Hey guys! Sorry this took so long, I was busy. But it's the holidays now, YAY! So I'll try and update once every couple of days.
A HUGE shoutout to "The End of the Beginning" A Hunger Games SYOT by your-eyes-so-bright. It's based around the second hunger games, it's got a really good start and it's definitely worth your time to submit!
So thanks to betttyy and IVolunteerAsAuthor for these characters, they were awesome fun to right. Darby is supposed to have a really strong Texan accent, I hope that came through. I still need escort submissions, so feel free to submit, the form is on my profile! Also, I know the reapings aren't in order, but here's to diversity, right?
Alaska Ascher – District 10 Female
Age: 18
"I always like to look on the optimistic side of life but I am realistic enough to know that life is a complex matter."
"Here's one! Knock, Knock!" I say, giggling.
"Who's there?" says Colton, a smirk cut into his flawless face.
"Control Freak," I giggle out, barely containing myself, this one's brilliant.
"Con-" He starts but I cut him off.
"Okay, now you say 'control freak who?'" Genius.
Colton looks at me and shakes his head but I see a small smile creep across his face. I however, crack up laughing, that was easily best joke in the history of the world.
Colton and I have been friends for as long as I can remember, we are like two peas in a pod and sometimes I swear we are the same person in different bodies. He is my rock and we always hang out together. He has to be the best thing that's ever happened to me, well apart from my sisters, I think with a smile.
"Is this the part where I'm supposed to laugh?" Colton questions, putting on a confused look. I giggle and stand up, I should probably go now, it is getting late.
"Catch ya later Colton, the girls are waiting for me," I say, pulling him in for a hug.
"Yeah, see you tomorrow, maybe we could catch up before the reapings?" Of course we could, why is he even asking, I'm confused.
"Of course Colton! See you at Grey's ranch, okay?" I say, walking off towards my house. I only live a few houses down from Colton, we don't live out country like most people. District 10 is really spread out, you see? Most of the population of the district live in ranches all around the place, they breed cattle or other livestock and send it in for their pay. Only very few actually live in the district centre like me.
We used to live out there, on a ranch as well. It was lovely, but we had to move, the cattle weren't surviving very well, the grass was dying. We sold the lot and moved into the District centre.
As I head back to my house, I pass a park, just a small thing really. A few trees here and there, a couple of flower beds… And a bench, the bench, and the reason why my family is a shell of what it used to be. I shudder and move on, rushing past to get home quicker.
As I open the door, I hear the worst possible thing… A fight.
I'm the oldest of four sisters and after dad… left, I had to assume the motherly figure. It's my job to make sure there is food on our table, a roof over our heads, I go out of my way to do so.
"HE IS COMING HOME!" wails a feminine voice. That's Ashlyn, she's the troublemaker and she goes out of her way to make it harder for the rest of us. She must still have fond memories about our father, I have a few of my own, but he ruined them, along with the rest of my home-life.
"No he ain't, he wouldn't care anyway, get off me!" That's Abbigail, she's 16, always diplomatic and reasonable. Off in the background, behind a closed door, I hear someone wailing, that'd be Annalynn. She's only 7 and dad's leaving took its toll on her the most.
I slide open the door, letting the humid air inside, it's July – the worst time to live in District 10. Lying in the centre of the room is Abbigail, her blonde hair spread across the wooden floorboards. In one hand she grips a roll of paper, the other she is using to pull Ashlyn off. Ashlyn is on top of her, straddling her body and attempting to grasp the roll of paper. She pulls Abbigail's arm and slams it into the floor. Woah, too far.
"Ash!" I say, "Get off her!"
She looks up at me and her mad blue eyes glare right into me, "But Abby want's to burn it!" she cries, pointing at the roll of paper. I walk over and take it out of her hand. It's not paper, it's a photo of the whole family even dad, taken a long time ago when our family was, well… A family.
"It's okay Ash, we'll keep it," I say, giving her a sad smile. Normally I would side with Abbigail but something is off with her. I look at her and she looks embarrassed.
"I'm sorry Alaska, It was making me sad," she says sheepishly. I pull her in for a hug, as well as Ashlyn and we stand in silence.
"Okay guys, what do you want for dinner?" I ask as I pin the photo to the wall.
Darby Marshall – District 10 Male
Age: 17
"Life's a song that you're continuously trying to find the melody to."
I stand in the publican, the hearty lights shine down on me, I turn to my mother and she nods.
"Amarillo by morning, up from San Antone.
Everything that I've got is just what I've got on.
When that sun is high in that Texas sky
I'll be bucking it to county fair.
Amarillo by morning, Amarillo I'll be there." I sing, my lungs bursting with the sound of music. This is my favourite song, these are the lyrics I love.
"They took my saddle in Houston, broke my leg in Santa Fe.
Lost my wife and a girlfriend somewhere along the way.
Well I'll be looking for eight when they pull that gate,
And I'm hoping that judge ain't blind.
Amarillo by morning, Amarillo's on my mind."
"Amarillo by morning, up from San Antone.
Everything that I've got is just what I've got on.
I ain't got a dime, but what I got is mine.
I ain't rich, but Lord I'm free.
Amarillo by morning, Amarillo's where I'll be.
Amarillo by morning, Amarillo's where I'll be."
As I finish the song and my strumming comes to a lull, the applause starts. Everyone is cheering me, whistling and whooping, I'm in my element, this is where I belong. I glance over at my mum and dad, the best people in the world. My mother is smiling at me, her curly brown locks waving all over the place, my dad sits at a table, sipping beer as he chats to a mate, he gives me a quick smile and then turns back to his conversation. Probably to brag about me.
"How was that?" I question the crowd, a smile running playfully across my face. They hoot and holler, all having a merry old time.
"Thanks y'all, I hope y'all have a good supper!" I finish, bowing and tipping my hat for the fair maidens out the front.
I pack up my guitar and swing it over my shoulder. The microphone cord slides out of the amp easily and I step off the stage, beaming at everyone.
That's my favourite song in the whole wide world, It means a lot to me, It was the first song I ever learnt, just a small boy with a voice back then, now I'm a multi-district superstar. Apparently, it's from the old days, long before Panem. Made even before the Dark Days they say. It's about a man from Texas, American District 10, who wishes to get to Amarillo. To me, it's kind of symbolic, I was just a boy with a dream, to get somewhere, just like the man in the song.
My life wasn't always like this, performing in pubs and such. My family and I used to live in a tiny ranch out country, barely surviving. My mama, Lucy, used to sing in the kitchen and by the time I was four, I decided I wanted to join in. Mother said my voice was amazing, everyone always went silent. They soon realise I had been blessed, they booked me in at pubs and within the year we were living in downtown District 10. Don't y'all go telling me miracles don't happen!
"HEY DARBY!" says a tiny voice beside me, tugging on my sleeve. I look down and see a small girl with a slip of paper. "Can I have your signature, I love your singing!" She says with a smile, her eyes twinkling.
"Of course darling, I wouldn't want you to go without," I say, taking the paper and scrawling out my name. I often wonder why people want signatures, I guess it's a memory, but why not just remember me in your head, often it confuses me.
I hand it back to her and she smiles at me, before pulling me into a hug. Her arms only reach up to my waist, if I was watching this, it'd almost be comical.
I go outside into the darkness of the night for some cool air. People are smoking and drinking away their livelihoods, like always. I've never quite understand this kind of people, they work so hard, like herding cattle and making sure they ain't got no problems, what not. And then they go and waste it all on the bottle. My papa, Hector, used to be like them, he was always a bit too heavy on the bottle. He's a good man though, he just liked the feeling I guess. He says he's getting help for his habit, I ain't sure this is true of course, but I trust him.
I spot a bunch of gals sitting the shadows by the park. It's not a big park, just a few trees here and there, a couple of flower beds and this beautiful old mahogany bench. It looks out of place down here, like something that belongs in the Capitol. I've only been here a week but I've spent a couple of day's busking around. Not many people can afford to spend money on me but I do it for the feel. When I'm into my music, I know it, I love the feel. I'm leaving town tomorrow, after the reapings, I've got a gig in District 9, it costs a lot to travel between district's but the amount the pubs pay makes up for it, mama and papa ain't caring at all.
"How y'all doing?" I ask when I'm close enough. There are 4 of them, all blonde-haired beauties, a rare sight in District 10. They all look very similar, definitely siblings. The oldest one looks pained, she clearly doesn't enjoy being here.
"Oh, we're fine. We're just having some supper. We heard you in the pub, you're really good!" Says the older one. The smallest one sit's on her lap, sipping at a cup of soup. The other two sit on the ground beside her, purposely ignoring each other. I'm pretty sure I know one of them, she has to be no more than a year younger than me.
"Thank you, may I join you?" I ask, maybe I could play them a tune or something.
"Umm, yeah sure," says the oldest girl, at first she looked suspicious, but she clearly figured I was safe enough. I don't blame her though, men around these parts can be real scary. "I'm Alaska," she says proffering her hand.
I take her hand and shake it, smiling I say "Darby Marshall, nice to meet ya!" I pull out my guitar and strum a few chords.
Winchester Stocks – Victor of the 102nd Hunger Games
Age: 19
"Chester, can you pass me the template?' Asks Ptolemy Fischer, this year's head gamemaker.
"Sure," I dig around in my suitcase until I find the folder I'm looking for. It's a dark crimson colour with 'The 103rd Hunger Games' embroidered in gold on the front. It's the official folder of this year's hunger games. Of course, there are other copies of this folder, so that it cannot be destroyed or misplaced. But this is the official one.
I'm still not quite sure why I'm the head gamemaker's assistant. It was one of Augustus Snow's (The Standing President) first decrees. Well undoubtedly it was his little niece's idea. He said that since I had witnessed the games first-hand, I would have a better knowledge than anyone else on how they work. Apparently I was the victor of the best games ever. Dawn Angelica wanted to go out with a bang, I guess. And I did come up with the idea Ptolemy claims as his own, but no one will know that. I don't really care, I've never lusted for the spotlight.
The only downside of my current position is that I don't get to mentor this year's tributes. Don't get me wrong, I wouldn't enjoy tutoring innocents on how to kill, but knowing what I know, I'd be able to help them out a lot. Besides, it wasn't my choice, Augustus ordered me. District 10 doesn't need me anyway, we're coming third in victor totals. By the time Dawn got the job – just after Seneca Crane's famous quarter quell fail – we had 6 victors, after that, we gained 5 victors in 25 years. Tule Roxen won the 79th Hunger Games, Oxford Paxford the 91st. Following them was Gabriella Ramson, victor of the 96th Hunger Games. Then the big one came, Hero Nox, the famous 14-year-old who won the fourth quarter quell, the year where there were only boys, he had to beat muscled and trained 18-year-olds, he earned his position. He's two years younger than me but could easily beat me in a fight. And then I won, making our victor total 11, beaten only by districts 1 and 2 who have 14 and 15, respectively.
"Thanks," says Ptolemy, grasping the folder from my fingertips. I don't really like Ptolemy, he can be a bit of an ass and he's very ambitious. But after winning the Hunger Games with the people that were in it, I think I can deal with him.
He flicks through the folder until he finds the page he's looking for. Using his dyed silver hands, he unclips the sheet and rests it on the table. "Examine," he says. I've seen it before of course, only at the display ceremony but it's been changed since then. As I study it, I realise that was only the most basic part of his plan, this arena is much more complex than he let on.
It is one arena, split into twelve completely unique and diverse sectors. Ptolemy always claimed it would revolutionise the complexity of gamemaking. I thought he was up himself, but… But he may be onto something. It features twelve different sectors each representing a district's industry or environment. They're all centred on a cityscape, representing the Capitol, It's very intricate. The whole arena is meant to symbolise Panem, the wonderful Ccapitol in the centre, surrounded by its 12 Districts. I scan over the map and look down into the sector descriptions:
District 1: Rolling Green Hills above ground, to replicate the District's scenery. The Underground is riddled with gem encrusted caves, to symbolise the District's Industry, Luxury.
District 2: Dirty Open landscape, filled with various bushes, open to anyone's view. One huge mountain in the centre, symbolising the nut, the hub of District 2.
District 3: Not Finalised
District 4: Pristine golden beaches with crystal clear full of fish. An Island by the force field, filled with basic resources such as fresh-water pools and coconuts. All representing the District's Landscape and Industry.
District 5: Open Desert, appears to be suffering from a drought. Massive electricity pylons scattered around, representing the districts Industry, Electricity.
District 6: An Abandoned train yard with irreparable trains and gear. No apparent advantage. This is to replicate the famous train yards of District 6.
District 7: Dense pine forest that gets snowier and colder the closer to the force-field you go. Representing the District's Industry, Lumber, and it's environment, Cold & Snowy.
District 8: Abandoned Factories, among boulders and ferns, wild coyotes roam. Attempting to replicate the District's Industry and Landscape.
District 9: This Sector Features massive wheat fields and a giant lake, replicating the Great Lakes that the District is built around as well as the Industry, Grain. The fields are riddled withy venomous snakes and insects.
District 10: An Arid Landscape with huge rock pillars and scattered trees, symbolising the District's scenery. There are herds of wildebeests that roam this sector.
District 11: Row upon Row of fruit trees, apples, oranges and pears, representing the District's Industry.
District 12: Gigantic Mountain ranges representing the famous 'Appalachian Mountain Range' that the District is built in the foothills of. The Underground is full of coal-riddled tunnels that connect with District 1's gem-filled alternative.
The tributes are to be arranged in a 'Panem first' arrangement, all 360 degrees around the cornucopia… which appears to be a roundabout, piled high with supplies. Very nice. I wonder how the tributes will prepare for this.
Darby Marshall – District 10 Male
Age: 17
"Life's a song that you're continuously trying to find the melody to."
I sat with Alaska and her sisters for a good half an hour, I played them some tunes, they told me some jokes. The oldest one, Alaska, has this thing for knock-knock jokes…
After a bit, my father, Hector, called me over, he wanted me to get some sleep before we left town tomorrow. I wished them well and left.
This morning, mum woke me up and gave me a warm cup of Joe. We sat in front of the pub, on the veranda and watched the sun rise. We do this most mornings, it's a wake-up call in a way.
I pack my guitar and clothing into the van. We're leaving town today, heading into District 9 for this big music gig I was asked to be in. I have to attend the reapings first of course but I don't stand a chance of getting reaped, thanks to my wonderful blessing, I ain't ever having to take out tesserae.
My mother comes out of the room and hands me this long-sleeved blue shirt. It's got a black piece of fabric stitched around each wrist, it must be something fashionable. Mama often buys 'fancy' clothes from dealers while we are in District 8. We don't visit there often, the people aren't very open with their cash. I don't quite understand the point of this shirt though. "I got this for you Honey-Buns, apparently its all the rage in the Capitol," says my mother with a smile. Beaming her love for me all over the place.
"Thanks mum, I'm sure I'll stand out at the reapings," I say smiling as I take the shirt. I go into my room and pull it on, along with some jeans and my decorative boats, I look quite decent actually, I could get used to looking this good.
I hug my parent's goodbye, "I'll be back in an hour," I say.
I run down the humid streets, littered with the general trash and horse faeces of District 10, the only real thing that stands out is the quiet, normally District 10 is a rowdy commerce hub, full of cattle trucks and such, I guess everyone is at the reaping, I should be too, I'm probably a bit late.
When I get there, the peacekeepers are arranged at desks, one of them waves me over. "Name," he says in a monotonous voice. I don't blame him, being a peacekeeper must be terribly boring.
"Darby Marshall," I say. He looks up at me and if I could see through his jet-black visor, I'd swear he was smiling.
He chuckles and pulls out a slip of paper, "Mr. Marshall, if it ain't a hassle, could I have your autograph?" I reckon this is probably against the law, falling out of character while on duty, but who am I to stop him?
I pull one of my pencils out of my jeans and scrawl a messy. I smile and hand it back to him. He quickly looks around and places it in his pocket. "Hand," he says.
Inside, I'm laughing. If this guy wanted to be an actor, he'd be an actor. The way he can change personalities that quickly, he's destined for the Capitol. I stick out my hand, proffering my index finger. He pricks it and presses my finger into the booklet.
"The 17-year-old male section is over there," says the peacekeeper gesturing across to an area where a bunch of boys my age stand.
"Thanks," I say walking off to join the others.
I stand in line, sucking on my bleeding finger, he didn't prick it much but I've got a blood issue, for some reason my blood doesn't clot very easily. Father always joked that if I was in the hunger games, I'd make one hell of a death, much to mum's displeasure.
I love my family.
The escort, Jenning Kyte, mounts the stage. She's a girl apparently, but people say she was born a boy, I don't think that's true though. People round here ain't changing genders.
I look across at my fellow citizens, almost all of us will leave this square relieved. I feel myself emphasising with the poorer citizens. It's always one of them. It won't be me, not this time, I've never taken out tesserae. Well, it could be… don't I live by the saying 'anything could happen?'
Alaska Ascher – District 10 Female
Age: 18
"I always like to look on the optimistic side of life but I am realistic enough to know that life is a complex matter."
"Alaska! Alaska! Ashlyn took my teddy!" It's Annalynn, she's bouncing on top of me, her blonde hair flailing all over the place and her cheeks blotchy and streaked with tears. I don't know how she managed to own a teddy bear, though, it had nothing to do with me.
"What?" I moan, still half asleep. Being a mother is a lot harder than you think. Well, I'm not a mother but close enough right? I've always wanted to work with children and I guess I do, at home, with my lovely family.
"Ash! She took my teddy!" Wails Annalynn, flopping her tiny seven-year-old body down beside me.
I roll off the mattress that I sleep on and waddle out into the lounge room. Abbigail is walking around calling out for Ashlyn. I walk over to the window and stare out over the horizon. Scanning for a little girl. She's probably just sulking around, being her usual self. The sun is high in the sky, it's probably about 9:00am, I shouldn't have slept in so long but this is the one day of the year no one has to do anything, I'm not gonna waste it. It shines down on Grey's ranch, an old abandoned farmhouse where Colton and I- "shit," I say out loud, Colton wanted to meet me there this morning.
"Abby? Do you think you could deal with this?" I ask her.
"Sure," she says smiling, "Ash'll be back soon,"
I go back into my room and slip on a black singlet and some jeans, I kiss Abbigail on the forehead and leave. It is kind of a motherly gesture. My mum used to always do it to me before… Before my parents got divorced.
It was a dreary day in winter, it's never cold in District 10 but sometimes it gets rainy, those are the worst days. It never storms enough to make people stay inside, it just dribbles down from the clouds making people's clothes sodden and their mood miserable. I was walking home on one of those days with Daisy, an old friend. We were passing a park when we saw two people making out on a bench. An elegantly carved mahogany bench, it was new, shipped in from District 7 as a thank you to Hero Nox, a victor who helped out the tributes from seven.
"Get a room," Daisy had mumbled at me, smirking.
I had laughed along with her but it didn't take long before I realised that the man was my dad… And the lady wasn't my mum. I decided to stay silent about it, maybe it was just a phase? Mainly because I loved my family and home-life, after we moved from the country, papa had tried to make it up to us, we became a family, like a real family, not something common in a poverty-riddled district like ours. But eventually dad stopped coming home, he told mum he was working out on farms for long periods at a time.
I knew he was lying, I shouldn't have told mum, it broke her heart. I know that now, but I did, I told mum. And when dad came home from one of these 'trips' mum told him what she knew. He left the following day, after a yelling match, never to be seen again.
His leaving broke everyone, especially mum… I haven't sent her in a few weeks, the last time she came out of her room was on Ashlyn's birthday when she turned 13.
I shake my head to get rid of the memories and pump my legs harder, working into a sprint.
I vault over the gate that leads into the open fields, I run through the flowers and the long grass, stroking the cattle as I run by, giggling. I kick my shoes off and gather some flowers. There's a beautiful pink one that stands alone in the field of golden grass. By the time I get to the ranch, I have a small bouquet of flowers. There's a hole in the wall which is the only way in, all the doors are locked. I peek through the hole and whisper, "Psst, Colton, are you in there?"
"Knock-Knock," says a voice.
"Haha," I laugh, pulling myself through the hole in the wall. "Who's there?"
A pair of calloused hands grab my shoulders and push me against the wall. Hot smelly air is breathed into my face, it's putrid. This is not Colton, "Help!" I scream
All of a sudden the man doubles over and cracks up laughing, rolling around on the floor. The light is dim in here, only a few rays come through the hole in the wall but I make Colton's sandy blonde hair and chiselled golden skin. What an ass.
"That was not funny!" I say crossing my arms. He crossed the line, he knows how much I'm afraid of men, I can never find myself completely trusting them. Colton is the only exception.
"Yeah, yeah it was," He says, obviously he thinks I'm joking but I'm dead serious. I stand still and glare at him, waiting for him to realise. "Oh, sorry," says Colton, standing up.
I drop the bouquet of flowers at his feet and crawl out of the ranch. My shoes lay a good few metres away. I march over to them and slip them on. I'm late for the reapings anyway, I need to get going.
"Alaska! Come back! Please, I need to talk to you!" Yells Colton.
When I get to the town square, Darby, the boy I met last night, is just entering the reapings. I rush over to one of the peacekeepers. "Name," he says, his voice held at a monotonous pitch. He had to make a boring job boring-er, right? Why don't people stay optimistic? Ever?
"Ascher," I say, "Alaska Ascher,"
The man flicks through the book until he finds Ascher. Abbigail and Ashlyn are already checked off, a bloody fingerprint stamped onto the page. Good, they made it in time.
"Hand," I hold out my hand, my index finger sticks out, he pricks it and presses my finger onto the page, leaving a bloody mark, just like Abby and Ash's.
"The 18-year-old female section is over there he says," pointing at the far left corner of the square, furthest from the stage.
"Thanks," I mumble.
Our Escort, Jenning Kyte is already on the stage. She (or should I call her, he?) wears a pale blue jumpsuit, tight on her aqua skin emphasising her non-existent breasts. She looks displeased, tributes still arriving, she's probably been on stage for a good two or three minutes.
I see Colton enter the square with a few other boys, people travel from all over the district to get to the reapings, unlike most districts, there is a little leeway in the time you have to be at the square.
When the last of Colton's friends have their fingers stamped, the head peacekeeper, Caius, nods at Jenning. This is where the games truly begin.
"Welcome, Welcome! Citizens of 10, I welcome you, to the reaping of the 103rd Annual Hunger Games," She squeaks. Her high-pitch voice has only the faintest hint of masculinity.
When no one replies, she frowns and walks over to the male bowl, she skipped the formalities, that can't be good for her reputation...
"As always, boy's first! Who will be the lucky fella?" She chirps, terribly attempting to mimic the district slang.
Her hand dips in quickly and swirls around a bit, before grasping a slip. She smiles, she's enjoying the attention. She struts over to the centre of the stage. Peeling off the black tape she reads, "Darby Marshall,"
Wails arise from the crowd. I myself find a tear rolling down my cheek, he's such a likeable guy and he'll be missed. No one is going to volunteer for him though, only once has a district won two games in a row, Gloss and Cashmere from District 1. Girls are screaming, people that love his music, fans.
Darby himself stands perfectly still, staring in front of him. Then he realises the true depth of the situation and walks towards the stage, head held high. He won't be coming out of this, the careers from the first few districts are becoming stronger and stronger, he has a chance with sponsors though, he should be playing the 'charmer' role.
"Oh, I know you!" Squeals Jenning, "Such a shame about the situation though," she says a smile on her face. She clearly doesn't care about her tributes lives. I wonder how Winchester dealt with her.
"Do you have anything to say," asks Mrs. Kyte. Darby shakes his head.
"Now for the girls!" she says, strutting over to the other bowl, "Ooh! How exciting!"
She dips her hand in swooshes it around a bit and then takes a slip from the top, putting on a show. She walks over to the centre of the stage, next to Darby.
"Alaska Ascher,"
Hero Nox – Victor of the 100th Hunger Games
Age: 17
She stands there, her beautiful cream skin shining under the bright sun of District 10, her perfect blonde hair falling in waves around her shoulders. A dark beauty mark resting above her luscious pink lips.
When her name is called she looks shocked, traumatised but then she puts on a smile and skips up onto the stage, despite the terrible screams from 3 girls in the crowd, her sisters. The people in the Capitol will be amazed, she played that well. She truly is perfect.
"I'm Alaska Ascher!" She says, beaming out at the crowd, "Alaska Ascher, Victor of the 103rd Annual Hunger Games, has a nice ring to it," she says, giggling, faking confidence.
She's in the year above me, I've been in love with her for… forever.
Now she's in the Hunger Games, this is all wrong. I'm going to mentor her, she's coming out of here alive whether Augustus likes it or not.
"Well, that was exciting!" Beams Jenning, the transsexual escort that helped me to get sponsors during the hunger games. It was a hard task, everyone was interested in the other District 10 Tribute a humongous boy with iron muscles. He fell short though, killed by the careers at a feast. The careers couldn't stop me though, I killed them all in the finale, four on one.
Gabriella Ramson, victor of the 96th Hunger games and my fellow mentor turns to me, "you take the girl, I think I've got a better chance of getting the boy sponsors," she says. Gabriella is always like this, up herself, just because she got me out of the arena alive she thinks she's top dog. I got good 'ol chesty out though, so I guess we're even. I'm not complaining, though, I'll bring Alaska to victory.
Darby Marshall – District 10 Male
Age: 17
"Life's a song that you're continuously trying to find the melody to."
"We love you, son, never forget that," says my dad, tears strewn across his face.
Mother sits next to me silently crying, they're both trying to stay strong for me.
"Time to go," says a peacekeeper grasping my parents around their biceps and pulling them out of the room.
"Come home, son."
I sit there in the silence, pondering. The girl I met last night is in the arena with me, what are the chances? I think we'd make good allies though, I'd pull in a few sponsors, especially with Gabriella Ramson to guide me, she won only because of sponsors. Truth is she would have died twelve times if it weren't for sponsors.
"WE LOVE YOU DARBY!" Wails a female voice. I turn around to look at the door. There's about twenty girls standing at the door, pouring in. Uh oh, dad calls these fangirls.
So there you go! The District 10 Reapings!
Did you like it? Who'd you prefer? Darby or Alaska?
What'd you think of Hero's miniature POV? I hope it wasn't too creepy :/
So in case you didn't catch the hint earlier on, I haven't decided on the District 3 sector of the arena. If you have any ideas, make sure you pop them into your review! :D
I wasn't going to do an arena reveal until just before the games, But I felt here was a good a spot as any. What do you think of the arena? Good/Bad?
Also, Alaska had a really, really amazing personality which I definitely failed to completely capture a in this short reaping chapter, however she will have another point of view before the games where I'll try and build on her more. And of course during the games… Unless she dies in the bloodbath ;)
Don't forget to drop a REVIEW!
Until next time :D
