Sorry my update was delayed. The last couple of days were pretty hectic for me. To make up for it I made this chapter extra, extra long. Over 4,000 words. For now, just enjoy the chapter and review!

I do not own anything besides Hannah, Dimitri, and Louis!

I'm wakin' up of the start of the end of the world,
but it's feeling just like every other morning before.
Now I wonder what my life is gonna mean if it's gone.
How Far We've Come- Matchbox 20

I whipped my head to the side, taking in the numbers on the clock that rested on my wooden nightstand.

4:56 a.m.

It was a little too early than I expected.

The Hunger Games were today, I sighed.

My gaze shifted to the window and the force field around it.

I let out a soft sigh.

I felt so trapped.

There was no way out of this corrupt world

I slowly began to mumble the words to a song, "How many times can I break til I shatter? Over the line can't define what I'm after. I always turn the car around. Give me a break, let me make my own pattern. All that it takes is some time, but I'm shattered. I always turn the car around."

I didn't bother trying to sing.

I don't sing.

The lyrics soothed me though.

I could some how relate to them.

I can't shatter.

Life just goes on and if you shatter it'll all come crashing down.

I took another look at the clock, 5:08 a.m.

The ticking clock ticks my life away.

They say you change after the games.

I hope I don't change.

I vaguely remember Katniss telling me about her experience about her games.

"When you win, just make sure you don't forget who you are" Katniss advised.

"Why?" I inquired.

What's the difference from entering the arena and leaving it, besides the fact that 23 tributes are dead.

Except for last year.

"Beacuse it changes you. You won't be able to sleep at night knowing you killed innocent people. Even if they weren't so innocent. You know Glimmer, from District 1 last year?" I nodded my head in understanding, "In my head, her death is on repeat. I always imagine her corpse, and it kills me."

"I'm sorry" there was not much I could say to help.

"It's alright. I just don't want you to feel that way when you win, because no doubt you will. Even if you pass out at a single drop of blood" she tried to lighten the mood.

I said I'd win.

For her.

For them.

Amaysia was the first to come in.

James ran to hug me, "I love you!"

Damian, Angelina, and Carrie almost toppled me over with all their force.

"I'm going to miss you" Carrie squeezed my hand, "But when you come back, it'll be okay."

Once they released me I held my arms out for Brett.

"I'll be the first to hug you when you come back" Brett smirked.

I gave Angelina kiss on her forehead before peacekeepers ushered them out.

I felt like crying just thinking about my family.

"I miss you guys" I said with my voice cracking talking to specifically no one.

I could see the sun rising up slowly.

Everything went by so slow today.

The time.

Myself.

Life in general.

After realizing I wasn't going to go back to sleep, I decided to wake up.

I had three hours until I had to leave my room and prepare for today.

I turned the shower water to warm.

This would be my last shower until after the Hunger Games.

That's if I win.

What am I thinking?

I have to win.

This isn't about me.

This is about my family.

I placed my hand under the running water, making sure the temperature was just right.

Perfect.

I stripped my body of my clothes and slowly made my way into the clean water.

All my worries and problems washed down the drain along with the loose dirt from my body.

My eyes closed and I felt like I could collapse right there.

It was the perfect feeling.

I started to hum the beat of an unknown song.

Right when I was getting to the chorus, a knock came on my room door.

"Hannah, you need to wake up" Katniss said.

From her voice, I could tell she was worried.

Dimitri and I were her first tributes. Ever.

If we die, she'll think it's all her fault.

If I was a mentor, I'd think that too.

I groaned as the water shut off.

All the remaining heat turned into ice cold air.

I shivered under the sudden change of temperature.

I wrapped the black towel around my body blocking out the cold.

I quickly changed into a silk comfortable shirt and black pants.

My wet hair was in a messy ponytail.

I was the last to join the table consisting of Katniss, Peeta, Effie, and Dimitri.

"Finally you woke up" Dimitri commented.

"I had a hard time sleeping" I admitted.

"It happens to all of us" Peeta said.

"I figured" I replied.

"Well chop chop! Today is a big, big day. Don't want to be late now would we?" Effie asked.

I swear this woman hates me.

I fought the urge to roll my eyes.

"I'll be right back" I told them as I headed for the door.

"Where are you going?" Effie demanded.

I ignored her.

I headed straight for the elevator.

"Oh god, my life sucks" I thought aloud once the doors closed.

I paced back and forth in the tiny space.

I was almost at the bottom floor when it stopped.

Who would it be?

The doors opened and I braced myself for one of those bloodthirsty careers.

I was right about the career part.

"Hi Hannah" he smiled at me.

"Hey Louis" I returned the friendly gesture.

All I could think about was that in a matter of hours, we would be put into an arena to kill each other.

"How's your mentors?" I spoke up.

"Mags is nice, but she's not my personal mentor. Finnick Odair is" he put his head down.

"Is he really that bad?" I asked.

"Eh. He's just cocky I guess. I'm not a huge fan of cocky people" Louis confessed.

"Hey, it could be worse. I heard Johanna Mason threw a vase at her tribute" I told him.

"Sounds like something she'd do" the elevator's doors opened and we both exited.

"So what's your District token? Mine is a fish hook. It's the first hook I've ever used" he explained.

"I don't have one" I looked down.

My family never gave anything to me, cause we don't have much.

"Well, I have one that you could keep" Louis took something out of his pocket.

It was a picture of his Louis and his brother climbing a tree.

"I can't" I insisted.

"Sure you can. Take it. I mean it. Please" he begged, and I gave in.

"Fine" I held the picture in my hand, staring at the two boys in it.

"His name's Nathan. He just turned 19" he told me, "He's the biggest reason I want to come back home."

My mind is made up, I can't kill him.

"But killing people isn't my strong suit" he finished.

"Same here" I looked into his green orbs and smiled, but it soon faded.

He must have noticed, "What's wrong? Did I do something?"

"You're perfect. It's just, I can't kill you. I can't kill anybody in the arena" I admitted my biggest fear to him.

"I can't kill you either" he looked down.

"But we both need to go home" I said stated.

Everyone wanted to go home.

Other accepted their fate, but some won't go down without a fight.

I'm one of those people.

"Thanks for the token. It means a lot that you would do this for me" I smiled.

"No problem. I have plenty more at home" Louis responded.

Before I realized what I said, I had already blurted it out, "Do you think you'll win?"

I mentally cursed myself for asking such a silly question.

"Well I'm not going to die, but winning is just... something I trained all my life for. All I know is that I won't go down without a fight. What about you?" he inquired.

"I need to win. Honestly. My family is depending on me for this. If I win, that means we get to live in Victor's Village and won't be half dead everyday" I said, but me winning means he dies.

I could sense he was uncomfortable with how much winning means to me.

"Well If I can't win, then I hope you will win" I comforted.

"Right back at you" he hugged me.

I felt a bit uncomfortable against my enemies arms, but then again, he wasn't really the enemy.

My hands were laid down my side awkwardly before I wrapped them around his muscular figure.

Once he released me, my body begged for more of his warmth and comfort.

I scolded myself for thinking such a thing.

He's going to die.

Right?

That way I can win.

No one should die though.

I was getting so wrapped up in my thoughts I hadn't even realized that Louis' lips were moving.

"...The Career pack isn't ideal for me, but it's my only chance of survival" he finished.

My eyes furrowed in confusion.

"Yeah, because they do most of the killing" I agreed.

It's hard for me to accept that people are going to die.

At my hands.

I shivered at the thought.

"I hate them though" I told him.

"Me too" that took me by surprise.

"Why? You're a part of the pack, aren't you?" I asked.

"I am, but I'm not going to kill. I'll just hang around the dead bodies an say I've killed them" he joked.

"Sounds like a plan" I chuckled.

I stared at him, without blinking.

"What?" he asked me, "Is there something on my face?"

"No" I answered, "It's just, you're so different. So relatable to me."

He smiled at my reason, "I could say the same thing to you, but I won't."

I laughed.

I'm glad I could let my last moments being an actually human being instead of a monster with him.

We stood there in an awkward silence that seemed like forever.

"I should really get back" I told Louis.

"I'll take the stairs" Louis waved me goodbye and we headed off into different directions.

"One more thing Hannah," Louis started and I turned around to face him, "I probably won't see you in two days, but just in case, happy birthday."

"Thank you" I smiled.

Louis is officially the sweetest thing ever.

Once he was out of sight, I kicked the wall behind me.

I'm so stupid!

I can't like him!

I mentally cursed myself the entire ride up to the penthouse.

Once I opened the door, I was immediately being scolded by Effie.

"Where were you? We were worried sick! How dare you put us in that kind of state! What is that in your hand?" I tried to zone out, but her screechy voice was just too loud.

Damn her.

"Your uniform is on your bed" Peeta interrupted her.

"Thank you!" I turned to walk to my room and cracked a smile as I heard Peeta being lectured by Effie.

"Manners! My goodness Peeta..." was all I heard before shutting the door behind me.

I was still gripping the picture of Louis and Nathan tightly in my palm.

I took it out again.

My token from District 4 even though I am from District 12.

Way to go, Hannah.

Before I put the final piece of clothing on, the jacket, I became aware of an idea.

I opened the door and thank goodness there was an Avox walking by.

What are the odds of that?

"Psst! Avox" I called for him.

He pointed to himself while mouthing, 'Me?'

I nodded.

"I need you to put as much beef as you can in one bag and 2 protein bars in another" I instructed.

He nodded his head.

While I waited for the Avox to return, I pinned my hair back into a messy bun.

Well, It wasn't supposed to be messy.

I made sure my side bangs were out of my face.

"It'll do" I mumbled to myself as I looked at myself in the mirror.

A few freckles dotted my face.

They weren't very noticable, but whenever I looked at myself, they were the first things I saw.

They were the only thing I got from my mother.

Knock! Knock!

"Thank you" I told the Avox as I took the bag of beef and the protein bars from him.

I closed the door and locked it.

I threw the protein bars on the bed before I got a better grip on the beef.

"Let's pray it works" I thought aloud as I shoved the bag of beef into my bra.

Sadly, my... assets were very small.

I tried to make them look normal and after much adjusting they looked... okay.

"Now for the protein bars. Let's just hope they don't do a body search before" I let out a large breath.

"This feels so weird" I remarked.

"What feels so weird?" I heard Katniss from outside my door.

Shit.

"The leather" I lied.

"The uniforms aren't leather" I mentally face palmed myself.

How could I say something so stupid?

Of course it wasn't leather!

"Well hurry up. You have about 3 more minutes" she warned me and I mumbled a thanks.

I hugged my jacket more to the front, so you couldn't see my mini pantry.

When I got out Effie ushered me out the door.

Apparently we had to ride in a special car to get to the arena.

I heard that I would meet Cinna there, and Portia, Dimitri.

My right leg bounced up and down.

"You nervous?" Dimitri asked me from my left, looking down at my shaking leg.

"A bit" I admitted, but everyone is nervous.

It is the Hunger Games after all.

"We have arrived" our driver said.

I looked completely lost.

I had no idea where to go, and Katniss, Peeta, and Effie weren't with us.

"Follow me" Dimitri huffed.

I did as instructed and acted like an obedient dog.

We entered the huge building.

There were so many doors.

"You go to the door on the right that says 12, okay?" Dimitri made sure I knew where I was going.

I was really bad with directions.

"Okay" I nodded.

I turned the knob, and to my surprise, I saw Cinna.

I ran into his arms.

"You can do this" he patted my back once he let go of me.

"I can't I-I-I'm s-scared o-of blood" I choked out.

The thought dawned on me that I might not come out.

With my ability to heal rapidly, or not.

I know my own weaknesses.

"Shh" he tried to calm my rapid sobbing.

"You can win. I wouldn't say that to you if you couldn't. I don't tell people what they want to hear. I tell people the truth" he smiled and his gold eyeliner glistened in the dim lighting.

I was surprised at this.

He didn't know what I could do.

How deadly I could be, and yet he still believed in me.

"I'm going to win. For you and my family" I promised.

"I'll be waiting" he gave me one last hug before peacekeepers came knocking.

They were here to take me away.

To the Games.

4 peacekeepers guarded me as I entered the metal tube.

I could still see Cinna from behind the glass.

My hands were shaking in fear.

I vaguely remember Katniss telling me not to go to the cornucopia.

Screw that.

It's my only way of survival.

I tried edible plants, and I'm going to be poisoned to death.

The sudden movement of me lifting caught me off guard.

"This is it" I told myself.

"Ladies and Gentlemen, let the Annual 75th Hunger Games begin!" Claudius Templesmith's voice boomed all over Panem and all over the arena.

The countdown started.

60.

59

58.

I looked around.

The girl from 8 was on my left, whereas the boy from 9 was on my right.

I quickened my search to find Louis.

He was next to Mrs. Harlot (A/N: Glight from District 1 for those who can't remember) and the boy from 11.

He was eyeing the spear at the cornucopia.

Should I still go to the cornucopia?

36.

35.

34.

Yes.

It's my only chance to win.

I will need food and water.

28.

27.

26.

I felt a pair of green eyes on my back.

Louis.

He stared at me.

I gave him a thumbs up.

He laughed at my gesture.

I pointed at myself before mouthing, 'I'm going to win.'

He chuckled before responding with, 'No I am.'

18.

17.

I turned my head away from him and back at the cornucopia.

No doubt that the cameras were on us.

It's rare that two people from different districts, especially a capitol lapdog and a poor one converse with each other.

I've never seen it before, but Amaysia once told me a story about it.

There was a boy from District 2 and a girl from District 12.

They were both picked for the Hunger Games

They hated each other at first.

He was a ruthless killer, and she hated the idea of death.

Then one day during the games, she found him broken.

He was crying out for his family, and accepted his death.

There was no chance that he could win.

She protected him.

She killed just to help him stay alive.

That's when my favorite part of the story came in.

He asked her why she allied with him and didn't kill him instead.

Then she would be one step closer to home.

She never answered his question, but Amaysia told me it was because she secretly loved him.

They became very close during the couple days she cared for him.

When they were the final two in the arena, neither could kill each other.

He collapsed, but the girl thought he died.

He just passed out from blood loss.

So she killed herself too.

When he became conscious again, he realized what had happened.

She died for him.

So he killed himself too.

Amaysia told me the story wasn't real.

The Hunger Games ALWAYS had a victor.

No matter what.

I smiled at the story until I realized my surroundings.

I was still in the games.

I put my hand in my pocket, feeling around for the picture of Louis and his brother.

Thank god, it was still there.

7.

6.

I took one last look at Louis, but I felt another pair of eyes on my back.

And they weren't his.

5.

4.

They were cold and ruthless.

3.

2.

They were from boy of District 2.

1.

That took forever! I hope you guys enjoyed the chapter because for me, it's one of those chapters that could have been better. For you guys who are dying for some Cato/Hannah action, that's coming really soon. Maybe in like two chapters. And for you Louis/Hannah fans, he is a part of the career pack with Cato.

I have 4 questions for my lovely reviewers who will review because that's the point of being a review!

1. Do you think you could get away with stuffing your bra with food?

2. Team Louis or Team Cato?

3. What was your favorite part of this chapter?

4. Should I make my chapters shorter and split them up into separate ones?

Leave your answers in a review please!