Xan Freight - District 6 Male
"What are you doing up there?" Xan turned off his TV as he heard his mother's footsteps climb up the stairs and towards his bedroom.
"What the hell do you want?" Xan pulled up his pants and relooped his belt and moved from his couch to his desk where he quickly whipped out a textbook and pretended to be reading it.
Mrs. Freight opened the door. "Please don't use that word with me."
Ugh. Typical female. Xan knew he was his mother's favorite thing in the whole world, as he got everything he wanted. He just wished she wasn't so controlling.
"Mom, you scared me." Xan blushed.
"Sorry sweetie." His mother came over to the desk and ruffled his hair. "Your textbook is upside down by the way."
"I know, Mom." Xan sighed. "I can read it like that."
"You're so smart."
"I know."
"Anyways I got you a gift because the Reaping is in two days, and I know you don't have many friends at school, so I'm worried you'll get chosen."
His mother pulled out a box wrapped with blue paper. Before she could say anything more, Xan grabbed it out of her hands and started ripping the paper.
"I'm not going to get chosen, Mom. You're ridiculous. I'm an acquired taste and my classmates respect that." Xan opened the box to reveal a silver pocket watch. "What on Earth is this?"
"It's your father's."
"So it's used?"
"It's vintage."
Xan examined the watch and saw bits of rust forming in the crevices.
"Looks used to me."
"Well, your father wanted you to have it."
"Okay, well, thanks," Xan said. "When is he coming home? I like him more than you."
"Your father will be home tomorrow night."
"Thank the lord."
Mrs. Freight hovered at her son's desk. "Well I'll leave you to your studying."
"Close the door on your way out."
As soon as Xan heard the door shut he went back onto his couch, dropped his pants, and resumed watching Diana Vera: Victor & Vixen.
His mother was right, Xan didn't have very many friends at school. It wasn't his fault he was so intimidating that nobody thought they were cool enough to be his friend. He didn't mind much though, as he had no desire to mix with those under him, but he did want a girlfriend. All the females at his school were morons, though, and didn't want to date him, despite the fact he was so kind to them. At school the day before the Reaping, Xan made his usual paroles down the aisles of his school and greeted the females he wished would be attracted to him.
"You look amazing today," he said to Zola Whiff.
"Go away, creep."
"I love your hair," he said to Lexa Marcuson
"Stop talking to me weirdo."
"You're so beautiful," he said to Rita Davis
"I have a boyfriend."
"Fucking bitches," Xan mumbled
"I'm sorry what did you say?" Zac Carters, Rita's boyfriend who he hadn't seen behind him asked.
"I said your girlfriend is a fucking bitch."
"What the hell man?" Zac said. "Why would you even say that?"
"Because she's dating a guy like you." Xan sighed "Clearly, she has no standards."
"You're so weird dude!" Zac yelled "I'm going to vote you for the Hunger Games to get rid of your creep ass once and for all."
"Please!" Xan shouted "One vote means nothing."
"Well I'm going to vote for you too," said Rita
"Me too," echoed Zola and Lexa
"Well you all suck," Xan said and started running away before Zac stopped him.
"We're all going to vote for you. Say goodbye to your sorry life."
Xan could hardly focus in his classes that day. He didn't understand why his classmates hated him so much. On his way home, he quietly cried into an issue. He was a vulnerable dude and wasn't afraid to show emotions, unlike that asshole Zac. When he got home, he saw his father sitting at the kitchen table and ran into his arms.
"Daddy!" he said, hugging his father.
"Are you okay my dearest?" his father asked
Xan was quite fond of his father. Maybe it was because he was gone a lot, as he worked as a train conductor and Xan couldn't get tired of him, and actually had to savor the time together.
"Dad, they're going to try to vote me into the Hunger Games," Xan weeped
"Why would they do that?" Mr. Freight appeared angry.
"They think I'm a creep!"
"Well I'm sorry they think that, but I know that you can win the games if you go in."
"Really Dad?"
"Of course my boy! You're the strongest person I know."
"Thanks, Dad." Xan let go of his father, "I have the watch you gave me."
"Do you love it?"
"I wish it was newer, but it's fine."
"Well maybe you can take it with you into the arena."
"So that I'll have a piece of you with me?"
"Exactly." His father smiled "You're so smart, and I'm so proud of the man that you're becoming."
Winona Morgan - District 6 Female
"Winn! Wake up!" Sawyer tapped Winona's shoulder. She tended to be a deep sleeper so she was used to being woken up by either Sawyer or Quinn.
"Good morning boys," Winona mumbled and opened her eyes to see she had fallen asleep on the ground again. She had tripped on morphling the previous night, so she wasn't shocked to see she could hardly make it to her cot. Sawyer was looking over her, and seemed concerned, as he usually was for her when she had a bad trip.
"What? I'm fine."
"You know I get worried about you," Sawyer said. "Tomorrow's the Reaping, and I'm scared for you. You won't be able to rely on morphling in the arena."
"He's right," Quinn said from his cot. "You're kind of an asshole."
"You too," Winona said. "We all are."
Winona had lived with Quinn and Sawyer for the past two years, ever since she got tired of living with her parents who really had no desire for her, as she was kind of an accidental pregnancy. She was homeless for a few weeks when she met the boys and they decided to take her under their wing, since they had tons of similarities, the main one being they knew they lived in a dog-eat-dog world, and weren't afraid to push others around if it meant she could survive. While she and the boys didn't have much money, they were happy to be all together, even if it meant living in a two room shack on the outskirts of town. They made all of their money selling morphling and other drugs. It wasn't very reliable but it was an easy way to make cash. A lot of their clients were the wealthier people in District 6, but they didn't pay well and were pretty rude when they weren't on time with their supplies. They were hated, yet they always got hired again and again because there was no denying they had the good stuff, even if it killed some people.
Regarding the Hunger Games, Winona was almost certain that she would be reaped. To the general public, she was the worst of the trio of her and the boys, and she was the only one eligible to be reaped so they could still get their drugs without having to deal with her. Winona knew she could do well in the Games though. While she wasn't the fastest or the strongest, she had a killer instinct and that goes a long way in a contest where the objective is to kill people. She's been through a lot, and while dying would definitely be the worst thing to happen to her, it's not like she'd have to deal with it after it was done. Sure, Quinn and Sawyer would miss her, but nobody else would, and they'd get over it eventually. That day was spent mainly on delivering drugs to people, like most days were, and that night she and the boys played cards and just talked about life, and how much they would miss her if she did go into the Games.
"You'll get over it, I promise," Winona said
"Never," Quinn said
"Unless..." Sawyer paused for a moment. "You actually win this thing and we get to move to a mansion and actually have a nice ass life."
"Is that all I'm worth to you?" Winona laughed "A giant mansion?"
The three laughed.
"Well," Quinn replied. "It would be nice."
"You guys are acting like I've already been reaped."
"It's going to happen," Sawyer said. "We all know it."
"True." Winona sighed. "I'll miss you guys."
"Not if you're dead." Quinn mumbled.
"Well, true. But we already established I'm not dying, so I can get you boys your mansion."
"That's the spirit." Sawyer patted her on the back. "Now I'm going to go to bed, which means you should, too, because I won't be able to if I hear you two blabbering."
"I guess you're right." Winona climbed into bed. "Goodnight, assholes."
"Goodnight!"
Winona barely woke up in time for the Reaping and hardly had time to get ready, not that she cared about her appearance. She quickly put on a black dress and a leather jacket that she stole a while back and announced to the boys that she was leaving.
"You two better come with me."
"We wouldn't miss it for the world," Quinn said, opening the door for her.
They lived pretty far from the town square, so they had to run in order to make it in time, which was pretty hard for Winona because she was in a dress. Luckily they made it on time.
"Good luck!" Sawyer said before she got in line.
"That's not what you're supposed to say."
"Oh you're so right." Sawyer adjusted his posture to mimic a Capitolite. "May the odds be ever in your favor."
Winona laughed and waved goodbye. When she got to the front of the line, she pricked her finger and put it down on a paper, as a Peacekeeper had requested.
"Oh!" The Peacekeeper said. "You're Winona Morgan."
"And what about it?"
"Your morphling killed my brother."
"Sorry?"
There was an awkward pause.
"Well, go over there to cast your votes." The Peacekeeper gestured to one of his colleagues.
"Oh. I don't want to vote."
"Well suit yourself then. Take a seat in your assigned area."
Winona found her chair and looked around and saw the people from her old school who definitely hated her.
"I voted for you." A girl who's name she couldn't remember snickered
"I don't care."
Xan Freight - District 6 Male
For Xan, voting in the Reaping was simple. Once he got to the polling location he wrote down Zac's name for the male tribute spot and wrote down about ten girls from school's names for the female spot in small letters, as there was only space for one name. When he was done, he handed the slip of paper to the Peacekeeper working the polling booth.
"You realize your female votes won't count."
"Whatever," Xan mumbled. "It's the thought that counts."
The Peacekeeper directed Xan to his spot where he was oh so conveniently located to Zac who looked him in the eye and said he voted for him.
"Ditto," Xan said
"That means nothing to me."
"You mean nothing to me."
"You mean nothing to everybody."
"Asshole."
"Creep."
"It's not like I'll get any more votes."
"I wouldn't be so sure about that." Zac smirked. "May the odds be ever in your favor."
Festus Creed - District 6 Mentor
Festus was getting tired of this whole reaping thing. It was his 14th time being present for one, and the whole process was getting exhausting. He knew his tributes wouldn't win, so he had stopped trying because honestly it was mentally draining. Sure, it was partially his fault none of his tributes had won, because he did an awful job preparing them, but he didn't really care enough to try. He was perfectly aware he would continue the cycle of having to be a mentor until one of his tributes won, but if they were truly worthy of being a victor, they would be able to do it by themselves.
The Reaping ceremony was pretty boring and he only really paid the slightest bit of attention when the names were called. He zoned out as his former classmate, Livia Cardew, gave a spiel about why the Hunger Games were important and why this year was different. Livia had become an escort for the Capitol, as had most of his female classmates, which meant it was her responsibility to host the Reapings and make the tributes comfortable once they arrived at the Capitol. It was a perfect job for her, as she was never really cut out to be a mentor. Though, neither was he.
"Now it is time to announce the tributes!" Livia exclaimed.
Festus began to pay attention.
"As always, ladies first!"
Livia opened the result card with the name of the most popular candidates for each gender which had been handed to her by a Peacekeeper.
"Winona Morgan!"
After some silence, a frail girl stood up and walked towards the stage. She looked relatively unbothered which was strange as she had a one in twenty four chance of dying, but Festus didn't mind, as it would make his job much easier.
"Congratulations Winona!" Livia said before announcing it was time to unveil the male tribute, "Xan Freight."
Xan had the exact opposite reaction compared to Livia. Once his name was called, a loud scream could be heard in the audience as the boy made his way to the stage, sobbing his eyes out. Festus felt bad for the boy. He could tell he was bullied and that's why he was elected.
"Oh dear," Livia said. "It will be okay. I promise. We are going to have so much fun!"
"Fuck yeah!" a boy in the audience yelled, before being silenced by Peacekeepers.
"Well on that note," Livia said, practically unbothered by the audience member. "Our Reaping is officially over. Family members of the tributes, please make your way to the train station so you can say your goodbyes."
Festus got out of his chair and headed towards the train station.
"This is going to be a total mess," he whispered to Livia
"Oh, indeed."
Winona Morgan - District 6 Female
"I told you this would happen!" Sawyer exclaimed.
"Doesn't make it hurt any less."
"Remember, we need our mansion." Quinn laughed.
"I'll try my best." Winona sighed. "Though I'm more worried about staying alive."
"As you should be," Quinn replied.
"I still want my mansion." Sawyer laughed
Lord, was Winona going to miss those two goofballs. They kept her sane for sure, as obnoxious as they could be at times.
"We'll miss you," Quinn said. "We promise."
"I'll miss you guys too."
"Your time is up!" shouted a Peacekeeper in the corner of the room.
"Well then I guess this is goodbye," Winona said.
The three went into a group hug before Winona walked onto the train platform.
"I'm gonna get you your mansion!"
Xan Freight - District 6 Male
"It's going to be okay son. I promise." Mr. Freight said to Xan, who hadn't stopped sobbing since the Reaping.
"I know you can win this!" Mrs. Freight exclaimed. "You're so strong, and so handsome too. Surely you can woo the Capitolites into sponsoring you."
"Whatever, Mom." Xan was still sobbing. "I don't want to die."
"Nobody does." His father awkwardly chuckled. "Do you have your pocket watch son?"
"Yes."
"Well hold it close to your heart," he said. "It's a reminder that we'll always be with you."
"I love you dad." Xan weeped.
"You should probably get going," his mother said.
"I love you too, Mom."
Xan walked towards the train and gave one last somber wave to his parents. Well, this was it. Maybe he would meet some cute girls that would be worth his time in the Capitol. That's all he had to look forward to.
Thank you for reading Chapter 3. I would like to say thank you to silversshade for providing me with Winona, and no thank you to Annabeth-TheTributeWhoLived for providing me with the pain in the ass that is Xan. Just kidding. Thank you Haley! She is one of my best friends and therefore I am allowed to cyberbully her. My name is Haley and I approve this message. (Haley beta reads this story because my grammar is not very excellent) I'm writing reapings in the order that I receive tributes from that district, so please submit if you haven't already.