V. OF KINDNESS, STRENGTH, AND CURIOSITY
DISTRICT 8
LINTEUM ARK, DISTRICT 8 MALE (15)
"If I'm selected, I'll kick some Career ass," Opas declared, and Linteum smiled.
"If I'm selected, I'll make sure to stay out of their way," Linteum teased gently.
Opus elbowed him. "You're no fun." She didn't flinch when her finger was pricked open, but Linteum hesitated.
"Come on, you're blocking up the line," Opus said impatiently, but Linteum had frozen. The fifteen-year old girl seized his hand, pulling her friend forward and giving his hand to the Peacekeeper in charge of the injections.
Linteum winced, a few tears filling his eyes at the sharp pain, but he ignored it as Opus pulled him farther, out of the vicinity of vicious Peacekeepers.
"Linteum-" Opus began, and though she was patient, Linteum could detect a hint of exasperation in her voice.
Opus had always been braver and bolder than him, yet an unlikely friendship had been formed in the first grade after Linteum had been teased and bullied. Opus was his protector, and he was her tutor. Basically.
"Opus," Linteum said softly, cutting her off, something he rarely did even in his friend's long rants about practically anything. "I'm sorry. I'll be braver next time."
Opus gave him an affectionate pat on the back, before she broke off to the female section.
They'd had this exchange since they turned twelve for their first reaping.
And Linteum could never get braver.
Since Opus had befriended him, he'd been hoping some of her boldness would rub off on him. But years passed with no luck. Was he supposed to stay so shy? Was that a rule? Was the personality you were born with unchangeable?
Shoved by the sea of teens, Linteum somehow managed to make his way to the fifteen-year old sector. Anxiously, he swallowed while waiting for the reaping to begin. Even seeing the tributes reaped broke Linteum's heart. He felt so selfish, wondering why they had their lives cut short and not him.
Across the aisle, Opus tossed him a comforting glance, and Linteum relaxed a bit. If Opus thought it was fine, it would definitely be so. He knew he could trust her.
The last few people filed in and an escort ascended the stage, luminous blue locks and green fishnet gloves singing in comparison to the grays, whites, and pastels the District 8 citizens were wearing.
The escort introduced herself as Acantha, also introducing District 8's mentor Woof, whose head was bowed low to ignore the stares of the children.
"Ladies first."
Not Opus, please, Linteum begged. Opus had her gaze fixated on the stage, seemingly relaxed, and while few would know she wasn't, Linteum could pick out how the brunette's hands hung limply at her sides, how her shoulders stiffened as Acantha drew closer to the slips of paper.
How strange was it that one piece of paper could change, or even end, a life? Linteum thought. Plenty passed from diseases, from childbirth, from hunger- but in the end, to make it to adulthood, you had to pray your name wouldn't be uttered.
At school, Linteum had always wished never to be called on. Whether it was math or art or social studies, he always had the answer.
But how could he raise his hand when he didn't know how anyone would react? If they'd tease him for knowing, or if they'd congratulate him for just that?
With delicate precision, Acantha drew a slip from the female bowl. "Lyana Alyssum," the escort read, her crisp accent punctuating the names.
Even though it hadn't been Opus, Linteum was still tense. He didn't know if the female tribute not being Opus was a good thing- after all, Opus was perfectly capable. He had faith in her, and hope wouldn't be lost if her slip had been picked.
But it probably would be for the girl who had been called.
Yet nobody emerged from the crowds.
"Lyana? Dear, where are you?"
For a few moments, it seemed nobody could find Lyanna until a teen emerged from the sections of District 8 kids. She seemed so lost, but quickly covered herself up, seeming emotionless as she ascended the stage.
Lyana didn't resist, though. Linteum recognized her from school. They'd never had the same classes, but she'd seemed nice enough. He wished, as he did with all the tributes, that he could've gotten to know her before her imminent death.
"Lyana, darling, you've got to get better at listening," Acantha teased, but Lyanna looked blank.
"What did you say?"
Acantha looked confused. "I said-"
"I'm deaf," Lyana said flatly.
Acantha seemed at a loss. "Ah, well-" she fumbled towards the male bowl, "that's lovely." Clearing her throat, the escort seemed much more confident as she unfolded a single slip.
This time Opus glanced at Linteum, proven worry showing on her angular features. She had disguised it for herself, but not for him. And she didn't need to. It was good to know she cared.
From the back, Linteum spotted his parents. Mr. and Mrs. John Ark were some of the best parents anyone could ask for. They supported each other and him in any endeavor he chose as long as it was safe. His parents knew him even better than Opus did, and that was certainly saying something.
Linteum's mother was clutching her husband, whose glasses were askew, both looking quite nervous.
They basically seemed like many of the other parents of sons.
Suspense hung, thicker than the air itself as Acantha read, "Linteum Ark."
Opus screamed. It was the first time Linteum had ever heard her exhibit shock, or fear. Forced to the stage, Linteum couldn't breathe, thick breaths taking in very little air. Why suddenly did everyone look so frightened? Mainly, his parents. Opus. A few kids from school.
He'd been reaped.
"Now, shake hands," Acantha commanded.
An order, not a request.
Linteum took a deep breath and shook Lyanna's hand, both of them dropping their grip almost immediately. It wasn't because they hated each other, or because for some reason they resented each other (full disclosure, Linteum rarely resented anyone).
It was because they didn't want to have to know each other before they both went to their deaths.
DISTRICT 8
LYANA ALYSSUM, DISTRICT 8 FEMALE (15)
"I'm going to miss you guys," Lyanna sniffed, a single tear escaping as she enveloped Casper into a hug, her other cousins. At the same time, she signed the words with her right hand.
Both Lyanna and her female cousins, Olive, Sky, and Allana, were all deaf. However, Casper and his brother Cole weren't. It was an odd thing, genetics.
Why am I thinking about genetics when I'm about to die?
For once Allana didn't use the snarky sarcasm she was so notorious among the gang for. Her lips moved while she simultaneously signed, "You're not going to die."
"Yes, I am," Lyana signed, a sob building up in her chest. Maybe if she just let it go, this would turn out to be a terrible nightmare.
Casper intervened, "This time we can't be there, Lyana. You have to make friends yourself."
Lyana nodded, but an uneasy pit was filling her gut. She'd always had trouble making friends. Nausea would fill her stomach, and Lyanna did have anxiety on top of that.
And now she'd have to even freaking keep tolerating it. It was the Hunger Games, and who liked you mattered. That wasn't how the Games were supposed to be.
Well, in the end, it's not going to matter, is it? I'll be dead and sent back in a box to home. At least they can mourn me properly.
Yet the anxiety still pooled in Lyana's gut, making her head spin. What people thought of her… They'd definitely hate her. She'd be one of the forgotten ones in the Games. Even if she did make it past the bloodbath, nobody would care.
Only her family would.
Lyana's mother didn't say much. She looked grave, as this was every parent's worst nightmare. Her daughter was going to die, and they could do nothing to stop it.
"Time's up," a Peacekeeper said, herding the families out. But Lyanna's mother clung to her,
"Please!" she cried, "She did nothing to deserve this!"
The look the Peacekeeper gave Lyana's mother was almost of pity as he dragged her out the door.
DISTRICT 6
AVVEN HERRO, DISTRICT 6 MALE (16)
Colors swirled and mixed as Avven's spray paint bottle danced around the walls of the Trenches, District 6's place for graffiti. And Avven's second home.
Over the years the Trenches had been turned from a bleary place and while most of District 6 still thought it was, graffiti had blossomed the place into one with color rivaling that of the forests and meadows of 7.
Collaboration was frequent in the Trenches. Avven gazed at the latest one- him and his friend Pierre, as well as an anonymous graffiti artist he'd never met. Pierre and Avven had just started working on a new piece, and when they'd returned to the Trenches the next day, someone had seemed to know what they were doing and begun to add their own little bits.
While graffiti in the trenches was technically vandalism, the Peacekeepers didn't care. Since the Trenches were positioned in the alleyways, and the buildings the artists used as canvases were uninhabited, none of the law enforcement thought it was worth their time to wipe away the paint.
When the occasional anti-Capitol message popped up, though, the Peacekeepers would be on high alert, searching for the culprit. Avven's family were quite close to him, two siblings and parents. That was why they'd- especially his parents- not let him continue with his graffiti if they knew someone had once been executed for insulting the Capitol.
Avven didn't do the graffiti-gig alone, though. He had a whole crew of friends who did it with him- Antonio, Markus, Pierre, Diego.
Picking up an orange can, Avven debated for a moment whether to use it before spraying down a small streak and wincing. It certainly wasn't his best work- impulsiveness wasn't good for graffiti. He frequently screwed up because of it.
"The whole district's crawling with Peacekeepers. Even more so the Trenches. So of course you'd be here," a familiar voice said sarcastically.
Avven turned around to see Diego, the former's face splitting into a grin- but a nervous , being his biggest critic, would waste no time exploiting the mistake with the orange paint- simply constructive, though, not out of spite.
"Well, our crew does make pretty stupid decisions sometimes," Avven joked.
Diego smirked. "They do. And I'm glad to see you're dedicated. Markus and Pierre have been slacking off. And Antonio too, though less. Haven't seen them in a bit."
"Captured by the Peacekeepers, do you think?" Avven said nonchalantly.
"Probably turned into Avoxes or shoved into a lab."
"Aliens, maybe?"
"Good theory. But I was thinking mutts."
"Maybe the Careers got them."
"District 2 has been particularly vicious lately."
The two boys lost it completely, their odd (and slightly morbid) sense of humor cracking them both up.
"So, anyways, what places do you think the tributes are getting this year?" Avven asked innocently as the boys set off for the reaping.
Later, Avven would look back on this moment with agitation, but for now, being reaped was such a small possibility. Even with tesserae, the chances of him going to his death were about as rare as Markus and the rest actually getting killed by some wayward Careers.
"One's a bloodbath," Diego said readily. "The other will make it pretty far, give us all hope before dying a terrible, particularly cruel death."
"That's morbid, Diego."
"Eh."
"Fair prediction, though."
DISTRICT 6
AUDELIA GLIDDEN, DISTRICT 6 FEMALE (16)
Audi kept a brave face as they were marched to the rooms in the back, waiting for their families and friends to say goodbye.
Four people from Avven's family rushed in, all bearing so much resemblance to each other Audi blinked away, glad to see her father, Geare, and her best friend, Pilot, rushing in. They enveloped her in a large hug.
"Who's to say I'm dead?" Audelia tried to be optimistic, though it was muffled by Pilot and Geare. "I'm fast, I'm courageous, I'm smart-"
"And stubborn," Pilot murmured.
She smacked him. "Shut up!"
"And I'd only agree with one of those," Geare said decisively, as they separated.
Audelia raised an eyebrow, but stayed silent (for once) wanting to hear her father's answer.
"Courageous," he teased. "You're too bold for your own good, Addi."
"Audi."
"Addi."
"Audi."
Pilot watched the face-off with an amused, but fading, smirk.
"Addi."
"Audi."
"You know, Audi's about to go to fight to the death soon, so maybe we should treasure this time?" Pilot offered hopefully.
The faces of father and daughter fell and Audi was hugged once again. "Dad, you're squeezing all the air out of me," she complained.
"Audi, here's what you do. Get one good ally, not any of the Careers, and run. Then hide out and take the occasional kill when you can, but don't take risks," her father advised.
"Dad, I'll be frank. I don't like being told what to do," Audi said seriously, before her face split into a grin. "But thanks anyways."
Pilot and Geare exchanged a grin, both masking sorrow, before Pilot took out a yellow bandana.
Audi gasped, immediately comprehending. "My token?"
Geare smiled sadly. "And-" Here he took out several gears from his pockets, and strung five of them on the bandana. Audi didn't move as he tied the bandana around her head. When Geare stepped back, Audi fingered it gently.
"Thank you," she said softly.
"Time's up," a Peacekeeper told them, taking Geare and Pilot out of the room.
"No, I want another minute!" Audi protested.
"So do I," Avven agreed. The pair from 6 stared down the Peacekeeper, who looked uncomfortable. It was clear nobody had resisted this time-out before.
The Peacekeeper muttered something into his radio, glancing up every now and then at the steadfast pair, whose glares matched the heat of the sun. He finished communicating, then let Avven's family and Audi's back into the room. "You get one minute," he warned. "I can't get you anymore time after that."
Geare embraced Audi again, "That's my girl."
"Just don't do that with the Gamemakers," Pilot teased.
Audi elbowed him, and the three stood in silence for a minute, "Time to leave," the Peacekeeper told Pilot and Geare, Audi's face paling.
"You can make it, Audi," Pilot cried as he was forced out the door.
Avven and Audi stood in silence before Audi turned to Avven and said slyly, "Allies?"
The district 6 boy looked surprised. "I don't even know you."
"Still, we stood up to the Peacekeepers together," Audi offered. "Are you loyal?"
Still looking taken back, Avven nodded. Audi supposed she shouldn't just take his word for it, but she needed allies.
And sure as fuck none of them would be the Careers.
A/N
I hope y'all got to know the characters better. I've been working on revealing their personalities more, though in some instances, such as Tempest never seeing the ocean before, it's going to be a huge detail later on.
Also, thanks to cartierscrown for Linteum, Marie464 for Lyana, tyquavis for Avven, and goldie031 for Audi. Hope I did them justice!
That's all for now. Next, a check-in with Dulsche!