Author's Note: Well, hey there. Now, I want you to read this first, as it will be important in the rest of the story.
I don't really describe my characters much. I do this because I would rather that you imagine them how you want to. Call me lazy if you will, but I like my reader's to use their imagination a bit.
"Zoe Litvak!" Tracy Fabricant, our Capitol representative's voice rung out through District Six's microphone.
The young woman in question, a black-haired beauty, slowly crept up onstage. She stood there in shock, her face pale.
"Now, for the boys!" Tracy called out in a ridiculously cheerful voice. She plunged her hand into the metal bowl, fumbling for a name. After what seemed like hours, she pulled it out. "Lukas Farrow!" She called.
I stiffened. That was my name. I looked around at the silent men standing around me. None raised a voice to volunteer. It was all me.
"Lukas, dear? Where are you?" Tracy called out sweetly, a failing attempt to cover up a trace of impatience.
I crept out of the crowd, feeling my legs take me up the flight of stairs.
"Don't be shy." She smiled, pulling me forward. "Let's have a round of applause for our District Tributes!" She clapped once or twice, but once it was apparent that the silent crowd would remain as such, she gave in. Instead, she forced us to shake hands.
She forced me to shake hands with one of many possibilities of my future victims. Because, as of today, I was going to have to find some way to make sure she died.
Because I sure as hell wasn't going to.
"You have three minutes." The peacekeeper's gruff voice penetrated my thoughts. Who would be here to say goodbye to me?
I remembered then that I actually did have a family. Well, kind of.
My sister came in first, tears pouring down her face. "You have to win!" She sobbed, flinging her arms around me. "You have to come home!"
I hugged her back lightly, awkwardly patting her back. It was like hugging a stranger. "I'll try." I promised, somewhat coldly.
She stepped back, tears still streaming from her eyes. "I know." She whispered, walking back out with the peacekeeper.
My mother and father came in next. They looked like they were at a loss for words.
"Just... Be careful, Luke." My mother said softly, biting back tears.
"I will." I said flatly.
"Try to come home, as best you can." My father said, looking at me as if I were being shipped off to slaughter. Oh, wait...
I was.
She kept fidgeting, Zoe did. She would steal glances at me every once in a while, too.
I ignored her. Just like I ignored everyone else.
The door slid open, and our mentor, I guessed, came and sat in front of us. What was his name again? Randy? Something like that.
He came to sit in front of us, a sad smile playing on his lips. "I'm sorry that this happened to you, I'll try to train you sufficiently enough to stand a chance. Who know, maybe one of you will win!" If that was a try of enthusiasm, he was failing miserably.
"Maybe." Zoe said, sniffling. "But it won't be me. I'll never get to go home!" She sobbed.
Our mentor flinched. "Hey, now. We'll try and work things out. If you stand even a small chance against those careers, you can win. You can go home." He said soothingly to her.
"Isn't it a bit cold to be choosing favorites already?" I asked, my voice freezing.
He turned to look at me, smiling. "Favorites? I'm not a fan of them. I'll try to save you equally." He promised. "If I don't, that's cutting Six's chances in half, and I can't do that. But, if even one of you two goes home, it'll be an achievement. I love it when our District goes home... Having them see their families again..." He trailed off wistfully.
"When do we start, um...?" Zoe asked meekly, wiping her face.
"Raymond." Our mentor sighed. "Call me Raymond."
"When do we start?" I asked, my tone harsh.
Raymond looked at me disapprovingly. "Look kid, it's alright to be angry. Truly, it is! But, don't bite the hand that feeds you."
Humph. "Fine." I said, bored. "Please give us some of your life-saving advice."
"Don't go for the Cornucopia. It's a bloodbath- an easy way to get yourself killed." He said seriously.
Before I could stop myself, a small smile lit up my face. A bloodbath? The idea seemed strangely alluring to me.
Raymond looked slightly sickened. "I don't think smiling's your strong suit, kid. You look a bit insane."
I sneered at him. Insane, indeed.
He swallowed. "Anyways, seriously, stay away. If you honestly have to, go for something on the edge, like a backpack, or a knife. Then get away as fast as your legs will carry you to high ground. When you get there, find water. Water's your new best friend."
Water. Right.
"W-What then?" Zoe's lip quivered.
I had to stop myself from curling my lip. She was so weak-minded. I would kill her off easily.
"Isn't it obvious?" I asked, my voice transforming into a fake emotion-filled one. "Find shelter, climb up a tree, wait for a lone tribute to make the mistake of wandering by and.." I made a violent gesture with my hands, grinning wildly.
Raymond and Zoe looked at me, full of horror.
I dropped the fake emotion.
"H-How could you say that!" Zoe looked horrified. "Y-You can't actually want to kill anyone... Do you?"
I ran my tongue over my teeth, as if thinking about my answer. "Who's to say what I want or not? Not you, of course." I sighed. "I was Reaped, I might as well get some pleasure out of it." I snarled. "Don't you want a winner?"
"Arrogance isn't good for you kid. And you're wrong anyways. You find food first- then shelter. It doesn't do you any good if you starve to death."
I grinned wickedly. Food wouldn't be a problem. "Of course."
