Joliet Richemont, District 7
Brown tree trunk stumps were the perfect seat. In fact, she had a favorite stump in the woods. It was set in a peaceful clearing of trees. There were three stumps all together, but her favorite was the one on the right. It was the last one that she had tried. The one on the left was too bumpy and rough, the one in the middle was too short and small, and the one on the right was just right. Go figure.
She had first found the small clearing when she was seven and searching for her father. It didn't help that she had no idea who her father was, or even if he had a name. And her mother wasn't exactly forthcoming in the information.
Roma would be worried if Jo didn't start heading home soon. Roma especially hated reaping days. Not that Jo blamed her mom since Roma was a Victor. Roma had won the 14th games when she was eighteen. Jo's eighteenth birthday was coming up, and it was freaking Roma out.
Actually, for Jo's whole life she had dealt with Roma's freak outs. And so Jo was trained, day after day and year after year. Jo was probably the most prepared person in all of District 7. Roma was terrified that one day Jo would be reaped just because she was the daughter of a Victor.
Trees were a blessing to Jo. She loved them. There was just something so comforting and peaceful about sitting in a forest with just the trees for company. The branches couldn't tell her when she was slouching, the leaves wouldn't tell her that she was holding the knife incorrectly, and there roots were silent about her lack of spear throwing. Even the squirrels who lived in the trees didn't laugh at her attempts to throw said spears.
"I think she's scared for no reason," Jo mused aloud as the squirrels scuttled about their day, looking for nuts to hide away who's locations would be forgotten when winter time came. Jo never understood why the squirrels hid nuts. Just eat it as soon as you find one! Duh! No good ever came out of hiding things. Unless you had a map to lead to what you had hidden. But then someone else might get a hold of the map and find the treasure. And squirrels couldn't make maps anyway. Right?
"I mean really, they aren't going to reap me just because I'm a victor's daughter…right?" One of the rabbits looked up at Jo and twitched its nose. Jo let out the tiniest of smiles. The rabbit hopped away, probably to go bother the chipmunks. Jo would much rather be around animals then people. They were so much easier to get along with. But she could hear the town clock chiming in the background, signaling that it was time to make her way to the town square.
Jo didn't have time to swing home. She jogged to the square, hoping to find her mother in the crowd.
"Joliet Richemont," Jo shouted over the din to the Peacekeeper who was ticking names off of the very long list of people who were required to show up. The other seventeen year old girls were standing in their assigned area, looking bored. Jo stood off by herself, she didn't have any girlfriends her age. Actually, she didn't have any girlfriends.
Mayor Hardrict made his pudgy ascent up to the stage to say the mandatory words of boredom. His two sons were her only close friends. She was probably the only one who could get away with calling Mayor Hardrict something else and not get whipped for it. Well, to his face at least. It wasn't really anyone's fault that his last name sounded dirty. However, it was Jo's fault for pointing it out during a major assembly when she was only thirteen. So really, it had been Jo who had brought the dirtiness of his last name to everyone's attention. Well, someone would have figured it out eventually. Seven wasn't the stupidest District around. No, everyone knew that that prize went to District 2.
Once he was done with his speech, Mayor Hard Dick (oh Jo was bad), turned the microphone over to Lovely. Well, really, what else was Jo supposed to nickname the woman with the word lovely tattooed on the forehead? Did the woman lack self-esteem so much that she needed a feel good word on her forehead? And it wasn't even backwards, so when the escort did look into the mirror, it wouldn't say lovely. Capitol people were so stupid. Jo didn't have patience for stupid people. Not in the least.
"Let's mix it up some, shall we?" Lovely said in her high pitched voice that was anything but a feel good word. "Lads first?"
Oh good, keep the suspense. Jo rolled her eyes. Now she would have to wait another five minutes before learning which girl's fate would be ruined. Well, it gave the other girls longer to gossip. What was it with girls and gossip? Seriously, girls were so immature and such drama lovers.
"Linden Faith!"
Jo kinda knew him. They were both seventeen, and went to school together. But she wouldn't say that they were friends. He looked terrified as he made his way to the stage, and the small girl beside Jo shot to her tip toes and began to scream at the top of her lungs. Linden's eyes searched the crowd and landed on the girl next to Jo. Her name was Marla, and was in several of Jo's classes at school.
"NO!" She screamed. "Not Linden!"
But it was too late. Jo pulled on Marla. She was strong, but Jo was stronger. "Shut up," Jo hissed. "You're making a scene."
And it was true; a few Peacekeepers were heading their way. Marla shrunk deep into Jo's arms. Jo tried not to cringe away. Linden looked like he was having an inner fight with himself, trying to convince himself to stay on the stage.
"Well," Lovely said in a surprised voice, "that was entertaining, shall we chose the girl now?" She didn't wait for a response before plunging in her hand and plucking out a single name. "Joliet Richemont."
Jo drew in a tight breath. So her mother had been right. A tiny part of Jo hated her mother for that. Mother's were supposed to be right, but not when it came to this! Her mom was supposed to be wrong. Jo couldn't go! She couldn't! Sure, her mom had won the games all those years ago, but that didn't mean that Jo wanted to follow in her mother's footsteps. Not if it meant killing that boy who stood up on that stage. That boy who had caused the girl in Jo's arms to scream his name as if she had been sentenced to die as well.
"Wanna pretend to be me?" Jo whispered to Marla. "Then you can be with your boyfriend."
"He's not my boyfriend," Marla whispered with her big round eyes.
Jo felt her legs turn to jelly as she tried to walk on them. Marla was looking at her with pity. But what did it matter now? Jo went up to stage to stand next to Linden.
No volunteers for either of them. Linden Faith and Joliet Richemont were headed to the slaughter house. But first, a pit stop at the Justice building to say goodbyes. At least the Capitol was dignified enough for that.
"Remember everything I taught you," Roma whispered as she held her daughter tight. "All that training wasn't for nothing Jo. I taught you well, you are strong, and you can do this. You can be victorious just like I was. I know you can do it."
Roma was shaking in fear, as if she didn't believe half of what she was saying. Jo wished she could hold her mother tight and say that it would all turn out for the best. Words of comfort were the only things that Jo could leave in her absence.
"Here, take this," Roma said softly as she undid the amber amulet around her neck. It had been her token, and now it would be Jo's. "It helped me get through the games. Now it will help you."
"Thanks mom," Jo said, feeling a lump in her throat. "I'm going to miss you."
After saying the rest of her goodbyes to all the important people in her life, Jo joined Linden on the train. His eyes looked misted over, but Jo didn't comment. And he didn't comment about her own non-dry eyes.
Linden Faith
Orange was such a funny color. Seriously, it didn't know if it was red or yellow. Personally, he thought that orange was pointless. Not that he would ever voice that opinion out loud. And he had learned that often times when he did get up the nerve to speak, no one was really listening.
Plus, why would they name a fruit after a color? It must be a very boring fruit. Not that he would really know, because he had never eaten an orange before. It was on his list of things to do before he died though. His list was pretty huge. And only a few things had been ticked off. Finding a cure for his mother was the top item on his list. One that he could only hope would be ticked out, but he knew deep down that it would be next to impossible.
But Linden believed in the impossible. He had faith, after all. He had to since that was his last name and all.
Linden went outside to see his sisters playing in the yard, happy and carefree. Alona, at fifteen, was sitting on the slide and pretending that the world didn't exist. Ebony, only twelve, still had a slight imagination, so she was brandishing a sword and pretending that she was Queen. There was always something magical about watching his sisters live life.
Nothing magical about reaping day though. Linden went inside to play dad. He wished for the millionth time that he didn't have to. But he did. His real father was dead, his step father was dead, and his oldest brother Rowan was busy supporting two families so he was always at work.
Linden went back inside to find his mom sitting in her usual rocking chair. If possible, she looked even worse this morning then she had last night. His heart broke upon seeing her. A child should not have to watch his mother die.
Rowan came, his very pregnant wife, Noli, was waddling right behind him.
"Hey, how's the belly?"
"Watch it bud," Noli replied as she eased herself down into a chair. She looked like she was about ready to pop. "This kid is going to be a soccer player or something 'cause it keeps kicking like a mad person."
Rowan looked very proud. "We finally have a name picked for it." Noli made a face, as if she still didn't agree on the name. Linden shook his head, the two of them were madly in love, but could never agree on anything. "Leo if it's a boy, and Autumn if it's a girl."
"I still don't know why you want to name a child after a season," Noli rolled her eyes, "or after an astrological sign for that matter."
After they crowded around the table and cleaned the bowls of food, the large Faith family headed to the square. They signed in and then found the respective areas.
Mayor Hardrict got up to say a few words. Of course, no one called him Hardrict, since Jo Richemont had pointed out that it was a connotation for a dirty word. At least the Mayor was a good sport about it. It didn't hurt that Jo was best friends with the Mayor's two sons. Speaking of Jo, Linden searched around for her, and found her standing next to Marla. Marla was Linden's on again, off again girlfriend. They were off right now, and they had been that way for awhile.
The escort that they always had took over. The word Lovely was etched into her forehead, but Linden thought her real name was something like Nailiosivpre, or something long and unpronounceable. Maybe Lovely was a better name.
"Let's mix it up some, shall we?" Lovely said in her high pitched voice that was anything but a feel good word. "Lads first?"
Ugh. He didn't really want to get it over with. Linden just wanted to drag it out as long as possible. He didn't want to know which unlucky boy was going to be sentenced to death.
"Linden Faith!"
Oh shitake mushrooms. He was the unlucky boy that was going to be sentenced to death. Shitake mushrooms times a thousand.
"NO!" A voice in the crowd screamed. "Not Linden!" Linden knew exactly which voice was screaming it. Marla. His off again girlfriend. Well, that was unexpected. Sure, they had ended it on good terms, but still, he would rather have thought that it would be one of his sister's screaming out his name. Where were his sisters? Did they not care that his name had been chosen? Or were they locked in shock like he was, unable to move?
Move. He had to get his legs working. He needed to go up to that stage and allow all of Panem to see him shaking in his shoes. But he wouldn't allow that. He was stronger then that. And he wasn't going to show Panem that he was frightened. So he made himself move. And somehow, he made it up to the stage in one piece.
Marla was still screaming, Jo was holding her, trying to keep her calm. Linden wished that he could thank Jo for keeping Marla safe. He wanted so badly to run down there and wrap his own arms around Marla, but he couldn't, he knew that much. The Peacekeepers were making their way over to Marla. If Jo didn't get her to calm down, then there would be a major problem. He said a silent prayer that Jo would be able to get Marla quiet. And somehow, she did.
"Well," Lovely said in a surprised voice, "that was entertaining, shall we choose the girl now?" She didn't wait for a response before plunging in her hand and plucking out a single name. "Joliet Richemont."
Linden was still looking at Jo and Marla when the name was pulled. Add another shitake mushroom to the mix. At least it hadn't been Marla. He wouldn't have been able to handle that. But still…out of all the girls in the District, Jo had to be chosen? How was he supposed to kill her after Jo had just kept Marla calm and safe from the wrath of the Peacekeepers?
Not a single volunteer for either of them. Linden was ushered to the goodbye room where he waited on a plush red couch for his first visitor.
His family rushed in all at once, and he didn't know who to say goodbye to first.
"Maybe we should name the kid after you instead bud," Noli said.
"No, I don't want it to have to follow in my footsteps," Linden replied. "I know I have big shoes to fill and all, but still, I don't want any of your children to be reaped for the games like I was."
Noli's eyes filled up with tears and she had to leave the room. Rowan clapped Linden on the back, wished him good luck and then rushed out after his wife.
His sisters tried to act calm and collectedalthough they were anything but. Linden told them he would try his best to make it home. They nodded, tears cascading down their dirty cheeks, as if racing to make it to the chin first. They left a few moments later.
His darling mother stayed in the room the whole time, pretending to be asleep when Marla walked in, looking dazed and out of it.
"Marla," Linden began but she just lowered her eyes.
"Don't start with me, I've already gotten an earful from my parents, and from countless of other people. I know what I did was reckless, but it was also an act of love. Because Linden, I care deeply for you. And you will go to the games, and you will come home, ALIVE, because I know you can. And I don't want to live without you. I'd give you a token, but I know you already have that toy of yours that your stepfather gave you."
Marla sure knew how to talk. Linden liked her for that. The more she talked, the less that he had to. She reached over and planted a kiss on his lips. When she had first done that, years ago, a blush had crept onto his cheeks. But now, he was used to it, and it felt normal and expected.
"Look, Marla, I want you to be happy, I want you to move on with your life, forget about me and find someone else to love."
Marla opened her mouth to protest, but Linden kept on talking, "I'm not the only boy out there, there will be others. And maybe I will come home, maybe we will get married and live happily after. But maybe I won't. And if I don't, then I just want you to know that it's okay to move on and find someone else. After all, you weren't made to be alone."
Marla gave him a lopsided grin. "Well, I do think Lyle Parr is kinda handsome."
Linden rolled his eyes, "anyone but Lyle Parr. He's vile Marla. Besides, I was thinking Jaze Trappe, he seems to have a thing for you."
"But his last name is just awful, if we had kids, they would be teased and made fun of."
"Then you'll just have to teach the kids how to be comedians. No one bullies a comedian."
Marla shook her head in mock dislike before giving him one last kiss on the cheek and turning on her heel. Leaving just Linden and his mother.
"Oh baby," she said in her weak voice that always made Linden worry. "I never thought that this would happen to you. What am I supposed to say in our last moments together?"
"Tell me you love me, and give me advice to win and stay alive. Feed me with positive feelings."
She smiled, "I love you, keep your chin up, make an alliance with someone you trust, watch your back, and stay alive. You can do this baby. I'm rooting for you. I always have."
She chose that moment to have a coughing fit. And Linden pounded her back, breaking up the mucus sticking to her throat.
"When I win, we'll be able to afford the most expensive doctors in the Capitol and we'll get you all better."
She smiled. "I know."
Linden watched as his mother was taken out of the room. Linden used to think that he was going to have to watch his mother die. But he had been wrong. Now it was more likely the other way around. A mother should not have to watch her child die. But in the games, twenty three mothers had to.
And that's the end of district 7. How do you like Jo? Linden? Do you have a favorite tribute so far?
~*Misty*~
