Hadrian Cato (18) - D2M

I smile when I hear the door open softly behind me, following through with my spear throw. The sharp point of the spear embeds itself in the dummy. I grin even wider, picking up the javelin that's beside me and turning suddenly, poised as if to throw it at my visitor.

"Hadrian!" Maximus shrieks. I chuckle goodnaturedly and instead aim my throw at a dummy not far away from my friend. Maximus knows not to move as the javelin whistles past him, almost sinking into its target. I curse loudly as it clatters to the floor.

"And to think you're this year's volunteer," a voice whispers into my ear. I jump and spun around to find a knife pressed to my throat, Minerva smirking at me. She drops it on the floor in front of me. Minerva has always been the best among us trainees at stealth. I was surprised when she wasn't chosen to volunteer along with me.

"I'm more worthy than anyone else, you know that," I say, unperturbed. I pick up the knife and twirl in my hand a bit, watching as Minerva sidled over to Maximus. Luckily, my friends don't blame me for being more talented than them. They have also practiced in this very academy for their entire lives for a chance to play in the Games, but now they never will. I had thought for sure that Maximus especially would hold a grudge against me, since we had been competing for the same spot. But Maximus was never one to get angry, I remark to myself wistfully. That's why he hadn't been chosen.

"Why are you practicing today?" Minerva asks me incredulously. "Surely one morning of practice isn't going to give you an edge."

I roll my eyes. "I was just bored." I throw the knife at the target opposite myself, pleased when it finds its home in the bull's eye.

After waking up this morning to my mother enthusiastically greeting my brother, Cassius, downstairs, my stomach had suddenly started to feel a little queasy. Not at the thought of blood or killing; I have been killing since I was twelve, when the Academy starts using live animals as their targets your practices. No, I know I'm capable of killing. It was the winning part I hadn't been so sure of.

It was a feeling I'm not used to. I don't doubt myself much, and confidence was something that the mentors at the Academy were always preaching about, so I know it's a good thing. But in that moment, listening to my brother, the victor of the 71st Hunger Games, talk about today's Reaping, I wasn't so sure of myself.

District 2 had been having somewhat of a winning streak recently. We were always the most adept and capable district, but even more so in the seventh decade of the Games. It started with Cassius winning the 71st Games. Then Cato won the 74th, not too uncommon. Then Celia won the 76th, just last year. That means the gaps between our victories were getting smaller. If I lost, I would not have a good legacy.

So, like so many times before, I had opened the window of my second-story bedroom and climbed out, rushing to the Academy to reassure myself of my skills.

How that I'm here, breathing in the scent of the rubber dummies and fake weapons, listening to the wind whistle through the rafters of the empty Academy building, I know everything will be alright. I am the trainee the mentors have chosen. I have never doubted myself before, and I'm not about to start.

"Well, you should go home and get dressed," Minerva says dryly. "It's your big day, after all."

…

Rufina Fastolf (18)- D2F

Drusa and Drusus are chatting rapidly to each other as they walk ahead of me, completely the other's sentences every other second. The twins have always been insync, inseparable since they were born about three months after I was. All three of us will be in the eighteen-year old's section at the Reaping.

I don't hold it against my brother and sister that they were born in the same year as me, but sometimes I wonder if the world hates me. Why else would it make my mother despise me, give me away to another family, and with that same action steal my chance of volunteering away from me?

Our parents are walking beside me, holding hands and watching the District pass as we make our way to the Reaping. It's obvious that this is not my biological family. For one, I am descended from a different region of the world, my eyes thin and hair reddish black. My parents and siblings have the typical District Two appearance with light hair and grey eyes. Drusa and Drusus have a darker shade of hair, which can sometimes make us seem related, but most people know right away that we aren't.

It's not that I don't love my family, I just wish it wasn't so obvious that I was the shame of my real mother.

When we arrive at the Reaping, our parents pull Drusa aside to talk to her. She nods along as they give her encouragement, Drusus and I standing off at the side. Drusus' arms are crossed.

"Is something wrong?" I ask.

He frowns, not uncommon for Drusus. "Yes, everything's fine, Rufina."

"You seem different than earlier," I remark, recalling how he had been so excited this morning to see his twin sister on the big screen, eager to give her advice.

He sighs. "It's just… Drusa was saying something to me."

Now I feel worry drop heavily into my stomach. Though they hate to hear it, Drusa and Drusus are almost always on the same page, seeming to reflect the other's emotion. "Saying what?"

Drusus turns away, which I know from experience means that he's about to say something he considers embarrassing. "This is going to be the longest time we've ever spent apart," he says quietly.

I don't respond right away, trying to figure out the right thing to say. This will be the longest time any of us have spent apart from Drusa, including me. And I imagine she won't mind the time away from our parents' nagging. But Drusus is a different story. His bond with her is far deeper than ours ever will be.

"It will be tough," I say eventually. "But she'll come back soon."

This time, he seems to be thinking of an answer. I know I haven't soothed his worries. Before he can say anything, Drusa bounds up to us. She smiles softly at me.

"Ready, guys?"

"I was born ready," I say in the voice of a movie hero, making her laugh.

As we make our way to our appropriate sections, I can't help but scan the crowd for my biological mother. The talk of missing family has been getting to me, I suppose. It's useless to look for her, of course. Why would she want to support her greatest shame? A mayor's daughter should never conceive before marriage, especially as young as she did.

As I'm about to give up, I spot her among a group of other wealthy officials. My heart leaps into my chest, the worry I felt earlier diminishing. It's happily replaced by a new idea, one that just might benefit everyone.

"Drusa," I whisper once we're in our section. "I have a proposition."

"Oh, do you?" she asks amusedly at a normal volume, clearly expecting one of my jokes.

"I do. Let me volunteer instead."
Several emotions flash over her face. I can almost count them in succession: shock, confusion, anger, and finally contemplation. I'm sure I didn't imagine some relief in there as well.

"Why should I?" she asks finally.

"I know you don't want to leave Drusus. I'm capable and willing to go. You know I have what it takes. So do you, but if you don't want to, why should you when I'm willing to take your place?"

She stares at me for a little while, then quietly says, "Okay."

…

Hadrian Cato (18)- D2M

After listening to my parents fuss over my outfit for a good half-hour, I'm glad to finally be at the town-square. I love them, but I've never much cared for superficial things like appearance and fashion. I imagine the Capitol will not like that aspect of me, but I'm confident they will love everything else. A grin inadvertently appears on my face at the thought. The Capitol is going to love watching me onscreen. I can imagine the sponsors clamoring to give me their money now.

I'm feeling much better now that the Reaping is actually underway, and I know all of my fears were unnecessary. I'm going to win the Games, like Cassius before me, and bring glory to my family and my district. My nerves have been placed with nothing but excitement.

I spot Maximus in the crowd of eighteen-year olds as my finger is pricked. I don't even wince at the slight pain, eyes intent on the crowd. Our district escort is already onstage with the mayor and past victors. This year's mentors, Cato Barbatus and Celia Winterbourne, stand in front. Celia, with her dyed blonde hair cascading down her shoulders, grey eyes scanning the teenagers below her, Cato waving to the adoring crowd. Both the same as always. I puff my chest out as I walk to meet Maximus in our section,just in case they see me.

"She's hot, don't you think?" he asks me without preamble. I follow his eyes to see he's staring at Celia.

"I guess," I admit reluctantly. Celia was a worthy winner of last year's Games, and will make a great mentor. But she's not really my type when it comes to her style… she thinks too much. I would have preferred Cassius as my mentor, but the others thought that he would favor me, unevening the playing ground between Drusa and I. I snort at the idea. Even though I wouldn't want to kill Minerva, I still think she would be a wiser choice for a tribute than Drusa. She's not a bad Career, per se, but she's not a victor.

After the mayor gives his usual speech, the escort for District Two steps up to the microphone. He's fairly new, a young man with rainbow-colored hair and dyed light blue skin. "Happy Hunger Games, District Two! Let's get this show on the road and start with the ladies!"

His smile is more frightening than anything. He walks over to the girl's bowl and reaches inside.

"Pumice Amber!"

"I volunteer!"

I'm not paying much attention to the voice of the girl who takes the place of the reaped girl, so I'm surprised when Rufina mounts the stage. I can't help but smirk. Stole her own sister's spotlight? That's a bold move that just might cement her worthiness as a Career.

It's not until Rufina takes the microphone that I realize how awkward this situation is. Her grandfather, the mayor, is sitting right next to where she's standing, looking at her in horror. His worst nightmare has come to life. The entire country will be focused on his daughter's illegitimate child.

The escort, oblivious to all of this, asks Rufina to introduce herself.

"Rufina Fastolf," she says, providing nothing else. She clearly didn't have anything prepared.

"Lovely!" the escort exclaims. "And now on to the boys!"

"Mars Springwing!"

The name is barely out of his mouth before I yell out proudly, "I volunteer!"

The crowd parts for me as I make my way out of the boy's section. Maximus claps me on the back encouragingly. I make sure that every step displays my confidence. When I reach the stage, I yell out to the crowd without a microphone:

"I'm Hadrian Cato, but soon you will know me as the victor of the 77th Hunger Games!"

I raise both fists into the air as the district erupts into applause.

Rufina Fastolf (18)- D1F

"Rufina, why did you do that?" my mom asks me. I can tell she's trying not to seem angry or upset, her voice calm.

"I discussed it with Drusa," I explain, looking to my sister for help. She's standing beside them, biting her nails.

"We did," she says finally. "The academy made a mistake choosing me."

Drusus steps closer to her and takes her hand. I smile in their direction. "That's right. I don't know what they were thinking."

Drusa lightly slaps me on the arm, smiling back.

After exchanging more loving words, my family leaves. It occurs to me that I won't see them again until I come back as a victor.

I don't expect any more visitors, so I sit back and close my eyes, imagining what the train ride to the Capitol will be like.

I hear a loud bang and my eyes fly open.

"Maxima!" I say in shock. She's never wanted me to call her "mom".

"What were you thinking?" she snaps at me without preamble. "How dare you steal this away from a capable girl?"
"I'm perfectly capable," I say calmly. "You said I was a mistake. I'm trying to prove you wrong."

This only infuriates her further. "That girl was promising and you just had to steal away her spotlight."

I don't want to rise to the bait, so I simply respond, "I'm promising, too. You'll see."

Hi everyone! I know I said I would post two reapings today but today was a little busier than I expected and I went a little ham with this chapter. Sorry.

All of the comments on the last chapter are really encouraging! I spend a lot of time and effort writing these so it means a lot. I'm having a lot of fun so far. I hope everyone enjoys the chapter!