A/N Yay! The story is finally beginning! I will not write any reapings; I find them boring to write and repetitive. Instead, I will go district by district and write about a day before the reapings. Sound good? Let's start!
Imperial Gallium, 18, District One Male
Waking up is an interesting experience. First, that blessed peace rolls away, and you're hit with the realization that the world isn't in a quiet trance. Then, you feel the
temperature, and after that, the warm blankets. Finally, the light persuades you to open your eyes.
That's how it should be. Waking up should be quiet, pleasant, and peaceful. Not loud, disruptive, and-
I open my eyes and fling my pillow at my sixteen-year-old brother. "Duke! Seriously! Can't you give a man some time to adjust?"
The pillow flies past him, barely missing the lamp on the table beside the window. He rolls his eyes and smiles. "Did I hear you say 'man'? Where is he?"
"If you had eyes you would be able to see.
He looks around in mock awe. "Oh, I see. Why thank you. I believe it's me."
"You're such a nuisance."
"You wish you could believe that."
I rub my eyes. "Fine, I don't." I roll out of bed and head to the bathroom, slapping him on the back as I pass him.
"What was that for?"
I smile at him and close the door. Here's another day. The sun is shining, the birds are probably out there singing, and I will be training. I've trained for so long; I can't wait until-
It's today.
I quickly wash up and go downstairs. My mother is finishing with the dishes, and my sister Duchess is setting the table. Yes, it's today. Since she's married and moved out, Duchess only eats with us on special occasions. My mother looks me up and down.
"You look excited today," she comments, rubbing me on the shoulder.
"Why shouldn't I?" I say, "The matches are today! This could be the greatest day of my life."
"I'm sure you'll be chosen," she says, "But you better eat first. We wouldn't want you to go in unprepared. Your father got called to the office this morning. He wanted to be here, but you know him."
"It really is no problem. "
"Then let's eat."
I sit down and prepare to start eating, and I feel a tug at my shirt. When I look down, I see my little nephew Platinum, playing with a little toy sword. He doesn't know anything yet, he's only two.
"Hey," I say, ruffling his hair. He says something and hits me with the sword.
"You're going to be big and strong someday," I say, sitting him on my lap, "And you'll volunteer for the… the… 1014th Hunger Games. Then we'll be Victors together, won't we. And you'll make your mother so proud."
I tickle him, and he squirms and laughs.
"Now I've got to eat," I say, "I'm going to the matches later, so I can't keep talking." I put him down, and he runs to Duchess. When I go into the Games, I'll really miss him.
When I finish my breakfast, I take my plate and bring it to the sink.
"I'll stop by the office and see father before I go to the Training Center," I tell my mother, who's washing the dishes.
"Oh good, remind him to meet with Mr. Sierra to discuss the new store," she says.
"I will," I say, opening the front door, "I'll be back for dinner. "
I hear a round of "Bye"s and "Good luck"s, and I'm off. I first jog to my father's office. District One seems festive this morning. Everything is up and running as normal, but the colors seem brighter, the sounds seem happier, and the air smells sweeter. That last one may be because I'm going by a candy-maker's shop.
Soon, I'm standing before the tower that is our pride and joy. The golden "Agau" engraved on the sign shines in the morning sunlight, and it looks amazing. Father just got it replaced last week. I walk through the double-doors and greet the receptionist. The lobby is covered in posters of our products, and in a few display cases lie rings and necklaces. They're so high-quality, Capitolians have traveled here just to get first pick.
I walk up the stairs and knock on the door to father's office.
"Come in," he calls. When I open the door, he gets up and gives me a hug. "Are you on your way to the Center?"
"Yes," I say, "I wanted to stop by. Mother told me to remind you to meet with Mr. Sierra."
"Thank you. I have a lot of paperwork, so I have to get back to it. Good luck."
He pats me on the back, and I leave the company headquarters. I look at my wristwatch, and I see that it's about 10. Must be on my way. I jog past the Sierra mall. They've just finished building a new wing, and my father's been trying to get in for a long time. I hear that Mr. Sierra's daughter is trying out in the matches this year. She's been pampered all her life; I wonder how it will turn out.
When I get to the center, there's a small crowd. Ever since organized sports here became a thing, the number of people trying to gain the right to volunteer has shrunk. Not necessarily good for District One, but it's good for me. I have a higher chance of being chosen as one of the twelve possible volunteers.
I feel a tap on the shoulder. I turn around, and I see my friend Topaz.
"Hey!" he says, "How's it going?"
"I- I can't wait. Where'd Diadem?" I say. Diadem is his girlfriend, and I was sure she'd be here to watch Topaz's match.
"She should be here any minute. She said she had something to work on. I hope she'll be back soon."
"I'm sure she will," I say, "Hey, did you watch the soccer game last night?"
"Of course I did! I wouldn't miss it for the world."
"Who won? I had a late night training session."
"Of course we beat the Two scumbags. It was 8 to 7."
"I was just thinking, you know, when I'm victor, I might make that my talent."
"What? Late night training sessions?"
"What do you think? Soccer!"
He barely has time to laugh before our conversation is cut off by the Head Trainer, Regal Ametist. He tests the microphone and begins to speak.
"Welcome, trainees to the matches. You will be put against one of your fellow trainees, and you win fight until one concedes or the judges deem the battle over. Each of you will be awarded points based on your performance. The final twelve will be allowed to volunteer."
Everyone applauds, and he begins reading the names for the boys.
"Topaz Lasia and Prime Crims."
Topaz nods, and with a smile, he walks to the doors of the Center, where he'll be fighting Prime.
"Imperial Gallium and Jacques Carta."
Carta. The name seems familiar. I push my way through to the front of the crowd, where a tall, muscular eighteen-year-old is waiting.
"I assume you are Jacques?" I say. He smiles proudly.
"The one and only. And you are Imperial?"
"Who else? Do I know you? Carta…. it rings a bell."
"Your family operates Agau, correct?"
"Yes, we do," I say. Oh… That's where I've heard his name.
"Then I'm your competitor. My family runs Carta's Jewelers."
I look sideways at him as we're led into the Center and to a room where we'll be fighting. We're allowed to do anything but cause life-threatening wounds, but that won't be much of a problem since the weapons are all blunt. The Cartas. Always flaunting their wealth. Oh, I'll enjoy this. This gives me an excuse to knock him out.
"Begin!"
I narrow my eyes at my opponent, who wields a sword. I hold my spear in a defensive position; I prefer to let my opponents make the first move.
"Don't take it seriously if you lose, you know?" Jacques mocks, "There's always opportunity in business. Then again, who knows? We'd probably beat you there."
Taunt all you want, I think. I'm on the shorter side, only 5'9", so he probably underestimates me. In this case, it's an advantage. Seeing that his mockery isn't affecting me, he advances.
"Let's start with the basics," he says. He makes little teasing pokes at me with the sword before coming in for the kill. I deflect the sword with my spear, and I respond with a strike of my own. He's taken off guard, so I pursue it. Some might say that it's dishonorable to do so, but when you're in the Games, the Capitol won't care whether you played fair or not. It just wants you to win. So I press on. I tilt the spear sideways and grip it with two hands, using it as a staff. With a few easy spins, he is disarmed. I grab the sword and bring it down on his head again and again. Because it's blunt, it works as a club. He's knocked out.
I bow and leave. Time for my next round.
Aria Sierra, 17, District One Female
It's been a long day of battling and fighting. I stand outside the Justice Building with everyone else-that is, everyone except those in the hospital. The final matches are almost over. We all have to wait.
"Do you think you made it?" Sabrina, sitting beside me, asks.
"I don't know," I answer, "I'm not sure I want to."
"Why not? Isn't this what you train for?"
"Yeah, but there's so much in the world to do. My dad talked to Mr. Gallium this morning about the arrangements for a new Agau branch in our mall. The new wing is huge, and it's just amazing. Just seeing that power and control in management makes me want to do it."
"Do you think you could do that? It also requires interior design experience and stuff like that. Sounds like more school than I ever want."
"I'm sure I could do it if I really believed I could."
"What if you get picked to volunteer?"
"Then I'll do it," I say, "The Capitol has given us so much. If I get picked, then it's my duty to try my best in volunteering and the Games."
"Wow."
"Do you think you'll make it in?" I ask.
"I hope I did. I don't have to be the one on stage, but if I don't even get picked, my family will be so disappointed. "
"Don't worry about it. I'm pretty sure you did just as well as I did."
The female Head Trainer, Venus Sultensky, begins to speak into a microphone. We all turn to look at her.
"The twelve approved volunteers have been selected!"
There's a round of applause, and a boy hoots.
"I am here representing the panel of judges for the females. The approved volunteers are… first of all, Diva Corient!"
Diva. It's no surprise she made it. She's strong, beautiful, but most of all, mean. She steps up and smirks as they place a medal around her neck.
"Second, Columbia Thace!"
Another girl steps up to receive her medal. Name after name are read.
"Ninth, Sabrina Esmerald!"
Sabrina's eyes go wide.
"You made it!" I say, "I told you!"
She walks up to the stage, her eyes gleaming with happiness. Two more names go by. Please don't let it be me; it'd make everything complicated. Not me, not me, not-
"Lastly, Aria Sierra!"
It's me. I've been chosen by the judges, so this is an official summon from the Capitol. I smile and stride up to the stage, where I'm given a medal.
"Give them a round of applause!"
Then, the male Head Trainer begins reading the names of the boys. There's Triton Paine. I remember duping him back in eighth grade. A few more familiar faces go by; quite a few of them are ones I used to know well. Finally, Imperial Gallium is called up. Oh, he's a threat. Unlike some of the other boys, he'll do anything to get what he needs, using the ends to justify the means. I won't be surprised if he ends up being the one on stage on the day of the Reaping.
After a few more formalities, we are dismissed. Sabrina is still overjoyed when I find her.
"I can't believe it!" she says, "I- I actually made it!"
"Don't be so surprised! " I say.
"Let's go get something to drink or something. Your mall is open, right?"
We end up going to a small cafe in my dad's Sierra mall, where we both order drinks.
"So you were chosen," Sabrina says, "What're you going to do? Didn't you not want to get picked?"
"Yeah, I didn't," I say, staring at the striped brown wallpaper.
"So any plans?"
"I'm going to volunteer."
"Why? There are twelve of us. No one will notice if you don't volunteer. "
"You don't understand," I say, "This is duty. The Capitol has given us a lot of grace. The least I can do is do my best in everything it wants me to do."
She shrugs. "Sure."
Soon, she goes home for dinner and I do too. The moment I walk in the door, Ava, my younger sister, is begging me for details. Alvis, my eight-year-old brother, gives me a hug. My parents are overjoyed. Alexander, my other brother, looks concerned, but he hides it and smiles and laughs with everyone else.
Can we talk later?, I mouth to him. He nods.
After dinner, my mom brings out a cake. Everyone's so happy; I don't think anyone realizes that I'm not. The reality of going into the Hunger Games is hitting me at full force, and I'm not that sure I can do this. I look at Alvis, and he stares at me with admiring eyes. I look away.
Soon, I sit on my bed. I can't sleep. Alex should be here soon; we talk whenever stuff like this happens. There's a knock on the door.
"Come in," I say.
"Hey," he says, "What's up." He silently shuts the door behind him and pulls a chair out from my desk.
"I don't know if I can do this," I say.
"Volunteer?"
"Yeah. I know I should. I know it's my duty, and I saw the looks on everyone else's faces. They're excited for me, Alex."
"How do you feel?"
"I'd rather take over the mall, honestly. I've always wanted that. But-"
"Then don't volunteer."
I blink. Am I hearing him correctly? "But- But-"
"Then don't. If you don't volunteer, mom and dad will understand."
"I have to do it, though! It's my duty to District One, the Capitol, and my trainers. "
"Then volunteer."
"What should I do? You're not helping."
"Do whatever you feel is right. That's all I'm saying."
"Then I'll volunteer."
He smiles. "I thought you'd say that." All of a sudden, I get what he was doing. He was just helping me sort out my thoughts by getting me to verbalize them.
"Thanks so much," I say. I go to him and hug him, and he smiles and yawns.
"Well, I'm going to sleep," he says, "Goodnight."
"Goodnight," I reply. He leaves the room.
I'm going to do it. I'm going to volunteer. I've been put into a game I originally didn't want to play. But now that I'm in, I'm going to win.
I don't lose.
A/N What do you think of our first tributes?
1. What do you think of Imperial's personality? How will it come into play?
2. What can you see about Aria's mindset and personality? Is it good or bad?
3. Which one do you like more?
4. After seeing the blog, who are you waiting for?
Because of the length of these chapters and school starts tomorrow for me, my schedule may slow down. School comes first, sorry. Also, I won't be replying in chapter anymore. I'll try to respond to questions through PM.
Thank you to Red Roses, ChoolateChipHomocide, and santiago. poncini20 for doing blog reviews!
See you in District Two!
~Joseph
