A/N: Trigger warning for mentions of assault.

Chapter 23:

Tanya Benito, District One, Age 18

Victor of the 98th Hunger Games

This was something Tanya had to do. For too long has she let fear control her life, unable to stand up for herself against the people that hurt her. Against the people that didn't believe her. She knows they could never do what they did to her now, not after the training she's done. It's not much, but it's more than the others have. And now…

It is time for Tanya to finally take control of her life.

She knows they'll think she's crazy to volunteer for the Games, but what else is she supposed to do? She doesn't have money or the family name to ensure she wins the trial. The Games are the one surefire way Tanya can get both of those without waiting years and years.

Just two words. That's all it will take for her to sign her new fate. To take control back into her life and get back at the people that hurt her and didn't believe her. She would no longer have to live in fear of those monsters who attacked her once she called out those two words. The next time she sees them, it will be as a victor and as she presses charges against them. She would finally have the power and money to bring them to justice and stop other innocent people like her from being hurt.

Yet a different fear has her stomach twisting as she waits in the crowd full of nervous children, all of them unaware that if their name is picked, Tanya will step forward and take their spot…as long as she has the courage to do it. No one has yet done what she is about to do since the Second Rebellion. What if the Capitol is angry for her training and preparing for the Games? She doesn't think they will be upset…not with the entertainment aspect of the Games being more and more of a focus. But she just doesn't know that for sure. She could be signing her death sentence by doing this. If she is…she will make sure that they know what that girl did to her.

Tanya can't even bring herself to look over at her ex-girlfriend, knowing she's on the other end of their section. She doesn't know if seeing her will pin her in fear or motivate her to do this and she doesn't want to chance it being the former. She has to do this, has to fight back. She doesn't think she'll forgive herself if she doesn't do this…

But fear nearly has her ready to back down.

Is she really going to volunteer for a death match? Granted, it's a death match she has trained for…if she can even call what she did training.

"Britt Favretto!"

The name has Tanya snapping out of her spiraling train of anxious thoughts as a shiver of fear goes through her. She watches her ex take the stage, looking all smug as she thinks her father's money will get her out of this, just like it got her out of any punishment for assaulting Tanya. She clenches her fists as she stares up at the girl who ruined her life, knowing she can't let Britt go into the Hunger Games. She can't let the girl get off easy for her crime by dying before facing justice. She needs to spend the rest of her life rotting in a prison cell before dying. Or worse…on the small chance she were to become victor… No fucking way can Tanya let that happen.

Who would have thought the last push Tanya needed to volunteer would be knowing she'd be keeping Britt away from almost certain death?

The escort asks for volunteers, knowing the odds are so low that someone will step forward. But not this time.

"I volunteer!"

The crowd gasps at Tanya as she steps out of the section, her hand raised so they know exactly who it is that called out those words. As everyone stares at her, Tanya keeps her face clear, hiding the fact that her heart is racing in nervousness and she almost feels like she might throw up. She keeps her focus on the escort as she approaches the stage, anxious about being so close to Britt for the first time in ages, but she knows she can't do anything to her.

"What the hell are you doing?" Britt whispers harshly as Tanya takes the stage, anger and confusion in her eyes.

"Are you angry I have spared your life?" Tanya asks her and from the brief scowl that flashes on Britt's face, she knows that is why. Tanya smiles innocently at Britt, as the adrenaline of volunteering for a death match pumps through her and gives her a small bit of courage to stand up to her assaulter. "I need you to be alive when I get home as victor," Tanya informs her as the escort gasps beside her. She ignores him as she keeps staring Britt down, fighting down the pit rising in her from the fear and pain of what she did. "Next time I see you will be in court. Justice is coming for you, Britt."

Tanya faces the crowd as Britt storms off the stage, no doubt running to find her father to protect her, but it will be pointless. Tanya is going to destroy her. "Hello District One," she says to the crowd that watches her with a mix of awe and confusion. "I'm Tanya Benito and I'm going to be our next victor."

There we have our first career victor, Tanya Benito! And a bit of a different style here as I felt it was important to see this pivotal moment of the first career victor volunteering for the Games. We've only seen little bits and pieces of Tanya in my other stories and I knew I needed a powerful reason for her volunteering.

And with this, a whole new era of the Games begins. Going to keep posting through the 100th Games before the year is over. Next up, a very familiar face who saw what Tanya did and knew she could do better.