Sariah Hurd,15, District 10 female
I turn on the faucet and I let the cold water run on the rag for several seconds before removing it and ringing it out.
I turn around to see my bestfriend Keiran moaning in pain as he lays across his couch with bruises and a giant lump on his head, still suffering from the injuries he sustained earlier today. I feel my eyes begin to water. I'm so sorry Keiran, this is all my fault. It's my fault this happened to you. Looking for treasure and going on adventures always fascinates me. Both of my parents used to be adventurers and they always told me the amazing stories about it and the cool treasure they were able to find.
Hearing these stories inspired me to follow their footsteps and become an adventurer myself. My parents always promise me one day we'd go on a great adventure together, but I grew impatient and just started finding my own journeys to go on so I can find treasure! Me and my family had to move to a more affordable part of the district since it was becoming difficult for them to make ends meet.
I got very overexcited about my new highschool. I heard stories about how old it was and I just figured treasure had to be buried there somewhere! Shortly after beginning my search though, I bumped into a really mean bully by accident. I tried to apologize to him but he only got angry and started squeezing my wrist and it hurt so much, I still have a red bruise on my wrist from him squeezing it so hard. Keiran saw me in trouble however and saved me, but the bully hurt him bad in their fight, I hate that bully so much!
"I'm sorry Keiran." I apologize as I lay the cold rag on his eye and he groans in pain. Keiran is very tall, about 6'2 to be exact but he's only one year older than me. He's been my bestfriend for five years and we were usually always out hunting for treasure and trying to find adventures to go on. He obviously can't come out with me tonight due to his injuries, so I'll be alone on my quest to find treasure tonight…
"Sariah, it's not your fault…please don't apologize." he groans.
"I hate that bully so much, why do people have to be so mean?" I sniff as I begin wiping my eyes.
"He's probably been through a lot, sometimes being mean is the only way people know how to be." he tries to explain.
That bully, I hate him for what he did to my bestfriend, but what if it is true that being mean is the only way he knows how act? If that is true, I feel really sorry for him. Maybe one day I can ask him if he's interested in treasure. That'll probably make him a little happier, right?
"Yeah maybe you're right…" I lay my head on his chest and close my eyes as I can hear his heart beating.
"Keiran when you get better, we're going on the best treasure hunting adventure ever." I assure him and he lets out a small snicker.
"Yeah you got that right." Keiran agrees with me and I lift my head up as I look at the window for a moment. It's getting late, I have to get going so I can look for treasure tonight.
"It's about time you get going huh?" Keiran groans as he notices me looking out the window.
"I can stay here with you if you want." I offer but he only shakes his head. Keiran is more important to me than any treasure in the world, if he wants me to stay then I happily will.
"No, I'll be alright. You go on ahead Sariah, and please be careful." he groans.
"I will, I'll see you tomorrrow Keiran." and I kiss him on the cheek before getting up off his couch and leave his house shortly after. It's a lot colder and darker out here than I expected, it probably would be wise to go back to Keiran or just go home right? But I don't feel like it, I want to look for treasure!
I still wasn't done checking out that forest nearby, but I'm just so confident treasure is buried there somewhere, and I need to find it before someone else does! I sneak out into the forest the same way I always do and It's even colder as I can feel myself shivering but I waste no time continuing where I left off last time. Many and I mean many years ago, an infamous pirate used this forest to hide many precious treasures before he was killed, but I I'm sure no one has found them yet! It just has to be around here somewhere.
I turn on my flashlight and begin examining the ground for any disturbances. My parents were nice enough to teach me some of the many skills they used during their many adventures. Even after many years has passed, it should still be noticeable if the ground was previously disturbed. I don't have a shovel with me unfortunately, but I'll use my hands if I have to. Yes I'm just that desperate to find some treasure! I suddenly hear some low growling, but I just disregard it as my stomach. I'm pretty hungry and other than some chicken soup I had with Keiran earlier, didn't eat anything else today. My parents always did say it's normal for adventurers to have quite an appetite, guess that's another trait they passed down to me.
The growling gets louder and I quickly realize afterwards, this isn't my stomach. I slowly turn my head to where the growls are coming from, my heart rate and breathing steadily increasing and I see a pair of eyes glowing in the dark staring right me. I gasp aloud dropping the flashlight and the light beams on the pair of eyes revealling a huge black bear with drool oozing from it's mouth. I immediately let out a loud scream and make a run for it and the bear lets out an angry roar as it begins pursuing me. I leap over a treee trunk as loud gasps and cries escape my mouth as I can feel this bear right behind me, I can feel it's breath on my back! I trip over a vine and nearly lose my balance but my glasses fall off with no time to pick them up. I can still see but things are a little blurry. I see a fallen log and I drop to the ground as I slide right under it, quickly scurrying back up to my feet as I can hear the bear leap over it and I continue running until I see a tree and vine in the distance and hurry to it, quickly leaping onto it and scurrying up the tree like a little squirrel before resting on a thick branch as the bear only looks up at me growling furiously. The bear eventually calms down a bit but begins to rest around the tree and I only let out a sigh. This is going to be a long night, I doubt this bear is leaving anytime soon.
My parents are going to totally freak out when I don't come back tonight, but I'm not going to be able to go anywhere with this bear camping below me. Having no other choice, I rest my back against the tree preparing to sleep here. It's going to be beyond uncomfortable, but it can't be any worse than getting mauled by a giant hungry bear. I take my belt off my jeans and wrap it around my thighs and under the tree branch so I won't fall off and I close my eyes as I begin to drift away. Hopefully my parents don't worry too much….
I awake to the sun beaming on my face and I shield my eyes before looking on the ground and see the bear is no longer there, thank goodness. I remove the belt from around me and carefully climb down the tree, landing on my feet with a thud. I don't want to run into this bear or his buddies so I waste no time getting out of this forest. I practically run back home hoping my parents aren't worrying too much but I open my door and slam right into my mother as her and my father are about to leave.
"Sariah!? Oh my goodness where were you!?" My mother shrieks, shaking me as my eyes widen and my father quickly approaches.
"We've been looking everywhere for you Sariah! You have any idea how worried we were?" my father shouts.
"I-I'm sorry! I went looking for treasure in the forest and then a bear started chasing me! I climbed up a tree and had to sleep there for the night. I'm so so sorry again! I didn't mean to worry you guys!" I cry.
"Oh baby!" my mom hugs me tightly and my father joins in aswell.
"I'm just glad you're safe Sariah, but no more treasure hunting." my father sternly say.
"What? Why?" I cry, treasure hunting is my life! I can't just walk away from it!
"cause it's dangerous Sariah. One day the three of us will go on a journey together, but for now we can't allow you to go on anymore…adventures." my father responds.
"I agree, it's not safe, we could've lost you!" my mother chimes in.
"B-but that's not fair! The both of you were able to do what you wanted to do, why can't i?" I sputter.
"Sariah you'll still be able to live your dreams, but you're only fifteen. Me and your mother didn't start going on adventures until we were in our twenties." my father explains.
"You're our child, our baby, our only baby, You understand right?" My mother hugs me.
I gently break away from her grasp and run out of the house with my dirty adventuring clothes still on. I'll listen to my parents and not go on anymore adventures, but still I'm so devastated!
Oswine Nanshope, 12, District 10 male
I smile as I pull another fish out of the sea with my rod and unclip it from the hook before throwing it in a bucket with the other two fish I managed to catch. The fish flaps about for a little while but soon comes to a stop and I look at the sea as the sun is beginning to rise. The beautiful light begins to shine over the calm waves and it's so beautiful. I smile as I just sit on the sand alone looking at this sight in awe. I make absolutely sure I come here every morning. I prefer quiet places and this is quite possibly the most quiet place in the district. Hardly anyone ever stops by here and I enjoy the peace.
I'm a solitary person, I really don't like being around other people, not even my own family and when I'm not here relaxing enjoying the beautiful atmosphere, I'm locked in my room not wanting to be bothered by anyone.
I know I should probably begin to head home soon since reapings are today, but I want to just cherish every second of this. I sniff in the scent of the lovely sea and lay down on the sand as I look up into the sky. I hear District 4 is almost completely surrounded by the oceans. I wish I was born there. Their wealth, the beautiful clean water and the rare species of fish they undoubtedly have down there, what an amazing place that'll be to live at. I hear seagulls, their wings flapping through the air as they cry out over the sea and I feel a small smile spread over my face. I love animals and they always interest me, aslong as they don't come too close. I'm so relaxed that I end up drifting off for a several minutes but I feel someone sit next to me and my eyes quickly shoot open and I see a girl around my age only smiling at me.
"It's very nice out here right?" she greets me in a friendly tone, but I only look at her like she's some sort of extraterrestrial lifeform and jump up to my feet. I grab my belongings and leave in a hurry. I didn't mean to be rude, I'm just really shy around people, especially girls around my age. There's already some people out here rushing to the square. I think there's still some time before the reapings starts, but there's a lot of people here who like to be there super early. I take the route home that has the least amount of people and I stay a fair distance away from everyone I see, as I scurry to my home like a mouse. I finally arrive home and I can already hear my mom's voice booming as she exits the kitchen with a pot in her hands.
"You're back! What you got in the bucket? dinner I suppose? I pressed your suit and it's on your bed! Hurry and get dressed so you can eat! Don't forget to wash the bucket and to brush your teeth and wash your face! After the reapings we're going to buy some vegetables to go alongside the fish you caught!" She talks endlessly. I only glance at her and sit the bucket of fish down in my kitchen. My father can gut them later.
"You hear me talking to you boy!? I know you don't talk at all but can you atleast acknowledge what I'm saying to you!?" she follows me into the kitchen and I glance at her again before giving her a small nod.
My mom considers me the quietest kid ever. Even as a baby she said I never cried. I'm sure that's an exaggeration though, I mean babies always cry. My mom makes it well known that she isn't fond of my quiet nature. she's very loud, talkative and we just don't mix well together.
"Shannon leave the boy alone, why you always have to corner him? He hears you loud and clear and you know that." my dad kindly scolds my mom as he exits the bathroom, washing off his clean shaven face with a cloth.
I'm always so happy to see my dad, he respects my quiet nature and always comes to my aid when mom is being too pushy.
She continues yelling and i go into the restroom and look myself in the mirror. My hair is blonde and curly, the curls cover my brown eyes. I'm pretty slim,short and freckles cover my pale face. I proceed to brush my teeth as i hear more noise outside of the bathroom.
"I want my boy to talk to me! I'm his mother! I deserve more than a nod!" I hear my mom yell as I walk to my room and I see my black pants with a button up green and white shirt on my bed with my torn up black shoes on the floor. My family is really poor. I'm lucky to have lunch most of the time, but I sometimes manage to catch a few fish and we eat that. I wish mom can be more like dad though. Why does she hate it so much that I'm quiet? It's just who I am.
After getting dressed, i head to the table and see a bowl of mashed potatos with some fish I caught two days ago. I waste no time digging into the potatoes as those are my favorite. We don't have much money but my dad always tries his best to get some potatoes while my mom prepares them. I sit in between my mom and dad and I see my mom giving me an irritated look, but I turn around and look back down at my bowl as I continue to eat. It might be a while before we have mashed potatoes again, I have to savor it.
Mom and dad continues to converse while I quietly eat and my dad apparently got a raise at his job so that should help when it comes to getting more food in the house.
"That's wonderful honey! Now Oswine, you should go out and look for work too! Go out and talk to people! Make some friends! Find a job!" my mom scolds me and my feelings are starting to get a little hurt as I stare at my bowl.
"Shannon please, enough." my dad protests, but she only lets out an angry sigh before leaving the table and my dad puts his arm on my shoulder.
"Hey kiddo, don't let anything she say get to you, move at your own pace ok? Do whatever you're comfortable with and I'll be here to support you alright?" my dad smiles and I nod with a small smile on my face. Dad, you're my hero.
After we're done eating, we head to the square and I get very nervous when I see so many people there. I get more nervous knowing I have to stand next to all of them. I hope these reapings go by quickly so I can go back into my room. Our escort Candy, who is dressed as a lollipop this year sings a song introducing each of our five living victors after showing us the same video that's played every year. Our most recent victor is Charlotte who won the 79th hunger games at the age of fifteen after drowning the boy from district 8. She seems pretty traumatized by it, her entire body trembling as she looks at the floor probably praying for these reapings to be over and done with. She managed to go almost the entire games without killing anyone but had no choice but to fight for her life after she was caught hiding by the district 8 male.
"Now without further ado, lets draw the tri-butes!" Candy sings and claps her hands as she sings and dances to the males bowl and pulls out a name.
"Our male tribute for this year! Oswine Nanshope! Get down here so you can jam with me!" Candy sings and drops on the stage doing a split.
I only stare in shock. I have a blank look on my face but panic quickly rises inside my body. I was reaped, i…I'm going to die. I keep as calm as possible as I walk to the stage.
"Oswine is our tribute! Oswine is our tribute!" Candy continues to sing and I arrive on the stage trying to stand as far away from everyone else as possible.
"Any Volunteers?" Candy sings and of course no one volunteers.
"And that's so fine, that's so fine cause now it's the female's time" Candy claps her hands and sings to the female's bowl.
"Sariah Hurd, Sariah Hurd come on down cause I know you heard!" Candy sings.
I hear a man and woman shriek out, most likely her parents and I see a very short honey brown skin girl with long braids and very dirty clothes emerge from the fifteen year old female section and she's already beginning to cry. She starts walking up the stairs but falls on the last step and remains on the floor crying, before Charlotte helps her up and tries to console her.
"No Volunteers? No Volunteers? Come on people she's in so much tears!" Candy sings, I don't know how she's so jolly and bubbly about this, she does realize she just sent two kids to their deaths…right?
No one volunteers for Sariah as expected and Candy throws the mic in the air and does a backflip before catching it.
"Our boy and girl from district ten, shake hands you two cause you're so cool!" Candy sings yet again.
Sariah is still crying profusely. She uses one hand to wipe away the tears from her face while she extends her hand for me to shake and I hesitate for a moment but quickly shake her hand before nervously following my escort as she leads us to the justice building.
Here's District 10! Oswine and Sariah. Let me know how you feel about them! I'm happy to see that i recieved quite a few submissions since my last chapter and i only need a district 8 male so hurry and submit if you want! Leave a review if you can and see you guys soon with the next chapter. Till next time!