District 11
1 day before the reaping's
Cherry Ennedes 15
"Up there!" Trails Blurts
He points to the biggest, most delicious looking berry I have ever seen, its multi-coloured skin is shining down at me, almost like it is begging to get eaten by somebody and that somebody is going to be me…but it is at the very top of the tree!
"I don't think I can reach that" I murmur
"Sure you can! You're the best climber in all of District 11…now go!"
He shoves me forward and I except my challenge, after all I would never do something I'm not capable of.
I begin hurdling my way up the tree, I use all four of my limbs to scramble through the branches. Then it's finally in my sight! I reach forward and pluck it off the branch and into my basket! Then I quickly leap down onto the branch below and finally onto the ground, landing right next to Trail as he watches me in amusement and wander.
Suddenly he grabs it off me and sprints back towards the inner district.
"You motherf…" I say under my breath as I chase after him
"Hey no fair!" I yell
"I found it" He yells back
Suddenly he is knocked to the ground by a Peacekeeper who shoves his gun in the boy's face, he falls down with his hand on his face and blood dripping from his nose! The peacekeeper then angrily stomps on the berry, causing it to explode on his boot!
"I just had these cleaned you little shit!" he curses
He aims the gun at Trail's head just as I catch up to them.
"No!" I yell
I throw myself into the gun, knocking it out of the peacekeepers hands! He curses at me.
I stand in between the peacekeeper and my injured friend. With my hand out in instinct!
"He did nothing wrong!" I protest.
The Peacekeeper looks down at his stained boot.
"T-talk to my father…his name's Basil…he will clean your boot" I mutter with less confidence now
I guess it's because I've realised I'm standing in the way of an especially angry Peacekeeper.
Eventually he decides it isn't worth the hassle and leaves us alone. Trail stands up in shock of what just happened.
"Wow thanks, there's no way I would done the same for you" he smirks
I glance at him and just roll my eyes…
Later that evening
"Did you have a good day today Cherry" my mum asks as we sit around the dinner table.
I nod awkwardly as I push some food into my mouth from my bowl.
"I heard she almost got killed by a Peacekeeper" my little brother Spud blurts out.
I give him an annoyed look and continue eating my food.
"CHERRY! I told you to be careful" mom exclaims
I just shrug.
"It wasn't my fault"
"Where is dad?" Spud asks, changing the subject.
"He's busy working" mum replies
"That makes a change" I mumble
I think my mum heard me but she didn't bother to say anything maybe because she partly agrees with me.
After we have finished eating I am about to head to bed but my mum stops me.
"Cherry, I'd like to show you something…it's important to me"
"Ok sure…" I reply
She goes to a cupboard and takes out an old locket, it is a rusty silver colour with a chain necklace. She hands it to me.
"I wanted you to have this…my mom gave it to me and I'd like you to have it now" she says
"Why?"
"It will bring you good luck…trust me"
"Ok…" I murmur
I never normally believe in that sought of thing .
With a small amount of confusion, I take the locket.
"I'll wear it tomorrow to the reaping's"
Ryker Shenal 17
1 year ago
I'm sat at the best bar in District 11, drinking with my friends. We are laughing, joking and just generally having a really good time. Probably the best time anyone can hope for in District 11. Then a girl walks up to our table, she is pretty but probably a bit older than me.
"What's up?" I say in a drunken, flirty tonne.
"You need to leave now" She orders
I give her the best smile I can manage in my slightly drunk state.
"C'mon cutie just a little longer" I plead
She finally gives in and sends me a cheeky smile, apparently I'm as good with my words when I'm drunk as when I'm soba.
About an hour passes and I've now lost count of how much I've drank, as I slam another pint down on the table. My eyes slowly make their way around the room but my vision has become blurry and even doubled in some cases.
There is a man standing on one the tables telling some drunken joke. Suddenly the door bursts open followed by several footsteps and the next thing I know there are bullets flying everywhere! Bodies begin piling up, as blood stains the floor!
I throw myself under our table to take cover from the bullets, landing on serval pieces of glass as I do so! I try not to yelp in pain as the glass cuts my forearm, drawing blood!
My ears ring from the sound of gunfire which is far louder than I had ever imagined, I look around the room to see the chaotic scene of the bodies of my friends and other people in the bar. Blood stained shards of glass lay everywhere around me! My eyes turn to the body of the girl I had spoken to about 1 hour ago, her eyes are wide open and empty. Her body is riddled with bullets, I can't help but feel guilty because if we had left when she asked us to, then she might still be alive but no, instead I had to be a smartass.
I hear the sound of glass cracking as the Peacekeepers make their way into the building. I had heard rumours that this was a rebel meeting place but I never believed that my favourite bar could be. The peacekeepers begin inspecting the bodies to make sure everyone is dead.
I quietly rub the blood on my arms all over my body and close my eyes. I let my body go limp as I pretend to be dead. I know deep in my heart that I will probably die here but playing dead seems to be my final hope. Hopefully they will overlook the body under the table and move on…
I hear the footsteps move past the table, then the door is pushed open again and to my utter shock it sounds like the Peacekeepers have moved on! Not believing my luck I wait for a few minutes just to make sure they are far enough away that I can make my escape. My eyes dart open and I push myself up, my hand grips a large shard of glass for protection. I then finally make my way out from under the table, clambering over all the bodies of my friends…
Just as I am about to push the door open I hear a gun cox behind me.
"Not so fast"
I slowly turn around to see the only remaining peacekeeper facing me.
"I'm not a rebel" I state
He comes closer to me with his rifle.
"Sorry, it's nothing personal"
Just as he finishes his sentence I quickly jam the shard of glass into his shoulder! He screams in pain and his white outfit is stained with blood! He lets go of his rifle before I quickly front push kick him in the body which sends him to the floor!
Then I dart for the exit, inspecting my favourite jacket as I get out the door.
"Damn it! They ruined my favourite jacket as well" I complain
And I made my escape!
1 year later
That day still haunts me. The sight of that dead girl's body is always in my head, when I close my eyes to sleep and in my nightmares. Yes, I still believe it's my fault and I can't shake my survivor's guilt.
However, that all seems like it's about to change as I sit here in the justice building after getting reaped! It seems like I will finally be judged, I should have never survived that massacre and this proves it. On the other hand, if I do manage to win I might finally be able get the medicine for my poor mother. She needs if she's gonna have any hope of seeing another summer. Maybe it was a blessing in disguise, only fate can decide that.
My District partner, Cherry didn't seem as bothered by the reaping's as I expected. Maybe she will be good to keep as an ally? Cherry looks like she can handle herself, her skin is dark but not quite as dark as mine, however her eyes are a similar hazel brown. She wears her hair in long brown box braids.
Hey guys I managed to get another chapter done! Only 3 Districts haven't been introduced yet. If I don't get the submissions, then I will just continue onto the train rides and introduce the other tributes as the story goes on. Thanks to . for Ryker and rising-balloons for Cherry. Thanks to those who are still reviewing it means a lot!
Theme songs:
Ryker: Dark Horse by Katy Perry
Cherry: Beloved by Mumford & Sons