Chapter 5: Self Motivation

District Five Reaping

Zyra Koore - District Five Female

"Live each second without hesitation,"

- Elton John

Great. Just great. It's the motherfucking Hunger Game's taking two kid's from my district to a game of death. I feel so, so honored. My god, those Capitolite's are screwing with us at this point. I mean, it's been a hundred and seventy-two years. I don't even remember what the rebellion was about in the first place. They need a better hobby for themselves.

I mean, sure? I see the point in these horrendous game's President Chambers want's us to go along. Power, obedience, examples, and other convoluted crap that matches the oppression of all twelve districts. Snow dam him, why does Panem have to be such a shit hole of a nation?

Who in their right mind(not counting the career districts) would want this sort of life? One where children die for the sake of entertainment. I can't help but sigh. A seventeen-year-old girl can't do much, or sadly anything I suppose. Not as if I can voice any grievances against the government, I don't plan on meeting the end of Chamber's peacekeeper's guns.

I hate the Reaping. More than that, I hate realizing how powerless I am to stop it. Wish I was more like Kara in day's like the Reaping, so carefree and stupid, not truly understanding how horrible the games are.

That's not alway's on my mind. I got better thing's to do such as annoying my sister.

"Raya. Wakie Wakie~," I shook my twin sister. She began to grumble.

Her grumbling continued the faster I moved her. "Stop doing that."

"No," I said urgently. "Get up. It's Reaping Day, and I want to train."

"Ahhhh!" Raya cried out from hearing that, stretching her arm's out in her PJs. She turned to me with her tired glare, "I hate you. What's the time even?"

"Four in the morning," I answered.

She played her head back to her pillow, covering herself with her pink blanket. "I hate so much. We have more time than that."

"Yeah," I agreed with my twin. "But I want to do something because I deserve something today, and training sound's just about right."

Raya didn't say anything for a few minutes. "... I'll be in the basement in a few minutes."

I walked out of her room and step by step going through the hallway, trying my best to ignore Raya's honor student diploma that my parents keep bragging about, and made my way to the basement.

At times, I feel undeserved that I was born in a decently wealthy family. Half of District Five can't say the same. I mean I got a big house, mom and dad have a job not being a goddam factory, and the point we can afford illegal weapon's for training.

Illegal training, I thought with a smirk. I bet Chamber's would love that. When I train, I feel like I'm kicking the Capitol in the nose. My parents were paranoid folk, very scared of the Hunger Games for whatever reason. So they thought it would be a good idea to train their daughter's secretly when they were five. Not complaining(now, anyway), it's a good exercise, and I certainly don't have anything better to do.

I saw my twin entering from the stairs. It was like looking in a mirror. Raya and I were identical twin sister's, she has my brown hair that fall's in a wavelike pattern, and I have her blue eyes. The only difference between us is that she's wearing a pink shirt and I'm wearing a blue shirt.

Raya walked up to the large guitar case on the end of the basement. Inside of it wasn't an instrument, however. There were practice weapon's inside the case, containing spear's, swords and knives. Sometime's I think mom and dad overdo their paranoia a little.

My sister passed me a sword. "You ready?" she asked with a slight grin.

"Is Chamber's a fucktard? Yeah, I'm ready," I replied, my jape making Raya look more alive.

Raya decided to fight with a spear, not the best weapon for me, but she does her. Once she got prepared, I struck. Swinging my sword, she easily blocked it and pushed it away. Raya made a sudden thrust with the spear to my stomach, which resulted in me yelping and landing on the ground. Not even a minute and I'm flat on my back. Fighting doesn't usually take that long, but we make it work. This fight was quick, and it was a point to Raya.

"You alright sis?" Raya questioned with a concerned tone. I stared intensely at her for a second at my better twin. The smarter, stronger sister who my parent's favor. She can fit those all those algebra equations in that head of her's and her grades is what my parent's talk about to their friends.

Does that make me bitter? A little, I admit. But Raya earned being our parent's favorite, and I'm also proud of her. So there's that.

"I am. Now I'm going to get that payback," I promised.

Raya chuckled, relieved seeing I'm not too hurt. "Whatever you say."

Every hit landed on her was a point to me and vice versa. We both got a few bruises, but it's nothing new. Raya got 42 points on me, and I got 20 points. I get win's a good third of the time at least. Not sure how it is for another sibling's out there, but fighting each other was pretty much what we call bonding.

"Hey Koore twin's, guess who's here?" an annoying voice came behind the door. I already knew who it was.

"Is it those two idiot's who owe me money over the broken school equipment?" I asked half-rhetorical, half-serious.

The door open, I saw a blonde girl my age pouting. "How did you know?"

An ebony skinned boy with curly hair followed after, he looked at the blonde, "You do know that Zyra called you an idiot, right?"

"She calls everyone that," the blonde retorted.

"Not everyone," I denied. "And to answer your question: who else would come here? I mean, honestly."

"Ignoring my smartass of a sister. I suppose it's my job for a good morning introduction," Raya assumed. "Good morning, Kara," she said to the dumb blonde one. "Good morning Jacen," she said to the slightly smarter boy.

"Good morning gorgeous," Jacen complimented my sister. While I don't know why he likes to flirt with my sister, I guess better her than me. I'm not looking for any dates or Jacin in particular.

Kara shook her head in agreement. "Poor Raya. Being hounded by Jacen."

"Not really," my twin replied. "Jacen just deluded himself a little. He'll get better."

"Come on. Who doesn't want this handsome face?" Jacen said brazenly, making his hand circle around his face.

All the girls looked at each other, and replied in sync, "Everyone."

We all laughed sans Jacin who looked a little depressed.

"Haha. Reaping starting in half an hour, hope your ready. Cause this may be the last chance you'll kiss me," he jested.

"Not even if you were the last man alive Jac," Kara join the joke. Making both of them laugh, Raya joined in. Not me, I find the Hunger Games nothing to joke about, even if it is to lighten up the mood. Those two don't get it.

Afterward, I and everyone else got out of the basement. All of us were joking, making small talk, Kyra was mentioning her plan to prank the football team, Jacin was asking for our expert opinion's on how to pick up cheerleaders(not helpful at all in that regard), Raya and I made twin jokes, it was a way to have fun before the Reaping. With friend's like these, it's hard not to be sassy.

To me, and everyone else in District Five honestly, being in the Reaping is the worst. For obvious reasons.

The mayor did his little speech, he presented everyone in front of him that video with Chamber's doing audio. I took a long five minutes, but he called out someone named Hercules Somethingsomeone. A buff capitolite in that dumb looking zigzag outfit. He was also rather stern looking. He looked more like a peacekeeper than an escort honestly.

I don't know who's the girl Herc is going to pick out, but it better not be my sister. Or me.

"Zyra Koore," the capitolite announced with his deep voice.

Well, shit.

At least it wasn't Raya. Oh shit! Raya!

I looked next to me. My twin is far more shocked than I was when my name was called out. Raya was slowly beginning to realize something, something that scare's me far more than going to the Hunger Games.

Raya took her hand in the air, "I volun-"

I put my hand over her mouth, making sure she doesn't make such a stupid decision, I tossed her to the ground. I ran toward's the podium, wanting to be next Capitolite to say, "Get moving already! It's the boy's turn."

Hercules merely raised a brow but complied with doing his job rather than asking what that was about. I saw that Kara was holding down Raya, who had tear's running down her eyes, and I mentally thanked Kara for keeping my sister safe.

The capitolite was about to read the name before he was interrupted my words thought insane in District Five.

"I VOLUNTEER FOR TRIBUTE!"

A black haired fifteen-year-old with broad shoulder's yelled out, and everyone around he stepped out of his way. He walked toward's Hercules, looking more confident than he has any right to be. "Volt Nightingale! District Five's next Victor!" the kid shouted. His last name is familiar, but I can't seem to place it.

He walked to give me a handshake, "Hope you make it far."

"And I hope you have time being a career," I blurted out. Shit, I wasn't thinking. My mouth just opened. Everything is stressing me out in this last minute! And Volt didn't like that comment one bit by the way his eyes are narrowing at me. Hey, he volunteered for no good reason, he's the crazy one.

"To the tributes of District Five: Zyra Koore and Volt Nightingale!" Hercules announced to the crowd.

I can't believe I got picked. Out of thousands, it's as if someone has it out for me or something. I was pushed by those white armored peacekeepers all the way the Justice Building. And surprise, everyone came to see me.

"What's going to happen now?" Kara, sweet little dumb Kara, wondered.

"She's going to have to win. That's what. She has to," Jacen insisted. No more jokes were coming out of his mouth, and that was definitely a sign right there.

"But how?" Kara kept wondering sadly.

"I have a chance. A good one remembers everyone," I reminded everyone in the room, mostly my sister who was being silent next to the door.

"Yeah! You'll make it! You got the headbutting skills of the master. I still got those bruises in my head," Kara said happily. Her hopes were lifted easily, not sure if I should reprimand her for her naivety or not.

Jacin, on the other hand, noticed my silent sister. "Okay then, good luck out there Zyra. Kara, we have to go."

The both of them left, appearing saddened. Leaving me and my twin.

"... You're mad?" I asked hesitantly.

"Of course I am," Raya barked. More emotion than I ever seen from her, "I'm mad. I'm sad. I'm... I don't even know. I could've gone-"

"And you could have gone on and died too!" I interjected. "It's my game now Raya. Just because you're better than me doesn't me you still have greater odds here."

"Better? I mean, I alway's suspected..." she mumbled.

"If you were going, I'm sure mom and dad would miss you more," I said bitterly, no time like the present.

Raya didn't know what to say to that. She proceeded by hugging me. "I'm sorry."

"There's nothing to be sorry about. It's all mom and dad. Even now they're too busy for me. For us."

That only made her hug me tighter. "You'll be safe. If mom and dad did one thing right, it's training the both of us. Training you in case this happen's."

Yeah. One thing.

"I'll try my best."

That was the best I can offer her. I hope I won't become a monster when I enter the arena. I don't want to kill, but I have to.

I don't have any other choice. It's for survival.

Volt Nightingale - District Five Male

I used to be poor, my whole family was.

There's not a lot of people can change about that. Most go to school, and in the end will find it useless because most of us miserable little worm's are going to end up as factory workers, making batteries or working on that dam that power's up to the Capitol and all its basic needs.

For a chance at a better live sound's almost impossible, a dream even. My entire family had to rely on stealing for survival. I was quick enough, so my sister Emmaline. I look up to my older sister. Hard not to, she was there for me when our parents did their low paying jobs. She taught me how to be quick, how to steal. The life I had wasn't perfect, but at least I had someone that I care about, and someone who care's in return.

That's why I was very heartbroken when Emmaline got reaped five years ago. I thought I she wouldn't make it. I thought I wouldn't see her again. I never cried so much in my life. All I could do was hope since that was all I could for her.

And Emmaline came back. She became a Victor.

Five years ago. The 167th Games. My once poverty-stricken family are now living the life. We live in the Victor Village now. My family doesn't even have to work anymore since the Capitol is providing our income. No more stealing.

"She won all right," I said, scowling. I held a screwdriver in my right, and I used said screwdriver to fix the funny looking box on my left hand. "Now it's my turn for it."

Once my sister came back, my parents, Sophie and Binar were practically smothering her, even today. Never about me. It's as if they forgot about me. Their blatant favoritism does piss me off quite a lot. They praise her, mostly all they do is laze around the mansion their daughter got them. Emma changed when she got back. She's distant, she only talks when she has to and has developed an extreme phobia for insects. I asked her once about what happened in her games, and she slapped me to the ground, gone all banshee. I never asked again, and it's been smooth sailing.

Being Emmaline Nightingale sister means I get better treatment from other kid's in my school. It was annoying, for people to ask questions about my sister first thing.

That's when I decided to go to the Hunger Games.

Then everyone will know the name, Volt Nightingale.

I finished screw driving the object in my hand, grinning with pride when I aimed the gun-shaped object to the wooden board on the other side of the room. Hot red flames were formed out of the gun I made, completely disintegrating the wooden board.

I build stuff like taser's, flamethrowers, Molotov, anything that could be made in any arena. After all, if I can't train in time, I may as well train my brain. Emmaline won the game when she was fifteen year's old. I have a good chance of winning.

Don't get wrong, I know the games won't be easy, but I need to make a name for myself. To get out of my sister's shadow, to get my parent's notice. For District Five's respect. It sound's worth it, at least to me it does.

Once I put my dusty apron off, I looked at the clock, seeing that it is almost time to go. The Reaping waste's time for no one.

I like to call the room I'm currently in my testing room. The wall around me look shredded and burned. I guess this room also helps release some creative art of mine.

When I got out of the mansion, I saw mom and dad drinking some vodka in the kitchen. They ignored me entirely when I passed them. Once I win, they'll sing praises. I'll make them.

The way to the Reaping was a bit lonely. I didn't have many friends as I mostly kept to myself.

A taller boy then shoved me in the shoulder. He didn't have a nice look on his face. "Watch where you're going, you little asswipe," the taller boy cussed.

"How about you watch it?" I said back.

"What did you say?"

"You heard me."

The taller guy was about to grab my shirt, but I surprised him by punching the asshole dead in the nose. Stunning him, and hopefully making him fearful of me.

"You know. I'm not sure if the peacekeepers would want to hear someone starting trouble with Emmaline Nightingale's brother. Shit, messing with a Victor's sibling might end you in what? Five, maybe ten years jail time," I said warningly, and now I'm starting to see the fear in the boy's eyes. "Get the fuck out."

The older punk did so, not wanting to test what I could supposedly do. While I hate using my sister's name, it has some advantages.

The rest of the trip to the town square was uneventful. Everyone from the right age was there, the air was tense, and it appeared that the only one who wants to be here is me.

I saw Emmaline at the end of the podium, sitting next to the escort. Who after a long repeated speech, the mayor called forward, "Citizens! Welcome the Capitol's escort for our humble districts, Hercules Thorin!"

The man in a green suit full of wiggly lines got out front of us. "The Hunger Game's must take place. Starting with the girl's," Hercules told professionally, he then picked out the girl's name, "Zyra Koore."

A second of silence, when I looked at the girl's side, I see a brunette pushing down another identical brunette to the ground. I suppose their twin's? The girl ran toward's Hercules and shouted to get a move on to the boy's turn. A strange reaction, but I agree wholeheartedly.

In all honesty, I was far too impatient at the moment.

"I VOLUNTEER FOR TRIBUTE!" I cried out.

Some boy's around me were surprised by my declaration, and they got away from me quickly. They're acting like I'm a plague or something.

I walked to Hercules, who looked a bit pleased about what I did. I told the crowd my name, "Volt Nightingale! District Five's next Victor!"

At the very least, I got some cheers. I also got to see my sister's face, she looked livid. Good, hope's she's angry.

I walked up to Zyra to give her the old traditional district partner handshake, "Hope you make it far."

"And I hope you have time being a career," she replied with sudden anger. What's that suppose to mean? I can't believe I'm being compared to the careers already. It hasn't even been a minute.

"To the tributes of District Five: Zyra Koore and Volt Nightingale!" the green-suited escort screamed out.

When the peacekeepers began to take me in the justice building, I sent one smug look at my sister. Who knows? She might visit. God knows that my parents won't.

"WHAT THE HELL WERE YOU THINKING?!" Emmaline outright yelled at me, making me wince. "YOU FUCKING IDIOT! YOU ABSOLUTE WASTE OF A LEFTOVER BATTERIES! FUCKING SNOW!"

She's taking this a lot worse than I thought.

"I- well. You never, I mean-"

"Shut up," she snapped. She closed her eye lid's and began to calm herself in a meditative state. When she opened her eye's, she didn't look angry, more defeated than anything else.

Her sudden whiplash of emotion's made me uncomfortable, and I was growing doubtful of everything I have done in the past few minutes. "Attention. Glory," I answered, almost whispered it.

"Glory?" she repeated, mocking me. "What glory? In killing people."

Ok, I'm starting to see the career thing Zyra mentioned.

I shook my head. "For the attention. I want to prove myself."

"By doing this?"

"No one else seemed to care any other way," I stated.

The peacekeeper's said my sister's time was up. That didn't matter, I know she's going to mentor me. And once this start's, me and her are going to have a nice overdue conversation about why she has been avoiding me. Also, survival tips, that'll come secondary. Maybe after I stop hearing my sister cry from behind those doors.

I am not a career.

I'm just a guy trying to prove himself.

It's far too late not to.

A/N: HA! Thank you Emberlex and LKiraApple for the sassy Zyra Koore and the mildly aggressive Volt Nightingale! They're pretty interesting. Gotto say these family abandonment issues are far more popular or common than I'd like to be. For the most part, I like the fact that both of them are battle ready for the games. :'0 Poor kid's, they might stand a chance. What I love more is that they are destined to hate each other, since Volt and Zyra specifically hate each other personalities. The idea's that come to mind.

Anyhow, I must say happily that there is only one tribute position available for District 8 Male. Get it while it's hot. And thank you for reading folks.