Chapter 5: District 5
District 5 Female: Ashfall, 16
"Have you slept at all?" one of the major Peacekeepers asks me.
I look up from thinking and shrug, "I did a little. Then I woke up and decided to think."
"Alright," he says as he smiles and turns to walk away. I notice a red string on his back so I jump up.
"Hold on a second," I say as I get it off. The various Peacekeepers have gotten used to my OCD qualities around here.
He smiles, "Thanks. I'm going to get breakfast. You want any?" I nod and follow him to the dining hall. It may seem weird for me to live with Peacekeepers but when I was a baby, I was found on the steps of the Justice Building and lived here ever since. Most people think Peacekeepers are just cruel people, but I realize that they are normal people, just scared of the Capitol.
When we walk in, almost all of the Peacekeepers are eating. Some of them raise their heads and wave us over, "Hey Johnson! Hey Ash!" I follow Johnson as he walks over. One good thing about living with Peacekeepers is that you almost always have an abundance of food. There are plates set out with biscuits and gravy. My mouth begins to water as I sit down.
Mary, the Peacekeeper who found me, asks me between bites, "Ash, do you mind helping the cooks wash the dishes today."
I nod, knowing that washing dishes along with other jobs they have me do is a perfect way for me to pay them back for everything they've done for me.
She smiles and turns back to the other Peacekeepers and continues her conversation. I start to eat again and listen to the Peacekeepers talk. Another quirk about me is that I've always preferred to adults over people my age. Generally I just sit in the corner and think, but occasionally I like listening to what adults think. Maybe it's just the fact that I know what people my age think because I am someone my own age.
As I finish my eggs, my sight finds its way directly to the clock on the opposite wall. The time says, "9:05." Peacekeepers are supposed to be done eating at nine. There's a bell to alert everyone so they don't have to stare at the clock while they eat.
"The bell is late," I say. The Peacekeepers look at me strangely because they couldn't understand me.
Mary looks at me and follows my gaze. Her eyes widen when she sees that everyone is late for their job. "Everyone! The bell didn't ring!"
Everyone looks at the clock and scrambles to get up. I find myself alone in the dining hall. I get up and start to pick up the many plates that were left. I put them in the kitchen and go on several more trips to get the rest of plates.
When I finish, I help the cooks wash them. As soon as all of the dishes are washed, I go to a bathroom to change. I put on a black dress and some boots even if they don't match.
I look outside, and it's a nice sunny day. I'm happy because one of my fears is clouds. I don't know why. It's really weird and I know that.
I see a couple people talking but when I pass, they stop to stare at me. I've gotten used to it so it doesn't bother me that much.
Since I live in the Justice Building, I'm already at the Reaping so I don't have to walk far. I stand around and note little things that bug me. Finally as the square fills up, the escort comes out. She talks, "Blah blah blah," and then goes to the girl's bowl.
She looks at the paper and seems confused and reads, "Ashfall..."
"I'm going to die," I think. I walk up, but I generally don't show emotion so I just find myself glaring at the escort who holds out her manicured hand. I shrug off her help up, and she calls out, "Jack Spade."
He comes up, not showing any emotion. We shake hands and are whisked away to the beginning of our deaths.
District 5 Male: Jack Spade, 15
"You lost fifty dollars on those dog races last night Ma," I hear my mom say.
"Dearie, I am absolutely fine," my grandma says back.
"You're EIGHTY years old. You need to stop gambling."
"I know a perfect time to stop."
My mom, genuinely curious, asks, "When?'
My grandma laughs, "When I'm dead of course!"
I hear Mom sigh and give up the argument.
I smile as I toss off my covers. My grandma and my mom are both one-minded people, and it's funny to hear them argue sometimes. I stretch and get ready to get dressed.
I put on a polo and some tan dress pants and head downstairs for breakfast.
All of my family is sitting at the table, eating leftover ham from yesterday. It's nice to have money for food even if you have to eat leftovers every now an then. My dad looks up from reading the paper in between bites of ham, "Morning. Did you finish your homework?"
Only my dad could ask questions like that on Reaping Day. "Yep," I say as I sit down. My plate is already loaded down with ham so I get a fork and start to eat. My brother, King, gets up after finishing and says, "I'm going to hang around with Ryan and Crade until the Reaping."
I find my little brother interesting. His first Reaping, the year we thought would be Hunger Games free, and he's not even worried it seems. When I was twelve, I didn't even want to leave my room. My parents finish their meals and get up to change. I find myself left alone with my grandma.
She looks back at where my parents left and whispers to me with a sly grin, "Don't tell your mother I plan on going out again tonight. I have to make up my losses somehow."
I smile and tell her, "Don't worry. Why don't you quit your gambling?"
She shrugs, "I'm old. You're parents take care of me so I have money to burn. Elderly people just need to go out with bangs sometimes."
I just have to laugh at that. She laughs with me but asks, "Have you made any more friends yet?"
I stop eating and stare at my plate. She apologizes quickly, "I don't want to hurt your feelings I just want you to have friends."
The problem is... people just don't like me. In class, I pay attention and study as much as I can. I don't like to go out to make friends even though I would like some. "I'll try my best Grandma."
She frowns, "OK. Just please try to make some. Look at King for example."
"I know."
She finishes and puts her plate up. She goes back to her room after saying, "I love you."
I tell her the same thing and finish my food. I put my plate up and head out for the Reaping. I wander to the Justice Building where I check in. I stand in my section as people talk around me.
I find it amazing how as soon as the escort comes out, everyone quits talking. She says the usual stuff with a little extra and goes to the girl's bowl, "Ashwood..."
I recognize her from being the other person in the district who doesn't have friends.
She walks up, and the escort calls out, "Jack Spade."
No. I'm going to be in the Hunger Games. I walk up without emotion but am terrified on the inside.
Ashwood-
The various Peacekeepers and staff rotate in and out of the Goodbye Room or as I like to call it, the Tear Room.
Only a few people do I truly remember but none of them can I say were truly my friends.
Finally Mary comes in.
We stare at each other for a moment when she comes in to give me a hug. She cries, "When I first found you, I thought you would just take up resources, but now I realize how much of a special little girl you are."
I cry with her, "You've been so nice to me. I hope I've repaid you for everything you've done for me."
"You have. Don't worry. You owe us nothing."
She quits hugging me and reaches into her bag.
She pulls out a tattered blanket. "This was what we found you in."
I slowly reach out and take my only connector to the past. I inhale deeply and can almost faintly smell my mother.
She smiles, "I probably should have given you this earlier but now you have it."
I smile, "Thank you. I love you."
She smiles back, "I love you too."
As she walks away, I say the only thing I can think of, "Thanks for everything... Mom."
She turns back and smiles.
And then she heads out the door.
I'm led out of the room and onto the train. My partner's already sitting there, having a conversation with the mentor. I sit at the table opposite them and listen to them talk.
I take a deep breath. Anyone that steps in my way will have to die. It's the only way I can get home.
The only way I can get back to my mother.
Jack Spade-
"I'll make sure to bet on you to win," my grandma says.
I just have to smile at this comment.
"It will help. I'll lower the odds of you winning making you seem more desirable for sponsor presents."
I have to admit that her logic there doesn't have a flaw.
My mom shakes her head, "Eighty years old."
My grandma shakes her head, "When I'm dead."
My mom sighs and turns back to me, "Just do your best. You can do it."
"Thanks for the encouragement."
My dad nods, "You can do it. You're a smart boy."
"Thanks."
My brother pipes up, "You're totally AWESOME."
I smile, "Thanks kid."
All of my family keeps saying random encouraging comments until it's time for them to leave.
I'm led out where I find my mentor. She starts talking to me immediately. For some reason I find her easy to talk to. We keep talking, and I don't even notice Ashfall come in.
I look around and spot her at a table. I wave her over but she seems to engrossed in thought.
I shrug and turn back to the mentor. The conversation is so intriguing that when I look out the window, everything is blurring past.
I'm amazed at how the train seems to glide but go back to the conversation.
Ashfall stays where she is, and I know that she's plotting my death.
A/N: Sorry for the wait. It'll be uploaded better next. Labor day+school is not good. Sorry for the shorter chapter but it's an update.
