Spark Costan's POV

"Almost ready?" My younger sister, Solara, whispered.

"Almost," I responded, trying my best not to wake my dad. If he would wake up, he'd most likely start cussing and calling Solara names. Solara and I were also hoping he'd get arrested for missing the Reaping. "Done."

Solara's Reaping Outfit was adorable. The small nine-year-old looked cute in the pastel pink party dress and pale pink silk poncho. Her rose pink bow looked amazing in the back of her head, resting on her golden curls. Despite her cute outfit, her small black eyes were filled with concern. My outfit was okay, I didn't really put a lot of thought into it. Just something I threw together. A white blouse and black skirt with hiking boots.

"Solara, be as quiet as possible," I hissed.

"WHAT'S GOING ON?!" I heard a male voice call from the bedroom, and I heard the crashing of my dad getting out of bed.

"Run," I whispered to Solara, but I ended up just carrying her out the door.

I sped through the streets, hoping to get Solara to the square in one piece.

"Spark!" I head my friend, Gina, squeak. I slowed, but only enough for her to catch up. "What happened? You're dad wake up?" I nodded.

"Please take Solara to the square," I told her. "Twila's already there, I'll deal with him."

"Spark," Gina took Solara, but stared me in the eyes. "You need to turn him into the Peacekeepers."

"N-No," I muttered.

"Spark, name calling is one thing, but," Gina's eyes moved the the long, jagged scar on my right arm that went from inside of my elbow to the palm of my hand. "If you don't turn him in, I will."

"Gina, you don't understand!" I cried. "My mom is never home, I've tried and I can never keep a job! There's a possibility Twila and Solara will be put into a home. I just can't do that."

"Fine," Gina gave in. "But know that you are making a very bad decision."

I settled the battle inside my head, saying I would not turn in my dad. But, I was also losing the battle to go back home...

"Gina, wait!" I called, trying to catch up to her.

A few hours earlier

Rusty Shoman's POV

"I don't know about this," I whimpered, holding the scissors right above the last wire to the generator. "It's Reaping day, security's increased."

"Just don't think about it, Rusty," My brother said, rolling his eyes.

"Okay, here goes," I mumbled, then put all of my strength into that Snip!

The lights dimmed, and my older brother smiled in triumph. Thennnn the back-up generators kicked in and his smile faded.

"Cmon," Rugby motioned for me to follow him. "I know where the back-ups are!"

"I don't know," I mumbled. "Remember what Peacekeeper Ward told us?"

"Yeah, yeah," he responded. "If we're caught disrupting the Power again, we'll be shot on the spot and all that. But we won't get caught."

"You sound too sure about this."

"Keep up, or you'll be talking to yourself."

I followed. I usually love causing trouble and blowing the power-but today? Today of all days my older brother wanted to blow the power across the District. Usually, even on days where the plants were deserted, it was only a small neighborhood or section of the District. We've only caused a District wide outage a few times, and for some reason Rugby loved doing that on higher security days. What I didn't understand was the fact that we were doing it on Reaping Day. Seriously, did he think he was going to get Reaped and wanted to go out with a bang?

"Here," He whispered, tapping on the door. Then I heard a gunshot in the Distance, and we high-tailed out of there.

"Do you think it was meant for us?" I asked.

"Since the bullet missed me by a centimeter, I'd say yes."

"What the heck do we do now?"

"Running would be a fair bet."

So we did. We bursted out of the building, into the early morning light. It was about 20 degrees below zero, but we kept going until we reached home. Home. The place where-if we survive the Peacemakers-we would die anyway.

"Just play it cool," Rugby whispered to me, pushing open the door. We didn't need to.

Our parents were running around like crazy, and I suddenly realized why. They were the ones hosting the After-Reaping party this year. In the commotion, Rugby and I slipped into the bedroom. I quickly changed into my reaping outfit-a simple dark brown sweatervest and black slacks-and we slipped back out of the house, heading towards the square.

Spark Costan's POV

"You need to turn him in!" Gina urged as we stood in line to sign in. "He'll just keep torturing you otherwise!"

"It's not torture," I muttered, letting the Peacekeeper take a blood sample.

"What's torture?" Marley asked, walking up to us. I rolled my eyes.

"Dude, it's nothing," I responded.

"Hey!" He exclaimed. "Are you trying to use my sarcastic problems against me?" Then the clock struck two, and Gina and I ran to the 14 square.

"Saved by the bell," I told her. "Literally."

"Hi!" Our escort, Cloudess Skye said into the mic. "Welcome to the Reaping of the 34th Annual Hunger Games! As usual, ladies first," she walked towards the Reaping ball, stook her hand in, brought it out, and unfolded it. Right then and there, she called-

"Spark Costan!"

Rusty Shoman's POV

"Spark Costan!" Cloudess called out.

From my view in the 12 square, I saw a blur of black and white flew out of the 14. When she came into view, I noticed from the way she walked that she was nervous. Then it seemed like she gained confidence, and she walked onto the stage. Her jet black hair was in waves draping over her shoulders, and her pale green eyes were smiley and inviting. Usually freckle-faced tributes are hated, but she seemed like a Victor to me.

"And on to the boys," Cloudess called. She lifted her hand from the other Reaping bowl, and called-

"Rusty Shoman!"

My head was spinning. I didn't sign up for any tesserae-my name's in once! I forced myself out of the roped-off area, and looked at my brother as I passed 13. I gave him a look, which read Do something! He mouthed back to me-Just smile and wave. I looked ahead, and followed his instructions. I smiled as I walked to the stage, and waved to the cameras once I got to the stage. Cloudess had us shake hands, then lifted them into the air.

"Our Tributes for District 5!"

Spark Costan's POV

I sat up straight, waiting for a Visitor.

"Three Minutes," Twila and Solara ran in and nearly tackled me.

"SURVIVE!" Solara cried. "SURVIVIE!"

"Spark, don't leave us!" Twila exclaimed, tears forming. "We can't face dad alone! What if he goes physical again!" Once again, eyes loomed to the cut on my arm.

"It'll be fine," I assured my shaking sisters. "Gina might be able to take you in."

"Just...come back, okay?" Twila asked.

"Sure."

"Times up!" The Visitors changed from Twila and Solara to Gina and Marley.

"OOF!" Marley called. Gina jabbed him in the arm. "Ouch!"

"Oof yourself," Gina told him.

"No you," he responded.

"Anyways," Gina mumbled. She turned to me. "Are you okay?"

"I guess," I told her. "Even if I die, I'll have a chance to wow The Capitol!"

"You have a point..." Gina mused. I hugged them.

"Promise me you'll cry when my coffin comes back?" I asked.

"Back?" Marley asked. "I didn't know you had a bad cough in the first place!" He turned red as Gina stared at him, a look that said REALLY not the time

"And comfort my sisters," I whispered.

"Deal," Gina told me.

"Marley?" I asked. "Please crack a joke!"

"Oh! Okay!" He exclaimed. "What's the fastest country in the world? Russia!"

"Russia?" I asked. "Wha?"

"Nevermind. Before Panem," He tried to think of something else. "How do you make a hankie dance?"

"Put strings on it and be the puppetier!" Gina cried, knowing she got it right.

"Nope! You put a little boogie in it!" Marley replied.

I let out a giggle, then remembered something.

"Gina!" I cried out. "Let Twila-"

"Time's up."

"LET TWILA AND SOLARA STAY WITH YOU!" I screamed at the top of my lungs.

"What? Spark, I-" Then the door slammed shut.

Rusty Shoman's POV

"One minute," I heard a voice say outside.

"WHAT?!" Rugby cried from the other side of the door. "Isn't it three?"

"You're basically a wanted criminal," The Peacekeeper told him. "In fact, don't be surprised if we come to collect you tonight."

The door swung open, and Rugby walked in.

"Hey, Rusty," He told me, sitting to my right. "I don't really have much time for anything so...goodbye."

"I'm gonna die in the Bloodbath," I muttered.

"Just run from the Cornucopia!"

"What?!" I hollered. "Why would I do that? All the supplies and weapons are in the Cornucopia!"

"Rusty, listen-"

"Times up!" Rugby was escorted out before he could finish.

My right arm suddenly started throbbing. Looking down, I remembered the day. It was a few months ago. We had a mix-up at the generators, and I nearly died of electrocution. The skin up my right arm was still scarred all over, and a bright red. My prep team's gonna have fun.

I waited a few more minutes, but my parents didn't come. Not even the guys next door-Old Man Pierce-who used to tell Rugby and I stories of the days he caused mischief.

"Mr. Shoman," Cloudess opened the door. "It's time to go to the train."

Spark Costan's POV

"We were at the station when there was a shouting.

"SPARK! SPARK!" When I turned, it was my mom running towards me.

"Who is that?" The guy who I now know as Rusty whispered to me.

"My...mom?" I guessed. I never really saw her. Ever.

"Spark..." She whispered, giving me a hug. "I know you don't remember me, but I'm your mom, okay? I can't speak long, the reason you never see me is because I travel all over Panem, okay? Please...just survive."

"Got it," And then she ran away.

"That was really weird," Rusty and I said in unison