Ariadne White, age 18
District 2 Female Tribute
After the Reapings
I follow the Peacekeepers into the Justice Building, excitement still bubbling in me. I've only been in District 2's Justice Building once before. It was a few weeks ago, when Camilla walked me through it as she explained what would happen after the Reaping. I'll have an hour to say goodbye to anyone who wants to come visit me. After that, I'll board the train to the Capitol, where I'll meet up with Maribelle, Camilla, Orion, and Scorpio.
This is it. These are your last moments in District 2.
I hope I'll come back. No, I know I'll come back. I have to push any doubt I feel out of my mind, because losing the Hunger Games is not an option for me. My mother and father have made that very clear ever since I was small.
The Peacekeepers I'm following escort me into a small room containing a chandelier, a velvety couch, a two-person loveseat, two plush chairs, and a small trash can. Two bookshelves full of books sit in the back corners. A glass table in the center, as well as several side tables, have tissue boxes perched on top of them. I wonder why they're there. Probably just to look good. I'm ushered in the room, the door closes behind me, and I'm left alone.
I guess this is where I'll be saying goodbye to everyone. I'll definitely assure them that the goodbye is only temporary. I sit down on the soft couch.
The door to the room opens, and my father enters. He's wearing his usual stern expression as he shuts the door behind him and stays standing next to it.
"You know what is expected of you, Ariadne," Father says, his face unwavering. "Win. Do not die in the Bloodbath and embarrass me."
I smile and nod. "Of course, Father," I say.
"Good," Father says, nodding before turning away. He opens the door, leaves the room, and closes the door behind him.
I wonder who else is coming. Maybe Quarry or Shiva, or some other people I've trained with at the Academy. But time passes, and the door stays shut. No one but my father wants to say goodbye to me. I guess everyone is busy. Shiva is seventeen, so she's probably training so she'll have a chance to be selected as a volunteer next year.
I stare at the closed door and sigh. Do I really have to wait an hour? I look around and spot a clock on one of the walls. It's 10:00 AM. The Reaping ended at 9:45 AM, like it always does, so I'll be here until 10:45 AM. Forty-five minutes is a long time to be sitting alone in a small room… I try the doorknob, but it's locked, so I lie down onto the couch. Maybe I can take a nap.
I close my eyes. I still feel excited from volunteering, but I must have dozed off because the next thing I know, a Peacekeeper is shaking me awake and telling me to get up. I stand up slowly, stretch, and follow him as he leads me out of the room.
Lamar Hunter, age 17
District 4 Male Tribute
After the Reapings
I pace around the luxurious room I've been dumped into, already thinking about how I will win these Games. I have to win. I'm not going to let dying in the Hunger Games get in the way of my dream of becoming the greatest pianist of all time. Before I can come up with anything concrete, however, the door opens and Persephone comes barrelling in. She wraps me in a tight hug.
"Hey sweetie, I know, I know," I sigh as I stroke my girlfriend's brown tresses. "But this isn't the end. I'll figure out a way to come home."
"Why?" Persephone sniffles, wiping away a tear as she steps back from her embrace and sits next to me. "You have so much ahead of you!"
"I know, which is why I'm going to fight as hard as I can to come home," I say, kissing Persephone quickly on the lips. "Just don't go checking out any guys while I'm away, okay? I'll be back before you know it."
"I hope so," Persephone murmurs as I give her another hug. On the inside, I haven't even come up with a victory plan yet. But I have to act confident or my girlfriend might get ideas.
My girlfriend and I stay cuddling on the couch until the Peacekeeper at the door announces that time is up. With a final passionate kiss, we break apart, and Persephone's brown tresses disappear behind the door.
My next visitors are my friends from school and other places. Cress is here, and to my surprise Clarissa, the East Shore girl I hooked up with after the Spring Concert, is here as well. I appreciate their company, but I'm a bit distracted because my mind is racing with ideas on how I can win the Games and earn a new life as a Victor.
After my friends leave, I'm surprised to see that my parents show their faces. I'm not completely disgusted by them, but I wonder what they'll say. Thankfully there isn't that much awkward silence.
"Oh, Lamar," Mother says, crying as she gives me a hug. "Do your best to come home, okay?"
"Of course," I say, returning the hug awkwardly. "If I can win these Games, there will be nothing stopping me from being a great pianist because I'll be a Victor."
"You're right, if you manage to win the Games, you'll have the means to do whatever you want with your life so I guess there's no stopping your piano playing if you come home," Father says awkwardly, patting Mother on the shoulder. He turns the doorknob, getting ready to leave. "Best of luck, son."
"Thanks," I say as Mother gives me a quick kiss on the cheek and joins Father at the door. "Bye Mother, bye Father, I hope I'll see you again."
My parents leave, and I am left alone. I'm not expecting any other visitors, so now I have time to formulate. I'll need a plan if I am to win these Games. The first step, I feel, would be to deal with the threat of the Careers…
A/N: Chapter question: What do you think Ariadne and Lamar's strategies will be for these Games?
Thanks for reading, and I hope to see you all soon!