A/N: This is my first time writing in first person present tense, I usually write in third person so this is a challenge for me! If you're going to submit your own Tribute, please PM me and not do it in the review...if you even bother to write one? There is a link to a trailer on my profile. I uploaded it to YouTube if any of you would like to see how I imagine my characters to be, so I hope you enjoy the story!
Summary: Eighteen year old, Emery is trained to kill. She is chosen to compete in the first ever Quarter Quell. She cannot think of any higher honour, all she wants is to bring pride to her District. But becoming a victor isn't everything she thought it would be. Story one.
Chapter 1 – A Choice
I pull the white cotton tank top over my head, providing minimal protection from the cool breeze that tingles against my exposed flesh. Causing goose bumps to spring up over my still damp skin, my eyes shift to the window that is slightly ajar, allowing the cool air to circulate my cramp box like bedroom. It isn't all bad, the academy I attend provides for our basic needs, but there is never a feel of home. I hear the sound of the announcement from the speaker overhead, addressing everyone in the building. I finish dressing myself, pulling on my sweater before I step out of my room, making sure I close my door behind me, thievery is not uncommon within the academy, especially when some recruits have so little. There is a great deal of excitement as I head towards the assembly hall, younger recruits run past me as I knock at my best friend, Maverick's door. The door immediately opens and his head appears through the crack. He smoothes back his mousy brown hair in an attempt to look presentable.
"C'mon slow poke!" I tease. "Or we'll miss the big announcement, its mandatory viewing you know?" I remind him while giving him a playful smile. He nods at me curtly, returning a smile. Today is the big announcement celebrating the up and coming twenty-fifth Hunger Games. This year it will be a glorified version of the games, remembering the twenty-five years since the end of The Dark Days.
"I don't see why they need the announcement so many months in advance!" Maverick exclaims irritably as we make our way down the corridor.
"It's going to be big." I tell him eagerly. He raises his eyebrow at me and shakes his head.
"And I suppose that you want to be the one competing this year then?" He inquires with a small smile. He knows me so well. We first met when I joined the academy, he's not much older than I am, he's eighteen and I'm seventeen, but I'll turn eighteen before reaping day.
"Yes, this is my last chance, and what better game to compete in than the twenty-fifth anniversary? Think of the honour that it will bring to our District!" I tell him enthusiastically, but he simply rolls his eyes. He doesn't think much of the games; he just wants to become a peacekeeper as it's one of the better jobs here in District 2. We take our seats beside one another in the assembly hall, the older students all sit at the far back but the screen is so large that it would be near impossible for anyone to miss anything. President Greene appears on-screen, followed closely by General Snow. He carries with him a small wooden box. The President talks about The Dark Days, reminding every citizen in Panem of the reason that the Hunger Games exist. President Greene begins to speak into the microphone.
"And now we honour our very first Quarter Quell." General Snow steps forward with the box, opening the lid. Inside contains rows of yellowed envelopes. The President removes an enveloped marked with the number 25. He opens it and pulls out a small piece of square paper, and reads. "On the twenty-fifth anniversary, as a reminder to the rebels that their children were dying because of their choice to initiate violence, every District will be made to hold an election and vote on the two tributes who will represent their District." Whispers breakout amongst the recruits as the seal on Panem appears, I turn to Maverick, whose blue eyes are still fixed on the now blank screen.
"Emery!" I turn in my seat and see my head instructor, who is making his way towards me as the crowd in the assembly hall disperse. "Emery, may I have a word?" He asks glancing quickly at Maverick and then at me. I nod. "I would like it if you would join me after dinner to discuss a few things." He says coolly.
"Look, if it's about the money, I've spoken to my brother and-"
"No. it's nothing to do with that." He assures me, "So, my office, after dinner." He repeats turning and heading out of the room. I turn back to Maverick and give him a faint smile as we walk towards the dining hall.
"What do you think that's all about?" Maverick asks, as we take our place in line.
"I dunno." I answer with a shrug. "Although I hope it isn't something bad. I can't think of anything that I've done wrong." I continue thoughtfully. The line continues to shift slowly forward and I step in front of the food counter. Looking down I wrinkle my nose at the sight of today's meal. All recruits are provided with a meal that contains the exact amount of calories, proteins and carbohydrates that they'll need for that day, in accordance to their weight and the tasks they will be performing for that day. The brown, lumpy broth accompanied with mash potato and one small bread roll doesn't look the most appetising, however as Maverick and I take our seats and dig in, we find that the taste is in fact phenomenal.
"Emery, do you think that you'll enter for the Quarter Quell?" Felix, one of the younger recruit's asks me, he looks at me with great enthusiasm and I smile. He isn't any older than ten, not even eligible to enter the games.
"Well they have to pick the best don't they?" I reply diplomatically, before tearing a piece of soft bread from the roll and dipping it into the stew.
"I think you're the best!"
I knock on my head instructor's door. I wait a few seconds before he appears beaming at me. As I enter I notice I am not alone. There are seven others, three girls. One, Ava of whom I know personally and do not get along with at all, we fight about everything. And have been rivals since the day I first joined the academy. The second, Toni I know to be a quiet girl, she is small with long blonde hair and brilliant green eyes. She doesn't look threatening at first sight but she is extremely skilled in weaponry and lethal with a sword. The third I know very little about and can't think of her name. There are four large muscular boys. The first called Titus, he can throw a spear from 15 feet away and it would hit the target dead centre, the second is Chason who I don't know too well, but he has a reputation within the academy for being flirtatious. The third is Jared he's slightly smaller than the rest of the boys, but he is one of the fastest runners with the current record. Lastly is Leo, he's not very talkative and has a tendency to keep to himself.
"Right, I assume you know why you are all here." Our head instructor begins. "You're the best that this academy has to offer." He continues proudly. "Anyone of you, I'm sure has the potential to do our District proud." He looks at all of us this is not unusual for one of his prep talks. But there are usually many more of us. He drones on, talking us up but we all know that only two of us will have the honour of being chosen. "Are there any questions?" He asks finally, we all exchange glances, as if waiting for someone to be the first to ask. He's just about covered everything in his monologue. It seems that nobody is going to speak up so I take it upon myself. I step forward.
"How will people know who to vote for?" I inquire curiously. He smiles at me as I step back in line.
"That, Emery, is an excellent question." He chuckles before he continues to explain. "The other residents of District 2 will be given a choice and we will offer your scores in a variety of fields. Hand to hand combat, weaponry, survival skills, agility and general intelligence." We all nod as he explains. "The higher your scores, the more chance you have of being chosen." There are a few moments of silence as we all contemplate our arsenal of skills. I wonder if mine would match up to that of Toni, who's knowledge of weaponry is far more superior to mine.
"What do you mean by intelligence?" Chason pipes up suddenly.
"What I mean, Chason is your ability to assess the situation and react accordingly." He replies.
"He means common sense!" I add bluntly. Chason turns and glares at me for speaking out of turn.
"Nobody asked you…" He retorts coolly. I say nothing and give him a smile. I know that confrontation with a potential partner will not score me any points.
I head back to my room where I find Maverick waiting for me. He's sitting on my bed examining my mother's wedding ring which I keep on a small silver chain. My father gave it to me, to give me a sense of home although I never knew my mother. My father told me that she died while giving birth to me. Apparently I'm a spitting image of her, with my large blue eyes, long brown hair and smooth, milky white skin. He stares up at me as I close the door.
"So, what did he say?" He asked scooting over to make room for me on the bed. I perched myself on the edge and look intently into his watery blue eyes. Which is the only resemblance Maverick and I share.
"He said that he thinks that I'll be an excellent candidate for this years games." I tell him excitedly, although he does not share my excitement.
"What!" He exclaims immediately getting up from the bed and staring down at me, his expression is solemn and he shakes his head. "You can't compete in the games! What if you get hurt, or worse?" I can tell he doesn't want to say it, the word die.
"The Capitol will fix me up no problem and have a little faith in me!" I snort with laughter, which he still does not return. He expression is still firm and I see in his eyes that he is worried.
"These games are not something to be taken lightly." He reminds me ominously. "It's not like training, it's the real thing and that means there's not guarantee that you'll come back!" I continue to stare at him speechless. "I always knew this day would come, and all this time I've been trying to convince you that maybe being a tribute isn't the be all and end all. I've always questioned why someone would submit themselves to engage in such horrors when we have a choice, a chance children in many other Districts don't have, the liberty of choice. To live." I find it hard to find a retort to his words and there is silence between us. We stare at one another, but still no words are exchanged. My mind is ticking away. I know that he is trying to persuade me to think the way that he does but I think of all the reasons that we as Careers do submit ourselves into the games. How we can spare the life of a younger child on reaping day, one who would not stand a chance in the games.
"Honour, fame and glory…" I say after awhile.
"And if you die it's your loved ones that have to pay and suffer the loss." I bow my head and stare at my feet for a few seconds.
"I wouldn't be here if I had no intention of competing in the games." I reply sincerely. "And if I hadn't come here, I wouldn't have met you." I tell him, if he could only see things my way. Its okay for him, his family doesn't suffer so much.
"I know, I know and I'm grateful for that." He says contently, placing his hand gently on my shoulder. "But you can still graduate this year with a one hundred percent guarantee that you'll live." I shake my head at him. He knows very well that it isn't the life that I want.
"I want this, more than anything." I admit, he continues to stare intently at me.
"More than anything?" He questions and I nod silently, He removes his hand from my shoulder and takes a step back from me.
"If you want to put a gun to your head, fine!" He retorts bitterly. "It was nice knowing ya'!" I'm about to say something in protest before storms from my bedroom and slams the door behind him, without even glancing back at me.