Fenrir Lupitus, age 18
District 2 Male
Careers are supposed to be strong and lethal, stoic and confident. None of the girls on the stage right now a true Careers, expect for maybe Aeliana. It's been too long since a real Career had won the Games; four long years to be exact. Last year it was that underdog squirt from Ten, the year before that a boy from Five, before that a boy from Twelve of all places, and before that a girl from Seven. The last person from a Career district to win was Dorothea Vanguard from Four. I mean, Four! They're barely even Careers.
I stood, my hands behind my back, as Themis took six slips from the boy's reaping bowl. The first name called was the boy I was supposed to replace in the Games. I remembered how thankful I was when I turned twelve to be living in District Two. Nobody who was reaped went into the arena because there were always volunteers. Well, for the last boy reaped this year, there weren't. The Academy only chose five boys for this year because at the most, ten people from the district would die this year. No sense in wasting perfectly good talent who could win next year.
Themis unfolded the paper, looking rather bored. She must be bored, since she has to pull twelve names, just to have people volunteer. For this Quell, it would probably be more exciting to escort an outer district because of the reactions from the soon-to-be tributes. At least, it would be better than watching twelve - or rather, ten - volunteers step forward.
"The first male tribute is Jax Vinti!" Themis exclaimed, and a wail rose from the back of the group. A younger boy.
As calmly as possible, I walked into the aisle, and said stoically, "I volunteer as tribute."
A true Career I was. Time to bring home another victory for Two.
Ryker Ashlar, age 18
District 2 Male
I watched Fenrir climb the steps of the stage, and I stiffened. Next is my turn to volunteer. Not for the first time, I wondered what my friend Medrol was thinking before he stepped forward to volunteer three years ago. We had been best friends since forever, so seeing him fight until the final three of his Games had been both saddening and exciting for me. I had allowed myself to think that, at only fifteen, Medrol could come back.
Of course, I was wrong. Later that day, his last ally, the One girl, betrayed him, sending a spear through his back. Third place was a good placement, but not good enough to return as a victor.
Now, as I stood watching Themis unfold a second slip, I couldn't help but wonder if the same thing would happen to me. It couldn't. I had to survive, both for my district, and for Medrol.
There was no time to waste. Time to get serious.
"The second male tribute is Nero Montgomery!" Themis announced.
I looked back, and saw the thirteen year old section parting around a boy with an absolutely terrified expression. Thirteen. That's too young to be participating in these Games. The fact that, in a week or so, I would have to kill young children to return to Two, left me with a hollow feeling inside. It killed me.
Stepping into the aisle for my duty, I yelled, "I volunteer!"
Alexios Macedon, age 18
District 2 Male
As awful as going into the arena with my twin sister would be, I needed to show everybody who doubted me that I could do this. This was going to be the biggest Hunger Games in the history of Panem, and just the fact that I was chosen to compete was an honor.
And besides, this whole idea was the biggest task that I had ever been handed in my life. I wasn't going to back down now. No way.
I locked eyes with Aeliana on stage. I knew she was going to volunteer anyways, but I felt like I forced her into this mess, calling her out and making her volunteer for Tia. But I knew that I wouldn't be able to see bubbly little Tia in the arena. That girl was like a little sister I never had. My family had Kira as my younger sister. Quite the difference there.
The next name called was "Logan Lupitus!" Based on the last name and the way Fenrir's face paled on stage made me guess that they were brothers. I raised my hand, and, trying to look as cocky and confident as possible, I volunteered in the place of that other boy.
I ran to the stage and mounted the steps. When I passed Aeliana to take my spot, I squeezed her wrist, and she glanced back at me, a slight smile on her face. She may have been the older twin, but I would protect her with my life in that arena.
I looked out into the crowd, and caught side of my mother, who was shaking her head disappointedly. She never approved of Aeliana and I training in the Academy. She constantly reminded us that we would fail, just like our father, who died in the 132nd Games.
But we wouldn't. Kira may die in that arena, but my sister and I would make it out alive and prove our mother wrong.
Mason Albie, age 16
District 2 Male
The tension in my body was driving me insane. I felt like a coiled spring, with way too much bunched up energy wanting to escape. All I wanted to do was run out into that aisle and volunteer myself as the next tribute, but I had to wait until Themis at least unfolded the paper.
A few kids near me were looking at me weirdly, probably because I was turned towards the end of the section, in the direction that would make me a tribute. I just glared at them, and hissed, "What are you lookin' at?" Call me mean, call me anything you want. It worked. They looked away, and I thought I saw one person rolling their eyes at me.
They had no idea. How much the Capitol and it's rule meant to me. A good District Two citizen should worship the Capitol and its ways, despite our current lack of victors. The last time a tribute from Two won was the 141th Games, and she was a wreck when she came back. Hardly even worthy of the title of a victor.
Themis selected another one of her pre-chosen slips, and called out, "Justin H—." I was faster. I shoved everybody else out of my way, screaming, "I volunteer! I volunteer!" I sprinted towards the stage and aggressively climbed the steps, almost tripping because of my hurry. I yanked the microphone straight from Themis's hands and said into it, breathing hard, "My name is Mason Albie."
And when I took my spot next to the other boys, I knew that this was my destiny all along.
Brutte Dowland, age 18
District 2 Male
The last volunteer was always forgotten. Not quite the best, but seen as the worst in the district. I wasn't going to be that person. Everybody was going to know who I was, just from the reaping. That I could be sure of.
I looked over to the girl's section, and caught one girl staring at me. I recognized her as Valerie Huntley, a girl I had dated back when we were...fourteen? Fifteen? I can't remember, but I do know that she was one of the many girls that I had gotten pregnant. She flipped me off, and looked back towards that stage.
I did, too, and Themis was getting ready to read the next name. "Brighton Phlegthon!" I ran forward, into the aisle.
"I volunteer!" I said, relishing in the idea that all eyes in the district were on me. I ran to the stage, and "accidently" tripped going up the stairs. Themis rushed over to me.
"Oh, my, are you alright dear?" she asked, her face concerned. I fought away a smile.
"Yes, I'm fine," I responded.
"Well good thing," Themis said. "We can't have one of our future tributes hurting themselves before they get in the arena! What is your name?"
I introduced myself as Brutte Dowland, and stood beside the other tributes. Only one more name to go, and then our goodbyes, then off to the Capitol. I could hardly wait.
Daniel Rodgers, age 14
District 2 Male
One more name to go. I felt terrible for whoever's name was on this last slip, because all of the volunteers had gone already. Even though I was trained a little, I was nervous that it would be me. Who wouldn't be nervous to be reaped this year? The Games would have six times the normal amount of tributes, and that meant the odds of surviving would be even less than normal.
Despite my nervousness, I was bouncing up and down on the balls of my feet. The Hunger Games really were a great thing, even though District Two hadn't won in years. I thought that was one of the reasons why my dad decided to become a trainer in the Academy. The Academy was great, too. It helped kids prepare for the Games, and even sometimes win! I knew most of the kids on stage, and I liked a few of them. Alexios was always nice to me. I hoped that he could win.
Themis was back at the microphone, ready to read the next name. I took a deep breath, telling myself that I was safe, I was going to be fine, it wasn't me.
"The last tribute is Daniel Rodgers!" Themis announced. I instinctively looked around for the volunteer before remembering, queasily, that they had all gone already. Fear began to prickle my stomach as I stepped through my section and into the main aisle.
Please, I thought. Somebody volunteer. Anybody.
Nobody did. I was on my own.
When I mounted the steps, Themis put her hands on my shoulders, and asked for volunteers. The square was completely silent. Nobody moved, and I bit my lip. I had been planning to volunteer for the Games when I was older. I wasn't ready to go now! I didn't want to die!
Seemed like I didn't have much of a choice, though.
Wow, I'm really getting these chapters out fast! Don't expect updates this fast in the future. I just don't have much to do over break (I'm going back to school Tuesday *sobs*). Thanks to:
HoppsHungerfan for Fenrir,
Jolton2404 for Ryker and Daniel,
Golden Moon Huntress for Alexios,
and BabyRue11 for Mason and Brutte.
I hope I did them all justice! I feel like I struggled a little writing Ryker, so sorry to Jolteon2404 if I completely messed up his character.
Still working on adding sponsor points. I didn't realize how many people are participating in this SYOT until I started doing that. I'm about halfway done, though. Today's song is Levels by Nick Jonas (I'm listening to it right now as I'm writing this).
What did you think? Next time we're taking a break from the Careers, and jumping over to District Three. I may, I just might, have that chapter out tomorrow because I'm feeling really motivated to write right now. So until then!