-Felicity Johnson, 17- Kyoko Rose-
I wake up and feel… Normal. It's been forever since I've awakened and felt so normal. It's almost like I'm not… Ah, never mind.
I stretch out and sit up, my toes grazing the floor of my bedroom. It's so quiet and peaceful, and I don't even have morning sickness. How nice. I didn't think I'd be free of it until the day my life would change forever. I pat my swollen tummy. As long as this baby doesn't take the attention away from me, I suppose.
I get out of bed, my feet and back hurting at having to carry the weight in my tummy. And I have to go to the reaping today… Ugh. I used to be excited for the reaping, really. The Capitol was always the home of the Gods to me, so colorful and beautiful. I used to watch in awe of the beautiful people there, and want to be there with them. But ever since my mother told me what actually happened to my father, I… I've been struggling. The Capitol has done so much for us and I really want to like them, but at the same time… My father died in their Games. I'm still eligible to suffer the same fate. So it's a love-hate relationship.
I comb my wavy dark hair, looking at my face in the mirror. I sigh at seeing my brown eyes, that I got from my father. Then I take a step back to see my full body, sighing. I just keep on getting bigger and bigger. I can't wait until this kid is born and I can be thin and pretty again. I change into a pair of dress pants and a loose-fitting shirt, disappointed that it still makes me look fat and pregnant. I feel horrible, and would like to sit in bed all day and do nothing, but even pregnant women have to work around here. I spend my time sewing, doing indoors work that isn't too physically strenuous while I'm pregnant.
I wasn't able to hide the fact I was pregnant for very long, even before I was starting to show. My mother could tell I was acting weird and she could tell when I was lying about it. My back is killing me from the strain of the baby and I groan from the pain as I go downstairs.
My mother is there waiting for me. She eats a tiny breakfast and hands me a larger plate. She's been giving me bigger servings since she found out, for the sake of the baby. "Good morning Mom!" I say. I feel deprived of love and attention when she ignores me like this!
"Good morning Felicity," she says quietly, with a sincere smile.
I hear steps coming toward the kitchen, and when I look up my sister Emerald comes in. Her blonde hair couldn't have come from our mother. Like my brown eyes came from my Dad, so did her hair. She also has the palest skin of my immediate family, probably like him as well.
"Good morning Emerald," Mom says, taking the attention off of me. I whine at having the attention taken away from where it really belongs: me.
"Moooooom," I say irritably.
"Sorry Felicity," she says, smiling at me. Better. My sister takes a seat by me at the table.
"Why is Felicity's plate bigger than mine?!" she whines. "I want a big plate!" She stomps her feet. "I want a big plate!"
Way for her to take the attention away from me! I hate her sometimes! She always throws tantrums to get what she wants! Bitch, I'm pregnant, I get the big plate!
I quickly decide to leave to go to the reaping.
First, I meet my best friend Annalisa. "Hey!" I go over to her, my feet aching with every step because of the weight I have to carry.
"Felicity!" she smiles at me, waving a bit but looking shy in the crowd. Her green eyes sparkle with kindness.
"Hi Annalisa," I smile at her and give her a hug in greeting.
"How are you?" I ask her.
"I'm scared," she says quietly, biting her lip nervously. "After all, this is my first reaping…"
"Oh, don't worry," I tell her. "I took tesserae and I'm 17. My name's in there a lot more than yours is."
"If you're reaped, I'll volunteer for you," she says, looking stiff out of fear.
"No you aren't," I say sternly. "You think I'd die? Even with a baby I can still win. Besides, I probably won't get reaped anyways. And neither will you."
"Alright…" she says, sighing. She gives me one last hug and then I go to find my boyfriend Jonathan. This is his second year safe from the reaping, he's 20. He's so lucky. He's really the love of my life, kind and gentle and always there for me. His eyes are bright and honest and true, and he's very honest and loyal and dependable. I honestly thought he was going to be mad or leave when I confessed to him that I was pregnant, but he didn't. He stayed. He promised to always be there for me and said that we were a team and we'd parent this child together. He showers me in attention and love more than anyone, as well, and I love that. He always agrees with me as well, which is great too.
"Hey," he says, taking me into a hug, "How are you?"
"I wasn't sick this morning," I say, smiling at him.
"Oh? That's good." His beautiful blue eyes smile at me.
I smile. "Yeah. I can't wait until we're both safe by then."
"By that time we'll have our baby." He smiles at me and I smile back. My boyfriend is so kind and gentle and he definitely treats me like a queen. Maybe someday when I'm not at risk of being reaped we'll get married.
"Yeah… We will…" It scares me, but the thought of being reaped scares me more.
"You're going to be alright," Jonathon says, and his smile makes me think that everything's going to be okay. He leans down to give me a kiss and then I go to the reaping.
I go to the seventeen-year-old section for girls, and see the surrounding people giving me looks. That's okay, though, I do enjoy the attention it gives me. Having the attention of everyone that surrounds me is what validates me. I pat my tummy again as the reaping begins with some words from the mayor.
The escort, Jessamine Di'Avile Montyquile, takes the stage. She's such a Capitolite, with a long, beautiful name. She resembles a porcelain doll, small and thin and pale, unlike me. I feel like a mess compared to her, with my huge belly and my wavy, long, dark hair and tan skin. I want to be in the Capitol, but at the same time the Capitol killed my father.
"Welcome, welcome, to the reaping!" Jessamine squeaks, her voice pitchy and odd sounding. I admire her hair, she has so much of it and it's done so beautifully… She's not too far from my age, by the looks of it, maybe… 18? 19?
The video ends and Jessamine announces, "Let's start with the ladies!" She walks over to the glass bowl calmly, the one with all the names of the girls, one of which is mine. Her hand goes in the bowl, stays there for a while, and finally pulls out a sheet of paper.
She clears her throat into the microphone and squeaks out, "Felicity Johnson!"
I squeak with the realization that the name that was called belongs to… Me.
No, I can't be reaped! I have a child to think of! Jonathon and Annalisa! What will my mother and Emerald do without me!? I'm suddenly overcome by fear as she calls my name again and I start off to the stage, my legs shaking. Tears pour out of my eyes as I reach the stage, seeing Jessamine in person, so beautifully thin and small, and next to her being fat and pregnant and on my way to a fight to the death… Tears pour out of my eyes as Jessamine walks over to the boy's bowl, still smiling.
"Our male tribute is…" She pauses and I suck in a breath, getting control of myself. "Nautica Martinez!"
A boy comes out from the 16 section. He has shaggy brown hair and looks…. Nervous but determined. Which I understand. He's going to want to get home as much as I do. He makes his way up to the stage, his expression unwavering.
"And there you have it, District 8! Your tributes, Felicity Johnson and Nautica Martinez!"
The District applauds nervously for us, afraid of the consequences if they don't.
-Nautica Martinez, 16- the victor of panem-
Dear Father:
Today is yet another reaping day, and another reaping day makes for another opportunity to see you, possibly. Even prisoners get to see the reaping, of course. Nobody can avoid it, especially not them.
Three years until you're freed. I've been keeping track of the days even if everyone else has given up or forgotten. By that time, I'll be 19, of course, and safe from the reaping. Either that or I'll have gone through the Games. Don't count me out if I do get reaped, though, my dear father. You'd be proud of how far I've grown since you were locked up.
Mom still hasn't said a word about you. This is what you get for selling stolen clothing, and definitely what you get for being caught by the Peacekeepers.
I must be going for the reaping now. Hopefully the name you hear doesn't belong to your son.
-Nautica
I sigh, realizing that my letters have been getting shorter and shorter. Ever since the father got locked up I've been writing, but it's becoming more and more of a chore and honestly I dunno if I'm even going to keep up with it until the 87th Games. I put it in an envelope and address it to Jack Martinez, Cell #08A in the District Prison.
I feel like I owe my Dad the courtesy of writing to him. After all, he gave me all the newest holograms and toys when I was a child. He made my childhood sparkle. It was nice, being so well-off, having such a nurturing family. Too bad he got caught and shut away in jail. Too bad my Mom decided to forget about him and start fucking the tailor she works with. Too bad, too bad, too bad.
I get up out of bed and start to get ready for the reaping. I mess with my hair until it's right. Looks are important, and sometimes swindling someone can be the difference between having a fate like my father's and being free. I put on my nice clothes, putting the supplies I'll need for the morning in my coat, hidden away.
I go out to the kitchen. My Mom's not here. Probably with him. She thinks I don't notice it but I do. She thinks I sleep late but I don't. She thinks I don't notice her coming into the house with messed up hair and make-up and wardrobe at 5 in the morning. I do.
I eat breakfast by myself. I've always been an early riser and a light sleeper. You can never let your guard down, doing what I do. I dust off my plates and put them back. I don't mind the silence, really. It's refreshing. Especially after what I do.
I flip through the weapons I have stored in my jacket, just in case I'm… challenged by some poor sap who doesn't know better. Then, I go out, giving a pointed glare at the tailor's place where my mother works and practically lives. Bitch is lucky I go out and make a name for myself, because if I didn't she'd not be able to make enough for both of us.
So maybe what I do is considered "dirty" or "illegal," but I really don't give a fuck about that. It's the life you have to live to make it around here.
As I walk, I suddenly hear yelling and commotion and am immediately drawn toward the noise. I quickly head to the noise to see a group of people surrounding two people.
I recognize the first one immediately as my best friend and gang mate Ralph Lauren. We met a while back at a bar when our gang was challenged. I didn't mean to make such a close bond with the kid, we only meant it to be an alliance that lasted in the time we were fighting them, but we really hit it off. Ralph and I are a great team, even if he's two years younger than me at 14. I remember watching his initiation into the District 8 Renegade when he was 13. He won his initiation fight, and still hasn't stopped bragging about it. I know how it feels, though, because I won my initiation fight when I was 13. I still have the scar to prove it, across my eyebrow. The girls go crazy for that, let me tell you.
Ralph's fighting another kid, who looks much more afraid than he is. Ralph will pick a fight with anyone for the dumbest reasons, and sometimes for no reason at all other than the fact that he feels in the mood. This kid looks to be one of the innocents. He puts up his fists, hands shaking, as Ralph attacks him. Man, Ralph's really good at hand-to-hand. It definitely helps when he's caught by guys two or three years older than him flirting with their girlfriends. I do that, too, of course, and the girls can't resist me. I get to pick and choose the ones I want, fill them up, and move on.
"Ralph!" I call to him, going around the circle to talk to him. "What are you doing, man?"
"I'm in the mood," he says simply, a smug smirk painting his face.
"What'd this kid do to you?"
"Nothing, really," shrugs Ralph.
"Who is this kid?"
"I dunno." He doesn't talk to me anymore before he charges at the guy, the poor innocent kid. I sigh.
I let Ralph get a good beating on him before I take him by the back of the neck, reminding him that we still have to report in before the reaping. I grab a hold on the weapon hidden in my coat. This is the riskiest part of my day. Together, we go to the gang HQ. When we get there, we hear muffled screams and see a girl all bound up.
"About time you two dumbasses showed up!" someone calls.
"Got her from the head of the rival gang!" someone else says.
I go over and examine the girl. She sure does look pretty, all tied up like that. She struggles against the binding, trying to scream but it being muffled. She has tan skin, dark hair pulled back into a ponytail, and the most interestingly beautiful green eyes.
"My, aren't you lovely?" I muse. She struggles against the bounds. She must be his daughter because she's close to my age.
"Are we holding her for ransom?" I ask, turning back around.
"Possibly. Depends on how we're feeling."
I glance back at her. Her eyes give me a defiant look.
"You're going to have to decide what to do with her before the reaping."
"Oh yeah. That's today isn't it? I suppose we're not holding her for ransom then." The leader of the gang gets out his pistol. "Anyone want to cup a last feel?"
Maybe I would, but I don't say anything. Ralph looks at her and I know his hormones must be raging, but he keeps quiet. "Nautica, you can do the honors." He tosses the weapon to me, and I load it.
"This is what happens when you're caught by the District 8 Renegade, Sweetheart," I tell her with a sweet smile, before putting the gun to her temple and blasting her brains out. When that's done, I sigh a bit. That's part of the job. I have to say, though, that was pretty anticlimactic.
"Well, we should be off to the reaping," someone says as a couple of guys untie the body.
"We'll meet back here after it's over."
Someone scoffs. "Hopefully the bell's name isn't chosen. That'd sure be funny, huh?"
I think about it and laugh. "Yeah, it would be. That whore," I say, smirking, as Ralph and I walk to the reaping together.
The whole shindig is started with the mayor speaking some words and then the video playing. War. Terrible war. Don't make me sick. I've seen things even worse than that stupid video, and I'm just fine!
After the horrible play acting is over (blood does not behave like that when you're shot dead, trust me), the escort takes the stage. Jessamine doesn't delay much in getting on with it, probably because this is her first year being an escort. She's young, too. I bet I could woo her into giving me the favor, if I were to be reaped. And she's young like me so she'd totally be fooled, too.
She reaches into the girl's bowl and picks a name. "Felicity Johnson!" The girl comes out of the 17 section, and the first thing I notice is her huge tummy, full with a baby that was probably conceived by some sleazy guy she barely even knew. I chuckle. Poor little slut. I'd bet she's vulnerable and easy-to-manipulate, though.
Then, Jessamine goes over and picks the boy. "Nautica Martinez!" I blink. Shit, that's me… I suddenly feel a wave of nervousness come over me, but I start up to the stage. I'm not going to crack like that crazy bitch. No way in hell. I bet she's vulnerable enough that I could use her for what she's worth. If she's even worth anything, which I doubt.
I make it up to the stage Jessamine has us shake hands.
"And there you have it, District 8! Your tributes, Felicity Johnson and Nautica Martinez!"
The District applauds and we walk back to the Justice Building, my confidence unwavering.
My first visitor is Ralph. He comes in, unsure what to say or do. "Hey," he says, looking casual.
"Hey," I say, not letting my vulnerability show. That'd be the worst thing to do. I hear Crazy Bitch sobbing in the room next to mine. I give Ralph a quick hug, but not too long, and pat him on the back.
"Listen to me. If I don't come back, you have to keep going strong. You and the Renegade."
"Got it."
Death is something I've seen a lot of, something I've become numb to, really. I've killed and seen some of my own gang members arrested and dead. Of course there's still some lingering fear lying underneath, but I can avoid it.
"You could work your way in with the Careers," Ralph says, "You have the looks and the skill for it. You could manipulate them into letting you in and use them for what they're worth. You're good at it. You can do this. You'll be a Victor, and you'll be a hit. I know you can. And you will."
"Right," I say, nodding. I know he's right. I'm plenty confident in myself and know that I can do this no matter what. I can play them all off each other, I can charm and schmooze my way to Victory, and I know it.
"Are you taking your watch?"
I glance down at the ticking wristwatch, engraved with the symbol of the District 8 Renegade on the back. "Of course. It'll remind me that I come from a group of fighters. It'll remind me what I can do and what I'm capable of. It'll give me strength.
"That's the spirit," he says, clapping me on the back. "I know you can do it and so do you. So don't you go playing weak! You're representing the gang now, you wouldn't want them to see you as a disgrace. You won your initiation fight and you've taken plenty a wife, slept with many a girl, you've done it all. So don't stop now just because they're kids from other Districts."
"You're right. Thanks Ralph." Hearing him encourage me is just what I needed.
"Good luck, man. I wish you the best." He leaves.
I only half expect my mother. I know that even if she wanted to come she wouldn't because she would have to see me before I go off to a fight to the death. But honestly she's constantly worried and she'd just show up with all the sappy bullshit and make me promise to be careful. Which isn't how I roll, especially not in a fight to the death.
Jessamine comes to get me, and then she gets Pregnant Bitch, and together we get on the train and take the first step towards my Victory.
-Felicity-
I sit and wait for visitors. My mother comes in first, giving me a tight hug. "Oh, Felicity!"
"Mom," I say, my voice sad and shaking with tears.
"You have to win, my sweet baby," she says, burying her face in my neck.
"I dunno if I can Mom," I sob quietly. I feel waves of emotion, of nerves and sadness and grief at my fate, possibly the same as my father's. I hug her tightly and sob.
"I love you," I tell her, my voice shaking.
"Oh, I love you too, sweetheart," she says, holding onto me tight. "You have to win."
"I can try…" I don't think I can, though, which hurts even more.
She puts a necklace into my hand. A gemstone. On the back of it is carved Felicidad. "Mom…"
"This belonged to an ancestor of yours," Mom says, "That shared your name. It means happiness. I want you to have it."
"Oh, thank you Mom," I sob, wearing the beautiful necklace around my neck. We hug and sob our last "I love you"s before she's pulled away from me. My mother! I'll miss her so much, as well as the attention she always gave me.
My sister Emerald comes in next. "You were reaped!" she says.
"Yeah," I say, wiping my eyes.
"Does this mean I get the big plates now?"
"I guess it does."
"Yay! I'll tell Mom you said that!" She smiles at getting her way. I feel like I could kick her. She waves at me and then skips out before they can escort her.
Next in comes Jonathan. He takes me into a tight hug, burying his face. "Oh, Felicity…" He whispers into my neck. "Not my Felicity… No…"
"Sh…" I sniffle a little bit. "Don't worry about me…" I hate to see him like this. I care so much for him and to see him so upset affects me deeply. I love him so much… I can't lose him. He can't lose me. I'm carrying his child, after all. If I die, so does the baby, and even if I don't have any other reason to try my best to win, it's my child. I hug him, trying not to cry, but he does cry and that makes me emotional.
"I love you," I say, and he hugs me tighter.
"Felicity… I love you too." He unburies his face to look at me. He takes a strand of hair and tucks it behind my ear. Feeling his hands on me makes me more determined than ever to come home to him. I look into his blue eyes and he looks back into mine, and we don't speak but in that moment his eyes tell me more than he could ever say out loud.
He kisses me and I kiss him back, wishing that I could live in this moment, live in him, forever. I wish I had him to have and to hold, and to call mine forever. Fuck the reaping, I should've married him before something like this would happen!
He pulls back, tears falling down his cheeks as he gazes at me.
"Time's up!" calls a Peacekeeper.
"Jonathan!" They pull him away from me, and I lose his warmth, his touch, his smile. He's pulled away before he can even yell a last "I love you!" and I watch him. Then, Jessamine appears, a smile on her face, ready to escort my District partner and I out to the train.
A/N: I think this one is a bit short but I hope you enjoyed it anyways! Sorry for the delay, but I've been very busy and also had a bit of a block for this story and these characters. I hope I did them well, and I hope you liked the chapter anyways. I still have a bunch of shit happening but I hope to update more frequently now, possibly, though it may be a couple weeks until another chapter comes up. Until then, though, I'm still updating the blog, so check that out! If you have any comments or questions, please feel free to send me a message!
Chapter Question: Same old. Which tribute stood out more and why?
SCORES:
AbbyCorabby123: 10
A-Bookworm-Named-Steph: 36
Beauty. Is. Strange: 61
Blonde4ever: 62
calebbeers21: 6
Coolgal02: 61
CrissKenobie-the-Numenorean: 51
CptAwesome: 10
Dreamer: 352
dreams and desperation: 86
eldergrayskull: 4
elisa. anya: 5
Emrys Holmes: 106
epictomguy: 24
fat necrosis: 52
falyn. oliver: 43
xGred-Forgex: 36
GryffindorOnFire: 9
hopefuldreamer1991: 254
Ibbonray: 35
Jalen Kun: 12
Jess: 416
johnsonmiranda70: 6
Josephm611: 92
Kate: 268
Xx-Katerina-xX: 56
Kyoko Rose: 26
Lady Lysa Arryn: 97
LokiThisIsMadness: 86
magicharity: 163
Medium-Indigo (Guest): 60
Music Rules The World: 4
Mystical Pine Forest: 30
nevergone4ever: 2
xxPeppermintxx109: 81
Programming: 7
xQueen-of-Applesx: 40
rising-balloons: 80
Rosemarie Benson: 12
santiago. poncini20: 81
Seahorse8: 22
seaotter99: 22
Shaunaicecream (Guest): 20
Sinfonian Legend: 385
superneet1214: 6
Skyflapple: 21
ThisWorldWeHate: 17
TyeTheLurker (Guest): 5
the victor of panem: 11
We're All Okay: 71
W. R. Winters: 96