An: Hey everyone. Sorry again for the long delay. Competition season is never easy. Also all my teachers decided to give me tests before star testing and now it's close to the end of the year so the teachers are trying to fit everything in. I just got confirmed too so I'm super excited. Don't worry I haven't forgotten you all and I will try to update more often. P.S. I always try to write some of this while I'm at my studio on my IPod so I always work on it. Some of you have pointed out that the formats weird so to fix it I have to re-type the whole thing. Thanks for bring it to my attention though. I never would have known. I'm really excited for this chapter and I have some great ideas coming up. I think I might do Finnick's games through Annie's POV still but I don't know if it will stay. I might flip between them. What do you think? Also I might start posting some of the songs I listen to when I write this to get a feel for the characters. Tell me what you think. ~PeanutButterLover21

Disclaimer: I don't own the Hunger Games.

Chapter 3

We go to the square for the reaping. The silence around us is so overpowering it's suffocating. Our walks are stiff and heavy as each unbearable step hits the solid ground. My breath gets shallow as I think of 1 of the millions of possibilities of how today could turn out. I can only hope it turns out as one of the happier ones. I pry my cold, lifeless fingers off my parents' jackets and slowly make my way over to what could be the end with my brother by my side.

Since District 4 is bigger than most districts, we have peacekeepers checking people in. They stand in front of each section, staring out, unmoving with a list of names. You can just make out the tapping of their pencils hitting against the clip board repeatedly while they wait impatiently for children to check in. I look up from my feet that have been scuffing along the gravel pavement and see a big, ruff mountain of a peacekeeper standing at the girls 12 year old section that looks alert and focused. They always have this peacekeeper here just in case a girl or two freaks out and tries to run away. I don't really know his name because we have so many peacekeepers here and they all look the same. With that big white hat and the same white uniform that's perfect in every way. They even share the same blank bored expression, most of the time; the reaping is always an exception. I think his name is Doug or something of the sort. I look him straight in the eye trying to look as confident as possible with my chest out and my head held high.

"Name?" He asks in a stern, impassive voice.

"Annie Cresta". I say with a little crack in my voice that ruins my act. My brother besides me sneaks a look out of the corner of his eye to make sure there are no tears. Not yet, I think, but hopefully never. Doug runs his pencil down the list and stops near the top. Alphabetical order of course. I roll my eyes but stop quickly as I think of all the names on that list and the temperature feels like it has dropped 20 degrees. All those names. Oh. All. Those. Names. Any one of them could be picked and I know most of them considering we are all in the same year at school. I close my eyes and can picture my best friend Makenna's name on that list. In that big, bold, black print, the same way it's written in that huge, transparent ball on the stage.

"And what's your name?" he questions mockingly leaning towards my brother. My brothers hands tense and slowly clench into a fist. He's eyes are glaring daggers into Doug's face. You could almost see the steam blowing out of his ears like a train speeding down its tracks, rushing to get to its destination. The peacekeeper saw his position and smiled, "Go ahead, do it. Let's see who can win princess but just remember that I can make things happen. Make people go places they don't want to go. Maybe you'll find yourself in the area next or maybe Annie will find her cute little self there." He puts a finger under my chin and curls it around. "Yes she would get plenty of sponsors with that pretty face". I ignore his comment and use all the strength in my 12 year old body to push my brother away from the now smirking peacekeeper.

"Adam! Adam!" I say trying to break through to him. He held his gaze with Doug for a moment longer before his eyes dart down towards me.

"What". He says still full of tense and anger. He was ready to lounge at Doug at any moment at a single command and then I may never see him again.

"Ummmm...umm..." I scatter to collect my thoughts. "It's not worth it. Trust me. Imagine what mom or dad would react if you were taken away from them and into the Games. Imagine how angry they would be at you for picking a fight. Please, please don't. Don't do it...for me". I say looking up at him with my best puppy dog eyes. I see his face immediately soften at my expression and he gives me a quick hug.

"Ok but I'm going to my area now so good luck". He releases me and starts to walk away when I call back.

"Adam". He glances back at me and as soon as he meets my eyes it's as if a whole conversation passes between our eyes. All the words that I wish I could say to him flow easily on our gazes. My mouth is dry as the desert wasteland that used to be a part of North America. I open my mouth to say something but instead nothing comes out. He just nods quickly and runs off to the boys' 14 year old section, leaving me to walk back to my section alone.

A couple minutes later, our district escort, Pearl McCourt, skips up to the stage with our mayor, Zook. Pearl takes a seat in one of the 10 seats available near the back of the stage. The other nine are for the victors of District 4. In the past 64 years, we have had 6 boys and 3 girls win the Hunger Games. Most of them are old and withered from stress or other elements such as drinking. They all proceed on stage, one at a time, waving to the crowd. The oldest among them was Mags. She won way back when the Hunger Games barely pasted its first decade. I like her the best out of them all. She's had at least one pleasant conversation with everyone and District 4 loves her. Once they are all on stage they take a seat and a steady silence begins to spread.

Mayor Zook comes up to the mic and recites the same speech he has said ever since he first became mayor. It depicts of a time called the Dark Days then the rebellion which brings us the Hunger Games. I don't pay attention much to this because if I do I know I will be frightened like the first time when I was 7. I had nightmares for a month after. I look around at the girls around me and made eye contact with my friend, Makenna. She gives me a sad smile that I return before she focuses up front. "Ladies first" The statement rings through my ears as my attention goes back to the stage. Pearl strolls over to the bowl as if she were taking a walk on a sunny day. She threw her hand into the bowl and mixed it around until she found one she liked. She drew it out sharply and held it the air for all to see as she made her way back to the mic. She then unfolded it and read the name in a loud, clear voice, "Matilda Bagger".

I let out a sigh of relief that it's not one of my friends or me but immediately I feel pity for the skinny 13 year old girl that starts to walk on stage. As soon as her foot makes contact with the stage, though, a 17 year old girl shoots up her hand, volunteering. The little girl runs off stage right into her mother's arms. I don't blame her. I would have done the same thing.

I'm so consumed with the girl that I missed the name of the older girl and the boy's name. I look around idly wondering who it was when I stare right into a pair of sea green eyes. My breath stops and I grab onto the closest person to me. No, this can't be happening. I think. How could he get picked out of all the boys in District 4. It's impossible but every time I look up I see those same eyes staring straight at me. Reaching out into my soul. Pleading for help but there's nothing I can do. His fate is in their hands now. The Capitals. Where he will most likely not be coming home. I look at the ground but not seeing anything. Just spacing out like a standing corpse. I probably was as pale as one. For he has been reaped. The boy whose eyes captivate everyone. The boy whose kind and patient smile shines through even the toughest situations. For the boy whose been like a brother to me has been reaped. Finnick.