Chapter 8: The Selfless and the Princess

District 4: Quinten Grayson, 15

He couldn't sleep. He had lain in bed all night without falling asleep once. Restless. On edge.

Quinten looked out the window. The sea reflected his mood. It tossed and turned, slamming against the shore, the rocks. Restless. On edge.

Quinten ripped his eyes away from the bedroom window. He had to move, he had to get out, he needed to inhale fresh air, he couldn't breath….

The boy made his down the wooden steps, cautiously stepping over the ones that creaked. He laced up his shoes and cracked the door open, ever so slightly, trying to avoid waking any of his family. Quinten slipped out the door, twisting the handle as he closed it so it wouldn't make a sound.

He took a few paces down the cobblestone path that transformed into the beach a couple steps ahead but stopped when a voice whispered from behind him. "Can I come?"

It was Flynn. His younger brother's hair was tousled, and dark circles hung under his eyes.

"I'm sorry I woke you," Quinten apologized, as his cheeks flushed. He internally chastised himself. He couldn't sleep, and now he had disrupted others with his own issues. He felt horrible.

Flynn shook his head. "No, you didn't wake me. I was reading. My history project isn't going to finish itself, it's due this Monday," he followed his older brother out of the house, treading through the sand in his bare feet trying to catch up.

"Oh, okay," Quinten sighed, glad he hadn't woke his brother. It was typical of Flynn to stay up working on projects anyway. That's what brainiacs did, right? Quinten wouldn't know.

The two continued their morning stroll on the beach in silence. The only sounds Quinten heard was the shrieks of gulls soaring through the sky and the steady, repetitious slam of the ocean on the shore. It was humid and the clouds were strung low in the air. The murky weather had resulted Quinten's t-shirt glued to his back.

"So, this isn't like awkward or anything," Flynn said, addressing the silence. He flicked sand up into the air with his toes as the two walked the shore length.

"I'm sorry. Next time I'll take you to the bookstore and I'll get you something so you can memorize all Panem's presidents or something. That'll spice things up a little." Quinten rolled his eyes as he spoke sarcastically. He gave his brother a lazy grin.

Flynn glared at his brother. Most prodigies embrace their gifts and drown themselves in their talent. But not Flynn. He didn't like being the 'smart one.' He didn't like having to give up sports because mom and dad wanted him to join the engineering club. He didn't like being forced to stay in to read and study in lieu of hanging out with friends. But he does it anyway, because he is brilliant. Because deep down he knows that one day, he will do something special with his gifts.

"This will spice things up a little," Flynn reached out to the oncoming wave and splashed Quinten with water, soaking him. "Besides, I already know all of Panem's presidents. In alphabetical order. And numerical. See: Alfred, Allister, Braum—"

Quinten laughed, before racing to the water and soaking Flynn with a few splashes in retaliation.

Flynn hunched his shoulders back in reaction to the icy embrace. The water was cold, but refreshing.

"Now you have it coming for you." Flynn let loose a battle cry, before chasing his older brother down the beach. And while Quinten's brother had many strengths, speed was not one of them. Quinten easily outran his brother as they raced down the shore line, stopping occasionally to taunt Flynn and give a quick splash.

They hollered and ran and splashed and smiled until Flynn collapsed from exhaustion and Quinten jogged back to sit beside him.

"I'm out of shape," Flynn moaned, flinging a hand over his face dramatically. "Remember when we were younger and we did this all the time? It was always boys against girls and Marianna would get upset because it was always 2 against 1?" As soon as Flynn said it, he regretted it. The smiles vanished from both of their faces. Flynn had spoken too fast, yet again.

They didn't talk about Marianna. Ever.

They sat in a sullen silence for a few moments. "Well that was a long time ago," Quinten replied. It had only been a few years, but it felt like an eternity. He could barely remember his sister's crooked smile, and her bright eyes.

Her eyes hadn't been bright when she had her body drained of blood in the Games though.

"It's different now," Flynn agreed. He put a reassuring hand on his brother's shoulder. It was wet and sand covered. "The academy has two volunteers for the Games today. We will be fine."

Quinten thought of the others he had lost to the Games. His best friend, his girlfriend. He shuttered, and nodded. This year everything would be okay.

The two stood up. "Let's go home," Quinten said.

"Okay but—wait, what's that?" Flynn squinted, pointing to something behind Quinten, who turned around.

It the distance a few figures scrambled around the beach. There were shouts. "Let's go see," Flynn said, taking off in that direction.

Quinten followed his younger brother, curious as well. As they neared the destination is was apparent that the people were distressed over something that was lying on the beach.

As they neared, he realized that is was not a something laying on the beach, but rather a someone. Quinten's heart began to race. Screams came from the few fisherman that had reached the scene before them.

"—early morning catch, and they were just laying there," A man called. There was a peacekeeper present as well.

Quinten reached the scene and he realized, it wasn't one body. It was two. They had been murdered. But why? Both had their throats slit from ear to ear. The scene was covered in blood. Thick, crimson, and sliding down their faces...

Their faces.

The bodies were mangled but the faces were recognizable, very recognizable.

And Quinten's breath shortened, and the air slip out of his lungs.

Because the bodies belonged to this year's volunteers.

District 4: Brill Haddock, 13

"Why?" Brill stuffed a pillow over her face. She drew out the last letter in the word. "It's too early, Erica. 5 more minutes."

"Miss Brill, it's 7:05. We can't be late for the reaping. You said 5 more minutes 5 minutes ago. I have brought you your breakfast," Erica replied. Brill pulled the pillow away from her face. She met Erica's gaze with a scowl.

"Put it over there," Brill snapped, flicking her arm and motioning for the maid to put the breakfast tray on the nightstand.

Erica did as Brill had demanded, giving the girl a quick nod before scurrying out of the room. Brill rolled her eyes and sat up in bed. Screw the damn reaping. It was too early for this.

It was a Saturday, and she was up at 7:00. 7:00. She couldn't remember the last time she had woken up this early on a weekend.

Brill gasped, jumping out of bed. She ran into her bathroom, the marble floors chilling her feet. But that wasn't important right now. She flipped the lights on and the chandelier hanging in the bathroom began to glow, casting light through the room.

Brill leaned in to see herself better through the mirror posted on the wall behind the sink. She let out a strangled sound.

Her eyes. She had dark circles under her eyes.

Brill rubbed the copper skin below her eyes and cursed profanely. Last night had been hazy. An upperclassman at school had thrown a party. His ambassador parents were off on business at the Capitol or something. Brill didn't know the details. She just knew she had been the only in her grade that received an invite. But she was allowed to bring her friends of course; those that were worthy of coming at least.

There had been alcohol, she remembered that much. Lots of it. And hot guys too. She smiled as a few fractured memories popped up into her head. High school had been fun so far. The parties especially.

She hadn't remembered much, but she knew she had probably arrived home maybe three hours ago.

Brill's smile faded when she opened her eyes and she was staring at herself in the mirror. As if the dark circles were bad enough, makeup was smudged under her bright green eyes and her dark brown hair was sticking out all over the place wildly.

"Erica!" Brill screamed. She would not leave the house looking like a mess. She wouldn't, she couldn't. For a couple reasons.

She wasn't going to be in the Games or anything, there were two volunteers this year, but her father was the mayor. Every televised event there was always at least one shot that focused in on her, the mayor's eldest daughter. And, two, she couldn't show up to her friends looking like this. She was the leader, the star. She was beautiful, but her friends were pretty too. And she couldn't have anyone outshine her, could she? No.

"Yes, Miss Brill?" Erica came hurrying into the room, eager to help out the mayor's daughter.

"I look horrible," Brill whined. "Do something about it,"

Erica nodded, and Brill walked back into her room to sit down at her bureau. The maid pulled out a makeup kit and a hair brush. Brill bit into a pastry as Erica made her way through the tangly mess.

Brill sighed. "What would I do without you, Erica?"

"Oh my god, did you hear Brill? Lacy, you know, in 12th grade, told me that Lux, her older brother, Ryan's best friend, said that he loved having us at the party last night!" Aquamarine, one of Brill's best friends squealed as they stood waiting for the reaping to begin.

Brill gave a sweet smile. "Of course he did, Aqua."

Her other friend Casey laughed. Aqua grinned. "Right! Of course he did!" The girls twirled their hair as the glanced back at the 17 and 18 year old boy's section, but it was no use. Stuck near the front with all the younger kids, no hot boys could even seen them.

"Where's Nora?" Brill changed the subject, agitation filling her voice. She glared down at her rose gold watch. "I told everyone to be here at 8:30. Can she not tell time or something? The reaping is about to start at this point."

"I don't know," Casey admitted. "She was at the party last night and everything."

"Yeah," Aquamarine chimed in, "I saw her last night, but she hasn't texted me or anything since."

"Speak of the devil," Brill spat, as Nora came hurrying over to her friends.

Her eyes were wide. "Holy shit. You're not going to believe what I just heard."

"What?" All three of the other girls spoke in unison.

"The volunteers for this year, Camden and Porter? Well I heard that they were both found murdered on the south shore this morning,"

"You're joking."

"Get out."

"Bull," Brill said sticking her chin up. "You just made that up to atone for the face that you're late. I said 8:30."

Nora shook her head. "I swear Brill! I literally just heard it as I was walking in!"

Brill opened her mouth to respond but the escort began her speech. Brill turned to face the front. He father and stepmother were seated behind the escort. Their hands were interlocked as the escort rambled on in front of them. They were both looking at her. She gave them a small wave. Her father waved back and her stepmother gave her a warm smile.

Brill smiled then, too.

"And now, the male tribute that will be competing in the Games for District 4 will be…." She opened the card. "Flynn Grayson!" The esccort began clapping. The sound echoed hollowly through the square.

There was silence for what felt like forever. Brill looked over to Nora who flashed her a small smile. I told you so.

"I volunteer!" Porter shouted. His voice cracked, and Brill almost laughed. She gave Nora a smirk. No, I told you so.

The volunteer made his way up to the stage. And Brill's mouth fell open.

"And why did you volunteer?" The escort gave a big smile, waiting for the response.

"Because I didn't want to lose another person I love to the Games."

The volunteer was not Porter.

The smile on the escort's face had been wiped away by that comment. "What's your name?" She said, less enthusiastically.

"My name is Quinten Grayson," They boy looked older, he had maybe a few years on Brill. But he was definitely not the trained volunteer. He was attractive though, in a rugged way, with sandy hair and tan skin.

The crowd couldn't stay quiet. Where was Porter? Why didn't he volunteer? A sense of nervousness filtered through the town square.

A shiver crawled up Brill's spine. Nora couldn't be right, could she?

"Everyone," the escort chastised the crowd. "Tone it down! Now, for the District 4's female tribute….. Brill Haddock!"

Brill's heart beat faster than it ever had. Come on Camden. Volunteer.

Ten seconds went by. "Brill?" She stood frozen. Camden.

Twenty. "Brill Haddock? Where is Brill Haddock? She is in the 13 year old section."

She couldn't believe it. "Camden," Brill let loose a strangled noise. "Camden, volunteer. Volunteer!" She hissed.

Peacekeepers parted the crowd and walked over, feet stomping as the came to retrieve her. Two grabbed her arms. Nora, Aqua, and Casey looked horrified.

"Volunteer!" Brill screamed, tears streaming down her face. "Camden! Anybody!"

She was on the stage now. The Peacekeepers let go of her arms. She was standing next to Quinten, whose eyes were wide. Her legs gave out under her. She turned around to her parents.

"Daddy!" She hadn't called him that since she was a child. "Daddy please, help me!" She couldn't see her parents, her eyes were blurred by the tears that ran down her face.

And then she had an idea. Brill crawled towards the edge of the stage. It was at least a ten foot drop. They wouldn't take a tribute with a broken arm right? Or a fractured foot? She thought. Brill threw herself over, bracing herself for the impact, but she never made it to the ground.

Peacekeepers had grabbed her, saved her.

And then she lost it. Crying, kicking, screaming. She didn't care who saw her. She. Did. Not. Care. She would not die like this! Not in the arena! She would not! She would not—

Everything went black.

Author's Note: I'm baaaack! I was reading all the reviews, and thanks for all the honesty. I appreciate it! So I hope you guys liked the chapter! What'd you think? Who was your favorite? Why? And who do you think is The Princess and who is The Selfless? This is another really hard one (JKJK).

And remember.. when you don't comment it makes it really easy to choose bloodbaths ;)

Also, if I choose your tribute I might adjust the ages to where I see fit. Not everyone can be 16-18 lol.

And the District 4 tributes are *drumroll*...

District 4 Male: Quinten Grayson, 15 (AthenaMonaLisa)

District 4 Female: Brill Haddock, 13 (faceless eater aka slendergirl)

Last chapter Wyre was The Pessimist and Canon was the Optimist (obviously lol)

Well, until next time! Bye!