Phoenix Adler, 16 Years Old
District 7 Female
It seems ridiculous to say, but I adore my reaping clothes. They consist of a white blouse along with a dark blue skirt which I occasionally match with a sweater They're the cleanest items I own and I admittedly look rather classy in them, especially when compared to my run down puffer jacket and boots I wear for work. Most of the time I look like a girl, but in my reaping clothes I look nothing less than a lady. A lady with an iron fist ready to lead her nation into democracy.
"And that, my fellow citizens of Panem, is why you should vote for me to be your President" I rehearse in front of my mirror, smiling from ear to ear "for a freer, fairer and kinder future!"
I thrust my left arm into the air as I shout the last part.
"Very inspiring" I hear a voice snicker behind me.
"You know boys aren't allowed in girls rooms" I hiss but I can't help but hide a smile.
"Oh" Girion, the boy, giggles "perhaps I should leave you then and let you get on practicing your campaign"
I roll my eyes and sigh "Whatever, it's nice to at least pretend we have a chance to make a difference"
I shouldn't get too hung up on Girion making fun of me. He's a nice guy really. His parents were killed in the same lumber mill accident that killed mine leading to us both being placed in the community care home. Plus, it's fair to say that Girion has a very good point, there's no chance I'll ever be President, heck, there's no chance I'll ever be a politician at all. I'll just end up like everyone else in District 7; cutting down trees for the rest of my life.
I mull this over as I walk towards the reaping. In fairness, I hadn't always been interested in politics, at least not until I was placed in the District orphanage. Seeing, first hand, how children in these care homes were being treated made me determined to strive for reform.
"Single line my little piggies" Mrs Ventigan, the care home's ward, announces
"Piggies" that's her sick little term of endearment for us since she knows she's leading us to slaughter.
Most the kids in the care home are malnourished, since the home only receives the very basics of necessities to cater for its substantial residents. We're all forced into claiming tesserae on top of that, which is gathered and then split and divided amongst us, as well as Mrs Ventigan, her husband and anyone else who works at the community home, equally.
As we line up in alphabetical order, placing me and my brother, Cygnus, at the front of the line, we march towards the town square. Every now and again a child will stumble upon themselves and fall over, due to lack of food or on some occasions just simple illness, which earns them a quick beating from our ward.
"You can't help them Phoenix" Cygnus whispers to me as I turn to look at the girl, no older than 12, being hit by Mrs Ventigan "You'll just make things worse"
"I know" I hiss back before turning to look onwards and marching towards the square.
Cygnus is right. There's no saving grace when it comes to the orphanage, most children there are not only malnourished but practically feral, especially the ones who had been there since birth, often resulting in fights within the walls of the home. I tried to help break up a fight once, which only resulted in myself getting a black eye.
Things have got to change, it's a shame they never will.
Girion Holmes, 18 Years Old
District 7 Male
I begin to feel some slight guilt as I leave Phoenix's room. Her desire to reform the system is understandable, in fact it's rather honourable but let's be real; will it ever happen?
I don't know how some of the kids here cope. That feeling of loss, that sense of not belonging anywhere. It's different for me; I'm only here because I must be. Once I'm out of that reaping bowl then I'm classified as capable enough to live out of the system, meaning I'll get to move in with my Uncle Haedric like my brother, Duncan, does. I'm not like the rest of these kids, I belong somewhere. There's something waiting for me outside of the walls of the care home.
Duncan and Uncle Haedric visit me as regularly as possible, although that proves a difficult task considering the people who own this place are practically tyrants. When I first moved in I played a small prank on Mr Ventigan, resulting in the man having nightmares for a month, how was I supposed to know he was afraid of wood lice? Anyway, have a guess who authorises visits at the care home? That's right, Mr Ventigan. Still, I get to see my brother and uncle as frequently as possible.
The setting where we meet, the community homes dreary dining area, can be a little dull. It's worse on reaping days as everyone seems a little down in the dumps, including Duncan and Uncle Haedric. I sit across from them, tossing an apple up into the air as it lands firmly on my hand again, waiting for one of them to speak. When neither does, I break the ice.
"Aw come on guys" I snicker "Today is a happy day"
They both look at me with raised eyebrows. I explain to them that, since I'm eighteen, this is my last reaping meaning that once today is over I actually get to move out of this shit hole and in with the both of them. They should be as happy as I am.
"Girion" my Uncle starts "I…I'm so sorry"
It takes him a while to start up speaking again so Duncan continues for him.
"Uncle Haedric has had a tough time with work at the moment" he begins "Business hasn't been so good and…"
Duncan pauses as well.
"We're not sure if I can take you in after today" Uncle Haedric finishes as Duncan looks at the ground.
I remain motionless, the smile that was originally on my face slowly fading away.
"You're leaving me here?" I reply, small traces of anger in my voice that grow with each word "You're leaving me? Here!"
"Just for a little while!" Duncan tries to console me "Just until we can get things sorted"
I look at him in fury, my voice cracking slightly as I speak "How long have you been having issues?"
They both pause until Duncan speaks up again "About four months"
Four months! Why hadn't they have told me sooner? I would've helped them, used all the wages I earnt and give it towards them rather than keep it to myself. I would've sold every penny to them if it had meant not staying in this hell any longer, if they had only told me! Instead they decided to drag me along, make me believe that everything was fine and that soon I would be joining them. Even in the past few weeks my Uncle has been telling me how he's been decorating my room and telling me about all the foods he and Duncan have learnt to cook for when I first arrive. They've done the worst thing a human can do, they built up someone's hope just to destroy it.
I shout all this at them, they do nothing but listen. Eventually Mrs Ventigan comes in to announce that it's almost time to leave for the reaping.
"Girion, please" Duncan pleads with me as I leave the room.
"Save it" I hiss before ripping off a woven leather bracelet that both me, my Uncle and Duncan all wear, and tossing it to the side.
For the entire duration of the reaping I'm consumed by pure rage. Children in similar situations have heard the same story; how it's only temporary and that once everything is sorted they'll come collect them. They never do, they're always left in the community home until finally they're kicked out and simply have to fend for themselves.
"Phoenix Adler" our escort, Hecate Babbitt, announces into the microphone, bringing me back to the real world.
Orphans have been reaped before, but there's something different about when Phoenix is reaped. Most orphans are nobodies, unknown by practically the entire District, no one cares for them. Everyone knows Phoenix though, her acts of kindness through the District are famous whether it be the time she risked getting beaten by a peacekeeper for stealing some apples that grew on our trees during the spring to give to a group of homeless citizens or the time she actually did take a beating from Mrs Ventigan whilst defending a seven-year-old. She was too honourable for District 7, too honourable for Panem.
And too honourable for the games. It pains me to say this to a girl I do care for but I can't see her lasting more than a few days. And which unlucky boy will be joining her? I think to myself as Hecate goes to bowl containing the male names. Her hand circles the glass in an overly dramatic fashion before she rips out a name.
"Girion Holmes" she gleefully announces, "Where are you my darling?"
For a moment I'm frozen, a part of me wants to cry, a part of me wants to shout but what would the use in that be? Instead I just maintain a neutral face and walk to the stage with an air of grace and dignity. When I go to shake Phoenix's hand, her face pale and still, I catch a glimpse of my brother who is in one of the audiences stands behind her. He hasn't hidden his emotions well, as tears stream down his face.
Once I'm in the justice building, both my Uncle and Duncan come to say goodbye. I apologise for my rash behaviour and he hands me back the bracelet I tore off.
"Please try to win Girion" Duncan begs, clutching onto me so hard I can barely breathe.
"I will" I respond "I promise"
Perhaps this is a blessing in disguise. If I win I'll get to live in the victors village, I'll get to stay with my brother and Uncle and we'll never have to worry about economic woes ever again.
Time to get my game face on. Girion, you are going into that arena and you will be coming back out of it with a better life than what has so far been dealt to you.
So I finally updated! Sorry it took me so long, University has been eating me away recently so it's been difficult to get these things out there.
Thank you to sparky-she-demon for Girion and for Phoenix! Hopefully will have the next chapter out soon but I've got two essays due for Friday so we'll see!
Hope you enjoyed and please review as I love reading them!
