The Hunger Games Galaxies: District 8
Our world… Terca Lumireis. No one knows how far its lands and oceans stretch, except for the Gods. Barriers protect the cities in which we live, and we depend on them for our survival. But things aren't always that easy, and, sometimes, survival is not guaranteed. The Gods make sure of that. The Reaping is a constant reminder of how little control we really have over our lives.
It happens each year. The Coliseum in Nordopolica fills up with desperate families and the children of the Empire, the Guilds, and the Kritya. It's the one time of year when we all come together, regardless of our differences, if only because the Gods demand it. Nobody is foolish enough to ignore the warnings of the Great Ones.
Ioder and I are always among those reaped. We have to be, to placate the people. Futile though it may be, we cannot allow anyone to rise up against the Gods. And so, each year, we've made the journey, travelling with the upper class children while the lower and middle class move along behind us. There's an unspoken pact, however, one made with the Gods long ago. If either of us are selected, the other remains safe. The same would go for the leadership of the Guilds, were Don Whitehorse to have any children of his own. And the Kritya, too.
"Estellise…?" asked Ioder, suddenly. "Are you okay?"
"Oh… yes," I replied, smiling. "Thank you, Ioder, I'm just nervous."
"Well I can imagine why," he replied, smiling back at me. "This year's reaping has been full of surprises. The age restrictions moving in either direction is unheard of… and I hope it goes back to the way it used to be next year."
"Me too," I said. It was supposed to be my last year. Now, I'm not sure.
"If you don't mind my asking… do you know the fates of your friends?" asked Ioder.
I wasn't certain. I knew Karol had to go back to Dahngrest to participate in their initial reaping, as did Rita to Aspio. Judith likely returned to Myorzo, too. I hadn't seen Yuri or Flynn yet either, so I really couldn't ask. I prayed that none of them had been selected.
"We will soon arrive. Try to get some rest," Ioder told me. "If you're anything like me, you probably didn't sleep to well last night."
He was right. I never do; I always awake with horrible nightmares of the faces of the past tributes. Though we've done fairly well for ourselves in the past quarter century (we've had seven victories in that time, tied for the most with District 9), that still means there's been another 40-some odd children who never came back to Terca Lumireis once they were taken. But, despite the nightmares, the exhaustion took its toll on me and I fell asleep for the rest of the journey.
When I awoke, we had already been parked and stabled. Around us, the other Upper class families and children were taken towards the chamber, where they would be groomed and prepared for the reaping itself. I hate this part, too; they always tried to make you up to parade you around before even the main part of the Hunger Games began. This only applied to the Upper class, though some Guilds did it as well. They were the ones who would often get the best sponsors; the Kritya, and lower classes of the Empire were always left to fend for themselves.
"Estelle!"
I turned at the call, my heart leaping simultaneously with my stomach rapidly dropping out beneath me. Yuri was running towards me, trailed by Karol and Rita. Seeing their faces made it easier for me, but there was no way they'd made the journey to watch the Reaping live. That could only mean one thing…
"Y-yeah, we were sent here for the Reaping," said Karol.
"It's a pain, more than anything," Rita said, sighing. "I knew I'd be going again. Aspio only has so many eligible people, I can't help wondering if the age restriction thing is only because of us."
"It's applied unilaterally to all Districts, so I doubt that," I replied. "But… still… I wish you all the best of luck. May the odds be ever in your favor!"
"Specifically to not get picked," said Yuri, flashing a grin. "I ran into Judy earlier. She's going in with us, same with that idiot Flynn. Would you believe that he volunteered in the initial reaping?"
Yes. Flynn's done that every year since he became eligible, and he even tried it the past couple of years, too. But now that they lifted the age restriction, he and Yuri were both able to volunteer. I knew that's how he got here… but I decided not to let him know that I was onto him just yet.
"Any sign of the Old Man?" asked Rita.
"Raven? I… don't think he'll come," said Karol. "Don Whitehorse pretty firmly informed him that he was going to be staying in Dahngrest for the duration of this year's Reaping."
"That's such a shame," I said. "I was hoping to see him again…"
"Don't worry, Estelle, if you get picked I'm certain you'll get several volunteers," said Rita. "Who in their right mind would let the heiress to the Empire go into the arena?"
"Yeah…" I said, sighing. It was probably true. But I didn't want anyone to fight on my behalf.
"Let's get in there and get this over with," said Yuri.
I tried to get past the make-up people, but I stood out from the crowd like a sore thumb for some reason, and they instantly found me. So I was whisked away from the others and prettied up for the arena. They had me in a large ball gown that was incredibly tough to move in, and so much make-up caked on my face that I felt like a cake with slightly too much icing. Ioder had a matching suit; they were clearly trying to match us up again.
"Remember, stand with Ioder during the opening ceremonies; make sure the cameras are on you," said one of my aides.
"I don't see what the big deal is," scoffed one of the other aides. "Rumor has it that there's no sponsors this year."
"That's crazy talk; that's a mainstay of the Games!" exclaimed another woman I didn't know.
"Don't hold me to it, just passing it on. Lady Estellise, please step into these shoes…" added the first woman.
They hurt even more and made it even harder to walk in. Why I couldn't just wear my battle uniform was beyond me. It would show potential sponsors that I was ready to fight, and not just a vapid figurehead like that princess from District 6…
"It's time," they finally announced. "Potential tributes, please make your way to the arena at this time."
I stumbled along in the group. Still only Upper Class; there had to be at least a hundred of us. Did the Empire send more Upper Class kids than usual this year, or was I just imagining it? We walked into the arena, which was abuzz with chatter and occasional clapping. The fighting guilds' children were often celebrate when they were picked. The Hunting Blades were the guild responsible for our most recent victor, and she was only twelve at the time. But today things were much more subdued. Rumors seemed to be continuing to spread, and worried looks and whispers passed through each section.
"Hello!" came a cheerful call.
Judith looked beautiful, too, though I wasn't really sure why she went with her battle uniform. I wasn't surprised to see that her lance was gone, though; they don't let us bring weapons into the arena for obvious reasons. She grabbed my hand and began to drag me away from Ioder, who seemed confused at first.
"I… I think I'm supposed to stay with Ioder," I muttered.
"Oh? You'd rather stand with him than with Brave Vesperia, your bodyguards?" asked Judith, her voice sliding into her sarcastic, high octave. "My, my I would have thought you'd prefer our company."
"Oh, no! No, it's not that," I said, flustered. "It's just that I…"
Judith chuckled. "I'm joking. But you're still standing with us. What's the Empire going to do? Steal you from the Reaping pit with all those cameras and Peacekeepers around?"
She was right, as always. The blastia-powered cameras were floating around, taking in the crowd and the potential tributes as well. I remember in previous Reaping watching how they'd always zoom in on the face of particularly well-known or talked-about tributes, not to mention constantly focusing on Ioder and me. The Peacekeepers would never let anyone interfere with the show, either.
"Glad you would deign to join us," said Yuri, grinning as I walked up with Judith.
"I'm glad you would have me with you," said Estelle. "You've showed me so much more… but I'm sorry you ended up here."
"Eh, it's the luck of the draw," said Yuri, shrugging. "Hopefully this will really be my last year this time. I doubt it though."
"Don't say that," said Karol. "I can't imagine having to do this more years than I really have to…"
"This is Karol's first time getting Reaped," said Yuri, patting him on the head. "I'd say he's doing really well."
"I bawled during my first Reaping," said Rita. "I think they even got it on camera. And then I just stopped caring. Honestly, I'd probably just take out anyone who attacked me in the arena. Just need to get one of those magic rods, maybe some sort of whip or something first. Then I'm unstoppable."
Rita always talked fast when she was nervous, and since they'd taken away most of her tools, she had nothing to distract herself with. It was a relief that someone in our group was honestly feeling as nervous as I was, besides Karol of course. He was shaking. But Judith and Yuri both looked… well… bored.
"Ladies and gentlemen, it is time to begin the Reaping!" called a voice over the loud speaker.
Belius always did the honor of the Reaping. But she never showed her face, much to the chagrin of many in the Empire. But, she was a representative of the Gods, and nobody was about to argue it. Her servant, Natz, would draw the actual name, and take it to a wall from within which Belius read the name. We were the only District who didn't have their representative on stage at all times.
"I have been asked to give you special messages from the Gods," said Belius, after she'd lead them through the introductory chants and hymns. "First… as many of you are already aware, our age restriction has been extended several years in either direction, permitting younger and older tributes alike to enter, resulting in a higher number of possible tributes.
"Second, as the rumors have it… there will be no sponsoring of tributes this year. This year it will be all about using one's own wits and the area around them to survive. Tributes will not be necessary."
There was an outcry at this from the Upper Class side, as well as some of the Guilds. If their children had no combat experience, they practically relied on those sponsors to provide their kids with the weapons, armor, medicine, and whatever else they needed to get through the Hunger Games. The Peacekeepers began to stir, looking for trouble makers, and the crowd soon quieted.
"I am not yet at liberty to announce the third change for this year; that is forthcoming after we select our two tributes. As per usual, Natz, please select our female tribute," said Belius.
That was one thing I was really thankful. Belius kept everything moving as quickly as she could, and didn't stop to dwell on the tributes and the Reaping, which made it much easier to stomach. Natz approached the large bowl that held the names of every young woman and girl in the arena here. He grabbed one and headed for the narrow slot in the wall in which it was inserted. I felt my breath catch, and Rita and Yuri both suddenly grabbed my hand. I was shocked to see that all of Brave Vesperia was holding hands with each other; a rare sign of unity between all three groups.
"Single name… Judith from Myorzo, please approach the stage!" Belius called out.
I gasped, and could almost instantly feel the tears coming. But I had to stay strong… Judith wanted sponsors who thought she came from good, strong friends… but… there were no sponsors this year… so what did it matter…? And before I knew it, Judith was walking away from us, heading for the stage with her Peacekeeper escort. There were a lot of whistles and catcalls from the young men up in the seats above the stadium. Judith kept a smile on her face and waved at them, taking her spot on the stage next to Natz. After the applause died down (as did my initial tears), Natz picked from the boys' bowl.
"Yuri Lowell, please approach the stage!" Belius called out, after a short pause.
"No!" I shrieked. I couldn't help it. Not Yuri, too!
"Estelle, don't worry about me," said Yuri. "We'll get out of this somehow."
"But…!" I cried. But then I let it go. Even if there were no sponsors, the other Districts would be looking for easy kills. I had to be strong, for the sake of the district. So, I just smiled at him. "M-may the odds be ever in your favor."
He turned and strode away. Karol was in such shock that he was speechless, and Rita was likewise struck dumb. I wished I could find Flynn and see what he thought about the situation. Yuri shook off his guards and strode ahead, leaping up the stairs to the stage and coolly approaching Judith. They stood close enough to the microphone so that they could be heard.
"Well. This just got a lot harder," Judith said. "I was so sure I could win, until now."
"Yeah, I am pretty tough. Hope we don't end up with each other on the battlefield," said Yuri, laughing.
I didn't understand how there could be laughter. Two tributes finishing from the same District was not a laughing matter. There could only be one victor. So those two from District 4 had to fight each other to the death… granted that was nearly sixty years ago, but I didn't want to see that happen to two friends of mine. And with our luck, it absolutely would happen. The crowd seemed to enjoy their banter, though. It broke the tension, and nervous laughter erupted from the families whose children were now safe. But Belius finally had to cut it off.
"There will be more time for such things during your interviews. For now, I present to you all the two tributes for District 8: Yuri Lowell, and Judith. Please extend to them the honor and pleasure of District 8's support," she said.
I couldn't bring myself to cheer. Not this time. Rita and Karol, likewise, looked put out. I thought about the others. Did Raven already know what was happening? Of course he did… he's Raven. What about Repede? The poor dog must be heartbroken… and that's when I made up my mind. I was going to take care of Repede until the tournament was over. I had no doubt that Yuri or Judith could win… but how was I supposed to choose a favorite? I knew that, up in the stands, wagers were already being placed solely on our District. Who would survive longer? Who would rack up the most kills? Who would have the best performance? I guess the 'who would get more sponsors' bets were null, but they'd find something else macabre to wager on... they always did.
And now what was I going to do? Without them, there'd be no way the castle would let me continue travelling… why was it that our journey had to end so abruptly? Was there no other way for me to escape…? After there was so much more of this world to see…? Everything really began to overwhelm me, and I felt my head get light. My vision got cloudy, and I felt myself falling to my knees as Karol and Rita's cries for me echoed around my head.
Author's Notes:
Short explanation time on how this whole ordeal is going to work!
The games themselves are still in progress, so for now I'm only doing the intro stuff. All events that take place in the Districts will be in their appropriately-titled stories in the proper crossover section. Once that's all taken care of and it collapses into one story, I'll put the title at the end of each District Introduction Section (or just click on my author name to find it yourself).
The entire story is being decided solely on a complicated series of dice rolls, to prevent bias on my part and to make it so even I have no idea how this is going to end or who is going to win.
Let me be clear: this is not going to be an "everyone bands together and fights the evil powers and they all survive" story. As of writing this paragraph, twelve tributes are dead. So if you see your favorite character selected… well, don't get mad if they don't make it through.
That's all for now. May the odds be ever in your (favorite characters') favor.
ALSO: Starting from here-on, I've put the schedule of updates on my profile, so you can know when the next installments of my stories are coming out. It's not going to be perfect due to my job, so I might miss a few deadlines here and there, but, overall, it's a good indicator of when you can expect things to be out.