Author's Note: I SWEAR I'M NOT DEAD I'M JUST... having a severe writer's block. I've also been focusing on other hobbies besides writing, so I apologize profusely for my absence.

I've had troubles writing this one, so sorry if the ending seems a bit rushed. Extremely rushed. I just wanted to get it over with.

Hey, did you hear?

Of what?

The female tribute for this year-the one that's supposed to be our tribute this year? She got into a heavy training accident.

No way! The Reaping's only next week. What are they going to do?

I don't know! My brother's friend is a training instructor, and I heard from her that they might just drop it.

What, so no volunteer?

Well, I'm sure someone else will. We'll have to see.

It was eight in the morning and lively. The seagulls soared through the salty air, shadows against the deep blue sky. They squawked at each other, squabbling over pieces of fish intestines left behind by fishers and pieces of bread that some left behind.

Although today was the day of the Reaping, plenty of workers still went out to the ocean at around four or five in the morning to see if they could catch some good grub. It wasn't illegal, and the inhabitants of District Four were already used to rising well before the sun to net some fish. Early to rise, early to bed. This was one of the main 'rules' in the district.

A soft melody floated from a two-story house not far from the main shore, its blue exterior walls draped with flowers and decorations. Inside, Cordelia played, her slim fingers dancing over the black and white keys of the piano. It was a joyful song, occasionally displaying a fragment or two of excitement.

She couldn't help it. Today was the Reaping, after all!

Not that I'm going to volunteer, of course! she reminded herself harshly, for one of her fingers had tripped over the keys and the piano trilled unhappily. Oh, would she love to...! But you are much too young, Cordelia. Much too young.

She couldn't help but to imagine it, though; the idea of her in the arena just seemed so vivid, so enticing. She could imagine her hands wrapped around the handles of knives instead of hovering over piano keys, of her emerging from a battle as the sole victor. People she didn't even know would be cheering her name, and oh the fame she would receive at home!

Oh, crap. Focus! she reprimanded herself again, for her song had quickened to such a pace that one would think an octopus fed one too many sea slugs was playing it. She wasn't going to play the Games this year. Her training wasn't even close to finished, after all!

I wonder what about this year will be different from the others? she asked herself as she played the song to a close. There was always something about each and every year that made them unique. After all, that was why they were just so fun to watch.

She was stretching when the rest of her family finally walked in.

"How was the catch today?" Coredelia asked as she bent backwards, her arms stretched out above her head. Her palms caught the floor, and she remained in that position, her black hair pooling down beneath her.

"Pretty good," her father replied, brushing off his heavily callused hands. "Not as well as some others, but since we had limited time that was only to be expected."

"How was your morning, darling?" her mother asked, walking past her daughter to the bathroom.

"Boring," Coredelia replied. "Trained like you told me to, then played some piano and watched some television. Some of the Reapings already happened, so I watched those."

"Oh?" her father asked, watching his daughter as she went back into a standing position. "And what were some of the tributes from the other districts like?"

Cordelia paused, thinking. "There were less volunteers than other years, that's for sure," she said, shrugging. "I don't know why! There was this crazy girl from District 1; she was chosen, but she was ecstatic. I think she meant to volunteer anyway! And the male tribute looked pretty strong... District 2, the girl was young! She looked my age! And not that strong, either-but she volunteered, so I guess she might as well be. And the male tribute wasn't a volunteer, but he looked okay, I guess."

Her father nodded thoughtfully. "I wonder where all the volunteers went? It's not like District 1 and 2 not to offer up their best young ones for the Games." He shook his head. "Oh well, we'll just have to see how it goes. Aren't you supposed to be preparing for the Reaping?"

She frowned. "What? I have plenty of time-" Her green eyes spotted the clock. "Oh crap; you're right! Sorry, dad!"

She ignored her chuckles and scampered up the stairs. She burst into her bathroom, only to have a towel dropped onto her head.

"Already taken." Cordelia looked up, brushing the towel from her forehead, to see her older sister clad in only a towel.

"Meri!" she exclaimed. "I didn't see you go through the door! I thought you stayed behind or something!"

"Always bad at catching the details, aren't you, sis?" Meri teased. "I strolled by while you were listing off the tributes. And I was about to take a nice hot shower before you walked in here."

"Sorry," Cordelia replied with a sheepish smile. "Just let me get some hair supplies. I already took a shower, so I just need to dress up!"

"Look pretty, lil sis," Meri replied with a small smile. "I bet every other girl out there will look as if they're going to a nationwide dance. Oh, how embarrassing would it be for my younger sister to be the only one looking casual! The horror!"

She mimed swooning in horrified shock, and Cordelia pushed her for her teasing. Meri just smiled and stepped into the shower, and steam was pouring into the room before Cordelia exited with her hair supplies.

"Trying to get my hair all frizzy, jeez!" she exclaimed as she withdrew to her room. She couldn't help but to give it an appreciative glance as she entered. The carpet was soft on her bare feet, and the walls were a light sea blue, her very favorite color. Her bed consisted of a hammock that her father made himself, strewn with downy blankets and feather-filled pillows to make it comfortable. Sea shells littered the white furniture, and she had to move some off her dresser to set down her supplies.

"Why doesn't Meri do this for me?" she complained to herself and she powdered her face, her hair pushed back by a hairband. "She's so much better with makeup than me. And she's so pretty, too.."

She finished her makeup rather quickly, only really pausing to add some eyeliner the same color of her irises. She slipped into her dress, a light green dress with spaghetti straps that fell to her knees, and then began on her hair. She curled the dark tresses into ringlets, playing them out in a way that they resembled the wave patterns on her dress.

Cordelia finished and looked at herself in the mirror. Ugh. She put some lip gloss on, smacking at her reflection. As she had thought, Meri would have done much better-but for her own job, it wasn't that bad, she guessed! She smiled at her own reflection, glad that the powder at least somewhat dulled down her freckles, which speckled over her face like the first few drops of rain on dry pavement.

"Cordelia! Down here, now!" Meri called from downstairs. Cordelia flounced downstairs after her sister's voice, jumping off the last few steps and swinging to Meri. "I'm here, sis!" she announced.

Meri looked over Cordelia with a careful eye. "Not bad," she said, grinning and petting her sister's hair, careful not to ruffle it. "Though promise me you'll luck much prettier once it's actually time for you to get up on stage."

Cordelia puffed out her round cheeks. "Of course, Meri! I look plenty fine right now!" She tossed her head, her hair flowing after her.

"Whatever you say, sis," Meri replied.

Their chauffeur drove them to the city square, where Cordelia said her farewells to her family before making her way to her own section. She idly sucked on her finger after it was pricked. It tasted like metal.

She quickly went into the fifteen-year-old section with her fellow female peers. They exchanged smiles and pretty little waves before focusing on the stage, eyes curious. Who was to be up on the stage this time? For all they knew, it could be one of them.

They watched the Capitol announcer, the ever so beautiful Terra Overwhil, announce the start of the ceremony. Cordelia caught herself yawning during the propaganda video and quickly stopped-she'd ruin her makeup if she made careless actions. And after all that effort to make it nice!

She blanked out for a bit-the Reapings were really redundant after all-but finally regained her focus when Terra began to fish out the female slip. Who would it be-?

"Cordelia Edlyn!"

Cordelia's mouth opened in a small little 'o' of surprise. The girls around her stared at her, and one even gave her a little nudge. She quickly regained her composure and walked up to the stage, her back straight and herself well aware of the eyes trained on her. She shook Terra's hand and stood, staring at the crowd as the announcer asked for volunteers.

To Cordelia's surprise, silence greeted her question.

I'm the tribute? she realized a second after everyone else. Without thinking, her hand reached up to touch her bottom lip: a gesture of surprise.

The corners of her lips rose up into a smile. She waved at the crowd.

Of course, her family was the first to enter the room. Meri quickly pulled her sister into a hug.

"Meri?" Cordelia asked, a bit confused. Meri pulled back and frowned at her, shaking her head.

"I can't believe it... No one volunteered! Someone always volunteers!"

Cordelia tilted her head to the side, then smiled. "I guess they just didn't this time."

"Why are you so calm?" Meri questioned, her slim hands curled into fists. She grit her teeth. "Cordelia, you're going out into an arena! There will be trained killers there!"

"But Cordelia's one too," Mrs. Edlyn reminded her eldest daughter, looking at Cordelia with a thoughtful gaze. "After all, this is what I've prepared for her all these years. I think she'll be fine."

Mr. Edlyn nodded his approval. "If anyone can get out of the arena this year, it'll be Cordelia."

"But..." Meri was aghast at her family's indifference. "She's only fifteen! You saw the male tribute for this district-he volunteered, and he's most definitely well trained! Cordelia-"

"Meri," Cordelia cut in. "That kid looks younger than me. He's even shorter. I'll be fine."

Meri stared at her sister in disbelief, but she closed her lips and remained quiet.

"Make us proud?" Mr. Edlyn suggested.

Meri nodded.

Oh, she would.