Emrys Harris, 18

District 9 Male

Even in the mornings, District 9 was miserably hot. I was doomed to live in a tiny, crappy district that produced almost as many alcoholics as it did alcohol. Here, you fought or you died. Or you ended up drugging yourself so much you couldn't do either. I decided a long time ago that I was a fighter. And sometimes that meant that I was a killer.

I didn't usually take hit jobs. In such a small district, I was likely to get caught and I wouldn't risk ending up behind bars or facing a firing squad. But I owed the Broken Arrows a favor and my target wasn't too well-known.

Addison Mullins was surprisingly old for a drug dealer. He was in his mid-50s and was balding heavily. But he was lean from working in the fields and could probably put up a decent fight. Still, I was confident I could take him.

I was slipping through the back streets, one hand on the knife at my hip. I wasn't in Broken Arrow territory anymore. This was a lawless land. But it was early enough that no one was out yet. The sun was just rising above the buildings. People would be heading out to the fields to work soon, so I had to act fast.

I reached the Mullins's house and pressed myself into the small gap between theirs and the neighbor's. About five minutes later, Addison came outside. There were people gathering at the end of the road, but no one was near us. As he closed the door, I lunged forward, grabbed his collar, and dragged my blade across his throat.

I moved so quickly he didn't have a chance to make a sound, and I caught his body as it fell. I dragged him, half-dead and bleeding into the gap where I'd just been hidden. I laid him in the dust and left.

My blade was safely hidden when I made it to the main part of town. No one here knew who I was, nor did they care. I was just another faceless man in the crowd. It was funny to think that when I was younger, I did whatever I could to make myself known. I'd already stopped caring that my parents dumped me at the orphanage, but a small part of me must have still wanted recognition. I rallied the little kids and taught them to be wild, to disrespect authority and scorn adults. I even convinced some of them to turn down potential adopters. I regretted it now. My nickname amongst the group was 'Rat', and every day it felt more and more fitting.

But I left the orphanage two years ago and I was Emrys again. Not little kid Emrys, hoping his mommy would come back. Not Rat Emrys, who made the other kids tough. I was now Emrys, who stole and lied and killed for just enough money to pay the rent. Sometimes I regretted who I became. I always believed I had no other choice. Aurelia told me otherwise. But I left her with my old life.

Aurelia Giles, 18

District 9 Female

In a small district like ours, news traveled fast. And it traveled even faster in overcrowded shared housing. But I would have heard of Addison Mullins's death regardless. His wife Marcie was very sick and I was due to pay her a visit.

When I arrived, I knocked on the door and was greeted by a tearful 10-year-old. Elizabeth Mullins was one of the sweetest kids I'd ever met. She was outgoing and kind and she wanted to be a doctor, just like I did. But all of her usual joyful energy was gone when she let me in.

Two Peacekeepers were talking to Mrs. Mullins, who was wrapped in a blanket and hunched over at the kitchen table. They looked up when I came in and I chewed nervously on my bottom lip. I expected them to be here but I didn't want to be around them.

"...just lying there!" she was saying. "There was blood all down his front. His throat was cut. He—" She broke off in a coughing fit and I carefully stepped forward.

"Excuse me," I said quietly. "I'm here for Mrs. Mullins's check-up."

The taller Peacekeeper turned to look at me. His helmet was tucked under his arm so I could see his tousled gray hair. He looked tired.

"Is she contagious?" he asked.

"No sir," I said. That I was confident about. "And she'll be feeling better soon."

"Fine," he said. He turned to Mrs. Mullins. "We'll update you with any further discoveries." Then he nodded to this companion and they left.

As soon as the door shut Mrs. Mullins broke down, sobbing into her hands.

"I'm so sorry," I whispered. "If I'd been there…"

"You can't stitch up a killing blow," she whimpered. "It was deliberate. I know it! I told him he shouldn't have gotten caught up in that black market business. I told him!"

She was beginning to sound hysterical and I gently rubbed her back.

"I'm sorry," I said again. Elizabeth was sitting on the couch, her hands clasped in her lap and her face pale. My heart felt like it was being squeezed.

Being involved with drugs in any way was beyond terrible. My hands began to shake as my mind was forced back to my mother, her hand striking my cheek and glass from her thrown bottles spraying against my skin.

I fixed my eyes on the doorknob and began to take slow, deep breaths. It was a trick Emrys taught me when we were both at the orphanage. I had to focus on my breathing and keep my eyes open, noting my surroundings. I wasn't back in our old house. I was in the Mullins's house. And they needed me to be strong.

My heartbeat finally slowed and I was able to stop myself from trembling. I listened to Mrs. Mullins's lungs and heart with my old stethoscope and left her with a sticky cough syrup. I wished I could do more, but this was all I had.

When I finished, I sat beside Elizabeth. She was still staring at the floor and flinched when I put a hand on her shoulder.

"Losing someone you love is one of the hardest things you'll ever experience," I told her. "And I wish you didn't have to experience it. Your dad's life was cut too short. But he was a good man and a good dad. You will always carry his memory and that is a very powerful thing. Life is only special because it ends."

I knew the words wouldn't help much now. But someday I hoped she would see how strong love could be.

Hi! Here is the first chapter of If Only, my Victor Exchange with my friend Gaia (Carlpopa707). As you can see, two characters are going into the arena and you'll have to follow along to see which one comes out! Please leave a review and let me know what you thought of this chapter, and of Emrys and Aurelia!

Gaia is also writing a story about my girl Sapphire, so go give it a read! It's called Cradle To The Grave and it's going to be awesome I promise.

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

- Fiona