When everything you do don't seem to matter
You try but it's no use, your world is getting blacker
Sick Of It, Skillet
Hayden Pierce, 18, District 1 Citizen
"Come on, Opal! Let's go!" Hayden Pierce called as he waited by the door. Gracelyn never took so long to get ready for training. "We only have a little while left before we have to forego training and get ready for the reaping!"
Hayden tapped his fingers on his pants impatiently as he waited for his fourteen year old sister to get ready. They had decided to get a little bit of last minute training in before the reapings started at noon, but that would never happen if Opal didn't hurry the hell up!
After a few minutes, Opal hurried down the stairs with a grin on her face. "Take a chill pill, Hayden. I'm ready, and I'm the one who's now waiting on you."
Hayden rolled his eyes and followed his sister out of the house. "Sometimes, I swear talking to you is like talking to-"
"Yourself?" she interrupted, smirking slyly at him. "I know, where do you think I get it from?"
Hayden narrowed his eyes at her. "Watch it, Opal. I won't take it easy on you today if you keep it up."
She continued to grin. "Really, that's what you've been doing this whole time? I thought I beat you half the time because I was just better."
Hayden finally allowed himself a grin at his sister's teasing. "Stop it, let's get going."
The two siblings finally made their way through the streets of District One, heading for the local training center. The day was growing hot already, and so when they arrived, they were glad to get into the cool of the center.
After a quick stretch and warm-up routine, Hayden and Opal began their sparring. This used to be Gracelyn's favorite thing.
"Watch your knees," Hayden warned Opal, two seconds before he swept her feet out from under her with a swift kick.
Falling hard on her back, Opal groaned, having had the breath knocked out of her. "That was so not gentlemanly!"
Smirking, Hayden held out his hand to help her up and said, "I'm not known for that, now am I?"
"Yeah, a new girl every month or so. Who's the lucky lady right now, anyway?" Opal brushed herself off and prepared to continue sparring.
"Not relevant, but a good attempt at distracting your opponent," Hayden warned her. They began sparring once again, trading blows and defending themselves. After a few minutes, they were both breathing hard, and sat down on a bench to catch their breath. Opal stared at Hayden for a moment, and it seemed as if she wanted to ask him something.
Before she could, however, one of their trainers came over to speak with them. Nic Owens was a popular member of staff, and Hayden knew him pretty well.
"Hayden, Opal, how are you guys?" he asked the siblings. "Ready for the reaping?"
Hayden stood and shook Nic's hand. "Yes, sir. I'm not backing out of the volunteer position."
Opal stayed on the bench, and Hayden noticed her purse her lips unhappily, but she didn't say anything. "Well, carry on!" Nic left them at the bench, and Hayden turned to Opal again.
"What do you want to say, Opal?" Hayden asked, raising his eyebrows in question. Before they said anything else, Hayden noticed tears falling down Opal's eyes.
"I don't want you to die like Gracelyn," she said quietly. Hayden sighed. He knew that Opal had been upset when he'd been chosen to be the volunteer this year. After all, they'd already lost a sister to the Hunger Games.
Gracelyn. Their older sister had been picked for the Games when she was only fifteen, although not without cause. She was a formidable fighter and extremely good at all aspects of training. She made it through the games fairly easily, until being killed during the final two battle with the District 7 male tribute.
Hayden, fourteen at the time, had then made it his mission to train even harder and volunteer when he was able. And yet… he hadn't thought of the impact it would have on Opal.
"Opal, I'm not Gracelyn. She was picked too early, and I'm eighteen. I'm not going to die, I'm going to win and then I'll be back here. Then you'll feel silly for doubting me."
Opal sighed. "Hayden, I know you're always so confident, but there are bound to be at least a couple of other people who are as powerful as you are."
"The only people that could challenge me are the other careers, and even then it's pretty unlikely," Hayden knew that he was more experienced than Gracelyn had been when she died, and since she made it to second place, he could win. "You'll just have to trust me," Hayden finally told her.
A bell sounded throughout the facility, warning them that they needed to go to the reaping. Opal stared around anxiously. "Okay, Hayden. I'll trust you."
Gemma Rowe, 18, District 1 Citizen
As long as Gemma kept her hands on her good luck charm, she could keep herself breathing normally. This was imperative, as her friend Weiss was eerily good at reading people, and would have begun to bother her about it. If Gemma prided herself on anything, it was to make everyone think she was completely fearless.
Unfortunately, she didn't seem to be doing a good enough job. Weiss looked over, and when she saw her friend's hand clenched at her side, she said, "Gem, are you okay? What are you gripping there?"
Putting on a false smile, Gemma said, "Nothing, just a charm. I'm fine." Of course, that wasn't entirely true. Anyone would be a little nervous if they were going to volunteer for the Hunger Games. Twenty-four people entered the arena, and this year, Gemma planned to be one of them. Of course, it was essentially a death sentence for all except one. That was why Gemma had trained almost every day to give herself the best chance of being chosen.
Waiting in this line to sign in to the reapings certainly didn't help.
"You're still volunteering, right?" Weiss asked her, pulling her strands of dark hair away from her eyes. "They picked you?"
Gemma nodded. "They told me yesterday, it's me and some guy called Hayden. We got called in after we finished." Truth be told, even if she hadn't been chosen, she would have volunteered. She made this decision when she was fourteen.
Until that point, she had been training in order to show her parents she was worth anything. She held out hope until that point, but then her father showed her that would never happen. He never put any faith in her, because he wanted to have more children, but only got Gemma. Her mother never stuck up for her, remaining silent whenever her father started in on his daughter.
Weiss narrowed her eyes and said, "You know what, screw them. If you don't want to do this, I'll volunteer instead, or just let whatever girl who gets reaped take her chances!"
Gemma shook her head fiercely. "No, Weiss. I am volunteering. I want more than District 1, and I honestly can't be around my parents anymore. I'm volunteering."
WIth a dubious sigh, Weiss took a step forward. "All right. Just checking that you didn't have cold feet."
The pair waited impatiently in the line, and eventually made it to the line of sign in tables. After being pricked and passed through the entrance, Gemma headed for the front of the crowd, and Weiss eventually separated from her, being slightly younger. Staring around her at the other girls, all of whom seemed to be quite calm and relaxed. They know that someone is going to volunteer and they'll be safe. The only ones that seemed to be anxious were the twelves and thirteens.
The time slowly passed, and eventually, the reapings came around. Their Capitol escort, a ridiculous woman named Moxie Duskway, came up on the stage and tapped the microphone set up there, sending feedback through the square. Gemma winced, and then stared up at Moxie as she said, "Welcome, citizens of District One! I won't keep us in suspense, let's find out who our District one tributes will be for the Fifty-Third Hunger Games!"
Gemma waited in silence, knowing that whoever was picked would shortly be relieved of the tribute title by her volunteering.
"Our female tribute is Agate Locke!" Moxie called. Somewhere in the crowd, a young girl, maybe around sixteen, made her way out of the throng. Before she made it far, however, Gemma shoved her hand into the air and moved a girl out of her way to get to the middle of the square.
"I volunteer!" she called. She knew that it was stupid, and that this girl was likely able to make her own go of the Games. But Gemma just couldn't stand another year in District One with no break from her uncaring and bitter father. "I volunteer as tribute."
Making her way to the stage, Gemma stood beside Moxie, standing there silently.
"Well, this is wonderful!" Moxie exclaimed happily. ""A volunteer. What is your name, my dear?"
"I'm Gemma Rowe," she said. "I'm 18, and I'm going to do my best to come back as your next victor."
Moxie laughed and responded, "Well, confidence is key! Good luck, Miss Rowe!"
Gemma smiled thinly, indicating to Moxie that she should move on to the male tributes. Taking the hint, Moxie went over to the second bowl of names.
"Adel Brier!"
Instantly, another older boy jumped out of the crowd, with the inevitable words, "I volunteer. Name's Hayden Pierce, and I hope you have fun watching me compete and win."
Gemma recognized the boy from the meeting yesterday. She hadn't liked him then, and she didn't like him much more now. Hayden Pierce had a reputation among the girls in their school for being a player. Weiss even dated him for a while before they broke up.
As the crowd clapped in apparent happiness, Gemma shook Hayden's hand, but all she was thinking was, what have I gotten myself into?
Okay so that's the first chapter! Tell me what y'all think of the chapter in general, and answer some of these questions.
Do you like Hayden or Gemma more? Do you think they could win?
Do you think your character would ally with either of them if they weren't careers?
Was Hayden stupid to brush off his sister's concerns about volunteering?
Should Gemma have taken Weiss' advice and let the reaped girl take her chances?
Also, for all submitters, please comment or PM me with an actor or actress who you think looks like your character. I want to make something with it, so go go go! Hope you enjoy this, and please answer the questions!
Two Notes: One, a disclaimer- I do not own Hunger Games or the song Sick Of It. Two, I am mostly full, but I am waiting on two reserved characters. If they become available, I will let you all know! As of now, here is the full character list.
District 1 Female: Gemma Rowe
District 1 Male: Hayden Pierce
District 2 Female: Amelia Roosa
District 2 Male: Riley Adrian
District 3 Female: Lani Fuse
District 3 Male: Albert Spark
District 4 Female: Khanna Shine
District 4 Male: Storm Colter
District 5 Female: Isabella Martin
District 5 Male: Isaac Martin
District 6 Female: Kamden Vercetti
District 6 Male: Jace Vercetti
District 7 Female: Scarlett Atwood
District 7 Male: Rowan Scorrus
District 8 Female: Thalia Windstone
District 8 Male: Thomas Windstone
District 9 Female: Estrella Browne
District 9 Male: Rye Brioche
District 10 Female: Acadia Brown
District 10 Male: Reserved
District 11 Female: Hope Finley
District 11 Male: Reserved
District 12 Female: Zera Tarren
District 12 Male: Flint Blackwood