Disclaimer: I do not own the hunger games just my ocs.

Chapter 2

This isn't real. It's just a dream, a nightmare. I'm going to wake up and call for my parents or Jessie. They'll calm me down and tell me it's all right. But that never happens, I just stand there for I don't know how long. "Move," a commanding voice told me. It sounded almost like my mother. "You can do it, be brave."

I let go of my brother's hand and exit the crowd. Peacekeepers escort me to the stage, while surrounding my body so I can't run. When I make it to the stage I hear the voice again, "smile it masks the pain."

So I do, I give the crowd and Novalee my sweetest smile. Novalee squealed, "Isn't she lovely, Ebanora Violet, our female tribute of district two." The crowd claps for me, I keep smiling. They don't care, a boy's going to volunteer and I'll just be another piece of the president's game. "Now, time for the boys." Novalee announced as she trotted over to the boys bowl.

Just as she pulls out the slip a boy shouted, "I volunteer as tribute." I let out the breath I didn't know I was holding in, it's not Jessie. The voice belongs to an upperclassman of mine, he's very muscular, strong jaw, dark brown hair, and his eyes are so dark they look black.

"Oh, a volunteer, how wonderful, what's your name?" Novalee asked.

"Brick Davis," he answered smirking.

"Well, ladies and gentlemen please welcome our tributes of district two for the 78th Hunger Games, Ebanora Violet and Brick Davis," she cooed into the microphone. "Shake hands you two."

Once we do we're escorted to separate rooms inside the justice building to say goodbye. My parents come in first, my mother hugs me while my father wraps his arms around us both. We stand there for a minute or two then go sit down on the velvet couch. My mother places her hand on my face and told me, "You did well up there. You masked your fear with a smile, not many tributes will do that."

"I know," I responded.

"Good, if you keep doing that and be your sweet self then the capitol will love you, they will marvel at your beauty and kindness, just like they did with obasan," she stated.

"But show them you are strong and can kill," my father added.

I nod my head then whispered, "Kill them with kindness and force."

"Yes," my mother agreed, "just know the difference between the enemy and a scared child, or remember that even though the world can be cruel there are still people who are kind and innocent."

"I will and I … I'll try to keep myself sane," I trembled as my body shakes with fear.

"We know you will Nora, if anyone of us could do it, it would be you," my father announced. "Your grandparents would be proud, you may have my last name but you're an Katsaros just like your mother."

"Thank you, daddy," I whimpered feeling a tear slide down my face.

"Don't cry, you'll be ok, just be brave," my mother said to me as she wiped my tears. She pulled me into a hug and kissed my head. A minute later a peacekeeper hurried them out the room, they tell me the love me then they're gone. I sink into the couch crying silently to myself, this will most likely be the last time I see my parents.

Next are my aunt Eleora and just my little cousin Mason. "I'm sorry Ebanora, Roxy and Lexie couldn't come say goodbye," my aunt answered when I asked her where they were.

"Why couldn't they?" Mason questioned.

I pull him next to me and push his hair away from his jade eyes, "they just don't want to see the same thing happen to me like it did Clove."

He rested his head on my shoulder as I hummed a song, it's the same thing my grandmother would do for me. He tells me that I'll be ok and that I'll make it out alive, I tell him that no matter where I am I will always protect him. Then he and my aunt are gone, it feels as if my world is tearing apart.

Lastly is Jessie, he walks in with Ryker and Jason. "You ok?" Jessie asked.

"Are you seriously asking me that?" I inquired.

"Actually I was just doing that for support," he joked. I laugh, Jessie would be the one to joke around when I'm about to be shipped off to my death. "But you'll be fine, you had to deal with these guys most of your life."

Jason scoffed while Ryker avoids my gaze and says, "Ebanora, I'm really sorry about everything I've done to you. Also you're really brave, you're always nice to everyone, even me and Jason when you know we don't deserve your kindness."

"Why are you always so nice?" Jason asked. "I've never seen you fight, how did you even get into the academy?"

"Just because you don't see me fight dosen't mean I can't. I only fight when I feel the need to, not for the hell of it." I growled at him feeling my rage rising.

"That's not how it works here," he demanded to me.

Now it's my turn to scoff at him, "What in the district or your head. Here's some news, not everyone is as sadistic as you."

"It's too bad the only way you know how to fight with words," he remarked.

"You want to see me fight?" I asked smirking.

"Jason doesn't say it," Jessie ordered him.

But he just ignored him and said, "Yeah, I would runt."

My smirk turns into a smile so sweet I could rot his teeth, "ok." I drop down and swipe his legs out from underneath his feet. I stand up quickly then lean over his fallen body. "I've learned multiple fighting techniques, I was taught to adept to any weapon, and I know to extract my body out of someone's hold. But do you know why I chose kindness over violence?"

He shakes his head. Bending down I lean towards his ear and whisper, "because I don't want to turn out like you. I turn my suffering into smiles for other and do little deeds to brighten up their day. We live in a world that's controlled with death, it needs all the happiness it can get. Come on." I help him pull his body into a sitting position then turn to my brother.

"I think you'll do well in the games, especially it you get an axe," he said. I laugh as he pulls me into a hug and tells me he loves me.

"Nora," Ryker said. "I really do wish I had gotten to see your true beauty. I knew you had a pretty face, but I still called you those names. And I believe you're heart is even more beautiful than your face, and your face is one of the loveliest in the district."

I feel my face heat up, "thank you Ryker, but it's hard to hear you say that when you told me I was ugly almost all my life."

He looks down ashamed, "but, Nora…" he's interrupted by a peacekeeper slamming the door open.

"Time's up," the peacekeeper commanded. The man focused on our current situation, his eyes keep darting from Jason who is now hunch over in pain on the floor to me, Ryker, and my brother. "What's going on in here?"

I give the man a kind smile and lie, "oh, nothing sir, my friend just fell, but he's fine now."

The peacekeeper looks at me and nods, "It's time for the boys to leave."

Jason leaves sulking while Jessie tells me, "try to make it back Nora."

"I will, I love you Onii-chan," I responded. He smiles brightly at me then leaves. Ryker walks up beside me and leans down. "Good luck, Ebanora," he whispered kissing my cheek. My face heats up, 'did he just kiss me?'

I open my mouth to say something, anything, but he's already gone. So I just stand there waiting for someone to get me.