Shine
Chapter 11
Districts 1, 2, 4, 5, 6, 7, & 8 Justice Building Scenes
At this point, I should really just say 58% of the Justice Building scenes. Yes, I used a calculator, I don't know what percentage 7/12 is off the top of my head (although I could figure it out without a calculator if I cared.) Anyway…
A/N: Currently, counting reservations, I have 19 out of 24 Tributes! That means I only need five more, so please, keep them coming! Also, thank you to everyone who has already submitted for your amazing Tributes!
Diamond Knowles –18- -D1- POV
I sit in the room in the Justice Building until the Peacekeepers come and take me away. It's standard practice for careers, better to get the goodbyes out of the way when you have all the time you could ever need than later when somebody might be dragged out tear-stricken and shouting.
Lustero Aldor –17- -D1- POV
As I sit in the room in the Justice Building, I think about Argentna. And something that Glow said. I'm being silly. I know I'll win. And she'll love me because I'll win. I'll have a better chance if I've won. A better chance with her. But what if? No, I'm being silly. But what if?
"Hey! Security?" I shout.
"Yes, Sir?" A Peacekeeper says, walking out of the door in the wall behind me.
"Can you find Argentna Mizar and bring her here for me? She was at the Reaping, she might be at the Academy now, I don't know," I say.
"Of course, Sir," he says. "If we can find her before you have to leave, we'll bring her to you."
"Thank you," I say, as he turns to leave. Five minutes later, he returns, with Argentna next to him.
"Hi, Lustero," she says. "You know, at first, I was a little worried when the Peacekeepers came to get me, but then I realized it must just be for you." The Peacekeeper has disappeared again. "But, uh… why did you want to talk to me?"
"Uh… uh… uh…" I take a deep breath, and plunge onward. "Argentna… in case I die, I doubt I will, but in case I do, in case I do… in case I do… I… I want you to know something. I… I have feelings for you. Romantically. I might love you, I don't know. But I at least know that I want to be with you and… and… this is the part where you talk."
"Lustero… Lustero… I… I feel the same way," Argentna says. Then she walks up to me and kisses me. I kiss her back. We kiss passionately for a few seconds before she pulls away. "We'll continue this when you get back. Do come back, please. For me."
"I will," I say. And I mean it. I'll do my best. Argentna kisses me again, then she turns and leaves. I watch her walk away, and then sit down and wait for the Peacekeepers to take me again.
Giselle Serpentine –16- -D2- POV
I sit alone in the Justice Building until the Peacekeepers come to take me away.
Ares Moretti –18- -D2- POV
I pace around the room inside the Justice Building until the Peacekeepers come to take me away.
Thia Zollis –15- -D4- POV
A/N: Small note, I still can't read, last time I said that Thia's mom was still alive, but she's not. I've changed that to dad now, but for those of you who read the original version, sorry.
I'm taken from the Reaping to the Justice Building. I don't have to wait for more than a minute before my family comes in.
"Thia..." my father says. He comes and hugs me. "I love you. I… I'm sorry this… this happened. I… I..."
"It'll be alright, Dad," I say. "I'm good with daggers, and tridents, and a bow. I… I can win… I can..."
"But… but what will that mean?" He asks. "You'll have killed people… how many people…"
"Dad. Isn't it alright, as long as Thia makes it back?" Kenny asks.
"You're right, of course," my dad says. Then he turns back to me. "I love you, honey. I'm so sorry. I hope you make it back." Then he steps back. "I love you. I should go now before I start to…" He turns and leaves the room, as he starts to cry. Kenny steps forward and hugs me.
"I love you, sis," he says. "Win for me, okay? I don't want to have to see you die."
"I'll try," I say. "Just for you, of course. Without you, you know, I'd just stand there and die."
He punches me lightly on the shoulder. "Look at Thia, the comedian, even when she's about to die."
"Ha, ha," I say. "I love you too, big brother." We hug, and then he leaves.
"I don't know what to say, Thia, except that I love you. See you again soon, right sis?" William asks. I can tell that he's holding back tears.
"See you soon, William," I say. Then we hug, and he leaves. Then I sit down and cry, and cry. And then I can't cry anymore, tears don't come anymore. And I wonder if dying in the Games, dying the same way Austin did, I wonder if that would be so bad.
Falcon Lockdust –17- -D4- POV
I sit in the Justice Building until the Peacekeepers come to take me away.
Serena Holden –16- -D5- POV
I am alone in the Justice Building for only a few minutes before my parents come in.
"Hi, honey," my mother says and hugs me tight. "I love you," she kisses me on the head, and then she starts to sob slightly. She buries her head in my shoulder. My dad gently pries her away, and I pat on her on the back.
"It'll be okay mom, it can be okay. I'll come home, I know I will," I say. She wipes away her tears.
"Please, try, Serena," she says.
"I will, mom," I say. "I love you."
"I love you too," she says. My dad hugs me and pats me on the head.
"I'm sure you'll do well," my dad says. "They'll find out that even though you're Serena, you're not Serene, huh?"
"Dad," I say, and I have to roll my eyes at his joke. "Just… just… stop."
"You don't like my jokes?" He asks, playfully. "Anyway, seriously, Serena. I love you, and I want you to come back to us, okay? That will show everyone else that you're great, huh?"
"I guess it will," I say. "I love you, Dad." I hug him tightly.
"Come back to me. I can't stand to lose both of you," he whispers in my ear.
"I will," I whisper back. Then the hug is over, and after another hug and kiss from mom, they're gone. Possibly forever.
Emery Colt –17- -D5- POV
I stand for a second in the Justice Building before my mother, father, and little sister burst in.
"Emery," my mother says. "I… I'm sorry this happened. But I think you stand good odds."
"Thanks," I say.
"I agree with your mother," my father says. This is how it always is with my family. They're very gruff and fierce. Never show weakness.
"I do love you, Emery," my mother says. Then she kisses me on the head and leaves.
"I love you too, son," my father says. "You should try to make some allies. And practice with weapons. You'll do good if you do that. Okay?"
"Of course, dad," I say. Then he does something he never did before. He hugs me.
"See you in two weeks," he says, then he leaves. Then I turn to Ella.
"Anything to say to your big brother?" I ask her. She comes over and hugs me. I'm surprised, but I hug her back.
"I love you, Emery. I'm sorry I haven't been the best sister to you," she says, and I hear her start to cry. I rub her back, just like I did when she was a baby and a little girl. Before she got so mean. No, I shouldn't say that. Before she got older and didn't want to be coddled by her big brother so much, that's all.
"It's alright, Ella. I wasn't always the best brother either," I say. And I believe it. I could have been, should have been, nicer. "I love you, Ella. Always have, always well. At least it wasn't you."
"Thanks, Em," she says, using a nickname she hasn't used for me since she was a little girl. "I love you. I think your friend is waiting to talk to you though, so I'll leave. But I love you, I can't tell you enough."
"Thanks, Ella. And it's alright, you'll have plenty of time to tell me after I get back," I say. She smiles, and then she leaves. I hope I'll see her again. I hope I'll be back to see her get married, to threaten her fiance, to be there for my nieces and nephews. And I want to see her first boyfriend and make sure he doesn't hurt her. Ever. Luka walks in.
"Hi, Emery," Luka says. "I wanted to tell you I'm sorry, and I imagine you can win. And I'm staying back here because you'll want to kill me when you see who comes in next. I told her, by the way. Oh, and your sister is really hot when she's sad. If you die, can I go out with her?"
"You little-" I start to walk towards him.
"Bye, see you soon!" He shouts, ducking out the door. I stop in my tracks. He's not worth it. I'll tell whoever it is who's coming next that if he ever touches Ella-crap. Her. He told her everything. Crap. Luka, you- And then she comes in, interrupting my angry thoughts.
"Hi, Emery," Mia says shyly. That's weird, she's normally really outgoing. Is she… nervous? No, she can't be. I've never talked to her. And suddenly, I can't talk again.
"Uh… uh… uh..." Pull yourself together, Emery. Come on. "Uh, what were you here to talk to me about again, Mia?"
"You know my name?" She asks. She twirls her hair a bit. It looks cute, her finger in her brown hair.
"How could I not?" I ask. "You're-" I cut myself off before I say something that I might regret.
"I'm what?" She asks. She seems to be more back to normal now. "Come on, Emery. You have to tell me what you were going to say." She smiles.
"How about you tell me how you know my name?" I counter.
"I could tell you your friend told me. Or I could tell you that I had my friend Emily ask your sister what your name was. Or I could tell you that Emily also asked that Cole kid, he's waiting, by the way, what your name was. Or I could tell you both things happened. Emily's really quite a good spy," she says.
"And which would be the truth?" I ask.
"The last one, if I was going, to be honest," she says. "Can we just finish this?" She asks. "I'm sure we don't have much time, and I'm going to have a heart attack if we keep playing this game." Then she kisses me softly. I'm shocked, but gently put my hand on her back and kiss her again. She pulls away and smiles at me.
"You knew who I was?" I ask.
"I really like you, Emery. You're mysterious, not in the spotlight, you're sensitive and sweet, your voice is beautiful, and," she runs a hand down my chest, "you don't look too bad either."
"You've heard my singing?" I ask.
"I heard you, even when you didn't want to be heard," she replies. "And your voice is beautiful." We kiss again, and when I let her go, she says, "Come back. Come back for me, to me. Please, Emery."
"I will," I say, and then I kiss her again, softly, and then, she's gone. I hope I can make good on my promise to her. Mia Colt, that sounds nice. It has a ring to it. Then Cole walks in.
"Hi, Emery," Cole says. He has blond hair and pretty blue eyes. He smiles sadly at me. "I just wanted to tell you I'm sorry. That you got Reaped, that you have to face all of this. That you could die. But, Emery, I also wanted to say thank you. Thanks for all those years of voice lessons, and for being my friend. And I hope you come back. I doubt I could find another voice teacher as good as you." He smiles, it's still soft and sad though. I pat his shoulder.
"It'll be alright, Cole. I've got a lot of people to come back too, it seems. Thanks for coming. It means a lot," I say. He smiles.
"No problem. I guess I should probably go," he says.
"Wait," I say. "Before you do, make sure to tell Luka this: If he ever touches my sister, I will kill him. From beyond the grave, if need be."
"I'll tell him," Cole says, and this time the smile on his face is full and real. "See you later, Emery."
"See you later, Cole." Then he leaves, and I stand in silence for a few seconds, before the Peacekeepers come again to take me away.
Harper Satin –16- -D6- POV
I wake up in the Justice Building. Or, I assume that's where I am. I hear a voice above me, and open my eyes to see two Peacekeepers standing above me.
"Just put her on the train, be done with them faster," one of them says.
"She might wake up. We don't want her to miss seeing her family," the other one says.
"I don't care, I just want to be done with her. Sooner we're done, sooner we go home. She's going to die anyway, what's the point?"
"We don't go home when they get on the train, Moseley. And besides, she might win, you never know."
"She fainted."
"Fair point."
"Oh! See, she's awake."
"She is. Guess we should go get her family then." The second one, who had been in favor of dumping me on the train, leaves.
"Hey, girly. You alright? You took a pretty good fall there," the nicer Peacekeeper says.
"Yes, Sir, I'm fine," I say. He offers me a hand up. "Thank you, Sir," I say.
"No problem, Ma'am," he says. "You remember what happened?"
"Yes, I do, I think," I say. "I volunteered, didn't I?"
"Yes, you did," he says. "Did you not mean to?"
"No, I didn't," I say. "But I guess it doesn't matter now."
"Unfortunately, you're right about that," he says. "Ah, here's your family now. I'm going to leave, so you can say your goodbyes. I'll see you again in a few minutes."
"Harper!" My mom shouts, her face streaked with tears. "What happened?"
"Mom," I say. I run over and hug her, burying my head on her shoulder. "I… I… I had a flashback of Hailey's Reaping, and I was thinking about what I wished I had done… and… and… I did it."
"Oh my goodness, honey. I'm so sorry," my mother says.
"It's not your fault," I say. My father is also crying, but he steps forward.
"Harper… I love you, honey. Please come back. I don't want to lose both my children to the Hunger Games," he says.
"I'll do my best," I say.
"I know you will," he says. Then he hugs me. Me, my mom, and my dad all hug for a few seconds, all crying, before my dad says, "Well, I know your friend Jainee was waiting outside. You should get to say goodbye to her too."
"Thanks, Dad," I say. "I love you, both of you."
"I love you too," my dad says.
"I love you so much, sweetie," my mom says, and she cradles my face in her hands. "I love you."
"I love you too, mom," I say. Then she stands up, and my dad cradles her in his arms, walking her out of the room. Then Jainee comes in.
"Hi, Harper," she says.
"Hi, Jainee," I say. "Looking forward to my televised death?"
"Harper," she says. She sounds like she's scolding me. Not the time for humor got it. "I… I'm just so sorry. First Hailey, now you… Please don't die. For me, for your parents. Okay? Please?"
"I'll try, Jainee," I say.
"Okay," she says. She leans forward to whisper something into my ear. "I hear there might be a way to escape. If you can-" She's cut off by the glove of a Peacekeeper. She bites his hand. "Get to the edge! Get- ah!" The Peacekeeper hits her in the face and drags her out of the room. How good are the mics in this room? Maybe they wired me will I was asleep. It wouldn't surprise me. Then again, how would they do the waking Tributes? It wouldn't be hard, actually. They manhandle everyone, slipping a bug on someone wouldn't be hard. The Peacekeeper comes back in.
"I'm sorry, Ma'am, that's the time you have," he says. I recognize his voice as the nice Peacekeeper from earlier. And now he's lying to me. "Let's go." He walks next to me, and puts his hand on my shoulder gently, but firmly. We start to walk, and he whispers in my ear, "I'm sorry, but orders are orders, you know?"
Andrew Spayler –16- -D6- POV
I sit in the Justice Building alone until the Peacekeepers come to take me away again. I have no true friends, no family, nobody alive who loves me, or will care that much if I kick the bucket. Oh well. Such is life.
Vallory 'Val' Stensland –16- -D7- POV
I'm not alone in the Justice Building for a moment. Immediately after I arrive, my family floods into the room.
"Val! Oh my goodness. You're okay," my mom says.
"Hi, mom," I say. "For now."
"Oh, don't say that. You'll do good. That girl from seven last year almost won. And that boy too," my mom says.
"Thanks, mom, b-" I stop myself from saying, but that girl was stabbed with a dagger because she couldn't stand seeing her District Partner die, and the boy got a trident in the chest. But yes mom, they almost won. "Thanks, mom." She knows enough not to follow up on what the but was.
"Your mom is right, you can do well. You can win, I believe in you, we all do," my dad says. Then he hugs me. "I still love you though."
"I love you too, Dad," I say patting him on the back. Then Tyson hugs me.
"I'll see you soon, right, Val?" Tyson asks.
"Of course, Ty," I say. "Soon, real soon." But I doubt that that's true. Then little Meena comes up and hugs me. I rub her head.
"I love you, Val," she says.
"I love you too, Meena," I say. "You know that I might not come back, right?"
"I know," she says. "I'm not ten."
"You're right," I say, and I can't help but laugh. "You're eleven."
"I am," she says. "Come back, Val. Okay?"
"Okay," I say, then rub her head again. "I love you Meena." She pulls away, and my mom hugs me.
"I love you, sweetheart," she says.
"Love you too, mom," I say. She pulls away. "I know your friends wanted to talk to you before you go, so we'll let them do that. Work hard on coming back, okay?"
"Okay, mom," I say. Then my family is gone, and Mara and Whisper walk in.
"Hi, Val," Mara says. "How you doing?"
"Hi, Mara. As good as can be. You?" I ask.
"I'm not the one who might soon get brutally murdered," she says, "so pretty good." She pauses. "I am sorry, though. I can't offer you much advice, except this. Find allies and train with weapons you're good at. You're just as strong as any of the guys. And no matter what, don't fall in love. See how far it got that guy from Four last year."
"Thanks, Mara," I say.
Then Whisper walks up to me, and in her little voice, she says, "Come back to me, Val. Please?" I bend down to her height.
"Of course," I say. "I'll do my best. No promises, you know."
"No promises," she says. Then she hugs me. "But do it anyway."
I smile. "I will."
"We should be heading out, Val," Mara says. "I'll make sure she's well taken care of, and that your family does alright."
"Thanks, Mara," I say. "You're the best."
"No problem. It's what friends do," she says. Then they walk out the door, and for a second I think I might be alone. Then a girl I haven't seen before walks in.
"Vallory, right?" She asks.
"Yeah. You are?" I ask.
"Juniper, Juniper Aysitera," she says. "You probably don't know me, but I knew the boy who was Tribute last year, Cyder. I loved him, I really did. And he didn't make it back, obviously. I… I had to see him killed on TV. That trident… that girl… Anyway, I need to ask you something."
"Of course," I say. "I'll do my best. What is it?"
"I was planning to volunteer. If a twelve-year-old got Reaped. But you were faster, and that's alright. So, I want you to do something. I want you to win. For me, okay?"
"Okay," I say, and extend my hand to her. She shakes it.
"Good luck, Vallory. May the Odds be Ever In Your Favor," she says.
"Val, please. And you too, Juniper," I say.
"See you soon, Val," she says, then she leaves. Not a moment too soon, as the Peacekeepers come to take me away.
Aster Ochs –17- -D7- POV
My parents enter the Justice Building shortly after I do. I smile at them.
"Aster," my mother says, and she hugs me. I hug her back. "I love you, honey."
"I love you too, mom," I say. She pulls away, and my father hugs me.
"I love you, son," he says. "I want you to focus on using your strength in the Games, okay? You know how to use an ax, use it. And make some allies, you might need them," he says. "It can only help your odds. And if you spot a nice girl, make her fall in love with you, but don't fall in love with her, okay?"
"Jamie!" My mother scolds him. "We don't want him doing that!"
"Grace," my father says, "I don't want him doing that, but I don't want him dying even more. No girl deserves to live more than our Aster, right?"
"Right," she concedes. "Do come back to us, Aster. Please."
"I will," I say. Then we all hug again. We don't know what to say, so we just sit in peaceful silence with each other until the Peacekeepers come to take us away. I think of a little poem in my head.
The Sound of silence
In the Building of Justice
Rings off the walls, as loud as violence
But soon, Justice will rust
Rhylee Kaski –16- -D8F- POV
Rhylee was taken by the Peacekeepers, sedated, to a car. They quickly debated about whether to take her to the Justice Building or directly to the train station, but the debate was settled when another Peacekeeper informed them that the sedative would not wear off for another half hour. So they took her to the train and strapped her down to a bed. A few minutes after the train left the station, she woke up, screaming, shouting, and failing her limbs. But that is a story for later. For now, onto
Silk Daisly –16- -D8M- POV
I am taken to the Justice Building, and my parents and grandmother quickly enter.
"Silk!" My mother shouts. "Oh my goodness, are you okay?" She quickly runs over and hugs me.
"I'm good, Mom," I say. "I'm good." She releases me, and my father hugs me.
"Hello, son," he says. "Are you alright?"
"I'm fine," I say. "Hey, grandma."
"Hello, Silk, son," she says. She steps forward and hugs me. I hug her back, gently. She's very frail. "Are you okay?"
"Yes, grandma," I say. She steps back.
"Look, Silk. I've always told you I wanted you to make friends, that is especially true now. Make some friends, well, don't actually like them, but make friends, make allies, and have them help you, okay. You can do it, you can."
"Thanks, Dad," I say. "I'll try." My mom holds something out to me.
"Here you go," she says. It's a small, blue, piece of fabric. "Hold out your arm," she says. I do. Then we hear a loud bang. A gunshot. She drops the fabric. "What was that?" She asks. Another gunshot. She bends down to pick up the fabric, another gunshot. A Peacekeeper enters the room.
"Nothing to worry about, citizens," he says. "Just a small disturbance in the square." We all look at each other. We know what that means. My mother picks up the fabric.
"I thought this would make a good token," she says, as she ties it around my arm. "I was planning to make you a headband, but this will have to do."
"Thank you," I say. "I love it. And I love all three of you."
"And we love you, Silk," my father says. All three of us hug, again, but then the Peacekeeper comes over. We kept hearing gunshots, but after a while, you get used to it.
"Sir, the disturbance has escalated. We're going to get you to the train now, just for safety, you understand. Your family will stay here until the situation is resolved, and then we'll escort them home."
"Oh, okay," I say. "Thank you. I love you guys!"
"We love you too!" They shout back. Then they're gone, maybe forever.
A/N: So, what did everyone think of this chapter? I hope you enjoyed it! Tell me what you think of all the Tributes, and thanks to everyone who has been reviewing! Also, please keep submitting your Tributes! I currently have 19/24, so I only need 5 more! Please keep submitting your Tributes!
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: Becquerel 'Bec' Grey, 15, by foxfox12
D3F: Clear Palatino, 12, by foxfox12
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: Silk Daisly, 16, by IIJamesII
D8F: Rhylee Kaski, 16, by Primione394
D9M: Open
D9F: Athena Rye, 14, by Primrue394
D10M: Kayne Lytch, 13, by IIJamesII
D10F: Kayra Dawnbreeze, 13. by Yugi-Smallymcsmall
D11M: Open
D11F: Open
D12M: Open
D12F: Open
