TW: Slight suicidal thoughts in Adam's POV

Dancing through a dream
Underneath the stars
Laughing till the morning comes
Everyone that leaves has a heavy heart
Oooh, won-derland I love

Adam Cooper

District 9, He/Him, 18

(11 Months Prior the Reaping)

...

I jolt awake, my hand knocking a can of beer over. The golden liquid spreads across the floor, staining itself in the living room rug. Then, I snap my attention back to the TV which still blares and probably has for the entire night. I can't believe I got to sleep last night, after everything that had happened. Where were my parents? Had they seriously gone to bed, surely they cared for Gena more than I did? I only really started caring about her last night when that bird...

I almost vomit at the thought of it, the thought of her eye being torn out of her socket as she ran around that blasted arena. It awoke something in me, a part of me that I never knew existed - one that cared and loved my bratty little sister. I fix my eyes on the TV, the boy from seven and the other from four are discussing something that I could care less about. "Gena, where are you Gena?" I murmur, trying to encourage the TV to show me her. Could she be dead? Could I have slept through my own sister's death?

However, that train of thought comes to a sudden halt as Gena's groans begin to come out of the TV. It shows her with her allies, the boy from 9 and girl from 8, she is laying on the grassy floor with a bandage over her eye socket. The girl from 8, Cyra, kneels beside her and seems to be somewhat comforting her. I'm glad for this. Glad someone can be there for her while I can't. I never would've thought I would be here, praying for her survival after laughing at her reaping. She had been vile for so many years, that was true. But she's just a kid, a spoiled and bratty kid, yes, but just a kid nonetheless. How could I have been so horrid in return?

Suddenly, the camera focuses in on the boy from 9, Tenzin, as he speaks. "Cyra, why don't you get some extra sleep? You were up all last night, I'll watch over us." He says and immediately I get an uneasy feeling in my stomach. I know this kid, I've been watching him day and night for the past 5 days and he hasn't done a selfless thing once. Why switch up now? Cyra agrees and heads to sleep, I watch Tenzin intently.

I stare for 20 minutes as the three of them lay under the night sky until finally it happens. Tenzin pulls out a kukri from his pocket and my heart stops, he crawls over to where Gena is fast asleep and whispers something into her ear. I watch as Gena's eyes shoot open, going wide with terror before her throat is slit and her life ends. Tears roll down my eyes subconsciously and the beer that I drank last night spills out of my stomach and through my mouth. Dead. She's dead.

...

I'm sitting in my room, tears rolling down my eyes as I stare at a picture of Gena. It's been months since she died, my parents haven't spoken to me since and I have hardly left the house. I quit work and food is something I have every other day when I'm not too overwhelmed with guilt and sorrow to keep it down. I doubt anything will ever be the same, I doubt I'll ever be the same.

And I'm glad for it because the person I was 6 months ago, the person who was so terrible to his little sister, is one that I am not proud of. In fact, one that disgusts me. Sometimes I sit on my bed and wonder if I even deserve to be here. Why should I? I've been nothing but awful my entire life. Gena didn't get to live. How should I?

It's while I'm sitting there, leaning against my wall and thinking about Gena that I hear it. It's her voice, I know it is.

Volunteer. I had to go in, so should you. Win it because I couldn't.

It repeats itself over and over in my head to the point where its the only thing that I can think about, the only thing that I can focus on. It is what she would've wanted, for me to go into The Games. She hated me and she will have wanted me to suffer like she suffered, just what I deserve. I'll go into those Games for her, if it means even a slight chance of peace.

Kaylee Vy

District 9, She/Her, 13

(Reaping Day)

...

I wake up with a start and immediately tears begin streaming down my face. Today is that day, that day that I dread so much because it means potentially leaving behind my family and my home. The prospect of it ignites so much fear in me that I shake as I sob, curling myself into a ball on my bed. "Please, not me. Please." I whisper to nobody in particular between my sobs.

A few minutes later, my parents are beside me. Mum wiping tears from my face with a tissue and Dad rubbing circles on my back. I smile sheepishly as they whisper their words of support, Dad cracking a couple of jokes to try and lighten the mood. His jokes always get a laugh out of me, Mum says it was the reason she married him. I hope I'm happy and married like them someday, with ten kids and a mansion and I'll pay off The Capitol so my kids will never have to suffer through the fear of Reaping Day.

The thought makes my smile grow even wider. Mum and Dad were okay during their reapings, so I should be too. With that thought to encourage me, I slip out of bed and Dad leaves to start on breakfast. Mum begins digging through my wardrobe to find something suitable. I don't know why we're supposed to dress up for this day, I think it's rather stupid to be dressing up for something so depressing. I'd rather just wear some joggers and a baggy shirt, it would fit the mood better and at least I could be a little bit comfortable.

Finally, Mum pulls out a simple red dress. I complain because I think it looks a little extra and I don't want to be made fun of but she forces me to agree and helps me to put it on - zipping up the back. Then, she ties a ponytail into my raven black hair using a red bow. I like how it looks, I've always liked how straight and soft my hair is and I run my fingers through it with a small smile.

Once we've eaten breakfast - pancakes with blueberries! - we slip our shoes on and leave. It's very hot today but Mum and Dad, although more well-off than many, can't afford for another mode of transport so we're forced to walk. I try to complain as little as I can, I know there's nothing they can do, but I feel myself sweating in the summer heat and I've always hated sweat, it makes me so uncomfortable!

When we arrive at The District Centre, Mum and Dad take turns hugging me over and over again before I tell them that I'm going to be late. Before I go, Dad kneels down and takes something out of his pocket - a large smile on his face. My jaw hangs open as I see a silver bracelet with a pretty gem hanging from it. "For good luck." He says as he slips it on. I squeal with excitement, wrapping my arms around him and almost knocking him over. I give one final hug to Mum before I rush into the line, I'm a little late but luckily The Peacekeepers ignore me and I'm able to get my finger pricked without any trouble.

Once I'm standing in my spot, I fiddle with the bracelet and try to squeeze all of the good luck out of it. After what feels like years, a woman with a tight green dress and a matching green tint to her skin skips out of The Justice Building with a huge smile on her face. "Hello District 9, Nettie here! Very excited for yet another Reaping." She pauses for a moment as if waiting for applause and continues when it doesn't come. "Your mentor, Mikayla Cortez." Mikayla walks out with a small smile on her face, waving at the crowd. There's a little applause this time but most people, including me, remain silent.

"Now, now. It's time for our male tribute!" She reaches into the male bowl and picks one from the very bottom, winking at the crowd. "Neo Rodriquez." The screen flashes to a timid boy who looks very close to tears.

"I volunteer!" I gasp as the screen flicks to an older boy with long, brunette hair and tanned skin. He walks confidently up to the stage and makes his way to the microphone. "Adam Cooper." Nettie is the only one who claps, seemingly very excited by the idea of a volunteer from her District.

"Now for our female..." She flicks open another piece of paper. "Kaylee Vy!" My jaw hangs open and tears immediately begin to well in my eyes. But Mum and Dad, they said this wouldn't happen? Dad gave me a bracelet for good luck? How, how, how. Are the only things I can think of as the kids around me push me up to the stage. I walk up the steps, hardly thinking about what I'm doing and shake with emotion.

"Our tributes from District 9!"

A/N: Double update day, yay! Let's get this party started. Thanks to wiifan2002 for Adam and Leafpool8788 for Kaylee.

- Neb