The screen brightens, going from a solid black to a lighter color before the image comes in. The announcer welcomes everyone to the "beginning of the 36th Contest of Champions!" Then he introduces District 1 and the recap of their Reaping begins to play.

The scene shifts, showing the landscape of Wakanda, District 1. The large, stone statue of a panther slides before the camera, the grass plains coming into focus as the drums start to play, the African music pounding through the speakers.

The camera switches view to the top of a waterfall, where the district is gathered for the Reaping. Warrior Falls, I believe it is called. T'Chaka stands in the shallow water near the edge of the waterfall, spray misting over his back as he faces his people. To his right stands his queen, Ramonda. To his left are the proud former champions of Wakanda.

First, there is Zuri, who now advises T'Chaka. Next to him stands T'Challa, Shuri beside him. They are siblings, children of T'Chaka. Two children, two champions. I feel like sometimes they're the reason Odin wanted me to volunteer, so he could have three children and three champions. Like Asgard, District 1 only has three champions in total.

The Reaping begins, Okoye of the Dora Milaje being called as the female contender and Erik Killmonger as the male one. The announcer mentions both of the contenders' experience with battle and trained fighting, saying Wakanda's chances are "very good this year."

District 2 is next, which is HYDRA. Red Skull rules this district, which is very in league with Thanos, as Red Skull owes his return to the regular world to the Titan. Hela told me once that Red Skull had fooled around with the Tesseract before Thanos had taken it and had been yanked out of the world, deposited who knows where. Captain America had fought with him, years before Thanos, and it was that battle that sent him into the ice.

Former champions of the district ruled now by HYDRA include James Barnes, Bruce Banner, Ava Starr, and Darren Cross. This district has a good winning streak, with four champions total. District 3 has the best record out of all the districts, but HYDRA's champions usually are good at putting on a show. Theatrical, you might call them.

The female called up is Natasha Romanoff. As she comes forward, red hair curling off her shoulders, I instantly see a threat in her. The way she holds herself, the way she moves, is all an indication of the deadly weapon she is. She'll be another favorite.

The male's name read sentences a Cooper Barton to compete in the Contest. A young boy, probably fifteen at most, begins the walk up to the platform when a man, short and sturdy, races up to the boy and cuts in front of him, arms spread out to protect him. There's a fire blazing in his eyes, his features resembling Cooper's closely.

"I volunteer!" he shouts loudly, as if making sure nobody can be mistaken as to his intent.

I lean forward. Another enemy. "He's got heart," I murmur.

The volunteer turns out to be the boy's father, Clint Barton. When he and Natasha acknowledge each other, the microphone barely catches the words from the redhead, "Just like Budapest."

"You and I remember Budapest very differently," Clint shoots back quietly.

District 3 is next, otherwise known as SHIELD. Alexander Pierce and the World Security Council sit in a half-circle on a large platform before the people of the district. The champions, Hank Pym, Sam Wilson, Scott Lang, Steve Rogers, and Hope Van Dyne stand behind the Council. This is the favored district, having five champions, the most any district has ever gained.

"Cassie Lang!"

The words summon a young girl, fifteen, who walks stiffly up to the platform as a scream comes from a blonde woman near the edge of the crowd. She tries to run forward but a man darts after her and grabs her waist, holding her back.

"Cassie!" she screams, struggling to free herself as the man, his own expression fearful, maintains his grip on her. "Cassie, no!"

Cassie's face is petrified, but she's not crying. She casts one look back at the woman who can only be her mother before continuing her journey up to the platform. The announcer murmurs that Cassie Lang is indeed the daughter of Scott Lang, and the cameras switch to his face, which has been drained of blood as he watches Cassie climb the stairs and cast a frightened look over at him. He mouths the words, "Hi, Peanut," and I can tell he's trying not to cry, that he's trying to be brave for his daughter.

There are no volunteers. Her mother tries, but she's just barely outside of the age limit. The Peacekeepers have to drag Maggie Lang out of sight to maintain order.

The other champions keep silent, their silence sympathy for Scott's plight. I can't help but compare his reaction, and Clint Barton's reaction, to their children being reaped to my father's own wish for me to volunteer. But the Reaping moves on, away from Cassie, away from my thoughts, as the second contender, Brock Rumlow, an adult, is chosen and the recap of District 4's Reaping starts.

Howard Stark governs in Four, which is often just called the Stark District or the Warmonger District, due to their position as weapon makers for Thanos. Previous champions Peggy Carter, James Rhodes, Tony Stark, and Pepper Potts circle behind Howard Stark as first Sharon Carter and then a teenage kid, Peter Parker, are selected as this year's contenders. Peter's aunt May gives him a firm smile and holds her clasped hands up for him to see as Happy Hogan, Four's escort, gives Peter a worried look from his position center stage.

Next, the Sanctums, or District 5; it's where the Masters of the Mystic Arts ended up. Nowadays, we call them DimJumps, short for Dimensional Jumpers. Like Asgard, they often carry the blame for our loss to Thanos, hence the malicious intent in their nickname. The Ancient One is in charge here, and she stands before the people as the names are called. Christine Palmer and Wong. Kaecilius, Karl Mordo, and Stephen Strange watch as the contenders come forward, a sense of grimness clinging to all three of them.

Jotunheim, District 6, is next and the frost giants' king Laufey looks on as two contenders are chosen, the two champions standing stiffly by. I only remember the male's name, Raze. Then District 7, Sokovia.

Helen Cho is called forward, followed by Pietro Maximoff. His sister, Wanda, blanches from the platform beside Helmut Zemo, the two of them standing near Baron Wolfgang von Strucker, the governor of Sokovia. I see the former champion's fists clench, her fingers taking on a momentary scarlet glow. This must be her brother. Pietro glances over at her, giving her a reassuring smile as he ascends the platform.

Hala, capital of the Kree Empire, is next, District 8. They are ruled by Supreme Intelligence and by a Kree Emperor. Three champions call Hala home: Ronan the Accuser, Korath the Pursuer, and Minn-Erva. They look on as the name of the female contender is read. I don't recognize the name – Vers, pronounced like "Veers," but I do recognize her.

Hay bales. A hot summer day. A racetrack with children competing in go-carts.

I find myself inadvertently leaning forward and jerk back, composing myself. I know her. I know Vers. Veers. I decide to change the spelling of her name in my head simply because I like the look of the double "e" better than just the one before I realize I shouldn't care how her name is spelled, because she's going to have to die if I want to go home. But it sticks in my head, Veers, and I know that's how I'll always think of her from now on. Before, she had just been the girl who got up.

Her district partner is Yon-Rogg, and the two congratulate each other on their supposedly good luck on getting selected. The announcer says the two of them belong to Starforce, just like the other three champions from Hala.

I'm barely over the shock of seeing Veers again when District 9, the Nova Empire, pops up and Irani Rael is shown beside champions Yondu Udonta and Peter Quill. Xandar is the capital of the Nova Empire, but they also house refugees who used to dwell on Fallen planets. The two contenders chosen, Mantis and Drax, are both from Fallen planets.

District 10, called the Life Foundation because its governor is Carlton Drake and that's his organization, sees Dora Skirth, a skittish looking scientist who casts a betrayed look at Drake when her name is called, and Cletus Kasady, a redheaded serial killer in a prison jumpsuit, join the contender line up. Ten has two previous champions, Annie Weying and Eddie Brock, who watch the proceedings with concern – especially after Kasady's name is called.

Vanaheim, District 11, gives us two more contenders. I instantly forget the female's name when the male is called, for it's Hogun, one of Thor's best friends. So now I've got to outlive and possibly kill two of my brother's companions, face a serial killer, fight Starforce, beat the brother of a mutant who might possibly be one himself, take on two militarily trained Wakandans, and take out a pair of humans who have some connection to Budapest. And that's not even taking all of the contenders into account. Who knows what skills and weapons they will all bring to the arena?

Asgard comes on next, and I watch Sif come forward and then hear Heimdall's name called. Seeing myself volunteer, anger flying across my face, makes me look actually pretty fierce. Then my composure kicks in and I appear aloof. Then there's another flash of what's under my controlled expression when Asgard bows to me, an impressive show of respect in the massive, elegant throne room. I am the only adult contender who caused any sort of unusual commotion with the onlookers.

Then the recaps are over. The screen returns to black. And I am left with the knowledge of twenty-two of my other competitors.

There's twenty-three people I am going to have to make sure don't make it home so that I do. And each and every single one of them will be trying their utmost to ensure I don't survive, either.