There's no such thing as
someone with no good in them.
Well, except Karl. He's a total donkey
Luka Denby, District 3
"You can't catch me!" Sophia-Rose laughed.
"Oh, I think I can!" I hollered back, trying my best to not slip on the dew soaked grass.
"Luka, just give up," Dorina teased. "She's clearly too fast for you."
"I guess you're right," I sighed, pretending to be out of breath. Sophia-Rose laughed and, honestly, it killed me.
Sophia thinks I'm her brother. I'm really not. She's my cousin, and her parents died when she was very young.
"I win again!" Sophia chirped.
"Yeah, yeah," I tried to sound disappointed. "Why don't you go inside and help mom with lunch?"
"Oooh! Fun!" Sophia exclaimed before running into the house.
Dorina is sitting in the grass, picking dandelions.
"What are those for?" I ask her.
"Karl," she says with a snicker. "Dirty weeds stealing the things other plants need. Just like him."
"How are you going to give it to him?" I asked.
"Easy. I'll swap his lunch while he isn't looking. Like he does."
"Especially to me," I muttered.
"Want to join me?" She asked, standing up.
"Uh..."
"I knew you'd chicken out," Dorina said with a smirk, standing up.
"I didn't chicken out!" I hollered. I then covered my mouth as I heard an echo. Dorina gave a small laugh.
"Then follow me," she snickered.
I stood frozen for a second. Then, deciding I'd rather face the Wrath of Karl instead of the Wrath of Dorina, I chased after her.
The sky is my inspiration,
Different every day
Dorina Denby, District 3
"Hey! Wait up!" I heard Luka shout behind me.
Reluctantly, I slid to a stop. The ashen-brown waves that were gliding through the air a second ago landed on my face. I quickly pushed them out of the way, then turned my head to face Luka. He truly was pretty far behind. His short, wavy ashen hair turned a dark brown, sticking to his face with sweat. I never really knew, was he really slow, or was I really fast? I like to think it's both.
I glared at him, hand on my hip and foot tapping impatiently on the concrete. Luka looks as if he's trying to ran as fast as he can-he knows I'm scatterbrained.
I'm already starting to lose concentration, and Luka's still quite a few yards away. I huff, and say every mean thing I can think of. In my head, of course. I begin to dig my fingers into my hands, now clenched. Finally, finally, after what felt like hours (I found out later that it was really only about 30 seconds) Luka caught up.
"Can you -pant- maybe go a -pant- bit slower next time?" He asked.
"Luka, really, just grab my hand," I huffed. He grabbed my hand, mine slipping into his slightly larger one. Hey, it's not my fault I happen to be barely underweight!
Mom keeps telling me, 'Cmon Dorina! It's just three pounds!' Yeah, well, I've been three pounds shy since I was two. It's really not that big a deal.
I took off again. I glanced down, and saw Luka's feet moving a mile a minute to keep up. I looked up. Come on Dorina. Eye on the prize. You will not get scatterbrained this time!
"DORINA!" Luka screamed. "LOOK OUT!"
"AW SHOOT!"
Colliding with Karl was not how I wanted to start my Reaping day.
"Dorina?! Luka?!" He hollered, a sick look on his face. "Watch it, --!"
Abort mission I thought to myself. Luka pulled me out of there, and I was thankful. I heard Karl throw a few racial slurs before I was finally pulled out of earshot. We were both quiet as we walked home, weeds still clutched in my hand.
"He's a --," I muttered. I quickly slappes my hand over my mouth. I didn't mean to swear.
"Don't worry," Luka said with a smile. "I know you're just angry. I won't tattle."
I heave a sigh. Unfortunately for us, racism is still a thing. Well, in 3 at least. Everywhere else in Panem lives in perfect harmony. Then again, racially they do, sadly not economically. When a 'white' gets knocked over by a Latino, they will usually get slightly angrier (unless they're your mortal enemy named Karl. Then he'll swear and throw around racial slurs he probably doesn't even know the meaning of).
"Should we tell mom?" Luka asked.
"No," I told him. "She's busy enough. Let's just go home and eat lunch."
We pushed open the door to the two-story house. I heard a clattering in the kitchen, and Luka and I turned to face each other, thinking the same thing. Sofia is about to destroy Panem.
"GOSH! SOFIA!" I heard mom holler.
"Sorry mommy!" I head Sofia giggle.
"Mom?" I asked, scared to open the kitchen door. "Is...everything okay in there?"
"Yes, yes Dorina!" Mom called. "Go get dressed while I finish lunch!"
Happy to back away from the door, Luka and I walked upstairs. Sofia left her bedroom door open, and I gagged. Bright pink everywhere. I don't mind pink-as an accent. But a whole room dedicated to pink?! Uh, no.
Leo's door was still shut, and the light was off. Probably still asleep. Bet he's full of relief, this almost being his first Reaping and all.
"You go in first," Luka told me. I heaved a sigh, then walked into the room.
It was divided into two halves. One side mine, one Luka's. You could easily tell who's who's. My side was an explosion of color. Paint was everywhere. On the walls, in canvas', spilled on the carpet...
Luka's is more cluttered in wood and cardboard. I'm surprised he hasn't stepped on a screw yet. He's more into building-he reminds me of Leo Valdez.
I look at my Reaping Outfit, laid out on my bed. It brings me comfort. Not the outfit, but knowing that three is the most twin-populated District-5 close second. I have a slim chance of Reap. I slip on the blue blouse, then pull up the black tights, and put on the dark blue skirt. I slip into my greyish silver shoes, and put a green bow on both sides of my head. I turn to the mirror.
C'mon Dorina, I think. You can do this.
I smile, then walk out, telling Luka it's his turn.
There's no such thing as
someone with no good in them.
Well, except Karl. He's a total donkey
Luka Denby, District 3
I wince as the Peacekeeper pricks my finger. Fifth year in the Reaping, and I'm still not used to it.
Dorina is no where to be found, probably hanging out with her boyfriendbefore the Reaping.
"Good luck!"
I spin around to see Sera and Gillin in the crowd, waving. I wave back, then run towards the stage. I want to be front and center, like the 18 year olds get to be. Where was Dorina?
"Happy Hunger Games!" Our escort, Lizette Tordai cried. "First, a word from the Capitol." She motioned to the screen, which played the same video ever year.
"Am I late?" I felt Dorina's hand on my shoulder.
"Nada," I shook my head. "Just in time."
We listened as Mayor Icefall read the speech, then Lizette took his place once again.
"And now, the time has come," she began. "To choose a pair of twins to represent District 3 in the 100th Annual Hunger Games!"
I felt Dorina trembling as she grabbed my hand.
"It'll be alright Rina," I told her. "There are tons of others."
Lizette pulled a paper out, her violet-tinted skin was clearly recent since a bit of violet was smudged on the paper. She flicked it open with her obviously fake long nails, and spoke into the mic.
"Dorina and Luka Denby!"
The sky is my inspiration,
Different every day
Dorina Denby, District 3
"R-R-R-Rina?"
Luka's struggled cry brings me back to my worst memory.
It was years ago-we were six. Karl and Luka were still friends, they didn't turn on each other until Luka was eight. I was walking home from school, and Luka went ahead of me because I wanted to stick around with my friends for a bit.
I was passing by a junkyard when I heard a boy's voice cry out-"RINA!"
I quickly ran after the scream, to find my bullies tormenting Luka. They were my bullies. They usually left Luka alone. Layla and Freya were throwing garbage everywhere-and you can guess where they landed.
They also said some mean things which I would rather not repeat. Like I said, I was six. I didn't know how to handel it. I ran home and got mom, but by the time we got there, Layla and Freya were gone.
"RINA!"
Luka's voice snapped me out of my memories. We walk up to the stage. Luka is keeping a straight face, but as his twin sister I see he's hiding extreme pain. I hear a hyena laugh, and immediately recognize it as Layla. I clench my teeth. The second we get onstage, I rip the mic out of the escort's hand. I feel a pang of guilt as I see her startled face, but it's quickly covered up by my anger.
"DON'T EVEN TRY TO WRITE ME OFF!" I scream into the mic, squeezing Luka's hand. "I-WE'LL," I smile. "DO OUR BEST TO SURVIVE!"
I throw the microphone into the air, and it hits the stage with a satisfying thump as it releases squeals into the air. I hear the camera's whirr off, and I feel a thick hand on my shoulder.
The same Peacekeeper that took our blood began to lead us to the Justice Building. The biggest ones are in 1, 2, and 4. But the rooms in every other District's are smaller, meaning we were split up.
"Three Minutes."
I looked up and saw my family walk in. Dad, Mom, Leo, and Sofia were all standing there. None of them said a word. Leo looked frightened-his amber eyes glinting with tears. Sofia had tearstains on her cheeks. Mom and Dad just looked worried.
"Rina," Mom kneeled down and held my hand. "I know you. I know you can come home. I know you can survive. But-"
"I know," I whispered. I looked at my mom.
"Luka can't," we said in unison.
"Just...look after him, okay?" Mom begged.
"I will," I replied, wrapping my arms around her.
"Time's up!"
I cried on the inside as my family left. Sera and my boyfriend, Jack, came in one at a time. They all told me the same thing.
I know you can come home, but take care of Luka.
