Donquixote "Don" Esperanza, 18

District 2 Male

I stood by the window of my room in the Justice Building, watching the gray clouds move across the sky. A storm was brewing, and it looked bad. Just like I would be in the arena. I'd annihilate my competition and come home victorious. No one could stop me.

I fingered my rings as the rain began to fall. People were dispersing, hands up to protect themselves from the weather. When I came home, I would rule over them all. The strong led the weak, and I was the strongest of all.

The door to the small room opened and my mother and Jose came inside. My mom's face was pale and worried, and as she opened her arms for a hug I rolled my eyes. But I leaned down to return the embrace, just to appease her. But she clung to me for a little too long and I eventually had to pull myself away.

"Good job bro," Jose said, holding his hand up for a high five. I returned it forcefully, a grin spreading across my face.

"Thanks," I said. "This is going to be awesome."

"You're going to be the most epic victor! And in a few years, I'll volunteer and we'll be the best ever!"

"Keep training, and maybe one day you'll be as good as me," I told him, affectionately punching his shoulder.

"Just be careful Don," my mom said, wringing her hands together. "I don't want to lose you, the way I lost your father and sister."

I sighed. When I eliminated by soft relatives, I kept it quiet. Neither my mom nor Jose knew what I'd done. Jose would never turn me in, but my mom might have, and Jose was her precious baby boy. She could have made him tell.

"You won't lose me," I said confidently. "I've been training for this my whole life. I'm the best of the best. Even Artemis can't beat me."

Sure, Artemis killed another trainee a few years ago. I killed my dad. That took more guts and more strength than she'd ever have. I was absolutely certain I would succeed. Anyone who tried to stop me was as good as dead.

"Alright," my mom said with a sigh. "But remember; listen to your mentors, gain the trust of your allies, and always be on alert."

"I know," I grumbled. "I think your time is up. I'll see you when I'm back in a few weeks." She nodded solemnly and turned to leave. Jose offered me one last high five before following her. I waited until the door shut firmly and then went to stand by the window again. The rain was falling harder, washing away the dirt to reveal a shiny new district that would be mine for the taking.

Andy Waywell, 16

District 10 Male

I didn't realize I was trembling until I was alone in the Justice Building, though whether it was from nerves or the air conditioning I didn't know. My head was swirling with thoughts and a sudden dizziness came over me. I sank down the lumpy couch and put my head in my hands.

I deserved this. I truly did. I was a monster. But I was also afraid to die. I didn't want to be on the sharp end of the blade. I recalled the way the rats squealed and squirmed and shuddered as I imagined myself in their position.

Another side of me was excited. I could feel the same rush I had when I was killing that criminal on my birthday, and this time it would be legal. My mom wouldn't get in trouble. People would praise me for my bloody kills. They might even end up liking me.

But then my thoughts circled back to my own death and I was panicking again. I would rather live a lonely life in District 10 than live a short, violent one in an arena. My throat tightened and tears sprung to my eyes. This was too much!

Then the creaky door swung open and my dad came inside. His thin shoulders were shaking and I could tell he was holding back tears. I ran to him as soon as the door closed.

"Dad…" I whispered, throwing myself into his arms. "I'm scared."

"I know," he murmured against my hair. "It's natural to be scared. But you're a smart boy. You know about the human body. You know how to kill. You can do this."

"You really think so?" I asked, pulling back to look up at him.

"I know so," he said. Then he pressed a kiss to my forehead.

"Where's Mom?" I asked, peering past him to look at the door. He frowned.

"She wasn't allowed to come see you."

"What? Why?"

"Because she's a Peacekeeper and–"

"–and her job comes first," I finished. It was something she was constantly reminding me.

'I love you, but my job has to come first'.

"But she wanted me to give you this," my dad continued. He slid his black metal wedding ring off of his finger and placed it in my outstretched palm. "Your mom and I are a united force, and we are on your team. We always will be."

"Thank you," I whispered, nearly choking on my words. "I'll make you proud."

My dad pulled me in for another hug.

"You already have," he said. And my tears finally began to fall.

Marjoram Donell, 14

District 12 Female

By the time a Peacekeeper forced me into a small room in the Justice Building, I couldn't keep my tears at bay. I curled into a ball on the rickety couch and cried and cried and cried.

This was all wrong! I had a home, and a job, and a loving family and an amazing best friend. I always knew being reaped was a possibility, but I had desperately hoped it wouldn't happen until my Grandpa Buck passed. Now I was going to die and then he was going to die and then Grandma Columbine would be all alone.

Anger joined the fear in my heart as my tears finally stopped. Life in District 12 was awful. But it was better than dying on national television, far away from your loved ones. It wasn't fair! The Capitol was awful. It produced people like Remus and it hosted the Hunger Games and it didn't care who lived or died.

I began to sob again as the door opened. A hacking cough told me it was my grandparents who were there. My grandma's soft hand began to rub my back, the way she did when I was little and had nightmares. I sat up and sniffled.

"I don't want to go," I whined.

"I know dear," my grandma said. "And we don't want you to go either."

"But we don't have a choice," my grandpa continued. "But remember; we love you so much."

"I love you too," I whispered. "What will you do without me? Will you be okay?"

"We'll be fine," Grandma Columbine said. "Don't worry about us."

"But I am worried about you!" I protested. "You don't have a job, and Grandpa Buck can't work, and–"

"Honey," my grandma said in a soothing voice. "It'll be okay. I'll get a job. Grandpa can sell the items he whittles. I want you to focus on you."

"Okay," I said with a sniffle.

"You're a hard worker," Grandpa Buck said. "And you never give up. You have spirit and grit. You can win these Games."

"Thank you," I murmured. "I'll try. I'll really try."

"We know you will," Grandma said. Then she and Grandpa pulled me into a tight group hug.

A few moments later, someone knocked on the door.

"Time's up," a gruff voice said. My grandparents wished me good luck once more and Grandma Columbine pressed a kiss to my forehead. And then they were gone. But a heartbeat later Rosie was in the room. She tackled me in a hug, nearly knocking me off my feet.

"Marjoram, oh Marjoram," she cried. My tears began to fall again and I squeezed her tightly.

"Rosie, I'm scared."

"I'm scared for you," she replied. She pulled away and put her hands on my shoulders. "But I believe in you. You've dealt with so much crap. This is just a little more crappiness. You can do it."

I laughed a little through my tears.

"Dealing with Remus is pretty crappy, huh?"

"The crappiest," Rosie agreed. Her hands slid down my arms to hold my hands in hers. "I love you Marjoram. You're my best friend. And… and if you die in there, just know that you'll be safe. No one will ever hurt you again."

"Okay," I choked out. "But I will try so hard to come back to you. I love you too." And then with one final tight squeeze, Rosie was gone too. I was alone.

Hi! I'm back with another (very) quick update. I'm sorry I've been so fast - I'm not in school so I have nothing to do except for write. I'll be slowing down though. My plan is to update this story every Saturday, which hopefully won't be too overwhelming. Also, if you haven't reviewed in a while, please check in! I want to know if you're reading and enjoying the story. So please leave a review and let me know your thoughts!

Questions

1) Whose goodbye was your favorite? Why?

2) Is Don right to be so cocky?

3) What are your thoughts on Andy's family dynamic?

4) Does Marjoram stand a chance?

Have a nice day, be kind to each other, and never stop reading!

- Fiona