Safe and Sound

Prologue (14 years old)

Noel woke up with a start as Tyler and his sister Renee flopped onto his bed. He laughed as his little sister snuggled into him and wrapped an arm around her, getting a good look at her. "You look adorable, 'Nee," he said, noticing she was wearing one of the few good dresses she owned, a blue and white one their mom had made for her. Tyler nodded, hugging her proudly. "She let me pick it out for her. Your dad wanted Renee and I to get you up, since we need to head to the square in a few minutes." Noel realized what he meant and his smile faded a bit. Today was the reaping for the 65th Hunger Games. It was Renee's first reaping. Most of District 2 would be crowded today, since they were one of the few districts that considered being reaped an honor. Noel Foster, his sister Renee and Tyler, his best friend, were three of the few people in Two that didn't look forward to the Games each year. After Noel took a bath and dressed, the three went down to meet their father for breakfast. The Fosters were one of the few families in the District who didn't have to worry about starving since Joseph was a merchant and was able to make enough money to support his family. Noel would start working with his father when he reached 15 years old.

While they ate, no one spoke about the Hunger Games or the reaping, out of respect for Renee who was extremely nervous as this would be her first year eligible. Despite Tyler and Noel's reassurance that she likely wouldn't be reaped and if she was there would be a volunteer, she was still scared. Noel looked at Tyler, and the two of them took each other's hands, and both took one of Renee's hands. "Let's make a promise, right here, right now. No matter who is called up today, whether it's me, Tyler or you, no one at this table will volunteer to go up on that stage," Noel said. Renee looked at him, confused. "You guys can't volunteer for me, though," she said, her voice high because she was so nervous. Tyler nodded, puzzled. "Yeah, the only way we can keep her out of the Games is if another girl volunteers for her," he added. Noel nodded. "But the only way you WOULD get called up is if you're reaped. You think they'd let a 12 year old go into the games when there's careers who have been training for this for years?" Noel was confident that there would be volunteers for Renee; Most of his classmates had made it clear that they were planning to volunteer this year. "What about you and Tyler? I don't want you getting reaped either," Renee cried, pulling Noel into a tight hug. Noel held her, kissing her on the forehead. Since their mother had died, Noel and Renee had become extremely close, and just as close to their father. Tyler Abbott had been a member of the family since he was 11, when Noel's dad decided he didn't deserve to be in a home where he would be neglected and abused, and he didn't want to see him put in an orphanage. So the only solution that worked was for the Fosters to take Tyler in with them. The boy was 13 now, and happier than he'd ever been. As far as Renee was concerned, Tyler was as much her brother as Noel was. He still had some scars (emotional and physical) that were still healing, but he was better off than he'd ever been.

Tyler hugged Renee when Noel let her go. "I promise, Renee, if I get reaped, I will fight to get home to you and Tyler," he said. "Daddy too?" Renee asked innocently. Noel smiled, "Daddy too." He kissed her on the forehead. Tyler smiled. "Same with me, 'Nee," he added. Renee looked at them, smirking. "You'd better. And if I DO get reaped and you cry during any part I will haunt you forever!" Noel and Tyler burst out laughing, the tension starting to break. They heard the alarm announcing that the reaping was beginning. Noel looked at his sister and best friend, taking a deep breath. "Ready?" Tyler nodded, but said, "No, not at all." Renee just looked pale and started shaking a bit as they walked towards the square, all three of them holding each other's hands tightly. "You won't get picked, I promise, Renee," Noel assured his sister as they stood in line. Tyler put his hands on the little girl's shoulders. "Courage, Renee, remember?" he said. He looked at Noel, blue eyes determined. "Neither of us volunteers, right?" Noel nodded his head, not trusting himself to speak. As they waited in line to be signed in, Renee fidgeted, but she stayed close to Tyler and Noel, not trusting anyone else enough. Their father stood with the other parents, next to no emotion on his face. Renee looked over at him and he smiled reassuringly at her.

Tyler didn't see his parents, and in all honesty he didn't want to. They had lost the right to see him when he moved in with the Fosters. They hadn't even said good-bye when he left; he didn't even think they noticed he was gone. Noel looked at his best friend. "You okay?" he asked gently, noticing Tyler looked a bit sad. Tyler shook his head. "I'm okay. I thought I'd seen my parents, but they're not even over there." Noel looked and saw Tyler's father (though he'd lost the right to that title when he started smacking his son around, in Noel's opinion) but he didn't bother to point him out. Tyler didn't need that kind of pain, not now. "Next!" The line had gotten to them and Renee was first. She shrank back, but Noel and Tyler helped her over. The peacekeeper simply pricked her finger and took her finger prints, and waved her off. "Go on, Renee, Ty and I are right here." Tyler was next, and the peacekeeper did the same to him and Noel, not even acknowledging them. District Two may have been Capitol pets, but Noel had no respect for any of them and he didn't show any to the peacekeeper now. Ripping his hand away as they were waved away, he and Tyler stood in their respective groups, the moment they broke apart the only time they stopped holding hands.

They all stood there for about five minutes, waiting for the mayor and the existing victors of Two (and there were a lot actually, Noel didn't think half of them were even on stage) to come on the stage. The escort for Two, a tall young woman with bright reddish pink hair and way too much makeup walked on stage, though Noel had no idea how she COULD walk with those heels. She smiled at the crowd and clapped her hands happily, and Noel stifled a groan. "Welcome to the reaping for the 65th annual Hunger Games! I am the escort for District Two, Chandler Taylor. Now, before we begin, I have a short film from the Capitol for you to watch. Mayor Wilson?" She stepped aside and the film started. The film they were forced to watch each year and that Noel knew by heart at this point. He looked over at Tyler and rolled his eyes as the film started, wishing that he was able to hold the younger boy's hand. At the end of the film, Noel started to become nervous. This was it. Chandler smiled and clapped happily at the end of the film, and then moved to the two glass bowls that held the children of District Two's fate. "As always, ladies first!" she chirped, moving to the first bowl. Noel could see Renee closing her eyes. Chandler picked a piece of paper out and opened it. "And the female tribute for the 65th Annual Hunger games is..." she paused for effect and Noel willed Renee's name NOT to be on that paper... "Venus Harper!"

Noel looked up, seeing the shot of the tall blonde haired girl that was just picked, seeing her practically run up to the stage. The huge, happy smile on her face was sickening. She wanted to be in the games. Chandler's smile never wavered as she shook Venus' hand and the girl stood to the side. "And now for the boys!" Chandler moved to the other bowl and swirled her hand around for a moment. Noel could see Tyler close his eyes, and he did as well... "Colin --" Suddenly a voice rang out amongst the older boys, "I volunteer as tribute!" Everyone looked to see who had spoken up. The young man, who looked about seventeen and was built like a brick wall almost, didn't even wait for the peace keepers to get the crowd under control before marching up to the stage. Chandler looked surprised at how aggressive he seemed as he got up on stage. "Well, looks like we have a volunteer this year!" Chandler said cheerfully and Noel heaved a sigh in relief. It wasn't him, Tyler or Renee, he chanted to himself. It wasn't him, Tyler or Renee. It wasn't him, Tyler or Renee... "What's your name, son?" Chandler asked gently, seeming afraid of the large boy. "Titus Cahill," he said, seeming unaffected by the crowd, almost acting like they were beneath him. Noel shuddered, knowing that name. Cahill's brother Colin was his biggest bully. His eyes went cold. He hoped Titus was killed first. When Chandler introduced the tributes for District Two, Noel, Tyler and Renee were the few who didn't clap or cheer. At least it wasn't one of them this year.