Dancing through a dream underneath the stars
Laughing 'til the morning comes
Everyone that leaves has a heavy heart
Oh, Wonderland I love

Scylla Minali

District 4, She/Her, 18

(6 Months Prior the Reaping)

...

"If you were to find yourself around the end of the Games, would you debate turning on The Career alliance?"

I ponder the question a little, it would depend on my current state and whether I was stable enough to survive on my own. Although, if I didn't take the initiative, would somebody else slit my throat instead? Besides, I have confidence that I'll never have to rely on that alliance for anything - they're simply a tool to please my District when I come home a Victor.

"I would slit their throats during the night with zero hesitation. I'm not there for them, I'm there to earn the riches and glory that are rightfully mine." I reply, confidence radiating from my voice. "And of course to bring honour to my District." I add, they always love that. The interviewer jots it down, nodding, before reading the next question aloud to me.

"Now, this final question may come across as slightly personal. Please understand that it is vital information we would like to make sure of before we discuss any final decisions considering our female volunteer." I nod but inside I am skeptical. "We understand you are apart of the previously honoured Minali family, is that correct?"

"Yes, that's correct." I murmur, I dislike the term family when referring to the cult that had raised me.

"We also understand your grandmother was murdered and the case remains unsolved." My heart starts to race, the mysterious murder of my grandmother is another topic that I struggle to talk about. Not because of my mourning for Lien, she's better off dead. "We just need to double check that you had no part in this murder, simply for legal reasons." The interviewer begins to tamper with a device and I hear a beep as he presses a small button on its side.

"What's that for?"

"To put you forward for The Games, we just need a voice recording of a statement from you that denies any allegations of your partaking." I take a deep breath to hide my anger, I've already gone through this during the investigation. Do they really need more statements from me?

"I deny the allegations." I sigh.

"Thank you, we will be in touch shortly with our final decision."

I exit the interview room and glance to my left, eyeing the other two contenders. Yazmin and Ellody. I smirk as I continue down the hallway, I've pretty much secured the position by now. Yazmin is too soft to do any real harm and Ellody is too cocky without the skills to back it up, if I'd been given any real competition then maybe I'd have the smallest amount of worry.

District 4's sun begins to set as I stroll down my typical trail home, the smell of the air growing saltier as I reach the seashore where my shack of a house barely stands with the vicious winds battering against it. It's a constant reminder of why I must go through with volunteering and why I must come back home with a better life than I now have, for myself and Malik.

"Hello."

"You're home early." I laugh, pulling him to an embrace. Malik is the only person in my entire life that I have ever been vulnerable around, my emotions have always been elevated by his presence in that way.

"How was the interview?" He chuckles. "My little sister, a soon to be Victor."

"It was alright, the man got on my nerves a little though." He smiles at me, knowing how bad my temper gets. "He asked about Lien..." Malik suddenly goes quiet, it's nothing new, he always gets like this when I bring up our old life. Before he saved us.

"Did you cover for me?"

"Always." I whisper to him, rubbing his arm, his previous smile begins to return and he grabs my arm - pulling me into the kitchen. A salty aroma has filled the room and I raise an eyebrow at him. He let's go of my arm and directs me to our dining table where an array of fish sits, ready to be eaten. I'm shocked, we haven't had this much food since we left the Minali Manor. "Malik! Where did you get all this?" I cry.

"Let's just say that it's easy to slip a little fish into your satchel at work."

"A little?" I laugh. "You truly are a life-saver."

Quincy Abraham

District 4, He/Him, 18

(Reaping Day)

...

"You are strong." I take a deep breath in before squatting down again, dumbbells in hand. "You are strong." I watch my reflection in the mirror, following my movements - sweat dripping down my dark skin. I keep pushing myself, "You are strong," until I'm gasping for oxygen and almost collapse upon my bed.

"You are the best." I smile to myself, 109. That's a personal record. Probably even an Academy record.

I grab a white shirt and caramel-coloured cargo shorts before leaving my room and entering the bathroom. I lay my Reaping Day outfit folded on the floor, strip off and jump in the shower, the boiling water trickling across my body and wiping off the evidence of my hard-work. This is my usual routine, though, I won't be walking to the Training Academy today. It's finally time for everything to change.

I finish washing myself off and step back out, wrapping a towel around my waste and shaving my beard. Everything has to be perfect today, I have to be perfect. Everyone will look at me. I pull my shirt over myself and zip up my shorts before getting a final look at myself in the mirror. I look sharp and handsome. "I look sharp and handsome." I reassure myself.

I close my eyes as I take my first step down the stairs, I wonder how my parents will react once their Volunteer comes down the stairs. "This is my day." I reach the bottom step and take a deep breath. The first thing I see is my younger brother, Mark, working on some homework. "Nerd." I mutter under my breath, intelligence is a trait that I will never have and yet the one my parents value most, for that reason, I despise my brother.

I'm snapped out of my head as I hear the sound of my mother. "We're so proud of you!" She cries, rushing into the dining room with my father close behind her. A large smile appears on my face. I haven't heard those words in years. "My son, a future scientist!" She doesn't even notice me as she throws her arms around Mark. "It's my day." I murmur, my voice shaking.

I throw some shoes on and slam the door on my way out of the house, tears streaming down my face. My family will always see Mark and never me, no matter how hard I try. I run, heading in the direction of the District Centre but having no real goal in mind. I hate them. I hate them. "I hate them." I shout and a few people to turn to look at me, I simply sneer at them.

It doesn't take long for me to reach the Reaping, I stop at the line to get my finger pricked and wipe the tears from my face. From now on, Quincy Abraham will cry for nobody. From now on, Quincy Abram will feel for nothing. I set a stoic expression across my face as I approach the Peacekeeper, he pricks my finger swiftly and directs me toward my sector. I stand, motionless and expressionless as others begins to fill the area over the next half an hour. It doesn't take long until I'm simply another person in the crowd, not for long though.

"District 4! Oh what a treat it is to escort you once again." A woman in a flowing blue dress shouts from outside our Justice Building. "Let's give it up for this year's mentors, Cora Hurley and Maya Tide!" The crowd replies in a loud applause, my hands stay by my side. "We'll start with our Female." Good, best until last. She calls the name of a random girl but is quickly interrupted.

"I volunteer!" A voice booms with pride, I watch on the screen as Scylla's tall figure makes her way up to the stage. She won't be any competition, I could rip her apart if I wanted to.

"I volunteer!" I shout before she even bothers picking the male name.

"Sir, it's procedure to select somebody." The escort calls through her microphone but I ignore her and walk up to the stage. "Very well then." She sighs. "Your tributes, District 4!"

A/N: Thanks to Very New To This for Quincy and geologyisms for Scylla :D

- Neb