(Maximus Dean 3rd Person)

The beeping of his alarm has the old man reeling, he barely stops himself from falling out of the bed. Coughing hard, the old man sits up to give himself more airway. He hated being severely ill, it was moments like these he missed his daughter most. She would keep him company, when his wife wouldn't out of fear of getting ill. Yet both of them are gone, his wife, Gemma had died from an attack while she was on peacekeeper duty. His eighteen year old daughter, Poppy, died in the Hunger Games. Now, he just waits for his time to follow.

Many people come by daily, mostly just to see if he was dead yet. He was only 63 but people keep waiting for his name to pop up in the papers. The thought angers him, he wasn't that old, just very ill from a odd virus going around the District. He dreads the thought of having to go to Reaping in a few hours, he could be picked again, he doubted he could do much, especially if he didn't have his walker with him.

The thought gives him an headache, he couldn't believe that he wasted most of his teen years training just to kill other teenagers. Sure, he won but the older he got, the more he realized it didn't do much for him. Being known as a killer bothers him, he hardly remembers how he won. The death of Poppy helped him realize how worthless being a victor is, but he also didn't want his little girl to be sent into the Hunger Games without a chance. Little did he know, her District partner was a betrayer, the boy waited until she fell asleep out of exhaustion and severed her head.

Grabbing on his walker, he pulls himself to stand and slowly moves into the kitchen. He nods to his young Avox before sitting at the table, having an Avox is lonesome when they can't talk back. He sighs an patiently waits for his breakfast. He could see the Avox was trying to move faster, he wasn't going to tell her to slow down. A knock on the door pulls his attention from the Avox.

Slowly but surely he answers the door to find two peacekeepers. "Good morning Maximus, it is time for our monthly check." The older peacekeeper says looking down at the ill man, Maximus nods and backs up to let them inside. "How are you feeling this morning?" The older peacekeeper asks, while the younger moves to check the house. "Good, I suppose." Maximus answers. The man nods, "Do you need anything?" He asks, the older peacekeeper, who's name escapes his mind, had relations with Poppy before she volunteered. It surprises Maximus that after fifteen years, the older peacekeeper still comes to check on him. "I'm fine at the moment." Maximus says tiredly.

It only takes the two peacekeepers around twenty minutes to search the house and leave. It is a rare thing for them to search homes on Reaping Day, but when they do, they usually have at least one family with them that day. District 2 isn't one to go against the Capital. The sound of bells reminds Maximus, he only has a few hours before Reaping.

Maximus sits first in the line of Victors, he isn't sure how he is the oldest when there should be more before him, that are still alive. The crowd looks excited as they made bets as to who will be reaped, the curiosity inside him makes him wonder if anyone is betting on him. He remembers making bets on who will be the one to volunteer that year, he was good at it. He was also good at mentoring his tributes, it was easy, especially when the tributes were very blood thirsty. He smiles to the crowd as they begin to quiet down. It was finally time.

(Vada Jensen 3rd person)

The sound of bells has the forty-three year old jumping out of bed, she was late. Again. She runs into her closet and quickly changes into her tight leather pants and reviling white blouse, she goes into the bathroom to check her choppy black hair and to put on her heavy, black, eyeliner. By time the mayor was done speaking, she should be able to get on stage and try to pretend she isn't late. How she hoped she wasn't noticed missing yet. Last thing she wanted was to be whipped before going to a big party at the Capital.

Being six foot, she is taller then the average female, she was also a lot skinner then most. She was proud of her height, growing up she was told, she could have been a great peacekeeper, she liked the thought, but after becoming a victor, she no longer cared. Why would she? She could have all the friends she wanted and get to be with them as long as she wanted, it isn't like she has a schedule, it is random when she is requested to go to the Capital. She doesn't have to have a care in the world.

The first man she met was also a Victor, just so happened to be her mentor, he was only a year older then her so why couldn't she have had fun with him while they were in the Capital together? It was the best time she had ever had, but after she won her Hunger Games, he no longer cared or payed attention to her. It was heart breaking at first, but once she realized she could get anyone she wanted, she no longer cared. She checks her heavy eyeliner before heading out the door, if she is going to be late, she will be fashionably late.

As she walks down the empty streets, she decides to take in her surroundings. Victors Village was much nicer when there isn't rude people running around, she remembers moving into Victors Village at only seventeen, no one seemed interested in her, not until she threw parties of course. The only time they wanted something from her, was when she was going to throw one of her big parties. She doesn't care, as long as she got herself high on the popularity rank.

"Vada, you're late." The mayor hisses as she steps past him, Vada ignores him and climbs into her seat. What does she care? She certainly doesn't care about a unpopular old man. She rolls her eyes and turns her attention to the Escort, she recognized the Escort as Belle from last year, the woman must be doing something right for her to be an Escort for District 2 again. She certainly was entertaining, her hands seemed to fly everywhere as she spoke, it was almost too distracting because she hardly listened to her speak.

The last thing Vada wants is to be reaped again. She hated her time in the 150th Quarter Quell, the Quarter Quell was female tributes only. Being with a fellow female from her District, wouldn't have been so bad if the girl wasn't so crazy! It was her District partner, Alice's idea to drown other tributes while they slept. It was easy when the arena was small islands surrounded by water! Vada liked the idea because it wasn't messy and it was rather easy. Vada remembers being attacked by Alice when it was only the two of them left, Alice forced Vada's head under water and somehow managed to cause them both to fall in. Long story short, Alice didn't know how to swim and drowned when Vada pulled her away from their small island.

Belle claps her hands looking at the Victors, this confuses Vada, why was she clapping? "Men first." Belle says with pride as she strides to the men's reaping bowl. "Maximus Dean!" She announces as she watched the old man with a walker stand up, Vada snorts trying to hide her laughter, that old fart won't last an hour with a Arena full of past Victors! Vada gets dirty looks from her fellow victors but she does not care. "Vada Jensen!" She chokes on her laughter hearing her own name, how could this be?! She stands up with distress written all over her face, she doesn't deserve this! She is Vada Jensen, one of the most popular women of District 2!

Train Rides

Maximus breathed hard while he listened to Belle talk about her children back home, while the two mingled, Vada sat on the couch sulking. Maximus couldn't believe a woman who was in her early forties could act like such a fool, he understands the fact one of them could and will die, but to act like a fool on stage, in front of everyone just frustrated him. Belle looked like she enjoys talking about her two children, he would like to believe Poppy could have been the same way at Belle's age.

"How can you be so happy at a time like this?! I've been reaped again!" Vada all but screams, startling Belle from her sentence. Maximus looks at Vada with disbelief. "Miss. Jensen, at a time like this. I believe it is a good time to celebrate what good you have done, instead of sulking in a corner until you die." Maximus says slowly. If looks could kill, Maximus was sure that the look Vada had just gave him, would have struck him dead right where he sat.

"You know, he is right." Belle speaks up, looking at Vada with only kindness. But Vada doesn't see it that way, instead she narrows her eyes and stands up. "I am not going to die!" Vada shrieks before stomping out of the dinning cart in a fury. Maximus shakes his head and looks at Belle, "She is in denial." He murmurs more to himself then Belle, the woman nods with a small smile of understanding. "Now, you were talking about your children?" Maximus reminds her with a genuine smile.

Author note: I have a few spots open check my profile for more info.