"Without fear there cannot be courage." - Christopher Paolini

District 2 Reapings: Brayden Markwood (18) and Julie Lèpou (18)

According to Brayden Markwood, the 21st century is the most interesting century to have ever existed. It was in the 21st century that the world began to fall apart. And beginnings are always the most enticing, Brayden believes. Especially if such beginnings are the onset to an end.

Brayden is mulling over the concept of a beginning as he sprints down the streets of District 2. His short brown hair flutters in the wind. His electric green eyes are focused on the sky above.

He is trying to distract himself from the fact that he is strangely cold on this spring day, and that he is only in his boxer-briefs.

A group of girls have stopped walking, gaping at Brayden. The Markwood boy slows down a little as he passes them.

"Ladies." He nods, bringing his hands up to his forehead in a polite salute. Brayden always makes time for girls. He finds that girls are one of the three things he needs to survive (the other two being parties and chocolate chip cookies).

The girls giggle, as girls tend to do when in close proximity to the handsome ladies man.

For the most part, Brayden gets a positive reaction. Be it laughter, cheers. He only gets a couple glowers. But those glowers are mostly from the poorer people in District 2. The poor always view Brayden as a snob. They think he's vile for having such rich foster parents (as though it's his fault). They scold the boy for throwing parties in that mansion of his, for aways acting like he doesn't have a care in the world.

Once Brayden arrives back at his house, the group of teens standing just outside erupt into a round of vehement applause.

Duke, the blonde boy standing at the front of the crowd, wraps his arm around Brayden's broad shoulders. Considering the fact that Brayden is 6 feet and 4 inches, for little only-a-tad above-6-feet Duke, it's a big feat.

"Got to give it to you, man," Duke says. "You've got balls."

"Right," Brayden grins. "Two more than you'll ever have."

The crowd laughs.

"Very funny." Duke rolls his eyes.

"Anyway, a dare is a dare," Brayden continues. "You know I never turn one down!"

This is not completely true. Brayden does sometimes turn down dares when he is sober. In fact, he probably wouldn't have sprinted across town in his underwear if he hadn't downed a couple of drinks already this morning.

Duke tosses Brayden a bottle of some most expensive wine. "You've earned it!"

"Stupid Brayden Markwood," Julie Lepou mutters. She's leaning against her window, watching the boy down a bottle of something that can't be good for his body. "Can't he stop throwing so many parties? They're all so loud!"

"Come on, Jules, listen to yourself. Brayden Markwood…stop throwing parties?!" Devin raises a brow. "That's like asking a serial killer to stop killing!"

"Yeah, He'd probably die without five glasses of whiskey in his system," Marcus adds.

"You need to move," Zane says. "Markwood's never gonna change."

"Well," Julie's perfect lips twist into a lustful smirk. "Once I win the games I'll get one of the victor mansions. And I'll never hear another song blasting from that idiot's house again."

"Give him a break. He's had a hard life. If he wants to party, let him," Paris says.

Julie isn't sure how to respond. The truth is, Brayden's past is out of a horror story. Everyone remembers the fire that tore through District 2 a couple years back. Five lost their homes, seven were injured. Yet, miraculously only three died; Brayden's mother, father, and only sibling. It's harrowing how in the span of just an hour, Brayden's whole family turned into ash.

"Besides," Paris continues. "His last party I went to was fun."

Julie crosses her arms over her chest. She has gone to many of Brayden's parties, none of which have been even remotely fun. They all consist of a number of intoxicated teens. And at the last one Julie attended, Brayden, who was probably the most wrecked person there, made passes at her while he had his arm wrapped around another girl. And although Julie is used to guys making passes at her (and she usually likes it), she still finds it rather upsetting when boys don't give any attention to the girl's they're with.

"We can just turn volume ever higher," Zane suggests, bringing the group back to the task at hand: watching last year's Hunger Games. They're down to the final two contestants. There can't be more than a couple minutes left before the victor is crowned.

It was Julie's idea to invite her friends over for a Hunger Games marathon. She hand-picked her favorite games (the 34th, 50th, 74th, 87th and the 99th). She has watched every single Hunger Games, yet she knows her favorite five like the back of her hand. She can recite every tribute's last words, as well as recount exactly what every deceased tribute did wrong.

A young girl appears in the doorway of Julie's room.

"Oh Alice!" Julie remarks. "Come on and watch the end of the 99th with us."

Julie makes room for her little sister on the couch. Alice leans her head against Julie's chest, clearly comforted by her older sister's presence. Julie's almost maternal relationship with Alice confuses some of Julie's friends. Zane is always complaining about his little brother. He doesn't understand why Julie loves her sister so much.

Zane presses play on the television, and the last dual resumes.

"That was a wicked dodge," Marcus remarks.

"Everyone be quiet," Julie whispers to her friends. Her eyes are focused on the screen, her expression one of pure vigilance. "This is it…my favorite part…"

And the girl watches, enthralled, as the boy from 1's sword slides through the boy from 4's chest.

She beams.

She doesn't so much enjoy the thought of murdering. It is the thought of winning, of playing the game just right, that makes her exultant.

When Julie Lepou volunteers, she receives a warm round of applause. Whistles follow the girl as she makes her way to the stage. The men of District 2 are all pleased with the girl's good looks. Last year's District 2 female resembled a bear more than a human. And although she was a strong tribute (because of brute strength), she received way less sponsors than girl's from District 2 tend to.

Julie tucks a strand of blonde hair that has become loose from her braid behind her ear. She winks at the camera, sporting a flirtatious smile.

This causes a whole new wave of cheers.

"My, my, aren't you beautiful!" Caridee Wilkes, District 2's escort, squeals.

Julie smiles brilliantly.

"Now lets meet our boy!" Caridee exclaims. She sticks her hand in the bowl of boys' names, pulling out a small slip of paper. "Brayden Markwood!" Caridee reads.

The audience cheers and screams. Never has anyone heard such a reaction to a reaping.

Brayden walks to stage. He embodies District 2. He towers over Julie, even though the girl is by no means short. His muscular arms, his heavy build, demonstrate power and strength.

Brayden, however, looks momentarily confused. His eyes sweep the crowd, as though he expects someone to volunteer for him. Julie expects this, too. She has never seen him at the training center.

But, Brayden is only awarded the largest set of applause anyone in District 2 has ever received.

"Any volunteers?" Caridee asks.

The cheers continue. They are so vociferous one would think President Hans had just arrived in District 2.

Julie is sure there was a guy from the training center who was going to volunteer this year. Yet, even if he intended to volunteer before, it's unlikely he would want to take the place of a dude that has the whole of District 2 on his side.

"All right! Let's hear it for District 2's tributes!"

"Wait!" Brayden hisses. "I didn't…I'm not ready for-"

His words are drowned out by the applause.

Caridee claps him on the back and says, "Smile, honey!"

A series of expressions cross the boy's face. Confusion, hurt, fear, anger. But they are fleeting, and only Julie (being so close to him) notices. After a couple seconds, Brayden smiles. And he appears confident, comfortable and sure. No longer can Julie catch even an ounce of doubt.

Brayden lifts his arms above his head, working the crowd.

Julie, however grudgingly, realizes that Brayden Markwood is obviously a strong competitor. He will, no doubt, be an asset in the arena. It is best to stay on his good side.

"You have to be kidding me," Julie fumes. Even as she's trying to take a peaceful moment with her family, Brayden's goodbye posse next door is so loud she can hardly hear her own thoughts. There are cheers and whistles and even what sounds like an explosion. No doubt, his party followed him into the Justice Building.

"I have something very special for you," Aberdeen, Julie's father, says. The man slips a ring onto Julie's finger. "I want you to take this as your token."

"It's very pretty," Julie says, trying to ignore the rave next door.

"It's more than pretty," Aberdeen corrects his daughter. "It is deadly. There's poison inside. Enough to kill two people. But make sure you tell no one. Not even your mentor or escort. They might take it away."

Julie nods.

"Beautiful but deadly, just like you," Julie's mother whispers. Pride coats her words.

District 3's reapings will be up in the next 3-4 days.