Rose Adams, District 12 Girl
Zach Quince, District 12 Boy
Life Before The Reaping
Rose Adams, 14
A year before being reaped; 13 year-old Rose
The day was calm and quiet. The only sound heard was the chirping of the birds in the nearby forest. Rose Adams sat in a small meadow behind all the suffering the seam held. This was her place of peace. Rarely anyone else visited this place since it was so near the forest of District Twelve. Everyone feared the forest, but many saw it as a land of freedom. Rose was one of them. She was always fascinated by the forest. The trees were so tall and close together that you can so easily conceal yourself with them. Animals roamed, seeing the forest as their home.
Rose was sitting silently by a large oak tree, her blonde hair blown slightly by the cool wind of her district. She came here to think most of the time. Most times, she'd think of how to feed herself and her family. They were slowly falling apart, she knew. Her and Stella would barely eat a piece of meat everyday. Her parents who were barely even home didn't make much money in the mines where they worked. Rose's absentminded stare turned into a glare, her eyes filled with so much hate for everything.
She hated how she barely had anything to eat and her family didn't have much time for her. She hated how the Capitol could do so much to her and the whole of them didn't even know who she was. She hated how the stupid forest could hold so much life and freedom and she couldn't even take one step into it. The only person who lifted her out of her angry and depressed state was the handsome Zach Quince who she had fallen head over heels for.
He must have been the only person Rose had actually cared for and loved. She only had a few interactions with him. The latest one had been a month ago when she was late for class and even tripped as she ran. He was passing by and helped her up as he was also late for class. They walked to class together and he even noticed how skinny she was. With his kind heart, he offered her a small box of blueberries he had stolen from a merchant just the day before. No one has ever shown such kindness to her.
Rose was lost in her thoughts that she nearly didn't notice a couple of bushes shuffling a few feet from where she sat. Alarmed and terrified, Rose stood up and ran to another set of bushes where she hid to see what it was. Or rather, who it was.
A tall dark-haired man appeared from the bushes, silently cursing them for scratching him. His eyes were bright and silver like the moon. He didn't look too old, probably middle-aged. He wore an old set of clothes that Rose recognized as clothes people from the seam usually wore. No wonder he looked slightly familiar to Rose. The man lived in the seam, just like her. Rose would see him carrying a rabbit or a squirrel once or twice though Rose never figured out where he got it.
The man approached the forest and he bent down, slipping through a space between the wires that separated the forest from the district. Rose expected the man to get electrocuted, but he simply stood up once again and he jogged into the forest. Wide-eyed and definitely surprised, Rose followed him in, following his actions on slipping through the large gap between the two wires. She had always thought they were fueled by electricity to keep people from going in. Apparently not.
Rose had to run to keep up with the man. She was very quiet and conscious of her surroundings. It was the first time she was in the forest and it felt great. The smell of the trees and the sound of rustling leaves were so pleasant to her and it felt like she was in paradise. Suddenly, the man stopped and Rose had to hide in another set of bushes to keep herself from being seen. The man reached for something behind a tree trunk and he pulled out a sheath of arrows and a bow.
Rose gasped at the sight of the illegal weapon and unfortunately, the man heard it. His head snapped to where she hid.
"Who's there?" he called out, his voice low and demanding.
Rose didn't dare speak up. She crawled her way out of the bushes and stood up to stick her back up against a tree, still hidden from the man. She peeked and saw the man approaching the bushes she was just hiding in a few seconds ago. She sighed in relief when he shook his head, probably thinking it was just his imagination.
The rest of the day, Rose simply watched the man. He killed a few rabbits and gathered some wild berries by the bushes. She could remember which ones he would throw away, and which he would take home. The ones he didn't take home were probably poisonous. For the next few days, he returned and Rose was there as well. She simply watched him use his bow and arrow which fascinated Rose so much.
On another day, Rose stepped inside the forest and hid behind her usual tree, waiting for the man to come. Unfortunately, no man came. After waiting so long, Rose stepped out of her hiding spot and walked over to the tree where the man hid his bow. She felt relieved when she saw that it was still hidden there. Her hand twitched to take it, but she knew it was wrong. An idea suddenly hit her. If she used it, all she had to do was give it back and the man wouldn't even notice it was ever gone if she put it back in time.
Shaking slightly, she reached for the bow and the sheath of arrows. Imitating the man, she placed her sheath at her back and setting her stance. She felt a bit unbalanced, but she was positive this was how the man stood with the bow and arrow. She reached for one of her arrows and loaded her bow, just like the man had done. After a week of simply watching him, Rose already knew how to do it. She slowly drew the string, but she accidentally let the arrow fall out of the bow and down to the ground. Cursing silently, she picked it up.
So much for a first try, she thought bitterly.
It took a while for her to finally draw the string back with the arrow in place; probably after ten or more tries. Rose wasn't the most patient person either. She had a scowl on her face when she finally did it right. Getting excited, she immediately let the arrow fly but it didn't go very far. It fell a few feet from where she stood, and it wasn't even strong enough to sink in the ground. Instead, it simply lay there as though it had been dropped by someone.
An angry groan escaped her lips and she kept shooting, getting angrier and angrier when it kept falling. She was so irritated already that she drew the string so fast, she thought it was going to snap and she took aim at a tree bark nearby. She let go and it zipped through the air until it sunk in the trunk and this time, it had stayed instead of falling back on the ground. A smile then started to grow on her face and her eyes twinkled as she stared happily at the bow she held.
This might just be her ticket to survival.
Life Before the Reaping
Zach Quince, 14
Present day; a week before the reaping
The merchants were leaving once again, and this was a chance for Zach that he could never resist. The Yellers were a rich couple who bore no children. They were constantly leaving to visit their other house which was situated near the Victor's Village. The thought of them leaving their house without anyone to guard it made Zach grin with happiness.
After thirty minutes and the Yellers did not return, Zach started his plan. He jumped over the fence effortlessly and snuck to the back of the house by their backyard. He picked the lock of the door which didn't take him too long as picking locks was one of his specialties and it wasn't the first time he's picked the lock of the Yeller's back door. He chuckled silently and a smirk tugged on his lips when the door sprung open with a soft creak. He immediately stepped inside and made his way to the kitchen. Again, it wasn't his first time in the Yellers and he pretty much knew the whole house.
Zach opened their large refrigerator and his mouth watered at all the food in it. He moved over to the meat section where there was pork, chicken and beef. He took a portion from each, knowing the Yellers would never notice as he's done this before. He grabbed the smallest carton of milk and even a loaf of bread and a small block of cheese. This was already heaven for him and was like a queen's feast for his family.
He looked through more drawers and cabinets in the kitchen, looking for more things to take. He got a nice looking bag that held all the food he had. He was even thinking whether he should take one of the knives the Yellers had for himself since his knife at home was blunt and dirty. He was so into looking through drawers that he barely noticed the front door opening. He heard the sound of twinkling which meant someone had opened the door and Zach didn't remember inviting anyone in his robbery.
Cursing silently, Zach stuffed in everything he had taken inside the bag and ran to the back door. As soon as he left the kitchen, Mrs. Yeller came in with a bag of groceries. Zach immediately hid behind a wall that separated him from the kitchen and Mrs. Yeller. He took a peek and he saw Mrs. Yeller sit on one of the chairs with her back to him as she turned her kitchen TV on, filling the room with the sounds of the Capitol news. Without making a sound, Zach took a step forward, still staring at Mrs. Yellers blonde head, terrified she would look back and see him.
Although as he was staring, something caught his eye on one of the counters behind Mrs. Yeller. The knife he had been looking at was still there and Zach knew he couldn't leave without it. Very silently, Zach took two steps into the kitchen and reached for the knife. It made a small sound when the blade scratched the counter and Zach could have sworn any moment then he would start sweating blood. Of course, he didn't because Mrs. Yeller was too into her TV show that she barely even noticed the sound. Zach nearly sighed in happiness as he stepped back a few feet, still looking at Mrs. Yeller, praying that she wouldn't look back. When he finally exited the kitchen, he ran for the back door, his grin back on his face.
Unfortunately when he opened the door, the twinkling sound echoed inside the house and Zach cursed out loud. He heard the TV turn off and Zach immediately ran out of the house before Mrs. Yeller could leave the kitchen to check who was there. The Yellers' backyard was pretty big and the fence was still far from the door Zach just exited. He couldn't run or Mrs. Yeller would see him before he jumped over the fence. He spotted a huge tree just nearby and immediately ran to it.
Climbing was never one of his strong points, but this was a matter of life and death. If he was caught stealing, he'd be punished by the peacekeepers, especially since he was just a boy from the seam and he was robbing a wealthy merchant couple. He sunk his knife in the tree bark and pulled himself up enough to hold on to one of the branches. It took him a while to lift his whole body up to be hidden in the leaves but it was enough because as soon as he lifted his feet up, Mrs. Yeller came out of the back door.
"Who's there?" she demanded. "I know you're hear somewhere! I heard you! Come out, come out, you filthy child!"
"Canna, what are you doing?"
Mr. Yeller stepped out if the back door, frowning at his wife who seemed to be shouting at no one.
"He's here again! That child who keeps stealing from us! You have to believe me this time, Koda! I heard him!"
Mr. Yeller sighed, obviously not believing his wife one bit.
"We haven't lost anything, Canna," he said, rolling his eyes. "Come back inside."
Growling, Mrs. Yeller stomped back inside the house. Mr. Yeller followed her in and it was quiet once again. Zach sighed in relief, raking his sweaty jet-black hair with his fingers. He waited a few more minutes until he jumped back down on the ground as silent as he could. He ran to the fence and jumped over it, running back to the seam for dinner.
The Reaping
Rose Adams, 14
It tempted Rose to hunt more in the forest before the reaping. For about a year, Rose had been the one providing food for her family to continue living. She was the reason why they had three meals on the table everyday and she barely got any gratitude and thanks for it. Still, Rose was thankful for the events that happened in the forest a year ago. She wouldn't be alive if it weren't for that man and the bow and arrow.
Unfortunately, her sister Stella refused to let her hunt on reaping day.
"It's just for an hour," Rose grumbled irritatedly.
"You're out if you're mind, Rose," Stella snapped. "It's reaping day and peacekeepers are everywhere."
"Don't blame me when we don't have any food for dinner later then," Rose shot back, standing up from their tiny kitchen table and stomping her way to her room.
Rose didn't take time on dressing up for the reaping. Unlike everyone else, she didn't feel the need to dress up for an occasion like this. Stella though was in a short blue dress her mother had given her for her birthday just a month ago. She curled her bright blonde hair and even put some make-up on. It sickened Rose. Even worse was that they were identical. Stella was obviously the prettier one so nobody really paid attention to her other half.
The twins made their way to town square. Their parents would be going there from work so they couldn't see their daughters before they were pricked and sent in with the other fourteen year-olds. Stella squeaked as the needle sunk in her finger but Rose only flinched, refusing to let herself show weakness, especially to Capitol people.
Something then caught Rose's attention when she finally stepped in the square after getting her finger pricked. Just a few steps from her was Zach Quince, his dark hair so silky and his eyes so bright like the color of the sky. Rose could feel her knees weaken and her hands darting up to her hair, wishing she had styled it just as beautiful as Stella's. It's been two years and she was still in love with the boy, signing whenever he passed by and subtly looking in his direction during class. He was class clown and everyone loved him. He's also one of District Twelve's most wanted although no one actually knew he was the one stealing from people's houses except for some of the kids in class, Rose included.
Zach's beautiful eyes were so filled with worry at the moment and Rose could see why. His twelve year-old sister was sobbing in his arms, repeatedly saying she put too much in the bowl and she wanted to take them all back.
"There's no taking back, Diana," Zach said, his voice cracking. "I wish I could've stopped you from taking so much tessera but Matt just turned nineteen and he couldn't take any anymore. I'm so so sorry."
Rose could feel her own eyes watering at the sight, but she tried her best not to let the tears fall. Don't cry, you weirdo, she thought to herself. You never cry. Stop it.
But despite her thoughts screaming for her not to, she finally let one tear fall and she immediately wiped it, turning her gaze away from the poor brother and sister. It affected her so greatly whenever she saw someone she loved getting hurt. She remembered a time when she and Stella were actually very close as twins. Stella had climbed up a tree in the tiny meadow Rose usually went to for peace. They were both eight. Stella was still so tiny and fragile and when she tried holding on to a thin branch, it snapped and she fell to the ground on her back, barely being able to breathe. Rose had never been so terrified and worried her whole life.
Rose had to force herself to walk to the fourteen year-old girls section and leave Zach and his sister. When the overly dressed escort greeted everyone, nobody greeted her back. Anything the escort actually says would be answered by silence from the district. It amused Rose to see the crestfallen expression of the escort whenever nobody would answer her.
"Well, lets start with the girls then," she said, walking over to the glass ball.
Her denim skin-tight jeans restricted her from walking in long strides and instead she walked with very small steps that took her about five minutes just to get to the glass ball. She stuffed her hand inside and pulled out a slip with a devilish grin. After another five minutes of walking back to the mic, she unrolled the paper and read the name out loud.
"Diana Quince!"
The Reaping
Zach Quince, 14
This was impossible. This did not just happen. His twelve year-old sister did not just get reaped. Zach watched as peacekeepers finally spotted his sister who was sobbing on the ground in the twelve year-old girls section. Zach's blood turned cold and his whole being had turned pale. He could feel tears streaming down his cheeks and his throat was constricted. He was barely breathing and tears clouded his vision as his sister was dragged up stage. Only then did he react openly and violently.
"Diana!" he screamed louder than ever before, his voice filled with desperation. "No, Diana! I volunteer! I volunteer!"
"I'm sorry but we can only accept volunteers from the ladies at the moment, mister," the escort said into the microphone with a devilish smile just as Diana was pushed beside her by a peacekeeper.
"Get your hands off her!" Zach shouted, his legs sprinting to the stage but before he could reach the stairs, two peacekeepers grabbed his arms and pulled him back.
Zach struggled as he tried to pull away from them, screaming for his sister and begging for mercy.
"Do we have any volunteers from the ladies?" the escort asked, obviously happy with the drama going on in her district. When she was once again answered by silence, she opened her mouth again to speak but then something very unusual and surprising happened.
Zach watched as a petite blonde walked forward from the crowd, her hand raised and her face pale but determined. She shed no tears although fear was evident in her eyes.
"I volunteer," she said loud and clear.
Zach felt his mouth open and the weight from his shoulders lift. Diana wasn't going in, but this unknown but familiar girl was going in instead. Something about her ringed a bell in Zach's head but he didn't take time on dwelling on it since Diana was ushered down the stage by a peacekeeper and Zach immediately pulled her into his arms, not letting go. He refused to move so the escort was forced to continue with the two of them in front of the whole district.
When the escort rolled the slip of paper for the boys, a very nasty and wide grin grew on her face.
"Zach Quince!"
Zach's head snapped up to the escort, shaking his head. He couldn't be that unlucky. It wasn't possible that both him and his sister were reaped in the same year. Zach's feet would not move and he was glued to the spot, staring open-mouthed at the escort. Only when the peacekeeper started to drag him to stage did Zach's feet finally functioned and he was pulled away from Diana who screamed his name as she was held back by another peacekeeper.
Zach stood before his whole district who was looking at both him and his district partner with pity. He heard his district partner sadly sigh. If he heard her introduce herself correctly, her name was Rose. He never knew any Rose before, but this Rose seemed so familiar to him. Zach did not cry anymore although his face was still wet from the tears he shed for his sister. At least he was going in the arena, not Diana. At least he knew Diana was safe in District Twelve. But what about him? Was he safe?
The Justice Building
Rose Adams, 14
When the door opened, Stella stomped inside with red eyes and tear-stained cheeks. Her face was so angry that Rose was actually a bit frightened by her.
"I can't believe you volunteered for that stupid boy!" she shouted.
"I did the right thing," Rose said quietly, looking Stella straight in the eye.
"You think so?" Stella hissed. "You're just going to leave your own family to starve, is that it? Is that what you think the right thing is?"
"Go and starve, let's see if I care," Rose shot back. "I put food on our table and I don't even get gratitude or kindness in return. I come home with a rabbit and you ask if that's it. If you want more, why don't you try hunting in the forest with the constant fear of getting caught?"
"I care about you, Rose! I don't want you to go in that arena! I can't believe you're going to leave the one person who's ever cared for you for another person who doesn't even know you!"
"I don't care if Zach doesn't know me!" Rose shouted, tears streaming down her cheeks. "I'm doing this for him and you can't do anything about it! He gives me the reason to keep fighting for my life, don't you understand that? He gives me hope that there is a future outside this whole mess with the Capitol!"
"You barely even know him, Rose," Stella growled. "And I want nothing to do with you anymore. Good luck."
Stella yanked the door open and closed it behind her with a very loud bang. Rose was alone again, thinking if what Stella had said was true. Did she really do the right thing?
The Justice Building
Zach Quince, 14
Mr. And Mrs. Quince entered with their other two children, Matt and Diana. Diana was the first to give Zach a hug and she didn't let go even when Matt and his parents had hugged him. She silently cried in his shirt and nobody spoke a word of the events that just happened for a while. The whole family was definitely shocked at their luck for this year's reapings. If the Rose girl didn't volunteer, both Diana and Zach would be going in the arena together. Even though they had each other, chances were only one of them would be returning or none of them at all.
"Rough afternoon, isn't it?" Matt broke the silence, his voice cracking and his eyes watery.
"Definitely," Zach agreed, sniffing with a small chuckle.
"You're going to do great, Zach," his father said, patting him in the back. "I've seen you with your knife. You're pretty handy with it."
"What are you saying, daddy?" Diana said, finally letting go of Zach as she wiped her eyes. "Zach is amazing with a knife. I've seen him use it in really bad situations."
"Throwing really isn't my thing though," Zach said with a small smile.
"Who said knives were only for throwing?" Matt raised an eyebrow.
Zach grinned at him and the two hugged. He was definitely going to miss his older brother. At that moment, the family was forced out of the room. Diana screamed one last I love you before the door finally closed and they were gone. Zach did not cry anymore. He was actually smirking, a devilish glint in his eye. His family was right. He was pretty handy with a knife. All those careers with their fancy throwing skills and such, they would never know what to expect from Zach and his talent with knives.
Hello! Hope you like District 12. Personally, I really like them. :) They're really interesting to me. What do you think? Tell me in a review!
Reviews are really helpful to me and they give me the motivation to write more. I hope you spare some time to tell me what you think. :)
Again, I already have the blog of the tributes up! It's ourlastdays52 .wordpress .com (remove spaces). Thank you!
