All around me there is silence. I don't move, in fact, I'm not even sure I'm taking air into my lungs. The only thing I am doing is trying to hold onto reality. Again the voice of Licia Canistri, the District 5 escort, reaches my ears, "Where is Alvera Arca? Come on up, honey." I quickly send a look of distress to my twin brother, Izel, who is stand just across the isle. I can see his eyes are widened by surprise as well. I can see the horror in them. I know that mine hold the same emotion. My name has been called. I am going to die.

I stutter as I say, "I-I-I'm here. Over here." Without my knowledge my feet begin to move toward the stairs of the giant, brick building ahead of me. I am aware of cameras flashing, some capitol reporter is capturing this moment. That image will be around for the rest of my life and beyond that. I am not going to be alive much longer.

I am standing at the top of the stairs, my mind blank. It's time to choose the male tribute for the 73rd annual Hunger Games, or as I call them, the Murder Games. As Licia's purple painted finger nails reach the slips of paper that hold peoples lives, only then do I start to hope that Izel and our little brother, Alexander ( we call him Xander) don't get called. That would mean that my parents would be losing not only their daughter, but also one of their sons. That would destroy them.

As Licia begins to speak again, I close my eyes. It can't be either one of them. Please God no. Please! "Killian Frazier, please come on up! You, too, have the wonderful opportunity to represent District 5 in the Hunger Games!" Wonderful? Did she just call getting the death sentence wonderful? Some one needs to shut her up and teach her the meaning of wonderful. Wonderful is the smell after a heavy rain on a hot day, wonderful is finding out that the guy you like likes you back. Being forced to participate in an event where you have to kill other kids your own age? Not so much.

After Killian reaches the top step, we shake hands. Looking him right in his dark blue eyes I say quietly, "Let's just hope it's not painful." He knows exactly what I mean. I mean that I hope our deaths are painless and quick, compared to slow and brutal. And I know he heard me because he laughs softly. He thinks that's funny? He thinks that our promised death is funny. God help this kid.

We are ushered into the Justice building and up the stairs to say our finally good byes. This next hour is going to be absolute hell.

_AUTHOR'S NOTE_

Hey everyone! Thanks for reading this first chapter, I hope you liked it and it was worth your time. I am using names from Latin, Celtic, Aztec, and Greek origins right now. You can use them if you want to, just credit me in the authors note and send me a pm. There will be a another chapter up soon, I promise. I hope to have one up by Saturday.

Again, I hope you liked the first chapter of A Run In With Death! You should definitely review! Key word in that sentence is REVIEW! Tell me if it's awful, good, needs nor purple carnivorous unicorns, anything!

DFTBA (Don't Forget To Be Awesome)!