Soma 'Socks' Kalarck, aged 12 from District 10

For days I just lay there. Warm and snug in the sleeping bag I had been sent. It cover my whole body, even my face, just like a sock.

The careers had gone past the cave I was in a few nights ago, I hopped they wouldn't come inside. I was deep inside the large cave but they would still find me. I didn't want them to kill me Or take away my sock. I had food too, but my sock was more important. They walked straight past though, two of them going back down the mountain and the other two, up. It was good I didn't have a fire, they would have seen me.

I had managed to pick some food up from a dead body. I felt bad doing it but they had and bag of food and I didn't. I was thinking of taking their clothing too but that would have been barbaric. So I just took their coat. They were not using it anyway.

I layed until I got hungry, stood up and did some star jumps, then ate some more. My mother had always told me that lying down for too long was bad. There wasn't much I couldn't do in this cave though. I did what I my best.

Every night, I would crawl to the mouth of the cave and watch the anthem, it lit up the sky like fireworks, it was really pretty. I wasn't simple enough not to understand that the faces were that of the dead. I couldn't find it within me to care though. I didn't know them, why should I feel sad? I was a few more people away from seeing socks from around Panem, they were missing out. I had all the reason to be excited.

One morning, the mountain started to shake, followed by four cannons. A loud rumble filled my ears, making me place my hands over my ears. Two more cannons. I was frightened. Whatever was coming, was big, there was no way it could kill this many people. Then there was darkness.

I watched in horror as fell outside my cave and blocked me in, sending my cave into darkness, there wasn't even a slither of light.

The cave grew colder and tears started to spill from my eyes. I took my extra socks off my feet, leaving only one pair on and placed them on my ears. My finger had gloves, my feet, socks, my ears needed some socks too.

I zipped myself into my sleeping bag and tried to remain calm as I rubbed the sock against my cheek. Another Cannon. There was no way out of the cave, I would freeze to death in a few hours. I didn't want to try and get out, the snow might fall on top of me.

A few moment's later, there was another cannon, I couldn't stop the tears now, whatever kill the other people was coming for me too. It wanted to kill me and take my socks!

"And the victor of the 42nd Hunger Games is, Soma Kalark from District 10" A muffled voice shouted from outside. There was also some sort of music, I think it was the anthem. I just wanted to know one thing, was the monster gone?

Turns out, there was no monster, just Quintic. While Rhoda was wrestling Briar, Quintic ran away and caused the snow to fall on top of him. The Snow them crawled down the slope, taking Rhoda, Briar with it. It also caught Rain as she tried to outrun it before settling close to the bottom of the mountain. I then outlived Shane and Violet. I was proud of myself, even if people said it was only because I had more oxygen.

Unlike most victors, they didn't change anything about me, the stylists gave me a suit made of socks for my victor's interview. They never did it again. But for my victory tour, they made sure for each outfit, I had a new pair of socks. They were all amazing.

Before I went home, I was sure to buy as many socks as I could see, from the Capitol to every District, I wanted one pair for everywhere in Panem. I even got some for my family, they would love the idea of having the same socks as people from District 1. The same socks as careers. The same careers I beat.

My District and family was proud of me, I was too. I had done well. I was like a superhero. I beat careers and got further than any other kids my age. My District loved the socks I gifted them too. Some of them found it amazing to be wearing socks from The Capitol. I kept the best ones for myself though. I paid for them after all.

I was placed on mentoring duty the very next year due to my good work in the Games. Bambi still came with me though. Calvary said it was because all my tributes would be dead if I mentored them alone. I knew Bambi just wanted to be with me though. I never had a friend, he was my first. Him and Cornflower would come around to my house sometimes. They said it was to make sure I was okay but I was sure it was to see if I had any new socks in my collection. I made sure to never disappoint them.

Every tribute I mentored, I gave them a pair of socks for the arena. My sock helped me when I was frightened. I would also tell them that the sock would always help them. The socks could understand you and if you wished enough, they would help you. That is how I won. Most would laugh but Bambi just told them to let me get on with it. I was glad he supported me. Most ended up not taking them in at all or just having them on their feet. That's why they never won.

After each year, before we went home, if I saw any cool socks during my time in The Capitol, I would buy a pair each for, Bambi, Cornflower, My mum and dad and even Calvary. It always cheered Bambi and Calvary up, they were always so sad after each Games. Calvary even said I was "alright" once. I also got a few pairs for myself.

When I was a bit older, I started a business of ear socks. They didn't do well, apparently there is a thing called 'ear muffs'. Shame, at least the people in my District like them. They were cheaper that the muffs and I personally think they were cooler.

I even got Snow a pair of socks to thank him for allowing me to be a victor. He seemed to like me as he also sent me a sleeping bag in the form of a sock. He would also wave back to me.

I might still get strange looks and people might thing I am a freak but I love myself. I am who I am and I am happy. I have friends, family and socks. What else could a man want?

Socks is the definition of loving yourself. I honestly enjoyed writing this chapter more than I thought I would. I thought it would be hard to write someone like him as a victor. Then I realised, he is a dude who just loves socks.

He is a nice victor who gives his District socks in winter and although his 'ear sock' business might not have taken off, he is Snow's favourite victor. Not like he can really start a rebellion. Unless he didn't have socks. Then Snow better run.

His victory might seem like a bit, meh, but the dude is twelve and would place a sock over food. He wasn't going to win by fighting. Just to clear up though, Quintic didn't cause an avalanche by mistake, he meant to. Socks won for no other reason than he had more oxygen than Shane and Violet. Remember kids, want to survive a death game, keep your socks close.

If anyone has any requests on who they want me to write about in this story, just let me know. I have Vera Busattil, Apollo Wilson and Lyte Anderson. I am up for requests.

Thanks Lisaisanut for Socks, I hope I wrote him well.