Disclaimer: I do not own the Hunger Games, blah...blah...blah...

Kodiak Nyquist

The pool was refreshing; unpolluted by the smog our factories produced. For us, it was a place we could get away from our polluted home. Sure, it was illegal to go beyond the fence, but we didn't care. Kat and I swam together, her slender body twirling around in the water. Garl floated along, the water around him dirty from the soot. "It's almost like half of your weight is just soot," I told Garl.

"Well that's what happens when your job is to clean out the smoke stacks every day," he replied.

I looked up to try and see the smoke stacks Garl worked at, when I noticed the sun already setting over the horizon. "Crap," I said, quickly swimming over to my clothes. "I promised my mom I'd be home by three."

Garl quickly glanced up at the sky and said quickly, "Yeah, I've got to get home too. See you guys tomorrow then?" He didn't stay for an answer, as he quickly gathered up his shirt and promptly made his way out of the forest.

I had my shirt on when I glanced over at Kat, who was already in her work clothes. She worked night shifts at the factories, since most of them are too crowded during the day. I really worried me when she went to work by herself at night, so I told her, "I'll walk you to work."

"But you promised your mother you'd be home soon. I don't want you to be late," she replied. But it was obvious I wasn't taking no for an answer. And so we slipped ourselves under the fence surrounding our district (it was supposed to be electrified, but I figured out how to turn it off) and I guided her to the electronics factory.

Along the way, she asked, "Why do you do this?" I was confused, so I replied with something intelligent like, "Hunh?"

"I mean, why do you help me even though you know you'll get in trouble if you stay out here too long?" I pondered this question for a second before replying, "Because I don't want anything to happen to you."

She smiled sadly and touched my cheek, saying, "Well, I don't want anything to happen to you either. You've already gotten beaten once by the Peacemakers, I don't want you…" She paused and looked at something over my shoulder. I glanced back in that direction.

Standing in the sidewalk was a Peacemaker. He was hiccupping profusely and stumbling all over himself. Definitely drunk. And he was making his way towards us.

We turned to go but before we knew it he was grabbing Kat's shoulder, stuttering, "You…You… whaz a fine lady like youse doin' out here in the d-d-dark?" his breath reeked of vodka and his hair was strewn all over the place. I told him, "Listen man, I'm just walking her home, alright?" I tried to pull her away but he took out his nightstick and said slowly, "I could kick your ass for stayin' out here so late you idiot. That is, unless…"

He grabbed Kat's arm, and she shouted, "Hey, get off you freak." But it was obvious that he wasn't letting go. we began to argue and shout. Then he drew out his nightstick, and raised it over her head….

The District 4 girl raised her spear over her throat. And brought it down…

I wasn't going to let him hurt her. With my adrenaline pumping, I raised my fist, and let him have it. Real hard. Got him right in the jaw. It felt good, to finally let my frustration out, but Kat stood there with wide eyes and said, "You've got to get home, now,"

I was about to refuse, but she stopped me with a kiss. "He's not going to be happy when he wakes up. He might have been too drunk to get a good look at you, but you need to get home now." She was right. She usually was. But before we separated, I told her, "I'm not going to let some Capitol puppets hurt you. If they so much as lay a hand on you, they'll hear it from me." She smiled and waved back as she crossed the street to the factory. Before I left, I couldn't help but give a big loogie right in the Peacemaker's face.

oOoOo

When I got home, I was expecting my mother to scold me for being late. Instead, I found my mother and sister at the dining table. Their eyes were really red, as if they've been crying for hours. "What's wrong?" I asked. My sister looked at me solemnly and replied, "It's Dad. He's-" She didn't need to finish that sentence.

Marquette Tetra

Kory and I were resting on our fishing boat when the sun began to go down. We have been swimming for the whole day, and our hands were wrinkled from the water. We hadn't been home the entire day. Kory was playing with a fishing line when he asked, "How 'bout one more race?"

"No thanks, I'm too tired," i replied. His line snagged a small fish, and as a joke he threw it at me. It landed on my lap, flopping around mindlessly. "What's wrong, sis? Don't feel like losing?" I threw the fish back in the water and replied, "What are you talking about? I won the last race by a longshot."

"That was because I was weighed down by all those sandwiches. But now, I'm ready for one more," he said, smirking. But truthfully, I wasn't thinking about swimming. Without thinking, i blurted, "Do we have to go home, Kory?" He looked confused, so I continued, "we could stay here on the boat for the night. Because... I mean-"

"You don't want to face Dad, do you?" He finished it off as if he had read my mind. He ran his fingers through my hair and said, "Well, no matter what Dad does. He's still our father. You have face him. And tell him." That was what I was scared of. Telling my father i would be volunteering tomorrow. Would he be proud, angry, saddened? I didn't know, my father was so unpredictable. But nonetheless, I let Kory help me off the ship.

Our house was massive, set atop a huge cliff. It's a wonder how it manages to stay perched atop it without the cliff crumbling into the sea. Kory could see I was nervous, so he squezzed my hand and whispered, "Don't worry, I'll be right there." I opened the door and we stepped into my father's den. Not suprisingly, he was sitting in his chiar, reading a book, the jewel on his ring gleaming from the fire. He took a short glance from the book and said, "Hi, Kory." Well, I wasn't exactly expecting a warm greeting.

I hesitantly stepped forward and quietly said, "Father?" No response. I blurted, "I'm volunteering for the Hunger Games."

That got his attention. He put down is book and stared at me. He and Kory shared the same blue eyes, but on him, they looked icy and barren. I was expecting him to scold me, or even hit me. Anything was better than what he actually did. He laughed. I began to blush, and I felt embarassed. My father said, "You? In the Hunger Games? Why, you won't even last five minutes out there!"

Kody replied, "Father, I think you are underestimating her. She'll do fine, I know it." But nonetheless my father kept grinning, and he told him, "Preposterous. I mean, if it was you, then maybe. But Marquette?" That was the last straw. He was choosing Kory over me again, and I was sick of it.

I shouted, "You're always choosing Kory over me! Don't you realize you've got two children? It's like I don't even exist-"

My father didn't want to hear any of it. He slapped me across my cheek, his ring making a gash across my cheek. I felt the blood, and I looked up to see him smirking at my pain. Every fiber of my being wanted to wipe that grin off his ugly face. So i did.

The punch landed right on his nose, and i swear i heard it crack. He fell to the floor, grabbing his nose, cursing. I probably would have kicked him then, but Kory grabbed my shoulders and shouted, "No Marquette! Stop!" I turned to him and looked into his eyes. They were soft and caring, not like my father's icy stare. I got a good look at them, because I knew it would be the last time I would see them. Then I gave him a quick hug, and he said quickly, "I'm rooting for you."

I sprinted out that door and never looked back.

So... yeah. Next chapter will be the reapings! Hope you guys like the story, and PLEASE REVIEW!