~Ooh, ooh, ooh,
I feel my temperature rising
Help me, I'm flaming
I must be a hundred and nine
Burning, burning, burning
And nothing can cool me~
Alda Rushiv (14), District 12
"Alda, what do you have to say for yourself?" The matron inquired, placing her hands on her hip.
Alda giggled slightly as her head tilted to the side as the matron of the orphanage scolded her for scaring one of the younger children. She found in quite funny that someone was actually scared of one her harmless little jokes. It just made life a little more interesting. It wasn't like Alda really cared who she scared in the first place, nor did she really care about getting in trouble.
"I'm not going to apologize if that's what you want," Alda replied, her smile was still showing with her crooked teeth out. "Do you know what color your dress is?" She asked, changing the subject quickly, to something a little more of a topic she loved. Colors.
"I'm aware of what the color of my dress is-" The matron paused to clear her throat before she continued on, "But you young lady, has been nothing but trouble ever since your father dropped you off a few years ago."
Alda's smile didn't really falter as the words ran through her head. She knew what the matron was saying, because her own damn father abandoned her after what happened a few years ago killing her mother and older siblings in the process. Alda was the fault of the fire. She had no regrets whatsoever of running outside when that fire started. The one little harmless fire that came along and everything changed. Her father couldn't really believe that happened nor did he believe that Alda left them all to die. A few fires later, and her father snapped, dropping her off that the poorest orphanage the district had.
"Surprised that you haven't got rid of me yet, if you're so tired of me," Alda replied absentmindedly.
"What are you stupid? I have to babysit you and the other children until either they get adopted or turn eighteen. So, I am stuck with you for another four years."
Alda shrugged then went quiet. Her face eerily calm. The only thing that was showing was her grin and her crooked teeth. Her right eye had blinked for a few while the left one stayed still. She didn't really have anything else to say to her. Not that she did anyways. What was the point in saying anything? She was going to do it again and again. And every time it repeated. Alda caused a small fire taking out a few things then the orphanage gets punished and Alda gets scolded at. It was just an endless cycle that Alda was stuck in for as long as she does it.
"What nothing to say?" The matron asked. Alda remained silent before she continued on, "If you don't have anything to say. Just go back to your room."
Alda did just that and went to her room without another word with her crooked teeth showing. She heard a few whispers on her way and how the little children were terrified of her. Even the older children stayed away from her, fearing her just a bit. They'd probably remembered what Alda did to them. She could recall one time, that she found a garden snake out in the field close to the fence that blocked the forest. She'd placed it in an eight-year-old's bed. She laughed when she heard the screams coming from that eight year old that, and was still laughing when she got punished for doing it.
Those were good times which Alda didn't really want to bother stopping anytime soon. It was fun seeing all the frighten faces of the children of the orphanage-both younger and older. Her father said that she was dropped on her head when she was a baby and was never really sane after that. Alda giggled as she watched the flames lap the house killing her family once she ran.
Alda could remember what she was doing on that day. She was in the kitchen helping her mom out in the kitchen, cooking a meager meal with the tesserae grain that her older siblings got. A small stray spark got out and landed onto the kerosene which Alda chased it outside. Once she turned around, the flames were eating the house away and the fire brigade trying to put out the fire. Alda laughed to herself and got some strange looks from strangers as they gathered around the burning house, to see what was going on. That was the first of many fires.
Every three weeks, Alda always lit a fire. It was like clockwork simply. She loved the glee that came out of it. That she was doing something really reckless and no one could punish her much. Besides, Alda wasn't even old enough for execution or be put in jail since she was minor, but that wasn't in Alda's mind whenever she does it. She loved watching people trying to put out the little fires and watching as the fire burned down properties. There was one fire that she was certainly proud of.
Alda was only eleven years old. She managed to get her hands on some matches that were lying around, waiting to be lit up. She found a dead weed-bush lying around not to far from the orphanage-but far enough, to where no one from the orphanage would run out and stop her. She slid the match out from the box and lit it from the side before tossing it onto the weed bush. A small giggle escaped her, but Alda stood by and watched. Occasionally, lighting up a few other matches and throwing it around-catching things on fire. It greatly amused her that she could do some much damage with the very few matches she had used.
It took hours to get the fire out. The destruction from the fire had killed two citizens. It nearly burned down a house nearby and created a lot of ash. Alda had received the worst punishment that day, but not the worst one she really ever experienced. The punishment was that Alda wouldn't have dinner nor breakfast and she would have to clean the toilets with a toothbrush, hoping to teach her a lesson. The punishment failed, and Alda continued what she was doing. There were a few times that she could have accidently set fire on the orphanage but too bad those little fires were contained quickly which sadden her a bit.
"Did little Alda finally got her butt whipped from Miss Carth?" someone mocked, which signalled a giggle from Alda. She stared the person who said it straight into the eye which only gulped at the response.
Alda was kinda known as the residential witch or a demon spawn in which she accepted either. She had her left eye stuck in a half-blink, ever since she was born so that was always fun. She also loved playing with fire and always tortured the little ones for fun in which everyone was quite annoyed for her in doing so, especially when Alda had a slight habit of changing the topic to colors. She loved colors especially talking about the colors. Colors were fascinating. Really fascinating.
"You really want to try that-" She let out another giggle, cocking her head toward the side ever so slightly. "I could do find something that would terrify you." Another giggle escaped her. "Don't try me. Besides, you don't me accidentally burning something precious of yours?" She let out a final giggle, before walking away. A smile still on her face.
~Can't you see you're getting played you fool
She's letting everybody take it as cool
All up in the backyard shooting pool
And I don't mean to sound cruel~
Flynn Madigan (16), District 12
Flynn stood directly in front of his mahogany bookshelf. Well, it wasn't his, but it was mainly his brother, but he had some shelves on it. He clutched his book that he managed to get with his own money tightly hoping that no one would rip it away from his grip. The book was rightfully his, and he didn't want anyone wanting him to share it.
"I'm surprised that you bought that," he heard his best friend, Kenna say. He looked up and saw that Kenna was standing in his doorway. His eyes followed her as she sat down on Evander's bed. "Especially racing out of school like that and to the bookstore. I thought you would probably wait for me, and we'll make our way over there together since I had to pick up something anyways."
Flynn had shrugged before he returned his attention to what he was doing. He moved away some small boxes that held a few trinkets in them that held no special value to him, but merely to his fifteen-year-old brother, Evander. He didn't even have his own bookshelf. He only had very few things on there that was rightfully his, and the rest was Evander stuff. Oh what he wouldn't really do to actually have his own room back, and possibly everything else that he had to share between Evander and Shayla.
Flynn barely remembered a time where he didn't have to share anything, and everything that his parents gave him was rightfully his. There were times that Flynn had missed those, but he knew he couldn't get those days back. He loved his sibling truly he did, he just really wanted a break from them.
"What are you doing?" He heard a voice that Flynn dreaded. It was his brother in his room. Of course it was.
It was like Flynn had no privacy especially when it came to Evander. Evander never respected the fact that he just wanted to be alone with his best friends. It was like Flynn was unable to do anything without his brother tagging along. It didn't really help the fact that while he was growing up, Evander had always tagged along after their parents told him too.
"Nothing that concerns you… Why don't you please get out of my room?" Flynn said politely. He managed to hide away the book behind the boxes, but he didn't know how much Evander seen and he didn't want to risk it, in case that Evander wanted to see what Flynn was doing and what he was hiding.
"In case you didn't notice, this is also my room too so I do have a right to know," Evander replied. "You're not the only one who lives here you know, I deserve to know."
Flynn sighed, before he crossed his arms. He hated that it couldn't even seem that he could get any privacy here especially since his brother was mainly the one intruding on everything he did.
"Can I just get some privacy?"
"No, because I would so love to know what you're hiding. This is my room too. I do have a right to know," His brother said, crossing his arms.
"I just want a little privacy for a few minutes and then I'll take go with you," Flynn said coldly. He didn't bother looking at Evander when he left the room. He double checked if his book was hidden enough and stepped away from the bookshelf.
"What do you want to do?" He asked.
"Not sure. I don't want to do Geometry homework right now. I'll probably just do it later," Kenna said.
"Do you want to go to the park with the rest of our friends, and we could actually do something instead, and my little brother could actually leave us alone?" Flynn suggested.
"I guess…"
The three made their way to the park where their other friends-Chandler, Winston, Elise and Elijah were waiting from them. Flynn saw Evander quickened his pace, and stopped right in front of Chandler and gave him a quick kiss. The shock still hadn't really wore off that his best friend and brother was dating nor the fact that Chandler didn't bother telling him.
He could remember the day he found out. Flynn had walked in on the pair who were apparently making out on the couch.
"Um, do I really want to what you two are doing?" Flynn asked. He blinked back a few tears. Even though he really had nothing to be upset over, but he felt like the world sucked him in and he was struggling to get out. He bit his lower lip and took a deep breath. "Because it kinda looked like you two were making out. When were you going to tell me this?""We were going to tell you later," Chandler answered, removing himself from Evander.
Flynn had scoffed before he answered, "Yeah right… I hate this. I have to share everything with him, and now I have to share you. For once, I wish I actually had something to call mine instead of sharing it with someone else."
Flynn knew he should have gotten used to the fact that they were dating, but it still felt odd. He just never really expected that these two would actually get together and refused to tell him. Evander, he actually expected that kind of behavior from him. Flynn wasn't exactly really close to him despite them being forced to hang out. It was Chandler which really hurt. Flynn told him everything and while Chandler listened to what he had to say, and he never told him this.
Flynn watched as Chandler and Evander disappeared from view and he focused on his friends. They talked and talked about things, nothing that had to do with school especially with finals coming up.
~Beat down on me, beat down like a waterfall
'Cause I can take on so much more than I had ever dreamed
So beat down on me, beat down like a waterfall
'Cause baby, I am ready to be free~
Renee Azkin-District 12 Escort
Renee smiled softly as she looked at her appearance. She was mostly focusing on the birthmark that was right below her right eye; to see how well the concealer hid it. All her life she'd never been a fan of it, always wanting to conceal it. It wasn't because she didn't really like it, but merely feeling like her face had a flaw in it. Models didn't have an imperfection marking their face. They had the skinny waist, skinny chest. Skinny everything while Renee suffered the imperfections.
She had an hourglass figure that she'd never been a fan and don't get her started on her chubby thighs and legs. There were moments when her life that Renee felt fat, fatter than a pig getting fed, so it could get extra plump, ready for slaughtering, that was how she felt. Renee could remember a time where she always loved the way she looked, but even from the clothes section. She'd never found anything that fit her style or something that didn't scream FAT at her.
"Renee, you should do something about your thighs," her mom commented as she shifted her body, her arms looking through the racks to find something suitable for her eight-year-old daughter. "You could find something that wouldn't hug your figure so tightly. Maybe I should add some of that weight-loosing pill to your diet to not be a fat pig."
Renee blinked rapidly and frowned. She never noticed what her mom saw in her body. Her best friend, Jocelynn, who was big-boned as she quite referred herself, told her that she should feel comfortable in her body which Renee followed blindly, accepting that she was fat.
Renee simply shrugged, not noticing what her mom saw in her body. She was too occupied looking at a beautiful, pink dress that looked like it was fit for a princess. She wanted to be that princess. The girl who would find her Prince Charming and ride off into the sunset on a white horse. A fairy-tale that she hoped would become a dream, and maybe this dress could become what her prince charming find fascinating!
"Mom! Look!" She exclaimed, holding up a hanger that had the pink dress on. Renee referred to the long sleeves that had pink flowers on it, the same shade that the dress was. "It's looks like a princess! It's the one that would find me Prince Charming!" Renee watched her mother for any expression, but the one she got was the most unexpected.
A look of disappointment filled her mother's face.
"No, it would not make you look like princess… Maybe a fat toad, but certainly not a princess. You're nothing, but a fat wench who can't stop eating-which makes you look like this!" Her mom hissed, taking her hand and pinching Renee's face and her arms. "I'm not going to tell you that you look good, because your fat looking."
Renee sniffed, feeling the sting of her mom's pinches radiating from her body. She looked down, studying everything that her mom always voiced about. Maybe her mom was right. She really was going to have to lose weight if she ever wanted her mom's approval.
Renee realized that she never wanted anyone else's approval. The only approval that really mattered as hers. She was the only person that truly mattered for her opinion, that she didn't want anyone else's even if it was positive. Sure, having positive feedback given is good, but at the end of the day, she was the only person that mattered. Renee couldn't change a thing about herself.
Renee blinked back tears, quickly realizing where she was. She'd never received her mom's approval before her mom passed away by a heartache. It was just fine by her. Her parents never really approved of her when she dropped out of high school and proposed by her boyfriend who turned out to be a cheating scum right after she broke off the engagement to him.
Over the years, Renee realized that she never wanted anyone else's approval. The only approval that really mattered as hers. She was the only person that truly mattered for her opinion, that she didn't want anyone else's even if it was positive. Sure, having positive feedback given is good, but at the end of the day, she was the only person that mattered. Renee couldn't change a thing about herself.
Renee ran a finger through her long, red hair. She remembered how Jocelynn taught her how to do her own hair and how she was lucky that Renee had been blessed with red hair that was thin, instead of Jocelynn's thick hair. It was Jocelynn that made her feel that it wasn't her fault, that she was better than what people thought of her. Renee, unfortunately, lost contact with her friend years ago, but she remembered every single memory with her-from meeting at school, practically sisters, having sleepovers at Jocelynn's house, talking about boys and doing each other's makeup. Those were fun times, she thought to herself relishing the fact she had something special going on with Jocelynn.
Renee smiled softly over those memories-reliving them as best she could. She didn't notice where she was going before her foot caught on something and making Renee fall to the ground. She grimaced for a few seconds feeling the pain on her ass, but she ignored it and helped herself up from the floor.
Renee smoothed down her red, ruffled dress, hoping that it didn't look like she made a small tumble onto the hard, concrete, tiled floor. She was surprised that she didn't manage to hurt herself even more which she was quite proud of.
Thanks gravity for showing me that you hate me, Renee thought to herself in an amused manner. She nearly stumbled when she took a few steps and collected her wandering thoughts before she faced District twelve.
District 12 wasn't necessary a bad place-it was just really depressing for Renee. It made her feel like she was stuck in a dark place with nowhere to go-stuck there forever without any happiness. While Renee always enjoyed the Hunger Games and escorting-she'd never liked District 12, but she didn't really have much choice in the fact that she had to escort in the district.
"Come on, Renee! It's time to shine!" She told herself cheerfully.
She nearly ran to the door, but she managed to compose herself before she made a feel of herself. Renee had remembered that she was small high-heels, and she wasn't good in running in heels after what happened back in middle school. That was a disaster that Renee wasn't willingly to repeat it again.
Renee stepped out the door and smiled. She felt the sun on her back as she started the reaping. This was going to be fun!
"My name is Renee Azkin and it's really a joy to see the bright, smiling faces of District 12. It's really one of my favorite districts, and I wish the tributes luck for the Hunger Games!" Renee said joyly. "But before we begin… We have a lovely video for us to watch!"
The video blared on in which Renee grinned as it played on until the screens blacked out and it was her turn again. "That was really lovely… As usual, the ladies first... " Renee dipped her hand into the reaping bowl, picking out a while slip from the top and reading it aloud, "Alda Rushiv!"
It was awfully quiet for a few seconds, but out of the corner of her eye she saw some movement coming from the fourteen-year-old section. A tiny girl with a grin bearing her crooked teeth walked out, letting out a few giggles in the process. It unnerved her quite a bit, but she ignored it the best she could.
"How old are you?" Renee inquired once the girl got on stage-still giggling.
"Fourteen…"
Renee continued smiling as she plucked a male's slip from the other bowl and read aloud, "Flynn Madigan!"
A tall guy with brown hair and pale skin walked out. Flynn walked out to the aisle, betraying no emotion on his face, but merely walked without a concern. It almost seemed that the guy was in some sort of pain or that he just dreaded wanting to come on the stage-knowing that there is a chance that he would die. Renee heard a small scream and some sobbing, but she ignored it the best she could.
A few minutes had passed, and Flynn stepped onto the stage which Renee sighed in relief before she asked, "How old are you?"
"Sixteen," He replied. He kept his gaze down to the floor which Renee ignored. She didn't want anyone to ruin her good mood.
"Our tributes-Alda Rushiv and Flynn Madigan!" Renee exclaimed before she ushered both of her tributes off the stage and into the Justice Building
.
~Now I don't know if she got my number
But she's been calling all through the summer
Saying she really need to see you brother
Now don't that make you wonder~
Flynn Madigan (16), District 12
Flynn felt the tears falling down his face, but he really made no mind. He couldn't really get over the fact that he was reaped. Something that he never really expected to, but after his mom screaming his name and Shayla crying as soon as his name was called.
The first of his visitors arrived which was quite grateful that it was his family. Evander quickly ran up to him with Shayla in tow. He both gave them a hug tightly as he could muster and said to Evander quietly,
"I always regret not having a close relationship with you. I thought you were here to destroy everything I own. You did take everything away from me, and I always been a jerk to you, I guess that was quite stupid of me. I'm sorry that we didn't spend much time as we should have."
"You couldn't have known. From what I heard, you pitched a fit when you found out that you had to share everything with me right after I was born," Evander replied.
Flynn had nodded before he returned his attention to his little sister who only hugged him without saying a word. His mom stepped forward and was trying to get a string of beads off her bracelet. He accepted it once his mom untangled it and handed it to him. Flynn quickly recognized what it was; his was his part of the bracelet, the blue string of beads.
"Thank you," Flynn said once he hugged his mom. "I love you."
"I love you too," his mom answered.
His dad hugged him which he gladly accepted. He was going to miss them.
All four of them left and Flynn was left alone for a few minutes before Elise and Elijah came in. Elise was smiling and had a small bounce in her step while her brother was blank, his face not revealing any emotion.
"I really can't believe you got reaped," Elise said.
"Neither could I honestly," Flynn said, "How are you doing Elijah?"
"Fine."
They continued to chat for a few minutes before they had to go leave and Chandler, Kenna and Winston stepped with, all three of them having grim expressions.
"I know you'd do great!" Winston said. "We believe in you."
Flynn smiled, and the other two shared their gratitude and wished him luck which Flynn smiled at that. After they left, he was left alone.
~It's coming closer
The flames are reaching my body
Please won't you help me~
Alda Rushiv (14), District 12
Alda continued to grin as she sat in the room she was put into. While she felt very jittery and her heart was racing, Alda didn't seem to mind it one bit. It felt oddly normal, and it was just another day. She didn't feel like she was going to pass out or anything nor did she had the looming feeling that she would die.
Alda let out a small giggle already imagining herself in the arena, causing more chaos This really was going to be good especially since she got to play with fire. Alda knew she'd probably get targeted quickly, but she would stay out of everyone's way and realize that it would probably be too late that Alda would probably be the most dangerous tribute especially if matches and kindling were involved.
Oh, this was going to be so much fun...
Updates are going to be a bit slower since school is starting up again. January is the busy month for me because I will be staying after school a lot for pit rehearsal for the musical so I won't be able to write much. I will also be putting the story on hiatus right after the interlude which is set after the reapings so I could write the longest chapters of the train rides. Thoughts on the tributes?