Hey everyone, welcome to chapter two! Thank you to all that have reviewed so far, I'd love it if you could do the same for this chapter.
There will be a blog for this but I haven't received every tribute yet so when I do expect to see a link for that. Anyway I hope you like this chapter; these tributes were submitted by LoveIsBlindness and DA Member Hogwarts! ENJOY ;)
Shade Manson, 18 years old
Shade sat at the very back of the hall, his eyes wandering from face to face of the crowd in front of him. His memory was superb, each face sparked some recall of who they were and what they were like. A girl with silver hair tied up and draped of her left shoulder, her name was Shimmer. Shade almost laughed, some parents really were too obvious when naming their children.
Shimmer was chatting to another girl, this one with light golden hair cut short, a hoop in each ear. Avril. Both were equally talented with close range weaponry but Avril was a little better with throwing knives and a bow and arrow. Shade could draw from his subconscious the very moment when he watched from the shadows as these two trained together a few years ago. He was observant; he could tell hidden feelings deep within many people. Avril despised Shimmer, Shade could easily tell this but Shimmer was oblivious to her hatred. Both wanted to volunteer this year. Shimmer knew she'd beat Avril to the stage.
Next to the two girls Shade recognized the tall boy with the spiked light brown hair. His height was something else entirely, he towered over everyone and this gave him a sense of superiority. Shade hated him for this. Not for the fact he trained, Shade trained and was good at it. But he disliked how he thought himself better than everyone else.
People were allowed to volunteer, after all Shade himself had already decided that he would volunteer, and their reason for doing so did not matter. It's the way they held themselves that was important to Shade. Arrogance had no place in existence, there's a difference between confidence and arrogance. The people in this room were a clear example of it.
His eyes moved away from the people in front of him who were too busy to talk then to train and rested on the girl walking towards him. A very small girl dressed in a light blue dress, her platinum hair and big blue eyes hidden behind chunky glasses was recognizable to Shade. Jewel, one of the two people he deemed a friend.
He could easily picture the time he saved her from bullies because she was different, Shade admired her thirst for knowledge. She held no care in the world for the hunger games, that was where they were very different.
"Sitting, not training?" Her voice was barely above a whisper. She was shy but by all means definitely not a pushover. He didn't grin at her, but she could tell he was happy to see her. The people in front of him were making him angry.
"I can't find anywhere quiet, it's packed. They're all kidding themselves though, there can only be twenty four tributes and I highly doubt all of them will be volunteers."
"Why do you say that?" She said, pushing her glasses back up to her eyes and sitting down next to him. The two weren't so close as to hunch up against one another, but they liked each other. It was enough for both of them.
"I doubt the Capitol will want a bunch of identical tributes, all career like. There will be some reaped tributes; they'll organize it that way."
"You're still volunteering right?" Her voice gave way to curiosity, she liked his presence. Everyone else branded her different and stayed away.
"Yes Jewel. I am."
No more was said between the two, Jewel stood up and walked away without a farewell. The two didn't speak to one another like usual friends. They didn't need to.
Ania Vine, 16 years old
The trees swayed in the breeze as Ania watched with curiosity through the electrified fence. She dared not to get any closer; she'd done it before and didn't want to again.
Behind her the District was getting on with its usual day to day routines, Ania knew that the training centres must be packed with today's reaping getting ever closer with each passing second.
She was not one of them. Not anymore.
Training had been something, due to family honour Ania thought important. She could clearly remember in her head the first time she set foot in the polished halls, gazing upon all the weaponry of different shapes and sizes. It had felt normal to her, it was part of tradition and her parents had made such a big deal out of it. She just felt obliged to make them proud.
Her sister Grace, she was the one girl Ania looked up to the most. Tall, beautiful, a poster girl for District One.
Ania knew what the Hunger Games were; she knew that when her big sister ran to the stage what she was getting herself into. Her parents were over the moon, all her friends were jealous that she was related to a tribute. It was all looking up from that moment on.
Then day three arrived.
Ania could hear behind her people chattering, their steps getting ever so closer to her. Normally she'd turn to see who was invading her spot to relax and drift off. But she didn't, the chattering stopped and soon enough the footsteps died away as whoever it was jogged to some other place to be with their friends.
Ania was the weird girl. She wasn't happy or sad about it. She no longer cared for anybody but her brother. Everyone saw the change in this girl after day three and Grace's ally betrayed her. Ania knew the chances were high for Grace to win; after all she received the highest training score. But it wasn't enough to stop the blade that pierced her back as she kept watch for tributes lurking in the dark.
Ania wasn't ready to deal with her big sister's death, the one person she looked up to gone forever. It might have been better if someone had been there to mourn Grace's death, try to move on but her parents were useless. Grace's death had been branded a mistake and they carried on as if nothing happened, her big brother Evander looked sad, his eyes always betraying the blank face he put on. She knew never to speak to him about it; he was one of the people who wanted to volunteer.
Their parents wanted at least one victor, Evander thought it his responsibility.
Ania was going to talk to him today. The Quell was big this year, real big. He'd die and one more death would just push her over the edge. She was so close to the edge she could feel it. She just couldn't let her brother die for some idiot's dream of fame and fortune.
She drew her head away from the trees behind the fence and stood up. She'd have to convince him not to, somehow she had to.
Shade Manson, 18 years old
He wondered what it was like to kill. That was the main reason he was going to volunteer this year. It was something that he'd never done yet something he longed to try out. It was sadistic, Shade knew this and was slightly ashamed of his passion to take the life out of some poor victim of his, yet nothing could quench this thirst for murder he had. It wasn't on the border of psychosis, he had it in control. He could live without murder, it wasn't a key part to who he was, it was just something nagging at his mind, telling him to try it out. If he didn't volunteer he'd miss out on the Games. He knew that disappointment would be the main feeling, he wouldn't be angry he never got to kill. He'd never be like some people that filled the halls at the training centre.
Jewel was only thirteen, some thought it weird that an eighteen year old was close to a thirteen year old but the two of them were very unnoticeable. Preferring the back to the front, they weren't attention seekers and this proved to be a good thing. The little girl was second closest to him, his mother was first.
She, like him, liked the Games. Both had watched together since he was a young boy and cheered for the tributes from their district. However unlike most parents she wasn't the sort to force training upon Shade. She didn't want a victor for a child; if Shade didn't want the Games then she was fine with it.
Shade's father was unlike his son; he was sociable and wanted a victor to boast about. He was disappointed with who Shade turned out to be but he didn't care for his father's opinion.
His mother was the one person who could bring a smile to his face, her and Jewel mattered to him the most.
"It starts soon Shade, are you nervous about volunteering?" The worry in her voice pained Shade. She didn't want him to volunteer but had conceded when it was clear he was adamant on being in the Quell. It was his last year and he'd do all he could to not miss out on this opportunity.
"No, if it happens it happens, if it doesn't it doesn't."
"You won't be angry will you?" The two of them were sitting in the living room of their large house. His father was out, just the way he liked it.
"Yes, but it will fade away like my dream of being a tribute. I will do all I can to make it to the stage though mother."
She nodded and pulled him into a hug. Her brown hair tickled his cheeks but he pushed through it and smiled. They shared a bond; Shade loved her like he loved no other person, it just felt right to be with her.
"I'll miss you an awful lot though, who can I hug like this."
"Dad?" Shade joked earning him a laugh from his mother.
"Yeah right, no fun that man is. I hope you're ready Shade, you not only have to face off against twenty three from this district, you then have the final Games to win."
"Like I told Jewel, not all will be too difficult mother."
"Twenty three careers, that's extremely difficult."
"No, there will be some reaped tributes, the Capitol likes diversity."
"What makes you think there will be reaped tributes, the Capitol might just want a game full of careers."
"Trust me, I have a feeling."
He snuggled closer into his mother's arms and smiled once more. He was going to miss her terribly, but he couldn't just stay for her. He wanted this; he wouldn't back down without a fight.
Ania Vine, 16 years old
Dust falls from the ceiling as his bedroom door slams shut and rattles the metal hinges. Only a few minutes ago she returned from her little trip to the edge of the District and since Evander was sitting on the bottom step she thought it time to let him know of her worries. He didn't take too kindly to what Ania had to say.
If it was anyone else she'd have given up, not that she had any friends to beg not to volunteer. She was the weird girl, ditched by everyone after Grace died and she became a shell of a human girl. But Evander was her big brother, one year older than she was and he wanted to go to some Arena and try to win when he'd die. Careers seem to forget there are five more people just like them in the Arena, people who have trained and are ready to kill. She just didn't get them sometimes and this year the entire pack of tributes was from One. It was impossible odds.
"Evander please just come out and talk, b-before mum and dad get back." Her voice came out barely above a whisper; she lost the ability to shout properly four years ago. It just became something she couldn't gather up the strength to do.
"Why? Why not wait for them to come back and then you voice your opinions then!" Ania could hear him breathing; he was standing just on the other side of the door. She knew she'd convince him somehow, or he'd just concede and not volunteer. He'd made a vow to volunteer every year since he was twelve, now at seventeen he still hadn't done it and Ania was sure he wouldn't do it for the Quell. Their parents branded him a coward after every reaping, but she thought him to be brave. At least he had the sense not to ruin his life.
"You know what mum and dad are like. They've lost hope in me, I don't blame them but you're their best bet at the victory they so want. Don't let what they want kill you."
It's always the same thing between the two of them. The doorknob twists and more dust falls as the wood opens inch by inch to reveal Evander's pale white face, dark blonde locks curl just over his cheeks. He looked sad.
"I'd be doing it for her Ania, you know, to honour her."
Ania felt her body tense up, any mention of Grace made her uneasy. It was bad enough she couldn't get her big sister out of her mind every day. It was wrong, going into the Games and dying just like Grace did was not the way to honour her life.
She shook her head, her light brown hair whipping the air.
"No. Don't be like that. Don't do what they want you to do."
He looked defeated, Ania could see tears in the corner of his eyes but before they could fall he wiped them away with the back of his hand and laughed.
"You're right. Not this year, maybe next year huh?" He smiled and grasped her shoulder.
Ania smiled, it wouldn't be this year or next year. They'd be having the same conversation and he'd give in. Then there'd be no more Games he could volunteer for. Just one more year and she'd have her big brother back for good.
Shade Manson, 18 years old
His father hadn't returned yet much to the delight of Shade and his mother. Every reaping he'd always be home to order them around and make them change about ten or so times. They had to be perfect otherwise they'd show him up. He wouldn't stand for anyone doing that, Shade couldn't see why his mother stayed with a man like that. He never asked though, he could see the sadness in her eyes when he was like that with her and he didn't want to make it worse.
'I'll win and take you away', he thought as he tied his shoe laces. His mother was smiling at him and led the way out the door and to the cold air of the District. Far away in the sky, clouds of grey were edging closer and closer. It was going to rain, Shade predicted just after the reapings it would start. Fitting weather perhaps for other districts but One was proud of the reapings; sunshine would suit the atmosphere more.
"Where is dad?" Shade asked, he didn't want him there but the silence was awkward. With anyone else he'd long for the quiet for as long as possible, with his mother it felt wrong.
"Out with some friends I think."
"Some Peacekeeper friends?"
"I suppose so."
He didn't press her for further information; Shade knew well enough that his father was best friends with some of the cruelest Peacekeepers known to the District. Luckily no one really did anything wrong in One, they looked angry at not being able to exact punishments frequently whenever Shade saw them.
"I'll see you in the Justice Building." She pulled him into a brief hug and kissed his cheek, he ignored the laughs from a few of the boys close to him. He watched as she went and barely showed any sign of pain as his finger was pricked with the needle.
"Take this."
"What for?" Shade blurted out before he could hold his tongue. The Peacekeeper shoved it further into his hand and ordered him on his way. He obeyed and stood on the very edge of the section marked '2', corresponding with the number on the plastic.
Another ten or so minutes passed before the mayor came out and sat back down just as fast. It was odd that he wasn't reading the treaty but Shade shrugged it off and waited patiently for his time to volunteer.
Renelda was just as odd, no one ever bothered to laugh anymore which saved Renelda's cheeks from going bright red. The first name called was followed by a girl with bright red hair, she looked ready for the Games but as the fight for the male spot began Shade noticed how much she was giggling. The male tribute from the first section turned out to be a tall boy with blonde hair wearing dark clothes. His face sparked no memory for Shade. He'd never seen him before.
"Now for section two, ladies first." Renelda picked a slip from the bottom of the bowl and returned to her place centre stage. She unfolded it and with a clear voice read out the name.
"Ania Vine!"
There was no rush for the spot on stage, no frenzy of blonde hair dashing for the place as tribute. A girl with pale skin, wavy brown hair and blue eyes walked slowly up to the stage. The square was silent as the girl stood next to the girl with red hair and stared out off into the distance.
She was a bloodbath for sure. Like Shade had said, not all tributes would be volunteers.
Renelda blinked a dozen or so times, for some reason this girl being reaped had made everything quiet but that was quickly replaced by the announcement of the male name.
Shade didn't bother to wait for anyone to try to beat him; he sprinted full on up the steps and halted next to the blonde boy.
"And what is your name?"
"Shade Manson." He announced trying hard not to smile. He wasn't one to smile but he had done it. His mother although with tears in her eyes was smiling at him from all the way at the back. His father winked but he chose to ignore this and found Jewel staring up at him with a blank expression. She was happy; he could see it in her eyes.
At least he'd made those two people he cared for proud of him. The rest of the reaping went by quite quickly after that.
Ania Vine, 16 years old
Evander and Ania stood in the doorway of their house awaiting their parents who were walking down the stairs with smiles on their faces and arms linked with one another.
The two of them stared at their children and smiled, Ania could see their eyes directed on Evander. The two of them were still convinced he was volunteering this year; they had gone through the same thing every year. Expecting him to volunteer and being bitterly disappointed when they returned home together after the reaping. Ania tried hard not to smile, she had her big brother for a whole other year and if things went to plan like they had done earlier he'd be with her forever.
"Cannot wait, looking forward to this Evander?" Their mother said guiding them out through the door as her husband pushed it open. Ania and her brother glanced over at one another; she shook her head as gently as she could so her mother would not see. It worked, her eyes were still locked on Evander's and her mouth still curled up in a smile.
"Yes mother, of course."
The walk to the square was the same every year. The sole focus was on Evander with slight hints of the disappointment her parents shared about how Ania wasn't like everyone else. Her mind was elsewhere, she didn't care what her parents thought. Every girl who passed with their long hair and pretty face smirked at her but what they thought did not matter to her. She was the different one still burdened with grief that wouldn't go. She could bury it away, but everyday somehow it would resurface.
Their parents hurried away to the back of the square as Ania and Evander were both given plastic with a bold '2' aligned in the centre. They both raised their eyebrows at this but didn't question the Peacekeeper.
"I guess I'll see you afterwards." Evander said as they passed through and headed to the section marked with their number.
"See you later." She smiled at him as he took his place next to some of his friends. She hurried along and slotted herself at the front of the girls between two giants with curly blonde hair. They stared down at her head with disgust and chatted above her, hinting at Ania in every sentence.
She ignored them and soon quiet fell upon the square as the mayor came on stage, sat back down and welcomed the odd Renelda to commence with the reaping.
Ania watched attentively as the first name was called, as tradition for One a volunteer took her place. She looked extremely happy Ania thought. Her giggling was off putting to say the least as the male volunteer took his place on the stage.
"You're not volunteering right?" The blonde girl to Ania's left said as Renelda took the slip from the bowl.
"Nope definitely not, I am not stupid." The other girl replied. The two of them smiled at one another as the name was read out.
"Ania Vine!"
They both stared down at her, both without a smile but lacking pity in their eyes as the small girl felt her head spin.
There will be a volunteer… it's One there has to be.
No one took her place; no one shouted and fought with one another. Ania walked up to the stage, everything around her in complete silence. Tears formed in the corners of her eyes but she brushed them away as she stood on the stage next to the other girl. Renelda ignored Ania and picked out the next name but a boy with black hair volunteered.
It's not fair, Ania thought and repeated over and over. Three volunteers yet no one had volunteered for her. She was dead; she knew that she couldn't compete against these people. She hadn't trained since Grace died and wasn't fit to compete in the Arena.
Her eyes caught Evander's; he shook his head and looked down. After the goodbyes, she'd never see him again. Ania felt hopeless, tears fell from her eyes.
Shade Manson, 18 years old
Shade found it funny the Peacekeeper on guard was his dad's best friend. He patted him on the back as he walked into the room and sat down on one of the many armchairs. Everything looked so expensive, his interior decoration was splendid but definitely did not compare to this. A table was in the centre, polished black covered with a silk sheet. Portraits of different mayors for the District lined the walls, Shade found himself drawn to each and every one of them.
He never realized that District One had had so many. What number was the current one? He started to count the faces but the door slowly opened and his dad and mum walked through, both with smiles on their faces but full of different emotions.
His dad made it first and patted him on the back feverishly his face lit up with happiness as he knelt down closer to his son.
"I knew you'd always make me proud eventually, you might not be graced with social skills, you may have disappointed me for a long time but this is how you make it up to me. I'm so proud of you."
As his black hair was ruffled under the strong hands of his father he did all he could not to punch this man in the jaw. Shade could feel the anger coursing through him but did all he could to fight it away as his dad stepped back to allow his mother to hug him.
"Well done, you did it." She said out loud, he patted her back and pulled himself closer into her warm body.
"I'm leaving him." She whispered close into his ear, he hoped his dad just thought they were hugging, if he heard that there's no telling what he would do. Shade felt all the anger fade, his stomach filled with warmth at his mother's revelation. Finally, she'd be away from that monster and when he returned the two of them could live together in the Victor's Village.
She unwrapped her arms from Shade's neck and pulled something out from her coat pocket just as the Peacekeeper said it was time to go. Tributes sure didn't get much time with their relatives.
"I love you." She said, kissing his cheek before following her beaming husband.
He looked down at the necklace in his hand, attached to a slim silver chain a metal leaf was engraved with perfect lines and text scrawled on the back read, 'Manere Fortes et Munda.' Shade smiled, he knew the translation meant 'Stay Strong and Pure,' his mother had it made when he revealed he was going to volunteer.
"Shade?"
He looked up to see Jewel walking in slowly, her finger twirling a string of her beautiful straight hair. Her eyes were emotionless behind those thick glasses but her lips were curled in a thin smile.
"Good luck, I hope you win." Her voice was its usual whisper; Shade knew she wouldn't stay for their allotted time. The two were close but it was more of the unsaid things between them that counted more than what they said.
"Thanks, I'll be back soon."
"Do you have to stay in the Capitol once you win until the final Games?"
"I have no idea, hopefully not." He said smiling up at his friend. She nodded and for the first time kissed his forehead. Both didn't blush as she pulled away and left the room in silence.
Shade rubbed his forehead and stared at the door. She kissed him… he knew there was no romance between them but it was odd. He had to return, he had to ask her why she had kissed him. Jewel wasn't like that.
Ania Vine, 16 years old
"It's not what I thought would happen, but you can do this."
Ania's mother was sitting on a chair to the left of her, stroking her hands and kissing her all over the face. Her father sat next to her on the right, equally as proud but letting his wife do the kissing.
It was Evander's face that was the most heartbreaking, he was leaning against the table to the right of the room, his eyes locked on her's, red streaks marking teardrops down his cheeks.
The two of them hadn't mentioned Evander not volunteering, not yet anyway.
"Now looking at a lot of your competitors you'll have to do your hardest, but I know you can do it. You've trained before; you're ready for the Games. You'll be our little victor." She gently patted each of her cheeks leaving red marks mixed in with the lipstick she had left along with her kisses. Ania felt relieved when she finally pulled away to let her dad do some of the talking.
"Like your mother said, you've trained and we know you can do this. I know you'll have a fight ahead of you but it's nothing you can't handle to become the ultimate victor of this Quell." His smile was ear to ear yet every second or so his eyes flickered over to Evander who had his head to the ground like in the Square. Ania felt the overwhelming urge to push her parents away and pull him into the biggest hug she'd ever given but she stopped herself and simply stared at him.
"A victor in the Vine family, at last!" The two of them clapped, their smiles were starting to make Ania feel sick. She knew she'd die, the two of them were kidding themselves and so full of determination for a good reputation that they couldn't see how she failed in comparison to her opponents.
"Please come back Ania." Evander's voice made her wince, it wasn't his usual voice. It came out as a croak, another indication to his sadness for his little sister.
He edged closer and closer to her; both their parents tensed their shoulders and scowled as he cried into her shoulder. It was their mother who spoke up first.
"Oh man up for heaven's sake. At least she's going into the Games; you're a good for nothing lazy brat." Her words snapped something in Evander, his entire back muscles turned to rock and she felt his hands clench.
"Don't." She whispered. His warm tears felt horrid on her skin but she didn't brush them off. The two of them sat hugging as his body relaxed.
"Get off her Evander." Their dad pulled him and smiled at Ania, ignoring Evander's protest as his back hit the side of the table. From his pocket he pulled out a small ring and placed it in her hand. She gazed down at the bronze piece of jewellery and saw 'Vine' inscribed on the inside.
Ania knew this belonged to Grace, the grief inside her threatened to break through but she managed to keep it down and thank her parents.
"Good luck, you'll do better than her."
She'd shout and scream at them normally, but she'd come to realize who her parents were and she couldn't be bothered. When they left, followed by a teary-eyed Evander she sunk into the cushion on her chair and slid the ring on her finger.
She'd do this for Grace and Evander, not for her parents. They didn't deserve the fame and wealth. It would be her and her brother sharing what she'd receive if she won. And she'd do her best to succeed. For Grace. For Evander.
Sorry if the last few POV's aren't as good, goodbyes aren't my favourite thing xD