Final 12 tributes! Let me know in the review who you think will be paired with who and who do you think will win, based off these chapters. I hope you enjoy. Oh, this is also the 80th Games, I done goof in the last chapter.
Chapter 2: Good Grief- D6-12 Intro's
Timber Jensen, aged 18: District 7 train, 10:45am
This was bad. There was no way out, I just knew I was going to mess this up. I felt a lump in my throat as my blue eyes darted round the silent train that was slowly pulling away from the station. A group of oddly dressed Capitolites chased after the train, their camera's lense scraping across the glass. Their fingers pressed madly on the red button taking various photos of this year's District Seven tributes. I wished they would just leave me alone. I usually welcomed any attention but this time, I just wanted to crawl into my bed and cry.
"I'm going to die," I sighed as I slumped onto the chair, my index and thumb rubbing my temple as I closed my eyes and tried to wake myself from this bad dream. Just a few hours before I was arguing with my mother about the choice of my clothing and now I was on my way to die. I was sure someone, somewhere, found it funny.
"Well, so are twenty-three other people!" My district partner snapped from across the room. I opened my eyes and narrowed them at her. The sixteen-year-old was leaned over a table, her blonde curls covering her face and hiding the tears that fell from her blue eyes, but her slight whimpering gave it away. "For once, can't you just think of other people and not yourself?" She questioned as she raised her fist and slammed it into a small piece of cake on the table in front of her. I gave a disgusted look at the squashed cake that stuck to her sweaty fist.
"Why don't you calm down? I can say what I want to say," I said smugly as I leaned back into the chair and ruffled up my dirty blonde hair. For most people, this comment and just my presence would be enough to shut someone up. However, Elva wasn't any normal person. The girl swung round, rage in her teary blue eyes as she picked up the plate of cake and threw it at me. The plate flew through the air and smashed against the train wall while the cake splattered on my grey shirt.
"You are a dick and I can't believe that out of everyone I had to die with, it had to be you. If you find anyone in that gosh darn arena that can stand your shitty presence without killing you, hang onto them because they are dumb and one in a million," her voice was calm yet she radiated anger. She was only 5ft but she was the first person to ever challenge me. I wasn't sure how to react other than violence and I didn't really want to hurt her, I wasn't in the mood and the last thing I wanted was to look like a women beater.
"Wait, you don't know me," I mumbled, cocking my head to the side. "Quit judging me," I snapped as I rose to my feet, bit's of cake falling onto the blood red carpet of the carriage.
"You don't even know who I am...do you?" She said with a smile as she got closer to me, her small height looking out of place next to my tall, muscular build. "You bullied me from the day I started school and only stopped when I dropped out of school to work...you are the furthest away from kind hearted as someone can get, I doubt you have even done a selfless act in your life," she scoffed as she stood on her tiptoes to look into my eyes. "I don't want to die either, none of us do but unless you get your act together, you will be dead the second the Games start," she seethed before turning around and walking out the door, her tiny legs carrying her much faster than a casual walk. I slumped back into the red velvet chair and started to go over everything she said. She was right, I was going to die the rate I was going. I needed and alliance and fast.
Chug Johnson, aged 15: District 6 train, 9:50am
"This is bullshit!" I shouted as walked into the room where Juncta was sat, silently staring out the window. Her gaze stayed on the raindrops that raced down the reinforced glass as I continued. "I bet you this is all just a cover up...and these two weeks are just filler work to get us frightened," I sighed, cutting a small slab of rabbit pie and drowning it in gravy. The short girl still continued to look out the window as if I wasn't there. "Don't you agree?" I questioned as I placed the china plate on the mahogany table.
"Not really, you can learn some valuable stuff from these two weeks and how could this be a cover up? This is not the sort of thing you cover up...it would be a fairly dumb cover" She said rather loudly as she picked up the small glass of milkshake, took the smallest sip and placed it back.
The room fell silent once again, the only noise being my metal fork scraping across the plate. Juncta stayed still as if in some sort of trance. It must have been a side effect of the Games.
"What's your plan for the Games then?-"
"Survive," she answered almost immediately as dark trees surrounded the train causing the automatic light system to come on. She clearly was not reacting well to friendly Chug so it was time to breakout the big guns.
"Yo beautiful, you want to ally?" Juncta turned around for the first time with a disgusted look on her face.
"If you stop acting like that, sure-"
"Oh god, what's up with your eye!" I screamed as I reeled back, falling off my chair and sending my pie and gravy flying onto the cream carpet. She raised an eyebrow and I gestured towards her right brown eye. It was looking the other way to the other one like it was broken.
"I have had it for years, can you not mention it please because I am very sensitive about-"
"Ha!" I laughed causing her to look over towards me with confusion. "Your glasses are like jam jars," I fell to the floor again in a fit of laughter, not even bothering to look up and take in my ally's reaction. "It looks like you have four eyes!" I belted before laughing so hard my chest felt like it was going to explode. As I rolled around on the floor, I heard Juncta mutter something to herself before standing up and walking towards the door.
"Stuff your alliance up your shitty ass" She spit before leaving me in the room giggling to myself. It was only a joke. I didn't need her anyway, I only needed myself to win this.
Tailor Jackson, aged 15: District 8 train, 11:22am
"No!" I screamed towards my Escort Gladius. His red eyes widened while Cammo fumbled with his glass, it slipping past his overly large fingers and smashing on the table, the red juice spilling everywhere.
"What do you mean...no?" Gladius said, cocking his head to the side with a fake frown on his face.
"I don't want to die, I don't to be killed by a bunch of kids" I whimpered in the hope that he would go back and pick someone else. Gladius just smiled from ear to ear like he had just won the prize of a life time. Cammo was still silently cleaning up the mess he had created, refusing the help of the Avox that tried to brush him off.
"Darling" Gladius sang as he reached his arm out towards me and pulled me close. "You are going to die in glory, everyone will know your death. You will be in books and imprinted into everyone's brains...much better than dying in a cold shack," He sighed as he messed with my brown hair and started to plait it.
"You don't understand it do you?" I choked as I pulled away from him, moving backward until my back hit the large dining table. He just simple raised an eyebrow at me in confusion. "You are not going to die in a few weeks, you haven't been dragged away from your family...I would much rather die poor and with my family than well known and alone," I could feel the tears building up in my eyes along with a tight knot in my chest.
"I think I will leave you two to calm to calm down for a while," Gladius said before running out the door and to the next cart. Cammo looked after him with a pleading looking on his face as he scooped the glass into a small wire bin.
I walked over to the tower of a man and slumped into the chair opposite him. He stopped and watched as I sat down as if expecting me to make him jump. After a few moments, he shrugged and went back to cleaning up the glass.
"I can win this...can't I Cammo?" I said softly as I watched the small fragments of glass embedded in the carpet, glisten in the sunlight. The tall boy didn't answer and instead acted like I wasn't even there. The boy must have been close to seven feet in height and although he must have weighed a ton, it seemed to match his height rather well so he didn't seem fat. He came from a poor family judging my his raggedy old clothes and unclean nature. It was rather gross but I guess it just proved he was a poor and hardworking soul.
"If we were to ally, Would you protect me?" I said softly as I pulled my dress until it showed my tigh. Cammo looked up, his green eyes widening before shooting back down to the glass on the floor, a blush on his face. Perfect.
I got on my hands and knees and crawled towards him, knowing my overly large breasts would be mostly on show. Cammo watched me carefully, his brown hair sticking to his face with sweat, trying his best to keep his eyes on my chocolate brown ones. "A girl like me needs looking after Cammo" I said with a growl as I attempted to push Cammo onto his arse so I could climb on his lap by he just pushed me away from him, sending me backward.
"You little dick!" I screamed as my hand fell on a piece of glass, embedding it in my tanned skin. Blood flowed everywhere and pressure on my hand just forced the glass in deeper. I looked up to Cammo, who was knelt looking at me with interest and felt my cheeks puff up at the sight of a slight smile on his face.
I angrily pulled the shard of glass out of my hand and threw it at Cammo, it missing him my a long way and ending up under the table of cakes.
"Are you that much of a pussy that you can't even take a girl you gigantic bastard!" I screamed at the top of my voice as I tried to stop the blood flow. I had made the cut larger by my careless removal of the glass. The smile onCammo's face dropped and he stood up, his head just scraping the ceiling of the carriage, and walked out the door towards his room without saying a word. I was alone now. Like I would be in the Games. Allies would just slow me down, I only needed to look after myself.
Grain Hudsbeth, aged 17: District 9 train, 1:02pm
"Now, don't take this the wrong way, I don't want to ally," I said sternly to my District partner. "You are very nice and smart but that's the reason we can't ally, we need to live, not make friends," the brown haired boy looked at me silently for a moment before smiling a toothy grin.
"It's okay love, but we can still talk, right? It would get pretty lonely if we didn't," He said, his brown eye wide like a child's when seeing something wondrous for the first time. I looked at him for a few seconds before pushing my wire-rimmed glasses up.
"Sure thing, I am Grain by the way," I held a hand out towards the boy who hesitated before leaning forward.
"I'm Quinoa, nice to meet ya' hun," he said as he took my hand and shook it with excitement. After the handshake, we both leaned back in our chairs in silence. I wracked my brain for a conversation starter, I was better at maths, not socializing.
Grain stood up, straightening out her white, cotton dress and pushed her wire-framed glasses up her nose.
"Well,I'm going to be off, no offense to you, it's been a stressful day" she mumbled politely before bowing and quickly walking out the room.
Rye Simmons, aged 12: District 10 train, 6:50pm
The TV on the wall of the train carriage was huge! It was nothing like the piddly little things we had back home, and it actually displayed everything in clear colour! And you could see people's eyes! It was amazing, I'd heard the Capitol were rich but I didn't think they had the money for this! I was practically bouncing on the sofa as my district partner and I watched the reapings of the other districts, she seemed to be nervous. I had no idea why! I wasn't scary, she was much bigger than I was.
"Y'know that man looks strong!", I beamed at her, jerking my finger in the general direction of the screen where the muscular male tribute from Two stood stoic on the stage after volunteering. "I want him in my alliance!", I continued, turning back to the screen. As each district was featured, I found more and more strong people I wanted in my alliance, it was amazing! So many big people that could fight and help me win, even from some of the districts like mine. My district partner never said a word, simply sat beside me, her lips tightly sealed shut. Maybe if I outlined my entire plan to her?
"...and THAT is how I'm going to beat the last person, and my alliance will be victorious!", I declared. I had climbed up onto the arm of the couch, wielding a fireplace poker from elsewhere in the carriage to illustrate my point. I bet I looked cool. "Whatcha think?", I exclaimed, plopping myself back down beside her, a wide smile spread across my face.
"I think it sounds very nice", she said quietly, casting her eyes down at her shoes and picking her sleeve. She had a soothing voice. Wait, I think I had just figured out why she looked so sad.
"It's okay!", I said, patting her arm clumsily, "You can be in my alliance too!". She looked taken aback for a moment before her features softened and she smiled. She even looked sad when she smiled, what was wrong? "Don't worry, those strong people will protect us! We're going to survive, I bet on it".
"I sure hope so", she said, brushing her raven hair out of her eyes. She rested her head back against the cushioned headrests of the couch and deeply exhaled, she seemed to sink into the seat. It was weird. "Are you okay?", I asked quizzically, I placed my thin hand on her forehead. "You feel okay". This time when she smiled, there was genuine warmth behind it.
"I'm okay", she said, sitting back up in her seat and leaning forward, resting her head on her hands and looking at me.
"Awesome!", I exclaimed excitedly. "I'm Rye!", I shot my hand out, which she tenderly took and shook lightly. I'd seen adults doing this when they made arrangements.
"I'm Kalie", she said, politely nodding.
"Now it's official! We're partners!". I leaped off the couch and walked a few paces before turning on my heel and looking at her. "Now let's talk about how I'm the leader of thebestest alliance in the games and you can be my first mate!", I glowed with pride. This was going to be amazing.
Kyroic Stelson, aged 15: District 11 train, 3:30pm
Kyra Paschal's shoulders shook, whether the trundling train was to blame or whether she was weeping was unclear, as her hands covered her face. On second thought, that probably meant she was weeping.
I sat on the opposite side of the train, twiddling my thumbs, trying to find the right thing to say. I'd just cried myself dry into the shoulder of my mother, so now I had to make up for that with a manly show of solidarity.
Kyra jumped as I slumped myself down on the plush couch beside her, the recreation carriage was great besides the lack of food. Wouldn't want to stain the carpets, I guess, we were way too dispensable to bother paying for cleaning on our account.
"You alright?", I said, stretching my arm out around her and pulling her into what I thought was a reassuring hug.
"Yes", she said bluntly, shifting out from under my arm and away from me. She wiped away the tears that stained her cheeks. I looked up her up and down, she was what myself and the guys back in the district would call a kitten. She was average height, but of slight build. Her face would've been cute if not for sharp features, that being said, I'd heard stories about her back in the district. If we'd gone to the same school I'd have made a move on her.
"You sure? You don't look okay", I replied, gently.
"That why you're staring at my tits?", she remarked. I twitched in surprise, had my gaze really lingered on her that long? Damn! I thought I was more subtle than this.
"Uhh…", I began, uncertainly. Y'know, best to just ignore her and start over, "Just know if you need a friend I'm here".
"Thanks", she replied, straightening her low cut shirt. It was like she was ASKING me to look. Best to introduce myself if I ever wanted to get anywhere with her, it'd be better to spend my time pre-games getting some personal time in than awaiting the carnage to come.
"I'm Kyroic. Our names are kinda similar, ain't that funny?", I said, beaming at her. She kinda grimaced at me, but her gaze softened and she humoured me.
"Yeah. I guess we were born around the same time, might've been a craze".
"I've never heard of any other names beginning with KY though… Not even in my year at school, surely if there was a craze there'd be loads of them?", I stroked my chin, deep in thought. Had I ever met another KY-person?
"I doubt there was an actual craze, I was just trying to be funny", she shattered my ponderings in one fell swoop.
"That's not fair", I grumbled.
"Neither is our situation. I had plans with my boyfriend tonight, and now…", Kyra looked back down at her shirt, it's low cut V-neck showing off a large amount of cleavage, as though the suggestibility of it reminded her of her lost lover.
"Uhh… I'm sorry", I said, unsure really of how to proceed with my plan.
"It's fine, he was just another dude to ride while it was interesting", she stretched back casually, pushing out her chest ever further. My breath caught in my throat and I nearly choked. Her eyes met mine, and I rushed to regain my composure.
Kyra stood, straightened her shirt to leave. Dammit, I'd ruined it. I'd messed up my chance with my damn nerves.
She turned towards me, took my hand, dragging me to my feet and towards the door.
"Where are we going?", I gasped in surprise.
"The bedrooms, if you're going to keep staring I might as well give you the full show".
Jackpot.
Lia Goodfellow, aged 13: District 12 Town Hall, 2:20pm
Just once, I'd have liked to at least pretend that my parents cared about more than the drugs. I sat slumped against the hard wall of the room my escort had ushered us into after I was reaped. I think the guy was in here too, but honestly, I didn't pay any mind to the other child they'd sentenced to death. As always, my mother and father had decided not to grace such an unimportant event with their presence. They were free-loving, "free-thinking", types… Or at least that was what they called it, everyone else in the district and I knew them as lazy, oafish drug addicts.
I buried my face in my hands, I didn't want to be upset, I should've been used to this by now. 'I hate them, I hate them', I repeated over and over in my head. But no matter what I did, I couldn't convince myself of anything other than I was a little girl that needed her mummy and daddy. My tears came hot and fast, splashing down my face. I started heaving, I tried to stay quiet, but I couldn't. I'm so scared. I don't want to die.
"Hey", said a tender voice from beside me. My head snapped up and my eyes flung open as the male tribute slid down the wall and sat beside me, his eyes were brimming with sorrow. He'd just finished saying goodbye to his family and maintained a brave face throughout. I hated him. "Are you alright?", he said. I opened my mouth to retort, of course I wasn't alright. However… As I looked him up and down, his tall frame not burdened by the lankiness of others, but supplemented by tense muscle. He was no child. He looked strong. He looked useful.
"Yes", I sniffled, wiping my nose. Remain innocent, I repeated the mantra in my head. Be vulnerable. "I'm just terrified, I have nobody to protect me. Even my parents-", my voice caught in my throat. No- Damn! Genuine emotion had no place here.
"It's going to be okay", he said softly, "I'll protect you. We can be allies, would you like that?". I looked into his kind eyes. Score.
"Are you sure?", I gasped, feigning absolute delight. Gotta sell it. I squealed and threw myself into his arms. He chuckled to himself, a smile spreading across his face.
"You're safe with me", he said happily, "I'm Asher".
"Thank you!", I said, a smile glued to my face. I could survive with him, and others like him. There were bound to be other idiots reaped just gagging to ally with the innocent little girl that needed protection. This was going to go my way. I wasn't going to die.
