Azalea Meadows POV

"What did you say?" I screamed at the girl lying at my feet.

"I said I'm sorry I looked at you funny," she sobbed.

"I can't hear you!" I continued.

"I'm sorry I looked at you funny!" she wailed. Her arms were covering her bloodied head, and her legs were curled against her stomach.

"Don't let it happen again," I said. I stomped away.

I don't beat people up all the time, but this is Eleven, and you gotta be tough. You cross me, you look at me wrong, you get in my way, you get bloody. You don't like it, stay away from me.

I didn't keep an eye out for marks on my way to the Reaping. If I didn't get Reaped, the other potential Tributes would be so relieved they wouldn't see me coming, and if I did get Reaped, I had bigger problems than stealing.

That's why she looked at you funny, I thought as I continued. She knew you'd get picked.

I did have a lot of enemies, and I had to accept the idea. Maybe that was why I was so quick to pick a fight. On a different day I might have let her off with a warning. Today I was looking for trouble.

The other girls edged away when they saw me coming. I scowled and staked out my territory. Our idiot escort Snapdragon came onstage in a ball gown covered in bits of stained glass. Her stupid flower was in her hair, as always.

"Welcome, citizens! Let's see who our lucky Tributes are this year. Ladies first!" she said. She held the paper before her eyes.

"Azalea Meadows!" she announced.

All right, who voted for me? They're gonna be sorry, I thought as I stormed onstage. Snapdragon read the other slip.

"Frankie Disney!" she said.

I shuddered. Of all the people in Eleven, Frankie was the one I'd never pick a fight with. There was just something wrong about him. He never smiled, he never frowned… he was just wrong. He was also seven feet tall, so I couldn't even reach his face if I wanted to punch it. Frankie lumbered over next to me and towered over me. He didn't look at me, so I didn't look at him. His hand completely engulfed mine when Snapdragon announced us.

I take care of myself, so I didn't have anyone to visit me. The only thing I had for a token was my ponytail holder, so I wrapped it around my wrist. As I waited, I thought about my chances. Really, it all came down to Frankie. If he got it into his head to kill everyone else, nobody could stop him. If he was more neutral, I had a good shot. I was tough and ready to fight. Guess I'd have to wait and see.

Frankie Meadows

People think that because I don't react, I can't tell they're staring at me and whispering. I know I'm a freak. I can't help the way I was born. Something went wrong when I was born, and I've never been able to feel like most people. Everything's just blank. Life never seems good or bad. It's just life. If I wanted to, I could kill anyone I could get my hands on without difficulty or remorse. I've never wanted to yet. I don't know if that makes me a good person.

The Tributes around me stepped away or moved into different rows when I took my spot at the Reaping Center. I was in the back, since I could see over everyone anyway. Not only am I a mental freak, I'm a physical one too. People are tall in Eleven, but seven feet's a little much. If I could feel, I'd be hurt to see they were so scared of me.

Our escort always looked so ridiculous. Clothes are to keep the sun from burning your skin, not to show how stupid you can look. She drew out a name from one of the bowls.

"Azalea Meadows!"

I didn't know her. She seemed pretty tough, though, the way she stomped up to the front.

Our escort reached back into the bowls.

"Frankie Meadows!" she called.

As always, I felt nothing. I should have seen it coming, since everyone hates me. I walked up and stood next to Azalea. Our escort announced us and sat backstage.

My mother came back and sat next to me. She hugged me as best she could, but her arms couldn't reach around me very well.

"Oh, Frankie. Come back, you hear? You're my only boy," she said. As well as I could, I loved my mother. She didn't act like it was my fault I was this way.

"I'll try," I said. I hugged her back and she was almost lost in my huge frame. She left, and I was alone with my thoughts.

I was probably the only Tribute that wasn't afraid right now. I wasn't even sure I wanted to win. I knew I could. I was a hulking beast, and since my father was from Two (long story), I knew my way around a few weapons. I'd have to get to the Capitol and see what happened.

Shoot, Eleven pulls no punches! Peppermint's going to have her hands full.