A/N: Trigger warning for abuse in Mishel's section.

Velmire Hyeondae, age 18
District 6 Male Tribute

After the Reapings

After the Reapings, each Reaped tribute has an hour to say goodbye to their family, friends, and anyone who wants to visit. This is going to be awkward for me. Considering the fact that I'm a convicted criminal, nobody will want to see me other than my mother, who doesn't really have anything to discuss with me.

I still hope she'll come see me, though. The thought of having to leave Six without a final goodbye with Mom, who raised me as a single mother, flits through my head. What if she decides not to visit because there isn't much to say? We already talked about and agreed on my volunteering. Mom seemed so sad the last time we spoke. I hope that, if I'm able to win my freedom and come home as a Victor, I'll make things better for me and Mom. That's honestly the only thing I can do now.

The Peacekeepers escorting me lead me to a small but fancy room and leave me there, closing the door behind them. I plop down onto the couch and take a deep breath. I've volunteered. My plan is in action. I'm going into the Hunger Games, where I'll either win a better life or die like I deserve to. I'd rather not die, though, because living seems preferable. So I'll try my best to win. I'm a murderer already, so I shouldn't have a problem killing my way to victory.

The door to the room opens, and my mother comes in. She closes the door behind her and stands there, looking small. She gives me a small smile that quickly fades.

"Hi Mom," I say.

"Hello, Velmire," my mother says quietly, staying close to the door. "I… hope you come home. Win a better life for yourself."

"Yeah," I say. I stand up and give Mom a hug. She doesn't return it, instead shaking her head and shrinking away from me.

"I think I should go," Mom says, pushing me away gently. "There's nothing I can say."

"Okay."

With that, my mother is gone.

I don't have any more visitors, so I busy myself by taking a look at the bookshelves in the room. There are actually quite a few books here on a wide variety of subjects. There are novels of varying sizes, classics from before the Dark Days, visual guides, and more. I guess the books are here in case a tribute has nobody to visit them after they are Reaped, or like me with a lot of spare time in the hour of goodbyes.

One book catches my eye because it looks like it's related to anatomy, or at least science. I take it. I don't need the rest of this hour to say goodbye to anyone, but I'm glad I have the opportunity to learn a few things. Might as well pass the time by doing something useful towards my goal of surviving the Arena.

Mishel Lavender, age 18
District 8 Female Tribute

After the Reapings

To my dismay, my first visitor is my mother. She closes the door behind her, strides forward, and slaps me on the face.

"Ow!" I yell as I shrink away and Mom glares at me.

"You deserve this," she growls, not sitting down as I look away from her. "You deserve getting pregnant and Reaped for not listening to me. All I wanted was a sweet little girl and instead I got you. If you die you'll have deserved it."

Not gonna lie, that hurt. I'm used to Mom's vitriol, but it stings after almost a year of being free from her. I look down, trying to appear as inoffensive and small as possible.

"I'm sorry that I couldn't be perfect for you, Mom," I say, just hoping that she won't hurt me more before she leaves. "Can you please go now?"

"I didn't even want kids," Mom rants unhappily. "I agreed to have them because your father wanted them and I hoped they could help me. But all they did was disappoint me again and again."

"Sorry," I say again, still hoping that Mom can leave. New tears spring to my eyes.

"I gave up so much for you and this is how you repay me," Mom continues. "Never listening to me or doing what I ask you to do. Well, eighteen years later and I'm finally childfree. Maybe I can do what I've always wanted to do with my life now. First thing would be to get married again. I divorced your father, of course. He was the one who roped me into this shit in the first place."

"I'm sorry," I say. "Can you leave please? I think other people want to see me."

"Fine," Mom says as she opens the door. "I'm not going to find Alisha and take care of her. You took her from me anyways so she isn't my responsibility."

"Okay," I say, nodding. I let out a sigh of relief as the door finally closes.

I slump down into the couch and wipe away my tears. This is going to be a long hour.

My next visitor is my father, who doesn't hug me.

"You should have listened to your mother and I," he says, disappointment etched all over his face. "Then you would've turned out better."

"I'm sorry," I sigh, looking away. "There isn't much to say, Dad. Can you go?"

"We made a mistake," Dad mutters, shaking his head. "I just wanted heirs to the business and I got two stubborn girls who couldn't even do math. If you had just listened to your parents all of us would be happier. Where's Alisha?"

"If Alisha feels safe going to you or Mom, then I hope you can take care of her, which means being kind to her and treating her with respect," I say, sitting up a little straighter. "So no hitting her or criticizing her to the point that she's scared of you. I don't think she'll go to you though."

"I hope she will," Dad says with a sigh. "Maybe it isn't too late to raise her into the daughter we wanted."

"Then treat her well and don't ever make her feel sad or scared or small," I say. "If she chooses to go to you, which she probably won't because of everything you did. Dad, can you go now?"

"Of course," Dad says as he leaves.

My next visitor is Alisha, who rushes forward and gives me a teary hug. I hug her back tightly and cry.

"You can't go sis," Alisha murmurs. "They can't send you into the Hunger Games like this. You gotta ask them to send you back home."

"I don't know, honey," I say. I grab Alisha's shoulders. "Listen, I'm also hoping that I'll be spared, but I might end up in the Hunger Games anyways. And if that happens, Alisha, please, I won't be able to take care of you anymore so I want you to go somewhere you feel safe. Doesn't matter where as long as you feel safe."

"So Olive's house?" Alisha says.

"If you feel safe there, go there," I implore. I hug my sister again as tears flow freely down my face. "I know you're a smart girl, Alisha. Please take care of yourself."

"I will."

After Alisha, my next visitors are Angora, my best friend from Orleans Town who gave me some of the money I needed to settle down in Alexandria, and then, to my surprise, Mr. Morrigan. Both hope that I won't be sent into the Arena pregnant but promise to take care of Alisha if she seeks their help. Mr. Morrigan and I agree that he won't need to keep paying me child support if I come home with the riches of a Victor.

How am I going to win the Hunger Games like this? I think as Peacekeepers pick me up. I know I'll fight my hardest to come home, though. For Alisha.

A/N: Chapter question: What do you think Velmire and Mishel's strategies will be for these Games?

Thanks for reading, and I hope to see you all soon!