Chapter 7: Some Unknown Characteristics
Athena Garcia, 17
District Four Female
Amongst all of the chaos our country is in, I am safe.
I live a pretty nice life here in Four, even though I never got the chance to meet my father. My mother was pregnant at age sixteen, which is hard to imagine, but my father went to fight in the war on the side of the capitolites. Unfortunately, he died in combat before I was born, just a few months before my mother gave birth to me. I'm lucky to have had a good childhood despite the absence of a dad, and I'm really close with my mother. She makes enough money for us to get by, and I'm yet to experience a day where I am starving, which makes me luckier than most in Four.
Another thing I have a lot of luck in is that I have good genetics to live a long life. My father's parents are still alive, and it's pretty rare to grow up in Panem knowing your grandparents unless you live in the Capitol. I can't imagine what it must be like for them having to experience the death of their own child, but now with the Hunger Games starting I think more people will be experiencing it around the nation. I am close with them, knowing them is like knowing a piece of my father in a way. I've got many aunts and uncles as well, my mother has a sister and my father had a sister and brother. There is a lot of people in my life to love, and that makes me happy.
In preparation for the Reaping today, all of my extended family is coming over for a breakfast. I'm the only person that is under the age of eighteen, but since the fishing docks are closed today, everyone has a bit of free time. My mother made pancakes for everyone, and that's a real treat we don't get to eat often. I wish there was more maple syrup to put on, but we don't have enough and everyone has to share. I sit quietly as the people around me talk, and with so many different conversations going on at once there is not a specific one I could focus on. I try to savor the sweet taste of the pancakes in my mouth before it goes away.
I go to my room and look in the mirror one final time, just to make sure I look okay for the Reaping. My light blue blouse is made of a material that looks more expensive than it is, and my white skirt is comfortable, just the way I like it. My long brown hair is down, and I push it behind my ears so my blue eyes can be seen. I go back downstairs and say goodbye to the family that still remains at my house. A pained look is upon my mother's face as she hugs my father's parents. She really misses him. She says I'm like him in a lot of ways, especially when I'm being headstrong, which is pretty much all the time.
I'm going to meet up with my friends before the Reaping, as I feel it makes it a bit less scary to go to something like this with your peers. All of us are eligible to be Reaped today, and though unlikely odds, two of us could even be going to the games together, since my closest group of friends consists of girls and boys. There is a slim to none chance of that occuring, so I know I don't really have to worry. My best friend is Murdoch, he's been by my side since we were little kids, and I'm also very close with Coraline and Glan, and we're all going to a place that makes us feel safe - the beach.
We all sit on the sand, not caring much that our Reaping outfits will become sandy. It's so comforting to watch the waves go back and fourth, watching them has always made my worries go away. I also love the way the sand falls between my fingers, another comforting touch I have enjoyed all of my life. We make some quiet conversation, but for the most part the four of us are too anxious to say anything. I can't imagine going through this whole thing again next year. The Reaping just seems to bring out a whirlwind of emotions for all those involed, and it's a lot to take in. Twenty-three children are going to die every year for the rest of our existence.
When Murdoch looks down at his watch and alerts us that it is time to leave, my stomach drops. I know I most likely won't get Reaped, but the thought of going into the Hunger Games is quite scary. I made the assumption that a rebel would be Reaped as soon as the announcement came out, but even though we supported the Capitol I still am not completely safe. The walk to the Town Square isn't a long one, but it feels like forever. Normally the Square is bright and colorful, but today it feels dull. Though there aren't too many rebels in District Four, this is all their fault. I've always been one to follow the rules, I would never cause an uprising like they did.
When we arrive at the Reaping, we step in one of the shortest check-in lines so we won't have to wait too long. Of the four of us, Murdoch and Glan get their fingers stabbed first and head into the male section, while Coraline waits for me so we can stand together during the Reaping.
"Name?" A woman with bright blue eyes asks me. They are as clear as the ocean was this morning.
"Athena Garcia," I respond as she flips a few pages before reaching my name.
"Dominant Hand?" I find it strange that they stab your dominant hand here, Coraline is a lefty and they chose to stab her left hand.
"Right," I respond, a hiss of pain coming out as the needle pierces through my finger. Coraline and I walk to the seventeen-year-old female section, awaiting the Reaping to begin.
What if one of my friends will be going into the games?
Syris Montgomery, 18
District Four Male
There's no such thing as a problem when you're underwater.
I have come to the ocean to swim every morning since I was a little kid. I like being in the water best when it's not crowded, so I come each day to watch the sun rise and then relax in the ocean. When I'm in the water, I can physically feel all of my problems float away into the sea. All that's left is euphoria. I float on my back and look at the morning sky, it's a beautiful combination of pinks and oranges. It's something you could view in a painting, not that I've seen many of those in my lifetime. I've gone through a lot in my life, but being in the water and looking at the sky makes it all worth it.
I've never known what it's like to have a lot of money. I had to learn the hard way how to survive. When I was younger, my parents had to go to desperate measures to keep our family alive. They attempted to steal food for me and my sister Isa, who was only five years old at the time, and were executed for it - right in front of our own eyes. It was nine years ago, but I'm still unable to get that image out of my head. They weren't trying to break the law, they only wanted to keep their children alive. I've always felt as though they are with my sister and I, we're lucky to be alive and I believe they are helping us.
Uncle Bay has helped my sister and I more than anyone else. He took us in after our parents death, and treated us as if we were his own. Funny thing is, he never wanted to get married or have kids, but he ended up with two of us anyway. I can't imagine growing up with a brother and then losing him, like Uncle Bay did. If I were to ever lose Isa I don't know what I would do with myself. My uncle has provided a lot for me and my sister, we are very lucky to have him. We wouldn't have survived on our own if he didn't take us in. He's like a father to me, even if it isn't by blood. Love is enough to count as blood.
I've helped Uncle Bay with fishing ever since I started to live with him. Not only does it give our family enough food to survive, it makes us a bit of money. It's never a lot, but it's enough to keep us going. Depending on what was available at the fishing docks that day, I had to learn how to use both a trident and a spear. Personally, I prefer the spear, but I'm good with both since I don't often get a choice. Most of the time, only tridents are available, as that's what most people use in Four. I don't have to worry about going hungry like I did as a little boy, now that I've mastered this useful skill. If my parents had known how to fish, they wouldn't have died.
I open the door to my house to find Isa waiting to see me.
"Syris!" Most people would expect a sweet sibling to come to them and hug them, but not me. Poor Isa has been stuck in a wheelchair since she was a toddler. She wheels herself over to me and wraps her arms around my legs.
"Hey Isa, are you changed yet for the Reaping?" She can't change her pants by herself so I've always had to help her.
"Nope," I wheel her into her bedroom to assist her. She puts on a baby pink blouse and requests her black leggings. Although they are on the top shelf I've never had trouble reaching it, I've been tall my whole life.
"Thank you," She smiles. Her green eyes remind me of my father's.
"I'm going to change now, I'll meet you in like five minutes," I say, walking to my room.
I change out of my wet swim shorts, into dry beige ones. I throw on a simple white shirt. We saved up enough money to buy Isa a nice outfit for the Reaping, but sadly we didn't have the funds to buy me something fancy for me. Lastly, I slip on some brown flip flops, wanting to be in something more comfortable than sneakers. I go into the bathroom and comb my brown hair. It usually looks like a mess after I'm out of the water, and I want it to look good in case I'm shown on television. My blue eyes match my late mother's, as blue as the sky. I head back into Isa's room, ready to wheel her out for the Reaping.
Uncle Bay and I walk as I push Isa in her wheelchair to make our way to the Town Square. I don't understand how someone with her disability is elligiable to be Reaped for the Hunger Games, but I guess the Capitol is merciless. She can't even walk, how can they expect her to kill someone? I think it's just awful. We are all silent as we make our way the the Reaping, praying that we are all safe from this horrible creation. I don't know how a President can make this for a country's children, for all eternity. Isa would die if she was Reaped, and my heart would be broken. I wouldn't be able to live without her, I hope she's safe.
I wheel Isa into a check-in line and wait my turn behind her. She gets her finger pricked first, wincing a bit from the pain. I kiss her on the cheek good-bye and she wheels herself to the section for the fourteen-year-old girls. I step up to the woman pricking fingers.
"Name?" A woman with eyes as blue as my own asks.
"Syris Montgomery," I say, she doesn't need to turn the page since alphabetically my surname is right after Isa's, considering we are siblings.
"Dominant Hand?" She asks. I feel like I've seen her around town but I can't put my finger on where.
"Right," I say. She pricks my finger and places it next to my name as I head to the eighteen-year-old male section, right in front.
How could the Capitol allow someone like Isa to be eligiable to be Reaped?
Qadesh Verbeck, 27
District Four Escort
I don't know what it's like to feel an emotion besides pure anger. Everyone else in the Capitol lives a life of endless luxuries, but I didn't get that. I'm still richer than those that live in the Districts, but I barely even consider them people. They're pretty much a completely different species. I don't make too much money, but it's enough to get by. Sadly, it's not enough to eat expensive foods and do other frivolous things. It's unfair to me that other people are higher up in the world, I know I should be above everyone. The President can make up her stupid little games, but I will still find a way to be the center of attention. I wanted to be an escort.
My family deserted me when I was ten years old. My parents struggled to make money, they just couldn't find a steady job, which meant that they were unable to feed three children. I had two older brothers that were able to work a little, but I was too young. One rainy evening, they told me that they were leaving me in an orphanage so I would have somewhere to live, and that was the last I ever heard from them. Once I was old enough to leave the orphanage, my parents still never made an effort to reach out to me. They just left me to fend for myself in the cruel world that we live in. I guess you could say it's turned me into a mean person, but it's not my fault, it's theirs.
Deep down inside my confident exterior, there has always been an insecure part of me that thinks I am not good enough. Everyone has that part of themselves, the little voice in their head telling them they'll never do anything important with their life, right? I'm positive I'm not the only one who hears it. My family left me behind because I wasn't up to their standards and pulling my weight as a member of it. I know I'm good enough at everything I try, as I'm all around one of the best human beings there's ever been, but I even question myself and my superior skillset. I don't know why I doubt myself and it's a bad habit I should try to end.
I signed up to be an escort because I truly do need the money. I deserve an exotic life that the people around me get to have. But what I need more than anything is for one of my tributes to win, as that would give me a much-needed bonus in pay. I don't know who my tributes are going to be, but they better have the characteristics of a Victor. And if they don't, I'll just have to change their personality completely. I didn't want the kids from Eleven and Twelve, as I doubt a rebel would win. I requested to have one of the first four districts, and the President listened to my request and gave me District Four. Since it's not too rebellious of a district, I think I'll have a better chance.
I look down at my outfit, its the fanciest thing I own. I wear a baby blue polo shirt with beige white khakis. My tie is silver and is made of a material that sparkles in the sunlight. It's a simple outfit, I'm sure it will be nothing compared to what the other escorts are wearing, but it's all I have. I wear royal blue loafers to finish off the preppy look. My curly brown hair is short, but still always looks messy no matter how hard I try. It's a major pet peeve of mine. My hazel eyes are probably my best feature, as every day they are a different shade of green or brown.
I walk onto the District Four stage, ready to begin the Reaping.
"Welcome to District Four's Reaping of the First Annual Hunger Games!" Part of the crowd claps and it eases my nerves a bit. I've never liked public speaking.
"President Regis wanted me to thank all of you for the fish you provide to our nation. We are stronger than ever now that we are reunited as one," There's going to be one Victor and it's going to be one of my tributes.
"I will now select a name from the bowl to my left to see who our female tribute will be. If your name is called, please come to the stage," I choose a name right in the middle of the bowl.
"Athena Garcia!" All eyes are on a brunette in the seventeen-year-old section. The girl standing next to her looks almost as shocked as she does. She makes her way to the stage, most likely surprised she was Reaped.
"Is there anyone who would like to volunteer in place of Athena?" The only sound I hear is the waves crashing from the nearby ocean. At least Athena is on the older side of the spectrum, I could've been stuck with worse.
"Alright, now I'll select a name from the bowl to my right to see who our male tribute will be. If your name is called, please come to the stage, just as Athena did," There is quite a lot of tension as I pick a slip out of the bowl.
"Syris Montgomery!" A tall boy emerges from the eighteen-year-old section. He doesn't look afraid or surprised, which is a good thing. He seems like he could go far in the Games.
"Is there anyone who would like to volunteer in place of Syris?" Although I'm required to ask, I hope that nobody does.
"Ladies and gentlemen, I present to you District Four's tributes in the First Annual Hunger Games! Please shake hands," Syris towers over Athena, he is nearly a foot taller than her.
"Happy Hunger Games, and may the odds be ever in your favor!"
Can one of these tributes make me the money that I need?
Hi everyone! I hope you enjoyed reading about Athena and Syris! I can't believe I'm already halfway done with the Reapings! Also, happy Saint Patrick's Day to anyone that celebrates it!
Yours Truly,
CuriousClove :)
