Ethan Wilson Grey's Story

Ethan felt the bottom drop out of his stomach as his littlest brother, Sam was chosen from the reaping bowl.
Ethan's normally congenial expression melted into a stony mask of locked emotion as Sam began to make his way up to the stage in front of the Justice Building.
Ethan took a step out of line, intending to go after his brother.
In that singular movement he caught his father's eye; in a moment Ethan saw the fear and distress in him, and in his mother's demeanor by his side.
His mind was made up.
As he moved the peacekeepers in the center isle of the capitol corral began to move towards him with the obvious intention of restraining him. But with three long purposeful strides he reached his brother, touching him gently on the shoulder and then quickly sliding his body in front of him.
Taking a deep, shaky breath he turned his face from his brothers shocked expression, "I Volunteer!" he shouted up to the brightly colored woman on the stage.
He turned back to his brother, he could see tears brimming in the little boys eyes "Why?" was all he managed to get out before the waterfall of tears and hiccups began.
"I couldn't let you go," said Ethan simply, his voice strangled with sorrow and anger.
"Come on boy," came the gruff voice of the nearest peacekeeper, "Go find mom and dad, Sam!" Ethan shouted as the peacekeepers formed a wall between them.
"Ethan!" Sam cried out as they lost each other in the sea of peacekeepers, he heard the panic and despair in the child's voice.
There was nothing he could do, he might as well have signed his own execution papers.
The world went glassy and hollow as he was lead by rough gloved hands towards the stage.
Unceremoniously they shoved him up the first step and he nearly lost his footing.
"What's your name son?" came the high trill of the brightly colored capital woman who offered him a hand as he reached the top of the steps.
"Ethan Grey" he said, no emotion traveling in his voice at all as he regained his footing, disregarding the woman's offered hand. As he finished making his way to the male tributes position on the stage, the woman continued to chatter away. As the seconds of silent attention ticked by her voice grew more hollow and distant as all of the implications of his actions began to cascade through his mind. He felt himself begin to fail as the outside world disappeared and he begin to shut down emotionally. All he could think as he was lead into the justice building was, what have I done?.
The waiting room inside the justice building was luxurious, but it was all lost on Ethan as he sat with his head in his hands waiting for his family, Sam and Asher, his middle brother, burst through the door, startling him.
They stopped just a few inches before him; they had obviously been crying and it seemed, tears were still leaking slowly from the corners of Sam's eyes.
Without a moment more hesitation they flung their arms around Ethan in unison.
Ethan heard the floorboards creak as his parents slid through the heavy doors and behind them he heard the peacekeeper say something about 5 minutes.
He stood, his brothers removing their arms as he rose, "Foolish boy!" cried his mother, Whitney, as she rushed forward to embrace him, pain thick in her voice.
He moved into her outstretched arms, "I-I couldn't let them take hi-im" he said his voice breaking as the emotions he had been struggling to control overwhelmed him.
"I know, I know" she said in a low soothing voice, shushing his tightly controlled hysterics.
She pulled him close wrapping him in her strong safe presence guiding them over to the couch to sit, "You are my strong courageous boy, you'll be okay" she said "you'll be okay" she said again more of a whisper this time unable to hold back the emotion that she was feeling.
A minute passed as she held him tightly rocking together slowly back and forth, his hiccuping sobs muffled by his mothers reaping day blouse.
His Father, Noah cleared his throat gently and his mother finally released him, Ethan rose from the couch on shaky legs.
"I'll be stronger dad, I-I promise I'll be stronger" he said, still having trouble controlling his voice
"I know you will son" he said Ethan's grey eyes eyes swam as his father moved to embrace him " Take this ring, and you carry our whole family with you," he pressed the small cold titanium ring into his hand as he wrapped his arms around Ethan "Take this ring and come back to us; come back to us a victor!" he said, fire burning in his fathers eyes "Your Grandfather would be so proud of you! You carry his courage in that ring"
Ethan opened his palm and examined the ring in his hand, it was an elegant yet masculine thing, the gold and silver inlay shining in the light, the candles from the chandelier above them twinkling in the reflection on its surface, "I-" he said, his voice breaking - "don't"- his father interjected, \ putting an end to the conversation. Ethan turned to his brothers, "Sam, Asher you'll take care of mom for me won't you? keep the house clean and don't do anything I wouldn't do" he said the barest hint of a smile forming in the corners of his mouth.
"Times up" Came the voice of a peacekeeper through the door and without a further word they were lead out and the heavy door was shut on his future. With a stuttering breath he watched as his family filed out of the room Sam and Asher leaving last as they stole what could be their last look at their brother in person.
He thought back to the girl, what was her name again? Aster, maybe?, on the stage with him and he began to wonder how she had fared through this whole ordeal.

Ethan sat quietly, slowly turning the ring his family had given him over between his fingers, absently concentrating on how the cold smooth metal was beginning to grow warm in his grasp. He stared blankly at the door through which the peacekeepers had ushered his family only a few minutes earlier. His stony emotionally void expression was back in place though his cheeks were still damp from crying and his eyes held less of the feverishly fearful spark they had had when he was chosen. Now they held a resigned agony and profound despair that made it hard for Ethan to think, let alone devise any sort of strategy for the games. Soon the peacekeepers came again and called for him to follow him to the carriage so they could be on their way to the train. he didn't move. The second command to get up and follow the peacekeepers resulted similarly in very little action, only the brief flicker of his eyes moving to look at them for a moment ensued. finally the head peacekeeper took him roughly by the shoulders and lead him out towards the carriage. climbing in he sat in the far seat and waited for Aster to join him.
As soon as he was within earshot Effie their capitol mentor began speaking to him rapidly. None of what she said registered, Ethan turned his limited attention to Heymitch the only person to ever have won the games from his district. Silently he let his gaze pour over the drunken mentor. His unblinking unfocused gaze did not falter.

Aster's mind was a turmoil of thoughts as she was ushered onto the train carriage, but none of this showed on her face which was nothing but blankness.
"Oh, there she is!" cried Effie excitedly at the sight of Aster. Aster just blinked at her slowly, for a moment, before she glanced around to take in her surroundings. She couldn't hide the amazed look on her face, her eyes widening slightly as she saw just how luxurious it all was.
"Quite lovely, isn't it? Yes, really quite excellent, actually!" With a too-wide grin on her face, Effie gave a small, delighted clap and then got up and made her way across the train carriage, over to Aster. "Thank you fellas, but I'll take it from here." the woman told the peacekeepers with a smile before she took Aster by the arm and led her over to the area where her district partner was sitting, as well as a man who she only assumed to be Haymitch, her mentor.
"Certainly you've met Ethan already, yes? Good." said Effie, not even waiting for Aster's answer. Aster glanced over at Ethan for a brief moment as Effie talked, but then looked away almost immediately so she wouldn't risk making eye contact.
A few long moments passed with no one saying a word, and of course it was Effie who dove in to break the silence, "Well Aster, have a seat." Effie patted on a plump looking chair and Aster sat down on it quietly, keeping her gaze down towards the floor.
"Well you two, I'm sure you've heard of him before, but this is Haymitch, and of course, he will be your mentor in this years games. And might I say, you two are in excellent hands with him." Effie had the same overly large smile plastered on her face the entire time she spoke. Aster looked up at Haymitch, blinking a few times. He looked different than she had imagined him, and even though she didn't like to judge people at a first glance, she had to wonder if what Effie said was true.
"W-well..." said Effie, obviously starting to feel a little ill-at-ease with all the silence. We'll be getting to the capitol quite soon... How about you two talk, get to know each other, yes? You're district partners! Certainly it will be to your advantage if you're familiar with each other, won't it?" Effie's gaze darted between them, and Aster found it quite amusing how uncomfortable she seemed to be, finally realizing how she had just been chirping on and on and on. "Oh yes, and of course, you can talk with Haymitch as well, maybe start planning how your training will go. He is here to help you, after all." Aster noticed Effie give him a look that she thought almost seemed like a warning. She furrowed her brows in thought as she looked down at the floor.
"O-oh yes, and help yourself to some food as well... As much as your heart desires!" Effie added lastly. Then she took a few steps back before turning and prancing off somewhere else. Aster watched her leave and then turned around again. She lowered her head slightly as if she was looking at the floor, but she brought her gaze up to look between Ethan and Haymitch, back and forth between them, waiting for one of them to say something. She certainly knew it she wouldn't be the first to crack.