ME: Here we'll get an overview of the ghost's life (who I'm calling Enobaria as she was named after the Victor).
Both Gale and the Peacekeeper were still in District Two, but it was clear this was before the Rebellion.
Everywhere he looked there were National banners, from the orphanages to merchant shops (although he suspected in part it was for publicity then nationalism, Gale's opinion of Two's storeowners did not rise as a result).
He then yelped as the Peacekeeper kicked him in the groin. "Quit envying the shopkeepers, they worked like anyone else. And this is just a nice little overview, Hawthorne. Now you'll get to see my family."
She grabbed his arm, then the shadows shifted as they travelled to one of the villages (officially a "sub-district").
"What's your name?" He asked as they walked to what had to be her home.
The Peacekeeper glanced at him from behind her visor, having retrieved her helmet after chucking it at him. "Enobaria Domitius. And yes, I was named after that great Victor."
Gale seethed briefly only to be cuffed upside the head. "If you get sanctimonious, Butcher, I swear I'll just leave you to burn. Now watch."
The two somehow walked through the wall of the house, which would've freaked Gale out if he hadn't met Enobaria earlier.
There were four people in the room they stopped in. One was clearly a younger version of Enobaria, still dressed in her school uniform as she had just gotten back home. The only male in the room was a man who was her father and had the build of a miner (in fact, he worked at the local quarry), but Gale stopped short of noting mentally that he looked far better off then his father ever had been. Her mother laid down on the bed smiling while nursing her newborn baby.
"What do you want to name your baby sister, Sweetheart?" Mr. Domitus asked while ruffling her hair gently, to her half-hearted annoyance.
"Clove," she replied instantly.
He was taken aback-not only was this woman a Peacekeeper, but she was the older sister of a Career Tribute.
"What?" Enobaria asked, clearly agitated. "Did you ever realize Clove was once a baby girl just like your sister was?"
Furious, Gale threw a punch. "Posy didn't grow up to be a greedy murderer killing starving children for a mansion!"
Much to his dismay, it didn't phase her and she just kneed him in the crotch. "You dumb son of a bitch, you ever think Katniss had reason to be proud of winning the Games alongside Peeta?"
He merely groaned a negative while nursing his "injury."
"Think. The free food, Parcel Day, all of it. That all happened to your Distirct because of her and him winning. Because of Careers likes my sister, none of the children in One, Two or Four who were poor enough to have to take tesserae had to fear it because a trained warrior was there to volunteer. I was pleased to compare notes with a victim of the Twelve bombing and learn Katniss was generous with her winnings when it came to spending at the Hob-just like quite a few of the Victors in my District as well as One and Four."
Gale's mouth actually hung open. It painted quite a different picture now that Enobaria explained it.
Enobaria and Clove were subject to the well-oiled education system of Two, even though they were from a modest (comfortable by Seam standards) village. Though their school was martially-oriented like every other one in the District, it's classes did not make them moronic thugs. In fact, they were both selected for the prestigious Warrior Academy of District Two when they came of age because of their stellar performance as students (though the fact their childhood recreation that consisted of playing with wooden practice swords among other things like fighting in battle reenactions with the other village children helped).
Then a rift developed between Clove and Enobaria. Both had grown up hearing tales of heroic veterans from District Two and sought to emulate them, but while Enobaria wished to become a Peacekeeper (and did) Clove wanted to volunteer for the Games. Unknown to anyone but herself, Enobaria actually disliked the Games and viewed them as unnecessary for law and order. Somewhat paradoxically, she did support the Careers on the basis that at least Districts 1, 2 and 4 benefitted from them.
"Are you crazy, Clove?" Enobaria asked. They were thirteen and nineteen now, with Enobaria now having been promoted to Lieutenant after graduating from OCS (which the older sibling was sent to because of graduating from basic training at the top of her class).
"I want to bring pride and honor to our family and District, Enobaria!" She snapped in response. "Being a Career is the best way to do that!"
"You already are Mom and Dad's pride and joy, sis! Don't risk your life needlessly!"
Clove shook her head. "Says the Peacekeeper!"
Enobaria actually laughed before poking her chest. "Five out of six Peacekeepers aren't killed on national television every year on average. You'd have friends as a Peacekeeper, and anyone you'd kill would be a murderer or rapist. Not some half-decent boy from Two."
Luckily enough, Enobaria was assigned to Two and thus could visit both Clove and her parents easily enough. Therefore, she got to see her little sister off before the 74th Hunger Games.
"Get home safely, Clove," the Lieutenant said with surprising softness.
The younger girl threw a salute. "Yes, ma'am!" She then smiled. "I don't have plans to settle down or anything, so maybe I'll end up joining the Peacekeepers anyway and end up outranking you!"
"In your dreams, Clover!"
Unfortunately, this would be the last time the sisters would banter, for Clove died at the hands of Thresh. The casket hadn't even arrived before both their parents hung themselves.
"You didn't think Careers like my sister had families, didn't you, Butcher?" Gale didn't speak but both knew what he couldn't hide. "Hopes and dreams?"
"She volunteered like Cato," he replied bitterly. "They brought their deaths on themselves."
"Like Katniss?" Enobaria struck a nerve, and it showed on his face. "What would have happened if my District won instead of yours? 'Sorry, citizens of District Twelve. You see, you uppity little rabble, it's just so unfortunate your Tributes died but both of ours came out and that's all that matters in our eyes. Better luck next year!'"
Gale just stared at the ground. "I knew two decent Peacekeepers in Twelve-Darius and Purnia," he said.
"Let's see what happened to one of them because of you, Butcher," Enobaria replied.
ME: A/N: This is probably the longest chapter I've written.
The Warrior Academy is more or less a JROTC-like school, only a lot more fascist and goosesteppy. It's mainly there because of District Two's militaristic nature, and is (or was) responsible for official Career training, with those who don't volunteer typically becoming Peacekeepers as a bonus for the Capitol.
Ideas and comments are appreciated via reviews and PMs.
