Hello! It is me, Aqua, under a different name, Emberfire012! (Or just Ember...) Anyway, I have had this idea for a lomg time, and I want to share it with you! And if you have read anything else of mine, sorry! I drowned in schoolwork and responsibilities, and I couldn't update anything! So yeah! There will be no update schedule! Enjoy!
Sometimes, I wonder who the main controller of fate is. It is something that I haven't really wondered about until this fateful day. Because on this day, my life fell apart like a stack of papers. And my life was never the same. I am Maize Donnet, I am 12 years old, and today my life changed drastically.
"GIRLS, GET UP! TODAY'S THE REAPING!" screamed one of the grumpy volunteers at the awful community home I live in. In an instant, all 6 12 year old girls in the room jumped out of their beds, including me. We made our beds in less than a minute, and I sprinted to my nightstand, where all my clothes and possesions were stored. I opened my drawer for my clothes and found an ugly, pink sweater and skirt combination. Ew. Totally not my style. I leafed through my tattered, poor clothes collection until I found a decent outfit. One of my favorites: A purple plaid flannel shirt, and my trusty pair of overalls. I quickly put this on and I put on my favorite and only pair of shoes: combat boots.
I went over to the mirror that was hanging on the wall of this prehistoric, dark, danky place. I looked okay. Except for my short, choppy blonde hair, which stuck out in a few directions. "Maize, brush your hair for once!" yelled an annoying voice. It belonged to Corona Hillstead, an overcontrolling, bossy girl who liked to yell at me. "I can't find my brush!" I yell, knowing it's in my toiletry kit. She sighed. "Dorianna, give Maize your brush." Corona said in her bossy, I'm-too-good-for-Maize voice. Dorianna gave me her brush. I quickly run it through my hair. I look better now. From the mirror, my bright blue eyes stare back at me almost mockingly. I frowned at it. I then head to the bathroom to wash up. "Geez, Corona can be a snob," I mumble under my breath.
After breakfast, I have about an hour before the Reaping. Ms. Tapp, the community home owner and kind of our principal, lets us all outside on our playground that obviously needed a few repairs. "Perfect," I mumble. Ms. Tapp turns her back to talk to a boy that already hurt himself. I walk over to a bush and pretend to be digging a ball out of it. Instead, I dig out a trip wire, some assorted wires and a ketchup bottle. "Oh yeah," I whisper. Today was the day: I was going to play a trick on a victor.
A while later, I was standing in front of the Victor's Village. I had no goals to live there, but if fate knocks on my door, I'll let it in. I looked around and found the house I was looking for. Target aquired: Beetee. I snuck up to his doorstep, being really careful not to be seen. I then applied the trap, which, if set up correctly, will involve the ketchup squirting onto his face. This is gonna be good. I then crawled into a bush and waited.
Finally, after about 10 minutes of patient waiting, Beetee finally stepped out. He stepped foward and - SQUISH! The ketchup squirted right in his face. I desperately tried to control my giggles. His face was priceless! I couldn't help it. I began laughing wildly. He immediately looked in my direction. I then got an image of me as Fried Maize with a side of Severe Tapp Punishment. I immediately leapt out of the bush and started running. Once I was pretty far down the street, I looked back. He was calmly wiping off his glasses and looking at me like he was analyzing me.
I ran through town, still laughing. People kept looking at me like I was garbage. I didn't blame them, though. I was always playing tricks on people. It was my weird way of testing people, and they hated it. That's how I ended up with the nickname of Merciless Maize. Though the things I have heard them say about me were terrible. I tried not to think about them.
I finally reach the community home. I leaned against a wall, still laughing. I could hardly catch my breath. I was so overjoyed about my latest trick - on a victor - that I forgot today was my first Reaping. I hope I wasn't chosen. "Maize? Do I even want to know where you were?" I turned and saw Corona, perfect black curls and all, staring at me disapprovingly. "Hahahahaha - I - hahaha - tricked - ahahaha - I tricked…I tricked…" I was laughing so hard I could barely talk. "I tricked…A VICTOR!" I then laughed so hard that I nearly passed out. When I tried to stop, I just pictured Beetee's face again and I kept laughing. Corona narrowed her eyes. "Well, you tricked a victor and got out alive. I'll give you one for that. But I'm still telling Ms. Tapp." She went over to Ms. Tapp. "Tattletale," I hissed through my teeth. Stupid Corona and her perfectness and all her dumb friends. She was the model child, the person I am always compared to. I was the loose screw, the girl who everyone knows her name. But not for good things. Ms. Tapp returned. "Maize, go wash your face. Reaping's in 15 minutes, and you don't have time to take a shower. And when we return, you're grounded." "What if I don't return?" "Then I hope you die." she replied. Ok. That burned. Corona smiled like it was a joke. Knowing I was defeated, I started heading into the bathroom. I'll remember Ms. Tapp's comment for a long time.
After washing my face, I went back outside. I heard Ms. Tapp say, "Ok, we're going to the Reaping in 2 minutes! Pack up your play equipment!" We all got in a line. I was between a 3 year old girl and a 14 year old who was panicking. As we were walking, the girl turned around and asked, "Can I call ya Maizie?" I grimaced. I heard from Ms. Tapp that my mother called me that. "Only if you love me," I replied. That was my golden rule: if you loved me, you could call me Maizie. And so far, no one has ever called me. The younger kids were annoying, but I tried to be civil with them.
A few minutes later, we arrived at the Reaping. I got in line for the sign in. I decided to people watch. I looked around and saw Beetee, still a bit ketchup stained, in the victor's area. I smiled a bit, knowing I was responsible for that. I should feel bad, but I didn't. Finally, it was my turn. I grimaced as the needle dug into my skin. The Peacekeeper smiled at me. "First Reaping?" I nodded. "Good luck." He then motioned me towards the 12 year old girl's section. Wow. Someone was actually nice to me today. That was a first. After a few minutes of waiting, the escort, Paulina, came out. She had a pink dress with flowers on it and her bubblegum pink hair was in 2 heart buns and the rest of her hair cascades towards her waist. Total phony. "Welcome, District 3, to the Reaping of the 57th Hunger Games!" she announced in her squeaky Capitol voice. She then went on to describe the history of Panem in great detail. I zoned out and daydreamed about my family. My mother gave me up for some strange reason, but Ms. Tapp said that she was forced by her parents. Even my own grandparents didn't want me. My father was killed by the Peacekeepers shortly after I was born. Ms. Tapp won't tell me his name.
Finally, Paulina got to the actual Reaping part. I had my name in twice because I took the tessarae for myself. "Ladies first!" She stuck her hand daintily into the reaping ball. That's when the fear kicked in. I closed my eyes and clenched my teeth to keep me from freaking out, like Corona. I heard Paulina pick the paper which had the name of a very unlucky person. "Maize Donnet!" My eyes flew open in shock and I nearly fainted. I was the unlucky person. My fists balled up and I felt paralyzed. "Go!" Corona pushes me and I had to walk. I took my first step towards doom. I looked at myself on the big screen. I looked like I usually do, only a bit freaked out. I slowly walked towards the stage. I heard the rest of the district whispering about me. I only had a few more feet to go, but it felt like miles. The only noise I heard was my racing heart. Finally, I climbed onto the stage. "Nice of you to finally join us, Maize! Your mentor will be Beetee!" Paulina sang this like it was the best news in the world. Just my luck. He probably remembered me from this morning. "Gentlemen next!" Paulina plucked a piece of paper from the boy's ball. "Afron Kinger!" A 16 year old boy walked up to the stage, shivering. "Hello, Afron! Your mentor will be Taft!" Ugh. Taft. I would rather have Beetee then him. Taft was the meanest person in Panem besides the president, and people were terrified of him. But I was the one they talked trash about. "District 3, your tributes!" A few people started clapping. I looked at them and realized that they were from the community home. I then remembered what Ms. Tapp said this morning: "…and when we return, you're grounded." "What if I don't return?" "Then I hope you die." And Corona's willingness to get rid of me. I began tearing up and I think I let one slip. I wiped it away. We were then escorted inside to say our goodbyes. I knew no one was going to say goodbye to me. I was an outcast. No one wanted me.
I was right. I had no visitors. So I just layed on an expensive, plush couch and I stared at the ceiling, brooding about my terrible luck. About 30 minutes later, I heard the door open. "What do you want?!" I snapped, not feeling like being lectured or scorned any longer. "May I talk to you?" said a voice. I looked over to the door and saw Beetee. I sighed. "I guess." "Well, I have two things to say: Number one: it's time to go and number two: where you the girl who I saw this morning?" "If I was going to lie, I'd say no. But honestly, yes that was me." I was suprised by my answer. Why did I say that? Beetee smiled. "Ok. We should probably get going." "Ok." I then walked with him to the car. Why didn't he hate me?
Riding in the car with Paulina, Afron, Taft and Beetee was torture. I was squished and I wanted to be alone so that I could cry about my miserable, short life. "Oh come on, talk, guys! I hate silence!" complained Paulina. "Why should I talk to HER?" Afron said a bit arrogantly. "She's Maize Donnet, for heaven's sake! Seriously, NO ONE likes her!" I had no reply to that. Today I felt like it was Maize versus world. I think I let another tear slip. "Well, if you're going to talk like that, then don't talk at all!" exclaimed Paulina, shocked at his behavior.
We arrived at the train station. A whole bunch of cameras were there and I put on my poker face, trying to look like I could care less. After what seemed like eternity, the train taking me to my death arrived. I got on and instantly went to the car that was supposed to be my room. As the train pulled out of the station, I gazed at my home as it disappeared in front of me. I sat at the window and cried for myself, self pitying myself.
This fic was posted on my profile as Safe and Sound, but I changed the title and the plot a little bit. Oh yeah, Maize actually started out as a SYOT character, but I wanted to do a fanfic on her, so yeah! Bye!
-Ember