Douglas Abies, 16, District 7
One year before the reapings:
It is pouring rain and yet everyone is standing in a row, quietly sobbing. Douglas can see each and every single one of them. He can feel what they feel. Maybe that's what makes funerals so special. A collection of people assembled with each one feeling the same as the others. Each one grieving. Each one trying to swallow the pain but failing.
It's been three days since his friend, Orion, was stabbed by a robber and left to die on the streets all alone on the cold, dry pavement.
Douglas looks over to his sister, Shasta. Beautiful Shasta. Only seventeen and yet she's as smart as any adult he's ever known. He throws a glance at his younger brother, Fraser. So mature and diplomatic. You'd almost think that he's a politician. If anything were to happen to them, he wouldn't be able to take it. Never.
As per usual there are peacekeepers roaming the area. They're watching them closely. The Capitol isn't dumb. Douglas has to admit that. People do stupid things when they are emotional and a gathering of sorrowful people is the perfect occasion for something stupid to happen. Ever since the White Dove Massacre, the Capitol has made sure to deploy a handful of guards to keep everything under control.
There is one peacekeeper, however, that Douglas can't stop looking at. One peacekeeper who doesn't deserve to be here… who shouldn't be here.
Everyone was told that Orion was brutally murdered and robbed on the streets by a criminal but the only real criminal here is that fella over there, keeping watch. Douglas saw it all and he knows something that none of them know.
It was around 9:30 pm when Douglas was on his way back home from the grocery store. His parents had forced him out of the house, told him he needed some fresh air. He hated it when his parents told him what to do but he wasn't in the mood for a heated dispute, so he did as he was told.
To Douglas' surprise, he'd actually enjoyed the walk. The night air was refreshing and the smell of dark woods filled the town.
Lachfester, that was the name of his town. Known to be the most boring and uninteresting area in Seven. The only eventful thing that had ever happened was the White Dove Massacre which was a brutal outbreak during a funeral. All of a sudden the people started to riot and lose their shit because their loved one had been hanged. That managed to bring Lachfester into the spotlight for a while but soon after the Back Alley Murders in Nine and the disease outbreak in Eleven, the Massacre became old news and Lachfester returned to the being the forgotten town that it has always been.
At one point Douglas came across a divide in the road. One street went uphill while the other continued straight ahead. As always Douglas made his way up the hill to his family's cottage. He had a good view of the streets below. They were completely empty except for a certain young man strolling all alone on the passageway. Was that Orion? Douglas approached the fence and was about to call for his best friend but then he saw something which he probably shouldn't have…
Lieutenant Ellyore was on patrol. Fuck. Ellyore was known to be the worst of the worst. He loved to bully weak and vulnerable people. He loved blackmail and would do anything to have even the smallest leverage over someone. This was not good at all.
Douglas couldn't hear what they were talking about but judging by Ellyore's hand gesture and Orion's facial expression, it looked like the lieutenant was after some quick cash. Douglas knew Orion well… well enough to know that there was no way in hell that Orion would give up the money he had worked so hard on earning.
"Bro, don't touch me!" That was about the only thing Douglas was able to hear before Ellyore took out his knife from its sheath and embedded it into his friend's chest and slowly twisted it as he placed the young boy ever so gently on the cold pavement floor. The peacekeeper had a wicked grin smothered across his face… like he actually enjoyed it. Before Orion faded away completely, Ellyore mumbled something into his ear, gathering all of his belongings and leaving the corpse in the dark.
Douglas couldn't do anything. What was he supposed to do? Run up the guys and beat the shit out of him? Chase him and a yell "murderer" just to get himself killed as well? No. Douglas wasn't stupid. Quietly he continued walking up the hill, tears running down his face, his hand covering his mouth, preventing any wince from escaping his lips.
The next day it was all over the news: "16-year-old stabbed by a robber." Yes, that is what the true killer had told them. An embarrassingly easy way to get out of a sticky situation and yet it was surprisingly effective.
Douglas keeps making eye-contact over and over again with that peacekeeper but as soon as Ellyore returns the glance, Douglas looks down to his wet shoes like a good puppy dog. It's always been like that. It is the way of life Douglas picked for himself. There are two types of people: The ones who lead and the ones who follow. Douglas follows.
It is so much easier to live a life free of trouble, free of stress, free of pain when you just close your eyes and keep your mouth shut. Did Douglas say anything when Orion's father was hanged? No, why get himself into so much trouble if he can just be silent? Does Douglas ever speak up in class and give his opinion on the matter at hand? No, never. Why risk getting into a potential dispute over a stupid matter? And did Douglas speak up when he saw his friend murdered by a peacekeeper? No, who would believe him and why risk getting himself executed and potentially his family as well. It wasn't worth it. None of it was.
So, while all of these people cry over Orion, thinking it was a pathetic robber who took his life, Douglas cries, knowing who the actual killer is.
Douglas is known to be the chill dude in his school. Laid back and never participates, always distracted, always doing something else, always too lazy to work on projects. What none of them know, however, is that he acts the way he does for a reason.
And, now, here he stands. He has a chance to change everything but his voice is silent, it will always be silent. Always, until he dies of old age, never having caught anyone's attention, never having done anything bad but just gotten by. Survived if you will.
That is How Douglas Abbies is planning on living the rest of his days. Unnoticed.
"Oh my god! What's wrong?" Zura, his district partner, runs over to him, putting her arm around his neck and holding his hand with the other.
They've barely made it onto the train and Douglas has already broken out in tears. It was honestly not the impression he wanted to give off to his partner, not at all. He wanted to come off as calm and collected and yet here he is, crying on his bed with this girl hugging him tightly.
"I-I don't know, okay? It's just… It's a lot, you know?" he sobs uncontrollably. Damn it. he looks like the weakest piece of trash to have ever walked the surface of this world.
"Hey, hey. Look at me… It's okay to be sad, go it? There's no reason for you not to be. This is a shit situation we've gotten ourselves into. Your not the first to get emotional and you won't be the last," she says quietly. "Just don't let the mentors see you like this because if you don't show potential, they won't make an effort with you."
"I j-just need to calm down… calm down… calm down…" Every time he says it, he feels his heart rate decrease and a few seconds later, he's back to normal. "Sorry about that," he chuckles. "That really wasn't the way I wanted to present myself." Douglas lets out another laugh.
"It's fine, don't worry about it." Zura offers him a smile. "In case you don't know yet, my name is Zura but please just call me Zu, it's easier."
"Ok, cool. I'm Douglas and… you can call me Douglas." He cringes at his attempt to be funny and yet Zu giggles."
"Perfect, so now that we have the boring formalities out of the way, do you wanna talk strategy or we could just grab some food and watch television, whatever you feel like doing."
"I guess it would be beneficial for both of us if we met up with our mentor, huh?"
the two leap out of Douglas' bed and make their way to the common area. It's a gorgeous room and to Douglas' surprise not modern. Instead, the compartment is rather old fashioned and has the kind of furniture designs he'd seen in his history books which he never really bothered to read. A gigantic, gold-framed painting hangs on the wall. Some… Capitolite was on it. The way he watched over everything from his canvas was intimidating. Regal, posh, arrogant, all traits which Douglas would avoid if he wanted to go by unnoticed and yet he can't help but admire this figure in front of him.
"Millfront St. Pearlstone," a voice says from the other side of the room. It was Voltrie, their mentor. Putting down the newspaper and setting his glasses on the table, he gets up from his seat. "Never heard of him?" The two shake their heads. "God, I always wondered what you kids learned in school these days. Not all that much by the looks of it. But I'm not here to teach you about History, am I? No, what you need to learn his how to survive so please make yourselves comfortable and let us get started."
Zura Mukite, 17, District 7
POV Trigger Warning: Domestic abuse
2 months before the reapings:
"I can't believe it. Lyra is already asleep!" Zura's twin brother, Zeke, shouts.
"Shhh, you'll wake her up," their little sister, Ophilia, gestures for her brother to come over.
"Oh, shoot you're right." Zeke tiptoes over to his sisters. "Sometimes I can't believe that she's not actually our sister. I just feel so… connected to her."
"Yeah, totally. I'm sure the two of you can also communicate telepathically, that's how strong your bond is," Zura mocks.
"Don't be an asshole." her brother rolls his eyes.
"Ok, I'm sorry but I get what you mean, I really do. She feels like family and that's good. That's how it's supposed to be."
Lyra is their adoptive sister, she's the daughter of Ithaca and Lenard Kidden. Soon after Zu and her siblings were brought to the adoption center, the Kidden's took them in and ever since then, she and her siblings were finally able to lead a normal life… a life without abuse and pain and suffering.
"I'm gonna head down and grab some snacks, you guys want any?" Ophilia asks.
"Nah, I'm good," Zeke says, resting his hand on his stomach.
"How can you refuse desert you monster? Bring the mango ice cream with you, k?" Zura takes her cardigan off, revealing a purple tank top."
Ophilia runs downstairs to try and gather whatever she can find.
"Are you sure you want to do that?" her brother's tone changes completely.
"Do what?" Zu asks although she already knows what Zeke is trying to say.
"The cardigan, do you think it's a good Idea to take it off… Ophilia could see."
"She won't. She never does." Zu runs a hand through her chestnut hair.
"But what if?"
"Zeke…"
"No, we made a promise. We said we'd never let her know what truly went down back then. She doesn't deserve to be exposed to the horrors. I won't let her."
"Zeke, I can't walk around covering myself forever. One day we'll have to tell her."
"Not now, okay? Now is not the time. We don't know how she'll react if she sees your scars, we don't know if-"
"I'm baaaaack." Ophilia plops herself next to Zura and places the snacks in the middle.
"Oh, yumm!" Zura claps her hands together. "Let's dig in." She throws one last glance over at Zeke. He's still looking at her, slowly shaking his head.
Ten minutes later and the room is a mess. Cheese powder is everywhere, Ophilia's fingers are drenched in chocolate sauce, and Zura's face is covered with mango cream. They laugh, they forget.
"Lemme get some tissues." Ophilia disappears behind Zu.
Zura closes her eyes. She's happy, she's excited about her new life, she's ready to leave the past in the past and only look forward where the bright light is calling for her. That light is ripped from her vision, however, when a cold hand touches her spine.
"Oh my god, what is that?" Ophilia bends down to get a better look. Zu clenches her fists and looks down at the floor. She doesn't dare face Zeke. "Zu, are you okay? What happened?"
Every time her sister touches her back, Zu cringes until she can't take it anymore.
"I- I need a minute." She runs to the bathroom and locks herself in.
Fuck.
She scratches her arms and her hair and starts to hyperventilate. She can feel the flames engulf her. They're everywhere. They're all around her. They're melting her skin away, tearing her apart, turning her to ash, turning her into nothing. They dance around her, her demons. They laugh, they mock, they pull her away from the light and back into the dark pit of the past.
She can feel it all. Like it was yesterday. Zura's not in the present anymore. She's back there, back where she never wanted to return again. She can feel her fathers grip. The way he dragged her into the forest, the way he smelled of alcohol. She can feel him chocking her but then releasing his grip as soon as she's about to lose consciousness.
"Get away from me, please…" Zura whispers, dropping to the bathroom floor.
"Zu, are you good?" she sighs with relief when she hears her brother from the other side.
"Open the door."
Zura struggles to get up. She doesn't know for how long she's been in here, she's lost all sense of time.
"Save me…" she says when unlocking the door and falls into her brother's arms.
"I'm sorry, I'm so so sorry. I shouldn't have been so hard on you," he cries. "It's time we tell Ophilia everything…" he wipes the tears from his face and the two of them make their way back to the room.
There Ophilia sits, her innocence about to be shattered, her obliviousness destroyed. Zura takes Ophilia's right hand and Zeke her left.
"Uhm… so-"
"Our parents weren't the best of people," Zura interrupts. "I'm sure you know that already, don't you?"
Ophilia nods.
"You know how mom always smelled of drugs and dad was always drunk, right?'"
Ophilia nods again.
"Well, you see… dad wasn't the happiest of people. He wasn't really happy with his job… or perhaps even with his life and that's what got him into drinking. His life made him angry… and the same way that when you get mad, you get a little aggressive, dad did too… he let his anger out on us. On Zeke and I. He never touched you, we didn't let him and his wife, our mother, was too dazed for him to find pleasure in hurting her so we were the only ones left."
Zura can see that Ophilia's eyes are starting to tear up.
"Maybe we should stop." Zu looks over to Zeke.
"No, it's fine. I want to know. I need to know."
"Ok, well one day when he was especially mad, he took me out into the woods." Zura feels a shiver rush through her body and she wants to go back to that bathroom and lock herself away again, away from everyone. "He wanted to see some 'fireworks' that's what he told me…" she gulps. "Before I was really able to understand what he meant by that… well… he actually set me on fire… I don't really remember how he did it but all of a sudden I only saw bright colors everywhere and I felt a stinging pain in my back and that's when I realized what he did to me." Zu takes a sip of water. "Luckily, Zeke saw everything and came with a fire extinguisher before it escalated and the ambulance, together with the police, came and picked us up… and yeah, that's why we're here now, with this very kind family who treats us like we should have been treated from the very beginning."
"That's… that's horrible. I can't believe I didn't get any of that… why didn't I do anything? Why was I so stupid?"
"No, Ophilia. It makes me so happy to know that Zeke and I did our job and kept you safe, away from the dangers and the cruel world."
"I just wish that… I wish that…" before Ophilia can finish, she breaks into tears and her two siblings wrap her in a big hug.
"Shh… you're okay. We're okay."
It's been five hours since they got onto the train and Her district partner fell asleep on the couch. Their mentor, Voltrie, already gave them some advice about their social game and gave them some basic survival tips.
Zura opens a Capitolite magazine. She's startled when she sees all of the bright colors and the freakishly dressed people… if she can still call them that. Zura is only able to recognize one of the many models. Olympis O'Krii. She's quite known, even in Seven. Zura's lucky to live in the main city of her District. It allows her to be part of the bigger community.
"Psst, you there. C'mere," her mentor calls for her. She slams the magazine on the table and gets up. "Shhhh, don't wake the boy up."
Zura doesn't like that. What does he want from her?
As soon as they get to another compartment, Voltrie cuts to the chase. "Listen, you're a pretty girl. Extremely pretty if I may say so myself. You know how I won my games, right? I got into a strong alliance and stuck with them and when the time was right, I was the first to turn on them… killed each one of them in their sleep. no mercy." he chuckles. "But that's beside the point. What I'm trying to say is that you have no chance with Douglas. Do you think I didn't see him crying over there and panicking? Not a good sign. I'm going to try and help you a little because I sense potential in you, potential that he doesn't have, not with his state of mind. Get yourself into a strong alliance. Period. Flirt a little, smile a little, giggle if you have to but do anything to make people like you. It won't be difficult for you. Don't get stuck with him, it'll be bad for your game. Once you get into a strong alliance, I'll teach you how to weave yourself into that sweet-spot and outmaneuver everyone from there. What do you think of my proposal?"
Zura pores herself a glass of water and drinks it slowly. When she's done, she looks straight into Voltrie's eyes and tilts her head a little playfully.
"You know what I think, Voltrie?" she starts. "I think you can shove that proposal up your ass. That's what I think. Have a good night."
Without looking back, she leaves the compartment. Zura won't betray Douglas. What role model would she be to her sisters if she did?
Zura leaps onto the couch, opposite to Douglas and closes her eyes.
So, here we have Douglas Abies by Audmirable and Zura Mukite by Lex. Thank you so much for these two awesome guys and I already know in what direction I'm going in for these two and lemme tell you, they're going to have a turbulent ride ;)
The next Chapter will be covering District Four and, hopefully, it will be out by next week.
Ah! Almost forgot. Congrats Tiger Outsider on getting The D8F spot. I liked all of my submissions but it came down to the fact that some people already had at least one tribute in my story and newcomers are always welcome. WE HAVE A FULL ROSTER NOW! EVERYONE IS OFFICIALLY SUBMITTED, YAAY!
I'm happy with how things are going so far. Thank you to everyone who is frequently reviewing. Don't know what I'd do without you guys. I get inspired by what everyone comments on the chapters so please do leave a review :D
See you all next time!