The 9th annual Hunger Games was coming up; the reaping ceremony was coming up tomorrow and Casca requested the top 24 students to be there for the reaping. Noelle wasn't sure as to why they wanted to have the students in Heavensbee Hall, dressed in their best attire as well and the panic was already taking place with Coriolanus. He needed to have something that covered his 'lack of wealth' persona, the blonde always worried about making a good impression on those who could give him a decent life away from being poor. 

Noelle had a simple dress planned, it wasn't anything overly flashy but it was formal enough to be accepted by the others for an event such as what they would be attending. Noelle couldn't even begin to imagine what the Districts were growing through, that kind of fear would be terrifying to constantly be worried to know if they'd be reaped for the games. 

Coriolanus stood in the doorway as she baked in the kitchen, she was resourceful with the crappy food that they had in the pantry, a better cook than anyone else in the house and it was always better than anything he'd ever attempted to make. 

"Noelle?" 

"Yes, Corio?" She smiled as she plated the bread with some porridge to the side, making four places at the table, with some glasses of water to finish the meal off. Coriolanus looked stuck in his thoughts, she approached him with a sweet smile and took his hands. 

"What's wrong?" 

"Nothing, just remembering how lucky I am that I've got you." Noelle hummed softly, resting a kiss on his lips and then brushed past him to find Tigris and Grandma'am. Coriolanus grabbed her hand, smiling softly as he drew her in for a long and gentle kiss, the brunette took a step back and left to find the two women. 

The brunette came back with the two ladies; they all sat down and the Snows instantly began complimenting Noelle for her cooking skills. What she made was far better than cabbage soup and much better than whatever Coriolanus could have ever achieved with the items they had in the kitchen. 

Noelle didn't really seem to like being given all the compliments. Mainly because she felt bad for Coriolanus as he always tried his best and she knew that they were grateful for what he made but at the same time, she could see that they were enjoying her food more than anything else. 

Coriolanus rested a hand on her knee, the small action hidden from the others under the table, Noelle bit back a smile. The blonde cleaned up for Noelle, wanting to offer her a good deed rather than her continuously doing good deeds for the family. 

The next day came quickly, Noelle was looking more and more irritated with the idea of having to watch the reaping. She stood in front of her mirror, patting down her dress, admiring herself almost in a way as if she were to be reaped into the games. A rhythmic knock filled her ears, she smiled softly and opened the door wide to see Coriolanus waiting with a rose in his hands. 

"May I?" She hummed out of habit, smiling as he tucked it behind her ear, she hooked her arm with his and grinned as he brought her close to his side. The brunette walked with Coriolanus to the Heavensbee Hall, finding their allocated seats and sat down side by side. Coriolanus could see the distaste in her eyes, she clearly did not want to be watching this or even be a part of anything involved with the games. 

24 people were reaped to participate in the games; 8 of them were young children and the others were in their teens. Noelle thought it was all over, that after they watched the children be reaped, Coriolanus and herself could go home... that wasn't the case. The brunette watched through worried eyes as her father walked to a podium, Coriolanus let his eyes trail over her, she seemed very reluctant to give her full attention to the man that destroyed her life but she watched and bit back her emotions. 

"Welcome to the reaping of the 9th annual Hunger Games." Mr Aster announced to the group; Noelle kept her gaze focused on the projector screen behind her father, His voice barely registered in her head and it was only when a few choice words escaped his lips. 

"This year for the games instead of having 24 tributes, there will be 25. I am volunteering my daughter, Noelle Aster to be that tribute." Noelle's eyes widened with dismay; Coriolanus grabbed onto her as two men from her father's troop walked over, grabbed the girl by her arms and dragged her away from Coriolanus. 

"Corio!" She cried out, thrashing in the arms of the men, trying to reach for Coriolanus as he was pushed back into his seat by her father. 

"No! Get off of me!" Noelle tried to fight her way out of the arms of the men holding her, Coriolanus was being held back by her father, all the others watched in a mixture of shock and the lack of wanting to do anything to help the girl. 

The cameras were following her actions, tears of betrayal and anger welled in her eyes. The brunette focused in on the cameras, hatred in her eyes while the emotions that were previously sadness bubbled into rage and hatred. 

"This is what the Capitol is. Not only do they kill innocent children they turn in their own just for pure spite! I am with you Districts, I will help you burn this place to the ground!" Noelle meant it, she was done and she had nothing left to give.

"They can torture you, they may bomb your homes and burn districts to the ground. But fire will catch and if you go, we go with you!" It was the last thing Noelle said before she was knocked unconscious and left to be taken away to the zoo. 

Coriolanus glared at Mr Aster. Anger evident in the young boy's eyes, Mr Aster smirked and merely shrugged at the boy. 

"I told you, if you wanted the girl to live with you, I'd collect a debt. This is my debt."

"Putting your own daughter in the games?"

"She deserves it." Coriolanus felt awful, he didn't think this would be the type of debt that Mr Aster would go for, Noelle didn't deserve to have to fight for her life, and he hated to admit that he didn't think that Noelle would be able to survive this kind of torment.