So I went shopping today, and I bought a cardigan. It's a freaking great day to be Caleb. I also got new cologne AND a cool shirt...WITH A HOOD.
District 4 is up next, let's thank Keith Urban, and Gym Class Heroes for the songs we used in this chapter.
**TRIGGER WARNING: The submitter for Emily placed her in an abusive relationship
So, what made you think you could take a life
And just push it, push it around
I guess to build yourself up so high
You had to take her and break her down
Stupid boy.
Emily Delacour- District 4 Female
"You aren't volunteering Emily. Don't be stupid."
I smile at Jaylin as he pushes my hair behind my ear. He's one of those people that gets overly stressed. He doesn't mean it. He really doesn't. I love him. I really do.
"Jaylin. I have to. I was chosen."
He pulls his hand back quickly and stares at me angry. I upset him. I know I did. I should have stopped talking...but I can't. I have a duty, not only to myself, but to my family to volunteer this year. It needs to be me.
"I said you're not volunteering." he says more forcefully.
"Jaylin...I can't not volunteer." he grabs my arm and squeezes. I wince as the pain shoots through my body and he pulls my face over to his. He gets his really close to mine and says with an acidic tone of voice.
"You. Are. Not. Volunteering." I wince as spit flies into my face as he talks.
"Okay…" I manage to choke out from the pain of the grip he has on my arm, and the fingernails digging under my skin.
"Now that we got that settled." he says as he leans in to kiss me, but I pull away.
"My mother said I need to get home soon."
I get up and walk out of his house. I see his mom on the way out of the house, and she has that same scared look that I wear when I'm around her son. Only she has it with Mr. Brights.
Call me what you want. An idiot, a dependent, a weak minded person. Tell me that I deserve better, and that I can do so many great things and I'm letting a boy limit me. You don't think I know that? You don't think if I could get out of this I wouldn't?
The problem has nothing to do with what I can do, it has everything to do with what I am. I am in love with him. He is my heart, but even your own heart can attack you.
I arrive at the front door of my house, and look down at the arm that he grabbed me by. There in the shape of his hand lies a dark blue bruise. How the hell am I going to explain this to my mom?
"Emily, you have great arms." she always says "Why don't you show them off?"
The one time I show them off is the one time he leaves a bruise.
I stroll through the house secretly and incognito. To my relief my mother isn't anywhere in the rooms needed to get to my own.
I quickly strip off the sleeveless sundress that used to be one of my favorites and throw it into the hamper. I slide into a maroon long sleeved dress that cuts off at my mid thigh, and a pair of cream heels.
"You look beautiful Mija." says my mother as I turn around.
"Thanks Momma." I say
She strolls over to where I am and helps me zip up the back of my dress. I stand there and look in the mirror.
I wasn't always this pathetic. They don't let pathetic people volunteer for the Hunger Games. I was fierce. I was outspoken and bold. The best in my class with a katana, and throwing knives. Then I met Jaylin. We were shoe ins to volunteer together. We started dating, and had no idea how we would handle going into the Hunger Games together.
When Bobsly backed out due to an injury, and he was asked to take his place. He stepped up, and he won. He actually won. Now standing before me was a victor, but the once sweet boy that I fell in love with turned into a brutal and hardened man. It's not his fault...it really isn't.
"I have something for you Mija." says my mom as she pulls out a velvet box with a red ribbon around it.
I smile as I open it up and see a golden necklace with a heart on it.
"It's for good luck when you volunteer today."
"Thanks mom…" I say
I don't have the heart to tell her I won't be volunteering.
But I do it for the kids, life threw the towel in on
Every time you fall it's only making your chin strong
And I'll be in your corner like Mick, baby, 'til the end
Knox McDallen-District 4 Male
Today is a bitter sweet day for me. I volunteer for the Hunger Games today. I'm not really upset on the fact that I volunteer, but the idea of killing someone is absolutely disturbing to me.
I don't mind the training. Training honestly is kind of fun. It's a way to build a community of people that you can form some really tight bonds with. Not to mention it keeps you in really good shape.
To look someone in the eyes though, and tell them that their time is up. That they can't live anymore...that your life is more important than their's. I don't know how I'm going to do it.
I'm not like the other careers. The girl that I'm volunteering with, she tears the simulations to shreds. She takes no prisoners, and it's no wonder they chose her to go into the games.
I'm weak. I only kill when I have to. In the simulation chamber I've won enough games to be chosen this year, but let's be real. I was going to be chosen anyways.
My grandfather was a rebel when the Capitol was first taking over 17 years ago. They had just taken over Nebraska, and my family was on the ropes for being labeled as traitors to our new country. My dad wasn't openly against the Capitol like my grandfather, so he was spared. However, my grandfather was killed.
Dad became a trainer in the academy in four. Once the Capitol discovered that certain districts like the attention they got from winning the games, they started allowing training. Under the radar of course, since it technically isn't fair that the poorer districts couldn't afford it. Dad was someone they saw potential in, and just like that the academy was formed.
They put the trainers kids in the game as a chance to "show honor to their district." but I really just think it's a way to put the district in it's place.
My brother went in two years ago. He was incredible. He made it all the way to final four, and then the girl from 2 stabbed him in the back...literally. She went on to win that year, and I vowed that I would never do an ally dirty like that.
Your word is all you have in this life. When you ruin it...it's suddenly like you have nothing. I don't want to have nothing. I want to be trustworthy, and loyal, I want to be a good person.
I walk out of my house after kissing my mother goodbye. She tells me good luck, and you can see that she has physical fear in her eyes. It's not something you like to see when you are going into a potential life threatening situation.
I arrive in the town square when I see Emily and her boyfriend talking near the check in. I smile and I wave to her, but she doesn't seem to notice. As I get closer I notice that their conversation looks heated, and it's something where he looks very upset.
He grabs onto her arm, and she winces and I feel like I need to step in.
"Is there a problem?"
"No, Knox I'm fine."
"Get lost Wonderboy." says Jaylin as he stares at me angry.
"I think you need to let go of her arm." I say as I step in between them.
She looks relieved that somebody stepped up and separated them, but then I realize that he's going to be on the train with us. That's a recipe for disaster if you ask me. Not to mention he'll be mentoring us.
"Are you sure you want to piss off your mentor, McDallen?"
"If my mentor is being a dick, and hurting a girl for no reason then yes. I think pissing off my mentor is ok."
I know it sounds silly. We are going into the Hunger Games, and odds are I'm going to have to kill a girl. That doesn't mean that I want Emily to be in pain outside of the competition.
"You just messed up kid." says Jaylin as he walks off to take his spot on the stage waiting for the mentor.
"Are you ok?" I ask as I turn to Emily.
"You shouldn't have gotten involved." she says
"I know, but you looked like he was hurting you. That isn't right and-"
"And what? You thought you could save me? Be my knight in shining armor? Make me forget that my boyfriend is a complete pig? Knox, don't get involved next time. I'm a big girl. I can handle myself."
She walks off and gets in line to check into the reapings, and I'm left confused and not quite understanding what just happened.
Eudorian Eclaps-District Escort
"Hello District 4!" I say into the microphone as I throw my arms in the air. "Welcome to the reapings for the 17th Hunger Games!"
The crowd roars with excitement, and I figure it's best to keep this momentum going.
"Ladies first."
Emily Delacour- District 4 Female
Knox, though obnoxious, did make me realize something. Am I going to let some boy dictate my life? What's the worst that can happen...I die in the games? What's the best? I win. What can he do when I come home. I'll finally have the power and the courage to put him in his place.
"Amelia Orangeshard." says the district escort as he reads the name of the female that will be entering the games this year. At least for now.
It's now or never Emily. "I VOLUNTEER." I scream loudly as I start walking up to the stage.
Eudorian Eclaps-District Escort
"Oh good, a volunteer. Tell us your name dear."
"My name is Emily Delacour. You haven't seen anything yet."
"Latin fire. I love it." I say as she strolls to the back of the stage. I notice that the boy mentor for the games is giving her a very angry look. I wonder what's going on there.
"Boys next."
Knox McDallen-District 4 Male
I take a deep breath as I watch him dig around in the bowl for a name. A name that's literally useless and everyone knows the boy she calls won't go in.
I look around and literally everyone is looking at me. There isn't one eye that isn't on me.
When he finds a envelope that is suiting to his fancy he picks it out, and walks over to the microphone.
"Todd Hertzog."
I take another deep breath as I swallow all last minute fear, and yell "I VOLUNTEER."
Eudorian Eclaps-District Escort
What a surprise. Two volunteers! Well not really. It's a career district after all.
"Please come up here and state your name!" I say excitedly.
A boy comes up to the front and runs his fingers through the top of his hair.
"My name is Knox McDallen. I'm excited to represent District 4 in the 17th Games.
There you have it. District 4! I decided to try something different rather than the goodbyes. Let me know what you think on that.
Someone complained to me that I have a lot of female winners. Send me exciting male characters that don't have like 6 seconds of story arc, and can develope over a long term and maybe I would have male winners. -rant over.-
Who did you like better? Emily or Knox?
Predictions?
I want to update Bryley again, what would be a good district to break and give you guys an update before continuing with the reapings?
I tried to be as kind as I could with Emily's..Part of the reason I didn't write goodbyes was because I have no idea what an abusive relationship looks like, and I didn't want someone to be insulted with how I wrote her.
LASTLY, my boy Ansley (creativeAJL) or as I call him #FFBFF, has an SYOT that is currently closed called Second Chance. It's closed, but I'm in it and you should go and not only support him, but also Parvati. Like it would make my day, and I think his just because we have competitions on reviews, if you guys went and bombed his reviews with #TeamParvati post.
Keep it classy,
Caleb
