Adelaide Kentworth
16
District 5 Female
"Are you sure it's worth that much?" The jewelry merchant asked. I nodded at him.
"Yes, I am positive." I put on a rather convincing show, I thought. "It's worth 80 credits." I held out the silver like bracelet. "It's been in my family for years, and well, let's just say we've hit a rough bump." The truth was, I stole the bracelet a week ago from the office of a winemaker. It was a lucky steal, but the hardest part of any thievery is selling it to unsuspecting people.
"Ah, I see. While, I'll tell you what. I'll take it for 40," The merchant offered.
"How about 60?" I pushed.
"50. 50 is what I'll take it for."
I didn't want 50, I wanted 60. That would at least give food for a couple days. They wouldn't be glorious dinners, but they would be enough. "60 is what I'll give it for. I'm not going any lower."
The merchant seemed to think about that for a moment, just as he was about to say something, he stopped and said another, "You have yourself a deal." He handed me over 60 credits and I handed over the bracelet. 60 credits has never felt so good in my hands. I've kind of hit a drought in theft recently. That bracelet was really the first thing I've stolen in a couple months. Part of the drought was bad luck, the other part was that I've been pretty busy lately.
While my mom did work, she worked as a lowly janitor at a bakery. The money she made went to rent for the cramped little house that we live in. I stole in part because I needed to, but stealing was also exhilarating for me. I couldn't explain it, it was just weird.
My first stop on the way back home was the bakery, where I bought a fresh loaf of bread. After that, I visited this little store that's set up in an abandoned one. The middle-aged man who runs the store goes out into the wild past the town boundaries and collects wild fruits and vegetables. He also fishes from whatever bodies of water he can find. I didn't know his name, but I knew some of the less fortunate citizens in District 5 came to buy his products.
I had picked up some blueberries, some onions, a rabbit and a fish. The onions and fish I would use for a soup for dinner. The rabbit I would roast for lunch. I've spent already quite a bit of the money earned from the bracelet. It was no matter, I did what it took to feed my family.
When I returned back home, I saw my mom sticking a knife into one of her shirts. It didn't seem like she had a paticular reason. At this point I have come to accept the fact that she is crazy, and always shall be crazy. I sighed as I went to the kitchen to begin preparing dinner. I didn't necesarily like cooking, but seeing as my mother is crazy, and my sister Quinn doesn't want to learn how to cook, I was the only one. I sort of self-taught myself how to cook.
Quinn turned 11 a few months ago. I was glad that she was still safe. Next year would be the first year she was elligible for getting reaped. The short life of a tribute is something I would never want for her. At the same time, I only had three more reapings to go, including today. My name was in 20 times, not a very good number. I usually didn't pray to a specific god or anything like that, but if there was a day to pray, it would be today.
Bandit Alvarez
16
District 5 Male
I fiddled with the watch I stole in last night's escapade into the Conlins' home. The Conlins weren't rich at all, so I wasn't expecting to find much, but I did find one thing of value: A 14 karat gold watch. I had no clue how they obtained possession of such an item, but it didn't matter. It was mine now. The watch felt like sweet victory in my hand.
I would most likely be selling the watch to one of the fences I am acquainted with. They would pay a nice price for this piece. Did I need the money? Absolutely not. I was born into a wealthy family, the Alvarezs. My parents are both high-ranking scientists at AlvaRex, the hydro-electric company. They're scientists there, yes, but they also are part owners. AlvaRex was known as the most affluent power company in town, but they didn't earn that position fairly. Let's just say that my parents hired some thugs to, shall we say, 'impair' some of the other power companies. That is why my family is so rich.
I didn't want to be raised in luxury though. I hate being spoiled, especially by my parents. I have always craved the excitement of actually fighting to survive. That is part of the reason why I steal. I love the thrill of breaking into a house and stealing something valuable. I love the feeling of slipping away unnoticed. For me, it 'stimulates' the excitement of the fight to survive. The thirst for the fight is always there, no matter what, and in response to that, I have lied, stealed, and mugged people in the dead of the night. It is truly what I live for. The fight.
My parents of course, do not know of my crimes, or 'sins' as they would have it. Well, if they do know, I don't know about it, but I am far too sneaky and good at containing my secrets for them to know. I certainly didn't inherit that ability from them. My parents try to give off the impression of a normal christain family that works hard to get what they earn. The funny thing is, it's the opposite. I've been able to see the messages they send to their little hired thugs. They don't know that I know, which I find somewhat humorous. I can't blame them for cheating with their business, honestly, but I much rather prefer the thrill of winning my way to the top.
I was beginning to notice a problem however. Theft has, to simply put it, ceased to be 'a sporting proposition.' The thrill I receive from robbing a house, or mugging somebody, was slowly and steadily lowering. This does not bode well. What will I do to stimulate the thrill of the fight if even theft and mugging somebody isn't enough? It's getting too easy! After so many times of breaking in, it becomes predictable on what will happen next. I live for the thrill of unpredictability! The same thing happened years earlier, when pranking stopped sufficing as a way to supplement the thrill. Would murder suffice? No, even that too would get old unless I started killing high ranking officials, but the government actually cares about them, and would have a full investigation. Murder is an entirely different game to theft, after all.
I thought about what to do over the next few minutes, but every thought came to a dead end. My life would be boring without someway to provide thrill. I was interrupted from my thoughts by a call on my HoloScreen. It was Will, one of the thieves in the thief community in District 5. Something about me would always dislike Will. I just wasn't a people person, and Will did everything that grinded my gears. He would contact me so many times I thought my head would explode. He had this annoying weasel-like face too.
"Hey! How's it going Bandit?" He asked in his irritating nasal voice. "Say! I could really use a favor from you!"
I sighed, knowing he wanted me to get him another object that he wasn't good enough to steal, or something of the like. "You know that I don't do favors for free Will. If you want me to do a 'favor' for you, you have to do something for me, and I can promise you it won't be an easy task."
Will gave a nervous laugh. "Come o-on Bandy!" I hated it when people called me 'Bandy.' Shouldn't that idiot know that by now after the amount of times I've yelled at him for it. "C-couldn't you j-j-just do something for me t-this one time?" Another thing I hated was when people studdered nonstop.
"No Will! I can't! Either you do the task I want you to do, or don't contact me again!" I ended the call over the HoloScreen, and put it onto silent. It showed that he called after I hung up, in typical Will fashion, but the beauty of it all was that I didn't have to listen to it. Now, back to my thoughts.
Adelaide Kentworth
16
District 5 Female
"Come on Quinn, let's get you ready for the reaping," I told Quinn after our lunch of roasted rabbit and bread with blueberries. Lunch wasn't glorious or anything. All I had to season the rabbit with was the slightest bit of salt. Quinn didn't have a problem with that, however, since she likes to dip her meat into berry sauce anyways. I didn't understand it, but if that's what she liked, more power to her. The onion and fish soup that we would be eating for dinner was going along well in the kettle. My mom sat down on the couch, messing around with a broken bottle. I had set out a plate of rabbit and bread for her, but she didn't come to eat with us. Her choice, I supposed.
After my dad died, my mom went completely haywire. At first she went completely dark. Wouldn't talk to a soul. Stayed in the house for a whole month, and had multiple flashbacks, delusions, hallucinations and fits all the meanwhile. After that, she just went into psychosis. Whenever I tried to talk to her about something, she would just freak out or barely respond. Hell, it took three weeks to convince her to pick her job back up to keep the rent flowing for the house.
I resent my mom, for being so weak and shutting down. I resent my dad, for leaving us just like that. I resent everybody in this god-forsaken district for not giving a single shit about anybody else. These days, Quinn is really the only person that I don't resent. She is the only thing I have left. She is the only person I care about. She is the only person I love.
I followed her into our room and got her changed into a modest white dress. She loved the color white. I was the complete opposite. I preferred dark colors, and the only dress I had reflected that. I was a simple black dress which was in a style similar to Quinn's. Now came the hard part: Having to convince my mom to go the square.
As Quinn opened the front door, I looked at my mom."It's time to go mom." I say softly.
"No!" My mom immediately snapped. "I'm not going!" She screamed at me and threw the bottle at me, which I narrowly dodged. After that she just got a disillusioned look in her eyes and returned to her normal behaivor. Whatever, if she didn't want to go now, I suppose that she could wait until the peacekeepers came to get her. I promptly walked out the door with Quinn and made our way to the square, which was already filling up with people.
Just as we're getting checked in, Quinn freezes and begins to worry. I crouch down and hug her, "What's wrong Quinnie? You're still too young to get reaped."
"I know," she says with a scared and timid voice. "But I'm scared that you will be reaped. I don't..." She trailed off. "I don't want to be left alone with mom."
"Don't worry, Quinn. I won't be reaped. I'll stay here, and I'll provide for us." She seemed to calm down a little bit. "You ready to go in?" Quinn nodded, and we entered. I sent her off to the younger kid section, while I went to the 16 year old section. Soon enough, I saw the peacekeepers leave for their patrol for those ducking out on the reaping. After several minutes, I see my mom being dragged to the square.
"Now that we have everybody here, I think we can begin!" The female escort says. They played the same film they play every year, "Now, it is the time to select our two tributes from 5 for the honor of respresenting this powerful district in the 76th Hunger Games!" Everybody had a glum look on their face. The escort clicked the button. "Adelaide Kentworth."
Everybody turned to me, and I felt myself automatically shuffling out into the aisle. It felt like I wasn't in control. It was disillusionment. Is this what mom feels?
"Come up my dear!" The escort encourages me. I hear Quinn screaming my name as I climb up in terror. How could I leave her with mom? I can't... I can't. I felt worry building up inside of me for Quinn.
But the only expression I expressed was one of stone-cold darkness,
Bandit Alvarez
16
District 5 Male
The peaceful silence I was in was destroyed by my parents entering the house. Of course, right when I would like my silence the most, my noisy parents have to come in and ruin it. Whatever, I would be getting silence soon enough.
"Bandit, we're home!" My mom called. Before long she was in my room. "Here, here, here! I got you a brand-new, sparkling outfit!" After a pause, "While put it on Bandit."
I motioned for her to leave the room and I changed into the outfit. It almost made me sick. I hated it. It was too, shall we say, 'rich'. But I knew that I would have to wear this for the reaping and there was no way to get out of it.
When my mom saw me in the suit, she almost fainted. "Oh my gosh Bandit! You look fantastic in that!" Then she called for my dad. "Apol! Come look at Bandit in the outfit we got him!"
When my dad walked in, he looked impressed. "My, my Bandit. You look good in it!" After that, my parents took a few minutes to get ready and then we left a little bit after the horns blared. My mom called it being 'fashionably late'. Apperantly, we got there just soon enough before the peacekeepers left to look for us. I did not like being late. It didn't matter though, because the peacekeepers still had to leave to find some other people. A woman who looked like she was on some form of intense drug was dragged in by the peacekeepers. Probably a methhead.
"Now that we have everybody here, I think we can begin!" For lack of a better term, I called this district's escort 'Cranberry' because her hair and her makeup resembles cranberry sauce. Cranberry continued, "So, let's just put on this happy little film from the Capitol real quick!" I laughed quietely, as the film was anything but happy. It was also loud.
"Now, it is the time to select our two tributes from Five to have the honor of representing this powerful district in the 76th Hunger Games." I swear I saw Cranberry laugh to herself at her pun. She clicks the button, and there goes the name. "Adelaide Kentworth." The girl who was picked immediately begins walking out into the aisle. She was in my section of 16 year olds. The look on her face was one of coldness and apathy.
"Now, now, it is time for the boys... Alexander Percy." A boy from the 14 year old section begins slowly moving out. It was at that moment that something clicked. I could care less about the boy, but I think I just found a solution to solve my loss of thrill from theft. Of course, why didn't I think of this earlier? It's the perfect solution. The Games are a true fight for survival. It will give me all the thrill I ever wanted. It was dangerous, and it was an adventure. I would do it.
"I volunteer!" I yell smugly and begin walking out into the aisle. The boy who got reaped got both a look of relief and confusion on his face.
Cranberry got a look of delight on her face. "And what is your name?"
"I would like to... say something." Cranberry gave me a look of confusion, but then allowed me to continue. "People of District 5. My name is Bandit Alvarez." I wasn't done, I figured if I was going to volunteer, I would make a bang. "I have lied, I have stolen, I have mugged. I have done everything imaginable!" I gave out a slight chuckle as shock and disapproval swept through the crowd. "I have committed many crimes in my life. If you're not poor, chances are I'm the person that broke into your house!" Yes, something about the shock satisfied me. Just as the peacekeepers began to drag me in the Justice Building, I caught a glance of my parents.
The disapproval on their face was insurmountable.
Adelaide Kentworth
16
District 5 Female
Geez, that District Partner of mine seems like a complete psychopath. Why would he volunteer? Why did he admit his crimes onstage to everybody? I sighed. That is my District Partner. I was dead meat.
Worries about Quinn surviving with my crazy mother swam around in my head. What would she do? Would she have to learn how to steal for necessity like I did? There is no doubt she'll have to take tessarae. At least she won't have to take as much tessarae as I did. Hell, maybe she'll decide to not take tessarae for mom, and only for herself. No, that wouldn't happen. Quinn loves mom and still has hope for her, whereas I don't.
I waited for at least Quinn to come, but she didn't. Neither did my mother. No, no, why didn't Quinn come? I saw her crying and heard her screaming my name. Maybe it was Bandit's little stunt onstage that barred us from seeing our family. That little worm, when I get my hands on him, he'll pay. Before I know it, I'm being ushered off to the transport to the train.
May God help Quinn. May God help her survive the years after I'm gone.
Bandit Alvarez
16
District 5 Male
I had been rushed off stage by the peacekeepers after my confession. It sure sent a wave of surprise and shock over the District, including my parents. I love how they acted like they disapproved of me, as if they haven't fucking committed crimes before, or hired somebody to.
I realized that maybe the confession wasn't the best idea. It was an act of impulsiveness. Yeah, it satisfied me plenty, but how would that work out with sponsors? Nobody likes a criminal. Whatever, I did not need sponsors. I can survive well off on my own. Hell, I don't even need to train to survive.
I was expecting to be put in a room to wait for my parents, but that wasn't how it worked out. I was whisked away immediately by the peacekeepers after the stunt onstage, and sent to the car transport. Maybe my District Partner will be useful in the arena. I guess we'll have to find out.
This was going to be fun.
A/N: And there we go. District 5, the home of two sociopathic kleptomaniac tributes. I'm not gonna do questions this time around, but tell me what you guys think.