*DISTRICT 3*

*KELLY VALENTINES*
*THIRTEEN*

"Those Reapings are going to be rigged," Kelly tells her brother, Jin. They're sitting on the floor in their minuscule cottage, eating their sparse meal of dried bread and a rationed cup of tea.

Two years ago, Jin had turned 16, and the orphanage where the siblings were living were forced to send them out on their own. Jin had gotten a job in the factories, where his steady hands and 20/20 vision makes him perfect for the job of repairing fault motherboards.

Kelly, at 13, doesn't take after Jin at all. She's quick and fidgety, but wise beyond her years. She knows the Peacekeepers had burned down their family's house back when she was eight. She knows that the mayor wouldn't have given two shits about whether they lived own their own if it had been a normal house fire, but he had them placed in the orphanage so the Peacekeepers could keep an eye on them. And she knows everything about why her parents had to die.

Jin shrugs. "So far, we haven't taken tesserae. Your name's in there twice. My name's in six times. That's all."

"It doesn't matter." She shakes her head with a smirk. Her wavy chocolate-brown tresses swing against her cheekbones. "I'm pretty sure I'm in there way more than twice. And you? My God, you'd be lucky if every single slip doesn't say Jin Valentines."

Jin is examining a green computer chip, debating whether it is fixable. It's a special order, sent in especially by President Snow, and Jin has been dispatched to bend the wires back into shape. "If I screw this up, then I'll most certainly be going into the Games. And I'm pretty sure President Snow would want me dead as fast as possible. You know what he has on here? His diary."

"Is there a way for us to read that?" Kelly asks eagerly.

"No way, Kelly. You have to stop thinking that way." He drops the chip to the floor and slumps his shoulders. "This is useless. I'm dead."

Kelly holds out her hand. "Can I see something?"

"You better not-"

She doesn't heed his warning. Instead, she snatches the chip, drops it to the floor, and slams her foot down on it. Green splinters and copper wires explode, flying everywhere.

"Kelly Valentines!" Jin shouts. "Just what the hell was that?"

"I know I'm going into the Games anyway. I'm planning on volunteering!"

"What?"

"You heard me. I know I can win these Games. Last year, that boy Mitchell joined the Careers and let them down. That was his mistake. I'm going to join the Careers too, but I'll do it right. And then I'll kill them in their sleep."

"It's not that easy, Kelly. You're giving yourself over to certain death. Why would you do that?"

"Because I want to."

*GRANT KESLEY SIMMONS*
*SIXTEEN*

"Happy Reaping, Cianna," Grant whispers to his girlfriend, gripping her hand tightly as the sun comes up over the horizon.

"Happy Reaping." She forces a smile and leans her head on Grant's shoulder. "Grant, what if you get Reaped?"

"Then I'll win." He squeezes her fingers. "It's okay, C. It's alright."

In spite of herself, tears drip from her small, bright green eyes. "But..." She can't voice the thought.

"I'll win for you. Okay, C? I'll do it all for you."

"What if... what if you... I don't want you turning into a murderer."

"The Hunger Games are different. Either I'm a murderer or I'm dead."

"I know, Grant, believe me, I know."

Then he remembers. Cianna's older brother was killed in the Games. He got to the top five with his alliance, and when it came down to him and one bloodthirsty girl, he couldn't bring himself to attack her. She pierced him with her knife, and that was the end.

Grant lifts Cianna off the ground and into his arms. "I'll always be here for you, okay, C? I promise."

"Thank you, Grant." She pecks him lightly on the lips. "I just wish... I wish we knew what would happen."

"We will. Soon." He smiles sadly, reaching up to push a loosely curled white-blonde lock of hair out off her forehead. "They can try their hardest, but nothing can tear us apart."

*DISTRICT 3 REAPING*

"I've just been checking out your factories," announces Edwin Bass, one of the few male escorts and easily the most evil. He has small, elf-like ears, a long, pointed nose, and sharp-edged teeth that give him a sinister smile. He layers on bright red blush and has lavender hair, but it doesn't make anyone laugh. It just makes his overall appearance scarier. "You're all working very hard, I see."

A few of the younger children shiver.

"We are," Mayor Grenkins assures him. "Please get on with the Reaping, Edwin."

"Do not address me by my first name, Grenkins! I am Mr. Bass, or sir." Swiftly, he bends to Grenkins' height and backhands him across the face.

"Yes, Ed- sir." His breathing is coming quickly, and his breathing is ragged. A patch of yellow appears over his cheekbone.

"Better." Edwin advances slowly over to the bowls and snatches the first piece of paper he reaches. "Malaysia O'Kane."

"I volunteer." The voice of Kelly Valentines is steady but loud, and she's already advancing up the steps before anyone takes notice of her.

Mayor Grenkins is the first. "Kelly Valentines." A slow smirk spreads across his face.

"That's me, sir." She gives the mayor a stony glare.

He clears his throat. "Thank you for volunteering. I'm sure you'll bring pride to our District." He steps closer to shake her hand. As he leans in, he mutters, "If you know what's good for you, you'll die in that arena."

Edwin doesn't hear. Once again, he retrieves the first slip he touches. "Grant Simmons."

Grant slowly advances up to the stage, his brown boots thudding in the short, barren grass.

There is an anguished scream. "Grant! No! Grant!" Cianna runs toward him, arms wide. Two Peacekeepers chase after her.

"For God's sake, Cianna, I'll talk to you in a few minutes! Don't-" He is about to tell her not to be a baby, not to make a fool out of herself, but he checks himself. Girlfriend back home who's desperate for his return? He couldn't have played it better himself. He pretends to brush a tear out of his hazel eye. "Don't worry, C. I'll come back. I promise." And then he realizes exactly what will keep the Capitol enthralled.

"Remember when we watched the sunset?"

Confused, she nods.

"Take care of the baby."