"The thing is, people underestimate me. They're going to regret it."
Calix Gilmore, 18, District One Male
The morning air was cool as Calix made his way through the streets. His feet pounding against the pavement, his breath escaping in gasps as he pushed himself harder and harder. He had woken up an hour ago from another nightmare, sweat covering his body. Cal had glanced at the clock, finding it to be only a little past six in the morning. Not being able to fall asleep, he had escaped out the front door and set out on a run. It was something he always did, it helped clear his mind.
Left.
Right.
Left.
Right.
When he was young, life was normal. Life was perfect to say the least. His mother and father wanted him to be the best that he could be. Cal was enrolled at the academy at the age of three, and since he was nine life changed. His mother died when he was twelve, some say it was suicide, some say it was murder. He knew the truth.
His father was abusive, mostly towards his mother out of them. Calix tried as hard as he could to save his mother whenever his father turned angry. But, it rarely succeeded. The day he found his mother's body, was the day he changed.
Gone was the sweet boy, with a side to him that was ruthless. In came the killer, the one who strived for perfection and dedicating his life to the Games. He started to put all his time and effort into training, knowing that as soon as he was eighteen, he would volunteer and finally prove himself.
His sister was the only person that he really cared about. With her, he was the same older brother that she grew up with. She was his weakness. He loved his sister, more than he loved training.
His mind was running wild, and he paused for a second to catch his breath. Today was the day he would finally get his escape. You see, it's not that he hated his district, but he hated his family. If he didn't get out, he would never. He would be trapped with his family. The games would be the perfect escape from them. Setting back out in a run, he looped around and started to head back to his house.
The time was about eight in the morning. By the time he headed back, he didn't realize that he had gone that far. The door opened quickly and quietly as he padded up to his stairs to shower before making breakfast for him and his sister, his father was probably out drunk somewhere. He couldn't bring himself to give a single fuck.
He had just pulled on a shirt when he could hear moving from his sister's room, which was next to his. Tugging sweats on, he headed back into the kitchen. He hummed quietly as he pushed some toast into the toaster, and put the eggs into a pan as well as some bacon. Putting a pitcher of orange juice on the table, and was just finishing plating when his family came downstairs. Grabbing his cup of coffee, he took a sip as he sat in his spot.
"Thank you." He could hear his sister speaking, he shot her a smile.
Breakfast was a quick affair, as soon as they were done, he headed back to go and get ready. Pulling his shirt over his shoulders and buttoning it, he grabbed his comb and pulled it through his hair. Calix shut his door, and headed to his sisters, knocking quietly.
"Are you almost ready?" He called though, before walking in. Victoria was sitting on the bed, tears rolling down her cheeks.
"Hey, what's wrong?
"You're volunteering this year aren't you?" She asked him, glancing up at him with her teary green eyes.
"It's my only escape Vic, I need this." He sighed as he pulled his sister up and into a tight hug. "Just try to be calm and not get on dad's bad side while I'm gone. You know how he gets." He tried to joke. The pair left hand in hand, a soft smile on his face.
They were in their spots with five minutes to spare, Calix ignoring all the people that tried to talk to him. The female tribute was picked. He took in the female, her body type, how she held herself. Taking a deep breath, and watched as the escort picked a name, he called out.
"And now for the male tribute; Calix Gilmore!"
After shaking the girls hand, and being pulled to the justice building. He wasn't expecting his father to show, and he wasn't shocked when it was only his sister. They just hugged each other close, and she placed something into the palm of his hand. There was one of her bracelets that she had made him.
"Promise me you'll come back?"
"I promise. I love you so much." He was then pulled out of the room, and into the sunlight and into a car. The train appeared in the distance, and he couldn't help but gape up at it.
He could get used to this.
Here is part one of District one, I really hope you enjoyed this, keep submitting tributes!
theflowercrowns