A/N: We're nearing the entrance to the Capitol and the Games. I can't wait~! Also, I'll like to dedicate this chapter to XMistressChaosx for reviewing every chapter since I put this up :). I find this chapter quite fitting too since it has two of her characters in it. Thank you!
By the way, I'll be tweaking some of your character's pasts to match with the plot I have in mind. What that means, you'll all find out in time to come.
Enjoy!
"Ruby Whit!"
The crowd murmured and shifted a bit as a small girl of twelve years walked out from her row.
"I volunteer!" a girl shouted and she ran up to the stage before anyone could argue or fight with her for the spot.
Emerald's POV
I watched Ruby shuffle her way up to the stage and snorted. There is no way that kid could win nor did she deserve the honour of being in the Games.
"I volunteer!" I yelled, my hand up.
I ran and leaped onto the stage before anyone could interrupt me. I looked at the blue haired escort and he beamed at me.
"What is your name, dear?"
I shivered at the endearment but flashed him a confident smile. "Emerald Langley."
Octavian's POV
I watched the female tribute stand on stage. She looked so proud. My eyes followed Gaius's hand as he picked up a slip of paper that held the male's name.
"Octavian Amorous!"
Oh joy.
I sniffled a little and walked slowly to the stage. I blinked back tears and almost tripped over my legs. I looked around. Would anyone volunteer for me? No, of course not. I finally reached the stage and stood beside the escort.
"Any volunteers?" No one raised their hands. "Oh well. Congratulations to our two tributes from District One, Emerald Langley and Octavian Amorous!"
The District cheered -mostly for me I suppose- and they broke out in applause. I snivelled a bit more to add in some effect for a meek little boy while in actuality, I was triumphant. This is it. This is my chance to win the Games and show District One that I am not a weak child. I would use the Games to show my true colours.
Emerald's POV
"Come back," my boyfriend told me.
"I will," I said confidently.
Ned came forward and pinned up my bangs with my token; an emerald hairpin. He kissed me on the lips and I returned it.
"Em, come back 'kay?" Alysa said.
I laughed and waved the question off. "Of course I will. I've trained for this all my life."
"All of you, out!" the Peacekeepers from outside yelled and chased my family, Ned and Alysa out of the room.
"We'll host a celebration for you once you get back," my parents promised me before the door slammed shut.
I couldn't wait to get to the Games.
Octavian's POV
I wore the simple chain necklace I got from my younger brother, Onyx.
"I should have volunteered. I stand a better chance," Onyx said flatly.
Truthfully, he might actually be right. Onyx was big and buff despite only being twelve years old. He had the build of an ideal career and he could kill without a second's thought. But, I had my own tricks and if I played my cards right, I could win the Games.
"Perhaps so," I agreed. I considered it a minor achievement for not tripping over my words as I usually did.
"Oh, Octavian," my mother sighed.
She opened her arms and I went to hug her. She patted my back then let go of me. I turned my gaze to Obsidian, my father. His face was hard and his eyes stone cold as usual. He stared at me and I stared back then I broke it when the door opened.
The Peacekeeper made an 'out' motion. My mother hugged me once more and I watched my family leave. I flopped onto the bed and lay there until the same Peacekeeper from before came to collect me. It was time to head to the Capitol.
District 3
Techra's POV
"Techra Volt!"
Somebody kill me. Oh wait, I'm already going to die. I gulped and walked up to the stage. Frankly, I was very surprised that my legs could carry me to the stage. I was shaking so badly that it came as a total shock my legs hadn't became jelly...yet.
The escort -was the escort a male or female?- beamed at me. The escort clapped me on the back with so much force I almost fell off the stage. Okay, the escort was a male.
I watched his hand shuffle around slips of papers in the males's reaping ball and I played with the edge of my green shirt while I waited for the male to be called. Finally, the escort picked out one slip. He unrolled it and called out the name of someone who scared the heck out of me.
"Fickle Fletch."
Fickle's POV
My right leg took one step and my left leg another. I counted the number of steps I took to the stage and my final count was three hundred and sixty-two. Not in numbers, never in numbers. Numbers are...
"Congratulations to our tributes from District Three! Shake hands now!"
He interrupted my thinking process. No.
"Numbers are! Numbers are! NUMBERS ARE!" I screamed and stamped my feet on the stage.
Techra's POV
"Numbers are?" I echoed. I shied away from his flailing hands as the Peacekeepers grabbed him and started bringing him to the Justice Building.
I saw Fickle beat the back of a Peacekeeper I think is named Damon with his fists. The escort placed his hand on my back then and whispered in my ear, "Come along now, dear."
I jumped and scurried into the Justice Building. His breath smelt heavily of wine and garlic. Not a nice combination, let me tell you that. I heard a female yell Fickle's name and I practically dived for the doors before it could close on me. Fickle Fletch freaked me out and for good reasons.
"Oh Techra..." my mother murmured as she embraced me.
"Mama," I whispered and she patted the top of my head.
She presented a silver necklace that had a lightning charm and urged me to take it. I did and my father helped me to wear it. He turned me around and placed his hands on my shoulders.
"Techra, survive," his tone was cold and it was really a command more than anything else but being his daughter for fourteen years paid off and I felt the concern beneath it.
"I will! I'll come back and we can live in Victors Village together!" I beamed at my parent and they smiled sadly at me.
We all knew I was going to die.
Fickle's POV
I was snuggled up to my mother Alice with my arms wrapped around her waist. The melody Alice and Lewis were humming was low and their voices were interlaced with each other.
"Fickle, do you want your token?" my friends asked together. They were twins.
I looked up and saw Jabberwocky and Chesire Cat offering a white rabbit to me. Their names were actually Laice and Edith respectively. I took the white rabbit and held it between my thumb and index finger. The cut paper was flimsy and it bent upwards when I blew it.
"Thank you, Laice, Edith," Alice thanked them with a warm smile.
"No problem, Mrs. Carroll! Mad Hatter, will you be coming back? Oh, I'm sure you will be coming back. Am I right or am I right?" Chesire Cat's grin was ever present and his hands were flying about as he talked.
"Fickle," I looked at my father. He approached me and patted my head though it was really my hat. "Come back."
I spoke a complete sentence for the first time that day. "I will. Queen will be there."
"All of you, out!" the Peacekeeper from outside yelled.
I watched my parents and the twins leave. Jabberwocky grinned at me and waved before bouncing out of the door. I stared at my token. I folded it and kept it in my shirt pocket.
"Mommy..."
