Ah! Sorry for not updating!!

Ha! I had the perfect idea for Kara in starting the bloodbath! You see, she is a spaz, so-

Wait. Why am I telling you this? You'll see it in a few weeks.

Also, I spaced on asking for looks, and some of you guys have them anyway. Kudos to you if you did. I you didn't, I'm gonna make up an appearance for you, so sorry if I'm wrong. I will try to not describe them until you review with the looks, though, as you will see in this chapter.

Quote:

"You only got 8 6 400 seconds in a day, to turn it all around or to throw it all away,
You gotta tell 'em that you love 'em for you got no chance to stay, Gotta live like your dying..."
Live Like Your Dying, Kris Allen

*LINE BREAK!!! AVERT YOUR EYES!*

Over the next day, I found out that Ini was in Shay's AP English, the smart freshmen. Her full name was Ini'mikalani Enok, but since us 'non natives' sucked at pronouncing and remembering Hawaiian, she went by Ini. She was fairly quiet and perceptive, and called me Spaz, which was true.

Night rolled around without either of us finding any other people from the past. Ini had this logic where the one reason we had been pulled from the past was to be in the Games, and I agreed with her. That was why we were desperate to find others, to cut down on our chances. It didn't work. We went to our respective homes downtrodden.

In the morning I woke up really early, unable to sleep. My mom from here must of been up late or really early also, because an outfit was all layer out for me. I put it on and went to the kitchen.

"Hey, Kay," said my mom. "I was just making some pancakes. You like bacon, right? I got it fresh from the shop." My mom (I still didn't know her real name) babbled on from over by the stove. Yesterday I had gathered that I was the oldest child, and my only two siblings were six year old twins. My dad ran the butchers, which was creepy. I avoided him.

"Yeah, Mom," I said, interrupting her. "I like all that stuff. Really. How did you know I was going to be up early?"

"You always get up this early when your nervous," she said, plopping a glass of water in front of me. "Drink." She went back to talking.

I zoned out again. Really, this was all pointless. But I started paying attention when she spoke about the reapings. "You won't get picked, your only in there four times. I thank luck every day that you were born into a good family. Imagine being a Cutter, ne'er making enough money, having to take out tesserae. I told your father, when we were married, no tesserae for you. Ever." She went on a who shpeal of her marriage and how her father hated my dad, so I tuned her out again.

When she finally was done with the food, she plopped a huge portion in front of me and commanded me to eat. While I was stuffing myself, she debated over whether or not to waste seconds on me. Apparently if I go on the train I'll be well fed there, but she doesn't want me to feel unloved and-

"Mom, you know me, save the extra." I made all of it up on the spot and hoped it was what I would say.

"Oh, thank you! I'm sure your siblings will love the extra breakfast, not to mention your father. Speaking, I should go get him up. It is reaping day after all, and reapings are at nine..." She was still talking as she left the room.

*THE LINE BREAK IS BACK AGAIN!!!!*

"Look at all the guys," muttered Ini. I had been trying to avoid looking at someone I might have to kill in a week, but it was too late now. Almost all of them were bulky hulk kind of older guys.

I swallowed. "At least we aren't dating any of them," I offered up weakly.

Ini just gave me a weird look. We were standing on the boarder of the 15 and 14 year old roped off zones so we could chat.

The mayor (who just happened to be Ini's father) steps up to the podium. A hush falls over the crowd. He starts in on the lecture of Panem, and I start to fade out. Speeches are not my thing.

Then Mayor Enok starts in on the list of winners from our district. I only recognized one name. Johanna Mason. The other fourteen just slide right off. I do notice a really old lady and two middle aged guys stand up, though. They must be the victors.

An insanely dressed guy strides onto the stage as the mayor says it's time for the reapings. He does this funny little bow thing multiple times and blows kisses to the crowd.

"Happy Hunger Games! May the odds ever be in your favor!" he exclaims cheerfully. "Ladies first!"

This is the time I've been dreading. This guy bounces over to the giant glass ball and reaches his hand in to grab one slip of paper that spelled life or death for me.

"Not me, not me," I begged under my breath.

"Anith Dendron!" he yelled out to the crowd. "Come up to the front!"

A sobbing little twelve year old trudged up to the stage, her shoulders shaking. Right then and there, I make one of those snap decisions that no one ever thinks about.

I decide to volunteer for that girl. She has a whole life ahead of her, and I didn't even really belong here. Who knew. maybe this was all just a dream anyway, and I would wake up safe at home.

Or I could die.

The vibrant man shook the hand of Anith, who then turns to face the audience. "Do we have any volunteers?"

"Me!" I yelled out, thrusting my hand into the air. But I wasn't alone. Two other voices cried out at the same time, and one of them was Ini.

The man on stage was flabbergasted. After a few moments, he began to speak. "Come up to the stage!"

I walked through the crowd with Ini, my head held high. I was determined to not let Ini go.

The other person who walked up to the stage was a girl who was also 14. She looked to be shaking, but from anger or fear I couldn't tell.

"Whats your name?" asked hyper guy to the third wheel.

"Sierra Sinclair," the girl told him in a clear voice.

"And yours?" He leaned at me.

"Mikayla Sizer."

"And...."

"Ini Enok."

"Our mayors daughter! Fabulous!" Hyper man clapped his hands. "Now, in this bowl," he grabbed a bowl someone held to to him from behind, "I have all three of your names. Are you ready?"

I nodded. What an odd way to settle ties. It must not happen much here in seven.

He pulled out the slip, and I'm ashamed to say I was begging for it to be Sierras. I didn't know her, and the only other two options were me or Ini.

My wish came true, but I wasn't sure whether to be happy of angry.

"Sierra Sinclair!" shouted the man. "Better luck next time, ladies." He ushered a shocked me, Ini, and Anith off the stage. I went back and joined the fifteens.

"And now the boys," bounced Hyper man. He strode over to the guy ball, and reached in. I looked around, curious as to who would be reaped.

"Steven Fields!"

A look of pure terror rolled across Sierras face. This Steven guy practically waltzed up to the stage. Hyper man asked for volunteers, and when no one stepped up, he let the two tributes shake hands.

"Happy Hunger Games!" he concluded, smiling at a camera. A few seconds later everything shut down. Everyone started leaving to go home except for the family and friends of the tributes, who watched as their sibling/friend/child was escorted by armed guards to he Justice building.

A sharp pain spiked through my shoulder. "What was that for?" I hissed at Ini, who had her hand in a fist.

"I'm just..." She clenched her hand. "I didn't want to see that little girl go and die, and..." She blinked. "I was mad, and you were the closest thing to punch."

I laughed. "Okay." There was tangible relief in my voice. I was safe, and so was the other person who I trusted.

Just then, I was almost bowled over by two short people. "Kay! Kay!" little jabbery voices yelled up at me. The twins, who I had no name for, were hugging my legs.

My mom ran up and wrapped me in a huge hug. "You scared me!" she scolded. "Don't do that again!"

Two thick arms grabbed me from behind. "That was very brave of you, you know," a deep voice whispered in my ear. "I'm very proud of you. Just don't do it again." Spoken like a true father.

We stayed in our little funfest hug for a few more minutes. Ini was in a similar situation to mine, but just with four older brothers and one younger sister.

Family. What would we do without them.

You seem to be forgetting a little problem, chided a voice in my head. You need to get back home, with your real family and friends.

Tomorrow, I thought back, content at where I was.