Shine

Chapter 7

District 2 Reapings

Giselle Serpentine –16- -D2- POV

I pull my hair back in a ponytail and look at myself in the mirror. My hazel eyes look at themselves, and I notice my brown hair looks nice. I'm dressed in a t-shirt and pants, because, a) I hate dresses, and b), I'm planning to volunteer today, so I don't want to wear anything fancy. I walk out into the living room where my parents are waiting for me.

"No dress today, honey?" My mom asks.

"You know I don't like dresses. And you know I'm volunteering today," I say.

"Right," my mom says. I can sense the disappointment in her voice, but then she hides it. It's alright, I'll finally make her proud when I win the Games. "I'm looking forward to seeing you win." My older brother, Jeremy, walks out of his room.

"Ready to volunteer, sis?" He asks me. I and he have always been really close, and he's sad that he missed out on the opportunity to volunteer. It's a long story and sort of a sad one for him, but essentially, he got really sick right before the Games he was supposed to volunteer for, when he was 18, began. You can't win the Games if you're sick, so he didn't volunteer. Now his time has passed. My younger brothers, Luke and Elio, are planning to volunteer when they're seventeen so as not to risk the same thing that happened to Jeremy happening to them. I'm volunteering now, because, well I've always wanted to win, and I've seen a sixteen-year-old win before. Another sixteen-year-old girl from District Two, actually. I felt so bad for that girl Lily last year… I was rooting for her, but… whatever. It doesn't matter. I'll win. I know I will.

"Yes, I am," I tell him. As I saw that, my younger brothers walk out of their shared room.

"Ready to go?" My dad asks.

"Yup," I say.

"We're good," Luke says, and Elio nods.

"Me three," Jeremy says.

"Then let's go," my dad says, and we leave for the Reaping.

Ares Moretti –18- -D2- POV

I pull my leather jacket on over my white t-shirt and stare at myself in the mirror. My tawny hazel eyes meet each other, and I smile. I look good, and I know it. Today is the day I become a Victor. Actually, it'll be a few days longer, but it's pretty much a forgone conclusion. I'm going to win, and I know it. I walk out into the living room. My dad is there, in his uniform, without his helmet or rifle. So is my sister, Kiana, wearing her suit with the Peacekeeper Liaison badge on it.

"Ready to go, son?" My father asks.

"Yup," I say.

"And you're going to volunteer?" He asks.

"You know I have to, dad," I say.

"Okay," he says, then he walks over to me and hugs me. "Goodbye then. I love you, and I hope you come back."

"Thanks, dad. I know I will. Love you too," I say. Then Kiana comes over and hugs me.

"I love you, Ares," she says, then kisses me on the cheek. "Good luck, little bro."

"Thanks, Kiana," I say, and return her kiss. "We should be leaving though."

"You're right," my dad says, "let's go."

Giselle Serpentine –16- -D2- POV

I arrive at the Reaping, leaving my older brother and parents at the edge. My younger brothers run off to their places, confident they won't get picked. After all, they already know who's volunteering. I met him, at the session at BlueClaw.

One week ago…

BlueClaw Academy, District 2

"At ease," the headmaster of the Academy says. I relax my stance, placing my hands behind my back and my legs apart. "You have probably guessed why you're here by now-"

Ares interrupts him, something I would never dare to do, "We're here because you want us to be the ones to volunteer. Sir."

"Yes, Mr. Moretti," the headmaster says. "You and Miss Serpentine have been chosen by this Academy's board of directors," he means the board composed of previous Victors, "to volunteer for the Games. You should both be honored that you have been chosen. Especially you, Miss Serpentine. We were aware it was your wish to volunteer at sixteen and decided that you were ready."

"Thank you, Sir," I say.

"Thank you," Ares says, "but isn't she," he motions to me, "a bit… short? And young?"

"Miss Serpentine," the headmaster says, "is just as highly trained as you are. And perhaps more disciplined. Do you have any questions?"

"No, Sir," we say simultaneously.

"Dismissed," he says. We snap to attention and salute him. The headmaster lazily returns our salute, apparently already bored. We walk out of the room. As soon as the door closes, Ares takes a swing at me. I dodge the attack I had felt was coming, and swing under him to punch him in the crotch. He grabs my fist and twirls me around him. I manage to break free of his grip at just the right time and jump on his back, my hands forming a chokehold around his throat, and pushing him forward towards a wall. He holds up his hands, coughing, and I jump off, smiling. He turns around.

"Maybe you're not as bad as I thought," he says, with a small smile on his face.

"Thank you. You neither," I say, and offer my hand. "Giselle."

"Ares," he says and shakes it. "I would say don't betray me, but I'll kill you first."

"Aw, thanks. Me too."

Back to the present…

"Giselle!" One of my best friends, Michael, shouts to me from across the crowd. He waves to me, and I walk over to him.

"Hi Michael, Adrien," I say. Michael is standing, waiting for me, with his twin brother, and my other best friend, Adrien.

"Hi guys," I say. "What's up?"

"I just wanted to make sure you were going to volunteer," Michael says.

"You know it," I say. "So, remind me, which one of you is going to volunteer first?" Adrien points to Michael, who does a little dance. Adrien punches him in the gut.

"Why did I agree to this?" Adrien asks.

"Because, little bro, you're five minutes younger than me," Michael says.

"Hmmph," Adrien says.

"Well, I'll leave you guys to it. I would say good luck, but you won't need it," I say.

"Thanks!" They shout in unison. "Good luck to you, Giselle!"

"Okay, it's that time of year again!" Caity Crane shouts from onstage. "Time for District Two Reapings! As always, Ladies first! The Female Tribute from District Two is…"

"I volunteer as Tribute!" I shout. I stride up to the stage confidently.

"And what is your name?" Caity asks.

"Giselle Serpentine," I say.

"The Female Tribute from District Two is Giselle Serpentine!"

Ares Moretti –18- -D2- POV

I leave my sister and father at the edge of the Reaping. Or rather, my sister is at the edge, coordinating the perimeter of Peacekeepers, and my father is trying to convince the others to listen to her, even though she normally handles the security for the whole District, that she does know what she's doing, and she does have the authority to tell them where to go, and honestly she won't stop until they do what they're told, so it would be a whole lot easier if they just got to it. I smile at the usual drama and quietly slip away. I'm walking to my section when a voice from behind me stops me.

"Hey, d-, how are you?" I turn around to see Selene standing behind me. She has dark brown hair and eyes.

"Hey, little b-, what's up?" She slaps me.
"Apparently being insulted, not that it's not true, what about you?" Selene asks. I punch her lightly on the chest.

"Being insulted myself, looking forward to being a Victor," I say.

"I see," Selene says. "So, you're going through with it?"

"Of course," I say. "Why wouldn't I?"

"I thought you might want to stay with me," she says, with a wink.

"And why would I want to stay and get insulted, when I could be winning the greatest Game in history?" I ask.

"Because," she says, "I offer more… services than just high-quality insults. Also, I'm planning this pretty big heist in a couple of days, one day only sort of thing. I thought you might like to join."

"Sorry," I say. "I'll have to get in on the next one."

"That's assuming you get back," she says.

"Why wouldn't I?" I ask.

"Because somebody better, faster, stronger, hotter than you could win. You know, somebody more deserving. Maybe that little one who's your District partner will stab you in the back. I'd like to see that," she says. I start to come up with a reply when Caity starts the Reaping.

"See you never, loser!" Selene shouts as she walks away. I watch her for a few seconds, and then turn away, heading to my section. I see Giselle volunteer as Tribute, as excepted. I would say she would be easy to kill because of her age, but our little fight in the corridor proved to me that that is not necessarily true. I'll have to kill her in her sleep.

Caity starts to read the slip for the Male Tribute. "The Male Tribute from District Two is..."

"I volunteer as Tribute!" I walk up to stage with Caity confidently and shake her hand.

"And what is your name?"

"Ares Moretti."

"The Male Tribute from District Two is Ares Moretti!"

"The Tributes from District Two are Giselle Serpentine and Ares Moretti!"

A/N: Wooh, that was a long one. So, what did you guys all think? Special thanks for our wonderful Tributes goes to Andii99 and Red Roses1000. So far, who do you think will win? Who is your favorite, especially of this pair? See you all soon, and please keep submitting your Tributes! I currently have 14 out of 24, so I only need ten more! Tribute list:

D1M: Lustero Aldor, 17, by Yugi-Smallymcsmall

D1F: Diamond Knowles, 18, by Tyquavis (Previous character connection)

D2M: Ares Moretti, 18, by Andii99

D2F: Giselle Serpentine, 16, by Red Roses1000

D3M: Open

D3F: Open

D4M: Falcon Lockdust, 17, by Nautics

D4F: Thia Zollis, 15, by JustAPersonReading

D5M: Emery Colt, 17, by Hawkmaid

D5F: Serena Holden, 16, by Andii99

D6M: Andrew Spayler, 15, by AspiringSteampunk0909

D6F: Harper Satin, 16, by Primione394

D7M: Aster Ochs, 17, by Red Roses1000

D7F: Vallory Stensland, 16, by Hawkmaid

D8M: Open

D8F: Rhylee Kaski, 16, by Primione394

D9M: Open

D9F: Open

D10M: Open

D10F: Kayra Dawnbreeze, 13. by Yugi-Smallymcsmall

D11M: Open

D11F: Open

D12M: Open

D12F: Open