District 1 female, Jewel Hart, 12
Isolation. That's all I've known for four years. As the seconds, hours, days, and months tick by I can't help but feel grateful. Yes, numerous unfortunate events have happened in my life. My parents died of food poisoning, leaving me orphaned at the age of four. At only the age of 8, I got a rare and fatal illness. However, with each tragedy comes a miracle. One year ago, I miraculously recovered. The only permanent effect is that it stunted my growth.
As I look at myself in the mirror I see my small skinny body. My wavy blonde hair practically bounces off my shoulder as I stare into my big brown eyes. I look like the average District 1 girl, however, my life is nothing like an average girl.
Today is my first reaping day. I take four long deep breaths. I tell myself over and over that I have nothing to fear. Even if I do get reaped, Shimmer would volunteer. Shimmer. Just the thought of her sends shivers down my spine.
She's the one who made my life miserable. Ever since I first stepped foot in District One's Community Home she has been out to get me. We were both orphaned but the only difference I could see was that her parents left her with a fortune. That's how she paid for the training academy. She always had the best clothes, the best hair, the best accessories. However, she is the cruelest, the most cold-hearted, the most bloodthirsty person I have ever meant. The careers in the past games were nothing compared to her. She could kill on instinct, the perfect Career.
Still, to this day, I have never understood why she has a personal hatred for me. Even when I was only four and she was only ten she bullied me mercilessly. She once put fifty spiders in my room, and as a four-year-old that freaked me out. The bullying just got worse the older we got. When I was 6 she pushed me into a well and it took six peacekeepers to get me out. Of course, I never told on her, because people won't believe me and it would only get worse.
When I got the illness, part of me was at ease because she could not pick on me anymore, but she somehow always found a way. After I recovered, on my way to school she pushed me into a pile of mud and ever since I have had the nickname Princess Dirt.
Later, I was walking back from school and I was walking with Lucka who was from my history class. I have had a crush him since second grade and I finally had the chance to talk to him.
Then Shimmer walked by with her friends and sneered, " Oh look, it's little Princess Dirt. Have you peed your pants talking to a real boy? Why don't you go home and cry to your mamma? Oh, wait, she's dead!"
She threw back her head laughing and her friends joined her. My face went red as the anger was settling into my system. How dare she embarrass me in front of Lucka. I snapped and I punched her right in the nose.
She snarled, "You'll pay for that."
Then she punched me right in the gut.
As I fell to the floor she laughed, but then in a deadly voice she whispered, "This isn't over."
District 1 male, Valor Parkat, 18
"VALOR," screams a shrill voice.
I moan inside my covers. That voice can only belong to one person.
"What do you want, Shimmer," I yell through the walls.
" If we want to train before the reaping we need to go, now," She commands.
I look at the time. Four in the morning. The work of a career is never over.
" Fine, I'm coming," I shout.
I quickly put on a tank top and shorts and go outside.
" Took you long enough," she jokes.
" Well, you just woke up my whole family," I counter.
" I guess we're even then," she decided.
" I guess," I repeated.
I study her. Her stick-straight honey brown hair is in a ponytail. She is only wearing a black sports bra and black shorts. She stands tall with her emerald green eyes shimmering in the still dark sky. She is no doubt beautiful but any man who has tried to date her has regretted it. We are only friends and we will never be more than friends.
As we walk, I whisper, " Shimmer, are you ready for the games?"
She laughs while tilting her head, " What kind of question is that?"
"I don't know," I respond, " just answer it."
" Of course, I've been training my whole life for this," she reasons.
" Good, I don't want my closest ally lacking," I tease.
"Oh, Ha Ha," she jokes.
We walk the rest of the way to the training center in silence. Shimmer occasionally looks behind us, as if watching if someone is following us.
When we finally get there, I look around for my other best friend, Ave. However, he is nowhere to be seen.
" Hey, have you seen Ave," I asked?
"No, why would he be here," she scoffed.
"Whoa, I was just asking. No need to be a witch about it," I addressed.
" Sorry, I'm just uptight for the reaping today. Throwing knives at dummies should fix that," she apologies as she sprints to the dummy section.
"Right," I called as she was leaving.
Shimmer is never uptight. What is going on? She was acting weird the whole walk here, and where is Ave? He might be a year behind us but he usually trains with us.
Something is not right.
District 1 female, Jewel Hart, 12
"OW," I scream as peacekeeper pricks my finger.
"Sorry Miss," the peacekeeper apologizes.
" It's okay," I attempt a smile.
He nods and smiles.
I scan the 12-year-old section. I see Lucka with the 12-year-old boys. Should I go up and talk to him. I have plenty of time because I got here a half hour early. The way he smiles brings light to all of Panem. However, I can not approach him after what happened last time. I sigh as I make my way to the 12-year-old girls section.
After waiting forever, the district one escort, Poppy Flower Springer, comes onto the stage.
" Welcome to District One's Reaping of the 31st Hunger Games," she projects.
Loud cheers and applause ripples through the crowd.
I flinch all through the treaty of treason and the video. Just the thought of killing another human being makes me nauseated.
" I will now draw a name from the bowl to the left for the female tribute. If your name is called please come to the stage," she commands.
I close my eyes and wait. Whoever name she calls doesn't matter. Shimmer will volunteer in their place. At least that demon in my life will finally disappear.
" Jewel Hart," she calls out.
I take a deep breath and walk to the stage. I'll be fine, Shimmer will volunteer for me. I hate all this attention. Everyone is looking at me, including Lucka. I try my best not to stumble.
When I first step on the stage, I expect Shimmer to immediately volunteer. Only she doesn't. As I wait on the stage my anxiety increases. Where is Shimmer? Is she late? Then I spot her. She is standing in the 18-year-old section with a deadly expression. We catch eyes and she smirks at me while waving her hand. As if saying, Bye, Bye Princess Dirt. Oh no, Oh no! Does she hate me so much that she is giving up her chance to volunteer, and sending me to death. She said she'll make me pay. This has to be more than one punch, but what is it? I start hyperventilating. I can not go into the hunger games. I'll die in the first second!
Poppy looks at me and says, " Any volunteers?"
The crowd goes dead silent.
" Well, then this is interesting, now for the boys," Poppy remarks.
This can not be happening.
District 1 male, Valor Parkat, 18
Wow, our escort looks even more ridiculous than last year. She has long red hair with golden tattoos all over her body. Her eyes are super creepy because they are also gold. She is so distracting I can't pay attention during the treaty of treason and video.
" I will now draw a name from the bowl to the left for the female tribute. If your name is called please come to the stage, she exclaims.
" Jewel Hart," she calls out.
That name sounds oddly familiar. I can't tell from where though. It doesn't matter, Shimmer will volunteer for her.
Jewel is a very tiny, short girl. She has curly blonde hair and her warm brown eyes show fear. She is probably a 12-year-old. She is trembling as she walks to the stage. The poor girl, Shimmer better hurry up volunteering.
Seconds pass by as the tiny girl shivers on stage. What is Shimmer waiting for? When I finally catch Shimmer's eye and she just smiles at me. Not a friendly smile, a cold calculating smirk.
What is Shimmer doing? She has wanted this so bad for so long. Why is she making this poor innocent girl go into the games?
Poppy, clearly as confused as I am, asks, " Any volunteers?"
I stare right into Shimmer's eye as if willing her to volunteer. She stares back and gives me a deadly glare.
No one says anything so Poppy announces, " Well then this is interesting, now for the boys!"
Here it goes, finally my chance. To show off all my work. To prove I'm the best tribute of all time. To do what my brother couldn't. To win the Hunger Games.
" Ad...", she starts.
" I volunteer as tribute," I scream before she finishes.
I confidently walk on stage. I wink at a couple of girls making them whoo. Everyone claps, some whistle, many even chant my name.
When I reach the stage, Poppy gleams, " That's more like it, now what's your name?"
" Valor ParKat," I announce.
" Well, Valor, the other tributes are going to have to watch out for you," she beamed.
" Thank you, Maman," I say while smiling at the audience.
It's never too late to get sponsors.
" So polite, Ladies and Gentleman, Valor Parkat and Jewel Hart," she thundered.
I shake hands with little Jewel who looks like she is about to pass out. She looks so familiar but I can't tell from where. She shouldn't be in the Hunger Games.
This is all Shimmer's fault.
District 1 female, Jewel Hart, 12
A waterfall of tears come out of my eyes as I am alone waiting for visitors that will never come. I have no family, no friends, no one to miss me when I'm gone. I cry even harder.
I hear a knock on my door. Who can that be? Has Shimmer come to rub it in my face? No, she wouldn't knock.
I see a concerned handsome face peer through my door, Lucka.
" Jewel, I just wanted to give you this," he hands me a rose and then runs out the door.
I clutch the rose, it is so beautiful.
Does this mean Lucka actually likes me? Did I actually have a chance with him? It doesn't matter what could have happened, I will die in a week anyway.
Minutes feel like hours as I sit in the room crying.
Then I hear another knock on the door. Who can it be this time?
The peacekeeper who pricked my finger comes in. Am I in trouble, did I do something wrong?
" It's okay, I'm here to help," he softly whispers, " Do you remember me? I helped you out of a well when you were little."
I do remember him. He was the only peacekeeper that was genuine. All the others were just frustrated.
I don't say anything and just keep crying. He comes and sits next to me, stroking my back as I cry.
After a while he whispers, " When you get into the arena, hide; don't go into the cornucopia."
I nod.
Then another peacekeeper comes in and announces, " Officer Hart, you are required outside."
I gasp as he gets up and leaves. Before he shuts the door he smiles kindly at me.
Officer Hart? The community home never mentioned my father had a brother. However, who else can he be? My parents are both dead, I'm sure of that. Somewhere in district one, do I have relatives, a family?
Maybe, there is hope after all.
District 1 male, Valor Parkat, 18
I am steaming with anger. How can Shimmer do this to a poor little girl?
I have little time to think about it because my family is coming in.
The whole gang comes in, with my mother rushing in first with tears in her eyes.
" My brave baby is going into the hunger games," she bawls.
" Mother it's going to be okay, I will win. Then we will all be rich," I assure.
She nods and goes into the arms of my brother, Greg.
One after another everyone in my huge family says goodbye, including my two older brothers, four younger brothers, and two younger sisters.
Then only my father remains.
"Valor, you can not lose. Your mother has already lost one son to the Hunger Games. Do not make it two," he commands.
I nod, understanding the importance while he leaves.
Then I see Shimmer's emerald green eyes peer through the door.
My anger erupts like a Volcano.
" Shimmer, how dare you to make an innocent little girl go into the hunger games," I yell.
Since, she says nothing I continue," What happened to proving to the world that you're more than just a girl abandoned by her parents."
" I thought you wanted them to regret giving you up," I scream.
She flinches at the sound of my voice but does not say anything.
" You worked so hard for this to give it all away," I continue, " We were going to be legendary together, now I'm stuck with a 12-year-old girl."
" I'm disgusted by you. Letting a little girl die, because you are too much of a coward to volunteer," I yell.
Her eyes narrow and she balls her fists.
" What are you going to do now, huh? You have no money left over. When I win, don't expect me to take care of you," I barked.
She starts to say something but I interrupt her, " I don't want to ever see your face again. Once you exit this door, you're on your own. I thought we were more than friends. Now, you ruined everything! Leave, now!"
She starts to exit the door but turns back to me tears running down her eyes. I have never seen her cry before.
It looks like she is mouthing, " I love you," but it must be something else.
She then shuts the door and is gone forever. That's what I want, isn't it?
Then I think of something. Where is Ave? He wasn't at the academy and I didn't see him at the reaping. It's not like him to not say goodbye.
Some things are not adding up.
Wow, I finally finished that chapter. That took forever. Sorry, it's a day late. Thank you so much Hawkmaid for Jewel and Valor. I hope I made your characters come to life, as you imagined. Was this chapter too long? Let me know in reviews if you prefer longer or shorter chapters. If you haven't already submitted a tribute, please do! District 7 is next!
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Love,
AmazonWarrior04