Florian Yarrow, 15 – District Eleven Male

It's a nice feeling being alone sometimes even if it's just for a moment. I slide the lipstick out of my pocket and check the door to see if anyone's approaching. Seems like everything's clear. I approach my reflection, feeling a little awkward about the whole situation. I've never had access to makeup before and my parents would throw me out of the house if they'd walk in on me doing this but I have Petunia to thank for the makeup supplies. She told me she didn't need them anymore after she discovered that she was more butch than femme. I didn't quite understand what that meant but was happy to receive her makeup regardless.

I drag the lipstick smoothly across the edges of my lips, feeling my hand shaking with nervousness. I take a step back barely able to contain the joyful flutters that try to escape my core. The vermillion offers a nice contrast to my skin tone. I caress my cheek gently, moving my hand past my chin and to the other side of my face. I feel powerful. I feel confident. I feel like myself.

I hear the old wood of the bathroom door creak. My instincts take action as I hide my face in the sink, splashing myself with water repetitively, desperately trying to get the lipstick off my face. In the midst of it all I ask myself why I'm doing it. Why I'm hiding in the first place. It's me and there's nothing to be embarrassed about because I'm human… just like everyone else here. And yet when I walk out of the bathroom, I hide my face from the man who had entered a few seconds before just in case there are any remnants left.

I stand in the middle of the plantation field, watching the others work. It's easy to forget that all these people have their own identities. Some of these people might be trying to hide who they are while other-

'Sup, homo' Ryan slaps my butt from behind, stepping in front of me.

'Ryan!' I hiss

'What?' he laughs. He goes quiet and takes a step closer. 'I get to say that too now.' He winks. He loves mentioning that he's trans and will try to bring it up as often as he can but I don't really mind. I love him for it.

'No, not that, I mean don't call me a homo in front of others,' I say trying to avoid eye contact with him. I know how important it is for him that I love and accept myself. He's done so much for me already and it's only because of him that I've learned to grow. But I just want him to understand that I grow at a different pace. I take longer to blossom but when I do my petals shine brighter than anyone else's.

Ryan's eyes widen in surprise. 'Hold up, didn't you tell me just yesterday that you've finally gained the confidence you'd always wished for.' He frowns a little.

'I've gained confidence with myself, not with others. I mean… I'm trying but it's still going to take a while.' I see Ryan crossing his arms, tilting his head to the side a little. 'Ryan, I love myself.' I catch a crack of a smile from him. 'I know who I am.' Now that part might have been a bit of a lie. 'But I need time to show that to others.'

Ryan leans against a wall, scratching his head. 'Any progress with your parents though?'

'I'm telling them tomorrow after the reapings. They've just started talking to each other again; for real this time and I don't want to throw too much at them at once.'

Ryan nods. 'I get that.'

I grab a shovel, heaving it over my shoulder. 'Anyway, let's get back to work.' Ryan and I walk side by side. I catch a puddle of mud to his right and decide to give him one big push causing him to slip and take a big dip into the mud hole.

I giggle and run away from him. Ryan gets back to his feet, chasing me and trying to get some of the mud on my shirt. We laugh and feel like we belong in a world where we deserve to belong

Fleur Laveau, 18 – District Eleven Female

It's not like I don't see it; the hate in all their eyes as I brush past them. We're beyond the point now where the other workers would throw trash at my brother Henri and I but words and actions are a lot less powerful than you'd think. A simple gaze tells me all I need to know. I catch a few spitting at the ground towards me but not really at me.

I've heard it all. I've heard the comparisons they drew between Henri and me and the owner of the plantation we all work at. I've heard the comments about my eyes; how they look far too similar to his. I've heard the comments about my nose; how it's pointy and the bridge is slightly curved just like his. And, the best one of all, how my skin is slightly lighter than dark unlike my mother's, unlike theirs. He's not my father. If he was, he wouldn't make us work for him, he'd take us in and watch out for us. And yet whenever I confront my mother about the topic she never really listens. She answers but her words are empty nonsense as if she's purposefully trying not to understand me.

When I leave the plantation, I take a right, entering the humid rainforest. My mother told me to follow the sound of the waterfall to reach the oúfo. The waterfalls are located more uphill and so I grab onto one of the trees and start climbing, feeling a small burst of adrenaline rush through my body. The treetops are very densely populated with intertwining branches, making it easy for me to jump from one tree to the other. Finally, when I do end up reaching the waterfalls, I spot the oúfu temple at the top, mother waiting for me, holding a black pig on a leash. I can't believe I'm really doing this; it's crazy.

As a mambo, my mother has a right to perform rituals of black magic. She knows the proper way to do as not to summon the wrath of the Loas. 'Couldn't convince your brother to come?' she asks. I shake my head. He'd never agree to any of this. He calls it Voodoo crap and to some extend I understand his concern and dismay but I also know at heart that our mother would feel betrayed if neither of us was willing to step into her world. So, I took it upon myself to let her magic consume me. Quite frankly, I have no clue what I'm doing but I did my research and I do think I'm ready.

'You're quite courageous to start with a Petro Loa as your first ritual,' she says, igniting the flames around me. She tosses lavender, black pepper and Salvia into them, immediately filling the atmosphere around us with a thick aroma of flora and exotic spices. A Petro Loa involved bad spirits. It is usually conducted when one feels the need to help obtain justice for someone who has been wronged and I have my reasons…

'Now remember, child, this is not a possession ritual. If you're planning on contacting Marinette Bras Cheche do not let her enter your soul. She can be quite cruel if she gets ahold of you,' she says, handing me the leash of the black pig as I fold my legs under myself.

'I know, mother.' She passes the knife onto my right hand. I've never killed a creature before, not even a fly. But I'm doing this… I'm totally doing this. I put my left arm around the pig, squeezing it tightly. With one quick slash, I cut its throat open, causing it to squeal. I feel it struggling, kicking me with its hooves, shaking its head from side to side. And as its life begins to fade, the smoke from the fires turns black and red and collects around the pig carcass. I start to pray.

I think about all the physical fights the other workers have forced Henri and me into. I think about how often we came back with bruises and scars that would last for weeks. I think about how we were never made to belong in this community... how they never let us belong. I pray for Karma to get them good.

I want them to know what pain is like.

This chapter was so much freaking fun to write! I had to do some research about black magic and voodoo and I'm not certain if I got everything right so please go easy on me xD I'd like to thank Ripple237 and Sparky She-Demon for Florian and Fleur respectively. I hope I did them justice.

Florian: He's a little short for his age but not too much. He's pretty thin and doesn't have a lot of muscle. He has dark skin and beautiful brown eyes. His hair is black and cut short.

Fleur: Cafe au lait skin, jade green eyes, 5'8, muscled arms from climbing trees, and rough hands from work

I'm honestly surprised by how fast we're getting through Intro hell lmao. One more from LCS and then we are finito with the introductions. The updating will probably take a small break after the next chapter so we can plan everything we need to for the pre-games. I know many of you have already contacted us for alliances and stuff but I also know some haven't yet so it's your chance to do it now before we get to the next stage. Obviously there's no specific time frame to do it. You can form alliances at any time and let us know but it's easier to build a plot if we know it beforehand.

I'm handing the mic over to LCS. See you in the pre-games! :D