Fletcher Crane // 76th HUNGER GAMES

Jip had fainted on the spot. It wasn't unlike him, that was how Fletcher had always known him as. Though, he couldn't say he knew him; he had seen him around the school with his twin sister Mim. The Plinth twins had always seemed strange to Fletcher. They were jumpy and paranoid. He was sure just stepping foot in whatever the Arena for these Capitol children would be might kill him before the blood bath.

People are everywhere, trying to help him up, but he's out cold. In the end, they slump him against the steps and President Coin (because, of course she was to one to draw the names) plucked out the second name. Capitol children. They had always watched the Games on their high-tech gadgets and expensive television sets. Even Fletcher had, though he knew it was a terrible event. And it happened yearly! Oh, the dread he felt. And now, it was happening to people he knew and did life with. Damn the Capitol and anyone associated with it! He didn't want to be a part of anything this country did.

"Dai Crane," President Coin calls. Fletcher freezes in his spot, and so does his little brother Dai, who is standing next to him. But, Dai loosened up faster than Fletcher could and slipped through the crowd of people and into the long aisle. He took one look back at Fletcher and walked off.

Fletcher had seen last year's Games. Katniss volunteering for that little girl Primrose, who he could only guess was her sister. Dai was only 13 years old, but he had come up to Fletcher the day they found out they were reaping Capitol children this year. Dai, though very immature most of the time, told Fletcher that he didn't want him to volunteer, or to try to save him in any way. Fletcher didn't know why, but he found himself agreeing with his little brother's words. How had he grown up so fast? And, how had he missed these years with him, and realized it now when Dai's only chance in these brutal Games was to die?

Dai walked up to the stage, shoulders square. He slipped next to Coin, leaving a space for where passed-out Jip should have been, and looked forward, as if he was above the Capitol and all of it's monstrosities. Because he was, and Fletcher believed that with his whole heart.

"Creed Dolittle."

Creed could crush Dai's little skull with his forefinger and his thumb. If there were just weaklings like Jip in the Games, Dai might have had a chance. Now, Fletcher's only hope was for Creed, and any other strong tributes, to starve or get killed by someone else. Fletcher prayed to whatever God that might be out there that the odds really would be in Dai's favor.

Another boy, Dael, was called. Fletcher knew other people called him white trash, a teenage dirtbag. No one really knew anything about this weak-looking boy. His hair was always too long, even after he got haircuts, and it was always in his face. Who knew if his parents, very wealthy indeed, bought him new clothes. If they did, he only wore the same two shirts a day.

Then, Fletcher was called. He wasn't as afraid when his name was called as he was when Dai's was. Because, this seemed like a good thing to him. In a way. Now, Dai had a form of protection. Fletcher didn't have to rely on the Hunger Games gods to protect Dai; he could just do it himself. It was strange to feel relief when his name was called instead of the fear he thought he would feel. He smoothly and calmly walked the same aisle that the others had walked, and Jip had fainted on, and took his spot next to Dael.

He glanced towards Dai, but his head was still faced forward as if he had something much better to do. And, he did. He had a life to grow up and live in. He had a wife to find, children to father. He had to take care of their mother if Fletcher died in these Games. And, if Dai was going to live, Fletcher would have to die. Unless they made another one of those rules whenre two people could win. He doubted that would happen again. Now, his mother might lose a child, or two, along with her husband Seneca, who was already dead. Fletcher found himself feeling sorry for his mother, rather than himself or for Dai. At least, if they both died, they would both be free from the Capitol. They both hated the Capitol, and they had the best of it. He hated to think about what the Districts had to go through on a daily basis. They were probably rejoicing that the nasty Capitol children were getting a taste of their own medicine. Especially the Crane kids--and both of them, too!

Dune Gaul had been called next. Fletcher had done a science project with him once. Dune had done most of the research, while Fletcher had put it all together. He wasn't the most artistic or organized, but, compared to Dune, he wasn't nearly as smart. He had to take over the art part.

Then the girls had been called. Demeter Flickerman. All Fletcher had ever known of her was that people didn't think she was "beautiful." In reality, she didn't wear all the makeup and accessories as everyone else. She seemed comfortable in her own skin, and he didn't see anything wrong with that like everyone else seemed to.

Mim had been next. The Plinth twins were both in, and those were two enemies Fletcher didn't have to worry about. He hated thinking about killing any of them, so he wasn't going to. It was an "act of self defense" he thought of it. Even then, it didn't make the act any less disgusting in his mind.

Yara Highbottom, a sweet, plump, little girl had been called up next. Probably the most innocent little girl he had ever seen, Fletcher felt himself tearing up now. Not from his situation, but from hers. They were in the same position here, but her's seemed much, much worse.

Thia Heavensbee, another enemy and reason for "self defense" was called up next. He could practically feel Dai shudder two spots over. Thia, the same age as Fletcher but not necessarily as mature, was known to pester some of the kids at school. Creed was that way as well, but it seemed more intimidating when Thia did it. She was tall and angular. She and Demeter could even pass as siblings, but it seemed rude to Fletcher to associate sweet Demeter with rude Thia. She had tormented Dai his first week at the school. Fletcher wouldn't associate with her, he had decided.

Second to last was Wynter Snow, the granddaughter of recently assassinated President Snow, had been called up. She was only twelve, the youngest up there. Even younger than Dai. Fletcher couldn't see her doing any damage. She's probably be done with at the bloodbath.

Then another name was called.

"{{user}}!" President Coin had called.