Into Thin Air: The Forty-Second Hunger Games

Chapter 9

Keylor Herald

We were almost at the edge of the District. Jansen had been hinting that we should go back for some time, but I wanted to keep going. We could be the first ones to sneak across the border and see another District. It would be super dangerous, but how cool would that be? We probably weren't even at the border anyway. We were probably just deeper into the forest than anyone had ever been. Jensen stopped and scuffed his feet in the dirt.

"Let's go back. We're going to get in big trouble," he said. It wasn't like him to be so nervous. He was always ready to try something, and he always ended up coming out on top. It drove me nuts how easy everything was for him. I was always looking for something that could get me remembered, and things just fell into his lap.

"You can go back if you want. I'm going to keep going," I said. I didn't expect Jansen to actually turn around and go, but I was happy he did. This was my chance to have something all to myself. He was going to be so mad when I found something amazing and he hadn't been there.

I wasn't scared as I went on. There were no Peacekeepers way out here. There was nothing out here but trees and mysteries. There could be anything so far out here in the woods. There could be an unexploded mine from the Dark Days, or a cave that lead all the way to the Capitol. And whatever it was would be my discovery.

I heard it before I saw it. That loud, rushing noise could only be one thing. I pushed some branches out of the way and stepped into a clearing, revealing a waterfall. It was the tallest one I'd ever seen, and it seemed to emerge impossibly from what looked like a smooth rock face. It ended in a pool far too small to hold all the water, indicating that it was on top of an impenetrable network of underground channels.

I felt drunk as I looked at it, not that I'd ever been drunk before. All my life, there had always been someone faster, or smarter, or stronger. Usually it was Jansen, even though he didn't do it on purpose. This time, I was the one who found something. I'd done it before Jansen or anyone else. I was the first one to see this waterfall since maybe the Dark Days. It could be mine forever if I wanted. The only way anyone else would know would be if I chose to tell them.

There was a glittering pebble at the edge of the pool. I picked it up and held it to the light, sending sparkles into the air. Now that I'd finally felt the rush of excitement and accomplishment that came from being the best, I wanted to feel it again and again. I'd do anything to get that feeling again.

Violet Robbins

Ants and bees are about the only insects that stay with their families. I didn't have a beehive, but I did have an ant farm. I collected all the ants myself with my father's help, and they lived in a big jar in my room. They had lots of neat tunnels, and I could see the queen in one of the chambers. She worked all day, but she was never too busy to see her family. She didn't have carvings to work on, carvings that were more important than her eggs.

The ants didn't have to worry about Reapings. Crow, Lilly and me did. With my big sister Savannah in her own house, I was the mother. We had a real mother, but she was at her shop. She had to support the family, and she loved her art so much. So I took over and made sure everyone was ready. Dad usually did all the family stuff, but on Reaping day he stayed in his room. He was tenderhearted. He didn't want us to see what he looked like.

"What if I get in the wrong line? Will they shoot me?" Lilly asked.

"Don't worry. They're Peacekeepers. They keep the peace," I said. I knew how ridiculous it was in real life, but Lilly was little enough she might possibly still have some faith.

"What if I get Reaped?" she asked.

"I'll take care of it," I said. I shouldn't have been so optimistic. I didn't know what I'd do if she got Reaped. I didn't know if I'd be brave enough to volunteer.

"What if you get Reaped?" Lilly asked.

"Guess I'll have to eat bugs," I said. I liked bugs, but if it was them or me, I was eating me some ants. I was relieved when Lilly laughed.

"If I get Reaped, you'll have to take care of all my bugs until I get back. Even Flora," I said, referring to my yellow garden spider.

"Eww!" Lilly said, but she was smiling. I didn't have to worry about Crow. He was older than me, and he took care of himself. He was already talking about getting his own house.

After I was separated from Lilly and placed in my own line at the Reaping, I tried to think about something else. There was a crack in Jager the mantis' jar. I needed to fix it somehow. I could try using some of Mom's wood glue. That would probably stick. The problem was solved, but I kept thinking of alternate ways. I could use mud, but that would fall off when it dried. I could try to find a new jar if I had to. I could use tape. I tried to think of as many different ways as I could. Anything to keep my mind of the name on that slip of paper.

Violet is normal height with freckles, short light brown hair, and hazel eyes. Keylor is Hispanic with wavy hair and lean strength.