While I was waiting in the small, dark room, I smiled. This had been the tenth useless threat. Nothing ever happened. I regularly fought on the streets, and I was pretty good. Sometimes my opponents had to go to the hospital. One girl almost passed away. Kara also liked a good fight. I wondered why we were not yet expelled.

I waited and waited, but no one came. I heard everyone gathering at the auditorium and I was getting nervous. We were probably selected to reap District 1s tributes. I was supposed to be there, in the auditorium. I was a possible tribute, aged seventeen. I would become eighteen in a couple of months. I scratched my head and wondered if I had to sneak out to be present at the reaping. However, when the auditorium was apparently filled with people the principal started speaking, and I was able to hear it well.

'Good morning, Vanitas High' she said happily. Because I was locked up in a room I wasn't able to see anything, but I could just imagine her standing in the stage.

'I hope you are all enjoying this school year, and of course the staff will be pleased to help you with any questions. Now, we are gathered here today because of a message we received a couple of months ago. I demand your attention, because-'

And then she said something, but I couldn't understand it. I pressed my ear against the door.

What if they reaped me? The odds had increased by a hundred thousand times! Who would come with me if they reaped me, which 'group' did I belong to? Kara, probably. And Rose and Flora.

Rose and Flora were identical twins. We've been friends since half a year, since they transferred to our class. They were a little more 'good girl' than Kara and I, but we still got along very well.

During that short time I was lost in thoughts a lot of screaming reached my ear. Apparently they revealed the ugly truth. Had they completely forgotten I was still here?

'And now I will pull a paper out of the bowl' shouted the principal while everyone was still panicking. I imagined an invisible hand going into the bowl with paper and pulling one out. One tiny paper. The previous year, six boys names were written on it.

How big were my chances? Small, right? I leaned dangerously far forward on my chair so I could press my ear against the door. She could say the names any moment.

'Aa! Shit!' I screamed, and the chair made some noise while it fell against the door. A scratch appeared on my cheek and I fell on the ground. I leaned to far. It fucking hurt, and I probably missed the names because of my scream. Damn. I kicked the door as hard as I could. Why didn't they set me free?

OK, they would probably take the reaped kids to this room; they had to be isolated immediately. Students and staff from the selected school had to keep their lips sealed about the tributes until the group arrived at the Head City. If they didn't, death penalty was waiting. Well, they would release me if they had to bring the tributes to this place.

I put the chair on its feet again and sat down, waiting for someone to come in.

After a minute or so I heard footsteps. I stood up again. The door opened and a peacekeeper entered, accompanied by four girls.

'Oh Jesus' I said.

The first face I recognized was Kara's. It looked more insecure than ever and her eyes were at the ground. Next to her were Rose and Flora, arm in arm and identical. The peacekeeper moved to the side so they could pass. As soon as Kara saw me, her mouth started trembling and she ran to me. She embraced me.

'You too' she whispered, while some warm tears dropped on my shoulders.

I was silent. I felt remarkably calm and in control. My name was on the reaped paper. Properly written, Abbey Kingsleigh, Kara Fisher and Flora and Rose Jameson. Tributes from District 1 for the second annual New Games of the New Continent. Participants in a pageant of eternal fame and glory.

I stroked Kara's back. I'd seen her cry before, for example when we had to deal with scary side effects of morphling, but somehow this was more intense than ever.

I looked over her shoulder, at Rose and Flora, who stood silently together and watched us. I stretched my hand to them, and they took it. They embraced us too.

Friendship was the only thing I had besides all poverty I had to deal with. And I might seem like a slutty, unfriendly junk to everybody, but I had feelings too. I was a tribute in the Games. I was going to die, together with Kara and Flora and Rose.

'We'll give you a minute' said one of the peacekeepers and he closed the door. As soon as they left, we were able to talk some more.

'It was so scary' Kara cried 'she pulled that paper, and it went so quick, we were still in shock- and then our names were on it and you weren't there and we didn't know what do do…' she was crying hysterically. I was listening with only one ear, because I discovered a fifth person in the small room.

Jess.

She saw me staring and she stared back as if she wanted to challenge me. I became furious, but kept myself together.

'What are you doing here?' I asked rudely.

'I'm a tribute too. apparently I belong here.' She answered.

'They must have made a mistake' Flora said softly 'We are not your friends.'

'No one's your friend.' Rose said coldly.

'I think they put me in a random group.' She murmured 'Do you think I want to be here? I know I don't belong here!' It seemed like she was overwhelmed by her own courage. 'I don't want to spend my last days with you!'

I showed her my teeth, but before I could attack her Rose and Kara grabbed my arms. Jess slowly walked backwards, while her eyes were teary. She had several small injuries from our little incident earlier today. I took a breath, grabbed a chair and put my elbows on the table while putting my fingers in my hair.

It finally caught me. We would be in the Head City tonight. It was not that far away. Travelling by train it wouldn't even take half a day.

Kara got another chair and sat down too. 'It will be allright' we said to each other at exactly the same time. I smiled and watched Rose and Flora sit down too.

'What about me?' said Jess, when she saw there were no chairs left

'You do not matter' Kara answered.

My hands were trembling and it was cold – we were going to be in the Games. It was us, we were tributes, out of five hundred thousand possible kids. I was going to die, my friends were going to die, and even if one of us wan still four would be dead.

I had watched the Hunger Games in Panem several times. This year they held the 98th edition, but it was so unsuccessful there were rumors they wanted to cancel the Games. Forever. Their Districts were probably happy. Now it was our job to provide entertainment for the world. The 98th Games had lasted for two days, because the Gamemakers wanted to end it as soon as possible. Like that, two suddenly fell into a volcano or something. Sometimes the ground literally split underneath the tributes' feet. But all that wasn't enough to make people as enthusiastic as they were for the New Games. One edition was enough to show the Head City and the Capitol how 'exciting' they could be. Even the people in the Districts were gripped by tension. Moments like the wolf-attack in the mountains or the face-to-face fights were nerve wrecking. And now I was going to be there myself, in case I survived the preliminaries. Probably not.

Well, I was pretty smart. And my street life had hardened me. I regularly fought, like I said, and I regularly won, so that would an advantage. Kara and I would have a good shot at coming far. It couldn't be that hard to kill a person. I wasn't that sensitive.

'We'll be in the Head City tonight' Flora said shrill. Jess stood angrily in the corner. She was afraid, frustrated and blown away by the fact that she was reaped.

'I can't believe it' Rose said. She looked at her twin, who stared back like a mirror.

'You'll have to' Jess said, but when she saw our looks she said nothing anymore.

After some time the door opened again and a peacekeeper entered. He announced there were some people to say goodbye. At least that was one positive thing: I didn't have any family so I didn't have to miss anyone.

Rose and Flora were raised by their single mom, who worked as a secretary at another school. They lived in a grey, filthy flat in the suburbs. The twins ran to their mother and started whispering.

Jess' family was completely different. A man in a suit and a woman with a pearl necklace were waiting for her. A little girl with two braids held the woman's hand. They were a family who loved each other, where food was on the table every evening. Jess never suffered. I felt some jealousy and looked down.

I noticed there was, like I predicted, no one for me. However, there was someone for Kara; and elderly man, her 'sugar uncle'. He usually provided her with morphling. I didn't know how she usually paid him, but I had a slight feeling on what it could be. It was nice he had come to say goodbye to her, although it sounded scary.

And all I did was watch the goodbyes.

'Abbey' someone said behind me. I turned around and saw Mrs. Johnson leaning against the corridor's wall. She pointed to the small room.

'Do you have a minute?'

'I've been in there all morning' I shouted, but I knew I had to obey. I followed her back inside. She closed the door. Then she turned around.

'I've been thinking' she said quickly.

'What?' I said.

'This is your ultimate chance.'

I grimaced. 'Going to the Head City to slaughter or be slaughtered? What kind of sick person are you? What do you mean? Am I worthless or something?'

'No' she said 'this will be your chance to improve your behaviour. I don't have much time, so let me explain it in the shortest way possible. You have a good shot at winning, you know, but you have a natural instinct for survival. And I'm going to help you to become a better person during the Games.' She remained calm while I stared at her with a frown.

'Let's make a deal. If you improve your behaviour, I will sponsor you. It could save your damn life, you know. I have a whole basement stuffed with money. And I'm willing to invest it in your life.'

I didn't know what to say. For the first time I had absolutely no response to something. My heart screamed it was a ridiculous offer. I couldn't stand authority. But my sense had to admit Mrs. Johnson was right. These Games could change my life, but only if I won. And sponsors could give you the win. I just had to show people I wasn't the asocial slut I seemed.

I looked her in the eyes. 'I'll try' I said. I didn't even believe myself.

A peacekeeper opened the door. 'Time to go' he said.

'Think about it!' mrs. Johnson said, while the man pulled my shoulder.

'I know how to walk!' I said and the peacekeeper released me.

Sorry if I made grammar/spelling mistakes or typo's :(