District Nine:
Reapings:
Russell Grove (17)-D9 Male:
The Peacekeepers hollered even louder, their screams and laughter filling the atmosphere of the small bar we sat in. I tossed the bottles in the air and caught them as they came down, falling into a dance while I juggled the wine containers. I currently maneuvered three such bottles as I tossed them up and caught them again. Much to the amusement of the Peacekeepers.
I finally decided to end this little trick by tossing all of them up, and catching one in each hand. The third, one that I had thrown slightly higher than the others, took slightly longer to come down. I tilted my head perpendicular to the path of the falling bottle, and opened my mouth. With slight difficulty, I clapmed my teeth down on the thin part of the neck of the bottle as it came down. Finished, I spread my arms and took a bow.
"It's been a while since one of you slackers did something worth watching." One of the white-clothed men remarked, as I set the bottles down on their tables and started pouring some of the drink into their glasses. I grinned a somewhat cocky yet pleased grin, as though I was extremely proud of myself for having impressed these guys. "It's always a pleasure to be the one to bring laughter to you people, sir." I stated, sugar-coating the words as they left my mouth. The man in front of me smirked.
I finished pouring the drink into their glasses and picked up the tray on which I carried the bottles. I placed them one by one, after adding a small swish of the hand, earning yet another laugh from the Peacekeepers. Although, I wasn't exactly focused on that now. I waited anxiously for one of their hands to go towards their pockets.
I almost whooped aloud when one of them tossed me some notes, crudely crumpled and probably having been stuffed in his wallet. "Keep it kid, you're a funny guy." He told me, patting my shoulders. I smiled widely at him and took another small bow, which I could tell they liked. I turned around and headed to the back of the bar. I set down the tray and called out to the owner.
"Hey Harvey, I'm out for the day! Gotta make it home before it's too late for Reapings eh?" I yelled as I pulled on my jacket after losing the stupid uniform these guys had to wear at the shop. The owner, Harvey, a middle aged man with a grey beard and thinning hair, looked out from the side of the walls of the counter he worked on.
"Yeah yeah, go for now. Your girlfriend's waiting outside for ya'" he called back. I could feel y face heat up despite my wishing it didn't.
"She's not my girlfriend!" I protested. I could hear Harvey's booming laughter. "Oh yes, of course not, that's absolutely why your face is as red as a tomato. Whatever, just hope you don't get Reaped. I like you kid, you keep them customers coming." He joked, pausing his work enough to put a pat on my head. I managed a smile, but headed out immediately. I couldn't have him see the expression on my face. I didn't have to worry about being Reaped.
Because I was about to volunteer.
I walked out the back door of my workplace to greet my best friend with a hug. However, it didn't escape my notice that she didn't return it. I pulled away and pasted a huge grin on my face. "Hey there Pandona…" I trailed off at the intensity of the glare she gave me.
I sighed, knowing where she was going with this. I started walking, even though her glare didn't lessen in the least. "Yes, I'm still doing it. Look, Pandona, no matter how many time you glare at me, I'm not changing my mind, got it?" I told her firmly.
"Russell, as your best and only friend for quite some time, I know you to have done some stupid and reckless things. But this takes the prize." She snapped.
I drowned her out as she kept on going about how stupid I was for planning on volunteering. It was true, if anyone else got to know, they'd certify me either insane or idiotic. Maybe even both. But I wasn't either. I wasn't a bloodthirsty psychopath either, going into the Games merely to kill people and feast on blood. Um, no, that really wasn't my thing.
"Pandona, I need to do this, don't you get it!?" I exclaimed suddenly rounding on her. She stopped, taking a step back because of my outburst. I felt bad for having her do that, but I was tired of her constantly telling me how terrible my decision was.
Her features softened. She reached out for my arm. "No, Russell, don't you get it? You don't have to do this." She explained. I sighed. Obviously she would think like that. Everyone would think like that.
I pointed over to where my house was, bobbing into view as we walked. It wasn't exactly made of cloth and sticks, but it was nothing which a normal person would call a home. It had only about four rooms, including the one bedroom. The walls were shabby and leaked when it rained. The thing itself looked about a million years old. But the worst part was how it blended into the background in this area. Every house was like that. Every street was filled with groaning people, ones who didn't have enough to eat and were too weak to work.
District nine may have not been as bad as say, Twelve or even Eleven, but there were these kinds of sections in every district. The poor sections, or as they called it here, the 'Slack'. This was the place where the poverty-ridden lived. The ones who couldn't even afford a normal house.
Neither of us talked as we reached my front door. Pandona pulled me into a tight hug, but didn't say anything as she simply turned around and left. I wanted to call her back, but knew it was futile.
I opened the door to my house and clambered in. I set my day's earnings on the table and made my way to our bedroom, from where I could hear noises coming. Without even meaning to, I felt a smile grace my lips. Not one meant for flattery like the one I had given the Peacekeepers. But a true one, genuine.
I opened the door to see my mother making my little sister's hair. Rienna smiled as she saw me. "So, the hero finally returns, huh?" she said, not moving from her position. It was pretty rare hearing my quiet sister speak, but I gobbled it up anyway.
"Yes, your Majesty." I took my third bow of the day. She turned to our mother. "Mum, you have my dress out?" She asked softly. My mother's face dropped and I could tell the news wasn't good.
"Sweetie, I… when I went with the money, the shopkeeper said that they had increased the prices of that dress. I just didn't have enough…" She ended slowly. Disappointment and hurt washed over Rienna's face, but she gave a sad smile to Mother. "It's alright, I'll just wear another one." She resolved.
I grit my teeth. We shouldn't have been like this. We shouldn't have been in this hellhole, living our days out in poverty. We should've been a part of the rich community, having leftovers every other day and enjoying ourselves as much as possible. I forced another smile. "Cheer up Rienna, you'll look much better than all the other girls no matter what you wear." I encouraged. She looked at me, but she had understanding in her eyes. She was mature for her age, and she understood our situation. Clearing my throat awkwardly, I pulled out my clothes from the small thing we called a closet and headed towards the bathroom. I splashed the water on my face as I resisted from hitting something.
We hadn't always been like this. We had been a happy family, with everything we could ask for. Loving parents, a good house and sweet kids. We were the whole deal. But that one day changed everything.
I had been young at the time. My father's cropping business was going well, and I helped him out as much as possible with my skinny hands. It had been nighttime, and we'd been returning from the field. It was almost past curfew, but in Nine, we didn't have much to worry about. Especially not since we were fairly well off, and the Peacekeepers only liked picking on the poorer ones.
We had come halfway, when y father had abruptly stopped and told me to go on. He had explained how he had forgotten some piece of equipment back at the field, and needed to go get it back. I still remembered the look on his face when he told me to be careful as I made my way home. I still remembered his final words to me.
I say final, because he never came home after that night.
At first we thought he had gotten lost somehow, me and Rienna. We'd been so young at the time. But the way our mother cried herself to sleep every night, and the pitiful glances thrown to us by the other people afterwards told us that our father wasn't going to be finding his way back. Obviously, as we grew up we realized that he hadn't gotten lost. We asked around everywhere, scared out of our minds. No one knew what happened to him, only that he was gone.
This brought the difficulties down on us. Without my father's job, we had no means of earning. Mother worked two jobs a day, and was rarely at home. I was young, and Rienna younger. But it wasn't only our financial state. Mother was heartbroken at my father's disappearance. Her mind wouldn't focus on her work. Rienna would wake up every night crying for our father to come back. My family suffered from poverty and depression.
As I grew older, I managed to do odd jobs around the district and earn some money. Gradually, I realized that was the only thing that got you anywhere in this world. Money. That's what you needed to live a happy life. So I did everything and anything possible to earn that money. I stole items from rich people, and I sold them. I sold some of my family's belongings too. I did stupid tricks for the peacekeepers for tips, and succeeded.
Obviously, doing all this wouldn't give you a good reputation. I was known all around as the greedy boy who liked nothing more than money. Well, that was half true. I did love money. I was greedy. I wouldn't deny that.
But not for the reasons people thought.
Was it so wrong to wish for enough money so my mother wouldn't have to work all day? I wanted my family to be rich so that my sister wouldn't stare at a dress in a shop longingly because she couldn't afford to buy it. I wanted money so I wouldn't have to spend each day worrying about when one of us siblings would have to stop school because we couldn't pay the fees.
Was that so wrong?
I sighed as I looked into the mirror. The thing had sludge around its edges, but we couldn't afford to waste anything on luxuries. A pale boy stared back at me. My dark hair fell into my forehead as a fringe and almost brushed my light blue eyes. I had puffy cheeks, which many of the rich ladies would call 'adorable'. My pink lips were thin, and none of my features were sharp or well defined; instead, I gave off a childish look. I wasn't good-looking, not really, but I wasn't ogre-like either.
I quickly slid into my denims and pulled on a spotted cream colored shirt. I reached into the pocket of the shirt I had previously been wearing and brought out a small piece of paper. I smiled at it. It showed a photo of my family, before my dad disappeared. It fit right into my palm, but I could make out our features. Rienna was missing her front two teeth, and I had wind blown hair but a lopsided grin on my face. Mother's face was full of color. And my father looked as strong as ever.
I closed my eyes and shoved it into the pocket of my jeans.
Only a little while longer until I entered the Games.
Rose Clarke(14)- D9 Female:
You know how in books people wake up all dramatic with sunlight streaming in? With their hair absolutely perfect and sheets beautifully made?
Yep. That was not true in real life.
Thud!
My body hit the floor and I groaned. That certainly woke me up; no human could continue sleeping after falling two feet through the air onto solid ground. I heard a knock on my door, but wasn't awake enough to pick my face up from the pillow. I mumbled a "Come in!" but with my face in the pillow, it was incoherent. Nevertheless, I heard the door swing open.
"Oh, sweetie, what are you doing?" I heard my mother's voice as she slowly rolled me onto my back. I smiled sleepily up at her.
"Saying hello to the floor in a non-conventional way?" I offered. Mother chuckled and patted my shoulder. "Wake up sweetie, you've slept quite late. You wanted to meet up with your friends before the Reapings, did you not?"
I nodded, and pushed myself up with effort. I untangled myself from my sheets and grinned toothily at mother. She just laughed and ruffled my hair. "Come quickly, you should have the pancakes while they're still hot." She mentioned as she turned to walk out the door. I was still half-asleep as I made my way over to the washroom. I closed the door behind me and turned on the water. I splashed some in my face, and only when I fully woke up did I come to the full realization of what day it actually was.
Reaping Day.
My stomach turned a full one eighty degrees and I almost sat down. I felt slightly dizzy, and my mouth went dry. This always happened when I thought of Reaping Day. The most dreaded day of the year. For other people, they only had a fear of not being Reaped, or not having someone they loved Reaped. I had the same fear, obviously, but it wasn't just that. This day brought back horrible memories. The sounds of screams.
So many people in these districts shared the same story as I. I knew for a fact that the girl from Six last year had a sister who had gone into the Games before her. So many people every year lost one of their family members. I was just another one of those people who had to live every day with the emptiness of one member of the family missing.
It had been quite a while ago. I didn't even remember who had won those Games. But my elder sister Saye had been reaped to go in there. I was only Ten, she, Thirteen. She was weaker than most of the tributes and too sweet to hurt anybody. I remembered screaming as I said good bye to her in the waiting Room.
I also remembered my parents screaming as her cannon blew in the bloodbath.
I hadn't been allowed to watch those Games. I had to stay in another room with my little brother, but I could hear my parents' cries and I put two and two together. I knew my sister wasn't coming back.
From that year on, every year on Reaping Day, I would watch as another Saye got Reaped. Another girl with a family. Another girl who would be killed. I saw my sister in all of them. I only could hope I never had to see my own face up there in the sky of the Games.
I forced my breathing to even out. I couldn't freak out even before the Reapings. I glanced in the mirror and told myself the one thing I would always tell myself.
Put that smile back on, Rose.
I could see the corners of my lips curve up in a small smile. It was forced, obviously. But sometimes a forced smile would eventually give away to a real one.
I realized that if I kept smiling, I felt slightly less horrible after Saye's death. My family had a hard time after her death; emotionally. Mother wouldn't talk for weeks, and father became distant. My little brother Rayon didn't know what he was going on, and all he did was act stupid in an attempt to try and cheer people up with his childishness.
But seeing his ridiculously immature acts, I realized one thing. If you kept smiling, your mind hd an automatic tendency to shut out problems. I kept trying to aid Rayon in his stupid acts of cheering my parents up, and it eventually started working. They became closer to us, and started talking more, and before long, we came back to as close as possible to normal with one member missing.
Obviously, I still had the fear of Reapings Day. That wouldn't go away anytime soon.
I freshened up and headed out the door, only to open my closet. We weren't the richest to go around, but we weren't dirt poor either, unlike some sections of the district. I felt a pang of sympathy at remembering the state of the people there.
I had a choice of clothes to put on, but I knew what I was to wear. I always wore the same thing on Reaping Day. It was my sister's outfit, the only one that fit me. I never understood why I liked wearing it, but somehow, nothing else fit the day.
I quickly changed into it and stole a glance in the mirror to fix my hair. I had dirty blonde hair which went to my shoulders, and complimented my dull blue eyes and pale skin. I was very thin, frail, even. I stood pretty short for my age at 5'6, with a slouch that made me seem shorter. I shrugged at my reflection as I set down my brush.
I walked out of my room and till the dining room, but as I took sight of the food laid out on the table, I could feel y stomach turn again. I didn't have any appetite. None whatsoever. I looked at my parents who stared back at me with worried looks. "Sorry, I'm just not too hungry. I have to rush, though, don't want to miss my friends!" I called in what I hoped was a convincing manner. My parents didn't look too convinced, but I was already out the door.
I lied about both the things. Sure, my friends were lovely, no doubt, but I didn't want to meet anyone as of now. I just kept walking to the place where they held the Reapings.
I would say the place looked alive with people, but I couldn't. It looked deader than a corpse. People talked in hushed whispers. I could feel the worry as it rippled through the atmosphere. Parents reassured their children. I noticed a group of friends to my side as they cracked half-hearted jokes, but even their laughter was laced with anxiety.
I stood in line to get my finger pricked, but I was fairly far back. As I watched the boy whose turn it was get his fnger pricked, he flinched. The boy was younger than me, and it was probably his first Reaping. However, seeing him flinch like that sent the thing around as I jumped a little, bumping into the person behind me. I turned to see a boy standing there, of about seventeen. He looked familiar, with his dorky grin, and it took me a moment to place his face.
"Aren't you Rienna's brother?" I asked, recalling the quiet girl from my class. I blushed almost immediately. I was never comfortable talking to strangers, or even people I didn't know completely. However, my curiosity had gotten the better of me. "I'm her classmate." I explained, not wanting to seem too creepy.
The boy nodded and his smirk grew wider. "Yes, I would be. Rienna didn't tell me she had such pretty classmates, though." He remarked. I could feel my cheeks grow brighter red, as he laughed jokingly.
"Relax, I'm joking, kid. I mean, not about the me being her brother part, I am her brother." His eyes widened as he realized his folly. "I mean, not that… I wasn't trying to…" He sighed and chuckled. "Yeah, never mind. Slightly nervous, are we?" He asked, referring to my earlier action. I sheepishly nodded.
"I guess so…" I told him uneasily. Something dark flashed over his face, but he quickly put on his smile. He didn't even bother telling me it would be fine, because how could he really? No one knew whether or not someone else would be fine.
I hadn't realized I had reached the counter until the lady roughly asked for my finger. I gave it to her and couldn't stop another flinch as she took my blood. I smiled at Rienna's brother, whose name I couldn't recall, and walked away to my section.
Our escort jumped up onto the stage, and I almost laughed at her ridiculous outfit. Bubble had on the same dress she had last year, which could barely be called a dress. It symbolized…well, a bubble. She started off on some strange speech about how glad she was about the treatment given to her here, but my heart was pounding so hard, I couldn't hear anything else. I hoped to everything above my name wouldn't be called.
She went over to the boy's bowl first. She took her time, picking out a name, and finally brought out one slip of paper. She walked over to the microphone and read it out.
"Trenton Harvest!"
A cry went up from the boy's section, though I couldn't tell what age group. probably a younger one though. My heart filled with sympathy for the poor boy who made his way out and started walking.
"I Volunteer as Tribute!"
I gasped, along with many others. Who would possibly be out of their mind to try and volunteer some something as cruel as these Games!? Was it done to save this kid? I highly doubted that, nobody was that selfless and careless about their life. But all thought abandoned me as I watched the said volunteer mount the stage. My jaw fell open. Why had he volunteered!?
"Ooooh, isn't this just exciting!? A volunteer? What may you name be, young boy?" She asked, smiling at him. He was obviously still shaken up, but he pasted on another smirk. He shot her a flirty grin and said something to her, which made her blush, before speaking into the device held out to him.
"My name's Russell Grove, and…" his voice trailed off. His smile fell as his eyes landed on someone in the crowd. I realized he was looking at me section, more specifically, looking at his sobbing sister. He looked like he was about to say something else, but he slowly shook his head to himself and handed back the device. Bubble seemed confused as to what happened, but she made her way over to the females bowl. I had barely gotten over the shock myself, as she pulled out another paper.
"Rose Clarke!"
My heart jumped into my throat.I couldn't even move. No... NO! This couldn't be happening...
I felt tears streaming down my face before I even knew what was happening. I couldn't control myself. I simply fell to my knees and cried. I knew the whole country was watching me, but I couldn't stop my tears.
I felt rough hands wrap around my arms as I was dragged onstage. I couldn't even speak because of my tears. I tried catching myself and saying something, but one glance at my family, and I broke down again. I could feel the sympathetic look my district partner gave me, but I wasn't thinking about that.
I barely noticed as they herded I to the waiting room. I wiped furiously at my eyes, trying desperately to pull myself together.
Come on Rose, put on your smile...
I tried to calm down and smile, but failed miserably. I almost hit a wall in my frustration.
"DAMMIT!" I yelled. I surprised even myself. I was usually a calm and quiet girl, but being Reaped had put me over the edge. I couldnt stand the thought of going into the horrors of the Games. I couldn't stand the thought that my parents might have to watch me in the same thing which took away my sister.
My family came in first. As expected, my mother was sobbing hysterically, and my father looked close to tears. I could tell he was keeping himself together solely for mother's and Rayon's sake.
"I can't lose you too, Rose, I can't!" Mother cried as she hugged me to her chest. I couldn't say anything. What could I tell them? That I would try? To win? I was unskilled, young, weak and probably naïve. I wasnt meant for the Games.
"Rose, sweetie, look at me." My father said softly as he turned me to face him. "I know you're thinking of Saye right now. We all are. What I want to tell you is... don't. Don't think about her Games. Don't let that bring you down. You stayed positive when we broke down, continue that positivity." He pulled us all into a hug.
The Peacekeeper burst in to inform us, but we didn't focus too much on him. My little brother Rayon gave me one last look. "I love you Rosie..." he said softly, as though afraid someone else would hear him. I finally managed a smile. "You too, Rayon... you too."
I could feel the absense as my family walked out. I knew my friends would walk in moments later, but for now, I just recalled my family's faces. Sure enough, my friends walked in a few seconds later, hugging me tight and telling me they believe in me. I didn't want to hear them talk, I just wanted to be near them. But my mind kept comin back to one thing.
Every year I would see Saye in some other girl.
This year I saw her in me.
Russell Grove (17)-D9 Male:
I readied myself for what was about to come.
My mother didn't even say anything. She simply rushed into the room and engulfed me in a hug. I could hear my sisters softly crying, as my mother hugged the life out of me. I tried for some corny joke but nothing came to mind. I was still slightly dazed. I had actually done it. I had actually volunteered.
I shoved the thoughts out of my mind. I wanted to spend this time with my family.
Mother pulled away with a broken expression. Not crying, not wailing. She seemed broken glass, and that was so much worse.
"Why?"
I forced my heart to stay in one piece. Who knew how that one word could carry so many emotions? It felt athough she was tearing me inside out with that one syllable.
"I can't keep living like this Mom! I know you work hard, and I respect that so much, but if I win this, you won't have to ever work again!" I told her, my eyes tearing up. I blinked the water back. She opened her mouth to say something, but I cut her off.
"No, Mom. Please. I want us to be rich. I don't even care if that sounds conceited, because I want you to have agood life without staying out of the house the whole day working. I want to be surrounded by sturdy walls, and not some rickety shack. I want Rienna to live the life she deserves. And if that means I need to win the Games, then so be it." I said, shutting my eyes towards the end.
My mother leaned down and gave me a kiss on my forehead. she smiled at me, which was not something I was expecting. "Russell, as long as I have you two, it doesn't matter where I live or how much work I have to do. But you want a better life for your family, don't you? Well, I know my son. And I know he isn't a quitter." She wiped the sole tear that ran down her cheek. "I know you'll come back to us. Any mother would be proud to have a son like you." She managed. Rienna came forward and pulled me into a hug too. She didn't say anything, and I didn't expect her to.
"Hey, save the tears Rienna, you're go in to have to shower them out of happiness if I come back."I said, finally coming up with a stupid joke. Rienna pulled away and looked at me with the most fierce gaze I had seen from her.
"Not if. When. When you come back." She said.
Mother gave me one last hug before they turned towards the door. They turned back around to give me another look.
Then they were gone.
I felt the slap across my face before I even registered she'd come in.
"Ow!" I exclaimed, clutchingmy cheek, looking at Pandona. "What happened to the nice quiet girl?" I asked.
"That was for actually doing it." She told me firmly. I knew her eyes were red, but she was holding it together for me. I smiled. "I'm a man of my word, my lady." I bowed down for the fourth time today. Pandona cracked a smile despite herself. "A stupid one at that." She said. Her expression darkened.
"Russell... I..." her voice faltered. I took her hand in an attempt to comfort her, but even I could feel the lump forming in my throat. It was hard trying not to cry. I didn't regret my decision, obviously, but seeing my best friend in tears was not something I liked.
"Hey, I don't like seeing that face without a smile." I told her in an attempted jokey manner. She looked up at me. "You had to do it, didn't you?"
I nodded. "I have to try, Pandona. I have to. I can't keep seeing them suffer like this. Rotting away in poverty. Mother's almost frail from exhaustion, and then I see the rich people, the victors, and I want that life for my family too. I want them to have all the riches they need. And besides..." I paused, wondering whether I was actuall going to say this or not.
"Besides?" Pandona prompted. I sighed.
"Even if I don't succeed, it'll be one less mouth to feed."
I had it coming, really, the slap that I felt.
"Ow, jeez, what is with you!?" I Cried again. Pandona glared at me. "That's for saying crap like that." She said. I managed a laugh, which quickly died out. "I'm going to try, Pandona, I'm not suicidal. Don't worry." I told her. I expected her to say something snarky back, or tell me how stupid I was, but she did something that surprised me even more.
She pulled me closer and pressed her lips to mine.
It only lasted a moment before she pulled away. I was too shocked to say anything.
"I don't want the Games to turn my best friend into some kind of monster."
I managed to gather my wits enough to speak.
"I'm going into these Games for my family. To give them the life the should have. Turning into a monster is a small price to pay for that."
~. ~. ~.
A/N: Yes, I'm alive. Who would have known?
I should tell you guys that there will probably be weekly updates from now on. I know, I know. But new school started and once again I find studies being murderous. But I promise to try and update every week.
Okay guys, I don't know if this will sound bad or make me soundlike a horrible person, but I have noticed a stark reduction in the number of reviews and views overall. Now, please don't think I'm trying to be offensive or anything, reviewing is up t you, and I cherish EEVRY SINGLE review. I'm not complaining, really, I feel honors having the number of review I do. But if there is anything lacking in my story , do tell me! I know my writing isn't as mature or good as many authors out there, But II'm always open to suggestions! And if the story's boring, I assure you, Reapings are only for three more chapters. I'm not asking for a review for every chapter, but do tell me somehow that you're still reading. It's very encouraging. :)
Okay, I sound conceited and weird.
Um, seriously though, I don't mean to be annoying or offensive, and if I was so... I'm sorry. I'm so awkward in these matters, and if I was in any way offending someone, trust me that wasn't intent.
But aside from that, how was this chapter? How'd you like these two? Either one you liked better? What do you think will happen to these two in the Capitol!?
Lemme know what you thought! You guys are awesome, 183 REVIEWS SERIOUSLY!?. every review makes my day, really. :")
Until Next Time Then,
Wizard.
