Author's Note: This is a collab story by myself(Rio2016Archer) and Yet to be Broken. :D
Ryker(District 3 Boy) By: Rio2016Archer
"Ryk!" Rydella's voice called making me grin.
I looked away from the algorithims I was working on and over to where she was standing, "Hey, Ry!"
"How's it going?" Rydella strolled over and sat on my desk.
"Better." I looked down at the papers that were strewn upon my desk and the floor before looking back at her.
"Better? Ryker, I can't even begin to understand this stuff."
"Me either."
"What don't you understand?"
"Why it isn't working."
"It'll come together. Now, your brother wants to have dinner with us. Your advanced algorithms can wait."
"But-"
"Ryker."
"Okay, fine."
Rydella jumped off my desk and pulled me out of the chair I was sitting in. I sighed and began tidying the desk before she grabbed both of my hands, "Leave it."
"Rydella..." I began looking at the very stressful organizational disaster that was my desk.
"It'll be fine. It won't kill you," Rydella teased me pulling our hands to her chest.
"It might," I replied pulling her closer to me.
"It might?" she asked softly wrapping her arms around my neck.
I grinned as our lips met for a split second before I heard my brother's voice behind the door, "Ryker!"
"Coming, Rocky!" I replied to him.
I stood impatiently at the mayor's desk tapping my foot nervously. Why was I summoned here? The mayor entered and took his seat, "Sit down, Ryker."
I sat, "Why am I here?"
"The Capitol has sent the grades back, Ryker. You are in the top one percent of your class and they like your program the best, your program was selected," the mayor explained.
"Seriously? That's amazing! Wow. I'm honored. Thank you so much."
"Ryker! Come help your brother with his school work," my mother called.
"Alright, Mom!" I exited my room and sat next to my brother, "What's the problem, bud?"
"I don't understand this."
I glanced at his paper:
Graph: y5x-9
I spoke, "This is an inequality, Rock. Remember slope intercept form?" He nodded, "Graph it as if the inequality was an equal sign. When you're done, shade where y is greater than -9."
"Thank you, Ryker."
"No problem, Rocky."
Today was the one day of the year where I got to lock myself in my room and not be bothered. Today was the day my father died. It was my fault. I was six and he wanted me to experiment with a faulty landmine from his work. He knew I was smart but he wanted to know how smart. He gave it to me and guided me through it. Until I hit the wrong wire and it started beeping. My dad told me to run. I ran. Then... It blew. I didn't know what to do. I didn't know. It was my fault he died.
"Rydella," I pulled her against my chest, "No matter what happens today, I love you."
"I love you too, Ryker." She kissed my cheek and we parted ways.
We connected our eyes once we were in place. We went through the video and her speech. We got to the girls, and a girl named Kalia Prescott was pulled. Now for the boys.
"Ryker Keene."
That was the day my life went into a tailspin.
Cato By: Yet to be Broken
I sat down in the grass and stared up at the sky. I'll have to volunteer tomorrow, whether Vivay wants me to or not. I understand how hard it will be for her if I end up going... especially if I don't make it. I think that me making it through the Games would be highly probable, but District 1 can be pretty intense. Not to mention whatever girl ends up coming with me. Some of those girls are scarier than I. My point is, I'm not sure that if I did end up going to the Games, I'm not so sure if I'd make it back.
I stared at the clouds above me, and wondered how everyone elses' life would be. My parents would no longer have their only son. My older brother was killed five years ago at the Games. I have only one friend here, and she would not miss me at all, I'm sure.
Ah, Clove. My childhood friend, the only one, other than Vivay. She was smaller than I, way smaller, but she seems like the kind of girl that would be able to win the Games. She was scary when she was angry and was a master at knife throwing. Where would I be without her?
But, what would Vivay do with me gone? She'd watch the Games, see me try to win for her, and watch her fiance die a horrible, horrible death. She'd cry, I'm sure, and attend my funeral. How would she react when she saw whatever remained arrive in a box back home? Would she cry? Or would she seek revenge on my killer? Possibly both?
"Hello, Cato." Vivay snuck up behind me.
"Vivay!" I smiled. "I couldn't find you."
"I was with my family. My mother is sick again."
"I'm sorry, love." I said as she sat next to me.
"It's okay. She can easily be healed." She assured me.
I slipped my arm around her. "Are you scared for tomorrow?"
"Why? I'm 19, so I won't be eligable." She reminded me.
"Scared for me or Clove, perhaps?"
"Scared for Clove, maybe. But haven't you promised not to volunteer?"
"Vivay, I must." I said sadly. "If I don't, I'll bring shame to my family."
"Since when do you care about your family? I think your parents would be happy to have you still alive. Since the death of Costa.."
"Don't say his name." I said, with pain in my voice. "Please..."
"Cato, I'm sorry." Vivay said, looking into my eyes. "But you have to accept..."
"No! I can't accept that my only brother..."
"It's been five years, love." Vivay said, tears welling in both our eyes. Costa had been a dear friend of hers before his death. They had actually dated a bit, but then he volunteered.
"I'm sorry. But he was still my only brother. I can't accept it." I apologized.
Vivay leaned over to kiss me. "You must."
She got up to walk away. "Please, try to accept it."
As soon as she was gone, Clove was there with me. "What's wrong, Cato?"
"She brought up..."
"Costa?" She asked, her voice becoming soft and sympathetic.
"Yes..." I said, dropping my gaze to the ground.
"Cato, what if it's you that goes to the Games?" She questioned.
"I hope that you would go with me." I confessed. "Since Vivay can't go, I'd need you Clove."
Clove's eyes searched my own. "Maybe.. maybe that'll happen."