Onyx Forti, District 1 male: reaping day
"Hello, Onyx," My mom exclaims with her scornful voice.
"Hello mom," I don't mean to sigh as I say it. "I'm going to go for a walk."
"Alright, but don't forget it's reaping day." She replies.
"I don't think I'll forget."
Reaping day. I couldn't ever forget such a horrid day, especially the day where I will be reaped. Albeit not everyone in my district voted for me but I can tell most did. I'm not the smartest, but I'm close to the top, which is an excuse they can use. I know they're lying when they say they didn't vote for me, and some don't even bother hiding it.
The door slams behind me as I walk out of the house. I hate my mom and dad, they're always trying to get me to be something I'm not. It's like they don't want to be looked down upon because their kid is "transgender scum". I pull my hood up over my face to hide my eyes. If people saw me out in the open, curses would be exchanged and maybe even a punch or two.
So, I head to one of the only places I feel safe and comfortable, not watched; the gym. Of course not the training center for careers that's always packed full of trainees, all of which are hoping for their chance in the games. So I go to the gym across from it, that no one else really goes to. It is always overlooked, so there are only one or two people there most of the time, and they are both don't really care about me being there.
When I get there Angel is already there. She acknowledges my presence with a single nod and goes back to her sit-ups. I head over to my favorite station; the rower. I love it because you can have a full-body workout with just one machine.
Then I head over to the weapon area to practice them for a while. I mean if I'm going into the games I should practice a little more with weapons. So the first one I grab is a sword, my favorite weapon, and spend at least half an hour.
Once I finish, I notice it's already 10:25 and the reaping starts at 11. I need to get home. So I pull my hood up and quickly make my way across town. It's hard to get to my house because people have already started to gather in the town square.
It's a good thing I pulled out my reaping clothes before I left. So when I got home all I needed to do was shower and comb my hair. And I did exactly that. When I was done and dressed in my nicest clothes; a white button-down shirt and black pants. I wanted to look very androgynous and to make sure people didn't confuse me as 'male' or 'female'.
I headed down to town square with my head bowed hoping no one would recognize me. The peacekeeper pricked my finger but I didn't feel it. There was a sort of numbness that filled my body and racked my brain.
I'm ready for this.
I can win the games.
I can show every single person who doubted me wrong.
I can do this.
"…And now introducing Sunflower Kuther, District one's escort!" I must have zoned out for the mayor's speech and the Capitol's video because they're about to call who is going into the games.
"Hello, ladies and gentlemen! I'm so excited to be here with you to celebrate the once in a lifetime twist!" Sunflower exclaimed. To that, the crowd erupted into cheers.
"Are you ready for this year's tribute?" She calls to the cheering crowd. "For the male, Onys.. I mean Onyx Forti!"
I saw it coming. With all the scornful glares and hatred. With everyone making fun of my pronoun, they. So I keep a neutral look on my face and stroll up to the podium. I'm not ashamed of who I am even though recoils around me as if I were a deadly snake. "Hello Onyx, I'm ever so sorry for getting your name wrong." Sunflower exclaims after I've joined her on top of the stage.
"It's just Nyx, and it's alright-" I say, not wanting to upset anyone.
"Now for the girls!" Sunflower yelps before I even have time to finish.
Angel Mayfield, District 1 female, reaping day:
I remember that day like it was yesterday. The day the Quell twist was announced. How much I wished I wasn't smart. So that I could volunteer. Except I'm not the smartest girl in school, so maybe I would get reaped in. I want to look strong when I volunteer, I'm a career, after all.
I do not want to look weak in front of my other careers. That's why being reaped is not an option. That's why I can't hesitate when I go to volunteer. That's why I'm heading to the gym at 5:45 in the morning on the only day I'm allowed to sleep in.
Not like I could sleep with my parents arguing. My mom had come home late last night with her shirt on backward and her hair all messy. And my dad didn't like that at all.
I just needed to get out of the house early in the morning to wash away all the bad vibes. All the tears and torn relationships.
So now I'm here, the only place I really feel home. As I walk in the familiar scent of apples and cleaning product fill my nose. I head to the sword station and start to practice. The simple slashing motion pushed away any other thoughts. Any other doubts.
After a little bit, my asthma starts to kick in, but I ignore it. I keep the motion going. On and on. Finally, blackness started to cloud my vision. I didn't feel my body hit the floor. I didn't feel anything until I woke up, with a dull ringing in my ears.
I look at the clock, it says that it's 7. So I start on my circuit workout. I run on the treadmill, do at least 30 push-ups, 50 bicycle crunches. Then halfway through my situps, Onyx comes in. Their sandy blonde hair is shimmering, just like the rock they were named after.
They look very sad, even though he's at the best place ever. They're reminding me of the sad puppy I used to have growing up.
I acknowledge them with a simple nod. We both know why they are here. They will be reaped. Not for being the smartest, just for being nonbinary. We live in a district of transphobes, where everyone is so scared of people who are different. People not like them.
The rest of my workout goes pretty fast and soon it's 10. The reaping's soon and I need to get ready. As soon as I'm home I got straight to the shower, not wanting to meet either of my parents.
After I feel clean and I get dressed in a nice white top and a beautiful grey skirt. I love the ruffles that cascade down the edges. It reminds me of a grey waterfall. How free water flows.
There's a knock on my door and I instantly know it's my dad. For a few seconds, I debate whether or not I should let him. I decide not to and quickly escape through the window. It's good that the roof was under my window otherwise I would have plummeted to my death.
So I step out onto the roof and watch as my dad enters my room. He looks confused and I don't blame him. I would be too if my daughter just disappeared. He looks in my closet and under my bed, as if I hid from him.
Soon he leaves and I enter my room again. I know that I'll have to talk to him, but for now, I just don't want to.
I finish with my make-up and the rest of my beauty routine and quietly walk downstairs. On tip-toes, I walk through my house. Hoping no one would see me. But right as I'm at the door I hear a shout from behind me.
"Angel, wait!" My dad called.
I didn't have time to answer because I ran out the door, making sure to slam the door behind me. I don't feel myself running but I do. I take off down the path toward the town square, where the reapings are held.
The prick on my finger telling me that I'm really about to do this. Really about to volunteer. I've waited for so long for this moment, and it's finally happening! Of course, I'll have to beat other trainees to the podium, but I can do that.
It's my last year I'm eligible, so this has to be my year! The year I outshine all of District One's tributes. The year I show how smart and popular I am.
After I made it to the 18-year-old section and listened to the Mayor's boring speech, it was time to find out who would be reaped. Our escort, Sunflower something, stood to the podium. Her blue-gloved hand clasped a microphone.
"...Our female tribute from District 1 is Abigail Turer." She exclaimed.
I pushed forward into the aisle, but a girl beats me to it. "I volunt-" She starts but I yell over her.
"I VOLUNTEER!"
The words echoed around the town. But I don't care, I will do anything to go into the games.
I quickly walk to the podium, making sure to keep the other girl behind me. Once I got there, Sunflower asked for me and Onyx to shake hands. We did and tried to give our district the best smiles hoping people would like us.
Onyx Forti, District 1: Goodbyes
I sit in the room, alone. I knew no one would come, with everyone in this god-damned district hating me. And to be honest my parents never really liked me. They always looked down upon me, as if I was an unwanted object. Hell, they probably voted me in.
The couch beneath me wrinkled as I moved to a more comfortable position. It was made of white leather and definitely made here in District One.
What are my parents doing right now?
Are they celebrating?
Are they wondering if I'll survive the bloodbath?
No, I will prove them wrong. I will prove all of them wrong. I'll show them that gender doesn't matter. So that when I get back they will have no choice but to respect me.
Suddenly I see a piece of yellow paper slip through the shot between the door and the floor. The sound of running footsteps slowly got quieter as I got up to get the note. It was a neat cursive handwriting that I didn't recognize.
It said, I hope you make it back and was signed -Someone who is transgender-. What? I thought that everyone in one was a transphobic. Well, it's good to know that someone is really cheering for me.
Angel Mayfield, District 1 female: Goodbyes
My dad was the first to come in. His face looked sad and angry at once. I looked in his eyes and saw the same hazel color as my own.
"Why didn't you tell me you were going to volunteer?" He asks as a small tear falls down his pale face.
"Because you would have told me not to." I say exasperated.
"Yeah I would have," he admits "because the Hunger Games is just a bunch of murders!"
"The games are my life!" I shout.
"But I want to be too! Maybe I wanted to spend time with my only daughter! Maybe just maybe I wanted to get closer to you so the games weren't just your life!" He cries as more tears flow from his face. More tears then I though my dad ever could cry.
I walk over to him, shedding a tear of my own. "I'm sorry." I say.
"No you're not!" he shouts. "You're just saying that!"
He gets up and walks out the door, making sure to slam it in my face. I slide down the wall and pull my knees to my chest.
What have I done?
Suddenly Tyler Caleb walks in. She sees me sitting there crying. Showing more emotion then I've ever showed her. She looks stunned as if I were a completely different person. As if I'm an alien from Mars.
"What's wrong?" She asks.
"Just get out."
"Excuse me, what?"
"I said just get out!" I exclaim.
"Fine! I was just trying to be your friend!" Tyler shouts.
And just like that, another person stormed out of my life possibly for the last time.
A/N: I really hope you guys like this chapter. I put a lot of effort in, but sorry for the long wait.
So after every chapter I will ask some questions like who's your favorite of the two and who will make it farther.
You don't have to review every chapter, but if you want to give your tribute a better chance of surviving the bloodbath review often.
Questions:
1. who's your favorite of the pair?
2. Who will make it farther?
3. Overall notes on the tributes
4. ARE YOU READY FOR THE GAMES TO BEGIN?