BOOM! We're back
Already? Wow.
Well due to the fact we don't have lives Al, of course we're back this early.
I do have a life. It's just very small and I spend most of it LaLa land
And now that you being half fish has stopped due to a faulty joint, I guess you have an even smaller one than usual. Shall we proceed to the reaping square Ally? Maybe Orion might have found himself a wall.
Yes we must put the poor boy out of his misery soon
Chapter Two: How could it be me?
As the volunteering shouts died down there was a moment of silence as everyone stared at the Capitol escort. It was her job to discern who had cried out first. No one could quite tell given the loud plethora of outcries, especially from the three elder age groups. Epsilon seemed to identify it with ease, as she whispered to the man in charge of the cameras who to direct them at.
'You there, you were first,' she said pointing through the crowd.
Orion looked around wildly as he suddenly saw his face appear on the screen and a deafening amount of applause rang out through the square. He blinked in confusion, he really hadn't intended to say anything, and he really didn't remember doing that. But he just knew that he had. His father had been training him for years for this moment and despite his insistence that he would not do it, instinct must have taken control. He was trapped now.
Trying to ignore the scandalized look of betrayal on the other volunteers' faces he walked down the aisle among the shrill cheering of the district. He wasn't sure how he was remaining so calm, he hadn't meant to do this. He knew he had now, but cursing both his instincts and his reflexes would get him nowhere. He just kept his face blank and walked onto the gigantic stage. Platinum grinned at him looking excited to know he'd be taking his place. At the same time there was a small light of temptation in his eyes, as if he was tempted to refuse to step down. Orion mentally tried to urge him to, but he remained ignorant and walked down to the bottom of the stairs to wait for the end of the reaping.
'What's your name?' Epsilon asked, smiling at him encouragingly, seeming to have at least noticed the shell shocked state he was in.
'Orion Ehra.'
He wasn't sure how he'd sounded so bloody calm when he was saying it but the applause was sheerly deafening. The camera then turned to look at his victor parents and grandfather who he knew were seating all of two meters away from him but he didn't dare look back. He stared at their images on the screen. His father for once in his life looked proud of something Orion had done. His grandfather looked slightly confused, though somewhat emotionless, knowing all too well that Orion had not planned for this to occur. While his mother hid it well, the look in her eyes was one of pure misery. Some hadn't known his relation to the victors, and the applause escalated even louder. He felt his stomach turn, and keeping his face blank was all he had the energy to do.
'Very good, now it's time for the ladies,' the escort announced and walked past him to the other reaping bowl as more cheering rang out, 'Topaz Elliston!'
The announcement of this name received even less applause then Platinum had. He at the very least was a good archer. This chubby, sweaty girl that stood on stage next to him for a moment however was only good at tying knots. She didn't want to go, and she wouldn't go. The younger girl looked up at him, as if trying to find some assurance that someone would volunteer for her. He gave her as kind a look as possible, but it wasn't easy with the fear that had set into his stomach.
Clearly the look hadn't been what he intended it to be as she hurriedly glanced away looking more nervous than ever. Orion was forced to admit that given what she probably knew about him, she was not going to understand any attempt he offered to comfort her. He wasn't the type to pick fights, but he had been involved in a few when encountering the egos of others. There was very rarely a mark on him, but what he'd ended up doing to others had earned him a rather brutal reputation.
Topaz was ignored by Epsilon though, who was taking a long moment for dramatic effect as she repeated the districts favourite question, 'Do we have any volunteers?'
'I volunteer as tribute.'
This time Orion could tell who'd been first; he recognised the voice that had offered herself a heartbeat before the others. Even as Epsilon pointed to her, Shimmer's blonde head was already working her way through the crowd, knowing she'd done it. She strutted self-righteously down the aisle amongst the overpowering cheers of the district, blowing kisses and beaming brilliantly. She took to the stage while Orion looked around for the nearest brick wall to slam his head into. It was one thing to send him into the arena which was virtually a death sentence, but it was another thing to force him to live out his remaining days with Shimmer of all people.
Everyone was from noticing the pained expression on his face though as with barely any prompting from Epsilon she introduced herself tossing her hair back, 'I am Shimmer Brillo.'
He suppressed a groan. Of course it was her. Of course it bloody had to be her. Topaz scurried off the stage to stand with Platinum, while Orion contemplated what angle he'd have to hit his head at to die jumping off the stage.
Shimmer not knowing his thoughts directed a less than subtle wink in his direction, which only made Orion try to do the math faster. His interactions with the Brillo twins were never pleasant. The two girls were among the most attractive in the district, he could admit that, but their inflated egos indicated they knew it all too well. Vain, self-indulging, vicious and unable to take the hint that he would rather swallow a wrench whole then spend a moment more than necessary in their company.
At this point he was directed to shake her hand, which he did begrudgingly. As the cheers rang out and the Treaty of Treason begun to be read, he wondered if there was a discreet way to wipe his hand of her germs while on camera. But then his thoughts turned to just what he had gotten himself into. He was now a tribute. Something he'd never wanted nor intended to be.
Many arguments and periods of silent treatment had resulted between himself and his father due to his insistence he'd never volunteer. After he hadn't offered himself up last year his mother had been forced to intervene when his father seemed ready to thrash him for it. He had well and truly made his father proud with this move. He still did not understand how he'd volunteered. He now remembered the words leaving his lips, but his brain had not comprehended their meaning or the implications of what was to come.
The words from the treaty finished and Epsilon took each of them by the hand leading them off stage as the ear shattering ovation rang out. The clapping and cheering sounded like a funeral to him, but Shimmer was practically skipping next to him. As they were pulled into city hall, they were allowed a moment to breathe. As he took a moment to internally kick himself Shimmer piped up:
'Looks like it'll be you and me honey,' she purred, putting her hand on her shoulder, 'don't worry; I'll play nice if you do.'
He gave her an uncomfortable smile, before holding out his finger indicating he needed a moment. And with no shame to the amount of peacekeepers and Capitol officials watching him he began slamming his head against the nearest wall.
…
She was frozen in fear, heart rising in her throat. It couldn't be her. But the terror pounding through her chest and paralysing her limbs confirmed the nightmare was real. Hadn't she suffered enough? How was this even real? Fear radiated through her system, and her ribs seemed to contract to the point she could barely breathe.
Everyone in the square continued to stare at her, and her bitter thoughts pointed out just how well this had gone for them. They were ridding themselves of a "violent criminal" not someone with any friends to speak of. She may have had a family but they highly doubted her drug addict parents would even know she was gone. She was the perfect person to send in as a tribute. This couldn't have gone better if they'd voted her in.
'Lyrana Franklin,' Gertrude read again, not seeming to have a clue why she couldn't see her tribute.
At this moment more and more of the crowd backed away from her creating a wider radius than ever. Cameras began to be focused in on her, her face blown up on the big screen why she just stared at it uncomprehendingly. She tried to force herself to move, show a little self-respect about this, but she just couldn't get herself to take a step towards the platform.
The peacekeepers started to approach her, intending to take her up there whether she liked it or not. As one went to grab her arm she forcefully pushed them away and began taking hesitant steps towards the stage. All eyes focused in on her, and she found herself slowly walking up the stairs, knees threatening to buckle under her any second. Though the gasps and whispers suddenly picked up; she was too busy trying to stay standing to notice anything else.
From his seat on stage, Toby was starting to get up. His mother pulled frantically at his sleeve, but he was ignoring her, gaze firmly fixated on the terrified girl. She had made it to the top of the stairs but seemed incapable of going any further. She was shaking like a leaf and there was no colour left in her face. As several peacekeepers looked at each other aggregately and started to move to fetch her, Toby spoke up.
'Lyra.'
The mayor looked in confusion at his son, not understanding his reaction to the girl who had so often injured him. Lyra slowly looked up from where she stood; swaying slightly as she looked at Toby, trying to figure out what it was that she could possibly do. The confusion was not limited to those on stage when Toby walked towards her and pulled her into his arms.
Lyra froze once more, quivering in her spot, but the fear of what was to come was too overwhelming for her to handle and she buried her head in his chest. Her shaky breathing and a few tears she couldn't control muffled by his shirt. She didn't want him to comfort her, she didn't want his pity. But the emotionally unstable part of her brain won over, and she just stood there in his embrace as if it would protect her from the horrors of her existence. She slowly looked up at him, eyes asking him despite her better judgement what on earth she could do. He slowly dropped his arms from around her, and nodded slightly, and seeming almost desperate to, he went back to his seat.
Still feeling as terrified and as misplaced as ever she took the last few remaining steps to the centre of the stage. Gertrude was dabbing at non-existent tears with an overly lacy handkerchief, and Lyra was left to internally comment that the Capitol woman was more hideous up close. She waited a moment for the crowd to settle before asking her rather patronizingly:
'Are you alright Leerayna?' she asked clearly have forgotten her name already
'It's Lyrana or Lyra, one or the other. You're condemning me to death you might as well get my name right,' she spat out against her better judgement.
Gertrude looked deeply offended and Lyra suddenly just nodded to herself and took a deep breath in. The shock was wearing off and the ever present feeling of stubbornness was kicking in. Despite every instinct in her system telling her she was dead meat, the rest of her was saying take the bastards down with you. The Capitol escort, still looking affronted, crossed in front of her to the other bowl, selecting another scrap of paper.
'And joining Miss Franklin will be...' she took a dramatic pause, but Lyra read the name over her shoulder and felt her heart sink slightly, 'Isaac Thornton.'
She could hear a loud sobbing outcry from his mother in the audience, as the eighteen year old boys all turned to look at the tribute from among them. One year left and it had trapped him, the one person who'd never been rude to anybody in his life, and he was the one to join her. She knew about Ike, he seemed like a generally good person and that was a lot coming from her of all people. Quite frankly he was a sweetheart, but he seemed positively broken as he walked up the stairs.
He stood beside her, staring out over the audience. She could see the tears in his eyes, and the tremors running through his system. He hadn't made the same fuss she had, but there was no doubt he was as equally terrified. Despite her usual disdain for people in general, she gripped his hand slightly, but when she went to take it back he just fitted his fingers into hers and held it there. He gave her a weak smile, and she found herself returning it. For a moment she almost fooled herself into feeling safe, but the rationale part of her brain knew she'd never be safe again.
…
The cold fear shocked through her system as the cameras focused in on her pale and worried face. Trying to keep it together, she began making her slow way to the platform as her head nearly exploded from her internal wailing. She didn't know how people were supposed to do this, merely accept their fate for what it was. Every atom of her wanted scream, cry or run away, but somehow she was supposed to slap on a brave face and act like nothing was wrong.
She could hear murmuring in the crowd, they were beginning to talk. She knew exactly what they were talking about but she just couldn't handle thinking about that. The only thing she had the strength for was to clamber up the rickety stairs and onto the platform. She stood there, head bowed; trying not to fall apart as she heard an outcry erupt from the audience.
'We volunteer! We volunteer!'
Druella looked up excitedly, as if something exciting had finally happened in District Ten, but much to her surprised, Hayden and Hunter were the ones shouting out. Her twin older brothers were leaping up and down in the isle hollering out desperately. They looked positively ridiculous, and Astra could also hear the snickers building up in the audience. Even if it was allowed she couldn't possibly let one of the twins take her place, so she grabbed the microphone:
'Hayden, Hunter! You're boys!'
Both twins could see what Astra was trying to do, and neither were going to back down that easily, 'who said we're boys?!' Hayden yelled.
'Who knows, we might be girls!'
'Sexist!'
At this moment her brothers adopted their best approximation of teenage girl stances, flicking back the little hair they had and standing as if they were trying to show off "curves." Astra stared at her brothers miserably, she loved them, she did. That was why, even if the Capitol would accept one of them in her place, she couldn't let them do it. Both boys kicked and yelled abuse as they were picked up by peacekeepers and dragged away. Though just when Astra thought it was over, someone else spoke up.
'They may not be able to volunteer for you but I can!'
Astra recognised the voice and flinched heavily when she heard the desperation in her sister's tone. Sera had emerged from the back and was determinedly walking forward. Once again she just couldn't bare it. She couldn't let her do this; Sera had been gored by a bull through her shoulder a few years ago. She could barely work let alone fight. She'd have no chance in the games. She just couldn't send her sister to her death, she couldn't.
'Sera no,' she said decisively, 'I won't let you do this, I've made my choice.'
'Astra-'
'No. You don't need me. I'm the runt of the litter remember? No matter which way this goes down… mum and dad lose another kid. And I will not let you do this because of me. I can't let you do that.'
Sera froze on the spot, her eyes clouding over with tears. She yelled out to Astra again but she was just forced to block it out, the same tears filling up her eyes. Eventually a few of her friends came and pulled her away, but Astra could still hear her screaming and crying. The audience was frozen, images of anger and misery spread on their faces. No one was happy with this year's tributes. A fragile thirteen year old boy, and an innocent girl whose family had already lost a child to the games. Neither were victor material, they were already as good as dead in the eyes of the district. Though there was nothing anyone could do and they were left to feel powerless as the Treaty of Treason was read. Astra stretched out and squeezed Horace's hand for comfort.
'Let's have a big round of applause for this year's tributes!' Druella sang.
But no one in the audience stirred, they just glared at the platform. There was only one person who clapped at all, and that was the mayor.
Dear Happy Pogger: sorry we didn't state where Astra was from, we had a little slip up, sorry we'll check over our story more carefully next time.
Dear Little Bit Loopy: We're both positive you're stalking us but glad to hear your on board with us for this one.
Thank you very much our dear reviewers. And Selina is right. We shall be more careful in the future.
So next we shall see even more of our Orion, Lyra and Astra, and learn more about the other tributes as well. Does anyone else already hate Shimmer? And feel sorry for Ike and Horace? If you don't already feel sorry for Horace feel sorry for that name. No offence to Horace's out there but I don't like the name.
I hate Shimmer, I hate Shimmer! And you have to admit Horace ain't the best of names.
Ally why are you burning a Shimmer look alike voodoo doll?
Because I hate her...
...Oh dear, well before she tries to arrange for her demise other than what we have planned we're gonna have to go and start working on the awesomeness of our next chapter, love you guys, don't forget to review.
~Selina
Die Shimmer Die...oops, hehe, you're all watching me. Please, please review so we can post the next chapter really soon.
:) Ally
Updated: 26/6/14
