Berenice Green, 17
1 week before the Reaping
Bottom rail on top is an extremely old saying and it reminds me of myself perfectly. I didn't have it as bad as the kids in the outer Districts, but what a lot of people don't understand is that District 2 has a lot of dirt-poor quarry workers. Sure, we have the strongest Careers that often win the games. In the end, there are still poor people who have to do back-breaking work. I was one of those people, of course, now I can do whatever I please. I don't have to work in those dreadful quarry's anymore, it's refreshing.
"Come on, Berenice you need to focus!" I can hear my coach yell at me. I'm one of the fastest girls in the Academy because I like to run track, I've been doing this since I was young. I feel the wind run though my curly brown locks as I do five laps around the track.
"Good job, Berenice. Record time too." Coach says as I take a breather. I grab my water jug and gulp down the water, I can feel the sweat drizzling down my chest.
"Hey, Berenice!" I smile as I wipe the water off of my mouth. I recognize his voice before I can even see him. "Hey, dork." "You're the dork. Come on, let's go." Iason grabs my hand and I yell at my coach as we run along. "Bye Coach Martin!"
"I have good news for you." Iason smiles at me and we slow down. "What is it?" "Guess." "Um, I don't know. It could be anything." "You're like the top girl in the Academy right now!" My eyes light up and I jump out of joy. "Yes! I've worked so hard for this!" I can't wait to tell my parents about this. They'll be so proud.
"So how'd you rank?" Iason sighs and mumbles something I can't understand. "Speak up. It can't be worse than Gabbro Duncan." Gabbro is literally one of the worse kids in the Academy like I've seen the 10-year-olds do better than him and he's like 15..16 years old now. I know that Iason isn't the best in the Academy and he wants to Volunteer, but he can always do other things.
"Ugh.. I'm like lost in the thousands of other kids. I didn't even place in the top 10,000. I swear some 12-year-olds placed higher than me." The mood turns ugly and I try to cheer him up. Even if he's terrible, I can't let my friend be depressed. "Dude, you still have like 2 more opportunities." "I guess you're right. I'll be in top shape when I'm 19." "Yeah," I say plainly.
We walk into the Academy and there's a bunch of kids surrounding Amor, one of our two Victors that are alive. The Victors visit the training center sometimes to help the kids train and meet the Volunteers. "Oh my gosh!" I hear Iason scream like a little girl and run towards the crowd of kids.
I stand in the background and watch Amor talk to the kids. He's still as stern and sarcastic as ever. One of the girls walks up to me, I think her name is Peryodite. She's clearly pissed off. "I don't see why they chose you over me! This is utterly ridiculous!" I roll my eyes and look her straight in the eyes. "I'm just better than you. Like, it's not my fault."
"Ugh! You're a bitch!" Peryodite storms away while cursing me out. She can go off herself for all that I care, it's not my fault I was chosen. Once I come back I'll make sure she doesn't get chosen next year.
Amor approaches me and smiles. "So, your Berenice right? I saw that you are the chosen girl. Seems like they chose the right girl with your record." I nod and smile nervously. I can't disappoint him. "Show me what you got." He points to the ranged weapons section and I say nothing but go to where he pointed too. My aim is one of my strongest assets. I grab the bow and arrow, quickly shooting it into the moving bullseye. "Mhm, that was great." I can hear him clap and my confidence soars.
Caligula Gilbert, 17
1 day before the Reaping
Last year papa had a party and this year would be no different. My pops is the Mayor of District 2, he says it's tradition for Mayors to throw a huge party. It's not like we've ever been invited to any of the parties before. Sure, we attended the annual District ones but never the ones for the super-rich. A few years ago we weren't too poor but we weren't rich either. Just average.
I walk up to my dad. Last year he wouldn't invite Stevie because his parents were rebels. Stevie isn't anything like his parents though. This year I hope he'd change his mind. "How's my little Victor doing? Are you excited for the party?" My dad ruffles my hair and I take a deep breath. "Can Stevie come? He isn't a rebel like his stupid parents." "What?! No! Do you understand what it would look like if I invited anyone connected to the rebels to my party?"
I roll my eyes and cross my arms. "Of course you would say that. You only care about your image!" My dad grabs me by my ear and pulls it, making me cry out in pain. "Don't you ever disrespect me like that again. We have very important guests coming over and I don't want you embarrassing me!" He lets go of my ear and I run outside.
I love my dad but he can be a real asshole sometimes, if I could I would smuggle Stevie in myself, but I know that wouldn't work since the security at these parties are top notch. I walk up to Hilaria's house. She'll be able to cheer me up, she's one of the best things that's ever happened to me. I knock on the door and wait for a moment. Finally, her mother opens the door and smiles at me. "Oh, Calli come in! Hilaria is upstairs." "Okay."
I walk upstairs and open Hilaria's door, she has her back turned to me and she's putting on a long pink dress. "Atticus! Haven't I told you to knock!" "It's just me babe." She turns around and turns red. "Oh..I thought you were my annoying little brother." "Nah." I sit on her bed and stare at her, the dress fits her curves well. "Can you stop staring at me!" She swats at my head playfully and I grin. "I couldn't help it!"
She finishes putting on the dress. "Calli, shouldn't you be home getting ready? The party is in less than an hour." I shrug. "My dad pissed me off and I don't care about the stupid party. It can bomb for all I care." Hilaria frowns and kisses my cheek. "You don't mean that...I don't want you to get in trouble. Please go." She gives me puppy eyes and I can't say no to that face. "Fine, if you insist I'll go back."
Berenice Green, 17
Reaping Day
Iason and I walk to the 17-year-old section. Some of the little ones are crying, like the 10 and 11-year-olds. I want to tell them that mathematically they won't get picked, but I don't bother. Even if they do, the Volunteers most likely won't back out. I know I won't and I doubt Caligula will either. I wouldn't miss my chance for anything or anyone.
Juventas heels click over the crowds mumbling and she grabs the microphone. We have 2 Victors from District 2 and we'll have 1 more this year, our mayor sits beside them.
"It's so nice to see all of your faces again! Now let's listen to this video brought to you by yours truly, The Capitol!" The video cuts on and talks about both of the major rebellions. I roll my eyes and hear Iason groan. Just because some people in District 2 were altruistic enough to help the Rebels, doesn't mean everyone has to suffer.
I look at the rocks on the ground and day dream about my track team. I'll miss the adrenaline from running in track competitions and my team. Iason pokes my shoulder and whispers. "Pay attention, Berenice." I nod and put my focus on Juventas.
Juventas goes over to the females bowl and picks out a name. "Lava Jona-" "I Volunteer!" I shout and sprint up to the stage to take my place. I get the same adrenaline feel that I get from track and it feels great. "What's your name sweetheart?" She gives the microphone to me. "Berenice Green!"
I scan the crowd as she moves over to the boy's bowl, I look at her heels and wonder how she can stand those things. They have to absolutely destroy your feet. She picks a boys name. "Quartz Minsk!"
"I Volunteer!" Caligula screams and runs upstage. We've talked a few times before, but we never became absolute friends. He's pretty chill though. Juventas asks him for his name and he answers. "Caligula Gilbert." He says calmly, with no nervousness in his voice.
"Alright, give it up for District 2!" The could cheers and claps, some of them whistle. This didn't happen last year but now everything's back to normal. Thank Jehova. I can still hear the claps while we walk into the Justice building.
Caligula Gilbert, 17
Goodbyes
My mom walks in with my dad and my siblings. Fabia and Fabius both jump on me and hug me. Fabius gives me a wet kiss on the cheek and I chuckle. "You're going to whip everyone's butt in the arena!" I play his game, I don't believe I'm going to be completely capable to kill everyone in the arena. You never know the other Tributes stories. "Hell yeah, I am." They pull away from me and walk away.
Sometimes I can't tell if my mom is ever afraid of sad about anything. She's unable to move, I've never seen her cry. I know she loves me unconditionally but my dad is more emotional than her. He's on the verge of tears. "I'm going to miss you very much, I love you okay. Don't become too confident." I can't see myself becoming overconfident but I'll remember what she has said. She kisses my forehead and sighs.
"I love you too." I reach out for a hug and she gives me one, managing to take me out of the seat from her strength. She always says I'm so strong because of her genes.
"Every Tribute needs a token." My father says and he hands me over this green gemstone. I look at it, it doesn't look like anything that would be found here. "Where'd you get this?" "When I was fighting in the war I found it in the ruins of District 1. Now it's yours." Some parts of District 1 got bombed to hell, but as I've been told you can't tell anymore.
The Peacekeepers come in and escort my family out and Hilaria comes in right after. Her face is soaked with tears. I feel a slight wave of regret but quickly crush it. It doesn't matter if she cries, nothing can change the decision that I made. I shouldn't regret it just for her.
She wraps her arms around me and cries into my shirt. "I didn't think it would be so hard to say goodbye to you.." I hug her back and sigh.
"Hilaria, you're only making this more difficult for me." She pulls away from me and I wipe her tears away with my hand. "Promise me one thing, okay?" "What is it?" I raise an eyebrow. It'd better be nothing about not killing anyone or some bullshit like that.
She looks me into the eyes and manages to stop crying. "Don't torture okay? Leave the weaklings alone, it's a punk thing to do. You aren't like the other Careers." God dammit. I just stare at her. She's making my job 10 times more difficult, I'll say I won't just to please her but I can't promise anything. It's the Hunger Games for God's sake. It's kill or be killed. "I won't."
"…Good." A peacekeeper comes in and Hilaria turns around. "I guess it's time for me to go. I love you so much okay?" "Love you too." I hug her and give her one final kiss.
"Come on I don't have all day." The impatient asshole groans. "She's coming man." Hilaria blows me a kiss as she walks out the door. The Peacekeeper keeps the door open for my friends Nero and Drusus to come in, then he leaves.
I'm sort of surprised to see Nero. He seemed pretty angry when he placed 2nd in the Academy. Well, he'll have his chance next year. Luckily for him, 19 year olds can Volunteer. He'll be in his prime. "I'm so happy for you man." Drusus gives me a hug.
"I'm still kinda mad at you," Nero says and crosses his arms. Isn't that just great?
"Hey, you still have next year. Don't be such an ass." I put my hand on his shoulder and smile. "Yeah don't be an ass." Nero rolls his eyes and frowns. "Drusus shut the hell up." "Come on guys, I won't be back in awhile and this is what you do?" Drusus and Nero never seemed to get along. I don't even know why.
"You're going to get the most kills ever dude," Drusus says. That's unlikely, I'm not that ruthless. It was a guy from 2 that got the most kills. I believe he killed like 10 or 9 Tributes. I wasn't even alive at that point.
We talk about some random things and then they are taken away. I take a deep breath. I'm going to miss District 2, but I can't wait to go at the same time.
Author's Notes
Okay, I've been lazy honestly. But I will finish this, even if it takes a while. I'll try to make myself write a few hundred words every day if I can.
