Theadora Edison, District Three Female, 17 years old
The Quell's brought my family closer; if that's possible. We've always been close but the quell, narrowing the reaping pool that usually makes me chances of being reaped next to nothing, has changed that. Since the announcement a week ago we've done nearly everything together. I'm the only one that can be reaped; all my siblings are older and are safe.
Sadly, there's not many victors with kids in the age categories in District Three. From what my father said apparently there's only three boys eligible for reaping. There's a few more for the girls - there's five of us and three of them are sisters.
Usually on a reaping morning my parents and myself would be in the lab at our home creating something; it's how we bond. As I said, there's never really been the worry of me being reaped because, compared to some kids, the amount of times my name is in the bowl is barely a shadow of their's. But no, today we sit in the living room with some toast on our laps watching my father's Games.
My father won the 64th Hunger Games and I'm quite proud of it, if I'm honest. He won without killing a single person and managed to ally with the Careers. Many people say I'm like him - a golden child of District Three. I'll remember that if I'm reaped - maybe the legacy of him being charming'll help me. The tape cuts at the point where my father is announced the victor, the smile on his face is unmissable. One can only imagine the relief victors feel, especially when they're a non-Career.
My father turns to me, smiling softly, "If you're reaped, Thea, what'll be your plan?"
I remain silent for a few seconds, trying to generate a quick plan, "Like you - pacifism."
The answer makes him and my mother beam, clearly proud of my answer. That makes me smile; all I ever want to do is make them proud.
"You'll be fine, don't worry," My mother says, leaning over and rubbing soothing circles in my upper arm.
My nails are digging into my palms, a tick I have when I get nervous. I won't deny it - I'm terrified. For me, the reaping pool has gone from hundreds to just five and, like me, the other girls won't have taken any tesserae so there's a one in five chance that my name'll be drawn.
My father nods, running a hand through my hair, "You'll be fine."
He turns to my mother and smiles, "Maybe we should go out for lunch?"
My mother nods and I smile, grateful at their attempt to calm me down.
"Now," My mother says, nodding upstairs, "Go and get changed."
Dell Vodafone, District Three Male, 14 years old
This reaping day isn't like any other for me, even if it is the quell - a quell where I have a one in three chance of being reaped. Like always, I stay in my room amongst the junk I find around the district and attempt to make any and all contraptions.
I've made loads of things, from working gadgets to replicas of the traps my father used in his Hunger Games. I've actually timed myself against him when making them and I can construct quicker than he did and that gives me slight hope that I'll be able to hold my own in the arena, just a little bit.
The thing I'm working on at the moment is trying to turn a toaster into a fully working mini oven. It sounds easier than it is but I like a challenge; it gives me more motivation to become more determined.
"Dell! Come down for breakfast!"
My father's voice pulls me from my work and I'm ready to snap at him for distracting me but I remember how hard it must be for him; two of the three eligible male tributes are his sons so I think he's come to the realisation it'll be either myself or my brother, Boeing.
I trudge down the stairs, still not overly happy that I'm being brought away from my work but I digress.
"Hey," My father smiles at me as I take my place at the dining table, "How're you feeling?"
I shrug, attempting to flash the same smile back, "Good, I guess."
His smile turns a little more sympathetic as he puts a plate of food in front of me, patting my shoulder a few times before squeezing it and going off to do something.
My brother and I remain silent as we eat, neither one of us finding the words to start or carry on a conversation. Again, it's understandable. We both know that one of us is going to go into the arena and the silence is just fine with me; I'm more introverted than extroverted so the less time spent speaking is better for me.
We continue to eat in silence until our aunt comes and calls us into the living room. I don't need to be in the room to guess it's probably a rerun of our father's victory.
And, sure enough, it is.
We see how our father lost his ally, an ally from Six, when it came to the final ten and, from there, constructed a bunch of traps and screamed to draw the other tributes close to him. A few of them died from his traps and in the end it was only him and the girl from Two. From what he says, many expected him to die there and then but she got trapped and he was able to slit her neck with his knife. Judging from the interviews, he's a bit like me which makes it slightly harrowing but, if you were in the same situation, I'm sure anyone would do anything to survive.
The ending shot is of him dropping the knife as he's announced the winner.
Boeing and myself both turn to our father who begins to give us a plan if we're reaped which, I think by now, he knows is inevitable.
Adabella de Monte, District Three Escort
The first thought that comes to me as I stand over the stage and announce the quell is the lack of reapees; three boys and five girls. The rest of the district's population goes far back into the streets, filling the over-crowded square with even more ease now that most of the teenagers aren't up for reaping. Behind me on stage stand the current living victors with kids - there's only five of them.
It's to be expected, really. In the Games District Three either does really well but always falls short or have tributes fall in the Bloodbath. It's a shame, really. Some of them look like fighters.
"As always," I say, skipping most of the formalities because part of the Quell is to do the reapings to how the Districts would see them and Three just likes to cut to the chase, "Ladies first."
I walk over to the bowl and see five names, picking the one that's slightly off centre than the rest. I glance at the girls when doing so and I can see that three of them look nearly identical, as if they're sisters. That'd explain the lack of victors behind me.
I walk back to the microphone and open the piece of paper.
"Our female tribute, daughter of Dax Edison, Victor of the 64th Hunger Games," I announce, "is Theodora Edison!"
The girl who looks rather healthy, rather beautiful, with bright orange hair begins to walk to the stage. She seems to be a crowd favourite in the District because the people in the audience gasp and shake their heads, murmurs happening nearly instantly. She walks with elegance, a poise that's unseen from a District Three tribute before. She even smiles a little bit; an evil smile almost, one that might be intended for people to not consider her weak. Her nails are digging into her palms though and I only notice it as I analyse her up and down.
When she takes her place beside me her father, Dax, steps forward and places his hand on her shoulder and squeezes it, the two sharing a quick glance.
I nod at the district who shake their heads, some even crying, and make my way to the bowl full of the male names. There's only three that are laid out in a neat row. I take the one in the middle.
"Our male tribute," I say when I return to the centre of the stage, "Son of Pensar Vodafone, Victor of the 83rd Hunger Games, is Dell Vodafone!"
There's a gasp from the boy with the wispier black hair out of the three and everyone looks at him. Slowly, he makes his way to the stage and when he's by my side he begins to hyperventilate. Pensar walks forward and hugs him, whispering things to calm him down as he does the same action as Dax; putting a hand on his child's shoulder.
"Tributes, you make shake hands!" I announce and the two turn to look at each other before the shake hands cautiously.
"Happy Hunger Games! And may the odds be ever in your favour!"
District Three is done!
Sorry about the lateness of this update; I've had three of my exams and this is the only time I can update without too much of an interruption!
As always, sorry for the mistakes; I'll get back to them later!
I like this pair; thank you 66samvr and Irew2376 for them!
As always, reviews make me happy~!
-Oli