We'll never get free
Lamb to the slaughter
What you gon' do
When there's blood in the water
Charity Wicop
District 12, Female, 15
(2 Years Ago)
...
I twirl around in my sky blue dress, marvelling the sight of it through the mirror. My parents had bought it for me yesterday but this was the first chance I'd really had to see what it looks like on me. Don't get me wrong, I have hundreds of dresses but there's just something about this one that makes me feel pretty. I brush through my golden brown hair before putting on just a hint of makeup.
I know I'm lucky to have all of this and being well-off is a very special case in District 12. My family has always been rich for many generations for reasons I have yet to learn but my parents always speak of a family business that I will soon take on myself. I'm so excited and I just want to help them out, they've given me the world and the least I could do is help them out every now and then.
I quickly make my way down the marble staircase that leads to the lounge, usually my parents are sitting there with a cup of coffee during the morning but not today, I find it odd and call out for them. "Mom? Dad?" I don't hear a reply back so I assume they must've gone off for work early. Mother didn't prepare breakfast today so I grab a blueberry muffin from our pantry to snack on before collecting a bunch of other pastries and placing them neatly in my basket.
Before setting off, I slide on a pair of white shoes to match my dress and then unlock the door. Using my spare keys, I lock the door and start on my journey. The sun beats down on me and causes me to sweat, a typical District 12 July. I realise I should've taken a couple water bottles with me and immediately regret it, it's too late to go back now though if I'm planning to get this done before mid-day which is when the heat really becomes unbearable.
Soon, I reach the centre of District 12, which is my normal spot, and begin to hand out the pastries in my basket. I start with the people who look the most desperate, those who are sitting or even laying on the floor. They accept it with a nod and I sometimes get the occasional thank you but I don't expect them anymore, my Mother told me that those in poverty despise those who have their fair share of money. Anyway, I'm not doing this for thank yous, I'm doing this because they need food and I have it.
I know they care. I can see it in there eyes whenever I give a slice of bread or a croissant, they are jealous but they are also thankful and that, for me, overpowers their jealousy in many ways. They have a right to be jealous, they've had to work every day for most of their lives while I sit back and enjoy the luxuries that were just handed to me. It's not fair and that's why I try and help every day because they deserve every ounce of food that I deserve and probably even more. I smile as I think about it but am interrupted by several screams.
Chaos erupts around me, people running in all directions, screaming everywhere. I see smoke rushing up into the air and run toward it, my curiosity getting the best of me. I sprint past people, trying my best to avoid getting crushed and apologise quickly when I run into somebody. Whatever it is, it can't be good. I'm at the source of the smoke in no time and I see it comes from a fire that has been started on a tall willow tree.
That isn't what catches my eye, though. On the tree beside the now dead tree hangs two figures on matching nooses, two big notes are pinned above them, I can barely read them using my now blurry eyes. Tears rush down my face as I read the note aloud "A necklace of hope...we can no longer watch The Capitol while we suffer."
Peacekeepers start swarming in, pushing people away including me. All I do is sit on the grassy floor, sweat drips down my face from the warmth and tears pour down my cheeks and into my mouth from the sight in front of me.
"You have to leave, now!" A Peacekeeper screams at me.
"No." I choke on a sob. "Those are my parents."
Malcom Graham
District 12, Male, 18
(Reaping Day)
...
I sweep at the wooden floor with a dust pan and brush, quickly and efficiently, I need to get this done by the Reaping so I'm able to get my pay for the day. Most people don't work on the Reaping Day, school is always cancelled, parents use it as a time to possibly spend their last day with their children I suppose. I don't really need that time to spend with them, though. They were just a couple of old freaks who left me on the road because they couldn't handle my likes.
I snicker as I think back on the time when they found me torturing a mouse I had found under my bed, my Mother was horrified and my Father was disgusted. I don't understand why, I guess I never will, but my Father slapped me and a few minutes later I was out on the street with nothing but the clothes on my body. Of course, it wasn't just that which led to their decision. I had done other things in the past, I assume that was just the final straw for them, couldn't have a psycho as a child I guess. They were too weak to raise me but luckily I'm strong enough to have raised myself.
"All done Mr. Hollyway!" I shout up the stairs of his small house. I usually do odd jobs for him, he's just a grumpy old man who can't be bothered to do anything for himself and his wife left him a little bit of change so I can do the odd chore for him every now and then.
"Then come up here and get your money, why don't you?" He snaps back from upstairs and I roll my eyes, walking up the stairs. He exchanges me a couple of dollars and I place them in the pocket of my torn up trousers before saying my goodbyes to him. The Reaping is in right around 10 minutes, luckily for me, Mr Hollyway's house is only a couple minute walk.
I stroll through the dirty streets of District 12, stray cats roam the streets with the odd dog, all the houses are small and beaten up. They look almost as if they are about to topple over like dominos. I smirk at the thought of how much fun it would be to see that, to see all the pain caused as people watch their houses go down and maybe a couple of deaths.
I soon reach the Reaping stage and get myself pricked. The Peacekeeper snaps at me about being late but I ignore him and go and take my place, people shift around me and there's a small area of space that surrounds me. Nobody wants to be near the district psycho, I laugh knowing how much they all must fear me. The Reaping begins and a small woman with shoulder length blue hair reaches the stage.
"Hello District 12, I am Elena! Welcome to your Reaping. Now, I must introduce you to your special guest. As you know, the mentors are all chosen as the latest Victors from each District. Well, as you have no Victors, you will be given a Capitolite volunteer! Now, don't you worry, she has a lot of knowledge on The Hunger Games and you will not be put at a point of disadvantage."
A woman with blonde hair and over the top black makeup slams open the door of the Justice Building and takes her place next to Elena. "Anything you want to say, Raymond?" Elena asks and the woman narrows her eyes, looking at us all, before shaking her head. "Alright then! Let's get straight into it with our female tribute."
She digs around in the female bowl for a couple of seconds before plucking out a piece of paper. "Charity Wicop!" She cries and the screens show a girl with golden brown hair and deep blue eyes. I recognise her as the entitled little brat who always tries to give me food and I chuckle, it's going to be fun to watch her die this year. Tears stream down her face as she is pushed onto the stage by a Peacekeeper, she looks absolutely petrified and I can't help but laugh aloud yet again, many people give me weird looks but I don't care.
"Now, our male tribute...Zachary Gray!" She cries and I watch as a tall, lean, tanned boy is shown on the screen. That's when it hits me, I don't know why it never has before, I could volunteer right here right now. This is my last chance to ever get to do this and I've always wanted to kill a human, I grin and just as Zachary reaches the stage, I shout.
"I volunteer!" I run up to the stage, pushing Zachary aside. He has a look of gratitude on his face and I roll my eyes, I'm not doing this for him. "My name is Malcom Graham and I am the District 12 Male tribute." I say into the microphone and Elena applauds.
"Well this is very fun! Our first District 12 volunteer."
A/N: Thank you to FizzNBoo for Charity and kenzieq15 for Malcom! Well, that wraps up our reapings and introductions, now it's time for the Pre-Games. We're going to start with goodbyes, then we'll move onto train rides, next we'll have the training chapters and we'll finish up the Pre-Games with a last day chapter before the bloodbath.
Questions:
What do you think of Charity? Of Malcom?
Are either of them Victor material?
Who is your favourite of the two?
- Neb