Adleys POV

We just stand here. Cattle being herded to slaughter houses. That's exactly what this is. I stand in lines of girls and boys, some younger than me and some much older. They all look so nice, as if they were dressing for their own funeral. Well, at least one of us is. This is my third time through this, and my little brother, Coen's first. I walk him through the line, trying to act like I'm not terrified. We walk past the peacekeepers who prick our fingers. Eventually I have to leave Coen and go stand in my own group. I find myself surrounded by fourteen year olds all hoping and praying that their name wouldn't be called. This year, I find myself praying more than last year. This year I can't just think about myself, I have to be here for Coen.

The only reassuring thing in this moment is the sea crashing into the shore. We can all hear it from the town center. It sounds like home, like… Safe. The moment of relief is taken away in an instant when I see three figures approaching. First the two mentors. Max Russel, she won six years ago, and Finnick Odair, he won two years ago. Lastly, Theta. Theta is district fours escort. She comes each year and delivers the same old boring speech about how the games are for the best, and the only way to live peacefully. If living peacefully means sending kids off to kill other kids, then I don't even want to imagine what living in distress would be like.

Theta finishes her speech and the movie has finished. I can feel a collective hush move through the whole district. As if nobody is breathing. Not even those who are safe. They still live in fear that their loved ones name will be drawn.

"Ladies first!" Theta says in her ridiculous Capitol accent. She reaching into the large glass bowl and fishes around for what seems like eternity. Her hand finally connect to a piece of paper and she draws the name of the first victim, excuse me, tribute.

"Adley Parkins"

I go numb. I wait a while, hoping somebody volunteers. Everyone knows four is a career district, maybe not as adamant as One or Two. No one steps forward, and I notice that I've been holding breath. I don't even feel alive as my body makes its way up to the stage. It's like having an out of body experience. Theta shakes my hand and congratulates me. Then draws the boys name, Dars Barren. He looks like he must be at least 16 or 17. Much larger than me. We are allowed quick goodbyes before being loaded onto a train. Away from our home forever.

Finnick POV

I try not to think to hard as I go to meet this years tributes. I have to get use to the fact that at least one of them isn't coming back. This is your job, Finnick. Max and I walk into the car where the two kids are waiting. When I get in there I realize I shouldn't even be saying kids, the boy looks like he's at least my age, maybe older. He's strong, a career, he's gonna fit right in. The girl, however, intrigues me. She is small. Probably 13 or 14, the same age that I was when I… When I was here.

"Since I'm not Theta, I'm not gonna congratulate you," Max snaps me out of my thoughts, "I wouldn't be celebrating if I were you. I'm not gonna sugar coat it. This is going to be the hardest thing either of you has ever done. And one of you isn't coming back." I can see the girl bite her lip and look at the boy at this remark, tears welling in her eyes. Max sees it too.

"Don't cry. There isn't time for crying. If that sounds harsh, that's because it is, get used to it. I'm not here to be your friend, I'm here to try and get you out. I'm Max and this is Finnick. We'll be your mentors. Training starts now. It can be together or separate, your choice."

"Separate" the two say together.

"Alright," I say, "Then what shall it be? You two can decide who you want to work with." No surprise, the boy, Dars, decided to work with Max, so Adley would be working with me.

We go into a separate car. "Look I know this is scary, but you have to trust that everything Max and I do is in your best interest, don't second guess us, and don't second guess yourself. That will get you killed. I know you're probably filled with questions, so… Go."

Adley just looks at me, not in the way that most girls, and women, look at me, but with eyes full of wonder. "How did you do it?" She asks quietly. I just look at her, surly she saw my games, I wasn't exactly subtle in my tactics.

"Well, I stayed by myself, didn't want to make any connections that I'd have to sever. Then I received a gift, a trident and-"

She cuts me off, "no, how were you able to kill… People?"

I look at her, and I tell her what I tell myself everyday to try to justify what I did, "you do what you have to do in order to survive." She just looks at me, scared, but not in a weak way. She has a fire in her eyes. "Let's cut to it. You and I both know that district four prepares. What did you excel at?"

"Um… I'm okay with knifes."

I pick up a steak knife and hand it to her. "Show me."

"What?"

"Show me." She takes the knife but just looks at me, confused. "In the arena you won't be asked to throw a knife. Right now you have that option." I point to a spot on the wall about 15 feet away from us. It is right between two paintings, the space is probably as big as a persons head. "Throw it there. Don't hit the paintings. Hit right in between." She takes a deep breath and throws the knife. I hear a quick swoop of the metal going past me and a solid thunk as the knife stuck.

Theta comes running in, holding her blue wig to her head, "what is all the commotion- oh!" She turns and sees Adley's knife, stuck into the walk, in between the two paintings. "Those paintings were gifts! I should hope you would act civilized while on your adventure to the Capitol!"

Adley and I laugh. Civilized is not how anyone would describe the Games

A/N I want to give a huge thanks to finnicko-loves-anniec for reviewing, it's really appreciated! Thank you so much for pointing out some things that I should fix! I'm working on them now! To make this clear, I didn't set this story in either Movie-verse or Book-verse, I'm just pulling ideas from both!