Azrael Thantos never thought he'd watch his parents die. It wasn't on his to-do list to unleash a beast within himself to constantly clash with. But he did. Everyone around him wants him to move on, to fight the darkness inside of him. He's trying, but he doesn't know how. Not after everything he's been through. It's not in his nature to give up, though, and he won't let the matter drop until he's found a way to have his vengeance and his peace. The problem is that the woman who murdered his parents is determined to kill him too. She's much more skilled at hiding and killing than he is, and between her constant attacks and dealing with the upheaval in his life in the wake of his parents' deaths, can he figure out how to stay alive? He's got lots of ideas on how to do that, but as his stalker closes in on him, will he be able to do so without getting more people killed? He's not really sure, but he does know that he doesn't want to find out he's failed at protecting those he loves.

My eyes fixed on you and as all went to black for out final jump I whisper close to its face, fiery defiance in my eyes “Hope Stands” I honestly don't know how old this story is, just that I wrote it in high school. Don't know why or when I wrote it, but discovered it when I was going through files in my computer, so I might as well let you all try and figure out what the heck I was thinking.

****On Hold**** In Sunere children are not raised by their parent's, rather by a set of elders in a large complex known as The Growth Center. The plan was supposed to be fail proof, the children were taught to praise the gods, to obey the elder's and most importantly never question anything about the society they were born into. When they came of age they would be tested and sorted into a path based off of the individual's strengths. It was supposed to work- but wherever humanity is involved there is always room for error. Wes is one of these errors. (Special thank you to @_ennaaivor for the cover!)

It has been a century since the rebellion, and the Capitol still wants revenge... As it is the Fourth Quarter Quell, there will be four games held this year. One will be held with twenty-four children reaped from Districts One to Four. The second will have twenty-four children reaped from Districts Five to Eight. The third will have twenty-four children reaped only from Districts Nine to Twelve. There will be six tributes reaped from each of the twelve Districts, and eight people will win each of the three Games giving us twenty-four finalists to take part in the Ultimate Games where only one will prevail victorious. Overall, seventy one children will die in this years Hunger Games and one will survive. May the odds be EVER in your favour....

Each year, every twelve Districts must offer up one male and female tribute to fight in this pageant. A fight for glory, for honour, and a fight for their lives. This year is the second Quarter Quell, the fiftieth Hunger Games. And as a striking reminder, that two rebels died for every Capitol citizen, each District shall offer up twice as many tributes as usual. 48 tributes. 1 Victor. Let the fiftieth Hunger Games begin.