The weather was cold and rigid. Its wind shot through my fur like a bullet. My scarf wasn't doing to much and forget about my jacket. Even though it was brick cold, my heart was even colder, below negative if you will. The reason you might ask...it all started a few weeks ago.

I always liked our little town. Down in Babylon Gardens everything was peaceful. Or so we thought, yes I say we, cause this story effected more than just me. No, You can say...it was a civil war, sorta.

I walked down the street headphones over my head listening to Weird Al's "Trapped in the Drive-thru". I occasionally chuckled at the crazy lyrics this man had created. But all in all, that was only to mask the overgrown fear that consumed my face. I tried to put some light in these times but everyone, or should I say every pet I passed had the same face of fear or depression. It was that time again...time for the humans to choose the "players".

I walked into my house and put my jacket on the coat hanger. The house was far more warmer than the weather outside. My feet skidded across the wooden floor with every agonizing step more painful than the last. My, what I call my owners, parent's bedroom was coming up. As I passed their closed door I heard sniffling, a muffled sound of crying, and whispers. I put my ear up against the wall trying my best to hear what was being said.

"Mom...What if we get picked? The selection is tomorrow." It was Grape, and she was crying. Everyone felt her pain, the "players" would be picked in less than twelve hours.

"Well Grape...maybe you and Peanut are lucky again this year." Mom...the one who always seem to lighten things up when we were always down. My fists clenched tightly as I continued to listen.

"But...I-If..."

"If anything happens we'll do everything in our power to get both you and Peanut out. We love you both." I listened to my father's words as they calmed me down. Just a little though.

With that, I heard enough. I started walking to my room. Heavy thoughts just sitting on my brain like it was a couch. This brought headaches, intense headaches.

Right in front my door, I heard the door to my parent's door opened. Before I entered, I saw who came out through my peripheral vision. Grape...she was my everything. A friend, my comrade, and most importantly, the love of my life. Back in the day, before all this nonsense, the two of us, with many of our friends would enjoy a day like today. It would be either a big snowball war, or us just relaxing at each other's houses.

I missed those days. But ever since the new humans moved to Babylon four years ago, our town had become a "District", District 3 to be precise. That meant that our little town was now competing in this huge game for those human's pleasure. It might be a game for them, but it was VERY REAL to us.

I put my headphones on the dresser of my room and looked over the space I had in it. The room itself wasn't that big. A nice size to fit everything I needed and somethings I wanted. I looked to the mirror and saw myself. Bags underneath my eyes from all those sleepless nights.

Every night, I wake up screaming, the cold hovering, cascading around me like it was waiting for something to happen. I know that feeling. Death was just there waiting for me to just give in. Sometimes I felt like he was petting my fur gently, caressing every single strand of hair he could possibly get his skeleton hand on.

As fast as that feeling crept up behind me it quickly dissipated. I looked upon my mirror once again as I saw my door open.

"Peanut?" Grape asked in a low whisper.

I turned to face her. Her eyes filled with tears and bloodshot. Right then and there, I wanted to tell her everything, spill my heart out to her, just to say that I love her. But I couldn't. It felt like something was blocking the words I wanted to say. Even if I could say it, this would be the wrong time anyway.

Before I could say anything, her arms wrapped around my waist as her muzzle buried into my chest. I hesitated at first but my arms wrapped around her as well. It was these moments where I could just freeze time and wouldn't be phased by it.

Grape's little sniffles, and tears that had wet my chest fur was a rare sight to see. She was always the tough one. Even tougher than some of the dogs out here. I wanted to break down but who would be there to pick us both up. One of us had to be the strong one and unfortunately, it was me.

I took my paw and petted the top of her head. She squeezed tighter, nowhere in the mood of letting go, so I did what was necessary. It was less difficult than it seemed as I guided her to my bed as we both sat down. Her arms still around me.

"It's gonna be okay Grape. Don't worry about it." I falsely assured her. She and I both knew that this was something to be very worried about. Every pet who entered these games from our District was never seen again.

All but one, 2 years ago a bulldog by the name of Button came back as a victor. A year later, fearful of being chosen again, he committed suicide.

"P-Peanut?" Grape said through sniffs.

"Yes Grape?" I answered, slowing my petting.

"Can I sleep with you tonight?" She said with her head still buried into my chest.

My heart raced and I knew she felt it beating faster. Blood rushed to my cheeks as the thought of us just cuddling on my bed made my face red. My body tensed up but I knew why she asked and I won't deny her in any way, shape, or form.

"Of course you can." I said with no hesitation in my voice.

"Thank you!" Grape said as she finally brought her face from my chest.

Her eyes met mine while the moonlight hit between us. The moon was at its peek and it was close to being full. In fact, in just three nights the full moon would be high in the sky, and the official start of the "Game of Legends". By this time in three nights, the players will be set and already "playing".

Two o' clock had already struck the digital clock that was atop of my wall-unit. Its dim green glow painted the walls of that same color. I couldn't sleep. I was afraid...afraid of what might happen in just a couple of hours. My eyes felt heavy but they didn't want to close.

I looked up to my ceiling watching nothing but the dull white paint that covered my room. All the thoughts rushed to my head. Images of the continuous nightmares wouldn't stop flashing through my mind. Most of all, the image of Grape's tears had branded itself on a very far corner of my brain.

I looked over my shoulder to see if she was alright. Gladly, she was. Her face was so much more calm than it was when she was awake. She must've been dreaming. About what? I wouldn't know. But her face did tell she was having a good time at least.

Man, while she's in my bed having dreams, I can't even go to sleep cause of the nightmares. With a simple turn of my body I laid facing her, and her toward me. A smile crept up on my face while I had sat there watching her sleep. She was the most cutest cat ever. I know it might sound wrong, with me being a dog and all, but she's like an angel.

As my eyes finally had enough, they began falling. Only to be opened again at the sight of Grape turning over. My smile faded as I headed off to sleep. But yet again, it was taken from me. Grape, while in her sleep, had inched closer to my body. She was warm. Even though my fur was doing it's job I didn't mind the extra body heat that was emanating from her. A thought crossed my mind, as quickly as it came it left. It went so fast I didn't even know what it was about. I shook my head then looked at Grape once more. I reached my arm around her as my eyes fell, only this time, uninterrupted.

I awoke several hours later in a daze. My sight blurred from sleep. I blinked a couple of times to adjust my eyes to the sun that slightly glared through my window. My line of sight descended to my arm. The purple color that I got accustomed to last night was replaced with the a bland color of white. Grape had woken up before me? I can't blame her. How could anybody sleep with all this tension around?

I arose from my comfortable bed, a prison that held my dreams and nightmares in a bundle feeding them one by one slowly to me each night.

The silence in the house felt natural considering what day it was. A shiver shot through my spine with the first step I took. I hesitated to take further steps fearing for that feeling to hit me again. Putting my fear aside, I put one foot in front of the other going toward the bathroom.

Before reaching the intended destination I passed the outside balcony to see Dad looking out to the other houses.

"Dad? Are you alright?" I asked.

"Oh Peanut, you're up?" He said while I rubbed my left eye adjusting it to the light of the outside. "Listen Peanut..." he started. "I just want to tell you that me and your mother love you. No matter what happens."

I knew where he was going with this. His manly spirit was weaken at this very moment. I hugged him as he tightly kept me in his own embrace. His big strong arms wrapped around me pulling me closer to his chest.

"Don't worry Dad, Everything will be fine. I bet we aren't even going to get selected." How much fear that had consumed me after that statement? Not even I would know.

He let me go, patted me on the head and walked back inside in silence. Before I could follow a bell had rung throughout the town. Louder than any bell you have ever heard. But the overcoming silence that came afterward was even louder.

It was time...

A low beeping sound was heard in his ears.

Beep...Beep...Beep

Everything else was quiet, it's silence cutting deep into the thin air.

The sound of a door opened and never closed.