A Vivid Note: we're a little more than halfway done with the reapings! I've already written up some of the chapters for after the reapings (so I can update faster when we get there) but reapings take a lot of time and effort on my part, to make them separate, special pieces that hold meaning.
I am sorry it's taking so long, but I'm graduating in a month and there's a lot to be done. My spare time is very limited, so I don't have much in the way of free-choice writing time.
This chapter introduces you to a tribute written by GhostWrite123, and she's more comical compared to the other tributes- but comedy is always welcome with me. I'm hoping I was able to write her sufficiently enough.
Please be sure to take the poll on my profile! I'll be changing it every so often, and this week I am asking which animal muttations you would most like to see in play these games.
Kiss-Kiss,
Vivid.
The Capitol Games
Galaxy Jones; 16 years; the Capitol Sector 7.
I'm so insulted and angry, I could almost cry. Human beings are just so insensitive sometimes! At times like this, I can't help but feel that my 'parents' aren't human at all- not with the way they act.
Slamming my door isn't an act of frustration- but a sign to my 'adoptive' Mother not to continue on after me. Of course, when I fall down onto my bed- she's already outside my door and calling out in that shrill, unnatural voice-
"It was just a suggestion sweetie; you don't have to cut your hair."
So insensitive, I can hardly stand living with her. I'm sure my real Mother wouldn't ever say such a thing, even as a suggestion. Everyone knows how much I adore my hair; with its silky white tresses that just glide over your hands. I don't even have to straighten it; I wake up in the morning like this.
-but no. She doesn't care. No one cares about how I feel. Why should they? I'm just stupid, vapid Galaxy Jones. 'Lexie' Jones. I've even been called 'Dyslexia' Jones, whatever that's supposed to mean.
"Come out here sweetie- let's hug and make up before you have to go."
"No!" I push my wet eyes into my pillow, not sparing a thought for the make-up stain I'm surely creating. "Go away! I want some privacy!"
Though I can't understand exactly what she says, what with me burying my face so deep into my pillow and all- I hear the woman's footsteps retreat away from my bedroom, calling out to my brother that I'm being difficult.
Like that's going to do anything. Saturn rarely cares when I'm upset anymore. He insists it's because I'm so easily upset- but I didn't hear the rest of that argument since I ended up slamming the door on his hand out of anger.
I'll admit to being a tad emotional, but I always heard that was a good quality. Now all of a sudden it's a terrible thing to be and no one will stop saying that. Every time I hear it, it makes me upset...
"Galaxy-" I scrunch my eyes tighter as my 'Father' raps lightly on the door. "I hope you're getting ready, we don't have much time until the reapings."
"Go away!" I cry over my shoulder, throwing the pillow against the headrest. "I'm getting ready, just go away!"
My adoptive Father is a lot less persistent than my adoptive Mother is. I almost sigh in relief that he walks away without needing to be told to several hundred more times. Though it's almost guaranteed that he too has gone off to tell my brother that I'm upset- but again, Saturn won't bother. He never does.
Our family has sort of fallen apart since our parents died.
It was an accident, as it usually is here in the Capitol. People rarely get murdered here, especially when they're in really unimportant jobs like being a geologist and an astronomer. I had always hoped they'd grow old and die after I'd moved out, gotten married and opened my rock museum for all the rock samples I've collected.
Don't laugh; it's a real dream of mine!
-But all that's sort of in the past now that they're dead. I haven't had the heart to go on any digs for gemstones or anything since the fire that killed them and burned down our house was put out. Saturn confessed it was his fault- and even though the authorities didn't blame him- I certainly did.
I know I shouldn't, because he was just a little kid at the time, but I do. It's his fault that I have to grow up with no real parents to help me as I try to struggle through life. I know he feels guilty too, but I can't hide the feelings. I don't think I'll ever really get over it.
What makes all that worse, is that at the time- my parents had signed up for the 'emergency replacement' program, in case anything did happen to them. I guess they never thought it would- but when it did- Saturn and I were left in the hands of our new replacement, 'adoptive' parents.
-I know it sounds ridiculous, but even though they're apparently real people who signed up to take care of orphaned children- I swear they're either robots or something. Sure, I've seen them eat, go into the bathroom and go to sleep- but they can program that now... can't they?
Getting ready is usually really fun, but after what that robotic 'Mother' of mine said, I don't think I'll enjoy anything today. To spite her though, I decide to wear my long white hair down instead of up, meaning that I'll have to take care for it not to get tangled about my legs. It's quite long, if I do say so myself, but that's what makes it beautiful. That's what I think anyway.
Being pretty in the Capitol is different to being pretty in the Districts. In the Districts, I think girls worry more about not starving away into sticks and bones rather than the length and color of their hair. Here, girls have to contend with being the right size, shape, color- and that means your skin, hair, eyes and pretty much everything else! I mean, it's all customisable after all.
I have red skin and a slightly brighter shade of red for my eyes- to represent my likeness to a burning super nova. I don't think it comes across too well, because no one really gets it unless I explain it to them- and they should get it.
Along with that, I still have some alterations from past crazes; the webbed toes and fingers from the amphibious craze, the many, many tattoos from the rebel craze- and, my personal favourite- the elaborate dragon tattoo...
...on my tongue.
It always makes me smile when I poke out my tongue and see the shock even from the savviest of Capitol people. Those expressions were worth the three weeks of having to eat absolutely everything through a rubber tube.
I'm not so sure what to wear, since I haven't exactly been to a reaping before- so I pick out several dresses to muse over and a pair of strappy gold heels, which will go with anything really. I have a fluttery sort of gold dress, a sleek one that sort of fades from yellow and orange into blue, and finally a glimmering white one that I usually wore to weddings and fancy dress parties.
"...the fading one-"
Letting the two other dresses fall in a heap on the floor, I quickly strip down and zip myself into my slinky gradient dress, turning this way and that to get a good view of myself from every angle.
Okay, so I'm not a classic beauty, but I think I look pretty good. One day I really will be the super nova of all Capitol girls. Right now I'm more of a... red dwarf, that's all.
I'm looking forward to seeing my friends again, and it's not very often the entire neighbourhood assembles for anything.
Who knows- today might just be the day of new beginnings for Galaxy Jones! I might meet a guy in that crowd of eligible tributes, or a talent escort or something... I wouldn't mind being a model as well as a rock museum... operator person.
-I should probably find out what the title would be. Museum director, maybe?
"Lexie-" My little brother's voice sifts through the cheap wood of my bedroom door. "Uh, they asked me to come talk to you..."
'They' obviously means the robotic replacement parents, too stupid to give up. As if that isn't annoying enough, I can't believe Saturn is actually following up on something the robo-dummies asked him to do.
"Go away," I sit myself down at my make-up table, busying myself with my earrings. "I'll be out in a few minutes, I'm almost done-"
"No- Galaxy they're asking if you want them to come with us-"
I'm surprised he's being so persistent. Usually Saturn knows better than to continue talking through my door after I've called out for him to leave once. Perhaps it's because I'm not crying or screaming, and he's chosen to ignore me.
"I never want them to come anywhere with me." I say flatly, narrowing my eyes. "You'd know that if you ever listen to what I say-"
"Oh not this again-"
"Yes, this again-" I can't help myself; this always seems to be how our conversations end up. "If you ever listened to me, you'd know that I hate them-"
"They're our parents-" Saturn begins desperately, but I cut him off before he can even try to continue.
"No," I whirl about in my seat and stare furiously in the door's direction. "No, they're not our parents- our parents are dead, and you know why."
Okay, I'm being harsh- and Saturn's probably not going to talk to me now for at least a week- but I won't take back my words. I hear his silence for a moment, then the dull footsteps of defeat walking away from my doorway.
-It's too miserable a win to be happy about it. With a sigh, I slump onto my vanity table- pushing my forehead into my crossed arms.
I don't want to hate him. I really don't- but I can't control my emotions. I hate him for killing our parents, even if it was an accident. It's his fault I'm stuck in this house with robotic replacements. Yeah... he's right, everyone's right... I am an emotional person... and it isn't always a good thing... I know that...
-I'm so sick of crying.
In the end, I decided to make my own way to the reaping. Saturn had already left by the time I left my room- and the step parents happily agreed not to 'escort' me to the reaping. I keep reminding myself that this is what I wanted, but it feels really... empty- and sort of sad to shuffle off to a reaping... alone.
Saturn was apparently crying. Or at least- according to 'Robo-Mom' he was. I feel kind of bad- but I'm trying not to. I can't take back what I said, and part of me wouldn't anyway.
The streets are packed with people of all sorts of families making their way to the reapings together. If I wasn't so caught up in my own feelings already- I might have felt a little jealous. Usually I'd let myself be swept up in the hype of the games, like every year, but this time I just can't. Perhaps the whole 'reaping Capitol kids' is bothering me.
-I don't think it is, but I'm going to say it is.
As strange as it is, I have fond memories of the games and all that stuff. I remember having Mom wrap us up in this big, fluffy blanket, and she'd tell us all about the Districts that the kids came from. She didn't know all that much, but what she told me made me interested.
It's funny that our home should fall inside 'Sector 7', which I heard is like... the partner of 'District 7' or something. Mom used to love District 7- and she'd always say things about the paper and pine furniture or something.
It's not my favourite District- I've always sort of liked District 5- but I can still remember Mom's breath in my ears as she so excitedly explained the importance of lumber and wood. Perhaps it was her favourite. I never really asked...
I can't be bothered to scout out my friends in the crowd, especially not since they'll all be on the verge of tears and that'll just make me cry. After all the effort I made on my make-up and eye glitter, crying now would be like flushing all that time and effort down the toilet.
It only takes a minute for the roll taker to mark off my name on the roster, and I manage to catch a glimpse of the list before he flicks the pages together. Saturn hasn't been marked off yet. I wonder why he's taken his time to get here, since he certainly wasn't home when I left.
-Now I'm really starting to regret what I said. I'll admit that I don't love Saturn as much as I should but... I don't think what I feel is hate... is it...?
Ugh, the crowd around me is positively suffocating. It's not that I don't like the other sixteen year old girls; it's just that liking them is really exhausting. I don't think I have the energy to chatter and blah on about everything after all the stuff that happened this morning.
I sidle in amongst the other girls, and I only have to smile awkwardly to several of them before I'm completely forgotten about again. I take the time I have to observe the street around me, with the streamers half-heartedly flying from the lampposts and the rickety wooden stage.
I wish I could enjoy this more. I bet I would be able to if things were just a little different...
Just as I start to feel like I'm about to start snivelling- the mayor steps up to the rickety wooden podium and begins to read the treaty. No one really listens, but for a change I do- trying to distract myself from the guilt piling up inside me like snow.
Why did I have to be so mean to Saturn? I mean, I know why I was but... why aren't I better at hiding my feelings? I hate wearing my heart on my sleeve. Nothing about me is a secret. I bet everyone here can tell I'm totally clocked out of this whole reaping.
"-And as a yearly reminder that the Dark Days must never be repeated-"
I have to apologise. I have to find Saturn and tell him I'm sorry- or else it's going to bother me all day. I twist my body around and begin to scout the crowd- pushing my way through the girls that had congregated about me as I make my way out of the crowd.
"-Hello Sector 7! I'm your escort Peach, and it's time for us to pull the name of our female tribute! Everyone, fingers crossed~"
I break free of the crowd and stumble into the outside aisle. Inhaling deeply- I break into a slight run on the outside of the roped off potential tributes. In the corner of my eye I see a Peace Keeper go rigid and shout for me to stop.
I ignore it.
I need to apologise now before I let it get the better of me. I know I'll never be able to forgive him for what he did, but I don't want the last person of my family to be pushed away from me. I have to hold onto him- I have to apologise-
"-And our lucky girl is-"
A pair of hands grabs my shoulders- pulling me to a screeching stop. My breath is caught in my throat from alarm as the Peace Keeper tugs me backwards as I hear the escort's words cry out, crisp and clear-
"Galaxy Jones!"
-And it all goes blank.
What?
My shoulders stiffen. The Peace Keeper looks down at me, his tight grip loosening.
That's... That's me... isn't it? Galaxy... Jones...?
The escort, with her golden ringlets bouncing beside her cheeks, begins to call out the name, my name, over and over again. I can see Peace Keepers trying to comb out where I am from their positions- while the Peace Keeper who holds me forcibly looks me in the eyes.
"-you're Galaxy Jones."
It's not even a question he asks! I can't say anything- because my mind is in a panic. This isn't happening. Not once did I ever consider being picked- because that sort of thing doesn't happen to Capitol children. Surely this man can see that in my eyes- right? Right?
His hand grabs my arm as he begins to wrench me up towards the stage. Horrified, I strain against his pull- but it's no use. I can feel the eyes turning to stare at me as my eyes flood with tears of panic.
"No!" It escapes me before I can stop it. "No! Please, no! I don't want to! I don't want to-!"
"-l-let's have a big hand for our female tribute-"
She's not even asking for volunteers! The man's grip tightens as I stare wildly around at the crowd- my hair lashing about my face as I struggle to get away.
"You can't make me do this-!" I shriek desperately. My arm is paining so much from his brace. "I don't want to die-!"
They don't leave me alone on the stage, instead holding me there as I slowly give up the thrashing and stand still- on the verge of sobbing. Peach clops up the podium, the boy's name in her hand- but through the tear-warped vision of my eyes- I watch the scene unfurl.
Saturn is metres away from the stage. He's running. I feel my heart jump in my throat- and I open my mouth to stop him- but I'm too late. Something else stops him first.
-A dark arm, shooting out from the crowd of seventeens. It grasps my little brother around the mouth, pulling him behind the attacker as he steps into plain sight- staring up at the reaping stage with frightening dark eyes.
"I volunteer."
He's older than me- but that's not what I'm afraid of. I watch in paralysed fear as he calmly walks up the stage, taking his place beside me. His arms are decorated with swirls and spotted tattoos- drawn together like some sort of primitive, tribal design.
Out of the corner of his eye, he focuses on me- and I feel my blood run cold. The patterns move with his pulse- and, even though I've met and known many dark skinned people, this is the first time I've ever felt terrified of one.
"What's your name sweetheart?" Peach asks brightly, holding the microphone to his face. "Nice and loud-"
"Ferroh... Ferroh Axum."
-more chills run down my spine. Even his name petrifies me. The crowd begins to clap awkwardly as Peach prances about in front of us- congratulating our status as tributes- but I can barely take my eyes of my District partner. Saturn sits in the aisle still- his body quivering in fear from the arm that grabbed him- while I stand supported by the Peace Keeper- still crying from before.
I'm going to die.
Standing here on this stage, everyone knows it. I know it. This stranger, Ferroh, beside me knows it. Somewhere in this crowd, my adoptive parents must know it- and so does my little brother, staring up in grief from his place on the ground.
I'm going to die.
"I-I don't want to-!"
-And with that, the Peace Keeper lets me crumple to my knees, wailing into my knees as the crowd's applause dies into the warm afternoon air.
I don't know what to do. I feel like I need to throw up, but every time I open my mouth- nothing comes out. Not even a breath, or a whimper. After my outburst on the stage it feels like all my emotional energy has evaporated.
The black guy, Ferroh, is still frightening, and I can't even see him through the wall of the tent. I just can't shake the mental image of him and those weird tattoos that swirl and dot along his arm- holding a spear to my throat as he mutters something unintelligible.
I've spent my whole life saying I'm cool with people no matter what their race, beliefs or sexual orientation is- but I am absolutely terrified of this guy, and I don't have any reason to be scared except for these endless delusions of him skewering me with a variety of tribal weapons!
I'm not a racist. I'm not. I'm not...
Through the thin walls of the tent, I can hear the whispers of a girl, and the muffled sounds of someone else crying. I still haven't heard Ferroh's voice, but I'm positive that when I do it'll be as terrifying as the rest of him. I'm sure.
-I'm screwed. Galaxy Jones is officially dead. I'm not going to get any sponsors by the way I acted, crying and screaming like that. Everyone will think I was trying to run away- when I was trying to reach Saturn to apologise. They'll all think I'm a coward and that putting money on me would be a complete waste.
Even in the confines of this tent, I feel too broken to cry anymore. The tears I shed before might be the last I ever get to spill here in my own neighbourhood.
The parents already left. They didn't say much, just a pat on my shoulder and a few carefully devised words of condolences. It was obvious they aren't planning on me returning. I almost wanted to ask what they were going to do with my things- until I realised that it really doesn't matter.
-I hope they don't throw out my rock collection. I really hope they don't.
Now I wait. Wait for Saturn to come in and say goodbye. I keep trying to tell myself that it isn't forever, but then reality kicks in and I feel the need to cry again.
This is going to be the last time. I don't know how, but I know it. Even if I do come back- how could I come back as me? The Games like... change people.
Several minutes pass before my brother steps inside the tent. Silence grips the two of us, which has always been rare with us siblings. We always seemed to be fighting, even though it was never over what mattered.
My arms find themselves reaching out- pulling the boy who was not as small as I remembered him being this morning- and grasping him as tightly as I can. Saturn doesn't fight against my grip- but instead slumps forwards- hugging my head in his hands.
"-I'm sorry." He chokes out, sinking to his knees- hands slipping to my shoulders. "Sis' I'm sorry I killed them- I'm sorry-"
"-No I'm sorry-" My voice is raspy- probably from all the shrieking from before. "Saturn I'm sorry I... I'm your sister... I should've taken care of you-"
"I killed them Galaxy-" I swallow back the anguish as my little brother stares up at me in his own remorse, those bright green eyes swimming in tears I never wanted to see. "-And now you're... you're gonna..."
He never finishes that sentence. He didn't need to anyway. I know what he was going to say. I couldn't help thinking it either- ever since I saw him try and volunteer to die alongside me.
I'm going to die.
-And my brother will be all alone, without my love or my resentment to keep him company. Just a pile of empty, glittering rocks and robotic replacements for the parents he killed.
"...I'm sorry... I'm so sorry Saturn..."
-And for the first time... I really am.