 chapters, and there will be one of these every 10 chapters. Let me know if there's anything I missed!

ALLY: Seoc (shee-OCK or SHOCK) Malak (MAH – lick), Kosslyn (CAUSE – lin), Cae (KAI, rhymes with eye), Irie (EYE – ree), Albireo (al – BEE – ree – oh), Ethylene (EH – thill – een)

ADRIAN: Plas (Like it's part of the word splash), Bligh (BLYE, rhymes with dry), Mallon (MAL – un)

TWITCH: Sarcina (sahr – SEE – nuh), Bailor (BAY – ler, rhymes with Taylor)

JIAXON: Caspar Hanna (exactly like Casper + Hannah)

LEX: Maguire (muh – GWYE – er), Ramie (RAY – mee, like Jamie), Moire (MWAHR, rhymes with noir)

HYALINE: Vanguard (exactly how it sounds, VAN + GUARD)