As you can see, I am updating much quicker than I used to. I am even proud of myself at this point.
Robin Sherrell
Il ne faut pas juger les gens sur la mine.
Beep! Beep! Beep!
I jolt upwards and instinctively cover my hands over my ears, not allowing myself to listen to the galling sound of the alarm clock.
I raise my fist and bring it down forcefully on the alarm clocks. The beeping stops, but it still rings in my ears. I moan monotonously and flail my arms back and forth on the bed. I hear a knock on the door and wrap a pillow around my head attempting to conceal my noises and to make it sound like I am not in here.
"Robin! It's time to wake up!"
Perceiving the voice as my mothers, I throw a pillow at the door, making her to jump backwards and shut the door.
She knocks on the door, "You don't want to be late on Reaping Day."
"Go away, mother," I mutter, "I'm sleeping."
"I'm not dumb, Robin."
Only if you were dumb, mother, and then we could be friends.
"You're speaking to me, aren't you? Now wake up and go get ready."
This time, she pounds her fist on the door several times. The constant knocks and screeches from my mother are becoming vexatious, and I get up, barely managing to walk a few steps. I sway back and forth and finally make it to the door. I lock the door and sit back down on my head.
"I'll be there shortly."
I grab the remote from my end table and turn the television on, even though the only thing the Capitol allows to be aired on the television is speeches from the President, previous Hunger Games, and news about your District.
They usually show a lot of Capitol propaganda, though.
The District Three emblem shows up and is stationary, but there is no noise or actual film to come after it. I stare at it for a few more minutes, waiting for something to happen.
"District Three: The Technology District."
I immediately grab the remote and turn the television off before the robotic voice can finish their sentence.
District Three: The Technology District.
It is also dubbed as the most intelligent District.
Panem is one of the most advanced nations in mankind's history, mostly due to the fact that District Three exists. District Three's computers, televisions, and other devices keep Panem all connected. District Three's electronic gadgets also keep Panem entertained.
The Capitol reveres District Three because of what its inhabitants are capable of.
Every day is the same for most of its inhabitants; go to work early in the morning, work for several hours under harsh conditions, come home only to sleep for a few hours, and then repeat this schedule over and over again.
A few occupations this place has to offer are: technical support, assembly operator, engineer, tester, technicians.
Yet, they all revolve around the same thing – intelligence.
A paragon of such a notion is District Three's first, and only, victor of the Ninth Hunger Games, Nora.
Nora was eighteen when she was reaped to go into the Games. She is a clever girl; a little too clever for her own good. Her condescending intelligence got her into a few arguments, but evidently, she was too good for her adversaries.
The arena of the Fifth Hunger Games was set in a mountainous area. There were twenty-four separate mountains, each with a tribute on the peak of it. Luckily, the tributes were donned in a wing suit. No tributes were aware of how to use a wing suit, but Nora figured it out quickly. Many tributes died from crashing into a mountain, the ground, or even each other. Nora, on the contrary, survived and made it to the Cornucopia.
Unfortunately, Nora's District partner collided with another tribute and ultimately did not survive. Fortunately for Nora, though, only ten tributes were alive after the flight towards the ground. Or anywhere, for that matter, depending on where the tributes wanted to land.
Nora was an arrogant female, always thinking she was much smarter and superior than everyone else. Nora could at least fulfill her words, unlike those arrogant Careers. She set up a trap, lured the Careers in, and then forced them to remain motionless in her net-type trap. She made sure to make it a spectacle. She would taunt the Careers; asking what their names are, how old they are, what their life back home was, and why they wanted to win. After they answered her, she simply scoffed at them and killed them.
Nora made District Three believe they had a chance. She made District Three believe that they could actually produce victors. She gave them hope, reason, and initiative.
Ironically, ever since Nora had claimed victory, District Three has only managed to produce one more victor.
That other District Three victor was Jericho, the victor of the Sixteenth Hunger Games.
The tributes from District Three tend to be extremely clever, are capable of creating and using electronics adroitly, and are overall very intelligent, but none of them have had these qualities to the same degree that Nora has.
The District Three tributes have been Bloodbaths; which are the tributes to die only a few minutes after the gong has sounded.
Take last year's Games for example. The arena seemingly endless badlands, which most would think is not in favor of District Three, but surprisingly, only one of the tributes from District Three perished in the Bloodbath. The female was frail and petite, and she was rather suitable for the Bloodbath, and her death essentially marked the start of the Games. A Career – the tributes who volunteer from Districts One, Two, and Four – killed her quickly and then that was that for the girl. But the male was different; he showed potential. He escaped the Bloodbath, but he only made until Day Four without getting detected. He was resting at a small oasis when the Careers came by. He instinctively rolled his body into the oasis, but that wouldn't even help him. The Careers surrounded him, and then took turns swinging at him with their swords, shooting their arrows at him, and beating him with their own bare hands.
It's ludicrous; the most intelligent District can't even outsmart other Districts.
In District Three, it's all the same. Everyone is the same.
And I relentlessly dissent with the similarities between each and every person.
I act differently purposely, only to prove my point that everyone is different.
Once in a while, when I come across a fatuous person, I will speak eloquently and with seem intelligent. But, when I find people that deem themselves intelligent and superior, I will purposely act asinine and inferior.
Others, such as my parents, Astor and Lara, don't agree with my act. They think everyone is similar for a reason, and that District Three is supposed to be intelligent. Perhaps they are correct, but it just doesn't make sense.
How is everyone content with being so similar? Is being unique taboo?
The Capitol is allowed to be unique, though. They convey individuality with their fashion sense, artwork, literature, and even through their symbolic creation – the Hunger Games.
I am not too fond of how they convey the Hunger Games, but the Capitol itself seems like a ravishing place. I'd much rather live in a place like the Capitol, with its extensive range of technology and inundating beauty.
But I know that's not plausible, unless I win the Hunger Games.
To supplement my differentiation even more, I'll say I adore the Hunger Games if anyone animadverts against it, but if someone says they adore the Hunger Games, I'll animadvert against it.
My mentality is an interesting cycle.
From an early age, I grew up in a wealthy family, never having to be forced to apply for tesserae or face poverty. Both of my parents were top scientists in a research facility, which put a burden over me to become such an esteemed occupation as I grew up.
Then, I began to realize how similar everyone was; some faced poverty, some were middle-class, and some were wealthy. Some were asinine, some were average, and some were intelligent.
You would never be remembered in this District; except if you're a victor.
Ever since the age of nine, I begin to develop and adapt to this personality. I chose to always be different in any situation and under any circumstances. It was difficult at first since I was bullied by the other children for being too different, but now most people can either handle me or just choose to ignore me completely.
Before I developed this new personality, I had one friend. We called each other 'best friends', but what happened shows how much that title meant and how much we meant to each other. Her name is Rosa, who is eighteen just like me, and she is an incredibly kind and young girl. She abandoned me when I began bullying other people. I even bullied her at times, but not as much and as severe compared to others. She meant something, but she doesn't anymore.
Rosa is just like everyone else; she's smart and gawky. The only thing that makes her different is her family. Eight years ago, during the Twelfth Hunger Games, her brother was reaped. Her brother was twelve at the time, and he showed no potential to become a victor. He was small, frail, and not too intelligent. His lack of intelligence came as a surprise to District Three, especially since he is from the Technology District.
Rosa's brother died in the Bloodbath, which wasn't a surprise, but it meant something to District Three. All of District Three went quiet when he died, and they all mourned his death afterwards. Seeing a tribute from your District, especially when they're young and weak, comes as a shock. When the boy's body came back to the District, it was cremated, and placed in Rosa's family's house.
There are a few people who can actually tolerate me, despite my personality, but for the most part, not too many people can tolerate me.
I can't tolerate their similarities, and they can't tolerate my differences.
No one understands why I act this way, and at times I don't either, but their interpretations of my actions and words don't matter to me. Even my parents don't comprehend why I do these things. My parents are always trying to persuade me to be normal, to get friends, to be happy, but they just don't understand. They are just like the rest of this District.
As long as I am happy, I am content.
I have never been my real self and have never acted genuinely; my real intelligence, kind mentality, and average looks are never shown. I must always do something to prove myself to be something that I am not.
I don't care if people regard me as an outcast. If there was someone who actually met my standards and was as different as myself, I would then talk to them. But, until that day, I will remain as an outcast. Compared to them, I am an outcast who is different.
The idea of being just like everyone else is ludicrous.
I will cause havoc, insult and belittle whoever I choose, and will act as foolish as I want just to prove that I am different.
Different is all I aspire to be. Different is all I want. Different is all I need.
Different. Why is it so difficult to acquire such a title?
Kaelyn Taitrin
Tout est bien qui finit bien.
"No, you're doing it all wrong."
I snatch the electrical circuit out of the man's hand and place it gently down on the table. No wonder he's coming to my parents' electronic repair shop; he probably has no idea on how to work this either.
"What? I thought-"
"Well, you thought wrong. It goes blue-to-red, not red-to-blue."
"Where does the green go, then?"
"I'm getting to it."
I roll my eyes and grit my teeth. When he looks at me, I look up and smile, and keep my mouth shut. He chuckles and nods, probably thinking of something to say that would start a conversation.
I absolutely detest mistakes, and this man has definitely made several mistakes. I may be a tad persnickety, but if you want something done, then do it right.
I flip my hair over my shoulder, "And then the green goes to the white."
"Is that it?"
I wink, "You tell me."
I press the on switch and the small light-bulb on it immediately turns on. The man gasps in awe, and I cross my shoulders and smile triumphantly.
"Thank you," he says.
"Take my advice; don't try to do it yourself next time. You'll only mess it up again."
The man walks out of the store, a little too quickly if you ask me, without replying. He knows I am right, and he knows he shouldn't have touched it in the first place. People just never learn.
I turn around and begin working on another gadget, but then I hear the door open and close. I don't turn around and continue working on gadget. The gadget lights up, indicating I have fixed it, and I smile triumphantly once again.
"I should be doing something better than working here," I mumble.
"Kaelyn!"
My brother, Kieran, pushes me over with his hip and begins to disassemble the gadget I just repaired.
"I bet I can repair it less time than you can," he banters.
"You're on," I say, grabbing another gadget from the shelf.
We both get into position to start fixing and playing with the gadget, but my younger sister's giggle, Kristen, shatters the silence and distracts us.
"I want to do what you're doing, Kaelyn," she says, giggling.
"When you're older, Kristen. You might hurt yourself."
My sister, Kristen, looks up to me in a way. Which I don't disagree with; I think she should be like me – intelligent and clever – but she's way too young to be playing with these electronics.
My father, Drew, picks Kristen up in his arms and begins to spin in circles. She giggle becomes much louder and you can tell her stomach is hurting so much from laughing. My mother comes in and takes Kristen out of his arms and places her down on the floor.
"Sorry, Kaitlyn, didn't know that fun wasn't allowed here."
My mother glares at him, and he immediately puts an emotionless expression on his face, but you can tell he's holding back his laughter. She just rolls her eyes and walks over towards me and Kieran.
"It's Reaping day today."
Kieran and I nod in unison, look at each other, and then look back at our mother.
"I'm sure they know that already, Kaitlyn."
"It can be different this year, Drew."
"I'm sure Kaelyn or myself won't be reaped, mom," Kieran says.
"You know that I will always hope the best for the both of you, but…"
My mother trails off, and then walks over towards my dad and rests her head on his shoulder. Kristen isn't old enough to be eligible for the Games, but she knows that she will be one day. She clutches onto mom's hand and rests her head on her arm.
I would do anything for my family, and if I was reaped, I would most certainly try my hardest in the Games. I wouldn't be able to face the fact that I wouldn't return home, and that I would end up dead.
"But?"
She ignores my brother's comment, "None of you have to work today. So, go off and see your friends."
Kieran and I both walk out of the store, and only make it a few feet until our father hurries after us.
"Kaelyn, wait."
"Yes?"
"I was rummaging through the garbage can at the mayor's house, and I found a new gadget. Later, want to try it out?"
I smile, "Sure, dad. Later."
My brother nudges me in the stomach and we both walk together towards the place where most kids in District Three meet. It's a little alleyway where not too many people go into. Sometimes, illegal trading between citizens and Peacekeepers happen there, but for the most part, it's just a bunch of kids talking and hanging out.
"Are you scared for today?" Kieran asks, biting his lip.
I shrug, "Honestly, yes. I'm afraid to die, but I don't want to think about that."
Kieran nods and begins to twiddle his thumbs. I poke him in the cheek and he grins, and then pokes me in the cheek back.
The Peacekeeper building is ahead of us, and on the front of the building there is a large Capitol emblem incrusted on it. There is a smaller District Three symbol incrusted next to it, but definitely not equal in size to each other. It shows who is superior and inferior.
I think the fashion and make-up in the Capitol is to die for, but if I look at them as people and as a government, they are disgusting. The way they treat people, what they stand for, and what they do is horrible. They are the ones who created the Hunger Games, which is something I most certainly do not like. I hate the Hunger Games as a literal thing, but I also hate what they stand for. I wish they never existed, but there's nothing I can about them. So my deep-seeded hatred for the Capitol and the Hunger Games will keep me content.
On the other hand, I do like District Three. I like it a lot, actually. I am very proud of what they have become and what they are capable of. Although, I wish it was a little cleaner and a little nicer to live in, but I won't complain. I love the industry, which is technology and whatnot, and it makes me happy knowing that the industry fits my qualities. The technology has made become intelligent, and I can only get smarter from living in this District. Also, I wish that the District Three was a little wealthier, just so I could afford beauty products and stuff of that nature, but that doesn't matter to me that much.
"Finally, Kaelyn!"
I recognize the voice immediately. It's my friend, Virginia. She runs over to me and hugs me tightly. I wrap my arms around her as well and we hug for a few seconds without talking.
Virginia grabs my hand and begins to jog towards the alleyway, leaving Kieran by himself. He waves at me, and I wave back. He begins to walk the opposite way, probably going back to our parents' repair shop.
Virginia and I met when we were both five, and our friendship has grown ever since. We have become really close, and to be honest, we know everything about each other.
She leads me into the alleyway, and we both sit down next to the fire in the center of it. A few of us sit around the fire, rubbing our hands together above the fire occasionally.
Suddenly, someone's hands are over my eyes and I instinctively throw my body backwards. I fall on top of the person, and that's when I recognize who it is – Joseph.
I can always tell it's him just from his figure; especially his muscles and body shape. Joseph has always been a friend of mine, but the thing is, we both have feelings for each other. We know that a relationship or love isn't good if you're under the age of eighteen, only because if one of you are reaped, the relationship or love is over. We have never confessed our feelings to each other either, but both of us just know that there is something between us.
Everyone around us begins to laugh uncontrollably, and I flip my body over. Joseph and I lay on top of each other, staring into each other's eyes. We lay there for a few seconds, until we realize that there are other people around us. I roll off of his body and Virginia holds out her hand and helps me up.
"So," one of the older kids speaks up, "Today's Reaping day."
"No, really?" Joseph retorts.
The older kid rolls his eyes and rolls his shoulders. All of the kids here are silent, waiting for the speech that the older kid usually gives us before the actual Reaping. It's usually just a speech about if one of them were to be reaped; we'd remember them and have a memorial for them after their death.
"Quick, quiz!" Another kid adds, speaking in a very gleefully tone. "Who won the Eight Hunger Games?"
"District Two?"
"District Eleven?"
"Nora?"
"You're all wrong," I interrupt, speaking in a condescending tone, "It was Woof, from District Eight."
The kid who asked the question comes over to me and holds out his hand, and I smile triumphantly and smack his hand with mine. District Three might be the technology District, but some kids just haven't picked up on the whole intelligence thing just yet. I, on the other hand, am definitely one of the smarter kids in the District. For example, the kids who were answering before me didn't even know the victor of the Fifth Hunger Games. There has only been twenty Hunger Games so far, and it isn't hard to memorize the victors' names.
Virginia and Joseph are in the corner of the alleyway, and I begin to walk towards them, but as I pass a few kids on my way there, they begin to whisper and stare directly at me. I must admit, not everyone likes me in the District, but it's only because I am in fact smarter than them. I seriously don't know how that is a reason to hate someone. Some people say I can come off as rude or arrogant, but if you have the intelligence to back it up, then you have all right to be.
"Want to go home now, Kaelyn?" Joseph whispers into my ear.
"Sure," I coo.
"Good bye, Virginia!" Joseph waves his hand.
Before Virginia can reply to us, we walk out of the alleyway and begin walking towards my house. We walk in silence, not knowing what to say because the Reaping will begin shortly. A few Peacekeepers walk passed us and almost bump into Joseph, not even paying attention to our presence.
"Well, I have to go home now, Kaelyn. I have to go, you know, talk to my parents."
Joseph walks away, leaving me alone. I stand there silently, not sure if I want to go home or just sit down and cry.
What if one of us gets reaped?
Robin Sherrell
"…This is how we remember our past. This is how we safeguard our future."
As the video clip from the Capitol comes to an end, a clap erupts from the stage. Of course, it's the escort. This year, she seems much more Capitol-like and much more foolish than previous ones. She claps for a few more seconds, expecting for someone to clap with her, but no one else does. She stops clapping and fixes her skirt.
"Settle down, everyone. Now is the time to pick the lucky female tribute!"
She saunters over to the bowl on one side of the stage and hovers over it. She stares into the bowl, probably examining each card to see if they are all evenly cut or not. She blinks a few times and rubs her finger around the brim of the bowl. Finally, she puts her hand into the bowl and shakes her hand rapidly in in the bowl. One piece of paper flies out of the bowl and lands on the stage.
The whole crowd begins to laugh uncontrollably, and the escort blushes and bends down to pick it up. I remain quiet, staring at the audience.
Why laugh? One of the people's names who are laughing will be on that piece of paper.
She opens the piece of paper and fixes her skirt again. Her eyes widen and she giggles to herself. Either she knows the person on the piece of paper is or she just finds the Reaping humorous in general.
"This is such a beautiful name! It's a shame you'll be dead in a few weeks."
The crowd looks around, not knowing how to react to the escort's words. It goes silent again and the escort is quiet as well. The mayor coughs and the escort gets startled, snapping her head around and dropping the piece of paper again. She picks it up once more and opens her mouth to speak.
"Kaelyn Taitrin."
Kaelyn Taitrin
No. This can't be happening.
As I realize that everyone can see me in the District and even in the Capitol, I gulp and begin to sweat. I can't show any weakness, though, I have to keep strong.
I have to keep strong for my family. For my friends. For me.
I begin walking very slowly towards the stage, and a Peacekeeper puts his hand on my shoulder and pushes me forward a little, making me walk faster.
"Come on now, Kaelyn, this is an honor!"
The escort puts her hand out and I push her hand out of the way and I walk up the stairs on my own. Once I get on the actual stage, I stand near the stairs where I am nowhere near the escort. The escort looks at me, narrows her eyes and waves her hand, gesturing for me to come and stand next to her, but I don't move.
The escort walks over towards the other bowl and unlike the other time when she chose my name chooses a piece of paper quickly. She opens it slowly, though, and makes sure to open it without ripping it.
Once she has it opened, she shimmies her shoulders and fixes her skirt again.
"The lucky gentleman to represent District Three in the Twentieth Hunger Games is…"
She pauses for a second, attempting to build up anticipation in the audience. No one gasps or anything, leaving the escort to blush again.
"Robin Sherrell."
A tall boy with pale skin and blonde hair steps into the aisle and begins walking towards the stage quickly. He laughs, but he is biting his lip and his eyes are blinking incessantly.
How could someone be laughing?
As he gets closer, I notice that he has green eyes. He is slim and has very little muscle. Robin and I make eye contact, and we both exchange smiles.
The escort grabs both of our shoulders and pushes us towards the center of the stage.
"May I introduce to you the tributes who will represent District Three in the Twentieth Hunger Games – Kaelyn Taitrin and Robin Sherrell!"
Robin Sherrell
"Take this, Robin."
My father and mother both have their hands on a locket. It's a small, and by the looks of it, inexpensive locket. My father puts his hand over my mothers and they both release the locket at the same time, letting it fall on the table in front of them.
I glance at my father, and he has tears forming in his eyes and when he notices me looking he frowns. I then look at my mother, who has tears dripping from her face already, but she is silent. She doesn't make eye contact with me and only stares at the locket.
I grab the locket from the table and clench my hand around it. It's cold in my hand and causes my hand to instinctively open again. I hold the locket in front of my face and hold the chain, letting it dangle. The chain glistens in the light, as well as the actual locket.
My mother pokes it with her fingers and giggles to herself. My father sighs and puts his arm around her. They both look at each other directly in the eyes and smirk to each other.
I open up the locket and inside there is a picture of me, my mother, and my mother. I was five years old, which was an age where I was the same as everyone else. I didn't act in the way I do today and I never even thought about the similarities between everyone.
I had a loving family, I had friends, and I had a nice childhood.
But that all changed.
Why would they give this to me anyways? What are they trying to prove?
"What's this?"
"It's us."
"Obviously," I roll my eyes.
My father sighs, "Please, Robin. Why can't you be normal for once?"
I throw the locket down on the table, "Normal?"
My mother picks it up quickly, "Please, Robin, takes this."
"No."
"Please," my father says.
"Fine."
They both smile and look at me, but I look away and stare out the window.
Nothing they say or do can change me.
Nothing.
Kaelyn Taitrin
"Kaelyn, I am so sorry."
My mother's words come out very faintly, and after she finishes her sentence, she begins bawling. My father consoles her and wraps his arms around her tightly.
Kristen clutches onto my hand, causing sweat to form in my palm. Kieran puts his hand on my shoulder and rests his head on top of mine. I wrap my arms around Kristen and Kieran tightly, never wanting to let them go.
I hold out my hand, gesturing for my parents to come into the group hug as well. They walk over, sulking into each other's arms.
We all hug for a few seconds, but then a Peacekeeper comes in and stands in front of the door.
"It's time."
My family lets go of me, except for Kristen. She stays there, clutching onto my hand, and my mother has to pry her off of me. She begins to cry extremely loud, and then the Peacekeeper shuts the door.
At least a minute later, Joseph and Virginia come into the room. They stand in front of me for a second, not talking to me or even looking at me.
Finally, Joseph holds out his hand. In his hand there is something wrapped up in cloth. I grab it out of his hand quickly and open it up. Inside the cloth, there is a purple hearty necklace. I open the cover of the necklace, and behind the cover is a picture of Joseph, Virginia, and me. The picture was taken last year near the borders of the District.
"Thank you," I manage to say, before bursting out into tears.
"We will always remember you, Kaelyn," Virginia says.
"Always," Joseph repeats.
"Even if I die?"
"Even if you die," Joseph and Virginia say in unison.
"You guys are the best," I say with a smile forming on my face.
"Good luck, Kaelyn."
At this point, luck is all I can hope for.