Thank you to Paranormalcy, who helped me so much with this beginning part of the story, whilst I was suffering from a fatal case of writers block. You're getting serious brownie points for this! And sorry I took so long to update. My pathetic excuse is school and lack of creativity. Hope this OK, and not to rushed-like.

Tane checked himself over in his family mirror one last time. He decided he looked good. He heard District nine's famous church clock strike the hour. It was time. Most people in district nine would know what that meant, except for the very young and possibly Grandma Olive. It meant the start of the Hunger Games. The Hunger Games. The very name made Tane shudder. All that the name meant to him was death. In nine, another way of saying 'Passed Away' was 'Lost the Games'.

Tane was terrified, and even worse, he was ashamed he was terrified. But he had reason to be ashamed. He was a dignified male! He knew he should walk to the square fearlessly, but he also knew that he wouldn't.

He was pretty happy with his life, he'd just got an apprenticeship with the butcher, and seeing as this was district nine, he'd soon be making lots of money. He had a family, his little brother Cael and older sister Sash, and of course, his mum and dad. And he had a girlfriend…at least, he thought he did. Brita was the most amazing, yet most confusing girl in the entire district. Did she like him, did she not? She was nice to him, she hugged him, and kissed him on the cheek, he kissed her back, to try and encourage her, but she never went further, and she seemed to ignore Tane's attempts to push their relationship further. But Tane knew that he loved her. And he knew that someday, one day, he'd make sure that she knew that too.

Once Tane was out on the street his fancy clothes felt more silly than special. He just knew his friends would make fun at the first possibility. Tane turned his head down the other end of the street. Oh great, looks like the first possibility. Tane's best friend, Arden, was swaggering down the road.

"Ha! Great gear Tane!" Arden threw his head back and laughed. Tane laughed nervously with him.

"So how'd you get out of the fancy suit?" Tane, as he surveyed Arden's black jeans and shirt. Arden grinned mischievously.

"Ma won't find out until I'm stood on that stage shaking hands with the mayor"

"You're volunteering?" Tane asked in a state of shock, as they began to walk towards the Justice Building. Arden shrugged casually.

"Maybe" Tane relaxed. Arden wouldn't try anything, he was a coward.

"Oh" Tane smiled and nodded. They were much closer to the centre of district nine now, and there were lots of people milling about in their best dress. Arden tapped Tane on the shoulder.

"Hey, Janie's over there. I'm gonna go talk to her, just in case" Arden ran off as quickly as he'd appeared, flashing a smile at Tane before turning his attention to the lovely Janie. Tane looked around for any of his friends; he looked like a loner standing here by himself. In the end he found a whole cluster of boys he was friendly with.

"Hey guys" He said as he approached. They turned and with a start Tane realised that Brita was with them, just as he was thinking it seemed odd for her to be hanging out with them, she was hugging him. Tane turned an embarrassing shade of red and hugged her back. Brita pulled away first, her face also red. Tane laughed a bit when he saw the boys' faces looking at him.

"What're you doing here?" Tane asked Brita. Brita stood up straighter.

"I'm allowed to talk to them" She said stiffly.

"I know but…" Tane trailed off and Brita walked away.

"What did she want?" Tane asked his friends.

"No way, man. She said she'd kick us where it hurt if we told you, but hell, it'd be worth it! The look on your face would be priceless!" Mark told him. He was quickly silenced by other boys who didn't wish to feel the same pain. Tane shrugged unwillingly at their silence and sat down to wait for the reapings to begin.

With every droning word their mayor let out, the knot in Tane stomach tightened. This happened every year, but so far, he'd stayed safe. He caught his bothers eyes, and then looked out for his sister. Sash looked ten times as worried as he probably did. Tane felt he couldn't even laugh at District Nine's escort this year. Something bad was about to happened.

"Cael Edenwell!" There it was. The something bad. Cael had barely even stood up before Tane called out.

"I volunteer!" He heard someone scream 'No!' from another pen. He didn't need to look to know it was Brita. Tane felt a stab of guilt at hurting her.

The stage floor creaked. Tane was scared; he would've thought the knot of worry would've disappeared now that Cael was safe. But still something bad was going to happen…Well of course it was! Tane told himself. He was going into the games! He was going to die.

"Brita Crystalwick!"The knot disappeared and Tane felt all that he'd lost. Not only his life, but Brita's too. He'd have to die so she could win. They could never be together now…

"No! Don't let her! I volunteer! I volunteer!" Tane knew the voice from his childhood. It was Cynth, Brita's older sister. Tane knew it was bad, but he felt hope. Maybe Brita wouldn't die!

"No!" Brita's voice echoed. "Not if you ever want to speak to me again you don't, Cynth" Tane was once again filled with sorrow as he watched Cynth shrivel up at Brita's little threat. So this was it.

He was going into the games, and he was going to make sure he didn't win.