Note- My first day of school is tomorrow so updates may come later!

Persefone Douglas (D2 Female)

Twelve girls were lined up in a row, waiting for the training instructor to drop her hands. They each held a spear, eyes calculating as a viper's, knowing that they were close to making the spot of the girl volunteer. They had all been narrowed down to the final twelve, and the person who was the best...well, that was to be determined.

I was pretty confident I could win, but I kept a serious look on my face, so that I wouldn't get so distracted as to miss when the trainer(also my mom) dropped her hands. I could see her green eyes, the exact shade of a black cat's, narrow as she searched me out, gave me the slightest of nods.

I knew all the girls by name. Luffy, Tina, Madison, Astrid, Bari, Lucretia, Cornelia(who's father worked in District Nine as a Peacekeeper, and where her name had come from), Stormi, Odelia, Peggy, and Mabel. They had all been either my friend or my enemy, some even more than friends, however much I didn't want to admit it.

If I didn't win, I sincerely hoped that Cornelia would. We shared a mutual bond, her having a father, like me, working as a Peacekeeper in another District, though mine was in Six. She was pretty fierce, reckless, and aggressive, and I knew that if she made it into the arena, she would go pretty far, if not the winner. She was standing to my right, her whole body tensed up, grain-colored hair flashing in my vision.

Please let me win, please let me win.. I thought pleadingly. Even though I knew I was going to do good, I still felt a small worm of worry. I was seventeen now, that meant if I didn't win, I would have only one last chance to get in the Games. So I had to do it this year. This year, before my hope would gradually fade away.

Even with my hope gone, I knew I would still try my hardest to reach my goal. It was inevitable that I was to be in the Games, and I was going to bring back riches and glory far greater than anyone could ever imagine. Our last victor had won years ago, and Two was impatient for a new one, a new pride. If all went as planned...that pride could be me.

Persefone, I could just hear my mother chiding in my head. You only have two more years.

I shook my head to clear the disturbing thoughts and let all my confidence flow into my rigid form. I could see Luffy exchange terse words with Lucretia, who gave a grim nod in response. I wondered what they were talking about, and why they nod had conveyed so much emotion, more than was necessary, but I didn't let it get to me. Nothing could get to me now. Not when I was so very, very close.

"GO!" The animal shout screamed in our ears, and I almost clapped my hands over them instinctively. Then my mind quickly whizzed back to the present time and I realized that I was the only girl left to throw the spear. Sure that I could make it, I put great force to the weapon, then released.

The spear hit dead center, the target almost shaking from the impact. Bari and Odelia, on my left side, screamed in outrage, staring venomously at their own spears, which had not pounded the target with the same force. They had hit the middle circle as well, but had not worried on going over the top. Had not worried about overachieving.

I smiled smugly. I was surely the tribute now.

My mother's thin lips revealed no emotion, but I thought I saw the faint dart of pride in her glimmering, mysterious eyes. Clearing her throat, she announced swiftly, "Persefone Douglas is the winner to this match. Results will be posted on the board in the office."

A whole bunch of shrieking met my ears, exclaiming things like, "But she's your daughter!" "Of course she won!" "It's not fair!" If my mother was the trainer, she'd make me volunteer too..."

Cornelia gave me an open smile. "Nice job," she acknowledged, nodding. She was a slim girl, with golden-brown hair and tanned skin. Her eyes were a deep blue that could turn a shade lighter if in direct sunlight. Those eyes...those eyes were what got me.

I blushed hotly. "Thanks."

Cornelia continued, "So, do you want to walk to the Reaping together? I could get a good view of you volunteering."

I dipped my head gratefully. "Of—course," I said slightly, my heart beating doubly fast.

"Awesome," commented Cornelia. "Well, see you then." She smiled, eyes sparkling. "I can't wait."

Brief goodbyes were in order, but I couldn't help but think of her eyes, just those flashing, enthusiastic eyes, the reckless tinge gone from her voice. Could I dare hope..? No, it was impossible. Cornelia, respectful, brave Cornelia, would never like me. And even if she did, it wouldn't be in that way.

The world swam by, me frantically trying to paddle with its quick rhythm. Almost in no time at all, I was meeting her by the door, gazing once more into her amazing sapphire eyes, and we were heading in the direction of the Square.

"You have to teach me how you did that back there," Cornelia said vehemently. "Incredible, the way the spear just flew into the target like that."

"Well, I'm not going to tell you all my secrets...," I clarified carefully, and Cornelia's face fell.

Annoyed, she grunted fiercely, "Well then I don't have to tell you mine either." My heart shattering as her vicious side kicked in and she turned away, we continued along in silence, Cornelia looking like she fully regretted inviting me to come with her, and me staring at my feet.

When we got there, Cornelia didn't say the usual sarcastic remarks she usually did about the Reaping. Instead, she simply stared ahead, lost in her thoughts. I was thinking miserably, She definitely doesn't like me. I mean, the way she acted back there...it's like the only reason she wanted to be my friend was to know all my secrets, gain all my knowledge, and use them for her own benefit.

That thought was just utterly depressing now.

Finally Cornelia began talking, but I was barely listening. Glumly, I reverted with an, "Oh," but that was all.

She stared at me fiercely. "You're not listening to me, are you?" She rolled her eyes. "I said, the portrayal of yourself isn't going so great today, isn't it?"

I lifted my chin. "I think the portrayal of myself is going great, thank you very much."

"Oh, don't pretend," Cornelia scoffed. "Something's on your mind."

"Maybe, but it's not like I'd tell you."

That remark made us go back to what we were doing before, both of us ignoring each other, a hard silence in the air between us. Just like Cornelia to start using strange words that did not match her mood; she was prone to doing it all the time when they quarreled, which was often. In those moments, I often wondered what I had ever saw in the girl, but then I cooled down and everything turned out all right.

This time, however, it looked like there was going to be no cooling down. Cornelia's face was still red with indignation, and her nose was flaring in that way she was when she was in an unforgiving state. My heart skipped a beat. Did she not forgive me? Did she really think that me not confiding in her was against the laws of our friendship?

Cornelia attempted a weary smile, though it looked definitely forced. "Persefone, look. If you feel that way, just know that I don't want to be your friend because I want to know how you're so good at spears." She sighed. "I admit, it may be most of the reason, but also because...you're just a great friend. Don't..."

I looked at her sharply. "Don't what?"

She turned away. "I don't want you to volunteer. That may be selfish of me, but I know that if you leave, you'll never come back. I'll never discover my reason."

"Yeah, so you do want to know my secret with spears." Anger pulsed through me. "Well, you know what, even if I'm going to my death or to my victory, I'll never tell you."

We lapsed into silence yet again, Cornelia mourning her "loss" and me hating her. Why had I even become her friend if this was all it was going to be? All she wanted was to be better than me, know everything I knew and much more. She was more skilled than me at the bow and arrow, at the knives, if she knew this final thing, she would be...invincible.

By the time the Reaping actually started, the rage between us had dwindled somewhat, leaving only a confused air. I would've appreciated any kind of talking from her, whether it be bad or good, but I knew she was still too despairing to say anything.

The District Two escort was tall and lean, looking like he'd been one of the actual soldiers from the rebellion. His eyes were the color of seashells, a pale creamy orange. Hair the color of desert sands, bleached blonde from the sun but in an uneven, choppy way. I wondered if he had any actual good advice to give me about the Games, especially the Cornucopia. Stick with the Careers, who might pose as a massive threat, or hunt alone?

The escort—who's name I could never remember—flashed a grin at the audience, declaring his speech of, "Hello, and welcome to the 36th Annual Hunger Games!" He gestured to the mayor and our eight victors. "Our kind mayor will speak what he needs to."

Our mayor did his boring speech about our victors, then limped back to his spot at the corner of the stage alongside the victors. Then, the escort began drawing names. I tensed up as he announced the girl tribute: "Madeline Scardovi!"

A girl with dark hair done in tons of ringlets all the way down to her waist stepped forward, eyes gleaming. Since she lived in a Career District, she was safe from actually being in the Games, knowing that there was always a volunteer. For a second I contemplated not volunteering, just to see the look on her scared face, but then I told myself I had worked this hard and I would never get another chance.

I took a deep breath and yelled, "I volunteer as tribute!"

The crowd burst out in cheers and claps as I presented myself volunteer. Madeline scampered back into the audience, looking very relieved to leave the stage, and I gazed after her coolly, pasting serious look on face so that the crowd would know I wasn't joking. Cheers of appreciation rose once more among Two.

Next, the escort sifted through the papers and chose a boy tribute. "John Mazurk."

A skinny boy of twelve ascended the stage, and then I heard—wait, what? Two people?—begin to say, "I volunteer as tribute!"

One of them finished first and dashed up to the stage, grinning smugly. My eyebrows knitted together in confusion. What exactly was happening?

Felix Saunders (D2 Male)

I grinned as I went to the stage. I was the boy tribute now, whether Ralph knew it or not. I had volunteered a millisecond before him, and nothing could change that.

The muscular eighteen-year-old snarled menacingly as he approached me, coming up the stage as well. Ugh. Would I have to fight him? He was my best friend, I wasn't really wanting to do something like that. But I had to prove myself. If I did, and on live television too, I would get high bids on my victory.

"Felix, what the hell are you doing?" hissed Ralph, his eyes narrowing to mere slits. I couldn't help but notice that they looked like snake's eyes, green with anger, a vein pulsing in his forehead. His mouth was curving downward in pure hatred, betrayal written all over his face.

I sneered at him. "There's nothing you can do, so back off. I'm the volunteer now."

"You placed second! Not first. So get your jealous behind out of my personal space." Ralph clenched his fists, his fighting blood starting up. I glared at him. So he did want a fight. Well, it was final then. I had tried to avoid a fight, and he had asked for it besides. So sorry, best friend.

I lunged at him, shoving him away, and since I had gained the upper hand instantly, momentarily startling him, my confidence was running high. I paced a step back, letting him get to his feet, then went for him again. I twisted around as he aimed a punch, then wrestled him to the ground, taking his arm and pinning it down, trying to avoid his snapping teeth.

Ralph panted venomously, "I'm eighteen this year. You should know that. You just volunteered because you knew this was my last chance. HOW DARE YOU!" He flung me off and I landed on the ground, pain flaring in my head. I was dizzy for a moment, the world spinning around me, the floor at the top and the sky at the bottom..

Then, Ralph slammed a fist into my chest, probably breaking a rib or something, but at least it made me aware of reality again. I winced at the sickening pain but got to my feet slowly. Ralph let me rise, then, when I was barely on my toes, he took my arm and twisted it painfully.

"OWCH! Stop it, Ralph!" I cried, tugging my arm free. A red bruise was beginning to form over the skin, and with a sudden stream of anger, I summoned on the strength I had and knocked my best friend to the floor.

"You two," said Jeffery, the escort, feebly. "Please stop—"

He was cut off by a loud roar from Ralph, a monster's roar who had been defeated and cannot get up. Sweat was sticky on his face and blood seeped out of the broken skin of his cheek. Putting a hand to his cheek to try to stop the blood, he jerked to his feet.

"I WILL GET YOU!" And with that, I fell unconscious, from a punch to the head.

I woke up again in the Justice Building, a girl whom I recognized from the Academy, Persefone, standing over me. When she saw that I was coming back to reality, she got straight to business. "Okay," she said, as if reciting off a speech she had written in her head. "Ralph, you see, he knocked you unconscious. He was dragged away and the doctors went right to work on him. You know, bloody cheek and all." Then I realized her eyes were shining. "That was a bloody epic fight you put on back there. Nice job. Two'll be the center of attention for sure this year."

I groaned, sitting up in bed, and she pushed me back down. "Don't you dare get up," she said quickly. "Your head's still...um, bandaged..and all..."

"That was so embarrassing," I moaned, putting my head in my hands. "I got defeated by Ralph. Is he the volunteer now?"

"No, Jeffery managed to get proof that there's no such thing as second volunteers," Persefone replied pleasantly. "So you're still the volunteer. You better heal quickly though. It wouldn't be so great to go to the Games looking like this, wouldn't it?"

I grunted in response.

"You're eighteen, right?" Persefone stared down at me with hard eyes.

"Yeees..."

"That explains it. It is your last year to volunteer. I guess I understand why you did that. But do you still think you can win with that bruise and all?" She pointed to my head.

"I can win," I said confidently, however drowsy my voice sounded.

Persefone stared at me for a moment longer before concluding, "You need some sleep. Your parents will come in here shortly." She walking out of the room, departing silently.

I was still mighty embarrassed about what had happened. Did they now think that I wasn't fit to be the volunteer? Did all their hopes lay with Persefone now, seeing as she was actually the rightful chosen one?

All those thoughts spun dizzily in my overworked head as I relapsed into sleep.

8/15/17