Prepared to Die.
Aloha my readers! This chapter jumps in time to where Glimmer and Marvel are 14 and attending the Academy! Hope you enjoy! (Also, I'm making Glimmer 18, not 16 when she goes in for her games, it is an AU after all!(: )
(Things in italics are flashbacks to the time of the 64th Games)
Disclaimer: I do not own The Hunger Games or any of the characters, settings or other objects mentioned, apart from those that were born from my own imagination.
The early morning sun that peered through the dark clouds that loomed over the Costello's household woke a 14 year old Glimmer from her sleep. It was early morning, that much she could tell, but not so early that it was unthinkable to get up and ready. Her father would surely be awake and eating breakfast, so Glimmer slid out of her bed and pulled out her Academy-suitable clothes. Black leggings with a white pull over shirt, topped with a smooth, short sleeved leather jacket which had District One's seal embroidered on the back in golden thread. She slipped on one of her many pairs of shoes, opting for thigh high black leather boots that shone with the polish that Gleam had inevitably used on them last night, and tied the laces tightly before venturing out into the dining room.
Glimmer was wrong, her father wasn't awake, but Gauze was. She looked tired, her straight blonde hair hanging down by her waist and her face clear of makeup. By the looks of it, Gem had kept her awake all night and Spinel had obviously not tried to help.
"Morning Glim." Gauze said exhaustedly, breaking up a roll of chocolate bread and distributing it on a plate with a few raspberries to give to her three year old daughter Gem as breakfast alongside some milk that the small brunette child was now drinking as though she'd never drunk before.
"Hey." Glimmer said shortly, walking past her sister and niece to go into the kitchen to make herself some food. In next to no time, a plate of French toast was sitting on the counter, a bowl of fresh blueberries sitting next to it alongside a tall thin glass of dark red juice that she assumed was strawberry and cranberry. Maybe with a little something extra if her dad had had his hands on it. She thought about going into the dining room to eat with her sister, but instead she quickly scarfed down the meal while she was stood at the counter before leaving for the dressing room to finish preparing for the day.
About half an hour later, Glimmer's hair had been combed back into a French braid that descended down her back to around the height of her upper arm, leaving her bangs out, and her face was made up to near perfection. She deemed herself ready for the day and said a brief goodbye to her mother, who was moulding her now short hair into perfectly formed curls, and to Gauze, who was now painting a dark black line onto her already shimmering pink eyelids. A leaf green backpack was waiting for her by the door that contained everything she'd need for her day at the Academy, so she swung it up onto her shoulders and exited the house.
The warm breeze blew softly through Glimmer's golden locks as she walked up to the bus park. Marvel was waiting there for her, looking handsome in slim black trousers, a white v-neck tee and a deep brown jacket with navy trim. He too was carrying a backpack, although his was a navy blue. Glimmer didn't have romantic feelings for him, god no, but she knew a certain other of her friends did. Sparks Kenway, the only other person at the bus stop, was wearing a white jacket and white shorts along with a black button up that stretched so she could move around and fight in it, complete with a yellow bag. Her long red hair was also pulled back from her face, but instead into two low pigtails that were sleek and shiny. The only thing Glimmer could say was wrong with her outfit was the shoes, simple black canvas shoes that were definitely not suitable for Academy wear. But never mind, Sparks was always one to slightly go against the rules.
"Hey Glim." Marvel said warmly, sauntering towards her and smiling. He was trying extra hard to be nice today it seemed, probably because it was the day where they would rewatch the 64th Games. Every week, they would watch and analyse their tributes in different Games, to learn from the deceased's mistakes or to master the victors' skills. Last week was the 63rd, where Gloss, the twin brother of Cashmere, won by seizing just a blunt sword and bludgeoning anyone he met to death with them. District 5 had a particularly rough time of it that year, with both their tributes jumping off the pedestals before the gong sounded, resulting in a death and a fatal injury before the Games had officially begun. District 11 came a close second after the male tribute leapt from a tree and slid a dagger cleanly through the District 2 female's throat. Gloss responded by hurling the sword at his heart hilt first, and the force was so great that Eleven was knocked backwards into a tree. It turns out he died from head injuries, not the sword wound, but Gloss had his victory and that was all that mattered. Glimmer pulled her lips to the right in an attempt to smile.
"Hi guys. Ready for the last day before the break?" District One, unlike District Two who only gave their tributes in training time off for the Reaping and the Games, allowed their students to have 2 weeks off every 6 months. Usually the Reaping and Games would fall into this break, and would be extended depending on the length of the Games themselves. Everything seemed to revolve around the Games. Their holidays, their deadlines, their paydays. Nothing escaped from it.
"You bet we are. I'm sick of this training crap. I want to get away from it so I can work with Mom." Sparks' voice cut through the train for thoughts that circled Glimmer's mind as the shining chrome bus drove up to pick up the three students and whisk them away to the large stone building that was on the Eastern side of One, closest to the Capitol. Marvel boarded the bus behind Glimmer; he slid his arm around her shoulders and squeezed her as they sat down together. She placed her head on his shoulder and sighed.
After a morning of spear training, which Marvel excelled at, knife throwing, Glimmer's secret weapon should she ever need it, and survival tests, all of which Sparks aced, the three friends sat down at their usual table in the mess hall, each of them holding a tray of food that they had chosen.
"You know," Marvel said whilst tucking into his array of turkey, chicken and ham cuts that were all resting on a bed of fresh green leaves, cheese, cucumber and mint, "I think you guys could be awesome at spear training, especially you Glim. You throw knives like a pro." Glimmer rolled her eyes and snapped a stalk of celery in half before dipping it in the cheese fondue and brandishing it at him.
"You stick to what you know and I'll stick to what I know, kay?" Marvel raised his hands as though to surrender and took a long drink from his glass of a vitamin-packed purple juice as Sparks began to speak.
"And I'm more hide and let the others fight." She stated casually, taking a bite out of her pulled pork sandwich. "Although if it came down to it, I could pack a punch." It was no secret that Sparks dreaded every reaping she attended, her worst nightmare would be having to compete in the Games. It wasn't that she was a coward, it was that she'd lost all four of her siblings to the Games. In the 65th it was Ajacks. 66th-Platinum. 68th-Sabrina And last year it was Vine. He was only 13 and no-one volunteered. Everyone had things they were terrified of. And this was Sparks'.
After lunch, it was time for Sparks, Marvel and Glimmer to follow all the other students into the viewing room, ready for a lecture on the 64th Hunger Games. Everyone who passed Glimmer was silent, she felt sorry for Sparks when it came to watching her brother and sister's games. A few gave her comforting smiles, but the majority just nodded tersely, a knowing look in their eye. She felt rather like a Capitol citizen, all the attention she was getting, when she took her seat in-between Marvel and another boy who she recognised as the brother of Shymmer, the tribute from Gloss' Hunger Games. He wasn't next to her last week, but it was comforting to know that he had been through what she was about to and wouldn't judge her for any actions she might involuntarily commit. What was his name? Mace? Before she could ask him, the doors swung shut with a clang, causing silence to fall almost instantaneously. The room was dark as the Capitol seal shone up on the white wall at the front. As it merged into District One's logo, her hand had found Marvel's and she was telling herself that it wasn't going to be as bad as she thought.
She was wrong.
It was worse.
Every little detail was scrutinised, but it seemed to Glimmer that they were focusing on Jasper and Cashmere so much more than anyone else. Well of course they were. They were the tributes from One. It began with the reapings, first Cashmere's, then Jasper's volunteer. As they volunteered, it cut to the members of their family. Cashmere's parents were accepting handshakes and hugs from everyone around them, first Gloss and then Cashmere? How perfect for them. Gloss himself was on the stage, taking his sister's hand in his and raising it high, generating a roar from the crowd. Then Graphite James was called. Then Jasper volunteered. The sheer excitement on her mother's face was undeniable as a crowd of people swarmed around her. She caught a glimpse of herself and Marvel stood together, eight years old. Times hadn't really changed, look at them now.
Then it cut to the tribute parade. Handsome chestnut horses pulled One's shining bronze chariot out onto the streets. Cashmere looked stunning, her long golden locks hanging down her back in effortless curls and her already beautiful face accentuated by a crystal white highlighter and a light pink lipstick and blush that seemed to glow. Both her and Jasper, who looked breathtaking with his windswept blonde hair and his bright green eyes that seemed to emit light, were wearing black costumes that were accentuated with bronze and emeralds. Jasper's suit jacket was trimmed with emerald, as was the bottom of his straight trousers, whereas the bodice of Cashmere's ankle length dress was completely covered with light and dark emeralds, leaving the black silk of her skirt to float daintily around her ankles. Underneath her dress and his trousers, green shoes were seen. It was no secret that that year, District One were the favourites.
After a 10 minute lecture on how to act during the tribute parade and constant replays of Cashmere and Jasper's made up faces, it was time for the training scores. Cashmere received an eight, which had surprised many that year, as Gloss received a ten, whereas Jasper managed to get himself a nine. It occurred to Glimmer for the first time that he probably used his skills in hand to hand combat to get that nine. She'd never really thought about it before.
The interviews were up next. Cashmere first, she ascended the stage as though she were royalty, already a victor. Her tactic was to play up the emotional side of her story and tug on the Capitol's heartstrings by explaining how she was so honoured to be following in her brother's footsteps and how if she died in the arena, she would die a 'victor in her own right' because she was doing her family proud. The fact that her interview ended with Cashmere crying into a handkerchief that Caesar had pulled from his suit with a flourish (he'd needed to use it after she had retreated back to her seat) and her good looks that were assisted by a shimmering silver and white dress that reached her knees at the front and rippled down to the floor at the back, ensured that she was favourable with the Capitol. Jasper however, took an extremely different approach. He was cheeky and bantered with Caesar to no end, raising laughs and cheers from the audience. Now there was no doubt that District One was now in the prime position for sponsors.
Then the arena. Normally, Glimmer would have no problem watching the bloodbath, or any aspects of the Games really, she loved it. This time however, she flinched every time Jasper came near a weapon or another tribute. She watched, involuntarily captivated by the suspense, even though she knew what was coming, as Jasper seized a backpack, a sword, two daggers and then Cashmere's hand before whisking them both out of the Cornucopia, closely followed by the tributes from Two and Four. He could run fast, and was second to the bloodbath, only after Ashlar, the male from Two. During the bloodbath, he took down both the female from Six and the male from Ten before he left, seriously injuring the male from Three in the process.
They went through all the Careers' deaths in detail. Finbar from Four and Lana from Two were killed by the tributes from Eleven, who were shot by Cashmere straight after, on the second day, leaving Ashlar, Maria, Cashmere and Jasper. Maria was killed a week later, a landslide incident, meaning both tributes from Four were gone.
Eventually, it wound down to the last four tributes, the three Careers and Lindell from Seven, who was nowhere to be seen. Glimmer knew it was coming. Marvel knew it was coming too, he liked Jasper a lot and had been preparing himself for this moment for a long time. He squeezed Glimmer's hand, but couldn't tear his eyes away from the screen. Glimmer felt the boy-Mace, so she assumed- next to her stiffen up as the argument broke out. Cashmere was not far away collecting sustenance from the woods, so when she heard the yelling, she dropped everything, removed her knife from her belt and ran back to the campsite. But it was too late. Ashlar had flipped and plunged a dagger into Jasper's abdomen and then pulled it out. He had no chance to do anything else, because there was a knife tossed at his neck immediately after the action was completed. Ashlar fell to the ground as his cannon sounded, a smirk still set on his face. Then, another cannon sounded. Cashmere immediately assumed it was Jasper's and ran to his side to find him still breathing shallowly. The all the students watched, entranced as Jasper began to speak.
"Seven's gone." His voice was low and his breathing was ragged. Cashmere tried desperately to staunch the bleeding as she replied, tears beginning to stream down her grime covered face.
"Yeah. So is-so's Two." She said, refusing to acknowledge Ashlar by his real name.
"Good." Jasper said, smiling up at her slightly. She wasn't looking at him, focusing on his wound so he grabbed her attention by raising a hand and tilting her chin so she had to look at him. "Second place would be bad if it wasn't to you." His breathing was becoming more restricted now, so Cashmere, who was now full on sobbing, attempted to quieten him.
"Shhh Jasper. Y-you'll be f-fine. You're n-not c-coming in s-second. You-you'll be FINE!" She practically screamed the last part, as though trying to convince herself, not just him. He just shook his head and continued smiling.
"You're gonna win Cashmere. And that-that's okay because it was always going to be you." Cashmere had not yet given up on trying to treat him. "B-because..." Jasper struggled to draw breath, but he had to get his last words out. "Because I love you." And with that, he was gone. The cannon was fired and Cashmere was pronounced victor, her shrieks and sobs of despair being drowned out by the words of Claudius Templesmith. The leaves blew around as the hovercraft arrived, so as a final farewell, Cashmere pressed her lips to Jasper's shakily, their foreheads touching.
"I love you too." She whispered before the ladder that was dropped next to her pulled her onto it using some sort of force. As she was dragged up to the hovercraft, she attempted to kick and scream and remove herself from the ladder's vice-like grip. Jasper's body got smaller and smaller until finally, she was enclosed in the hovercraft as a victor, where she could finally kick and scream freely.
The rest of a lecture was a blur for Glimmer. Nearly every student had a tear in their eye after Jasper's death. Mace was remaining stoic, a solitary tear gliding down his face. Most girls, including Sparks, had tears streaming down their cheeks, but Glimmer was way past that. Her eyes were red rimmed and swollen as her body wracked with silent sobs; her face half buried in Marvel's (who was trying not to cry for her) chest, her eyes still trained on the huge screen. It was now showing Cashmere's final interview with Caesar Flickerman. Caesar was wearing a sparkling black suit that matched his sliver hair, eyebrows and lips. Cashmere was also wearing black, but the audience and the students knew it was for a whole different reason.
You could hear a pin drop as Cashmere entered the stage. Her black gown with long, sheer sleeves fluttered down the floor as she walked towards Caesar's outstretched hand, taking it in her own as she reached him. Caesar let the silence hang in the air for a minute as the two people sat down opposite each other, before gently beginning the interview.
"So, Cashmere. What was going through your mind that day at the Reaping?" Cashmere's blue eyes remained focused steadily on Caesar's saddened face, but her voice wasn't nearly as steady as her gaze.
"I knew I was going to be in the Games. When I volunteered all I could think about was the honour I would undoubtedly bring to my family when I won. And then Jasp-Jasper volunteered." She struggled over Jasper's name but continued nonetheless. "I didn't know what I was going to do. He and I have always been friends, we went to school together. He taught me hand to hand combat skills in return for me teaching him survival skills and logical tactics. I would always fight with my head, not my strength, whereas he was also completely the opposite. I never did learn to build up strength properly." She laughed sadly, which encouraged a the Capitol audience to laugh with her, a couple even shouted words of support. Caesar was undoubtedly moved as he leaned forwards to take Cashmere's hand once more.
"Well I think, and I'm sure everyone else agrees, that you have the most strength out of us all." He said softly before turning to address the anticipant and teary crowd. "What do you think folks?" As if on cue, the crowd roared, shouting things such as "You are the greatest Cashmere!" and "Jasper would be proud!" and more commonly "Bless you!". The stage was practically drowning in flowers, roses, tulips, petunias and lilies came flying from all directions. After the wave of support had died down, Cashmere was weeping, so Caesar proceeded with the interview gingerly and at a steady pace.
Finally, it was Cashmere's victory tour. They only showed her tribute to Jasper, as it was the most emotional by far and they couldn't show all of the speeches as they were pretty much the same.
Cashmere wrung her hands nervously as the Mayor of District One began with his opening remarks. Gloss came up to his sister and placed her blue leather jacket on her gently. It added a splash of Jasper's favourite colour to the otherwise black ensemble she was wearing, a glittering black tunic and shining black leggings with 3 inch high knee high boots. She spun around to face him, tears already brewing in her ocean-like eyes.
"I can't do this Gloss. His family will be there, his parents and his older sister and his little brother and sister. They're all going to hate me." Cashmere was getting more and more hysterical by the second, her voice rising to a higher and higher pitch just as the Mayor finished his speech. There was only enough time for Gloss to hug her quickly and retreat into the shadows stating that it would be fine before the doors swung open and Cashmere was faced with the entirety of her district. The river of people never seemed to end led up to the stage from the risen platform at the back where the Costellos were stood. Amber had let herself go, she'd gained weight, her hair was hanging by her elbows limply and she was wearing a simple black jumpsuit. Her husband seemed almost normal, but the glint of sadness in his emerald eyes was heartbreaking. Then there was the three children, 22 year old Gauze, a now 12 year old Gleam and 8 year old Glimmer. She'd never noticed that all of their names began with G except Jasper's. Odd. But either way, never in her 18 years of life had Cashmere Johnson been more nervous to speak in front of a crowd.
"Um." Cashmere looked down at the cards that were forced upon her beforehand. She wasn't going to use them. Not this time. "I obviously was born and raised in this district, and if it were under any other circumstances I would be stood on this stage with my head held high, proud to be a victor. I mean, it's not that i'm not proud to be a victor, because I am but-" She paused and looked down at her feet for a second before raising her eyes to the family that was stood outside of all others. "But I wish more than anything that I wasn't stood here because it's not me that deserves it. Jasper was ready to die for me and all I could think about was saving my own skin. He had his whole life ahead of him and I couldn't save him. I'm so sorry. I hope that over the rest of my life, I can grow to be just as good a person as he was. I will do my best to mentor the future tributes to emerge victorious in their own way. My thanks to the people of my district." And with that, Cashmere's speech was over. She exited the stage as quickly as she could, leaving behind a roaring audience, praise flying from all directions.
The state of shock Glimmer was in continued until the bus pulled up at the park as night had fallen. Marvel got off the bus and walked her home after waving a goodbye to Sparks, who set off in the other direction. He was really worried about her, Glimmer never lost her cool in front of people before. She was very good at hiding her emotions. Therefore, when he reached her door, instead of turning around and going home, he followed her into her house.
"Hey Ms Costello." He greeted Amber with a smile. She immediately grinned back, she had always liked Marvel.
"Evening Marvel, will you be staying for dinner?" Glimmer shot a look at her mother, who simply shrugged and continued smiling sweetly at him.
"You know I love your cooking." Marvel said amusedly, leaning against a chair to allow Glimmer time to go get changed. She rolled her eyes and stalked into her bedroom.
After 5 minutes, Glimmer was wearing a pair of dark burgundy jeans with a white tee and a soft blue jumper that reached her knees. Her hair had been taken out of its tight braid and been allowed to flow down in curls. She opened the door of her bedroom to allow Marvel in. He'd gotten changed also, into blue pants and a red and white chequered button up. In response to Glimmer's questioning look, he shrugged nonchalantly and sat down on her bed.
"I had a feeling I was coming over today so I brought them to the Academy with us." She nodded and sat opposite him with her legs crossed, looking down and allowing her hair to fall across her face. "Your mom says dinner'll be ready in an hour."
"Okay." Glimmer looked up at her friend and half smiled. "She loves you." Marvel chuckled and stretched out his arms slightly.
"Wonder why. She's the only one who seems to."
"You remind her of him." Silence hung in the air painfully after Glimmer's reply. Marvel looked down awkwardly for a second and then moved so he was sitting next to her. He then wrapped his arm around her shoulders, just as he had done on the bus to the Academy. Surprisingly, she didn't try to push away, but she didn't really react either. She just remained stoic and sighed.
AN: I'm gonna leave it here! Please review and the next chapter will be up ASAP!