Cheyenne Flow, D10
The room in the Justice Building was over decorated with cow hides, pictures, and weapons. Cheyenne looked at the walls, wishing time could just slow down. The Reaping just completed, and she continues to replay what has happened over and over again. Jane Lisari's younger sister, Erin, was originally called. Jane could barely hold in her emotions. Cheyenne knew it was the right thing to volunteer herself for Erin. The whole time she stood on that stage, she began to increasingly regret her decision. Now, here she was, sitting in the Justice Building, waiting to go to the Capitol for the Hunger Games. The door flung open and Jane was running full speed to her friend.
Jane grabbed ahold of Cheyenne and didn't let go. The tears continued to fall from her eyes as seconds rolled by. A few moments later, Jane looked at Cheyenne. "You didn't have to do that for Erin. She is a tough girl. I know she could have made it home." Cheyenne's throat tightened at the sound of Jane's constricted voice. Jane released Cheyenne as wiped her cheeks free of water. "You are worse off than my family. Volunteering for Erin was the right thing to do for you." As Cheyenne continued to explain her actions, Jane just looked at her friend. She reached out to touch Cheyenne's curly brown hair one last time before their time was up.
"Cheyenne, you have no choice." Jane started as the Peacekeeper came in to fetch her. "You must win and come home. You must win so Erin knows that you volunteering for her was the right thing to do. You have no choice." The Peacekeeper grabbed Jane by her arm and yanked her out of the room before Cheyenne could respond to her new command. You must win echoed in her mind over and over. Doors all over the building continued to slam and sobs can be heard through the paper thin walls. Cheyenne placed her head in her hands. If she could take back her volunteering stunt, she would do it in a heartbeat. She doesn't want to die just yet.
Coy 'Coy' Sanders, D10
Just sitting on the couch made Coy uncomfortable. She started to fidget around in her seat, just waiting for her parents to say their goodbyes. Her throat began to swell, hearing the sobs from her new district partners in the other rooms. Would she have a breakdown when her parents say goodbyes? She began to breathe in slowly, pushing the Games from her mind. She knew the ins and outs of the Games: they were designed for fear and pain. The more she feared them, the more the Capitol won. She pushed her hair from her brown eyes as the door opened. The Peacekeeper led in a man and a woman, both in tears, to their only child. Coy's mother quickly wrapped her arms around her daughter, holding her tightly.
"Oh, dear. Are you okay?" Her mother cooed as she held on tight. "I know their is nothing I can do for you now. But, you are a strong woman, Coy. You are smart as well. Use that brain of yours to destroy the other tributes, okay? Promise me you can do that?" Coy's only response was a nod of the head. Tears stung her eyes as her parents continued to say words of encouragement. Every word her parents said felt like a stab to the heart. These are the last words she will ever hear from her parents and they want to talk about 'destroying other tributes'. At the one minute mark, her father cleared his throat and looked to his baby girl.
"Honey, I know you can do this." He said, adjusting his glasses. "You can come home a winner and we can live in the Victor's Village together. Just think of the life we are going to live when we come home. That's worth fighting for. Fight for us, okay?" He wrapped his arms around her before she could answer. She didn't need to answer. The tears from the family members said it all. They were disappointed at the situation at hand, but they knew that she will emerge a Victor and surprise everyone. The last few seconds ticked away and the Peacekeepers came in like clockwork. They dragged her parents away without her saying a proper goodbye.
Colleen 'Lena' Reyna, D10
All Colleen had to do was just pick at the blue flowers on her dress. She was thrown into the cramped room as soon as the last boy was Reaped and she has been sitting here with nothing to do. Her family is right outside that room, she knows it. Just being picked for the Games isn't torture enough. The Peacekeepers may be holding her family back on purpose to completely torture her. Colleen breathes in deeply to clear her mind. She isn't going to focus on that right know. As soon as she cleared her mind, the door swung open and saw a blonde haired, hazel eyed boy in the door frame. His face softened when he saw Colleen sitting on the bench alone. He walked to her quickly and wrapped his arms around his tiny sister.
"Austin, I'm fine. I promise." Colleen says into her brother's shirt. Austin held on to her tighter as she choked out the words everyone says. Colleen's eyes began to sting with clear tears. Austin is just out of Reaping age, a newly turned 19-year-old. Colleen is closer to him than she is her older sister, baby brother, or her mother. She didn't even question the fact that he was visiting her alone. Colleen let go of her brother and sat down on the couch with him. She looked him into his hazel eyes and tried to stop the tears from falling. "Don't worry about me."
"I don't need to." Austin says, his voice dipping lower. "Listen to me, Lena. You have to be smart. Don't just fall into lapse with all the other kids. Don't rely on physical strength because, well, you don't have any. But, you've got twice the brains of anybody else, so you better use them. And be nice. Make people like you, then they'll want to sponsor you. But, don't you dare become too much of a threat. And listen to whatever your mentors say to you. They know more about the Games than we do." Austin gripped Lena's hands. "And please come home alive." The floodgates opened and tears began to pour from her eyes. She flung herself at her brother, savoring the last time she'll see him for a few weeks.
Alexandra 'Lexie' Grey, D10
"I can't believe you did that, Lexie!" Elizabeth says loudly when the door closes behind her. "What are you doing this for? 139 kids will die, no matter who is Victor. Why are you offering yourself up to the Capitol?" Elizabeth grabs ahold of Lexie's hands. Even after seven months, Lexie can't help but feel herself melt in Elizabeth's presence. Her big green eyes make it hard to keep your composure. Alexandra let out a deep sigh before finally looking up to her longtime friend and girlfriend. Those damn eyes continued to make her heart beat like crazy. What was she supposed to tell her? Lexie got all of her thoughts together before opening her mouth.
"I did it so I can bring pride to this district." She started out. Elizabeth started to say something, but Lexie put her finger to her mouth. "Also, we can live in the Victor's Village house together. That big house for the two of us. Wouldn't that be great? I understand the cost of that Victor's Village home: the death of all those children. But, think about it. I'm doing it just for us. We can also have our families move in with us. Just imagine it, sweetheart." A moment of silence passed in the room. Elizabeth began to think about it. Her face became more relaxed than it was fifteen seconds ago. Every time Elizabeth found something to bitch about with Lexie, Lexie would find a way to make her shut up.
Elizabeth reached into her pocket and pulled out a circle pin. The brown was matched with dark red, as if it was rusting over. Lexie could barely make out the details in the pin. "I want you to have this. I was saving it for our anniversary, but I won't be seeing you. I found it near the Caldwell farm a few days ago. I thought you would like it." Lexie holds the pin in her hand. The longer she stared at it, she began to make out the shape of the district seal. The cattle head became apparent, and the knives behind its head also appeared. No words came out of her mouth. Lexie grabbed Elizabeth tightly and refused to let go. A Peacekeeper came in to pull Lexie off of her girlfriend.
Clara Caldwell, D10
It was only her second Reaping. Her name was only in there twice. And that escort had to pull her name? Clara's cheeks were stained wet from her tears. She has been crying since the final boy was called. She placed her head in her hands, trying to calm herself down. But, how do you calm down when you know you might die? 140 go in, 1 comes out. 139 children won't come home to see their loved ones, family, or district ever again. How in the world did Jada do this twenty-five years ago?
The door opened slightly and a woman stood in front of Clara. When she looked up, she saw the familiar dark hair and blue eyes she has seen for thirteen years. Aunt Jada was standing over Clara, tears in her eyes. Clara tried to hold her composure, but she completely went berserk. She held onto Jada, voice in hysterics, asking a million questions at once. "Aunt Jada, how did you cope? Will I come home? How is Daddy? Is Gemstone okay? What happens next?" Jada sat down next to Clara, wiping the tears off of her niece's face. Jada was always worried about this moment: when one of her family members enters the Games. She should have been used to it, with her daughter Jetta going into the Games. But, District One is different than District Ten when it comes to the Games.
"Clara, I will explain everything to you and the others on the train." Jada began, holding in her own sobs. She could feel the tears tightening up her throat. Why must everything be so difficult in the Games? "Jace is okay. He just thought it would be better if I came in first, since I have done this before. I have something to say about Gemstone." Jada tried to control her emotions, but Clara caught on. "Gem placed in the Academy. He was ordered to volunteer. I got a call from Uncle Quaid saying that he is going into the Hunger Games with you. And, as you know, only one can come out alive."
Arvin Dutoni, D10
Arvin paced around the tiny room. There weren't many rooms for all of the tributes, so they began to just throw them anywhere available. Like almost everyone in the building, he is thinking why he was chosen. Sure, his family was poor, but so are 80% of the families in the district. He got income solely on his sheep farm, but he didn't earn enough to support his parents, brother, and three sisters. Arvin did pull tesserae, as well as the oldest daughter, Ria. Ria is now nineteen, and the tesserae no longer counts against her. He looked out the dusty window to the Square. Why was he chosen out of all those names? Was it because of the Quell? Would he have been chosen even if it was just a regular year?
"Arvin!" Three female voices called from the doorway. Arvin turned to see Ria, Ambi, and Avna all running towards him. Avna, the youngest, placed a kiss on his cheek. Ambi wrapped her arms around her brother. Ria crouched down to see Arvin from eye-level. "Mom and Dad thought it would be best if the girls saw you first and Yuvi would see you with Dad. Are you doing alright?" Arvin nodded as Avna began to talk loudly about everything in the room. Ambi started to pester Arvin if he was going to kill anyone in the arena. This was a typical thing for the Dutoni girls. They would all talk at the same time about something different, leading to chaos in the Dutoni home.
"Avna, make sure you listen to Ria while I'm gone, okay?" Avna nodded to her older brother and kissed his cheek again. "Ambi, I will try my hardest not to kill anyone. Be nice to Yuvi. Don't tease him about anything, got it?" Ambi rolled her eyes, but still hugged Arvin tightly. Arvin stood up and looked to his older sister. People always said they looked like each other. They have the same auburn hair, blue eyes, and pale skin. But they are as different as can be. "Ria, can you take care of them? And, if I don't come home, tell them I am on vacation?" Ria nodded with tears in her eyes. The two oldest siblings hugged for what seemed like years before the Peacekeepers came in the room.
River Neptune, D10
Jax was jumping around trying to keep calm. As the Neptune family was sitting in the over-decorated room, they all had a shaking feeling in their bodies. Maybe it was just bad luck. The Reaping was never fair. The Games are never fair. River knew that more than anyone in Panem, probably more than the District Fourteen kids. He inhaled slowly, pushed his golden brown hair out of his face, and looked to his mother. This is exactly what she was trying to avoid. She believed the Games are evil and will turn her kids evil as well. Tia grabbed her son's shoulders and looked him in the eyes. "Keep your head low. If you seen anyone you remember, don't try talking to them. They are part of the past. We live in Ten now." River nodded, to show that he understood his mother's advice.
Years ago, River lived in District Four. He can still smell the salt-water in the air wherever he went. As soon as River turned seven, a typical Career training age, Tia refused to let him step foot in the Academy. Everyone at school was pressuring him to start training and become District Four's next Victor. His father, Naucan, and Tia didn't want the Games to turn them evil. The decided to run out of the district, leaving their old life behind, and start anew with a completely different district. Tia believed that Ten would be a great choice because of their industry and what they think about the Games. The only drawback is that neither Jax nor River can go to school. Their pictures may be all over Four and they probably have spread to every district.
"Mom, Dad, I'll be fine." River says, his voice shaking. "I don't remember a lot of the kids from Four, so chances are they won't remember me. Don't worry about anyone finding out. When I win, no one will question where I came from." River hugged his parents tightly. He could feel his mother shaking with sobs trapped in her throat. River looked to his little brother, who was jumping in place and making a lot of extra movements. He got down on one knee and looked Jax in his eyes. "Jax, stay strong while I'm gone. There is no need to worry about the Four officials. I know I won't be there tonight, but just imagine that I am singing to you. Do you remember the song?" Jax nods and ran into River's arms.
Cain Harper, D10
"I did it to keep you all safe." Cain explains himself as his family questions him. The Reaping was a typical one, very few volunteers and many Reaped names. When Quin, Cain's little brother, was called, he couldn't stand to see his brother die right in front of him. He took matters in his own hands and volunteered himself. Of course, in his vanity, he forgot that his best friend was Reaped right before him. River gave him a surprised look and shook his head, but Cain continued to walk to the stage. He will never forget the night at the cattle ranch. That's how they became best friends in the first place. But, now they are in a fight to the death.
Little Ellia, his step-sister, sat next to him on the bench. She tugged on his dress shirt sleeve and looked right up at him. "I made you this so you can think of us when you are in the arena. I named her Tabitha. Do you like it, Cain?" Ellia handed him a straw doll. Ellia was learned how to weave from her mother, and she used the talent greatly. The eyes, nose, and mouth are well refined and Tabitha looked like she was wearing a dress. Cain smiled as he looked at the doll, and his vision became more blurry. Ellia never liked to share what she has weaved, only because she didn't like to hear people say anything bad about it. This is the first time he has seen her work.
He wrapped his arms around his little sister, kissed her forehead, and whispered to her, "It is lovely, Ellia. I will keep it by my side in the arena until I come home. I will take it everywhere with me." Ellia squealed in delight and grabbed ahold of her brother. Suddenly, Cain's mother, step-father, Quin, his brother Fennel, and Ellia all held him tightly. Their last second ticked away and Peacekeepers came in to tear the family apart. Two Peacekeepers had to tear Ellia off of Cain's body. "I love you all! I'll see you when I come home!" The door slammed in his face. Cain looked to Tabitha, and just imagined Ellia's face on the doll. It wasn't long before the tears began to fall.
Jaden Styles, D10
"I'm not going to say I'm coming home, Mom." Jaden says as his mother lets go of him. His father places a hand on her shoulder. "Everyone will be making those false promises. You and I know that only one can come out. 139 kids will stay there and lose their lives. Because of where I'm coming from, I may not come home." Jaden's words were harsh, but even his parents knew it was true. All the kids from District One, Two, and Four believe they will come home, but not everyone does. Maybe none of the Careers will win this year. All thirty can be taken down. Jaden embraced the silence from his parents and began to push his hair from his face.
Sure, he easily could have said he was coming home. But Jaden doesn't believe in false promises. He doesn't like making promises he can't keep. His mother taught him not to. Jaden is an honest kid and won't upset anyone. He never lied in school or to his friends. And he sure isn't starting to lie now. He looked to his mother's tear-stricken face and felt something twist in his stomach. His father gave him a stern look before he started speaking. "Jaden Styles, you don't know that. You could outlast every single one of the tributes and come home to me and your mother. Don't put yourself down like that. Do you understand me, son?"
Jaden jumped back. His father has never used that tone of voice with Jaden in the fourteen years he has lived in District Ten. "Yes, sir. I understand." Jaden's voice has dropped to an inaudible tone. Before their final minute was up, Jaden's parents hugged their only son tightly before the Peacekeepers came in. Jaden's father slipped something in his hand. When he looked, he saw his father's ring. The ring he was given by his father. This ring has been passed down for years. And Jaden finally has it.
Tallon Fuller, D10
The room was decorated with cowhides, pitchforks, and pictures of cows. Tallon couldn't believe how much this place likes cattle. Everything seemed so rustic here, nothing like his old home. His old home has crumbling castles, large fields, and twisting forests. Nothing like this place at all. The reality hit him when he was called for something called 'The Hunger Games'. He had no clue what was going on. No one would explain it to him and men in white suits pulled him to a crazy colored person called an 'escort' on stage. As soon as he took his place, the crowd disembarked, leaving him and nine others on the stage. The escort placed them in rooms, telling them to wait for their families. Tallon only knew one person in the district, his mother. Does she know what's going on?
The door squeaked open and Tallon's mother was in the doorframe. She was a tiny woman with red hair, similar to Tallon's. She ran to her son on the couch and hugged him tightly. Her sobs indicated that she knew something. Tallon ignored her calls and tried talking to her. "Mom, do you know what is happening? What are the Hunger Games? Why am I chosen? What is going on?" Tallon's questions continued to pile on one after the other. Yuri had no choice but to place Tallon on the couch by force and told him to shut up. She knew how scared he was, and she was scared for him. As she waited for visitors to be welcomed in, she found out about the Games and was completely appalled. Now, she must tell Tallon everything.
"Hun, I found out what the Hunger Games were." Tallon tensed up as Yuri started talking. "Our home nation does nothing like this. Someone told me that the Games are when two children are chosen from each district and thrown into a fight to the death in an arena. Only one comes out. This is the two hundredth year, meaning it's a Quarter Quell. Ten tributes from each district must compete. You will go to the Capitol, be shown off, train, get interviewed, then go into the arena." The meaning suddenly snapped with Tallon. He must fight to the death and he may die. He may never come back to District Ten, and he may never see his mother again.
A/N: I am so sorry about the wait. I thought summer would be free and stuff, but I was dead wrong. I have been busy with many graduation parties and other stuff. But, I have something important to say: DISTRICT ELEVEN, TWELVE, THIRTEEN, AND FOURTEEN ALL ARE IN NEED OF TRIBUTES! If you want, you just send a filler tribute. A filler is a tribute with no defining qualities, nothing special about them, and they will (most likely) die in the bloodbath or within the first two days. The open spots are on my profile. Next up: District Eleven Train Rides. Which tributes do you like? Which do you hate? Write a review! :)
~Ashlee