Lethal Lovers / Cato Hadley

Chapter 1

From the Treaty of Treason: In penance for their uprising, each district shall offer up a male and female between the ages of 12 and 18 at a public "Reaping." These Tributes shall be delivered to the custody of The Capitol. And then transferred to a public arena where they will Fight to the Death until a lone victor remains. Henceforth and forevermore, this pageant shall be known as The Hunger Games

Azalea Hawthorne

Posy stirred beside me, I held her close, stroking her hair and singing the Meadow song, Posy's favourite to help her get back asleep. I was so glad Posy wasn't old enough to be entered for the games, although for Katniss's sister Primrose, was her first year.

My name had been entered forty two times, same as my twin brother Gale. When our father died we helped our mum take over the house, I helped mum with the kids and her laundry business after school, Gale was due to start working in the mines in a few months.

"Zeze?" Posy asked sleepily, I looked down at her and pressed a soft kiss to her head. "Would you like to go down for breakfast?" I asked and she nodded, I picked her up and placed her on my hip. I peered into Gale's room but his bed was empty - he'd probably gone hunting with Katniss.

I placed her down on the kitchen table and started to prepare some breakfast for Posy, which consisted of grain mushed together with water, she eat her breakfast and chatted to me about what she would do if she was rich.

Gale came back as I was doing dishes and he kissed my head, pulling out two hares. "Oh my god, Gale!" I gushed, holding one of the hares. "We will have a proper tea!" I laughed and he smirked, rolling his eyes. "The tub's run in if you want to jump in first." I said but he shook his head. "You get in, I'll keep an eye on Posy." Gale said and I nodded, finishing the last dish before heading to the bathroom to wash.

I scrubbed every inch of my skin, including my nails and hair. This was the only time we got a proper wash as it was Reaping Day, I dried myself and got into my best dress, it was one my mother had made and it had beautiful ruffles on the front. I pulled on my shoes and mother plaited my hair into a halo braid all around my head.

"I wish I looked like you." Posy whispered and I kissed her forehead. "I wished I looked like you." I said and she smiled when Gale pulled out a pin. "I got you this from the hob, it's for good luck." Gale said and handed me a beautiful gold pin, it was a Mockingjay, I pinned it on my dress and hugged my brother tightly,

The horn sounded, I looked at Gale who placed his hands on my shoulders. "We'll be okay." Gale said and I nodded. We walked to the Justice Building with mom and the kids, I gave the woman my finger so she could take some blood to hold me accounted for. I found my best friend, Mabel in our section and pulled her into a tight hug.

"How's Martha?" I asked as it was her younger sister's first reaping, she sighed. "She's so nervous, but I told her it wouldn't be her chosen as her names only in their once. The odds are entirely in her favour." Mabel said and I rubbed her shoulder soothingly, Mabel had to work as she lost her father in the same mine explosion that killed mine, and lost her mother to shingles soon after so she had to work before any of us to take care of Martha.

Gale and I helped her with game, as she cleaned houses for merchants. Effie Trinket, our district escort went onto the stage and tapped the microphone to get our attention. "Welcome! Welcome, welcome. Happy Hunger Games, and may the odds be ever in your favor. Now, before we begin, we have a very special film brought to you all the way from the Capitol."

I looked over at Gale and he smirked. 'War, Terrible War...' Gale mouthed and I smirked at my brother, then turned back to face the front to watch the video they played every year on how The Hunger Games came about. "I just love that! Now, the time has come for us to select one courageous young man and woman for the honor of representing District 12 in the 74th Annual Hunger Games. As usual, ladies first." Effie gushed and my face paled, she dug into the bowl and pulled out a name. "Martha Orion!" I looked over at my best friend who stumbled as her sister walked towards the Peacekeepers.

"I volunteer!" I shrieked, pushing Martha out the way. "No, Azalea!" Mabel begged but I pushed Martha back. "You two only have each other, I volunteer as tribute!" I cried, Martha and Mabel were hugging each other and crying as I walked towards the stage. "I believe we have a volunteer, Mr. Mayor." Effie said as I was lead onto the stage.

"A dramatic turn of events here on District 12. Yes, well. District 12's very first volunteer! Come on dear. What's your name?" Effie asked and I gulped, I looked towards Gale whose face was pale. "Azalea Hawthorne." I said and she smiled widely. "Well, I bet my hat. That was your sister, wasn't it?" Effie asked and I shook my head. "My best friend's little sister." I said and Effie gushed. "Let's have a big hand for our very first volunteer, Azalea Hawthorne."

"And now, for the boys. Henry Edison. Here we are. Our Tributes from District 12. Well, come on you two. Shake hands." Effie said and I shook hands with Henry who was in my year at school. "Happy Hunger Games. And be the odds be ever in your favour!" Effie gushed and we were ushered into the Justice Building. "Why did you do that? You're so stupid!" Gale hurried over and pulled me into a hug.

"Martha doesn't have anyone else, she only has Mabel. I had to volunteer." I said and he squeezed me tighter. "Please try and win, maybe you can!" Posy cried, climbing on my lap. "Maybe I can, I'm smart you know?" I said and she chuckled. "You can hunt." Posy whispered and I nodded, bringing her into a tight hug.

"You'll be great sis." Rory said and hugged me with Vick, I kissed both my younger brothers on the head. "I love you." Mom whispered as she pulled me into a tight hug, I buried my head into her hair and squeezed her tight. The door opened revealing the peacekeepers, I sighed as they pulled me into a family hug before heading outside.

"Why did you do that?" Mabel asked, she had fresh tear stains on her cheeks. "I couldn't leave Martha alone, she only has you. My mom has Gale, and the other kids." I whispered and she pulled me into a extremely tight hug. "I'm sorry Zeze..." Martha cried but I hugged her tight. "Please try and win." Martha said and I nodded, suddenly feeling anxious.