And I'm back, with the tributes from the Grain District! Nine appears to be one of the stronger outer Districts this year, and I don't know about you, but I can't wait to watch them die! I mean, err… compete! I definitely said compete!
I'm sorry with the long break. I had lots of finals and other crap... I will hopefully get 10 up next week before I go on vacation. While on vacation, I will hopefully write 11 and 12. In the days after I get back, I should have 13 up. If all goes well, of course.
Reviews:
Wolfie McCoy: Welcome to the Sponsors, it's good to have you! I feel you. If I were in the Games, I'd probably go in alone. It's safer that way. Hope you like Thanatos!
dreams and desperation: Thanks, I'm glad you liked them!
Clis2339: I'm glad you liked Henry, he was fun to write! I suppose Jasper would be a pretty good ally, considering he isn't as trained as the others. And you're right, District Nine is the last District that can have 15-year-olds, so 10-13 are already at a disadvantage.
Disclaimer:
I own this story, but not the idea. I own many characters, but not all of them. I own many Arenas, but not any I got from other authors, or any mentioned in the books or movies. All that I don't own goes to Suzanne Collins and/or Lionsgate Entertainment.
Just a heads up, I will be changing the title of this story to Into the Darkness: The 6th Quarter Quell after the Reapings are all over. I just realized that 150 Years and Counting: The 6th Quarter Quell is extremely long for a title. And it sounds like a TV show.
First to catch the reference gets 5 extra points!
Thanks to Wolfie McCoy for Thanatos!
Thanatos Rize, Age 15, District 9
I flicked my wrist, instantly changing the direction of the pole in my hand. I swept it in an arc in front of me, causing the head of the dummy before me to collapse to the ground with a heavy THUD. Sighing in frustration, I threw the scythe into the wall of the old, rickety shack that I had called home since I was seven.
I hope that was confusing.
I lived in an old shack because of my family. They didn't die or anything, though I wouldn't complain… No, I ran away from home when I was seven years old, because I was the "evil" child. The "dark" child. I was the embodiment of everything wrong with the world.
Or so I was taught when I was little. You see, my parents are part of some bizarre religious cult. Even though it's technically illegal, they never missed a meeting and did everything as they were asked. This group, though, was pretty messed up. They hunted people for sport, they forced their "non-believer" children to take more tesserae, and they hated the mere idea of having more than one kid at a time.
Did I mention that I was a twin?
Ever since my twin sister, Aoife, and I were born, my family was seen as cursed. They're precious "Harpies," as they called themselves, shunned them, and did horrible things to them wherever they went. You see, if you have twins, they believe one is a holy gift from the gods, the other from the fiery depths of the underworld.
If you ever saw me, you'd see why I was pinned as the evil one from the start.
My skin was a ghastly white, my figure slim, and no hair on my head. No matter how much time I spent outside, I never tanned or even burned. My condition was so rare doctors didn't have a name for it. I was so sick of the looks I got at school, or from my parents, that I ran away, and came across something truly remarkable.
The Games.
Nobody in the district, not even the Peacekeepers, mention the name louder than a whisper. Me, I realized it was my one way out, the one way to escape the life I live. Sure, I could die, but that is honestly better than the life I've been leading.
The first thing that anyone in the Games learns about is keeping up appearances. Whether the girl from One is just a Glimmer of sunshine the whole Games, or the scruff boy from Eleven plans on "Reap"-ing all the other tributes, everyone creates their own face. Those who don't, well, they die. Most of the time, even those who do die.
Once I had decided I would be in the Games, I looked through some old books in the various libraries around the District, looking for an alias for myself, and I found him. He's known as the "Grim Reaper." He even carried a scythe, the one weapon people from Nine can use. It was perfect.
So I trained. I swiped a scythe from a nearby grain plant, and taught myself how to use it to kill. I stole a set of black clothes, to use as my Reaping outfit, and I practiced how I would looked at the cameras confidently when I finally volunteered.
If you're going to play the Games, might as well play the Quarter Quell, right?
Harvest Miller, Age 14, District 9
I slowly woke from a very restful sleep. My eyes opened to light filtering through the curtains, making the room glow pink as the light reflected off the carpet. Wheat had had my room furnished in pink, purple, and brown, as those were "girly" colors. We always joked about how much he spoils me, but he really earned that right.
You see, the day I thought my life ended was the day of the Reapings for the 145th Games. Wheat was fourteen, and I was nine. Me and Mama couldn't find him in the crowd of children, and called it quits when the escort began speaking into the mic. We watched the video, the female tribute was called, and then we heard it.
Wheat's name.
After Papa died, Wheat was the only one old enough to work in the fields, and any money he earned was used to sustain the family. We couldn't lose another family member. Especially not to the Games.
By the time Wheat climbed out of the desert Arena three weeks into the games he had personally taken out four tributes, all of them Careers. We were just glad he was back.
Since then, we have lived with him in the Victor's Village, with the other two living Victors, and life was nice.
I slowly got out of bed, stretching any kinks out of my neck that had taken hold since I had fallen asleep. I raised my arms above my head, which caused the red silk pajama top I had on to expose my olive-colored stomach, sending a chill through my being.
I shivered slightly and strode over to my walk-in closet, where my Reaping dress hung from the doorknob. Throwing it on, I discarded my pajamas and sat before my pure white vanity.
If there's a rare trait in the District, it's dark skin, blond hair and blue eyes. Crazy as it sounds, I have all these traits. My eyes are a sparkling blue, and my hair is a very platinum blond. Picking a brush up from the vanity, I brushed my hair, whose slight curls enveloped my shoulders. After fixing the mess my slumber had created, I brushed any stray strands off my crème-colored dress and stepped into my black flats. Satisfied with my appearance, I nodded my head and made the surprisingly short walk down the stairs to the kitchen.
"Good morning, Mother." I greeted cheerfully, a large smile on my face. "Is Wheat not up yet? He hasn't left yet, has he?" I questioned, peering into the front room to see if he was in his usual spot by the fireplace.
My mother, Maria, sighed, "He had to leave early. You know how it is, dear. The most loved Victors have interviews constantly. He's in the Capitol, with a couple of the other more recent Victors. I'm afraid we're unlikely to see him until the end of the Games. Orange juice, dear?"
I accepted graciously, digging into my pancakes and gulping down my juice. My mother only laughed, and went upstairs to get out of her bathrobe. As I finished my breakfast, I heard a knock at the door.
"I'll get it!" I called as I jogged to the door. Yanking it open, I greeted my best friend Kayla, and stepped outside.
"You ready to go?" She asked, flipping her long black hair out of her face. Her gray eyes watched me closely, calculating my every move.
"Yes I am!" I announced half-heartedly. "Are you okay?" I asked.
"Oh, yeah." She answered. "I'm just worried, is all."
"That's understandable."
The Justice Building was just down the hill from the Victor's Village, so it was a short walk. The square was filled with people, but the usual population was much smaller, as the Reaping ages were limited. Those whose children weren't eligible stayed in their homes, watching the event on their high-resolution GPs. The Games Projectors were provided by the Capitol, of course.
Me and Kayla signed in, and shuffled over to the fourteen-year-old pen. Our 15-year escort, Friga-something, was nowhere to be seen. Instead, a man dressed in a blood red suit listed off the names of District Nine's Victors. Demeter Hoe, the Ninth Games. Lamia Ladle, the Twenty-third Games. Ray Barley, the Twenty-ninth Games (Twentieth place in the Quell). Meadow Rye, the Fortieth Games (Third place in the Quell). Harvest Summer, the Seventy-eighth Games.
Thanatos Rize, Age 15, District 9
The District's living Victors stood up as the new escort, Stan Lees or something, called their names.
"The Eighty-fifth Games, Purcia Thresher!" In her early eighties, Purcia was a shell of a person. However, she still stood strong for the district. I'd only seen highlights, of course, but as far as I knew, she won her Games using strong poisons.
"The One Hundred Twenty-third Games, Bucky Peck!" At forty-five, Bucky's still young and handsome. The bags under his eyes, however, are proof of his restless nights. After killing 8 children, most of them by accident, I can see why.
"And finally, the One Hundred Forty-Fifth Games, Wheat Miller! He's in the Capitol having interviews, but I'm sure he's as excited as I am to see this year's tributes as I am!" He gave a little laugh. "But, before we meet them, we have a video from the Capitol!"
Usually, for the most part, I watch the video. But after hearing it every year for fifteen years, I really got sick of hearing it. It was always the same: The Third Quarter Quell, where Ray and Meadow fought valiantly, the attempted second rebellion, our duty as a citizen, blah blah blah.
"Wow!" Bloody Man said, "I'm so used to Ten that I forgot that Nine was my new assignment! Oh, well. I suppose It's time to Reap our tributes from District Nine for the Sixth Quarter Quell!"
I looked around the Square, wondering who I was going to save. As I looked up at the stage, Bloody Man stopped his walk to the girls' bowls. His expression revealed he had had an epiphany. "You know what?" He asked as he stopped at the mic, "This is my first year in Nine, so let's mix it up a bit! Let us choose the gentleman first!"
He continued to the left of the stage, and threw his hands into the glass bowls. He quickly drew out a slip from each, and stepped back to the podium.
This is it, Than. I thought, now or never. I opened my mouth to speak.
"Thanatos Rize!"
Slowly, I made my way up to the stage. I looked at a few of the screens around me, and saw that I looked shocked. I quickly erased the expression and thought through what I had taught myself to do. Back straight, legs closed, slightly shuffling. I looked at the screens again and saw that my corrected posture made me seem like I was gliding. As I mounted the steps, I heard the escort quietly moan. Refusing to look at him, I cracked a small smile. I heard him walk to the opposite bowls, and shuffle the slips of paper.
I heard him break the seal, and clear his throat.
Harvest Miller, Age 14, District 9
I felt my pulse quicken, my blood pounding in my ears. This was when Wheat went into the Games, at just fourteen. My ears were ringing, and I could just make out the man's lips.
The new escort announced the unlucky girl's name to the nation. He looked around for the girl, but by the confused look on his face I could tell she wouldn't appear. I vaguely heard someone screaming towards the back of the crowd. Was that my mother? Had I been Reaped? It couldn't have been, right? My brother won the Hunger Games. My name wasn't in the bowl. Right?
I regained my senses as a few peacekeepers swarmed the check-in table. Then the escort called out, "Harvest Miller, if you don't come up, the peacekeepers will force you. Don't bring that upon yourself, sweetie."
I couldn't breath. I couldn't think. Before I knew it, I was up on stage next to Thanatos and Stanleis. My ears began to ring again, and my nerves were shot. I was barely aware of Stanleis giving Thanatos my hand, and then leading us into the Justice Building.
Thanatos Rize, Age 15, District 9
As I sat in the Justice Building, I contemplated the day's events. I woke up, I practiced, I was Reaped. Honestly, I was glad I was Reaped. If I had volunteered, the Careers would already have put a target on my back. Having been Reaped, the Careers (probably) wouldn't see me as a threat. I could do some survival stuff during training, and show only the Gamemakers what I could do with a scythe. A fine strategy overall.
I jumped slightly when the door flew open. A flash of blond met my eyes and I recoiled when it tried to swallow me. Desperately, I looked around for a weapon.
At that moment, I heard the sobs filling the room. I looked down at my attacker, and tentatively asked in surprise, "Aoife?"
Like an obedient dog, she looked up at the sound of her name. Her chocolate brown, almond shaped eyes stared back at me, slightly red and puffy.
"What's wrong" I asked hesitantly, still slightly shocked.
She buried her face in my bony chest. "I'm so sorry, Thanny! I didn't know!"
I pushed her away, not comprehending. "What do you mean? Know what?"
"When you ran away, Mother told me it was your idea. She told me she would miss you but that there was no point in looking for you. They only told me last week what really happened!" She sobbed harder.
After a few minutes, after she had calmed down, I asked her angrily, "And what did you do, laugh?"
Her eyes widened. "Oh, no, Thanny! I've been looking for you ever since! I didn't even know whether you were still alive until today!" Her lip wavered, and she started crying again.
What an emotional mess this girl is, I thought.
Harvest Miller, Age 14, District 9
I waved goodbye to a receding Kayla as she was led out by a peacekeeper. We had just had a very long, heartfelt goodbye, where she cried pretty much the whole time. I didn't.
I had barely sat down when my mother burst through the door, her arms outstretched. I stood, accepting her embrace. She fell to her knees, and sobbed into my dress. "Not again." She kept saying, almost like a chant, "They already tried to take Wheat. Not again."
I patted her on the shoulder awkwardly. I didn't feel any emotion. Nothing for my mother to see. It was like my mind wasn't responding to the outside world, and I felt empty.
"I'm sorry." My mother was saying. "I'm so sorry, Harvest, I thought they'd be satisfied by now. But you can do this. Yes, you can do this. Wheat did, so can you." She looked into my eyes and gave a small smile.
My mind only seemed to be picking up one sentence: I thought they'd be satisfied...
I stepped back. "Mother, what do you mean?"
The story made me wonder if I ever knew my parents at all.
Wheat Miller, Age 19, District 9
My breathing was short and ragged as I ran across the luxurious apartment the Capitol had provided for me. As I wasn't staying in the Training Center, they had to put me up somewhereso I could make it to all my interviews.
I found the V-Home console and scrolled through the "District" menu. Once I had found the contact I was looking for, I tapped the green icon.
"District Nine Justice Building, Kilet speaking." The voice resounded from the console, and I sighed in relief.
"Yes, this is Wheat Miller speaking. Is a Mr. Stanleis Harrow there?" I asked, not caring how informal I sounded. "I'd like to speak to him about a tribute."
"I'm sorry, but Mr. Harrow has asked to not be disturbed."
"I am a Victor. He will take my call whether he wants to or not!" I growled furiously, "If you value your job, I suggest you get him on the phone." I heard the man squeak a "yes sir" before a door opened, followed by light footfalls.
I may not be able to get my sister out of the Games, but I'll sure as heck make sure she survives them.
Harvest Summer, Age 86 (14), District 9
I glared at Kinzie and Gloss as we were led down the hall out of the hibernation room. To my left was Cecelia, who was looking at the Career mentors the same as I was. I didn't have to look behind me to see Velvet on a gurney.
In the hallway, all the dead mentors were flanked by nurses with electric rods. In the hallway were Gloss Xerces from One, Matrix Volt and Ingrid Relbot from Three, Kinzie Wrasse from Four, Matt Electrode from Five, Lily Jeng from Seven, Cecelia and Velvet, myself, and Slatia Mist from Twelve. Austin Bean from Ten was still waking up, and I had been told that Kiara Enygma from Six was in her room under heavy sedatives.
I looked back at Velvet, and remembered the scuffle in the waking room.
I had woken up to yelling. Kinzie and Gloss were arguing with the Victors from Eight, and I ran to back them up. I said a few choice words, and Gloss ended up trying to hit me. By the end of it, Kinzie and Cecelia were fighting tooth and nail, Velvet was passed out cold and Gloss was flat on his back, having been flipped over my knee.
The nurses decided it would be best to evacuate us then, so we could "start preparing." I doubted they really cared about the fight that had broken out. After all, "a little ointment could fix Gloss' spine."
Here are the submitters who are Sponsors thus far. If I have your name down wrong, please let me know:
dreams and desperation: 83
ElvenRangerRysel: 74
Mystical Pine Forest: 68
faceless eater aka slendergirl: 59
jayman1919: 59
We're All Okay: 56
Rina-The-Fangirl: 56
Wolfie McCoy: 56
Here are the submitters, who have points, but haven't confirmed whether they want to Sponsor or not:
The Rsce: 62
Jotunheim Storm: 59
CreativeAJL: 53
InfiniteDespair: 53
HufflePuffleJay: 53
MushtcheNinja29: 53
grimbutnotalways: 53
Here are the submitters who have not reviewed (If I don't know you're reading, I may kill your tribute(s). Just saying) (and I like your tributes, so don't let them down now!):
superepicstarkette1211
And finally, here are the people who for sure AREN'T Sponsoring:
Clis2339: 65
If you are on none of these lists, you are probably a non-submitter, and I have not included your name because I haven't seen a review in a while. If you'd like to be on any of these lists, let me know. Remember everyone, your donations can save lives!
Alliances!:
Careers: Marcus (1), Malaya (1), Mason (2), Cassia (2), and Esmeralda (4).
Loners who will likely get alliances eventually:
Cordin (3)
Infiniti (3)
Jasper (4)
Darius (5)
Devon (5)
Aran (6)
Jetta (6)
Logan (7)
Kenzi (7)
Henry (8)
Tulle (8)
Thanatos (9)
Harvest (9)
Questions!:
Which of these Districts do you think will be wiped out first?
Which tribute(s) are you excited to see again?
What do you think the Arena will be like?
Long live the Capitol,
Lord Zagreus
