We Aren't Just Volunteers

by EpisodeGames

District 2 isn't all you thought it was. Lucas Pierce, son of former victor, has trained for these Games all his life. Now, being selected by his own mother to compete in the 72nd installment of the Games, he will fight. He has always been reluctant in his training and now his mom's goals have come to fruition. In Progress- SYOT- Open- PLEASE REVIEW; Will continue if accepted

DISCLAIMER: I obviously do not own any of the rights to the Hunger Games. This is my first FanFic so all reviews are welcomed with open arms. Please don't forget to leave a review letting me know if I should continue or try something else. Thanks in advance - James

This is the story of a District 2 Tribute and his adventure through the 72nd Annual Hunger Games, with little known facts about the district itself. Join a victor's son as he is forced into the Games, and must embark on a lifesaving journey of his own.

Part 1- To the Victor Go the Spoils

Chapter 1- The Selected

I step outside and embrace the cool air. Today is reaping day, for the Districts other than 1, 2, and 4. Unfortunately for me, my fate has already been decided. I will compete in the 72nd Annual Hunger Games without the use of a Reaping Ball or volunteering.

My mother was a victor, in the 40th installment of the Hunger Games. She was a volunteer, before they had an academy that trained us to become warriors of their own creation. She led my academy, and has trained me all of my life for this. It's not fair. Worse than being reaped, I have been forced by my own family to train and compete in the games.

District 2 is considered by everyone else as the Capitol's lapdog. Of course, our suffering is nowhere near the same as those of any other district, but they act like we live a resort life. Once you reach the age of 18 in District 2, you are forced into one of two professions.

If you were lucky enough to be trained in a tribute academy, but weren't selected by a mentor to participate, then you are ushered off to become a peacekeeper in any one of the 12 districts. If this wasn't your past, and you went to school, you are forced into the masonry of the district. We supply the Capitol with most of their buildings and facilities. But those who were smart in school are allowed to help the Capitol develop weapons and are taken to the mountains where they work on the technologies for the Capitol. Unluckily, that's a small group.

There are so many people in District 2 that are hungry. But they are brainwashed by the Capitol and think that one day they will be fed. In my district, since you do not enter your name into a Reaping Ball, none of the impoverished kids get the opportunity to provide their family with the tessera that the other districts use to stay fed.

A male my age wouldn't know as much about the rest of the country. But my mother travels Panem every year, she secretly tells me of the other districts and how they hate us. When I was young, I used this hatred to push myself through training. I quickly became the hottest apprentice in the academy. As I grew older I realized that it is because of kids like me and adults such as my mother that people hate us. I was often given offers to join the Games early, but I can't stand them. They are horrible. I always declined.

The only reason I'm participating this year is because I have to. My mother would be dishonored and I would be sent to work in the masonry of the district. I can't do that to her. As much as I hate her for forcing me into this, I love her all the same. The thought of my mother's name being ruined is the only thing driving me to compete. I would rather die in the Games then be a failure to my family.

"Lucas!"

It's my friend Cato; he is two years younger than me, also the son of a victor. He however is not "enlightened" on the rest of the country. He still trains with vigor and can't wait for his shot at fame. If I weren't competing this year he certainly would be. He is an exceptional warrior, especially when you put a sword in his hands, albeit, he is cocky. He's stronger than me, but I am taller. When we are forced to wrestle I usually take the upper hand solely due to my height.

I am around 6' 3", jet black hair that's buzzed to give me an intimidating edge, and I'm slightly muscular. In the presence of others I am confident, charming, and suave. But to me, it's all an act. We were trained to make people like us. No one but me knows my true thoughts. No one ever will.

"This is your year man!" Cato interrupts my thoughts.

"In a couple weeks you'll be visiting me at my own victor's house!" I say this with confidence, however weary; as it is pseudo-confidence.

The District 2 victor's village is large. As of now we have the most living victors. The victor's who have passed have their houses guarded off and are a tourist attraction for people from the Capitol. They have tours that take people to the former arenas, then go through districts 1-9 touring all the victors homes and forcing any victor to converse with them. They skip 10, 11, and 12, primarily because there aren't enough victors to visit, and they are all so poor and oppressed.

Cato and I head down to the district square. By now, people will be celebrating, and anticipating my fellow tribute and I's interviews with associates from the Capitol. The brainwashed citizens of 2 act just the same as people from the Capitol. Placing bets, celebrating, watching the screen every waking hour just to get their fill of the slaughter. They don't cry when a tribute from 2 dies. They simple give gifts to the families and continue celebrating. Certainly, if I meet my demise my mom will not be given gifts due to her status. In fact she will probably be shamed once she gets home for training a loser.

I cringe at that entire thought. Me dying, my mom's shame, my dad's shame. I would fail everyone.

I am curious who my fellow tribute will be; we are kept in the dark about everything. The only thing I know is my mom has selected me from her academy to compete. I told Cato simply because he is my closest friend. No one else knows. As I arrive I notice my mom and the other former victor's on stage giving their mandatory speeches and thanks to the Capitol.

As soon as I arrive, my mom notices me, and whispers something to the head peacekeeper. He then turns and addresses the other peacekeepers and they come to collect me. I don't say bye to Cato as I'm sure he'll visit me before my departure. Either way it doesn't make me much of a difference.

I'm escorted into the Tribute building, and there the Capitol representative gives me a briefing about the day. First, I'll be interviewed by an associate from the Capitol. After that they will present me on stage, at this time I will meet my fellow tribute. We will be recorded, so we will be expected to act extremely excited throughout the ceremony. He says after we meet and give the crowd enough pleasure then we will be taken back into these rooms and allowed to say our goodbyes to anyone who stops in. After an hour of that we will be escorted with our mentors onto the hovercraft that will deliver us to the Capitol before nightfall. We will be greeted and expected to pleasure this crowd as well. At this point we will check in to the tribute center, and meet the District 1 tributes. They force us to meet with the District 1 tributes because they expect an alliance. The Capitol is very fond of the Career's. I hate that name, but I must bear it. President Snow is notably fond of a Career tribute winning, so being in the alliance almost guarantees a pardon by the Gamemakers, at least in the beginning.

"Are you ready for your interview?" the Peacekeeper asks.

"Bring it." I say with anticipation that I genuinely don't possess.