Majesty Winterhaze, age 18
District 1 Male
As Amity moved on to the boy's reaping bowl, I can hardly keep my eyes open despite my excitement. Maybe partying all last night wasn't the best idea in the world, but man, did I have fun. Lots of music, lots of alcohol, lots of girls. Best of all, lots of girls willing to get in bed with me. What can I say? I'm just great, despite my current hangover.
My eyes sought out my mother, the famed Silk-May Winterhaze, victor of the 121st Hunger Games. Being her son will make me popular with the audience, although I wouldn't need the help. Then I look for Esmeralda Silver, my current girlfriend. She's such a ditz. She thinks that we'll last forever, but that obviously isn't true. Dating around is fun. Actually settling down and starting a relationship? Not so much.
Both of my brothers, Xavier and Malachi, were both engaged when they were my age. I don't understand why they would want to be committed to anyone when there's a whole district of beautiful girls to sleep with and then break their hearts. It's the best fun ever. But my brothers and I don't always see eye-to-eye on a lot of things. Take the Games for example. My father, brothers and my older sister, Trinity, hate them with a burning passion, while my mother, younger sister, Charity, and I worship them, like a good District One citizen should.
"Here we are," Amity said on stage, and I snapped back to attention. "The first male tribute for District One is Phoenix Alabastor!"
I ran my fingers through my hair once, then raised my hand and yelled, "I volunteer!"
As I walked up to the stage, I wondered which one of my fellow female competitors would want to spend some quality time with me before we went into the Games. Topaz is too young despite being knockout gorgeous. Juliette is too shy for me, and Vasilissa's homosexual. Venus and Seshafi might, and I have no clue about Ferris.
This is what life is about. The thrill in uncertainty.
Garnet Diamond, age 16
District 1 Male
Hard work pays off. I'm the proof. I'm only sixteen, yet I worked my butt off in the Academy and was chosen to volunteer. And if I was chosen, then I must be the best. I'm going to win.
I bounced on the balls of my feet, wanting to move again. Dancers can never stand still for long. Amity really needs to hurry up and choose this slip so I can volunteer. I need to get out of this pen. Glory is awaiting me.
Amity finally chose a slip of paper, and made her way back to the microphone. I stared at the stage, looking at the other tributes already up there. I would be with them soon.
I glanced over to the girl's section, and saw my dancing partner, Pearl. She may be a year younger than me, but she's a good dancer, and has a good sense of humor that can always make me laugh. I may even say that we're closer than me and some of my male friends.
"Your second male tribute is Magnus Wiruss!" Amity announced.
I almost laughed. I knew that boy's brother. He was one of the worst students the Academy, and I was tempted to let him in the Games, but I wanted that spot. So I shoved my way into the aisle and shouted, "I volunteer!"
I was going into the Hunger Games, and I would return a victor.
Alexios Rhodes, age 17
District 1 Male
Amity quickly chose another slip, probably wanting to get the reaping done with. I don't blame her, really. Out of all twelve of these tributes, ten were guaranteed not to return. I guess I just didn't like that.
Something touched my back. I whirled around, my fist ready to smash into whatever it was. There was only a boy from the section behind me who shrunk way when he saw my fist raised.
"Sorry!" He yelped. "I didn't mean to!" I spun back around slowly, feeling awful. But it wasn't my fault that I was so jumpy around people.
My birth family was originally from District Nine, but my parents were part of a rebel force planning, once again, to overthrow the Capitol. But they were caught, and President Prime had them tortured. They're probably dead now, without even a final goodbye to their only son. I was then shipped to District One, where I lived on the streets until the Rhodes family took me in. I don't talk to them very much, and they don't pry for details about my other life, which is nice. I don't enjoy talking about it.
"Your third male tribute is Alexios Rhodes!" Amity announced, and my head whipped up. That was unexpected. I wiped my face clean of emotion, trying to remember if I was chosen to volunteer or not. I don't think I was. But there are no volunteers, so I must have been.
I was a tribute in the Sixth Quarter Quell.
Sampson Rhodes, age 17
District 1 Male
I stood there, shocked, as Alexios took the stage. Where was the volunteer? Alexios wasn't supposed to be a tribute! I was supposed to go into the arena this year, not him. I frantically looked around for the third volunteer, Zircon, but he had his head down. As much as I wanted to save my brother, you don't take somebody else's tribute spot. It was forbidden in the Academy.
"Are there any volunteers?" Amity asked. Nobody moved, everybody looking at Zircon, who still didn't move. Alright, fine, Zircon. Don't volunteer. But when Alexios and I come home together, I'm going to have some words with him.
"Alright, and now for your fourth male tribute," Amity said walking to the boy's reaping bowl again. I grasped the rope next to the aisle, getting ready to fling it aside.
I'm coming, Alexios. You're not doing this alone.
"Mercury Castle!" Amity announced, and somebody in the girl's section screamed - Mercury's sister probably.
I threw the rope aside, stepped into the aisle, and shouted, "I volunteer!" I ran to the stage, and climbed the steps. Amity hustled over to me.
"And what is your name?" Amity asked.
"Sampson Rhodes," I said with a sarcastic smirk. I may be going into a death match, but I needed sponsors, and I had to appeal to the audience.
Because I needed to win. With my brother.
Adonis Stone, age 18
District 1 Male
I didn't care whether or not I was one of the last volunteers for District One, I was going to lead the Career pack. Being in charge was how I was going to survive. It was as simple as that. And if somebody refused me, they would be sorry later.
But how could I be sure that I was going to win? I wasn't. If the trainers at the Academy had chosen me so far down in the order of volunteers, then I must not be as good as I thought I was. Did the trainers select me just to die? I hope not. Because I could win. I've been training ever since I was four, for fourteen years now. I must be one of the best.
"My, my," Amity said, clapping her hands together. "Isn't this exciting! So many volunteers! Let's see if we will have another!" I tensed, getting ready to save this poor little kid from the Games.
"The fifth male tribute is," Amity said, letting the suspense hang in the air before saying, "Glisten Tinsel!"
I smiled an almost vicious smile. I knew Glisten. We played baseball together, and I absolutely hated him, and he hated me right back. It wasn't the best relationship in the world - neither of us were very kind - and I would have let him into the arena, but I want the fame that comes with becoming a tribute, and then, a victor.
I raised my hand and shouted, "I volunteer!"
Felix Wiruss, age 15
District 1 Male
I looked at all eleven of the tributes on stage already, Topaz one of them. I knew her from school, but I never knew she would be a volunteer. I had seen her around the Academy a few times, too, when I wasn't being reprimanded for how terrible I was.
And it's true. I'm one of the worst students in the Academy. And even if I could stand up for myself, there would be no denial. I know I'm terrible. I'm the laughingstock of the Academy and the district.
A boy next to me is shaking in complete terror. He keeps furiously wiping his face, like he's crying. I looked at him and whispered, "Are you okay?"
The boy looks at me, surprised, then whispered back, "No. I'm scared I'm gonna be reaped."
"Don't worry about it," I said back. "There are always volunteers."
"There wasn't one when that third boy was chosen," the boy shot back.
"He was probably one of the volunteers," I said. The boy nodded, and smiled at me.
"Thanks," he said. I smiled, and turned back to the stage, where Amity was at the microphone, a piece of paper in hand.
"And here is that final tribute for the Sixth Quarter Quell!" Amity called out. She unfolded the paper, and announced the name, "Felix Wiruss!"
Oh no. I wanted to stop existing in that moment. I tried to on sale my emotions as I stepped out of my section, hoping against hope that somebody would volunteer for me.
But I knew it was hopeless. Nobody, not even my brother, would volunteer in my place. I was going into the Games.
And there are the males for District One! Thank you to:
maddyodair for Majesty,
BabyRue11 for Garnet, Adonis, and Felix,
and gameshumgerplayer for Alexios and Sampson!
Also, one small thing I forgot to mention last chapter. I feel like you guys know me as a writer (if you've followed my other stories), but you have no clue what I'm like as a person. So I'm going to leave song suggestions at the end of every chapter to give you some insight to who I am as a person. This chapter's song is King of my Heart by Taylor Swift (for those of you followed 24 More you already know I am a HUGE Taylor Swift fan, so be expecting to see a lot of her songs in here.)
That aside, what did you think of this chapter. I tried to take your suggestions into consideration as I was writing so hopefully this chapter is a little better than the last one. I'll be seeing you all next time in District Two to introduce you to their females.
Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays to you all! Until next time!
-D9T
