Hello readers and readresses, welcome to Batmarcus and I's newest contribution. I'm sorry if someone has already used an idea like this but it's just an idea I've had for a while that I thought could be fun to write. Which it was, just to write from the POV of a Capitolite. If people from the Districts already have an official term, please tell me it and I will change it but for now I am calling the Districtians. START THE STORY!
I glared at the ground, the hair in my face turning my vision purple. It's so hard to keep control of that with the resources completely depleting. I was unable to watch despite supposedly being mandatory viewing as I heard the release of the bow, something I've heard often on the Hunger Games. It was followed by another noise. This time it was a large thud. I forced myself to look up at President Snow's body on the screen with an arrow sticking out of his forehead. I felt my eyes instantly fill with tears. This can't be happening. It was happening though there was no denying that the districts had rebelled and they had won. The Capital amazing and powerful was defeated.
The rebellion leader… I think her name was Coin stepped up with a cruel smirk I wished I could just reach right through the screen and strangle her, "One more thing. This year there will be a Hunger Games the tributes will be reaped from the capital!" She said
"WHAT?!" I shouted springing straight to my feet in complete disbelief. "No! They can't do that!"
"This decision has been made by the new government so that you all may experience the horror you put the districts through and celebrated all these years," She said
"The reaping will take place in exactly two weeks I'm sure you all know the process quite well: the names over every Capitol Child ages 12-18 will be put in the bowl and twelve boys and twelve girls will be chosen. So, as you always say: Happy Hunger Games, and may the odds be ever in your favor." The screen went black after that.
I'm fifteen, my name could be drawn in that reaping, I turn on my heals and sprint off though I have no idea where I was planning on going, as I left I vaguely heard who I think is my mom call after me, "CATINA!" but I ignored it and ran and I kept running as fast as my feet could carry me having not a clue where I wanted to go or who I wanted to talk to. All I knew was right now I did not want to be home now I would just think of what may come.
I'm not sure how or why but I found myself in an open mountain clearing that no outsider would be able to find but I used to play here fairly often as a little kid I used to play here with my friend Pius. He's still my friend now actually and he's… HE'S SEVENTEEN! I turned on my heels and ran again ignoring the fatigue creeping up on me but this time I knew exactly where I was headed to.
I stopped in front of a house that appeared to be made of black bricks and two stories high. I reached out and forced my trembling finger to push the button for the doorbell. I heard footsteps approaching the door quickly
In seconds, the door opened revealing Pius' mother, her large yellow lips transfixed in a frown and her eyes were blood shot matching the spiral tattoos around them. "Is Pius here?" I asked but I could hear how much my voice was cracking.
"Yes dear up in his room," She said sadly.
"Thank you," I croaked and headed up there knocking, "Pius? It's Catina."
"Come in," he said from the other side
I opened the door and came in. I didn't know what I was going to say though. Pius was a muscular boy for his age. He had jet black hair, golden eyes, dark red almost Maroon skin, and in each of his knuckles were emeralds. "Hello Catina," He said.
I try to find the voice to just say hello back but I can and end up just falling right into his arms crying steadily. He caught me and just held me there as I cried. "Why?" I asked.
"The same reason they: cut off any supplies, attacked us all, and killed the president, because the districts hate us just because of something written in the Treaty of Treason 76 years ago." Pius hissed still holding me closely. He's always hated the districts and everything they stand for and I agree with him. How they act like everything that's happened to them is all OUR faults. Like WE'RE the bad guys here.
"They can't do this though!" I said.
"You think I don't know that?" He snapped angrily but it's okay since I know it's obviously not at me.
"But it's happening," I said.
He hesitated clearly trying to find the right thing to say but coming at a complete blank on that just as I am. That's because this is completely inexcusable and never should have been allowed in the first place. Besides as written on that legal document, we've always been so good to them. None of the glorious things that we'd always give with it before the games and to the victor and there district. That was nowhere in the Treaty of Treason. That was all out of the goodness of our hearts but will that be the case this year? You can bet your sweat ass that's a big fat no because the district people are just heartless creatures who can stop to use their brains for even a second. "They are stupid, uncaring monsters," He said. I just nodded leaning my head against his chest. "It's okay," He said soothingly
"What if we're reaped though?" I croaked.
"We won't be!" He said.
"Right, there are hundreds of Capitol children that could be reaped." I said after some thought.
"Besides, even if you do get reaped, you've gotten really good with that fake sword from watching the Careers in the games, replace it with a real one and you'd stand a real chance at winning."
"What about you with those fake axes?" I asked.
He nodded, "Exactly, it would be no problem."
"What if we're both reaped?" I asked that still an obvious concern.
"We won't be, I promise," He said.
"Well, we have two weeks till the actual reaping." I sighed remembering what the demon on the TV said.
"I know that," He sighed.
"So, what do we do? With the districts in charge things are bound to only get worse." He asked.
"I don't know," I said honestly at a loss.
"What is those noobs' problem with us anyways," I hissed through gritted teeth.
"Jealousy of us," He said.
"That's no excuse though." I hissed but it was, after all, the only explanation.
"To them it is," He said.
"Everything's an excuse to them," I said still lying against his chest where I feel the safest, "because as I said before, they're stupid, uncaring monsters."
"Maybe to them it's justified," He said.
"Everything is justified as far as their twisted minds our concerned." I corrected.
"Well they had good reason for murder in their minds!" He hissed.
"I know, it sick, it's like they just brainwash them into believe all these lies." I said sticking my tongue out in disgust.
"Maybe they do it's not their fault or at least not the younger ones like that Katniss girl, it's just how they were raised maybe we can make them see that," He said
I thought about it, "That might actually work, if we could get the face of the rebellion to see straight then maybe we could make them fall before they kill us all. The problem with that is: how could we talk to her long enough without her killing us?"
"I'm not sure yet," He said.
"Well, maybe if I was to volunteer for the games and they keep it close enough to true then Katniss might end up being my mentor and I could try to un-brainwash her. You already said I would win." I heard myself say. "I mean come on, how bad could they really be?"
"That might work! Besides they can't be that bad," He said.
"They can't be bad at all." I shrugged honestly. "After, all, if the districts can go through them every year then they must be really easy."
"Exactly we're better than them already!" He said.
"So, you think I should really do it?" I double checked since, if so, I seriously would, if that's what it takes.
"I do think you should," He said.
"Then I will." I smirked letting him go and wiping my ruby red eyes dry. "After all, there are so many innocent lives at stake. I have to at least try."
"Exactly, you can do this," He said smiling.
"I should probably head back home, my mother's probably getting sick with worry since I just ran off without warning."
"Yeah get back to her," He said standing up and stretching.
"I'll be back tomorrow." I promised giving him a small bow and leaving.
I walked out the door and headed home planning my own moves carefully. The walk was short before I was heading back through my front door. "Mom, I'm home!" I called into the house.
She was almost instantly there and pulling me into a hug. "Oh thank the Capitol. Are you alright? You didn't run into any of those rebels did you?"
"No mom, I'm fine I just needed to clear my head," I said carefully.
"That's understandable; it's just with all these districtians storming the streets I was afraid something would happen to you."
"Well, I'm okay I went to see Pius as well," I said hugging her back.
"Alright, that's definitely a relief then." She sighed. She's very paranoid when it comes to the districts and I can't blame her after what they did to dad, at the moment, he's either dead or they have him still in custody. We have no idea which or which is even preferable. This is exactly why I need to do this, to either save my dad or avenge him and protect other innocent citizens from the same fate.
"Well why not go to your room and calm down," She said.
Though I was already plenty calmed down, I let go and said, "That's a great idea." and headed up there.
I ran upstairs and closed my room door sitting on my bed. I tried to focus my mind on what exactly I could say to Katniss to make her see as straight as she shoots. It had to be very carefully said and my posture had to be right everything had to be perfect. I pull out a note pad and jot everything down, I know I won't be able to bring it with but it helps me memorize them.
I do this for days following the announcement, waiting for my time to act.
Finally, two weeks later, which frankly felt like two years and two seconds at the same time, it was was reaping day. It was my chance to set things right.
I was not sure when I was supposed to volunteer though. Unlike the regular reapings, all twenty-four for were to be drawn at the same reaping. Would it matter besides which I'd take the place of?
I was worried and then I heard the last girl called. "I volunteer!" I shouted stepping into the pathway separating boys from girls.
"Really? That is interesting we have a volunteer!" Coin said. I looked back a Pius with a smirk that he unhesitantly returned and walked up to the stage. "What is your name?"
"Catina Lipideus." I said brushing my lavender curls away from my Ruby eyes making sure everyone in both the Capitol and the Districts, gets a good image to match for when I'm in the arena.
"Well then, welcome to the games," Coin said.
"Glad to be in, will there still be mentors?" I asked looking straight forward into the candy-colored crowd not avoiding Coin's gaze as if she was Medusa.
"Yes there will be mentors, we decide who gets which mentor," Coin said
I stepped back where the other girls were and just continued to stare forward, "Now for the boys."
The boys' drawing was fast and fortunately Pius was not drawn.
"Well, the will be an amazing year! Happy Hunger Games and may the odds be ever in your favor!" She said before leading us all into what was formerly Snow's mansion. Of course as a follow up heartless act they had to rub salt on the wound by bringing us here considering that he was just killed two weeks ago. "Welcome, here you will be prepared for the parade and meet the mentors," Coin said. "This is also where you get to say goodbye to your loved ones, just like in previous years each visitor gets five minutes," She said.
No one says anything as we are all led to separate rooms. I sat on the chair in the room I was put in a simply waiting for the first visitor. I had only told Pius I was planning on volunteering so anyone else that comes in might be fun. My mother's is what scares me though. Therefore, my first visitor just had to be my mother. To say she was a mess would be understating it. "Are you insane?!" She croaked crying heavier than I've ever seen her but when dad was captured comes very close. "Why would you do that?"
I explained to her the plan knowing no one watches these hoping she'd understand why I have to do this.
"What if this does not work?" She asked.
"I have to at least try, Mom, or they'll just kill us all. The reason I never told you is because I knew you'd freak out like this."
"Please, please be careful!" She said.
"I will." I promised. "Even if my mission to transform her is a bust. I'll do everything I can to make sure I win and come back home."
"Okay I can't stop you," She said.
"Besides, I can't turn back now even if I wanted to." I said standing up and giving her a hug. "It'll be over before we know it and if this works everything will be better."
"I hope so," She said hugging me back tightly.
"If not then I'll still win and it can't get any worse by me trying." I explained. "If I never tried then it would inevitably just keep getting worse till they wipe us out entirely."
"Be careful, okay? You can do this!" My mother said holding me close.
"I will, I promise." I swore hugging her tightly.
"Good," She said as the door opened up.
"Time's up." A man said, but it wasn't a Peacekeeper like the previous years, it was a rebel soldier. Which… now that I think about, probably are Peacekeepers now, except they'll be evil. He pried my mother away from me taking her out of the room.
I was alone again and then came Pius. He looked back, he must have seen her just come out. "How did she take it?" He asked causing me to smile but this was of course expected from him considering he already knew and said it was a good idea.
"About as well as you would expect," I sighed.
"That's unfortunate. You're going to do awesome at both, though." He smiled confidently.
"I know that, but maybe I won't have to," I said.
"What do you mean?" He asked with a raised eyebrow.
"If I convince Katniss she might be able to stop this," I reminded.
"Right," He smiled. "Do you know what you're going to say to her?"
"Yeah, I have it all planned." I said.
"Perfect, I'll see you real soon then." He said with a chuckle. "I'm so glad you came up with this idea, it will fix everything."
"I know it'll be great," I said. "Getting those districts back down where they're supposed to be, that way they can't hurt or kill anyone anymore." I added simply relishing the thought.
"Well, not likely," He said.
"Shut up and just let me dream!" I said sticking my tongue out at him.
"I'm just saying it will never be the same," He said.
"I know," I sighed, "but it will be a LOT better than it is right now. We're dropping like flies."
"That's true," He sighed.
"Which is exactly why I'm doing this," I reminded simply and sat back in the chair.
"I know, but take care of yourself." he said.
"I will, I promise." I swore, just as with my mother.
"Okay, that's all I can ask for," He said.
"It's starting to sound like you don't think it's a good idea anymore." I observed from his comments right now. "What happened?"
"Nothing I just worry about you if she does not listen," He said.
"I've worked out every precaution to help make sure she doesn't get to mad." I said though unsure myself. Those 'people' from the districts are completely unpredictable.
"I know I just over worry," He shrugged.
"I'll be fine." I promised but also to myself as well.
"I know," He said as the door opened again.
"Time's up," The soldier said and dragged him out just as they had mother. I wondered if anyone else would come as I twirled the necklace my father gave me years ago around my finger. If I can't stop the games and they still allow it, I'm going to be bringing it in as my token, since he was captured, I haven't taken it off. I was surprised when the door opened again and it was my aunt and uncle mostly because, I did not see them often.
They just stared for what felt like forever but obviously couldn't have been less than five minutes before Aunt Aelia said, "Oh Catina, what on earth were you thinking?"
"That I need to save The Capitol," I said.
She raised a perplexed eyebrow, "How would you volunteering accomplish that?"
I sighed explaining my plan again.
After some though, Uncle Apollo said, "That might actually work."
"Thank you!" I said glad someone gets it.
"Just, be careful." He warned. Why is everyone stating the obvious? Why wouldn't I be careful?
"I will," I promised for what felt like the hundredth time. Because of the explanation and awkward silences and hesitations, that was all there was time to get in before the door opened again.
"It's time," The man said. Knowing what that meant, I didn't say anything as I got up and followed him out. "You will gather in the main room to meet the mentors," He said.
"Alright." I said following him while mentally begging that Katniss was chosen as my mentor, with only seven living victors though: Katniss, Peeta, Haymitch, Beetee, Annie, Johanna, and Enobaria; the odds are definitely in my favor. Wait, how does that work?
I came into the room and stared around as the other kids looking terrified came into the room. Hopefully being the only volunteer and as confident as I keep telling myself, I don't look as scared as they do. Being here though, it's a good thing my skin is bleached to the same color as snow, the one on the ground during winter, spring, and fall. Not the one that just got shot only a few second walk away. If I had kept my skin its natural color then it might still look exactly the same. The door opened and Katniss lead the victors out all of them looking bored.
Maybe Katniss be my mentor wouldn't be such a good thing as I clench a nearby table to stop my subconscious from lunging at her knowing that she's the one who killed Snow but I need to remind myself why I volunteered and what I have to do. Besides, I promised everyone I'd make it back alive and there's no way I could attempt such a thing without them killing me.
"Hello tributes, you all will be selected personally by the victors each team will have six except for one team that will have seven is that understood?" Katniss asked. I nodded not bothering to look if anyone else did and there were not verbal responses. "Good," Katniss said as the victors began to choose people. Everything was going according to plan since Katniss had chosen me for her team.
I was lead to a room not too far from where we started and it was there I was met with a team of stylists. They definitely aren't from here though. Some Districtians are going to have control over what I look like. Not only do they hate us but just look at how they dress themselves. This is going to be terrible. "No matter what you let them do what they have to do," Katniss said simply turning to leave.
I knew I had no choice in that. Great, I'm going to look absolutely ridiculous. "Catina Lipideus, you I want to talk to," Katniss said pointing to me.
"Alright, then we're in agreement." I chuckled going back to her. "By the way, you shouldn't point, it's extremely rude." I add but it's not like being from District 12 she'd even care the slightest.
"You volunteered why did you do it?" Katniss asked.
Well, someone gets straight to the point. No pun intended. "I needed to talk to you, and any other way would have been far too dangerous."
"This is a the most dangerous way," Katniss said surprised at the reasoning.
I shook my head, "There's still the victor meaning that I have more than a fair shot. Any other way and I'd have none. You guys would have just captured me just like you did my dad and then what? Torture me? Enslave me? Kill me? What are you even doing with him anyways? Assuming that he's even still alive?"
"We don't kill unless they try for a kill first; they are actually going to be released in the next few days. We are not savages no matter what you here at The Capitol thought. And these games are not fun it's life and death in the arena," Katniss said.
"Come on, they can't be that bad. You guys are the ones that blew up over a hundred innocent children in one sadistic blow. Even the Treaty of Treason was never that cruel."
"Not that cruel? You made us all sit and watch as our loved ones and friends fought for their lives and died and you say you were not cruel? You all murdered most of District 12 in a bombing you had no reason to do," Katniss said.
"District 12 was getting completely out of hand. What with sparking up that huge rebellion that practically wiped us all us all out. Even before that, with you coming in knowing how to shoot a bow and arrow, swim, hunt, set snares, climb trees, and identify plants as though you have been doing all of them your whole life. The question is how? As for the swimming, don't think anyone bought that bathtub excuse for even one second." I pointed at angry that once again, she's making us out to be the bad guys in all of this.
"You murdered innocent people because of my actions, for one person's actions and you see nothing wrong with that? You want to know how? I had been doing it most of my life, because if I hadn't my whole family would have died cold and starving because you all barely pay anyone for anything I have watched hundreds of people die from hunger and black lung while over here you all stuff your faces with more food in one night than most families in the districts ever see in a year and throwing up so you can go enjoy more never once caring what happened to us." She snapped back even angrier than I was
"There you guys go again." I grunted at her completely flawed logic. "Blame us for every bad thing that's happen to you. That's what the Peacekeepers were for, not only to make sure that you didn't do all those thing but that you wouldn't have to. They're called PEACEkeepers for a reason. However, it became clear that they were completely failing at their jobs and even when we tried to fix it by replacing them it was too far gone to do any good and just ended up making it worse. So, we did what we had to do. Haven't you ever heard of euthanasia?"
"You're sick! You call what you did fixing it? Sending a man who out right tortured people just because he had the power to? Your peacekeepers are nothing cold and emotionless and the few who did have emotion were killed or made into Avoxs. The peacekeepers before them were good people who let us do these things because they knew if we didn't we would have died! You've never had to worry about that have you? You got to live the papered life and never once had to think about where your next meal would come from given everything you could ever want or need your whole life. You never suffered, until we won this war and even then not much has really changed for you. Your still pampered and well fed ant the only reason you are her is because you volunteered. Let me ask you do you think this is some fun little game?" Katniss asked.
"Romulus was a bad choice. I literally just said that if you were paying attention. I also said that it was also was their job to make sure that you guys wouldn't have to. Didn't you know that their the one's who directly decide a miner's, in your district's case, pay since they can directly tell how much there assigned district needs? If you guys are starving it's either because the Peacekeepers are setting the salaries way too low or the merchants are setting the prices way too high but more than likely an extreme combination of them both but somehow you guys find a way to pin everything back on us as if we just sit around thinking of dastardly ways to make your lives miserable."
"And who did the peacekeepers even the head peacekeepers take their orders from The Capital, and yes at one point I thought you did now I realize this is simply how you were raised you don't see what's wrong on your part, because you were raised to think you all did no wrong. You still have not answered my question do you think we like the games that it's fun for us?" Katniss asked.
"Of course I don't think that. What kind of idiot would? You guys are just mad about something written in the Treaty of Treason seventy-six years ago but was never in our or even President Snow, before you shot him, 's power to change until fulfilled in twenty-four more years, hence why it's call the QUARTER Quell. It's cruel, yes. We all know that. That's why we added all those treats for the tributes before the games and the victor and their home district that was never written in the Treaty of Treason because despite not being enough to excuse it, it was literally the most we COULD do." I explained catching my breath from all these incredibly long speeches. I have no idea how Snow did this all the time.
"You call being paraded around like an animal on show a treat and since you clearly have the money why didn't you invest all the money in the districts instead of just the victors and yourselves?" Katniss asked calmly.
That one I had to think about it really did not make sense to give all that money to so few people. "I don't know," I sighed at the last part, "But would you rather this or to be put in the 1st Hunger Games and thrown into an empty concrete room maybe getting some stale bread or water occasionally but never at the same time and kept there till you go to the arena, which is the same wait time. With the only exception of a two hour weapons only training session then if you win just be dumped back home where you find out your family and any friends you had have just all been killed? The original Capitol you can be furious at but there is NOTHING wrong with the new one. You were just raised in the district's to think that there is and that is exactly why I needed to talk to you."
"If you knew what snow did to me and other victors what your powers that be allowed to continue on it would destroy your opinion of your leader, but they never broadcast that here, what did you want to say?" She said all this very calmly
Wait what? "Back up for a second, what do you mean?"
"Back up to what?" Katniss asked.
"The thing that will supposedly destroy my opinion of President Snow," I specified not sure what to think of that. Probably something else that isn't actually our fault but she thinks it is.
"You're too young," She said.
"Katniss, this is the Capitol, there is no age filter. Now tell me what it is that you meant by that." I said calmly.
"They used the victors as prostitutes to anyone who paid enough to with whatever they wanted if the victor refused they and their family would be executed," Katniss said.
"You're lying; President Snow would never do that."
"He did do that to some of us Finnick, most often. He threatened to kill my family and friend unless I stopped something that did not even know I started," Katniss said.
"He wouldn't have really. You think it was coincidence that they made it out despite being towards the center and what did you think was going to happen from you pulling out those berries?"
"No it was my best friend acting in time to save them and at the time I just wanted Peeta and I to make it home," Katniss said.
"Well, whether you intended it or not, your actions were bound to cause nothing less than exactly what happened. Since he let you both out, you inspired the districts and we had a rebellion on our hands. If he had blown you both up, the districts would not be too happy about that and we'd still have a rebellion on our hands. So, congratulations, you're the only reason the Capitol has fallen. That's all you wanted right? However, you're also the only reason that so many people, whether from the Capitol or the Districts died in that rebellion."
I was beyond surprised when Katniss sent the coldest scariest glare at me. It was actually really effective as I backed away from her. "You're just a spoiled brainwashed little girl who does not know she's in way over her head! I never wanted this stupid rebellion I was roped into by almost everyone in my life and you have no idea what that rebellion cost me! You don't know what I've lost, so stop acting high and mighty! You have to be in the games BIG DEAL! Nothing else changed for you beyond that! I lost so much that I will never have back because of that war I've seen and done things that would make you scream for your mother! When you're done acting as if your whole world has ended come back and rejoin the team!" Katniss shouted before turning on her heel and leaving back to the other tributes slamming the door behind her.
"Well, that didn't work." I breathed shaking off any cobwebs and heading back to where I was supposed to be anyways. What she said about Snow can't be true. She's just trying to distract me, to throw me off my game but there's no way I'm going to fall for it. I got to the room just as we were being prepped to be made over honestly I do not know why Katniss hates this I love the attention right now.
I hope that was as fun for you guys to read as it was for us to write. It's a completely different thought process than any of us are used to. Review and you are all free to flame because I am immune.