Regina Soto, 17
District 1 Female
Loud music filled the room, which was teeming with sweaty teens dancing. Regina took a sip from her wine and leaned against the wall, taking a breather from the dance. Her boyfriend Velvet rested beside her, arm slung loosely over her shoulder.
"How much longer do you want to stay for?" he asked, head near her ear so she could hear him.
"Maybe another hour or so?" Regina said, taking another sip.
"The reaping is tomorrow morning," he reminded her.
"I know Vel," Regina said, leaning her head against his shoulder. "It'll be fine. I wish you were coming with me though."
Velvet was a strong contender for volunteer, but in the end, he wasn't chosen. It was probably for the best, but having him by her side in the arena would be much less lonely.
Velvet pressed a kiss to Regina's temple and then took a sip of his beer, surveying the crowd with her. Regina's gaze narrowed in on a group of girls across the room. They were pointing and laughing and nudging each other, giggling at the expense of a taller girl in the corner. Regina handed her glass to Velvet.
"I'll be right back."
She stalked across the room, pushing a few people aside, to reach the cluster of girls.
"-not afford makeup?" one was saying in a nasty voice, pointing at the other girl. Regina recognized her as Sasha, an archer from the academy. They'd never spoken, but she'd definitely seen her around. And she knew her family wasn't very well-off.
"Hey," Regina cut in, putting a hand on the bully's shoulder.
"Don't you have some dancing to do?"
"Oh look," the girl sassed, pulling her arm back. "It's the district whore. What is this, your eighth boyfriend?"
Regina grit her teeth. This girl's opinion didn't matter to her, but the words still hurt. She examined her nails. They needed to be redone, and she was planning on having a sleepover with Glitty. They could do their nails tonight. She reeled back and punched the bully in the face.
"Oh hon, I think your nose is crooked," she cooed. "My mom might have some connections to surgeons, if you want me to ask." The girl tried to sneer at Regina, but winced and clutched at her broken, bloody nose instead. Regina held out an arm to Sasha.
"Shall we?" she asked. "I'm happy to give you a ride home." Sasha hesitantly linked elbows with Regina, who pulled her up to her side. They marched across the room, coolly ignoring the stares. Regina blew a kiss to Velvet as she left.
"I'll see you tomorrow babe!" she called. He winked at her and waved.
Regina guided Sasha to her car, depositing her by the passenger door before rushing to the driver's side. Once they were both in, Sasha gave Regina a small, grateful smile.
"Thanks for that," she said softly.
"Of course!" Regina said. "Bullies suck, but you're better than them. Now, let's get you home."
Twenty minutes later, Regina pulled up in front of her house. She and Sasha had an interesting chat about different sword-fighting strategies, and she learned the girl was the eldest of five. She was quiet, but was strong and determined. She seemed like she'd be a good friend.
Unlocking the front door, she stepped into the dark hallway and flicked on the lights.
"Glitty!" she shouted. "I'm home!"
Glitty and Regina had been best friends since diapers, since their parents shared a property; two large mansions at the top of a hill. Glitty wasn't a huge party person though, which Regina could respect.
"Hi!" Glitty called from upstairs. "Come up! I have a surprise for you!" Grinning, Regina took off her heels and jogged up the stairs, throwing her arms around her best friend.
"How was the party?" she asked.
"It was fun! I met a cool new girl. Though not as cool as you, of course."
Glitty laughed at that, but then gave Regina a nudge.
"Close your eyes!" she said, and Regina did so. She felt Glitty guide her down the hall into her bedroom, stumbling once on the edge of the fuzzy white rug. Then Glitty released her.
"Open!" she cried, and Regina did.
In front of her was the most gorgeous dress Regina had ever seen. It was a pale, buttery yellow, a color that would match with Regina's eyes perfectly, with a sweetheart neckline, faint lace detailing on the bodice, and lacy straps.
"It's supposed to be your reaping dress," Glitty said.
"I love it," Regina gasped, stepping forward to run her fingers across the soft fabric. "It's stunning."
"Yay! I'm so glad," Glitty said, clapping her hands. I was thinking we could braid your hair up in a crown and give you some glowy makeup."
"That will be perfect. Glitty, you're a genius!"
She pulled her dark-haired friend into a hug and laughed with delight.
"This is so exciting!"
Lana Rose, 17
District 3 Female
Lana woke up with a scream on her tongue. She managed to hold it in, but the silver flash of a knife stayed on the back of her lids. Her fingers flew to her ear, rubbing over the place her aunt had cut part of it off. She felt tears well in her eyes, and rolled over to bury her face in her pillow.
It was early in the morning, maybe around 6am, and there was a light rain falling outside. It was peaceful, and she listened to it drum on the roof to calm herself. She had a date with Evelyn today; that was something to look forward to. They were going to see a movie; that was also exciting. But District 3's small theater was near her Aunt Katie's house. There was a very small chance they'd bump into her. Hugging her blanket tight to her chest, Lana calmed her breathing and slowly stretched each limb individually, just being present.
Finally, as the rain died down, she got out of bed, changing into a baggy shirt and leggings, and brushing out her thick brown hair. She tied the curls up in a ponytail before digging through her chest of drawers for her favorite coat.
Her fingers brushed her reaping clothes, and anxiety choked her lungs. She was so close to being free from the Capitol's violent Games, but for now, she was still trapped. Tomorrow was her second-to-last reaping day. But she was glad her sister Amelia and her girlfriend Evelyn were safe now. Amelia was 20, and Evelyn was now 19.
She tucked her reaping dress to the back of the drawer, along with her worries, and grabbed her favorite blue jacket. Today was her and Evelyn's day. They were meeting at a small restaurant run from Evelyn's neighbor's house. It was owned by a sweet old lady who'd lost her only son to the Hunger Games. Now she fed the people of the district as her way of spreading joy. And she was an amazing baker.
Lana left a note for Amelia, who was notorious for sleeping in, and made her way down the three flights of stairs. As soon as Amelia turned 18, she and Lana had moved out. But they didn't have much money; their aunt had taken a lot of the inheritance from their parents. So they lived in a tiny cement box on the fourth floor of a five-story building. Still, they had their own bedrooms, which was better than what most people had. Evelyn shared hers with her two younger brothers.
It had stopped raining but the streets were wet and the air smelled fresh and clean. She took a deep breath as she walked down the street, enjoying the wonderful air. District 3 was usually smoggy and gross, but a night of wind and rainfall had cleared away the factory clouds. The few other people on the streets seemed to be enjoying the morning just as much as she was.
Pixi's Place was set up on the bottom floor of an apartment building. It was set back from the street, which allowed for a few tables to be set up out front. Lana spotted Evelyn at the furthest table, and smiled. She was so grateful to have Evelyn in her life. She was a grade above her in school, and had tutored Lana when she was failing her math class. They'd been inseparable ever since, and last year, on Lana's birthday, Evelyn kissed her.
"Hi," Lana said quietly as she sat down with her girlfriend.
"Hi baby," Evelyn said, grabbing Lana's hand and delivering a swift kiss to the back of it. Lana blushed deeply. "I ordered your favorite."
"Thanks."
Soon, a black coffee for Lana and an herbal tea for Evelyn were delivered to the table as the girls chatted about what movie they wanted to see. District 3 had a small theater that showed a variety of Capitol-approved films. They were choosing between a romantic comedy and an action film set during the Dark Days. Evelyn wanted action. Lana wanted romance.
A plate of scrambled eggs and toast was placed in front of Lana, and she gave Pixi a small smile, avoiding eye contact. Evelyn thanked Pixi before taking a huge bite of her breakfast.
"I'm starving," she said with a laugh. Lana giggled.
After breakfast, they headed towards the theater, hand in hand. As they passed her aunt's house, Lana moved closer to Evelyn, pointedly looking at the ground. But as they walked by, she heard her aunt's broken, cackling laugh.
"Hey filth!" she shouted. "Get off my street! We don't dump trash here."
"Shut up, you old crone!" Evelyn yelled back, but Lana just tried to pull her along. As her aunt shouted back, Lana released Evelyn's hand and took off running. She rounded the corner and leaned against a building, breathing picking up. Soon, she was hyperventilating, hands grasping at the fabric of her jacket. Evelyn reached her a few moments later, taking Lana's hands in hers.
"I'm sorry baby," Evelyn said, pulling Lana to her chest. "I'm so sorry. I've got you. Just try to breathe." She rubbed Lana's back as she spoke, her voice soft and gentle. After a minute or two, her breathing evened out and she sank into Evelyn's embrace.
"I hate her," she whispered. "I hate her so much."
"I do too," Evelyn said, cupping Lana's face in her hands and brushing her thumb along her scarred eye. "But I love you."
"I love you too," Lana said, pulling her in for a kiss.
Adelind Genoa, 18
District 4 Female
A warm breeze was blowing off the ocean and three seagulls were circling in front of Adelind. She took another bite of her sandwich and shot them a glare over the top of her book. The seagulls around the Academy were ruthless, probably because teenagers were such a mess. The kids at the Academy certainly were.
Adelind finished off her sandwich and tugged a leg under herself, going back to her astrophysics book. Her favorite Capitol scientist was publishing another book soon, and she hadn't finished his latest work. Training and school was taking up all her free time. Not that she minded. School was great.
Adelind had always been smart. Her mom had gotten her intelligence tested when she was younger, revealing a score of about 200. Easily the highest in the district, the Academy director had said. Unfortunately, District 4 was not a place of high intellect.
Someone cleared their throat nearby, but Adelind kept reading. There were plenty of other trainees outside; no one had a reason to be talking to her. But they cleared their throat again, so Adelind looked up.
Dane Masterson, one of the top Academy trainers, was standing in front of her, arms crossed.
"Adelind, can I see you in my office?" he asked, in a tone that said she couldn't say no. So she nodded, tucking her book under her arm and following him inside.
Dane's office was smaller than she expected it to be, and his desk was cluttered with notes and pictures of what she assumed was his family. Three chubby blonde toddler smiled at her as she sat down.
"As you probably heard, Liana Wurth was going to be this year's volunteer. Unfortunately, she's had an accident, and can no longer participate in the Games. You are our next choice."
For a heartbeat, Adelind sat in silence. She had never planned on going into the Hunger Games. Ever. She trained because she enjoyed it, and she excelled because she put in the work. Not because she was aiming to be the best.
"I don't want to volunteer," she said flatly. Dane raised an eyebrow.
"You've been training since you were 11," he said, sounding a bit confused.
"I know. I enjoy training. But I don't want to volunteer."
"Are you sure?" he asked.
"Very," Adelind told him.
"Well, I suppose District 4 just won't have a victor," he said with a sigh.
Adelind stood up.
"You can't guilt-trip me. The male volunteer could easily be a victor. If you didn't believe that, why did you choose him?" She swung her backpack over her shoulder and left the office without being dismissed.
On her walk home, she mulled over his offer. Why would she choose to volunteer for a death match? Some people wanted glory, or wanted to prove that they were strong. Adelind didn't need to prove herself to anyone. She was secure in who she was, and the people who loved her didn't want her to change. That was that.
At home, she opened the creaky front door that her mom kept promising she'd fix and set her things down. She could hear Riley in the kitchen, humming offkey. Adelind stepped through the archway, grabbing an apple and sitting down at the table.
"Hi," she said.
Her sister jumped a little, dropping the spoon she was holding.
"Adelind!" she gasped. "You startled me!"
"Sorry."
"How was training?"
"Mr. Masterson asked me to volunteer."
Riley gaped at Adelind, her jaw literally dropped.
"What?"
"I told him 'no'," Adelind reassured her. Riley closed her mouth and sat down across from her.
"Why did he even ask?"
"Because the chosen volunteer had an accident, apparently."
"Oh. Did you even consider it?"
"What? No!" Adelind cried, setting down her apple. "Why would I?"
"You're good enough to win," Riley said with a shrug. "I'm glad you said no though. I don't want you to ever go through something like the Games."
"I don't either," Adelind assured her.
Fritz Poco, 18
District 5 Female
Fritz hummed a happy tune as she walked down the street, drumming her fingers in rhythm against her leg. She was practically skipping, joy beating in her chest alongside her heart. The Music Gang actually had a gig!
There was a Peacekeeper bar near the biggest power plant in 5, and the owner saw her playing on the street yesterday. He gave her a huge tip - the biggest she'd ever received - and asked her if she wanted to perform the day after the reaping. When she asked if their whole band could play, he readily agreed. They were going to be so excited!
Of course, she couldn't invite everyone. They had over fifty members now! But she decided the most senior members would get to perform. It sucked that not everyone could go, but she had to be reasonable.
Fritz's first stop was Hugo's house. Hugo joined the Music Gang about a year in, and he just about saved the group. He played guitar, and he knew how to make them! That impressive skill proved useful time and time again as new members asked to learn the guitar. Hugo's endless patience with the new recruits made him even more valuable.
Fritz skipped up the front steps of the townhouse and knocked on the door. Hugo's mother answered.
"Fritz!" she said, looking surprised. "Hello! Did you walk here?"
"Hi Mrs. Sharp. I did!"
"Oh goodness, that's quite a way to walk," she said, holding open the door for Fritz.
"Yes, but it's worth it," Fritz said, giving her a smile. "Is Hugo home? I have amazing news!"
"Yes, he's upstairs," Mrs. Sharp said. "Head on up!"
Fritz bounded up the stairs and knocked on Hugo's door. She could hear the scratch of a pencil on paper from inside.
"Come in," he called. She threw open the door and ran inside.
"Hugo!" she cried. "We have a gig!"
"Fritz! What?" Hugo asked, jumping up from his desk chair. He stood in front of it, staring at her.
"Sorry for barging in, but we got a gig!" she said.
"Seriously?"
"Yes! The guy who owns the Peacekeeper bar gave me $100, and asked us to perform the day after the reaping!"
"That's amazing!" Hugo cheered, pulling Fritz into a hug. Together, they jumped up and down in celebration. "Way to go Harmonica Girl."
Fritz giggled at the nickname. A few years ago, she'd been given the moniker for her harmonica performances throughout the district. The harmonica was her first connection to music, and to Fritz, music connected everything. It was universal.
"Have you told Rosie?" Hugo asked.
"Not yet," Fritz said, shaking her head. "I'm heading there next. Do you want to come?"
"Well, duh!" Hugo said with a laugh. He shook his head in disbelief. "You're incredible."
"So are you," Fritz told him with a giggle.
After sharing the news with Mrs. Sharp and sitting through her tearful exclamations of excitement, the pair took off for the merchant area of District 5. Rosie Allegra was Fritz's other best friend, and the daughter of one of the district's bakers. Rosie was the first person to join the Music Gang, and while she didn't play an instrument, she had a breathtaking singing voice.
The smell of warm, fresh bread washed over her as she stepped into the bakery. It was empty, except for Rosie, who was working behind the counter, a brush of flour on her nose. Fritz smiled at her, and Rosie grinned back.
"Hi!" she chirped. "Hot today, huh? Oh! Hi Hugo."
"Hi. You have flour on your nose," Hugo said. Rosie's cheeks flushed and she turned away to brush it off. Fritz waited for her to turn back before reaching over the counter to take Rosie's hands in hers.
"Rosie," she said gently. "We have a gig the day after tomorrow. A real gig." Rosie's jaw dropped. For a moment, she was completely silent. Then a tear trickled down her cheek and she scrambled over the counter to tackle Fritz in a hug. The girls tumbled back into Hugo, who joined the hug with a laugh of delight.
"I'm so proud of you!" Rosie cried, squeezing Fritz even tighter. "This is amazing!"
"It's all because of you guys," Fritz said. "This club would be nothing without people like you."
Hi everyone! Welcome to my brand new SYOT, Open Arms: The 56th Hunger Games! I am SO excited to be starting another story, and I hope you guys are excited to read! Please let me know what you thought of these four ladies, and if you can, submit! This is a full SYOT, so there are plenty of spots. All the info, including the taken tributes and the form, is on my profile.
Thank you to Kkstar47 for Regina, SailorSvensTea for Lana, Gomex for Adelind, and HumanWiki for Fritz!
Have a nice day, be kind to each other, and never stop reading!
- Fiona