Chapter two: Any Volunteers?
I spent hours in the addictive hands of my blades as they pulled me into their trance. I didn't really realize what time it was when I finally broke free but I knew it was time to get back to the dorms. Malakai is going to want to speak to me. I walked back slowly noticing everyone's eyes on me. So they heard the fabulous news. I rolled my eyes and dared anyone to try anything with me now. They all slunk back into the hallway walls trying to avoid me. I was about to walk into the boys dorms when I caught at the corner of my eye Malakai's figure. I turned fully around to see Malakai, Kaius, Greyti—District two's female mentor—and Avian—The second best girl fighter in the Academy—walking towards the main office. I squinted to make sure I believed what I was seeing and after confirming that was them, I followed.
I walked into the main office building—which was eerily quite—and made my way to the meeting room. I stood outside the door, eavesdropping on any information I could gather before crashing the meeting.
"All I'm saying is Avian is perfectly ready to go in place of Ebony" Malakai's voice broke up the silence, Avian in place of me in the Hunger Games? Are they serious?
"Oh so you're in such a high and mighty position to conclude that I am ready to take your pathetic little girlfriends place in the Games?" I heard something slam up against the nearest wall with a loud bang.
"Watch your mouth little girl!" Malakai said I smiled to myself; he's always standing up for me when I don't need it.
"Enough!" Kaius yelled out "we can't replace Ebony, she's too ready to step back another year" He was walking around the table that sat the other three. "You should have gone last year Malakai" I could see Kaius glaring at him without even having to be in the room. I knew that horrible man too well.
"She needed me during the last games, with losing Sagan and everything" I flinched at the name. Of course he would bring her up, that's the only reason I wouldn't let him go last year, because only a year prior one of my best friends died. She was like an older sister to me. Now I'm going to enter the ninety-forth Hunger Games and take my revenge on every last tribute in that arena. I will not let Avian take that from me.
"That's not the pressing issue here Kaius, were talking about this Hunger Games, don't bring up the past if it's unnecessary" That was the first time Greyti spoke since the meeting started. I can see her now, standing up and taking charge when she realizes this is when she is the most needed.
"Avian you will volunteer in Ebony's place this year and you and Malakai will be the ninety-forth Hunger Games, district two tributes" I burst with anger; they can't do this to me! Not after everything I've been through.
I bust through the doors keeping me hidden, I can see the surprise on everyone's face when they realize I've been listening this entire time. "You won't take this from me! I won't allow it" I said looking at every one of them and resting my eyes on Malakai before leaving the room, slamming the door behind me in a fit of rage. I stalked out of the office building and went towards the girls dorms. Everyone could see how pissed I was so they didn't make eye contact once, and left me alone. I walked into my room and slammed the door behind me. I looked around at everything that resembles what I have become since entering the academy from birth.
I screamed out in rage and grabbed the nearest thing I had and threw it across the room. I grabbed picture frames, and threw them at the walls. I grabbed the drawers from my dresser and banged them against the walls, cutting my palms as the wood broke apart in my hands. I heard a knock on my door and I knew automatically who it was. I grabbed a potted plant on my nightstand and threw it at the door.
"Come on love open up" Malakai said knocking again. I groaned and threw my entire dresser to the floor in fury. That's when the locket flew out with it, I whimpered when I knew what it was. I picked it up and curled up against the wall opposite the door. I opened up the locket to find a picture of Sagan and me the day before her Reaping. I remember that day so clearly. She was so excited about it; she was so excited about winning that I was actually jealous of her. She got to go into the Games two years before I was even considered for them. She took the locket with her as her district token, and two days after her killing, when her body was dropped off at the Academy, so was the locket. It is now mine, because she failed the Games, and she failed me.
She was completely prepared when she left. She excelled with swords and hand to hand combat. She wasn't bad at distance combat either. She was perfectly prepared, she was ready.
What she wasn't ready for was the guy from district one turning on her while she was in battle with an experienced fighter from district eight. She lasted five days total. She was down to the last eight. I still remember when the capitol came to the Academy and they interviewed me. I was so sure she was going to win. How foolish I was to believe such a thing.
This year I had a plan. No trust, nobody to hold me back. I would make an alliance with the proper careers until the bottom eight, and then I'm on my own. I can't trust anybody but myself in the Games anyway. I would kill anyone who crossed my path, no regrets. I would come out of the Games a victor. I would come home to Malakai; I wouldn't leave him to grieve like I did for two years. I wouldn't force him to join his Games trying to get revenge instead of going for the win. None of that matters now I guess, his Games are my Games, we go in it together and only one of us comes out a victor, only one.
Just then I heard the door get kicked open, Malakai was standing there looking at me. I wouldn't look at him though; I wouldn't let him see me this weak. A tear fell down my cheek as I clutched the necklace to my chest. How can he look at such weakness? How can he stand me this way?
He walked over to me kneeling down in front of me and he grabbed my chin making me look at him. By now my eyes were red and my cheeks were soaked but he didn't seem to care, all I saw was love in his eyes, unspoken love. That only caused the tears to run down my face in waves. He put one of his arms under my legs and the other cradling my back, picking me up and squishing me to his chest as he made his way out of my room and to his. I knew what he was doing. He was hiding my weakness from the others; he won't let them see me like this. Again he's looking out for me. This time I needed him, but I don't deserve him. I never did.
When I woke up I noticed I was in Malakai's room, that's when all the events from the previous day started flooding back to me. Malakai! I sat up so fast I made myself dizzy; I looked next to me to find the bed empty. Where did he go? I got out of bed and made my way to his dresser. I opened my drawer—the one he let me have after the few nights I spent here—and pulled out a pair of black cargo pants and a grey tank top. I looked in the mirror and cringed at what I saw. My hair was everywhere and my eyes were puffy and still a little red.
I went into his bathroom and brushed my hair and teeth and tried to avoid the mirror at all costs. When I walked out of the bathroom Malakai was sitting on the bed twirling an apple in his hands. When I sat next to him he handed me the apple, and I took it with much appreciation. I didn't realize how starving I was until now. I took a bite of the apple and noticed he was looking at me. I swallowed "I'm sorry about last night" I said looking at my bitten apple so I can avoid eye contact with him. "It was really embarrassing, I'm sorry you had to see me like that" I looked at him for the first time and noticed he was smiling.
"I've seen you break down before" he said grabbing my free hand "for weeks at one point" He said twining his fingers into mine. I knew what he was talking about; after Sagan died I spent weeks crying in anger, and in sorrow. He was the only one to see it though; I wouldn't let anyone else see me that weak. They knew how torn I was over it, but all they saw was me taking my anger out on the poor victim Kaius decided to put in the ring with me that week. I made sure everyone knew not to mess with me. I made sure everyone knew I was the next district two Victor.
I was interrupted from my recollection by Malakai's lips meeting mine. His lips were rough and dry like his hands but they felt warm, and loving. I open my mouth deepening the kiss, he laid me on his bed and entwined his fingers threw my auburn hair as I wrapped my arms around his neck. He pulled away and looked at me, his blue eyes gazing into my light green ones. His look was serious, and controlled. "You know I have to volunteer" he said immediately, cutting off any intimate moment we were in the process of. I pushed him off me and jumped off his bed, I was furious. Of course he has to bring this up now, only a few hours before the Reaping.
I looked at him; he looked sad, and desperate. I knew what he's going to be focused on when he gets in that arena. I knew his plan, but how could I stop him? He's too stubborn to stop, and even if I beg him it won't diminish his decision any.
I took a deep breath to calm myself and nodded at him, showing him I understand before leaving the room to go get ready for the Reaping.
The halls were completely empty, everyone was probably in their rooms getting ready for the Reaping, twirling in front of the mirror to look at their pretty dresses, flexing in the mirror to show their strength. Even if they know they won't be in the Games this year that doesn't stop them from looking their best just in case the camera lands on them.
When I got to my room things were boxed up and my ruined dresser was replaced with a new one. That's where Malakai was this morning; cleaning up my room for me. A small smile made its way to my lips. That man was too nice too me, I don't deserve it.
I opened my closet to find my dress hanging on its hanger in the plastic I put it in so it wouldn't get ruined. I'm not particularly a dressy type of girl, but every Reaping you have to dress your best, and since this is my reaping, I have to dress the best to appeal to the Capital.
When I got dressed I looked in the mirror—the only one I didn't break last night—and looked my dress over. I was wearing a tight red dress that went down to my mid-thighs with a V-neck line and red calf high boots that went perfect with the look I was going for, sexy but serious.
I looked at the clock and realized the time went by much faster then I anticipated. I walked out the door and ran right into Malakai who was leaning against my door frame patiently waiting for me. He was much taller than me; he beats me by at least two feet. He's towering close to seven feet tall, well built and toned. While I'm a measly 5'4 and have minimal muscle strength but beat that with my speed.
He smiles at my choice of dress and raises an eyebrow which makes me a little self conscious. I cross my arms over my chest and look up at him "What's that look for?" I say backing away from him a little bit. He just shrugs "Love the dress" he says with a winning smile. I roll my eyes and put my hands on his chest pushing him out of my way and grabbing one of his hands. "Come on Mr. Horny time to go" I said laughing and walking out of the girls' dorm with him in tow.
When we arrive at the Reaping we both step into our rightful places in each row. I stand next to Avian in the sixteen section and Malakai stands next to one of his good friends, Rowan, in the seventeen section before Mayor Trendon—this really tall, skinny moron—took the stand and started the usual speech about how Panem came to be exedra, exedra; I zoned out in the middle. After hearing it for years it gets boring and you eventually learn to tune it out. When Mayor Trendon was finished with his speech the Escort, Coral Fox, took the stage. She was tall and skinny, she had dark crimson red hair, and weird red markings all over her pale body; typical for someone from the Capitol. I rolled my eyes, they disgust me, if it were possible for someone from the Capitol to be put in the Games they'd be my first victim, and I will enjoy every last ounce of the killing.
"This is so exciting!" she said clapping her hands together in obvious enthusiasm "good luck everyone!" She said before walking over to the girls' bowl that has the names of every last female standing before and behind me. Some names are in more than once depending on age and the amount of Tessarea you took the previous years. I never had to take Tessarea, but it doesn't matter how many times my name is in that bowl anyway, if I don't get picked I simply volunteer.
She reached her hand into the bowl mixing the names around a little bit to build suspense, but it's district two, if you get picked and you're not being trained for the Games someone will obviously volunteer for you. "Avian Ausric" She said with a smile, I had to choke in a laugh. That's brilliant! As Avian was making her way up to the stage I was waiting for Coral to say the two words I've been waiting for my entire life. "Any volunteers?" She asked with the continuing smile plastered on her reconstructed face.
"I volunteer!" I said as the fifteen year olds in front of me part so I can get through. I made my way towards the stage with confidence and a smirk on my face. I wanted everyone to see that this is what I want; it's what I've been training for. That I'm prepared to kill, that I'm prepared to win. I pass Avian on the way up there, she rolls her eyes at me and I stare her down, she cringes away and walks back to her spot in the crowd. I grin and make my way up the stage and shake Coral's hand. I make a point of looking disgusted, which is exactly what the audience will be taking in. "And what's your name honey?" She says trying to keep her happy façade under control but being obviously clear she dislikes me already. "Ebony Morella" I said letting go of her hand and stepping to the side winking at the cameras and putting my hands behind my back straightening my posture and looking straight ahead.
"Well congratulations!" She said smiling at me and then making her way over to the boys bowl. She put her hand in making sure to mix them up again before picking out a name. "Stone Kielle" She said grinning and looking out at the crowd. A nervous fourteen year old boy started making his way up to the stage. He looked back and made eye contact with Malakai. By now everyone knew he was volunteering, he just nodded at the boy to continue walking. The boy gulped and started up the steps of the stage. "Any volunteers?" She asked looking out at the crowd expecting what was to come. "I volunteer!" Malakai said making his way past the crowd of kids, his face was hard, and his shoulders high. I was going for the: I-dare-you-to-fuck-with-me look and he was evidently going for the: you-fuck-with-me-you-die look. They were both successful in the end.
Stone let out a sigh of relief as he jogged back to his section, Malakai walked passed him not even noticing his presence as he stepped on stage. He shook Coral's hand; you could see her wince at the power behind his shake. "And your name is?" she asked when he loosened a little bit. "Malakai Slate" He said as he let go of her hands and looked at the camera. His face was hard, and controlled, tributes are sure to be terrified of him in the arena. He took a step to the side so he was standing to the right of me, he took the same stance as me and we were both looking out into the crowd, looking deadly, dangerous, and prepared.
"Ladies and Gentlemen your district two tributes!" She said with a squeal of excitement before we were trying to be ushered off the stage by very annoyed and impatient Peacekeepers. One glare from Malakai stopped them and we both stepped off the stage, satisfied and completely in control.
