Tributes belong to InconseqentialFrippet and ForeverTexas3
District Two Reaping
Darius Sicola, 18
"Get off the floor Darius" a harsh voice said and slowly Darius pushed himself off the floor and scrambled to his feet. His brother, Dane, stared at him, his eyes harsh and his mouth curved into a snarl. Darius stared back at him, showing open hostility towards Dane. Dane barked a laughter and suddenly a knife spun through the air and connected with Darius's shoulder. He bawled and took a step backwards. Screwing up his eyes, he pulled out the knife and gritted his teeth. His eyes went to the knife then to Dane then back again. Sometimes he hated his brother, hated his father and hated the world. Why did he have to do this? Volunteer? Because his father would want him to, it was expected in his family. Fight and die or win and become a victor. Both his father, mother and brother had won. In 19 years of the Hunger Games all three were victors. Then there was Quinton, dead in the Games. He remembered them Games well, a massive beach area with mountains in the distance. Then the giant bat mutts, as big as a football. The ones that had slowly torn Quinton to pieces.
Dane struck again and Darius ducked in time before striking with knife. It went deep into Dane's leg. He grunted and nodded, glad that Darius was actually paying attention. The blade was torn out the flesh, spraying the ground with blood. Without any warning the knife hit his chest. It was only lightly, making a slight gash. Dane then slapped him around the face, "Pay attention Darius." But Darius just couldn't. He was thinking about too many things. Quinton, his friends and Ela. Lovely Ela, dating for three years, had known each other for eleven years.
"This is stupid" Darius said and instantly knew that that was the wrong thing to say. His brother raised an eyebrow but had a cold look in his eyes.
"I'm sorry, you said what?" Dane asked, his voice full of malice. Darius sighed, why had he just said that. He knew that would wind his brother up. Dane cleaned the blade quickly and approached Darius in steady strides.
"I'm sorry" Darius said but his brother wouldn't stop. The blade edge went into his face, just above his eye and was dragged down his skin. It stopped at his cheekbone and Dane took it out with precision. Dane then smiled like nothing was wrong and turned around, "Let's end today's training session; see you at the reaping, boyo."
Darius left quickly, clutching the side of his face. He strutted across the road and then collapsed in one of the alley ways. He wasn't hurt that much, he could take this pain but he needed a moments rest to calm down. Maybe go see his girlfriend before the reaping. He heard a noise inside the alleyway and froze. Wiping the blood on his jacket, he stood and crept into the darkness. He pulled out a small dagger he kept with him, black with a nice purple swirly pattern on it. It was Quinton's', now it was his. Another noise and some laughing. "Take that Aubrey!" a voice said and Darius carried on into the darkness. He then bumped into someone and they fell back into a pool of light. Who was out this early in the morning? It was still dark. Then again it always seemed to be dark in this alleyway. It wasn't called Gloom Alley for nothing. The girl had brown hair and brown eyes which seemed to look at his with a mixture of confusion and fear. Another girl stepped up next to her, black wavy hair and a splash of freckles across her nose. Darius knew her, Bryon; one of his friends had dated her in the past. Isabella White.
Isabelle White, 17
Darius. Great, just who she wanted to see at this moment. Then again, she never wanted to see him. The boy was horrible like the rest of his family. Vicious, cruel and serious. He was never any fun. But he looked ruff at the moment. Maybe Isabelle could have afforded a bit of politeness but all that came out was, "What's with your face?" He frowned then snarled and wiped the last of the blood from his mucky face.
"Nothing" he said briskly and then quickly scanned the two of them. He then snorted and turned away. Looking back over his shoulder he asked, "Have you seen Ela?" Both of them shook their heads and he turned back and walked briskly out of the alleyway. Aubrey whistled when he had gone.
"Why is he always so miserable? The guy should lighten up" Aubrey said, smiling slightly and lowering her blade. Isabelle shrugged and grabbed her friend before dragging her out of the alleyway. It was much lighter now and Isabella hadn't realised how much time had gone by. She stretched and sighed. Despite it being a reaping she felt great and contented for once. The mouth-watering smell of roast beef wafted from the local market, making Isabella's mouth water. Isabella and Aubrey looked at the market; it was always booming on reaping days and took a stroll down it. Buying a beef sandwich each, they continued down and saw a group of peacekeepers talking among themselves. She motioned to Aubrey who looked on curiously and the two crept closer.
"So yeah, the arena and those mutts, have you heard?" a young peacekeeper asked another one, smiling and eyes shining. The other nodded enthusiastically. His eyes then found Isabella's and he gave her an intense glare. "Shouldn't you be getting ready for the reaping?" he asked sharply. Isabelle gave him a sweet smile as Aubrey, panicking at the sight of the peacekeeper, dragged her away. Aubrey gave her head a shake and looked to her watch.
"The Reaping's soon, come on I'll meet you there!" Aubrey said, staring at the watch with alarm. Isabelle nodded and with that Aubrey disappeared within the crowds.
Darius Sicola, 18
The reaping was upon him and he left the house alone. He'd already seen Ela and she said she would come to visit him once he was at the Justice Building. Quietly he signed himself in and went to stand in the 18 year old area. The plaza was filling up quickly, children of all ages gathered in their designated areas. The mayor then ascended to the stage, trying to calm the audience. It took a while for this to happen as a buzz of noise was filling the plaza. Kids hooting and enjoying themselves. Only in District 2 would that happen, Darius thought. Finally the noises lessened and the mayor began his speech. Darius's eyes went to Ela and she smiled slightly. His eyes went back as the escort waltzed on stage. Jak Cohen, a youngish man with a spiky green mohawk and dyed blue skin. Darius winced slightly, that was not a good look. Behind him, his mother, father and brother stood next Krum; together they were the four victors of District 2. Soon he would be joining them, hopefully anyway. "Let's not waste any time on the Reapings," he announced and pushed his hand into the reaping bowl. "Jason Braiden!"
No one waited for the 'any volunteers' part in District 2. Immediately Darius was up and running, rushing towards the stage. The run was easy for him and he passed all the other eager boys ready to join the games. He arrived on the stage in double quick time and pulled a sneer towards the audience. Many of them refused to look at him, most shaking in their skin. Darius took a glance at Dane, to check if he was still angry. But he wasn't, he smiled gleefully towards the audience. He's proud, Darius realized with a jolt. Dane was never proud on anyone except himself. Darius looked back towards the audience and a malicious grin appeared on his face. He might as well keep up the bully boy appearance.
Isabelle White, 17
What's the surprise, Isabelle thought as he watched Darius stand tall on the stage. The whole family together at last. Jak took Darius's name and laughed a little, surprised. "And now for the girls" he said. Isabelle wouldn't be bothered if she went into the games. She had been training with knives since she was little. Most thought she was training to be a career and in a way she was. Her father had taught her after her mother had been murdered. Self-defence. Jak's hand went into the reaping bowl and he mixed it around before pulling it out and shaking his hands. "Aubrey Matthews" Jak announced.
Isabelle stopped dead. Aubrey, her best friend for life. They had known each other since being little. Aubrey was plenty prepared for being in the games, Isabelle realised. But she couldn't just watch her friend go through it. She just couldn't. Some looked to her now, children knowing that they were best friends. She also realized that no one was going to volunteer for Aubrey. "Any Volunteers?" Jak asked, frowning slightly. Eyes peered at Isabelle from everywhere, waiting for her. Waiting for her to volunteer.
"I volunteer as tribute!" Isabelle yelled and walked to the stage in strides. Aubrey looked at her, a mixture of admiration and fear. Then she slinked down the stage and stood at the side. "And you are?" Jak's asked.
She looked to the audience then to Jak, "I am Isabelle White" she bellowed.