Erwin Jackson POV

Finish the run do odd jobs visit Colette pick plants from the fields give them to Colette work at the bar catch rats swap them for food for Colette go home

It was a lot to remember and a lot to do. It was just the way things were. We were too young to have kids, I was too young to have three jobs, and Colette was too weak to carry triplets. It was just the way things were.

Today is Reaping Day. I wouldn't have time to do any of that. I had to get to the Reaping Center. Colette did, too, but they'd never vote for her. She was nine months pregnant. We weren't like that in Five. I was probably safe too. Colette and I weren't that well known, but everyone who knew us knew I had to be there for her.

I waited impatiently for our escort to begin the process. I had things to do. She called out the female Tribute's name, and a girl I didn't know walked onstage. Even though I knew it wouldn't be Colette, I still sagged in relief. She reached in and pulled out the male slip.

"Erwin Jackson!" she called.

I stopped breathing. Then I started shallowly gasping for air.

No. I can't leave Colette. I can't leave our kids. Why would they pick me? Why did they have to pick me?

I shut my face down and drew myself up to my full height as I approached the stage. Let them think I was as tough as I looked. I found Colette in the crowd. She was weeping so hard her body was bent in half. The girl by her was patting her back and whispering to her. The girl on the other side was looking forward.

I didn't have any family to come backstage. I lived at a boys' home until Colette and I started a life together. As I waited for her, I tried to figure out what had happened.

Why? I'm not a killer. I never hurt anyone. I work hard and take care of my own. Did they think I could win? I guess I am six and a half feet tall. I do work as a bouncer. I'm not the dullest tack in the box. They must really think I can win.

I wasn't as confident. I knew what it would take to get home. Was I able to do that?

Colette walked into the room, supported by a Peacekeeper. She was still weeping, and I held her.

"Why? Haven't we done enough?" she asked.

"I don't know," I said.

"Come home for me. You have to," she said.

I didn't know how I could. I preferred to help others and follow. Back in the home, I used to tag along with Claude and the older boys. Now I had Colette to keep me grounded. What could I do by myself?

Colette held out something that made me cry almost as hard as she was. It was a tiny pair of knitted socks.

"Come home for them," she said. She grabbed me close and kissed me tenderly. "And come home for me." The Peacekeeper escorted her out.

I clutched the socks and cried silently. What could I do? I was strong and smart, but the Games required more than that. The price of winning was your humanity. Could Colette even love me if I came back?

If I won, Colette and the children would be safe. We wouldn't have to worry about her being too frail to bear three children. We wouldn't have to worry about how we would provide for them. Even if I wasn't me anymore, they'd be safe. I tried to let go of myself and focus on them. For my family, I would give my humanity.

Laeila Carter POV

"Just shut your *^!% mouth, you (& ^#*ing $!&& !" I yelled in Jezebels' ugly mug.

"Better watch out, pretty girl, you'll get suspended again," she said. I'd have pounded her, but I had more important things to do. I flipped her off and went to find the rest of the Dynamos.

The Dynamos were my gang. We tipped over stores and played pranks on the snottier people in Five. We'd set up a pre-Reaping meeting a few days back to go over our strategy. We weren't the most popular people in Five, so we needed to be prepared.

I ducked behind the reactor to our meeting place. It's pretty quiet back there. Most people don't like hanging around nuclear reactors, even if they are perfectly safe. The boys were already there waiting for me.

"Hey, Laeila! There goes the neighborhood," Shan said. I made a face and joined the group.

"All right, we all know the plan, but let's go over it one more time," Rust said. "If one of us gets Reaped, the rest knock over all the jewelry stores and stuff we can and raise money to sponsor him. If it's Shan, we send food. If it's Dex, we send a switchblade. If it's Laeila, we send water. If it's me, send any chemical you can. Ask my mom for my periodic table chart. I marked the ones I really need."

We put our hands together and drew them up like a mushroom cloud.

"Dynamos!" we shouted.

We went to the Reaping together, but since I was the only girl, I was alone. I wrinkled my nose when Ambrosia came out in her getup. This year it was a black dress covered in glitter. Her face was covered in dark paint with glitter that was probably supposed to look like fireworks. I rolled my eyes and waited for the name.

"Ladies first!" Ambrosia squealed. She picked out the name.

"Layla Carter!" she announced.

That's "La-AY-la!, I corrected mentally. Oh… #*^

I walked to the stage and tossed my hair like I didn't even give a ($!. Some boy I didn't know joined me, and Ambrosia announced us. I searched the crowd and saw the Dynamos giving me thumb-up.

My mother came back to see me off.

"I told you not to get in all those fights," she said worriedly.

"Moooooom, I'm going to the Hunger Games and that's what you have to say?" I asked.

"I'm sorry, I'm just so worried," she said. She dabbed at her eyes and hugged me.

"Don't worry. I have connections," I said.

"That reminds me. Some dirty looking boys are outside. They said to tell you that "Dynamos never die" and to give you this." She gave me a pendant with a mushroom cloud on it.

"Thanks, Rust," I said to myself after she was gone. He always did come prepared. I didn't know what would happen in the Games, but I had the best allies possible.

I am a big sissy when it comes to curse words, so I'll be serving as Laeila's censor.

Only in the Capitol would blackface be "high-fashion". Dang it, Ambrosia!