TW: The male tribute's section of this chapter discusses SA. If this is a triggering topic for you and you'd like to avoid it you may want to skip past the male tribute's introduction and onto the reapings.

"Inez… quiet but certainly no pushover. How she focuses her time in training will determine how far she goes in these games. Now, on the other hand, Doctor Death…" Brutus broke into a chuckle. "What a bloody stupid nickname." He paused to take a sip of his wine before continuing. "But he is a storied killer… I'm thinking we'll get some of our deaths in the top ten most brutal category this year! What do you think, Elsa?"

"We should modify our plans. Add some scientific materials into the arena," she replied.

Brutus sneered. "And why in the world would we do that? Just for some glorified serial killer?"

"There are a couple of tributes this year with scientific backgrounds. It's unusual, something the audience hasn't really seen before. You claim you want innovation in your games, so play to their strengths and give the audience a more interesting show."

Brutus swirled the wine in his cup as he thought. As much as he didn't want to admit it, Elsa was good at this… sometimes.

"Hm… we'll revisit this."

Elsa frowned while Brutus picked up the tablet again and closed the District 6 file. He quickly selected the file just below it to stop Elsa from interjecting and opened it to see two names: Gaia Solomon and Arthur Gael.

"I'd love to hear more- I'm just so excited to hear about District 5!" Sarcasm practically dripped from Brutus' voice as he pressed on the female tribute's name.

Gaia Solomon, 17, District 5 (Submitted by DreamsofClatniss)

Gaia's body landed in the dirt with a thud. The peacekeeper stood over her, panting from the intense exertion. Gaia knew she had to get up, but the sudden knock-down stunned her. She watched through blurry vision as he got on top of her, pinning her down with his legs and readying a gloved fist. He struck her lower jaw, making her head jolt to the side. With this jolt, Gaia was suddenly brought back from her stunned paralysis and thought to herself

Big mistake, bucko

She intercepted his next strike with her superior strength, meanwhile, she brought her knee up into the peacekeeper's crotch.

"ARGH!"

The mostly male crowd of peacekeepers let out a chorus of winces as Gaia's opponent fell backward off of her, gripping his crotch in pain. Meanwhile, she sprung back up to her feet and began to continue to kick the peacekeeper while he was down.

"COME ON, MAN!" a person shouted from the crowd.

"KICK HIS ASS!" another chimed in.

Despite the flurry of kicks landing at his side, the peacekeeper slowly made his way to his feet. He quickly retaliated, striking Gaia twice on the sides. Pain radiated through her, but Gaia was used to it. Her body was always covered in bruises, her muscles always ached. It didn't matter. It didn't phase her anymore. She responded with a swift uppercut right to her opponent's jaw. In rhythm with the cheers of the crowd, the peacekeeper went down once again. Gaia got on top of him and wrapped her hands around his neck- but this only lasted for moments before he began to slap the ground next to him.

"Hah!" Gaia shouted as she released him and stepped away.

She watched on in pride as some fellow peacekeepers helped the man up. He was dazed and staggering, having to fully lean on his friends to stand. Victory always brought such a rush- whether it was in an official match or an impromptu scrap like this. She felt like a power plant, veins sparking and coursing with pure electricity, glowing brightly for the whole district to see. Gaia threw her hands up into the air as the crowd cheered.

"WOO! That's right, I'm the champion!" She walked towards the head peacekeeper, the one who challenged her to fight his latest cadet. "And now the champion deserves her prize."

The man was still wearing his helmet, but Gaia could sense the sneer growing across his face as he handed her a small, sweet-smelling bag.

"Good show, kid."

"Always," Gaia said with a smile as she swiped the bag and began to strut away.

The reapings were in an hour and she had a few errands left to run. She made her way to one of the poorer parts of District Five and approached a small hovel. Armed with the sweet-smelling bag, she knocked on the door with a smile. Moments later, it was opened by an old woman. Her appearance was like looking in a mirror- the same pretty brown eyes, the same soft caramel skin, she was the exact same as Gaia, just aged beyond her years.

"Gaia, dear! What a pleasant surprise!" greeted her grandmother.

"Hey, Grandma! I brought some treats!" Gaia lifted up the bag and gestured to it with her free hand.

"Oh!" at first, her voice seemed as if it was filled with a grateful surprise, but then Grandmother Solomon's eyes drifted away from the bag and towards Gaia's red face. "My dear, how did you get this?"

"I fought for it, Grandma, what else?"

She reached out and touched the red spot on Gaia's jaw. Gaia flinched when her delicate fingers pressed it.

"Did they have to strike you in the face?"

"It wasn't an official fight, it was a scrap. Head blows like that are illegal in the ring I normally fight in, don't worry." She took her grandma's hand away from her face and squeezed it tight with her free hand. "I'm fine, Grandma. I'm used to this."

"A pretty young girl like you shouldn't have to be…"

Gaia sighed. She understood her grandmother's concern but failed to see her logic. In a world with something like the Hunger Games, it didn't make sense to coddle children anymore. In a world with alcoholic fathers that drink away a family's money and leave them to starve and with mothers that their children only ever see work or sleep, it wasn't possible to coddle children anymore. Ever since her mother died and her father left, Gaia had been providing not only for herself but also for her sister and grandmother by fighting in an underground ring. She was good. Very good. But she still had to pick fights with peacekeepers in order to afford more than basic food items for her family.

"Where's Terra?" she said, eager to change the topic before the two began to fight.

"Gaia!" a small voice suddenly cried.

A little girl ran out of the house and hugged Gaia's leg. Gaia winced since that leg had been freshly bruised, but she toughed it out and patted her little sister's head.

"What's up, little champ? I brought presents!"

Terra's eyes lit up as she spotted the bag.

"Ooo! What is it? What is it?"

Gaia reached into the bag and pulled out two pieces of sweet bread with pink frosting and sprinkles. Such a thing was a delicacy that none of the three women present had had in years- not even for birthdays or holidays. Terra practically jumped up and snatched the swee

"One for you, one for Grandpa!" she said as she handed the other two to her grandmother. "I can't stay long, though, I'm sorry," she said, holding back chuckles as Terra began to scarf the treat down. "My roommates and I gotta get ready for the reapings."

Grandmother Solomon nodded and gave her eldest granddaughter a hug before wishing her well. Gaia gave Terra a small kiss on the cheek before making her way deeper into the District Five slums. Her little run-down apartment was in the distance, she could practically hear her roommates arguing inside. However, before she went inside, she took a small detour. She went down the wrong street and ended up in front of a shack- barely even a home, all an alcoholic could afford. She could hear someone rustling around inside, but didn't bother to knock. She simply took the last piece of sweet bread out of her bag and placed it at the doorstep.

She frowned and whispered, "Bye, Dad," before practically running away.

Arthur Gael, 12, District Five (Submitted by sherazade96)

District Five is gray. From the pollution from the power plants to the lack of greenery, it was entirely, oppressively gray. Sure, there were some sunshine spots like sweets or sports or theater plays, but by and large, those were only available to the well-off. While Arthur wasn't poor, he was raised by a single mother who had to work night and day to keep the lights on and he didn't dare to ask her for such frivolous things. Instead, Arthur made his own sunshine spot- a free sunshine spot.

He snuck away from his mother and his grandparents and found a quiet spot atop the fence that shut out District Five from the surrounding woods. He perched himself carefully atop it and closed his eyes like he was preparing for meditation. When he opened his eyes again, the world around him changed. The forest before him was now the royal Seelie court. Sitting upon the treetops were little goblins, sprites, and fairies, looking at him eagerly.

"I call the Seelie Court into session!" Arthur cried, mimicking the pounding of a gavel with his hand. "Give me today's report."

A red fairy sat up and began reading off an ancient-looking scroll.

"Today, all is well in the fairy kingdom. We have wrangled the lost unicorns back into their pens, the troll under the bridge has been paid his proper toll, and the pixie dust warehouses are sufficiently stocked for the season," Arthur exclaimed, attempting to make his voice light and airy to fit the fairy.

"Excellent," Arthur replied in his own voice, "and what of the militia?"

"Militia? Why do you ask about that, Your Highness?"

Arthur frowned and rubbed his knees nervously.

"It's nothing… It's just reaping day in the human world today and I'm old enough to be reaped now."

Arthur mimicked the court whispering to each other in scandal.
"The prince is finally of age…"

"Yeah, I'm just scared of what will happen to you guys if I am taken away. I want to make sure the kingdom is protected and that no one will go hungry."

A goblin sat up and Arthur switched to a strained, deep voice.

"Do not fret, Your Highness! The Goblin Militia will defend these lands in the event of your absence."

"Thank you, General Gobbic, but we should consult the Father Spirit for guidance," Arthur said as the fairy.

The court nodded in agreement and looked to Arthur. He nodded back in response and then looked up to the sky. His imagination was vibrant- vibrant enough to practically see the members of the Seelie Court sitting in front of him- but this is one fantasy that he didn't have an image for. There was a vague outline, a male god-like figure in the sky wrapped in burial cloth that now flows from his body like a robe. Arthur imagines he looks wise, maybe with a long beard, but other than that the Father Spirit is featureless- mostly because Arthur never met his father, he died before he was born.

"Dad?" Arthur said to the sky. "I'm… scared. I don't want to go to the reapings. I wish I could just stay here forever- not District Five, but the Fairy Kingdom with you and all my friends. I hate Panem. I hate District Five. I wish you were here, Dad… then maybe everything would be less scary." Arthur paused as he continued to stare up into the sky where he imagined the Father Spirit watched him from Heaven. There was no response, so he continued. "Mom says that everything will be okay, and Mom is always right but… I don't know, Dad. I just really need some advice." Arthur waited for the sky to speak, but no words ever came. No matter how deeply Arthur wanted to believe it, there was no spirit in the sky ready to give him loving fatherly advice. In the end, these were words he was saying to himself and he had no idea what advice to give in a situation like this.

Arthur placed his head between his knees and began to softly cry. This lasted only for a few moments before he heard his mother's voice in the distance shout "I'm home!" He wiped his eyes, climbed down the wire fence, and began to make his way back home. By the time he got back, his mother, Elinor, was already inside and he could hear her talking to Arthur's Grandmother inside.

"Where's Arthur?" Arthur heard Elinor ask through the walls as he approached.

"Oh, he went out to play by himself like he always does," his grandfather's weary voice replied.

"Good. I'm glad that he can still act like a kid on such a tough day like this."

"He's not such a little boy anymore, is he?"

Arthur slowed down and crouched next to one of the front windows. He had never heard his mother and grandfather talking about him like this before and felt compelled to listen in.

"No, he grows more and more every day before my eyes," Elinor replied fondly.

"Then, do you think he's ready to know?"

"What?! Dad, are you crazy? Why are you even bringing this up?"

"Elinor, Dear, today is his first reaping. If the Capital deems he's old enough to kill or be killed for entertainment then he is a man today. You must treat him as such!"

"He's twelve. That's still a child. He doesn't need to know. He doesn't ever need to know! My Arthur… he's fragile."

"Exactly! And that is exactly why you must tell him!" Grandfather Gael's voice was suddenly filled with anger.

"And please tell me what good that would do?" Elinor shot back, anger now entering her voice as well. "What good would it do to tell a little boy that his father is a rapist?"

Arthur froze.

No… no no no I misheard. I'm listening through the walls, after all, I must have just misheard

He thought to himself as he attempted to calm his now fiercely beating heart.

"-He thinks we were in love and going to be married if it wasn't for the explosion at the power plant. Why can't he live that fantasy? It doesn't matter anymore anyway. He was transferred out of the district years ago. He doesn't even know his own son exists."

"Some punishment for a peacekeeper willing to do that to an eight-teen-year-old…" Grandfather Gael muttered just barely loud enough for Arthur to hear.

"See?! Even you agree that the man should be dead. So, why let him live on in any more of our memories? I'll never forget it… I'll never forget that man's face and hands till the day I die, and I would do anything for Arthur not to have to live the rest of his life with the same knowledge."

There was a long pause.

"Ey… I'm sorry, Dear, you're right. He shouldn't know, not yet anyway… but you must tell him someday."

"When he's ready, Father… When we're both ready…"

Arthur's heart dropped into his stomach. He hadn't misheard anything. His world really was shattering due to his sudden bout of curiosity. He clutched his chest as if trying to stop his heart from running away and looked up to the sky where he had talked to his "father" so many times… But now, the Father Spirit did not smile down at him, it laughed wickedly at his son's pain.

The Reapings

"Jesus, Gaia, your neck looks more bruised than mine!" Piston, one of Gaia's roommates, teased as he pointed out the growing bruise on the side of her jaw as the three roommates stood in line to enter the district square.

"Hah-hah, very funny," Gaia shot back, "I think I did a little more work to get mine than you did to get yours." She gestured to the string of hickeys Piston had been poorly trying to hide with his shirt collar.

"Hey! I'd say my job is pretty physical too," he said with a wink.

Solara, Gaia's other roommate, let out a sigh.

"Are you capable of saying anything other than dirty jokes, Piston?"

"Sure, but why would I? This is more fun," he said with a mischievous smile.

Gaia chuckled. It was good to see Solara mess with Piston like this since she was normally incredibly timid around men. Gaia had lived with Solara slightly longer than Piston. The pair had been in the same fighting league, just in different weight classes, and needed to move out of their family homes- Gaia because her grandmother couldn't afford to support both her and Terra and Solara due to a traumatic home life. The two originally thought they could hold down the apartment with just the winnings from their fights, but after a bad season, they found that they needed a third roommate. She was originally hesitant to move Piston into their apartment considering Solara's traumatic past and Piston's occupation as a sex worker- but he brought in good money and his sense of humor always brightened Solara and Gaia's days.

As the trio joked and laughed, Arthur stood in the line just ahead of them. He had just said goodbye to his mother and grandparents and acted like everything was fine- but everything was not fine. Now that he was alone, he was internally freaking out, incapable of processing the horrible truth he had just learned. His body moved on auto-pilot as he was ushered forward. He didn't feel a thing when they took his blood and walking towards the 12-year-old section was as slow as walking through molasses.

Mom was right… the 'real story' would really destroy me.

There was no time in between the overheard conversation and the reapings to say anything, but Arthur was left wondering what should be done. He desperately needed someone to talk to, but he feared how sad his mother would be if she knew.

When Arthur arrived at the 12-year-old boy section he looked around nervously. He wasn't really sure how this worked. Was he supposed to stand somewhere specific? Were there any other check-in procedures he had to do? He watched as most of the other boys found their friends and stood with them, but Arthur was more of a solitary boy. Sure, there were plenty of people he recognized from school, but he preferred to play alone so he never really made friends with any of them. His only confidants were in his imaginary world of the Seelie Court. Hesitantly, he made his way next to some of the boys he recognized from school and waited for it all to begin.

Meanwhile, Gaia, Solara, and Piston broke off towards the 17-year-old section, the 16-year-old section, and the 18-year-old section respectively as the Panem anthem began to play. District Five's escort was a plump woman in a multi-color neon dress. It was practically blinding to look at under the stage lights. Like every other year, she droned on about the greatness of the Capital and the strength of Panem before finally reaching the dreaded moment.

"Ladies, gentlemen, and other gentlepersons of District Five!" she practically sang, "It is time to select this year's tributes for the 84th annual Hunger Games!" She waved her hands as if accentuating the applause that never came. Once the silence became too awkward to bear, she coughed into the mic and continued. "My fellow ladies first!"

The district stood on edge as she made her way to the bowl of names in the most painfully slow way. With the same pace, she reached in and pulled out a card and painstakingly unfolded it.

"Gaia Solomon!"

Gaia's body froze. Her relaxed shoulders, her unclenched fists, her whole body remained the same as it did before her name was called, but her mind kept going. It was like there was a disconnect in some circuit between body and mind- but frankly, that was okay, because Gaia's mind was instantly wrecked with fear while her body continued on unphased. Maybe her body had been in fight-or-flight mode so often due to her career that it no longer knew how to act when real danger was in front of her. With a deep breath, Gaia made her way forward. She made it to the stage before she knew it and found herself looking out at her entire district.

"Welcome to your stage!" the escort once again sang. "Now, to pick your partner!"

She made her way to the second bowl and repeated her actions, right down to the pace. Gaia tried so hard from glaring at her out of frustration. Finally, she unfolded the card and read the name.

"Arthur Gael!"

Gaia squinted at the crowd as they shifted uncomfortably. No one was moving.

"Arthur?" she said in a sing-song voice.

More stillness in response.

"Arthur Gael!" this time she belted out the name like she was in an opera.

Gaia had never seen this happen before. Secretly, she always wondered what would happen if the person never came forward, she was just smart enough to know how bad of an idea it would be to try it. It made her wonder who his "Arthur Gael" must be to pull such a ballsy move.

After minutes of silence, peacekeepers began to mobilize. They went back to the entry table and checked the files and then they headed towards the 12-year-old section and started to grab people's wrists and scan them. Meanwhile, Arthur stood deathly still. His classmates were staring at him, but he didn't move. When a peacekeeper finally came and demanded his wrist, they had to forcibly take it to scan. When the holograph displayed "Arthur Gael" two peacekeepers grabbed his shoulder and pulled him out towards the stage. Even now, with the fierce grip of two peacekeepers bruising his shoulders, Arthur barely even moved his feet. It wasn't until he reached the stairs of the stage that he finally started moving on his own. Slowly, he made his way next to Gaia. He looked up at her, the long-haired, muscular figure, and felt even more afraid. He tried to imagine that he was in his fantasy world, but his mind was too stunned to summon it. Instead, he was left to stare, wide-eyed at the crowd.

"Awh, there you are! Welcome to your stage!"

Arthur gave a hesitant nod as a reply.

"District Five, I present to thee your tributes for the 84th Hunger Games!" Once again, she gestured wildly as if beckoning for applause that would never come. "Shake hands!"

Gaia turned to shake Arthur's hand. She couldn't help but be struck by how small he was, not only in stature, but his tiny hand when he finally reached up to shake. He reminded her of Terra.

Gaia Solomon, 17, District 5

After the ceremony, Gaia was led into a beautiful room- much nicer than any home she ever lived in. She was able to sit down and contemplate life for only moments before the door opened to a pair of peacekeepers ushering in a large group of people.

Terra bolted towards her older sister and jumped onto her lap, wrapping her in a hug as their Grandparents sat on either side of her on the sofa and did the same. The sensation of being hugged from all sides was nearly suffocating but in a good way.

"Gaia! Jesus, girl!" Piston cried and Him and Solara approached. "What the fuck is happening?!"

Gaia covered her little sister's ears.

"Shh! Language, Piston."

Piston's face grew a tomato red. At this moment, Gaia realized that her sister and grandparents had never met her roommates.

"Grandma, Grandpa, Terra… This is Solara and Piston, they're my roommates."

While her grandmother continued to hug her, her grandfather nodded politely to the two.

"I'm sorry to meet you under such circumstances."

"Don't go, Gaia!" Terra cried, her tears forming a pool on her sports bra.

"Hey, hey," Gaia said as she pulled Terra gently away from her chest. "Look at me, little champ. It's gonna be okay. I'm really strong, okay? I know how to fight! Your big sister is going to be just fine." When some semblance of calm returned to Terra's face, she looked to her grandparents. "Listen, you guys should go and talk to our fight manager. He should be able to help you guys with money while I'm gone-"

"But that's in the black market-" her grandmother began to say before Solara interrupted.

"I'll go with you guys. I'll make sure no one messes with you."

"Solara…" Gaia said fondly.

"It is the least I can do for all you've done for me."

"Thank you, young miss," said her grandfather.

"Sh-" Piston stopped himself before swearing again. "You know uh, we're going to have to find a new roommate- OW!" Gaia stomped on his foot before he could continue.

"No you won't, you idiot. I'll be back, you'll see!"

Suddenly the door behind them opened.

"Time's up!"

"No!" Terra once again clung to Gaia's shoulders, but this time, Gaia could feel Terra putting something around her neck.

Gaia looked down and saw a purple butterfly-bead necklace strung on a simple string, clearly handmade. With tears in her eyes, she hugged her sister tightly before handing her to their grandfather. She gave each of her grandparents and her roommates one last hug before watching them leave for potentially the last time. She expected the peacekeeper to enter after them and usher her to the train- after all, her whole world was just inside that room, there was no one else she'd think of who'd visit. However, seconds later, a disheveled-looking man came in. Gaia's eyes went wide- it was her father.

"D-Dino?"

He was a mess- wearing tattered clothes and reeking of alcohol. Gaia visited her father from time to time, but it never got easier to see him like this.

"Hey…" he said softly, his voice clearly shaky and unsure.

Gaia ran up and hugged him, putting an end to his struggle for words. For a good two minutes, the pair remained in their embrace before any more words were said.

"I know that I wasn't the best father-"

"Shut up," Gaia demanded.

"I just want to apologize-"

"Dino, please," she pulled away from him slightly so she could see his face. She had to hold back a chuckle when she saw the pink frosting smeared on his mustache. "I wish I could be your little girl again, but that time is gone so there's no use in apologizing… but Terra? She's eight. Apologize to her, not me."

"Aight… I-" she could feel him suppressing his need to apologize.

The door swung open again.

"Time's up!"

"Just, please, stop drinking," she said as she hugged him one last time. "I love you."

Arthur Gael, 12, District Five

Arthur's family entered the room with a somber tone. His mother was quietly sobbing as she approached Arthur and bent down with arms open. Arthur ran up to her and was quickly wrapped in a wet hug.

"My boy, my sweet baby boy," Elinor said through sobs.

"M-Mom, I'm scared-"

"You're a smart boy, Arthur, so smart- a-and you can run and h-hide and if they can't find you then they ca-" her voice broke as she realized the reality of what she was saying.

"Arthur, listen to me," Grandfather Gael said sternly. "You can't freeze up like that in there, you hear? If you got to run, you run, if you got to kill, you kill!"
"Dad!" Elinor exclaimed.

He shrugged. "I'm only telling the boy the truth."

Grandma Gael bent down and placed a hand on Arthur's left cheek which was wet from a mixture of his and his mother's tears.

"Be strong, my little sugar plum. We will try to send you whatever we can."

"T-thank you…" Arthur managed to squeak out. "Hey… Mom?"

Elinor pulled away to look at her son's face. She pulled his dirty blonde hair from his big, sad green eyes.

"Yes, Arthur?"

"D-do you think Dad will be watching over me?"

Elinor paused, seemingly to catch a deep breath, but Arthur knew better now. She could see the gears in her brain turning for a lie. Out of the corner of his eye, he could see his grandfather's mouth opening to speak before Elinor quickly cut him off.

"Yes, dear," she said, squeezing his shoulder tight. "Of course your father is!" She pulled him in again for another hug. "We love you."

A mixture of emotions welled up inside Arthur- love from his mother's hug and betrayal from her lies. It was a hard thing to swallow- knowing the last words your mother will likely ever say to you are a lie.

The door behind them burst open, a peacekeeper with a baton ready standing just outside.

"Time's up! The train's here!"

A/N Thank you to Sherazade96 and DreamsOfClatniss for submitting Arthur and Gaia! I loved being able to write a quick little fight scene with Gaia and writing out Arthur's imaginary world was super fun and nostalgic. What do you guys like most about the latest tributes to enter our arena? Leave a review and let me know!