Nero Sickle POV

I am running, running through blackness. There is rumbling of thunder, and crashes of lightning but I see nothing. I know that it is a dream but it seems so real, the howling, the banging, the screaming. It has to stop. It has to... beep, beep my eyes fly open and I sit up in my bed, pressing the off button on my alarm clock. I'm soaked in sweat and shaking. Ever since I was chosen by the academy to volunteer as the male tribute for my district I've been having nightmares, or are they premonitions...? Just running through darkness, up to my chin in water, chased by mutts and other tributes, about to die. And now Its the day, and I have to volunteer. Of course, I absolutely want to, and I know I'll win, its just the dreams... but they're just dreams, that's all, and I'm going to win these games easily. I jump from my bed and run to my dresser where I pick out grey cargo pants and a bright green dress shirt. I comb my cropped brown hair and stare at my tanned olive skin and chocolate brown eyes in the mirror. I will definately get lots of sponsors, no doubt there. I'll be the hot, tall, muscular volunteer from district two, the capitals lapdog. What more could they want? And I'm the best at everything. I'm absolutely amazing, and I am proud to show it. I'm not afraid to admit that I'm arrogant and cocky, I am, and I'm proud of it. I can be however I want though, everyone will still like- no, love me. And once I'm victor... I'll be the best guy in Panem, no doubt there. I walk to my little brother, Alexo's room and watch him sleeping for a moment before pulling the covers of him and shouting. "Get up lazy,it's morning!" He groans and pulls his pillow over his head. Alexo is fourteen, only four years younger than me, and he is following in my footsteps... not that he'll ever be as amazing and perfect as yours truly. He trains with me daily, (I am far superior to him) and is working to volunteer. But I'll always be better naturally. I walk out of his room and wave to my parents before running out the front door and heading to the academy. I meet up with the other guys who train with me, not my best friends but we hang out together. All the eighteen year olds except for me Are looking depressed and dejected, because they'll never get to have the glory of winning. They couldn't have expected to do better than me though, I'm better at everything. I dual with Locuat, a seventeen year old, and we finish with my sword pointed at his chin. I laugh.

"What did you expect loser." He sighs and walks away to dual with a younger kid. Wow. I leave the center and head to the town square. Time to kill some kiddies.

Merci Scythe POV

I stand outside my house hacking at the ground. Just like I'll hack at those other tributes. This year I am going to volunteer, I'm so excited. I'll murder them, I'll kill them all. And I'll love it. I will have no mercy on them... ironic considering my name. They will suffer, suffer horribly. And I will win, after enjoying all the glory of killing them, chopping them up... I can't wait. I drop my sword and run into my house laughing cruelly. I certainly look like a killer, with my short, stringy light orange hair chopped by the chin... with a sword. My brown eyes are streaked with orange, like fire, the fire within me. I'm tan, tall, muscular... I am Merci Scythe, the girl who will kill them all. I dress in a slapped print tank top and ripped denim shorts and tall black boots, perfect. There is a knock on my bedroom door. "Come in!" I shout, annoyed. My mother, Tina, walks in, her eyes sparkling and her curly orange hair tucked sloppily behind her ears. She's carrying a tray with a plate if eggs and toast, yum.

"Here, I brought you breakfast..." she grins" I can't believe that you're actually going to volunteer today. A victor at last... and none other than my beautiful little Merci!"

"I'm not a little girl anymore, I'm eighteen. I'll kill them all..." she looks concerned.

"Just don't be a monster dear. You'll win, of course,but don't make their deaths worse than they need to be."

"I've gotta have some fun haven't I? I'm not just going to let them die painlessly..." she sighs sadly and gets up to leave. "Mum... will you tell dad to come in?"

"Sure." I love my dad, Yravere. He is so much like me... We think alike. We would never hesitate to kill a child, never consider not hurting someone when we could. He walks in and sits down.

"Just murder them all, bloodily, don't be kind. Give the capital a show."

"No worries there. They'll suffer like never before." We talk for a while and then I head out to meet up with my best friend, Heidi Wesly.

"Hey Merci!" I jump.

"Whoa now, don't scare me like that. Hey, whats that?"

"A token for you In the games! Look, I bought it myself." She hands me a gold ring, a band with five words engraved on it in miniscule fancy cursive: Do what you have to. I know that she means the killing, and I know that she agrees with my mother, but I don't mention it.

"Thanks! It's really nice." I slip it onto my finger and we walk to the town square."

Nero Sickle POV

I push other kids away to get to t the front of the prick line. I push by one big but he grabs my arm. He is really short and pale, a blonde haired kid, probably twelve. "Hey" He says in a scared voice "that...that's not fair. I've been waiting. Go to the back of the line." I gape at him and then dig my long fingernails into his arm.

"What do you mean 'that's not fair'. You dint mess with Nero Sickle. Idiot."

"No, you heard me, You need to go back." Okay, this kid is pushing me a bit too far. I won't let a twelve year old treat me like this. I bring my fist down on his head and he shrieks and falls onto the ground. I pick him up and throw him down again, over and over until he is bloody and crying. That'll teach him to keep his mouth shut. I leave him on the ground and get my prick before walking to the eighteen section. The escort, Estrellia Puree, grudges onto the stage, frowning.

"Hello, welcome, all that crap." Alright, odd entrance,but whatever. "You all know the video, lets jut get to the good part. The boy is..." huh, boys first this year I guess. "V-"

"I volunteer as tribute!" I shout as I swagger up onto the stage. "I'm Nero Sickle, and I'm gonna win these games!"

Merci Scythe POV

Me and Heidi wait impatiently as the escort walks on and gives her tiny, dreary speech. Why did they give us, the best district, such a horrendous escort?! Nero Sickle, a buff, arrogant career, volunteers and talks annoyingly about how he's gonna win. What's his problem, he seriously thinks he can beat me? I will kill him. I will kill them all... Heidi taps my shoulder as the girls name is drawn. "Lab-"

"I volunteer as tribute! I am Merci Scythe, and I will kill them all!" I race up onto the stage and grin. "I may be named Merci, but I have none." This gets some cheers, and I know the capital will love it. I shake Nero and we are taken to our waiting rooms.

Nero Sickle POV

Wow, the girl tribute is a creep. She thinks she's going to win... she has problems, because I, of course, will be the victor. Mother, father, and Alexo walk in and Alexo raises hos eyebrows at me. "I dunno Nero, that girl seems like tough competition..."

"Shut up, we all know that I'm going to win."

"Yeah, but did you see her... and hear her... 'I'll kill them all'? Im disturbed."

"I'm going to win, okay? I'm definitely going to win." Father hugs me.

"Yes, son, you will win. Just stay strong, stay yourself, and you'll win."

"Of course I will I'll win no matter what." Alexo rolls his eyes and I give him a harsh stare. Mother glances over at me.

"Ally with her, I'd say. Domt want to be her enemy,that's for sure-"

"Look guys, why are you so you so doubtful? I'm obviousl-"

"Times up!" The peacekeeper guard pushes them out and takes me to the train. I'm going to with is, whatever they think.

Merci Scythe POV

Mum, dad, and my little sister Blaze come in together, smiling brightly. "You made quite the impression there, and you'll easily kill that arrogant mess of a partner you have." Dad says. Mum shakes her head.

"Don't underestimate him, don't underestimate anyone, it'll only put you in danger. Just kill your allies in the night and get everyone else in the daytime. You can win this games in a day." Blaze smiles.

"I agree with dad, kill that idiot. He seemed so snotty... what a brat. And Merci... I love you, I'll miss you." I hug her.

"I'll miss you too. But I'll be back soon, and we can move to the victors village. Then you can volunteer."

"Absolutely!" I hug each of them in turn and them they are guided out. Goodbyes out of the way, I can start thinking about my strategies... and my victory to come.

Okay, its over now. I have to say,my careers are always so nasty... thanks to someoneorother123 for Nero and angelofmusic4ever for Merci. Please comment, I'd love to know what you think about the homicidally inclined Merci and the arrogant Nero...