Hello! Thank you Anubis(guest) for reviewing, even though I couldn't give you a preview. To answer your questions...

1) Well, I'm not entirely sure when, but everyone will remember eventually. Only one person remembers right away, and you'll find out who in this chapter.

2) I don't know yet! Let's wait and see :) And I'm not sure what the arena will look like; I was thinking about basing it on the actual arena from the 74th Games, but I'll definitely take your suggestions into consideration :)


Chapter 3

Nina


I sat up and looked around. Clearly I was in the nicer part of town. But why? Why would Senkhara send me here? Was that just some crazy dream? No, it wasn't. The Mark of Anubis burned on my arm. So it couldn't have been a dream.

"Nina, dearie, get out of bed! Hurry!" Gran said.

"What's going on, Gran?" I asked.

"What's going on?" she repeated. "Why, it's reaping day! You've overslept! We're going to be late, that's what's going on!"

"What am I wearing?" I asked. She replied by handing me a blue dress and hurrying me into the bathroom, where I changed and we made our way to the square.


Effie Trinket was droning on and on about the history of Panem, our story, blah blah blah. Finally the time arrived.

"For the ladies...Nina Martin!" No! It can't be! But I knew it, too. Senkhara wanted to torture us, what better way to throw us in an arena to kill each other.

I walked up to the stage and scanned the crowd. I saw a pair of perfect blue-grey eyes and locked mine with them. He seemed confused as he stared into my eyes, scanning my face.

"And for the boys...Fabian Rutter!" The eyes I stared into were now full of hurt and pain, and they were filling with tears that he blinked back.

"Shake hands," Effie told us as we stood on the stage. His gaze dropped to my hand as his grasped mine.

"District Twelve, these are your tributes! May the odds be ever in your favor!" And with that, we were shoved into the building.


"Hi. I never got a chance to properly introduce myself. I'm Fabian Rutter." He told me as we sat across from each other on the train.

I stifled a laugh. "Yeah, I'm Nina. You knew that, though."

"We go to the same school, I think."
"You think? Of course we go to the same school! We lived in the same house for three years, for Hathor's sake!"
"Huh? I'm afraid you've confused me with someone else. I live on the other side of town, the Seam they call it."

"What? You mean, you don't remember?" I asked, starting to feel the tears rolling down. His eyes softened, and he put his hand over mine for the second time that day.

"I'm sorry, Nina, you seem nice and all, but...we've never even talked before. I didn't know there was anything to remember."

"Look, if I tell you, you'll think I'm insane."

"Aren't we all?" he chuckled.

So I told him. "...and now we're here, and you're brainwashed. Haven't you noticed this?" I showed him the mark.

He rolled up his sleeve to reveal his. "In the memories I have, I got drunk at a party and got it. But if what you said is true..." he shook his head. "Are you sure it wasn't just some crazy dream? And I was for some reason in it?"

"Positive."
"Tell me stuff. About what I was-am-like in your memories. Seeing as I can't remember, and we've got time to kill here."

"Ok...you love to play guitar and sing. You've had straight A's for as long as anyone can remember. Your uncle, Ade Rutter, owns an antique shop. Your godfather is Jasper Choudhry. You were the first one to welcome me into the house. You always sign your notes with 'Love Fabian x'. Jerome calls you Stutter Rutter. Your favorite color is green. You never talk about your parents for reasons no one can explain but everyone notices. You're my best friend and so much more and I...I love you! You've always been there for me even when no one else was."

He was silent. "Wow. I mean, most of that was true. Except I don't know who Jerome is and I don't really remember you but...you seem like someone who would be my best friend. And..." he shook his head and chuckled, deciding not to share.

"What?" I giggled.

"Nothing, it's stupid."

"No, seriously. What?"

"It's just...you have really pretty eyes."

Now I chuckled.

"What?" he questioned.

"You told me that a few days after I met you."

"Then it must be true!" He joked, throwing his arms up in the air while I laughed.

"Only you," I gasped.

"Only me what?"

"Only you could...could make me laugh...this hard...when I'll most likely be dead in a week or so."

At this we both stopped laughing and he hugged me. "I won't let you die. Even though I don't remember you, I know that I care about you. And I promise, I won't let anything happen to you."

I forced a small, watery smile. I knew Fabian would keep that promise. But protecting me would mean he would die. Fabian had been with me through everything, and I can't imagine my life without him. So I knew then-I would not stay with him in the arena. Then he would have a chance at the very least, because he wouldn't focus on protecting me and would be able to watch his own back. The thought of facing death without him scared me, but it was the only way.


TBC!

Has anyone seen the trailer for the Touchstone of Ra? I'm so sad this show is over! If they add in new characters, it just won't be the same. If they do that, I hope it's like Sibuna's kids or something. Please review! If you do, you get a preview of the next chapter! Tempting enough? Next chapter begins the train rides for the other districts...I won't say much about the districts without the Anubis students, but they will be mentioned. That's all for now! Bye!