AN: Well, it's been quite the wait, but here it is: the last intro chapter! I'll have more of an explanation for you in the closing notes.
Whitney Mendoza
District 9 Female
16 Years Old
"You're hurting me!"
"That's the idea," I respond, "Hold still now."
With a few quick snips with the scissors I manage to produce a pixie cut for her. Well, calling it that was being generous, but you get the idea.
She's clearly incensed but forces a laugh.
"You fucked up, Whitney. Do you have any idea what's gonna happen to you once people find out what you did to me?"
I smile at her.
"Well sweetie, the way I see it, it's your word against mine. Look around - we're alone in an alleyway. Do you actually think that anyone's gonna believe that Whitney Mendoza of all people did this? I'm the harmless good girl that tries hard at school. You're the infamous queen-bee bitch that pushes people around. Really, the odds aren't in your favor."
She's struggling with how to respond as I begin to walk away.
"This isn't the end of this!" she calls after me.
"You're right," I shout back, "It sure isn't."
It's far from being over. I'm going to go after the others that helped her plan it. Not all in the same way, of course – that would raise too many eyebrows. I'd have to get more creative, and make sure that no one can trace it all back to me.
I'll probably go back to Selene again. Her info on Arielle was good, which led to the little haircut I gave her.
Selene was an outcast, someone most people considered a bit "strange," and one who always keeps to herself. But she had a keen eye and could read people well. She could also easily eavesdrop on conversations at school since her presence was a complete non-issue for most people. They don't think she has a stake in anything, or that she'd ever actually be interested in what they're saying.
I approached her a few weeks ago. Naturally, she was a bit surprised at first, but I managed to win her trust quickly enough. And now, what we just might have going forward is a nice little quid pro quo – I get the information she gathers on my targets, and she gets the experience of friendship. Well, as long as that's what she thinks it is.
As observant and useful as she might be, Selene is still unmistakably naïve. What more could I ask for?
Audric Bract
District 9 Male
15 Years Old
How many people take a regular sleep schedule for granted? Being able to drift away when you're tired, sleep peacefully through the night, and wake up in the morning feeling refreshed and ready to tackle the day's tasks… Sometimes I imagine how it'd feel to live like that, the potential it unlocks inside you, the things that you'd be able to achieve.
Take right now, for instance. I'm waking up not to the sharp ring of an alarm clock, or to the chirping of birds outside my window, but rather to the crack of a District Nine Peacekeeper's whip as it strikes my back.
I blink a few times and take in my surroundings. We're by a street just outside the fields where I work. Again.
That's right – this is far from being the first time. And if it weren't for the fact that the flogging actually hurt, I really wouldn't give a shit.
"Better not fall asleep on the job again, son," warns the Peacekeeper as he unties my hands from the wooden post. The few onlookers begin to disperse.
Well, maybe if it weren't so boring, I joke to myself.
As I prepare to take a nice, slow walk back to the fields, a voice behind me calls out.
"Audric?"
I spin around to see who it is.
"Mrs. Andersen!" I exclaim with forced enthusiasm, recognizing one of the teachers I had before I dropped out of school, "It's, uh, good to see you again. How've you been?"
"I'm doing well. How 'bout yourself? What was that all about?"
"Oh, that. Nothin' new, just fell asleep on the job again. You remember how it is."
"Audric, you know I always believed you, right? I know some of the other teachers, maybe even most of them, didn't, but I did. And I could see the potential you had… how observant you were, and how much you wanted to do well."
"Um, thanks. Guess it doesn't really matter any more now," I reply indifferently.
"I think it does. Audric, would you consider coming back? You can pick up where you left off, finish your schooling. It'll open up better jobs for you and—"
"Actually, I'm fine where I'm at now Mrs. Andersen, but thanks for the offer," I say with finality.
"Give it some thought, Audric. Please. Don't let that potential go to waste."
I try to end the conversation. "Alright, I will. But I should get back to work now. Nice seeing you again."
"Yes, and hopefully I'll see you in school again."
And with a polite smile I turn back around and continue my languid trek into the fields.
No chance I'm going back to school. That shit's over for sure.
Whitney Mendoza
District 9 Female
16 Years Old
As the warm water washes over me, I cannot shake the thought from my head that today, I could have my last shower at home, my last conversation with my Abuelita, or see my District for the last time. Any plans I made for the next year, the next few weeks, or even tomorrow might be rendered meaningless. Yes, it was my fifth Reaping, but my anxiety over it has never gotten any better. Maybe others felt this nervous about it as well? Nine is a small District after all. But for whatever reason, I've always had an unshakable feeling that one of these days, our Escort will pick my name out of that bowl.
The metallic ring of the timer signals the end of my minute-long shower. I quickly turn the water off so I don't cut further into our allotment.
I dry myself off before stepping in front of the mirror. Gazing at my reflection, I think long and hard about who I've come to be in the last few years. Getting payback against those girls back in middle school was only the beginning. I paid people to attack them, spread malignant rumors about them, even hooked up with one of their boyfriends. It wasn't only justified, it was necessary.
You see, Panem is not a post-race society. The Capitol completely ignores any matters concerning race or ethnicity, effectively giving a free pass to any form of discrimination based on skin color. The reason for this is simple, really – the more divided a people are among themselves, the harder it is for them to unite against their oppressors.
Naturally, this is a bigger issue in some Districts than others. Here in lily-white Nine though, let's just say that being a tan-skinned Hispanic wasn't the easiest thing in the world. What those girls did to me was only one of countless incidents, near-daily reminders of how I'd never truly be accepted.
So I forgot about trying to be liked. The sweet-girl act was clearly not working and was never going to work. Instead, I learned that being feared and reluctantly respected got you a lot further.
"Mija, if you really want it, nothing can stop you," Abuelita had said, "You're a Mendoza."
That was years ago, the very day of the incident back in middle school. Today, I'm high up in the ranks of the mayoral interns, with far more enemies than friends. But I am exactly where I want to be – since there are no elections in the Districts, the mayors are appointed by the Capitol and are generally independent of their popularity among the residents of their District. They want someone effective, capable. And so far, I believe I've shown exactly that.
Audric Bract
District 9 Male
15 Years Old
You might be wondering if I've ever fallen asleep during a Reaping ceremony. The answer: yes indeed. Not that I cared. It was just like falling asleep at work, except the Reaping is even less stimulating. The consequences were similar too (just another flogging).
This year's is as boring as ever. All 15,000 or so of us are gathered at the District center. The same Escort, Brielle Pendleton (or maybe it was Brianna), takes to the stage, the same corny propaganda vid plays, and then she gives the same overly effusive greeting to the crowd.
Even if I don't feel a sudden onset of sleepiness, I pretty much zone out anyway, maybe briefly looking up only to see who was called.
And when I look up this year, I see someone I recognize. She's got darker skin (compared to vast majority of people in Nine, though definitely not as dark as mine) and is relatively small. She's older than me, but I remember her from middle school. Ambitious girl, big into political stuff. Aggressive and hyper-competitive, she wasn't someone you'd want to mess with. I first heard about her when I was in 7th grade – apparently some girls had pulled quite a nasty prank on her at school…
Seeing her walk up to the stage made me somewhat nostalgic for the ol' schooldays. It was hard to keep up with my friends after I started working, given how much of your time it takes up. Since I left, I've pretty much drifted away from all of 'em. Maybe we'd make some light conversation if I bumped into them on the streets or in the tessera line, but we've all moved on, more or less.
While I'm still reminiscing about these former times, I hear the Escort call my own name.
Whitney Mendoza
District 9 Female
16 Years Old
Can't panic. Panic is unproductive. Need to plan. Planning is productive. Alright, I can do this. Let's start with the one who's going in with me.
He's dark-skinned. Short, but not weak-looking. That's a good sign at least. He has a nonchalant look about him, even as he's walking up to the stage? Just an act? Or maybe he's just naturally low-effort. We'll have to see. I wonder what he brings to the table…
How bad can the Games really be? It's a competition, just like the world outside the Arena. Only the strong survive.
Well, I am strong.
I am a Mendoza.
AN: Thank you all so much for your continued support. I recognize that it's been a really long time since the last update, and I apologize for that.
Since my last update, I've been cramming for the MCAT, which I took a few weeks ago (I feel it went relatively well). I was also seated on a jury in a civil case that lasted 3 days. Right after that, I started work (8-9 hours a day, not including the commute). I've been working on this chapter in bits and pieces, so it might seem a bit disjointed. Please let me know what you think of it!
All the Tributes have been introduced now, so if you haven't had a chance to review yet, now would be a great opportunity to let me know your thoughts on our Tributes!
We've managed to get through all the intro chapters in less than 5 months, which is not too bad. There's a lot to be looking forward to with these characters, who will be meeting one another very soon.
I can't pinpoint when the next update will be, but I will do my best to make sure the wait is not as long. Until then!