EMMELINE ANNE OLIVER, DISTRICT 1 FEMALE
My eyes snap open. For a second I feel my entire body freeze as memories of my nightmares fill me, but shake my head. It wasn't my fault, I remind myself, as I push my long auburn hair out of my eyes. I'm not your stereotype District 1 girl- I'm not blonde bimbo who dreams of some sort of fairytale marriage. Nor am I the other kind of girl here, who spends all their time dreaming of going into the Games. I'm just Lina, the girl most people like because I like them. What's wrong with liking people? Ever since my twin sister died last year, I've had nightmares every night. But I try and get on with life. Nothing can bring my poor Lucy back, so I might as well try to get through life.
Yawning, I sit up and stretch my arms out. Then, I kick my soft blanket onto the floor and get up, pulling my dressing gown on. I'm fourteen years old and since my family is middle class, not rich but not really poor either, I don't have to take tesserae. Since I'm only in the Reaping bowl three times, being fourteen, I'm not too worried. Although there is a gnawing anxiety biting away at me- what if I do get picked? It's not a pleasant thing to imagine, being Reaped. Going into the Hunger Games for a girl like me would be certain death. I don't think I could ever bring myself to kill somebody… Since I'm from District 1, a Career district, that's not what most would imagine. But the idea of killing somebody? I hate it.
"Emmeline, get down here!"
Oh joy. So my mother's up already? My sister died in a gang fight last year- there was a gang of those thuggish training centre boys having a fight last year, and her and I were just standing there on the side of the street… She got dragged in and died. I survived- it drove me crazy for a while. Survivor's guilt is what they call it… Well my parents didn't help. They loved her a great deal, because she was perfect. A golden girl- I still miss her, even though they cared about her more than they did me. I loved her so much, and her me. We were totally inseparable. And after a year apart, I still feel like a part of me is gone.
"It's Lina…" I mutter to myself, before opening the door to my bedroom and walking downstairs. My mother and father are already in the kitchen; my mother is at the stove heating up our breakfast, and my father is moodily sipping a cup of coffee. Although he turns his head to look at me as I enter through the door, he does not say anything. I don't think he's spoken to me since my sister died. My mother's exactly the opposite though.
"Emmeline Anne Oliver, what do you look like!" she scoffs, marching straight up to me and beginning to pick at my hair and shoulders. I bat her hands away and step backwards, hovering between the door and them. They don't hit me or anything, nothing like that, but there's just a certain sense of neglect about the two of them. I hate it. And you know what else I hate, especially about my mother? My name is LINA, not Emmy, not Emmeline… Just Lina. She insists on calling me my full name, and I'm certain it's just to annoy me. "The Reaping is in an hour, and you aren't even dressed or washed yet! Do you want to be on live television looking like a scruffy little guttersnipe? Get upstairs and get ready, now."
And with a fierce glare she sends me on my way. I don't even bother to argue. She's upset about my sister, I understand, but who matters more? The dead kid or the one who's still alive? I loved my sister, I still do so much… Feeling tears prick at my eyes, I go upstairs and head straight into the bathroom where I do my mother's bidding and get washed and ready. Then, I grab my reaping outfit and pull it on, before heading back downstairs. My stomach is growling with hunger, but my mother waves me out of the door. Looking at the clock, I realise why. There's only five minutes until it starts! But there's something I have to get first…
I sprint back up to my room, and fumble around under my mattress before I find it. It's my sister's knife- she went to the training academy, and it was her most prized possession. I kept it, just to remind me of her. I run downstairs again, and, pulling the door open, I sprint out into the street and almost fall over a group of kids hanging around outside. Catching my balance at the last minute, I let out an embarrassed laugh as they smirk at me, before walking towards the town centre.
My heart is still thudding- what if I get picked? My legs feel like jelly and my cheeks are still flushed red from earlier… Oh God. Shutting my eyes, I stand still for a second, composing myself, before continuing. There are loads of kids here! And anyway, all of the trained kids will be lining up to volunteer, so even if I do get chosen, there's nothing to worry about. I clutch the handle of my sister's knife in my pocket, and think of her. She wouldn't want me to be afraid, and there's nothing to be scared of. She had courage, so I can have courage too.
Even if I'm absolutely terrified right now.
Then, I let out a breath of relief. Over on the other side of the town square, I can see my friends smiling and waving at me, beckoning me over. I walk over to them, and we all discuss simple things: boys, friends, parents, irritating younger siblings… Usual things, like it was an ordinary day. But when the Mayor comes up onto the stage with the town escort and tells us to be ready, we all quieten and I feel a twinge of fear again. What if I get picked? Oh God, what if I get picked?
"Ladies and Gentlemen!" the escort, Esmeralda, trills. She's a plump, rather glamorous lady with jewelled spectacles and iron grey curls. I have to admit she does make me laugh, and she's not as horrible as some of those other district escorts, like the ones in 5 and 8. "Welcome to the 74th Annual Hunger Games! And may the Odds be Ever in Your Favour… Are you r-r-r-r-Ready to be Reaped?!"
She then begins to talk about the Dark Days, and I attempt to listen politely. We've all heard it plenty of times before, but she must feel quite threatened up there. Even if she is ridiculous, etiquette is important. I spiral off into a daydream, and I'm not paying attention when she moves over to the Reaping balls.
"Emmeline Oliver!"
"It's Lina…" I mutter. Then, my head snaps to attention. Wait, what? My heart begins to speed up, and I hear my breathing increase in speed. What?! There… this must be some sort of mistake… It's just a nightmare! I'm going to wake up and I'll be back at home, and the Reaping won't even have been… But everyone's staring at me. Everyone is staring at me… It's me. I'm the tribute for District 1. Is anybody going to volunteer? No, everything is completely silent. Feeling tears pricking at my eyes, I bite my lip as I head up towards the stage. I'm shaking, and as I stand there with the whole District's eyes on me, I let out a strangled sob.
I'm going to die! This is a Career district for God's sake, why is nobody volunteering? But Esmeralda's talons clasp around my head and I stare wildly at her, biting my lip. I will not cry onstage… But I can feel the tears building up in my eyes, so I wipe them fiercely away with the back of my hand.
"And now for the boys!"
Oh God. Who will be my District partner?
XxXxXxX
DAMASCUS SLEIK, DISTRICT 1 MALE
Oh my God… My head is literally throbbing. I never sleep well the night before the Reaping, but last night really was something something special. I must've been up tossing and turning until half past three in the morning, and as my eyes open, I feel a crushing pain.
"Christ…" with a moan, I bring both hands up to rub my temples. I sit up and check my reflection in the cracked mirror above my head, and that makes me even more agitated. There are ginormous black rings around my eyes, and my chestnut hair is not just wavy today… It's a ball of fluff around my head. Swearing under my breath, I check my watch and notice the time… I've got half an hour to get ready. That's not so bad I suppose, but I'm not sure I can bring myself to get out of bed. It's so warm…
After a few more moments of dozing, I kick off my covers and suppress the urge to grab them and yank them back up to my chin. I know I can't, since it's the Reaping and I must be there, but that doesn't mean I have to like it. In public I try and act as emotionless and cold as I can, like all the other District 1 boys, but sometimes it's hard to stop myself throttling them all. In most ways I'm just a regular District 1 kid- I'm an only child, with a loving mother and father. They always wanted the best for me. They care about me, and I them. However in District 1, it seems to be some sort of crime to love your parents.
"Damascus, honey! Get up, the Reaping's in an hour." I hear my mother calling up the stairs, and with a yawn, I get up. My head begins to spin and I have to steady myself- I've never been good without sleep, and today I feel like I might just keel over at random. Wouldn't that be a sight to see, me having a little nap during the Reaping. It's actually a rather tempting thought now I think about it. Rubbing sleep dust from my eyes, I go and wash and dress. Then, I walk down the stairs to find my mother standing at the bottom, a nervous look on her face. She grabs me in a quick hug and plants a kiss on my cheek, before holding me at arm's length.
"You look terrible, sweetie," she says, anxiously, trying to get me to look her in the eyes. My head just won't stop spinning… "You didn't sleep well, I'm guessing?"
"I'm fine." I reply, smiling reassuringly at her. She gives me another rather nervous look, before smiling back. She always gets worried before I head out to the town square, since I'm her only son. My dad wished me farewell last night, since he goes out to work quite early in the mornings. He's got a big job in a diamond mining company, and he's usually out working. But that doesn't matter, because he comes back every evening and tells me stories. Someday, he says, he wants me to work in the business. But I don't know if I do; I'd rather do something original and interesting with my life… However, I don't really know what. Since I'm fifteen already, I'm leaving the decision rather late. Who knows? Maybe I will end up in some boring office job.
After eating a quick breakfast, I head out into the street to meet my friends. I'm not fantastically popular although neither am I a loner- I've got my group of friends, and that's it. We've trained together since we were little children at the Career academy; we're the minority at training who actually AREN'T bloodthirsty maniacs. To be fair we're still a pretty colourful bunch, but we're friendly enough. I spot my best friend Silver's mane of jet black hair, and walk across the street towards him to find him trying to chat up two generic District 1 blondes. It doesn't look like he's doing too well; that's a surprise, since he usually gets all the girls, being very handsome and one of the leading guys to volunteer. I guess it's his mindset that stops him getting ladies today.
"…and so I threw that axe so hard it split the dummy in two!" he boasts. I barely suppress a grin, and I have to remind myself that I have to be emotionless in public. My father has never said it, but he's an important man and I, his son, has to keep up the family honour. And if that means not taking the piss out of my best friend publicly, then so be it. I must appear cold and calculating… even though I'm anything but either of those things.
"Yeah sure, Silver," one of the girls says, and I feel my heart leap. It's Kira, who I used to have a huge crush on when I was younger! And Silver told her about it! Now this is an embarrassing situation to be in… Trying to duck my head to get away from them, I grimace as I hear Silver shout my name.
"Damascus! C'mere, it's me!"
Clenching my fists, I walk back over to them, trying to keep a cool head. I will not go red, I will not go red… Kira and her friend are both openly staring at me, eyebrows raised. I can see they are both trying to stifle laughter, and I feel a slight miserable feeling bubbling up. I hate it when people laugh at me. Now it doesn't make me angry or anything, or violent… But it really upsets me. Things that other people can just shake off, I can't. I'll go home and think about it.
"Ready to be r-r-r-r-Reaped?!" Silver says, in a poor imitation of Esmeralda, our district escort. The blonde girl who isn't Kira giggles appreciatively, and a rather satisfied look comes onto my friend's face. I give him a small smile, before trying to communicate with my eyes that I want to get out of here. He doesn't seem to get the message though, and engages me in a conversation about Head Gamemaker Sullius' ridiculous moustache before I manage to punch him in the arm enough times to give him the message that I want to go. Dragging him towards the town square by the scruff of his neck, when we eventually get there and start lining up to be registered, we both burst out laughing.
"You know I was doing that on purpose, right?" he teases, punching me affectionately on the shoulder. "You were so red. By the way, you look really tired. In fact, you look kinda like a panda."
"Thanks, Silver."
"You're welcome."
My head begins to spin again and I have to be quiet. Why did I not sleep last night? I feel like I'm going to die- I'm so ridiculously tired… Even the prick of pain as the blood is taken from my finger to register me does not jolt me awake, and I stumble towards the 15 year old's section rather than walk. When I eventually get there, I try and keep moving so not to fall asleep… But I'm so tired…
It's so warm here. And the sound of Esmeralda, the district escort, talking is so soothing… With a long yawn, I feel myself beginning to fall asleep on my feet.
"Damascus Sleik!"
"Huhhhuh, whafuck?" I mumble, as I am snapped awake. Somebody is shaking my shoulder and, sleepily, I bat their hand away. But then, I feel a hand on either shoulder and realise that I'm being marched up to the stage… Oh God. They called out my name! My name! A feeling of panic runs through me, and I turn around, frenzied, unsure of what to do. The whole district is staring at me- some are laughing, most look sombre. Picking through the crowd, I eventually find my parents' faces and stare at them imploringly. But they can't do anything. My mother is crying, and her face is buried in my father's shoulder… No.
Mounting the stage, I stand shakily there, unsure of what to do. Esmeralda bustles over to me and wraps an arm around my back, pulling me over to where the other tribute is standing. What's her name? She's a bit shorter than me, with auburn hair and a friendly face… She looks about fourteen. Not the usual District 1 blonde bombshell, but she's pretty in her own way. She's shaking, and there's a look of numb terror on her face. I feel a pang of sympathy for her: I don't recognise her from Training, so she doesn't know how to use a weapon. Poor girl.
"Ladies and gentlemen, may I present to you… Emmeline Anne Oliver and Damascus Sleik!"
I just stare at her. Numb.
There's your first chapter! Hope you like Emmeline and Damascus- I still need a district 2 female, and I can't continue until I get one. I have the male, just need a female. And so on.
SPACES STILL LEFT
District 2 Female
District 3 Female
District 4 Female
Both District 5
Both District 6
Both District 7
District 8 male
Both District 9
Both District 10
Both District 11
Submit please, guys!