Always' A/N: Hi, everyone, it's AlwaysHasAPlan again. So, are you ready to see the last tributes of the traditional Career alliance? If you're not, you better get ready, 'cause here they are! We bring to you…
The reapings of District 4!
Alison Rain, 16 ~ District 4 Female
EmmaRizcool
I tighten my ponytail, pulling at the blonde curly locks. I stare at the dummy in front of me.
"I guess I will name you. . .Zachary," I laugh vengefully. I hold my spear in hand and aim. "This is what you get for volunteering." I hit the dummy in the stomach, so I can continue my torture. "This is what you get for making promises you can't keep." I pull the spear out, and trace the sharp tip around the heart area, leaving a scratch mark. With more anger in my voice, I scream, "And this is what you get for selling yourself to those Capitol girls!" I pierce the dummy in the heart.
I think I'm done training for the day.
I wipe a small tear forming in my eye. I can't think about him on a day like this; today is the reaping. Zachary has a great life, and I don't need him. He definitely doesn't need me! Ever since he won, it seems like he doesn't know I exist. But today, I will show him that I exist! I will be better than he ever was.
I pull off my training outfit, and put on a little sea-green dress – one that matches my eyes. He always said that I had perfect eyes, the perfect smile, and the perfect thirst for blood. He said that one day, we would be victors together and live in the lap of luxury. Maybe even start a family. Of course, the universe had a different plan. He got so wrapped up in the live of a victor: the women, the money, the spotlight. He left me in the dust.
I walk out the door of the training centre. The typical District 4 sunlight and heat engulf me as I look at everyone gathered in the square. The Justice Building is decorated with beautiful colors, and the male escort stands on the stage. I catch a small glimpse of my little brother Pane getting his finger poked for blood. The ocean that lays in the distance has a soothing effect.
"Why are you so late?" a familiar voice snaps at me.
"I was training, Mother," I snap back. "Don't get your old-lady panties in a twist." I know she is trying to help me, she has helped me my whole life, but I really don't need the extra stress.
"You know, you don't need to volunteer this year; you could wait until you are older and stronger," my mom replies.
"No, Mom, there is no time. Time gives him a chance to completely forget," I say, with an unnecessary, quiet rage.
I walk away before she can say anything more. I push through a line of children. One stands his ground, not letting me pass.
"Move." He does nothing. "So, you want to test me, child. I am in no mood for this game," I say agitatedly. The kid, half-shocked, half-frightened, moves out of my way. "Good choice."
The lady at the check-in motions for my finger. I hand it to her. The little device beeps – "Rain, Alison." I walk over to where the other sixteen-year-olds are.
This is my year. I will accomplish all I have trained for. I let all emotion wash away like waves that slide after washing onto the sand.
Anything I do from this day has an impact on my life, my survival, and all of Panem is now watching. Soon, I will step out of District 4 and into a world I cannot even imagine. No way am I going to lose. I will squeeze the life out of those pathetic children. I will never lose – to anyone.
The stage lays in front of the Justice Building, like a doorway – a doorway to what I have dreamed about my whole life.
They start to play that video. I mean, why do they have to? We already know why there are the Hunger Games. I look at the faces of the children in the video. They look as if they had lost all hope. I almost feel kind of bad for them; they did not know what was coming.
"Welcome. It is time to pick one lucky man and one lucky woman to represent District Four in the Thirty-seventh annual Hunger Games," the male escort says in that amazing Capitol accent. He is a new escort, one that I have never seen before. "Ladies first," he says, sticking his white-as-paper hand into the reaping bowl. He pulls out a small piece of paper. "Susie-"
I cut him off before he can get in a last name. "I volunteer," I say, loud enough for all to hear and not make the mistake of trying to go against me. I run up on the stage. "My name is Alison Rain, and I will gladly volunteer to be tribute." My heart feels like it is beating a mile a minute.
A girl I recognize stands up. "She is sixteen; she has two more years to volunteer. I am eighteen; this is my last chance," she pleads with the escort.
What is she trying to do? I swear, if this were not on live television, I would snap her neck. I feel my eyes fill up with that bloodthirsty look, the one that I normally get when training. I glare at her. A shocked expression comes across her face, and she steps into the crowd.
I pull on a sleek, lacy blue dress. I have got to please him; he's going to keep me alive. I would shred him to pieces, but that would be no fun. He won't know what hit him. This ought to be a real...interesting train ride.
I walk into the dining room. I look at those baby-blue eyes that I have fallen for many times; they seem scared and helpless now. Zachary is actually here in front of me. I glide over and place my lips on his forehead. I sit next to him.
"Long time, no see," I say in my soft, sexy tone.
I watch as the fear in his eyes drifts away. Then he places his hand on my leg, and slowly glides it higher. "You know I have never stopped thinking about you."
"I bet," I say, matching the mood of the moment. I push his hand off. "But you don't get me back that easy."
I look at Nolan and his mentor. Oh, Nolan, something about you draws me in.
I get up and walk to my cabin.
Nolan Nixe, 18 ~ District 4 Male
John 'Doc' Holliday
The docks just after Dawn are a beautiful sight to behold. Late-night fishermen coming home weary after hard labor, and the rest of the fishermen preparing to slave another day under the thumb of the Capitol. Today that won't be me; I have a different appointment to keep - one with the devil.
Today is the 4th District reaping. After all these years I, Nolan Nixe, am ready. Even if don't get chosen I will volunteer - that'll show the Capitol. I head out early because I want to be the first one there. "Ahhh." The booth, I approach quickly, the blood-drawing only stings.
"Finger." Curt as always.
"Nolan Nixe, male, eighteen." The machine spurts out my information as I start toward my row and section.
Since I have an hour or so, I allow my mind the privilege of wandering, to the hours of training with fishing tools and weapons. Studying predatory animals, what magnificent creatures; my personal favorite are the mini-dragons. They hunt in Thunders. They breathe ice for the most part - some have fire, and a few breathe gas. Their maximum wingspan is five feet, and from nose to tail they can get up to six feet, but that is extremely rare.
I think about my only friend: my master, the man who taught me everything I know. He taught me Muy Thai knife fighting - to hold the knife with the blade facing downward, fists angled sideways, and keep your hands moving. Then you have a major advantage against other knife fighters. He taught me how to use a spring gun and crossbow - line up the sights, deep breath, let it out, and squeeze, squeeze, squeeze, let the recoil surprise you. I almost never miss. Some Peacekeeper got a prank pulled on him by a little kid two years ago. So the pig tried to beat the eight-year-old up, and my master stepped in and pushed the pig away. He screamed, and he was brutally murdered by fifteen of those 'Peacekeepers'. I let the anger fill me, and I focus it. Master taught me that channeled anger is more powerful than adrenaline, but rage is crippling. Don't let the fear or anger control you; you are the controller, use it to your advantage. He also once told me any man who said that he isn't afraid is a liar or a fool, don't stray near them. They will get you killed.
I force my mind back to reality as I brush back my loose dirty blonde hair, the first of the younger kids and some older ones start to show. I remain sitting, because I can. One of the twelve-year-olds is holding onto her mother and sobbing…
"Mother"'s a privilege I never was afforded; mine died at age seven, and my father (the bastard) left us when I was five. Since then, Brother and I have been staying with old neighbors so as to stay out of the community home.
My brother, he would have turned seventeen today, but he died seven years ago. I've kept our fishing business alive. Oh, look, it's time to stand; I put on my cocky, taunting lop-sided smile, and nod comfortingly at the younger boys. It is not their time, because I'm going. It's just like you said, Brother.
They make us listen to their boring speech, the stupid video, and then they decide to call names. "Welcome. It is time to pick one lucky man and woman to represent District Four in the Thirty-seventh annual Hunger Games," the male escort says in that amazing Capitol accent. This guy is new; well, does he have a lot to learn. Experience may be a hard teacher, but I tend to be tougher.
"Let us pick the ladies first." He draws that white paper that to others must looks like hell, but to me it looks like a slice of heaven. "Susie-" He begins, but a sixteen-year-old girl cuts him off, loud and rehearsed. Seems I'm not the only one with a grudge. My grin slowly spreads - competition.
As she takes the stage, she shouts out, "My name is Alison Rain, and I will gladly volunteer to be tribute." Another girl tries to trade places with her, but that sixteen-year-old slams her back into place. I got to give it to this Rain girl, she's feisty, she might live. . .a week or so.
Now for the men, not the boys. No matter whatever that escort says, the tribute is decided for this year. "Now for the gentlemen." His hand reaches into the bowl gingerly, like vipers are crawling inside. Fool!
"Nolan Nixe." Before those Peacekeepers can reach me, I am striding forward toward the stage, my signature lopsided try-me grin plastered on my face. A lock of hair falls over my right eye, another behind my ear. I don't really care - makes me look all the more different.
I already judged the girl, but I lock eyes and give her another once-over just to let her know I am serious. I let my eyes reflect all the loathing and hate in my soul. To Rain's credit she did not flinch. I think I am starting to like her.
"Ladies and gentlemen, I present to you your tributes, Nolan Nixe and Alison Rain." We are now off on our glorious adventure. It's time to burn down the status quo. I actually smile for the first time in a long time, and the last in a long time to come.
It's been two hours since the reaping, and we are about to meet our mentors: Sothe Masters of the Twenty-first Games, and Zachary Shellhammer of the Thirty-fifth. He has a history with my fellow tribute, Rain. Making this ride so much more interesting! She's going to tear him apart, I know it.
I leave my room, to the main dining car. I see the escort. What did he say his name was? Now I remember: Raymon Delvas. He is a fool.
"Oh, hello . . . Nolan." Smiling. Damn it, he's smiling.
"Leave me alone, Escort." I would prefer to say 'Pig', but that is uncalled for. "Mr. Sothe, it is an honor to meet you. Zachary." I love being blunt, but I must be courteous.
"Well, it is an honor to finally meet another working man among the victors. Mr. . . ?" Sothe hasn't been poisoned by this monarchy.
"Nolan. Nolan Nixe, sir." Courtesy should be met with such. "Ahhh, and who is the female tribute? Will she be joining us shortly?" A cocked eyebrow - why does he care so much? Oh yes, he's the playboy. Wait, am I jealous? This isn't good. I need to focus, now.
I turn and face Zachary. "The other tribute is Alison Rain. You know her, don't you?" His face drains of color, and my grin widens. I love a good chase.
"S-she is here?" His voice sounds like a little boy's. A fearful little boy hearing that his father is mad at him. Fool!
"She told me all about you, how you two were once in love? Now I do believe she is going to shred you." I let my taunt hang in the air like a threat.
The victor visibly gulps, but no words appear. I am getting to him, right to his core.
But then something happens that causes even me to lose my composure. Into the room walks Alison Rain, wearing a beautiful dress that more than flatters her figure. Now it is my turn to be caught off-guard. Is she going to shred him in a dress? Really?
She approaches him in a slow, gliding fashion. She bends down and kisses him on the forehead. Ah, I see what she's doing. She's biding her time and making him see what he's missing. That must hurt more than the scars.
"So do you have any advice for a coarse fisherman, Master Sothe?"
"No, Nolan, you've got the charms and the weapons down-pat. Your hand-to-hand combat seems to be fine. At least according to the paper submitted. But your knowledge of land-based creatures and plants usable for food is limited, brush up on that."
"W-what do you mean I've got the charm down-pat?" I'm incredulous - is he lying to me? I look and see Zachary and Alison at another table, and feel a wave of. . .I can't be jealous of a girl now! If only I met her earlier! Oh, do I really think I could have caught her then, or even held her down? My life seems to bring doom to anyone who draws close to me.
"I-I'm not feeling well, I think I think I shall lie down for the remainder of my journey." And with that, I retreat to my cabin.
I think of what my brother said to me the morning before he died. "You will go to the Hunger Games, you will do your best, and you will show those Capitol big-wigs that there are still warriors of honor in the districts." Am I doing this right? I feel like everything is trying to pull me off to the side of the road. I reach and open Mom's locket for the first time since Little Brother died. Inside is a note: "You're doing fine." I know he's watching over me. I have a guardian angel. Now the only question that nags me as I doze is - if I love her.
I wake with a start as the train stops. As I look out the window, I see the wild extravagance of the Capitol. My time has come; it is time to show them, time to show them all. A man of water can burn brighter than any flame.