Please do not read SYOT forms in the reviews to avoid getting spoilers. xD Also, we have a new wiki! You can check it out, it's called: frozen - alive . wikia . come(without the e) / wiki/Frozen_Alive_Wiki
Without the spaces.
P.S: I had a dream few nights ago that all the reviews from this story were gone. Lol. xP
Dahlia Rhodes (D10 Female)
I was ten.
I was working with the cattle when a sudden scream jolted me up. Mom ran over and began hauling me out of the barn- for no apparent reason, it seemed. But this had happened before, I should know..
"Go! Out!" Mom shrieked. I had never seen her like this...she had always been a kind, distant presence in my life, nothing too close to me... And here she was, yelling for me to get out? Then a sudden scent pierced my nostrils and I coughed.
The acrid, bitter scent of smoke.
I knew what this was...this was the fire... oh, no..
These thoughts barely registered in my head as I was yanked out into the open. Smoke, huge clouds of it, rose up from the mess. A little orange flare was burning down the right side of the barn, destroying it to nothing.
I looked at my shoulder. No burn.
"I have to get them!" I heard myself screaming. Mom rushed forward to hold me back, but I was too fast. I sprinted toward the barn, into the smoke smell. I can save them, I thought, eyes watering from all the ash and soot in the air. I'm a fast runner.
They were all tied to the back wall, mooing in panic. I hurried up to them and found the tight knot. How long would it take me to untie it... My hands worked quickly, ripping at the cords binding the cattle. I got three out and they all bounded away, a thunder of moos in the air.
I had to get the last few out... my fingers fumbled, and I could see a spray of sparks to my left...had to get this out...
There! I finished up the last knot and grabbed as many of the equipment as I could see. Ropes, coils of string, anything that got into my line of sight. I got a bunch of our family's old metal pails that were used to get water, and then dashed back out.
The hallway was empty, all the cattle having found their way out. I was so glad at that moment, I didn't even care that the sparks were lashing out at me, singeing a scar of burns right then and there. I could feel the scorching pain all the same, despite the victory. The metal smell filled my nose until I thought I couldn't breathe. I was suffocating in this hot, fiery air...I would be burned alive...
I ran immediately for the other exit, then found it barred by a few fizzling sparks. I wasn't going to chance my luck my running through those sparks...
But the wall of fire was getting nearer, I could see it as I turned around. Oh no no no no..I was going to be trapped and there would be no way out. Fire on one side...sparks on the other... Could I jump over those sparks? No, what if they burned my feet? The sparks could quickly turn into a full-gone fire. I couldn't risk setting it.
The smoke was such an acrid scent that, sputtering among coughs, I felt like giving up. All the breath had been sucked out of my lungs- I could see that my skin was burned raw and red..
And then...
and then...
The fire licked my shoulder. My first feeling was that of a puppy dog's. But then the pain came in, blistering and bubbling on my skin. I let out a scream, hoping somebody could hear me, but doubled over coughs almost instantly after. Would I make it? Oh, why had I done such a foolish thing...
Pain scorching my shoulder, I ran for the sparks, not caring if I got singed. It would be better than a definite death, of being roasted alive. I leaped over as if I were flying and landed safely on the other side.
But...something was wrong... The sparks were now turning their direction, chasing after me as if I were a magnetic pole and they were a hunk of metal. Had this happened before? I couldn't even think in my dream... This...was...all...a...dream.
I would open my eyes sooner or later, I told myself. Everything would be fine.
I ran for my life, across the lawn grass. Wait, where were my parents? They were supposed to be here, helping me! Oh, no, I was alone... and the sparks were eating up the grass, creating a wall of fire fueled by the wood of the barn. Its roaring sound was almost like waves, like a giant fire tsunami.
Then the sparks caught up, burned into me and I screamed. I was among the fire now, and I would most certainly die...
Then an icy cold mist washed over me. Panting, I looked up, into an evergreen forest of emerald color. The sun was pale and welcomed no light into these shadows. There was a path leading down into the forest, and I took it. But then all of a sudden...
I woke up, sweat sticky on my skin. Why did it feel so hot here too...
Then I remembered. It was Reaping Day.
"Mom! Dad! I'm leaving!" I called as I raced out of the door. I was so excited to go and just talk to the other people that breakfast had gone down quicker than expected. I guess you could call me outgoing, the kind of person who loves people. I wouldn't blame you.
They accepted that quality about me, because they liked how I always made new friends, etc.
The day was bright, sunny, and hot, and soon my clothes were sticking to my back from sweat. It was summer, so that was reasonable. I didn't exactly mind summer, but the heat was still a minor annoyance. Especially when it reminded me so much of... fire.
I better not think of that.
I wouldn't say I had a best friend, because within my friend circle was a bunch of people that all hung out equally with me. There was this new girl called Mia, who had been homeschooled all her life up until now. I wanted to get to know her better.
I walked up the lane to her street, checking the address on the little street sign that was posted in the intersection. Livestock Road. Yep. I turned left and it seemed that a whole new world opened up before me. The road was filthy, looking as if it hadn't been cleaned in a year. The houses were lopsided and with poor structure. Some were teetering on just a couple wooden support sticks. I saw the numbers fly past me, searching for 51.
48, 49, 50...
There it was! I raced over to the house, which was small and more like a cabin kind of thing. It stood apart from all the other houses, and looked abandoned from the outside. Probably because Mia had been homeschooled and not with the rest of the community's schoolwork. Then again, I thought wryly, I didn't exactly take my schoolwork seriously either.
I rapped on the wooden door, almost afraid to knock for fear of sending the door crashing to the ground. But it was sturdier than I had thought, not moving an inch as I knocked, harder, again. Were they even in there?
"Mia!" I called on emphasis.
Finally, a plump woman answered the door, eyes wide- I didn't know why. She looked almost scared as she gazed at me, her carrot-colored hair messy atop her head. The shape of her face was eerily similar to Mia's. I figured this must be her mom.
"Who- who are you?" she asked in a frighteningly hoarse voice. I couldn't help but cringe.
"I'm Dahlia Rhodes," I introduced myself, confused. Hadn't Mia told her mother that I was to be expected?
"Oh!" The woman's tenseness faded away. "Dahlia. I remember you. You're the one Mia was expecting, right?" She gave a nervous smile. "Come in, come in."
I walked over the threshold and was amazed at how cozy it looked. From the outside, one might think it was abandoned, but here, the housecleaning was done immaculately, no dust anywhere to be seen. The dining room was small, with three chairs around a table. I could smell a faint scent of breakfast, already eaten but leaving its aroma in the air. Mmm. Pancakes.
"Where's Mia?" I asked conversationally, not used to having to talk to jittery, confusing people like her. Usually whenever I spoke, they would respond with a certain mirth, but this woman looked almost downright unhappy.
What was there to be unhappy about? I thought. Sure, the Reaping was today, but that didn't mean the day was completely ruined.
"Mia?" her mom repeated. She went silent for a second, contemplating, then said, "Mia is in her bedroom." She pointed a sharp finger in the room down the hallway. "Down there."
I nodded thanks and headed over to her bedroom, opening it tentatively. At first, I thought Mia wasn't even there, but then I saw her bright, frizzy orange-brown hair and beamed. "Hello!"
Mia popped her head up from whatever she was doing. "Oh! Hi, Dahlia. Come right on in." I slipped into the room, closing the door behind me, and saw that it was actually very small in comparison to mine. There was no window, so it was very dark, but also a good place to just relax.
She posed in her russet dress. I noticed a sheet of fabric the exact same color beside her and my brow furrowed. "So you make dresses?"
"Mhm," Mia replied. She grinned. "What do you think?"
The dress went down to her knees, but it was mostly just plain. There were no decorations or anything, just some red fabric made into a dress. The stitching, I noticed apologetically, looked almost about to come apart.
"It's- good," I managed. "The red, though, it kind of clashes with your hair." I thought for a moment. "I mean, I bet it would probably look better on me. Since I don't have red hair and all."
Mia frowned down at her dress. "So you don't like it?"
"No, no, it's okay...just, I'm adding some criticism." I smiled. "It's always good to have some criticism." Mia seemed to be a very complex person, I thought. A bit narrow-minded, but also intelligent in the way she gazed thoughtfully at the dress.
"Oh, if you insist." Mia sighed, eyes darting to my own costume. I was dressed in a farmer-style, with a straw hat, a white button-up shirt with no sleeves, and a blue skirt coming all the way down to my thighs. A bit of a weird match, but it would do.
Mia tilted her head at me, studying me in that odd pensive look that made me a bit self-conscious. "Arrogant, are you?" she said finally.
I gaped at her. I hadn't expected her to say something so strange as that. My mind quickly came up with a logical answer and I answered, "If you say so."
Mia fingered her dress, eyes wide and harshly green. "Um, let's get going. I-I want to get there early." The corners of her mouth pulled into a guarded smile. "Come on." She got to her feet, pulling me up with her, and I wondered why she was acting so weirdly. It was almost like she was...hiding something.
Murray Keyes (D10 M)
"So who was the soldier you were fighting?" I asked eagerly, prompting for a response. I loved listening to my grandfather's stories of being a rebel soldier, they were so interesting and really the only form of entertainment I got besides.
Hudson frowned, deep in thought. I imagined what it must be like for him to have so many memories. Did it feel good or bad? Did he wish he didn't have those memories? He said carefully, "He was a Capitolite for sure. Brown hair dyed a striking blue..." His eyes hardened. "I remember his expression the most. It was almost mocking me, as if he didn't care one bit about this battle. He knew the Capitol was going to win. He knew it all along. This was simply a game in his eyes."
My eyebrows furrowed as well. "That's terrible," I said breathlessly.
"It is," was all Hudson responded with. "On a brighter note- what are you after now?"
I grinned. I always had a target I was going for, a goal that I would never rest until I achieved it. "Not being chosen as tribute in this year's Hunger Games," I told him.
Hudson gave a, "Hmm." His bright eyes fixed on mine in a way that was intense, almost disturbing. "Well that's an interesting one."
He knew more than anyone that he should definitely never tell me that I couldn't. I could do it, and I would do it. "It's not so hard," I protested. "All I have to do is avoid getting picked." Determination flamed inside me, and I knew I could do it. There were tons of people out there that could get picked! Why me?
Because you won't be picked, my conscience whispered. If that's your new goal, then so be it. This time, you will achieve it.
"It isn't hard," Hudson said, almost in a puzzled way. A harsh look came into his eyes. "But I know, Murray, more than anyone, that the Capitol is evil. If you are chosen, however, do not start yelling insults to them. Do not."
"I won't," I replied easily. "Why would I?" If I got chosen, I would win. I knew I could. But it would be better safe than sorry, and I would never put my life on the line by volunteering, however curious I was. I wanted to see how everything worked. I wanted to see all the fancy Capitol luxuries, all the delicious food, the amazing clothes, how hard it really was in the arena.
I added, "I won't get chosen anyway." These words fell into the air without making a mark. Hudson looked like he was thinking about something but shook his head slowly, dismissing whatever had conquered his mind.
"You won't get chosen," Hudson echoed. My grandfather looked up at the little rusty clock in the corner. "Oh, look, it's time. We better start heading to the Reaping."
I yawned. I had my grandfather's opinion, I had mine, and they were both the same. My spirits were pretty high as we started setting out for the Reaping. I would not be picked, and just live a normal life here, in the District where I belonged.
The Reaping started out normally. I was bored halfway through, and by the time they were picking out the boy tribute, I was looking forward to taking a nap back home. Then I heard the name they called: "Murray Keyes."
Wait, what? Murray Keyes? But that was my goal! I couldn't just let it rest! I wanted to take off right than and there, but instead, my body moved robotically to the front, a confident smile plastering on my face. If I ran for it, that would be to no avail. Better to just make a good first impression for the Games and to the other tributes...
They would think I was confident, I thought. I added a wave to the crowd, trying to act as a Career would. Everyone always loved Careers.
The girl opposite me, who I hadn't even been able to catch her name, didn't move as the escort prompted us to shake hands.
"Shake hands," she repeated again. It took several tries for her to put out her hand numbly; I shook it somewhat enthusiastically, though I sure didn't feel that way inside. The last thing I saw was the thunderstruck expression on my grandfather's face as I was roughly hauled to the building where we would say our final goodbyes.
8/3/17
