Austin Lang:
Here I am cleaning the house for my adoptive family the day before the reapings. They were out getting my so called sister Marice Lang a new outfit for the reaping. Granted I am happy that they went out of their way to bring me into their family. I just wish they would treat me more like an actual family member. I'm not able to do much without my "mother" disapproving it. Neither of my family members treat me as though im family. I'm just basically their maid. Sometimes I wish I knew why my real parents didn't want me. But hey they gave me up that means they didn't love me. Actually know that I think about I have never experienced an actual form of love. The closest thing I have is great friendships. I truly don't know what I would without my friends.
I stood up from scrubbing the floor to stretch for a moment. This floor gets really messy. It's almost as though they don't care. There were cigarette ashes on the kitchen tiling. The ashes reminded me of the hole in my favorite hoodie. I saved up so much money for that hoodie. So of course my so called father had to burn a hole through it with his cigarette. I can remember that moment so vividly. He was angry and yelling at me because I took a break from cleaning. As he continued yelling he grabbed my hoodie and pulled me towards him. He then brought his cigarette up to my hoodie and pressed it against my hoodie. He had such a sick and satisfied grin upon his face. It made me want to puke. I could feel my face getting red as my blood boiled from the rage he caused me. That was the first time I retaliated to their abuse. I screamed at the top of my lungs and landed many punches upon his sick and twisted face. I saved my own earned money for a hoodie that I wanted for who knows how long. Yet it was fine for them to ruin my stuff repeatedly over and over again. Yet if I were to retaliate im in the wrong. That was the same night that I had been kicked out for the first time. I spent the night at Justin Smite's house. He was my closest and most understanding friend. That night I was able to vent all my pent up feelings to someone for once. Yes they took me in a gave me home. However they treat me so badly and I just can't stand it anymore. Should be grateful because they gave me home or should I despise them because of how badly they treat me.
I started to saunter down the hall as I couldn't stand scrubbing that floor any longer. I let my fingers trail the smooth surface of the perfectly white walls. I'm surprised that haven't managed stain their walls yet. My mind wandered many different subjects as I took a break from my cleaning. Subjects upon subjects floated around within my mind. These thoughts came to a stop as my fingertips met the rough surface of a frame. I turned to face the painting encased in the golden frame. It was the three of them all huddled together. They all looked so happy together. Of course this before my arrival here. Both Deliah Lang and Trevor Lang held their precious little angel Marice Lang smiling that there was no end to their perfect family. It made me feel so left out. They made it seem as though it was them and only them. However that's what it seems to be all the time. Tears began to trickle down my face as I realized that I will never experience any kind of love. I will never be able to feel the true reality of being apart of an actual family that loves me as their kid. Not as some kid they brought in to their family to clean their house. I turned away from the picture as I realized that if I stared at it any longer I was truly going to break down. I leaned against the wall and curled into the ball I have learned to call comforting. I just couldn't bare the thoughts running through my mind anymore.
The front door quickly swung open and the house filled with the laughter of my adoptive family. However it soon as quickly silenced as I heard an unfamiliar noise. Crap I left the bucket of water by the front and forgot to take care of it before i took my break.
" AUSTIN GET IN HERE RIGHT THIS SECOND!" The shout utterly scared me as I scattered to my feet and ran towards the front door.
Just as I reached where my so called family stood I immediately felt a stinging on my left cheek. " You ungrateful scum how dare you leave this here."
" I- I- I'm sorry." My voice came out as a whisper I feared this man. The threats in which he inflicts. My head was hanging as I felt the burn of embarrassment upon my cheeks. Before I knew it I was grabbed by the collar of my shirt and thrown out the front door. The cold air hit my wet cheeks and as I turned around I could feel the breeze of the front being slammed shut. I was about to reach for the door knob to re-enter the house. However I was stopped short as I heard the clicking sound of the door being locked.
My feet started moving on their own from the there. I knew the path to my best friend's house extremely well as i have been kicked out of the house quite often by now. I didn't need the light of day to guide me there. I learned this path in the heart of night and it has become quite clear now. After a total of 15 minutes walking I finally reached my Justin's house. I quietly knocked on his window as routine. It took a few knocks before I saw him appear at his window. Unlike me he was quite striking. His appearance could create a lasting image in your brain forever. Justin had electric blue hair and fiery red eyes. His eyes seemed as though he could burn right through you. He has the same blocky build as I do and we both have the same fair tanned skin. Sometimes I wonder if we were meant to be brothers. Unlike him and his striking hair, I have some pretty normal shaggy white hair that sometimes gets in the way of my vision. I also have light blue eyes that when with my friends seem to be a little to joking for the pain that I truly feel.
Justin opened the window to let me in like always. Making way so as though he is not in the way when I crawl through. Once I re-steadied myself I looked up to meet Justin's gaze. He gave a look that quite clearly asked me what the excuse was this time.
" It's nothing ya know I kinda got thrown out, like the trash I am lol." I then proceeded to laugh at my own sick joke so as though Justin wouldn't be concerned about me.
Justin just sighed and turned and turned around. He headed towards his bed and pulled out the air mattress that I usually sleep on when I crash the night here.
" Thanks." I felt as though I needed to thank him as this is an often occurrence.
" It's no problem, see you in the morning." Justin shut off the lights and crawled into his bed. Me crawling into my own. Tomorrow is the day of the reaping may as well try to get as much sleep before then as I can.
That night was another night filled with nightmares. It was extremely hard for me to sleep because I didn't want to go back to seeing those dreams. Nor did I want to wake Justin up. So I stared at the ceiling for most before finally drifting of to sleep a sleep without nightmares.
I woke up that morning to Justin shaking on my shoulder, " Dude you gotta wake up or you will be late for the reapings."
I shot awake as I realized. Crap, crap, crap. I can't believe I slept in that late. I rushed towards the bin of stashed clothes that I had here in case of emergency. I grabbed a plain black T-shirt and khaki pants and threw them on. I quickly proceeded to shoving my feet in my shoes and quickly tying the shoelaces. I didn't bother with stopping in the bathroom as I was in to much of a rush to think of that. I threw open their front door and slammed it behind me. I cringed doing this as I realized how disrespectful that was. I ran a good bit to catch up with the ever so retreating line of capital citizens. I shimmied my way in and only stopped for half a second to get my finger pricked. I then rushed on over to the 17 year old section ever so waiting for the president's speech.
The president walked up to the stage. Only stopping before the mike her wise eyes scanning the crowd of capital citizens. As the very last few capital citizen's trickled in she began this years speech.
" Welcome One and all to the capitol reapings, as we all know this is the last ever hunger games to be held."
" You should be grateful as many of the districts children has suffered at the hands of this game so it's only fair that the capital experiences these losses once."
" Now let the odds be ever in your favor."
The president approached the female's reaping bowl her graying hair flowing behind her. Once reaching the bowl she slipped her wrinkly fingers in and started fishing around till she finally grabbed a hold of a single slip of paper. Ever so carefully she headed back towards the mike to announce the first tribute.
" Our first female tribute is... Amanda Fowler!"
Almost as soon as the name was called a hand emerged from the crowd of 14 year old girls. The ever so confident words leaving the girls mouth.
" I volunteer!" The girl slowly stalked out of the crowd and towards the stage ever so confidently. Sometimes I wish I could borrow that kind of braveness.
The girl reached the stage and just as confidently shook the president's hand.
" What's your name?"
"Holy Dove" The grin crossing that girls face honestly just scared me. She seemed to confident at this point especially when she could reach her prominent death.
" And what's your age?"
" 14 " Figures she was sorted into the group of fourteen year olds. I don't see why you would need to ask that.
" There you have it our first tribute." The president applauded as she then made her next move.
She ever so slowly strutted towards the male's reaping bowl. It's like time was working extra slow at this current moment. The adrenaline just coursed through my veins. Time soon catched back up with itself as the president had finally reached the male bowl. Quickly fishing the top card right up taking no time to make this as dramatic.
She made her way back to the mike and announced the first male tribute. " Our first male tribute is... Austin Lang!"
Once again time froze as I realized it was none other than my name. Sadness quickly flooded my body as my feet worked towards the stage on their own. The sounds around me now were none other than a simple buzz. I didn't pay much attention to the president's words of greetings. I just mindlessly shaked her hand and headed towards my spot by the volunteer. I peered among the crowd and waited for the next tribute to be reaped.
Sorry that it took so long to update. You might not care but I have been extremely busy with school and softball. I am still waiting for more submissions and I would really appreciate it if someone would be willing enough to submit some more. 4/24 spots have been taken.
Next Chapter: Rowan Castor
Expected Update: 6/13?
So what do you think of Austin? How did I do on this chapter?