District One
We're really not all the same
Anastasia Ripley, 17
District One Female Tribute
I trek along the outskirts of One. It's a bit chilly, but I don't mind.
Exploring the district, finding out new things, and just being outside always help me clear my mind. I needed that especially today, because it's Reaping Day.
It's not fair, it's not fair, it's not fair, I think as I hike on a path I made a long time ago. The flowers are just starting to bloom, some into a soft pink, others into vibrant yellows and reds. Some little animals, like bunnies and squirrels, run across the grass and trees, making it a serene sight. It calms me down, taking my mind off of the impending doom that will happen in two hours.
I stop at a cliff that overlooks the entire district. District 1 looks so small, so fragile, from up here. Some lights are on in random houses, but not many are. It's the crack of dawn, the beginning of the sunrise. I sit down on the mossy ground, taking off my shoes as my toes soak in the air. I just watch, waiting. The sun eventually peaks out, as oranges and pinks flood the sky. I smile to myself. I could never get enough of this view.
"Anastasia!" I turn around to see my best friend, Gigi, come jogging towards me. Her green eyes are bright and her curly blonde hair bounces in its loose ponytail. "Thought I might find you here."
"Hey Gi," I smile. "Sorry I didn't find you earlier. I just-" my voice trails off, but Gigi catches on.
"-wanted to be alone? I get that." She takes a seat next to me, on the dewy ground. As we stare off at the sunlight flooding the district, she turns to me. "Are you scared?"
"Why?"
Gigi frowns, looking out again. "Because the girls from the academy are getting everyone to vote for you in the games."
I sigh, not surprised at all. I'm not a typical girl from One, hence the reason they all want me to die. Unlike most girls, who have gorgeous emerald green eyes and curly platinum blonde hair, I have long, straight bronze hair and brown eyes. I'm also not the richest in the district, giving girls like Diamond Moonweather and Amber Rouge a reason to pick on me. Once upon a time, I would have been sad about that, but now, I just really don't care.
"That was kind of expected," I say. "They never liked me anyway. If I do get reaped, I'll win just so that could bite them in the butt."
"I guess so…" she says, "I just- I guess I just don't want you to go."
I hug her tightly. "And I won't. I'm Anastasia Ripley, explorer girl extraordinaire. Nothing they do could ever hurt me. If that snake didn't kill me, the airheads from the academy won't scratch me."
She laughs, buying it. Inside, I'm scared. I don't know what would happen if I was reaped for this year's Quarter Quell. I just pray that those girls' influence won't get me chosen.
I force a huge smile to my face, taking her hand and dragging her up. "Now come on, we have to get ready if we want to look our best for this big big day!" I laugh, imitating our ridiculous district escort, Trixibella Remus. We giggle all the way back to our houses.
"Mom! Dad! I'm home!"
"Oh Ana, I'm so glad you're finally home," Mom says, her long auburn hair tied into a loose bun. "You need to get ready, the Capitol coverage is going to be much larger this year for the Quarter Quell."
I can sense my mom is worried, but when Dad comes in, a whole load of just plain terrified fills the room. Dad hugs tight when he sees me. "Today's a big day," he says nervously. "I hope you'll be cautious."
I nod, heading to the bathroom, washing myself. A white dress is laid on my bed. I put it on and look in my mirror.
The dress is too loose for my petite frame, and I have no belt, so it's stuck like that. I sigh, brushing my hair and slipping on a pair of simple black shoes. There, I look presentable.
I walk into the kitchen. Mom and Dad are ready, talking in hushed tones, obviously about me. I cough, and instantly Mom hugs me.
"You look beautiful sweetie," she whispers, her voice wavering slightly.
We walk to the square, Mom and Dad heading off to the adults section. The Peacekeeper takes my blood, verifying that it's me, and lets me go. Gigi spots me and runs to me.
"I'm so nervous!" she says, her green eyes wide. "You're not allowed to have volunteers this year so there's no one to volunteer for you."
"I am too." I study the rows and rows of people, all people who have voted for someone to die.
"Well, you should be." Gigi tenses up as I roll my eyes and turn around. Diamond Moonweather, Amber Rouge, and Jade Collins all smirk at me. "We made sure that you would be voted. After all, who would actually want the mousy girl to live?"
I plaster a huge smile. "Diamond, Amber, Jade, you all look gorgeous today for Reaping Day. Hoping Roman Troy would notice you? I'm pretty sure he will, who could ever miss girls as beautiful as you?"
They all look flabbergasted, unable to get a word out of their hanging mouths. I take my leave as Gigi giggles beside me.
"They never catch on, do they," she laughs.
I smirk. "Of course they don't, they're too dumb to catch onto anything that doesn't involve Roman."
We all stand in the crowd of seventeen year olds as the mayor, a handsome man with bright blue eyes, reads the Treaty of Treason. I imagine the districts in harmony as he reads in. Smiles, families that could be with families, people laughing together, and no Hunger Games. I space out of the world until I hear two words that change my world.
"Anastasia Ripley!"
The crowd mumbles. Some gasp, while most laugh. I swallow my fear and smile to everyone, pretending that I'm so happy to be reaped, as I walk right beside Trixibella on the stage.
"And now for the boys." Trixibella places one super pale hand into the reaping bowl and takes the single piece of paper out. "Platinum Worth!"
I internally gasp, just barely holding my smile. I voted for him to go into these games as well. He murdered 3 people. He's dangerous.
Platinum walks up to the stage, looking chill. I, though, know he's seething. I can see it in his eyes.
We shake hands. I refuse to meet his eyes.
"Ladies and gentlemen, the District One tributes for the 25th Hunger Games and the first ever Quarter Quell, Anastasia Ripley and Platinum Worth!"
We are ushered to the Justice Building, where we could say our final goodbyes.
Mom and Dad come in crying, wrapping their arms around me. We all cry together. My parents because they're scared for me, and me because I've never seen my parents cry.
"Promise me you'll come back. Promise me Ana, promise me," Dad begs. His eyes are just so broken, and even though I think I won't survive I nod.
"I promise."
Mom's mouth is close to my ear, her warm breath staggering. "Never, ever, ever lose your spirit Anastasia. Don't let them break you now."
I nod. We all hug again, and we stay in this embrace until the peacekeepers drag my parents out.
Gigi runs in, pulling me into a fierce hug. "Thank you," I say, "for being the best friend I've ever had. For sticking with me even though I'm a loser."
She laughs, her eyes filling with tears. "You're welcome, but the only way you can repay me is by coming back. Don't join the Career pack Ana, that'll only land you a knife in your back."
I nod, hugging her one last time.
"I'm cheering for you," she murmurs, giving me one last smile, before she leaves.
The next person shocks me.
"Lust?" I say.
Lust is the coolest person in my age group. He's never talked to me before, so I wouldn't expect him out of all people to come and see me one last time.
He walks close to me, his eyes sad, pulling me closer and he kisses me, giving me my first ever kiss. We kiss until we can't breathe. I stare at him, my eyes wide open.
"I'm sorry, I had to do this at least once."
Then he walks out. I stare at the door, eyes still wide open, mouth still wide open. I touch my lips, and a warm fuzzy feeling spreads through me. What did Lust mean by that? Did he really just kiss me?
The last person almost shocks me as much as Lust did. Sabara, the daughter of the richest man in the district, comes over to me, clasping something into my hand.
"I always admired your spirit," she whispers, giving me a shy smiles and leaves.
I open my palm, staring at something I would look at in the jewelry store. Something I couldn't afford.
Sabara gave me a ruby bracelet.
Platinum Worth, 22
District One Male Tribute
"Platinum, stop!" Gold giggles as I tickle her.
"What are you going to do to make me stop?" I ask, smirking at her.
She shrugs, suddenly leaning forward and kissing me. We kiss in the alley of a boutique and jewelers, not minding anything or anyone around us.
We pull apart to footsteps, Gold's full pink lips turning into a pout.
"It's the peacekeepers," I mouth. She gets it, and we scramble behind some old boxes.
"I swear I heard people here," one said. I closed my hand over Gold's mouth to stop her from giggling, glaring at her. She shuts up immediately, her eyes widening with fear. Good.
Once the footsteps and voices are gone, we get out from behind the boxes and go home. The Reapings don't apply to us anymore, but we still have to look good for them.
Gold showers first, insisting that she will need extra time to look her best, so I'm in my bedroom. I finger the tattered, bloody piece of cloth, taking me back to that day.
"Honey! We're just going out to get some groceries! Do you want to come with us?" My mom had said. Her beautiful blonde hair was in a bun, and her green eyes, god, they were always smiling. Her hands were wrapped protectively around her stomach, which carried my little sister Silver.
I grumbled, throwing the knives at the target. "I'm busy Mom."
She pursed her lips. "Alright then, Darling, we'll be back soon." She kisses me on the forehead, leaving me to my throwing.
It wasn't until two hours later that I realized that they should've been home by now. I didn't mind about that, maybe they were just picking something up for when Silver arrived.
When the phone rang, that's when I went onto full on panic. Something happened. Something has to have happened. No one uses the phone unless something bad happened.
"Hello?" I said, my voice small and scared. "This is Platinum Worth speaking. Who am I talking to?"
A clipped tone answered back, like me using call etiquette was wasting her time. "Mr. Worth, I'm sorry to say this, but you have to go to the doctor's shop immediately. Your parents were in a car accident, and are in critical condition. We are also putting your mother in early labor, as that might be the only way to save your sibling."
"What!" I roared. "She isn't due for another month! That can't happen!"
She sighed into the phone, like I was too stupid to understand anything. "This will be the only way to save your sibling."
I grabbed my shoes and run to the doctor's office. Inside, the doctor's daughter, Ivory, who was my age, greeted me. "Platinum, come right this way."
I could tell she was scared by the way the sweat ran down her face. We entered a room that was stark white, and in the middle of the room laid my parents.
"Mom… Dad…" I croaked, tears running down my face. Doctor Sheen was running all over the place, making the midwife hurry up with the process and him desperately trying to stop my parents from losing too much blood.
"Come over here Platinum, just in case you have to-" she stopped herself, a sob coming up her throat. Mom often visited this very same office and had Ivory check up on Silver. Ivory was close to our family.
I listen, heading to my mom's table first, holding her hand. "Mom, please, please, please don't die on me. You've been there for me since I was little and you always picked me up when I fell. Wake up Mom, live, not just for me, but for Silver too."
I kissed her on the forehead and walk to Dad. "When I was younger, I always wondered why you forbade me from going into the games. Now I see you just wanted to protect me. But if you don't live, I'm going to hunt down your murderers and see that get the justice they deserve."
Ivory brandished a baby into my arms, small and swaddled in blankets. Silver. I rocked her, seeing her little chest fall up and down while she breathed, until, she didn't.
"Silver!"
Ivory really did cry then. "I'm sorry Platinum, the crash went right through the stomach. Silver is dead, and so are your parents."
I buried them alone. No one cried with me at the burial of Lumen Worth, Opal Worth, and Silver Worth.
And then I fulfilled my promise to my dad to kill the little bastards that murdered my parents.
Sweat was all over my body now from the painful memory. Murderer, murderer, murderer. I killed the three people that killed my family. Everyone suspects it's me, but can't have me arrested because they have no proof.
"Plat, baby, are you okay?" I feel Gold's soft hand on my shoulder.
"Don't touch me!" I roar. "Stay away from me!"
Her eyes are fear-filled, and she squeaks something before running away. I stalk over to the shower, turning it on. Gold shouldn't use all the hot water. I step in when the water is what I like it best at, scorching hot.
Would the hot water be able to wash away all of my sins? It's been three years since they died… would they be happy from where they are now?
I'm clean now, and I go to my room and get a pair of jeans and a black shirt. I put them on, tucking the piece of fabric into my pocket. I looked good, like usual.
"Gold." I say. She turns around apologetically.
"I'm so sorry Platinum, I know I was rude."
I hugged her, kissing the top of her head. "It's okay babe. Now, let's go to the square."
The Treaty of Treason reading was bland, as I've heard it millions of times and memorized it to heart. My ears perk up when the girl, Anastasia Ripley, is reaped.
She's unique, small and seventeen. Not blonde like my mom or Gold, but she has auburn hair. I can tell that she's been reaped because she stood out like a sore thumb.
Trixibella Remus calls out the next name, and I can't believe it because of course it had to be me.
I keep my cool, trying not to lash out at the audience.
The mousy, pathetic girl on the stage is now important. She's my district partner. We shake hands grudgingly, and I notice that she can't meet my eyes. I smirk in amusement. Is the small girl scared of me?
Trixibella announces us one last time for the cameras, and then we're ushered to the Justice Building.
Gold is my only visitor.
"I'm so excited for you! You'll win and you'll be a victor!"
She kisses me, and we make out for pretty much the entire time. When the Peacekeepers come in to take her, she looks over her shoulder, and blows me a kiss.
"Come home for me."
But all I could think of is murderer, murderer, murderer.
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