Hurray! Chapter 3 for the win! I would like to thank my great beta for heloing me make this chapter WAY better than it was, because she rocks :)

ok on with the story:

Kurt jolts awake, and is out of his bed and across the room faster than a speed of light. This isn't his bed. Then it all comes crashing down like a tidal wave.

No, more of a tsunami really.

He'd been chosen at the reaping.

He is going into the arena.

Kurt Hummel is a tribute.

He takes a few deep calming breaths, then rubs some of the sleep from his eyes. He feels surprisingly refreshed. He'd not expected sleep to come last night, but after watching the recap of the reapings, he had collapsed into bed, his body giving into sleep almost immediately. He looks around, unsure of what to do. It can't be breakfast time yet, and outside of his car window he could see nothing but darkness. Kurt had been awoken by a nightmare, although not one of his usual ones.

He's running past machine, after machine.

There are endless rows of them, stretching further than the eye can see.

It goes on forever, never stopping

Blood pounding through his veins.

Machines pumping in his ears.

A factory

Ten factories

One hundred factories

He makes it out of one

Only to enter another

He keeps running

Everything that makes him human,

His heart thudding in his chest

Sweat leaking down his face

Sharp stabs of pain going up his legs each time his foot hits cement

They all blend with the machines

There are so many

So many people

Following

And then Kurt sees it

He's outside now, but not free

He can see building upon building

Factory upon factory

Machine upon machine

Person upon person

Each one part of the machines

That make up the factories

That make up the buildings

All identical

Kurt used to jolt out of his sleep every night right after that realization. It never came easily either. In every single dream he had to run. To see the world for what it was, and each night he was devastated by humanity once again.

Last night was different. It started out the same. The running, the pounding, the sweat, but turned. He wasn't running through a factory. He was in the arena, though it was continually changing its setting, as his psyche couldn't decide what it could possibly be. He ran passed trees, rivers, cacti, mountains, even giant mushrooms. There were tributes all around him.

His blood tempo too fast

Fire in his limbs

He's so tired

But he has to keep running

All around him children are murdering each other

It's not arbitrary

Each killing is precise.

A thorough practiced motion

And that's what is terrifying

Each kid wants to kill

To win

And then Kurt realizes the worst part of all

So does he

Because they're all part of the machine too

He showers again. It's all he can think to do. There are definitely some fancy gadgets lying around somewhere, but Kurt's sure he wouldn't know how to work them.

This time he's more careful with which buttons he presses, making sure it's not scalding again. He stands there, watching as rivulets of water cascade down his skin. You aren't a machine. You're human. You deserve to win just like anybody else. Everyone deserves life. He closes his eyes and pretends he's standing in rain. There's only one park in District 6, and Kurt love's it.

Whenever it rained he would either go inside or go to the park. It's the only place in the whole metropolis that didn't feel dirty when it rained. There the droplets felt clean, like they were washing away the filth rather than just adding another layer.

Kurt pictures himself there now, then shakes his head, eyes still closed. He'd been about to lament how he'd never get to go there again, but stopped the thoughts in their tracks. He would go there again. Whatever it took. He'd see his father, and his home. The bench in the park he and his mom always sat in.

I am going to win. I am going to win. I am going to win. I am going to win. I am going to win. I am going to win.

He repeats the mantra, at first in his head, then out loud. Each time his voice get a little bit stronger, a little louder, more self-assured. He could win.

Breakfast is awkward to say the least. The day before everything was tense, and the feeling seems only to have escalated. Kurt raises his eyebrows questioningly at Tina across the table. She shrugs, looking equally confused. Shouldn't Will and April be trying to get to know them, asking about strengths and weakness or something?

Kurt glances to his side. Emma is scrubbing her immaculate silver wear with her napkin. Upon closer inspection her eyes are red like she's been crying. Will is sitting across from her, not looking up from his plate. April isn't up yet.

Kurt frowns, thinking about April. She's pretty well known as a drunk and is notorious for her comments on the games, always managing to offend some district or person in the Capitol. It used to seem funny, but now that she's supposed to help him survive the humor is harder to find.

"Where's April?" he asks finally, breaking the silence. Emma's eyes widen, "Well I'm sure she's all worn out from last night."

The comment is accompanied with a meaningful glance from Emma to Will, who continues staring at his food. Kurt sighs. The relationships of adults don't seem very important to him right now, as his life is in their hands.

"What are we doing today? Will we be going over any strategies?"

Emma takes a deep breath, and chooses to overlook her current drama.

"We'll be entering the Capitol in just a few minutes, then your prep teams and stylists will spend all day getting you ready for the Opening Ceremonies." She explains. "Now I know the Capitol can be overwhelming at first, but I think you can really learn to love it after just a short while."

She ends her little pitch with a wide smile, and a soft "Hurray." looking back and forth between Kurt and Tina expectantly. Kurt just raises his eyebrows again. Tina looks slightly affronted by the idea that she could love the Capitol, but neither says anything. Kurt sighs, going back to his food, and that's when he sees the lights of the Capitol for the first time.

"Blaine! Open the door."

Blaine rolls over on his bed, rubbing his eyes, and then winces. They're red and sore from crying. Apparently he isn't as ready to accept his death as he thought. Last night he'd been so sure he could get through this. He'd had all these ideas about going to his death on his own terms. Being strong to the end and all that. But then the dreams came, and the crying started.

"Bet'cha can't keep up!"

"Wait, come on Cooper, your horse is faster."

Cooper turns around, laughing

"You're just mad because I'm the better rider!"

Blaine pouts, urging his horse to catch up.

When he gets to the ridge where his older brother is resting her turns around.

"Where'd Shane go?"

Cooper smirks then points ahead of him

Blaine fallows his gaze and sees Shane waiting for them near the old Beach tree.

"I guess he always has been the fastest."

"C' mon! Race you there!"

And Cooper is off!

Blaine laughs, ready to try beating his older brother one last time

But then something happens

His horse won't move

Suddenly it's just him standing on the bluff

He can see Cooper and Shane in the distance

Leaving him

And then they're gone too

Blaine shudders remembering. It's not that he blames his brothers or anything. I mean it was my name that got picked in the reaping. It's just, well you know, Cooper had said he would never let anything happen to me, and well, things are happening to me. Blaine bangs his head against the wall as he pulls on some clothes. They aren't as comfortable as his worn denim jeans, button down, and Stetson he always wore back home, but maybe that was just his skin crawling. He was wearing clothes made in the Capitol, something he never wanted to do.

It wasn't Cooper's fault. I mean what kind of crazy person would volunteer in an outlying district? Blaine stumbles over to the door, opening it to see Brittany standing a little too close for comfort.

"Good morning!" she smiles brightly. Blaine tries for a reply, but his throat is scratchy from the long night.

"It's time for breakfast." She says, filling the silence, then taking his hand, pulling him down to the dining car. Blaine sighs. Brittany definitely doesn't have a full grip on what is going on.

Shannon and Terri exchange a few words back and forth between courses at breakfast, though there seems to be some tension in the air. Terri is ditzy, giving judging looks to everyone. Shannon eats an entire chicken for each course, making Blaine's stomach churn.

He is one of the wealthier inhabitants of District 10, but he still can't get over the sheer amount of food laid out before him. Almost everything is stuff he's never seen before, and he wonders vaguely if only the very upper-class people can afford it, or if it is even possible to get this much food back in 10. Then he remembers he isn't going to be going back to find out. He turns to his side to see Brittany simply sitting with her mouth open. Blaine's stomach does an involuntary flip as his imagination runs away with him, picturing her dead, mouth gaping, as she no doubt will be very soon. Blaine stops that train of thought, instead following Brittany's line of sight. His mouth falls open as well.

Before them, is the sparkling city known as the Capitol. It is huge, with buildings that go up, up, up into the clouds, and lights that shine brightly in all different colors, twinkling at him. It shouldn't be beautiful. Everything this stands for shouldn't be glorious. But it is. Blaine hates to admit it, especially because he likes to think of himself as a country boy, but the city before him is one of the most amazing things he's ever seen in his life, sending shivers down his spine.

Did you like it, hate it, want to throw it out the window? leave reviews and let me know :)