Finally, I'm back!

Elise Starbright, 16
District 1 Female

Three months before the Reaping

They had one last day to get things right.

Deep down, Elise had a feeling they wouldn't fix all the broken scenery, the torn costumes, and the blinking lights in time for opening night. There was just too much happening at once. She glanced over her script, then tucked it away. She was fine, she didn't need it. All of her lines had been memorized and she could recite them straight from the heart. This wasn't the first time she'd stand on that stage and it likely wouldn't be the last. She was beyond ready.

Beside her, Taylor was frantically flipping through her own copy of the script. "Okay, okay...I know of all this, right? I'm good? I'm good."
"You'll be fine," Elise assured her. "We've spent a lot of time practicing."
"I'm just worried I'm gonna fuck up and forget all my lines!"

"Trust me, you won't." Elise grabbed her skirt, the fabric bunching up in her hand. "I believe in you."
Taylor nodded, the script forgotten in her hands. "Thanks, El. Hey, is something bothering you?"

Elise sighed. "No, but...well, there's nothing I can do about it now."
"You'll be fine! You're such a good actress!"

A group of other girls walked by; they were also part of the play. "Loyalist scum," one mouthed to Elise, careful to not let anyone else notice her words. Elise's face grew hot and red. The girls giggled with each other and walked off. Elise tightened her grip on the bunched up skirt in her hands.

"Hey, hey, hey! Ignore them!" Taylor placed a hand on Elise's back. "You know they want to rile you up! Just ignore them, right?"
Elise nodded. "It's been...it's been...I was only 7 when it...they have no right!"
"Again, just riling you up."

Elise nodded. She let go of the skirt and smoothed out all the crevices. "I know. My history has nothing to do with me, right?"
"We were only kids when it ended, how the hell would we remember anything?"

They were interrupted by the sudden influx of kids running backstage, as the teachers in charge of production tried to round them up. Someone pushed Elise and Taylor off to the side, then dabbed some makeup onto their faces. It was time for yet another dress rehearsal.

The play's plot was simple, Capitol propaganda some of the kids had called it. Elise was the role of a rebel widow, and like most of the other "rebels", she was well dead by the end of the play. Taylor got off lucky, playing the part of the heroic peacekeeper. They still smirked at each as Taylor took a foam gun and poked Elise's arm with it.

"Die rebel, die!"
"You'll never catch me alive!"
"For the glory of the Capitol!" Taylor said, her voice cracking slightly. They both laughed.

Thee was a second rehearsal afterwards, but Elise still didn't feel confident enough for the next night. This wasn't her first performance, far form it. She always got a little nervous the night before. Ah whatever. The play would go off without a hitch. The Capitol won, they always won.

Shouldn't Elsie feel happy? After all, she was still born and raised a Loyalist. She didn't hate the Capitol at all, really. She wasn't afraid of her opinions and her views. But just as she was the daughter of Loyalists, her classmates were the children of rebels. They were raised to hate her.

She slowly stripped off her costume; she didn't love it or hate it. Elise was the rebel was a fictional character, who would be dead and gone once the play was finally over. Folding her skirt neatly, Elsie hissed at the girls who scowled at her. Stuck-up rebel bitches.

"See you later, El!" Taylor called out. Elsie nodded, took her costume, and left the stage. Outside, Emerson Starbright was waiting for her. "Hey kiddo. How was the rehearsal?"
"The usual, I guess. I mean, I already know my lines and everything."
"That's good! Are you excited for tomorrow?"

Elise nodded. "You'll be there, Dad. Right?"
"Of course, sweetheart. I wouldn't miss it for the world."

Elise leaned against her father's shoulder. "I'll make sure you get a seat right in the front row."
"Oh, what a treat! I'll make sure I clap extra loud for you."
"Daaaad, that's embarrassing!"

"No it's not!" Emerson insisted and Elise laughed, feeling safe and loved. She still had her father, even if it was them against the world.

Stravos Brodie, 16
District 1 Male

One week before the Reaping

On the edge of District 1, where most people didn't dare to go, a burly man in his thirties began to pace around. As he kept an eye out, he was approached by a blond 16 year-old boy with a smug grin on his face. Certainly not the type of person that belonged on this side of the district.

"Scram, you little shit! We don't want you here!"

Stravos didn't budge, rubbing his fingers against the coins in his pocket. "Oh please, not even for a few minutes."
"Fuck off."
"But I have money!"

Stravos pulled a coin from his pocket and handed it to the bodyguard. "What do you think, sir? Shiny, is it not? There's plenty more where that came from. Of course, I could pay you back for all your troubles, once I double, no, perhaps triple my earnings inside."

The bodyguard scowled. "Y-you...f-fine! Get inside and don't make a mess!"
"Lovely day to you too, sir"! Stravos said in a voice dripping with sarcasm. Stupid bodyguards. Way too easy to rile up.

The gambling ring looked exactly the same as it did last time he was here. Stravos quickly sat down at one of the larger tables. Everybody ignored his presence. The dealer took a deck of cards and shuffled them around. Stravos was sitting on her left so he received his cards first. He examined them: the ace of diamonds and the seven of spades. Nice. Nobody was looking at him just yet so he quickly dug his fingernail onto the back of the ace, right in the centre.

The dealer was just about done handing cards out, so Stravos quickly glanced over at the man on his left. He just barely caught sight of the two cards. A three of clubs and a jack of spades.

Time to bet. The blinds were set and it was his turn.

He simply called, not wanting to push his luck. Stravos had an ace and he sure as hell wasn't going to waste this opportunity. The dealer put up the flop; three cards sitting face up. A seven of diamonds, a ten of spades, and a six of diamonds. Stravos kept his face neutral, but he wanted to laugh. Perfect! That flop was perfect!

He was sitting at a table with five other men; the fourth one folded and everyone else matched. So the bet stayed the same. The dealer flipped out a new card: the ace of clubs. Yes! A pair of aces wasn't the best hand ever, but it would be the best hand Stravos could make. He raised the bet and the player beside him folded. As the next players called, Stravos quickly slipped a small chip off the folded player's pile, placing it with his own. Another two folded.

The final card was added to the flop: ace of hearts. Right now, the game was practically in Stravos's hand; a pair of sevens, plus a three of a kind with the aces. There was almost know way he'd lose. A full house was one of the bets hands in the game and luck better be on his side.

It was.

Stravos rangled up all his chips and smirked. "Fine game, gentlemen. I look forward to playing with you in the future-oh my god, look at the guy! He's cheating! He just stole all those chips off that table! Somebody stopped him!"

The commotion broke out as his poker buddies jumped up to confront the confused man. Even the dealer did, leaving the cards unattended. Stravos quickly picked up all the remaining chips and carried them off to be cashed in. His pockets were heavy and wonderful with all the coins stuffed inside. How the hell could he earn so much in so little time?

The bodyguard raised an eyebrow at Stravos as he left, but did nothing. Stravos hurried home, hoping to make it there before his parents arrived and stash away all his earnings. Unfortunately, everyone was home. And they were waiting for him. His parents sat together on the couch while Stravos's little sister, Kylian poked her head out from the hallway.

"Hi mom," Stravos said sweetly. "Hi dad-"
"Stravos, we've talked about this," Kindon Brodie sighed. She pressed her fingers against her forehead. "Under no circumstances are you allowed to sneak out and-"
"Ah, bugger off mom! look at all this money I've made!"

"Hey!" Quell jammed a finger in his son's face. "Do not speak to your mother like that! And she's right. Stravos, gambling rings are dangerous and many of the men who work there can come after you. You're threatening the safety of our family over what? A silly card game?"

Stravos scoffed. "Silly card games, schmilly card game. I'm rich! Like a mob boss! Like grampa!"
"Yes, and how did he end up?" Quell asked. "He didn't know what he was doing. And you don't either."

"I think I know exactly what I'm doing. How the hell would I end up with all this cold, hard cash?"
"Stravos. Brodie. Room. Now."

Stravos sighed and stalked off. he slammed his door shut, then proceeded to pull a large jar out from under his mattress. He dumped his latest earnings inside, then hid the jar again. He flopped back onto his bed, planning his next move. Suddenly, a rock came flying at his window. Then another.

Stravos cracked the window open. "What do you want, Saund-ass?"
Saundra cackled as he picked up another rock. "What, you gonna sulk or day or join me on a bust? We're technically old enough if we enter the poker tournament together."

"A tournament!?"
"You coming, pretty boy?"

Stravos cackled. "Oh, I'm so in."

So, here's D1. These two were pretty fun to write, both neat characters in their own ways. Hope you liked them!

See you in D4 next chapter!

-Vr