Kiana Jewelstone, 14
District 12 Female
For the first time in the past year, I manage to wake up before Rosaline barges into my room. Just so that she can't have the pleasure of yelling at me like she always does, I make sure to quickly change into a zipped up black leather jacket, a black skater skirt and black combat boots. When Rosaline does run into my room at precisely 5:30, just as she usually does, I smile at her while sitting on the floor next to my bed. "Good morning!" I say softly, and my sister shakes her head at me.
"Kiana, I swear to god there is no way you are wearing that!" She exclaims, gawking at my attire. I smile sweetly at my 13- year old sister and hold in the urge to laugh - her face is getting red.
"Rose, I'm sorry but I really want to wear what I want for just one day, okay?" She reluctantly nods and I exhale a sigh of relief. An argument is something that I can't ever stand, especially not today. No matter how hard I try to make them feel better, everyone always remains dark and gloomy on the day of the reaping. It happens to get really annoying.
Rosaline mumbles something under her breath and in that moment my other two sisters – Toria and Maribeth – enter my room. "Nice outfit, sis." Toria says smoothly while gesturing at me, and turns to Rosaline. "You, on the other hand, need to loosen down on the frills a little. Are you trying to look like a princess?"
Rosaline looks up at Toria and scowls. "I am a Princess. So, yes, I am." Toria laughs loudly and Maribeth slaps her twin sister in the shoulder.
"Please shut up. I'm trying to remember the Jewelstone family tree. Wait." Maribeth holds her index finger into the air. "I'm sorry to disappoint you, Rosaline, but you have no royalty in your blood. At least, according to the family records of-" Toria slaps Maribeth back and laughs again.
"As usual, I have absolutely no idea whether you're being serious or not, but if you weren't, nice burn." She high-fives Maribeth, and they both giggle.
I give a sideways look to Toria. What does she mean, burn? From what I can see, there are no burns anywhere on Rosaline's body. She seems to be okay, but sometimes my diva of a sister can be quite an actress. Right as Toria begins to laugh for what must be the millionth time, Mom opens the door and peeks her head into my room. "Are you girls ready? I want you all to be the Square early, just in case something happens!"
A chorus of yes' echo out of our mouths as we stand up and playfully shove each other out the door. I know we get along together very well, but… There was just something off. Sometimes I feel I don't fit in with my other siblings, like I'm somehow different. It just doesn't make any sense.
I exit the house with the rest of my family and take a look at the landscape around us. As we live in the Seam, everything around us is dirty and dry. People often say that you get what life hands to you, but that can't exactly be correct, can it? Someday I yearn to leave the Seam and live a better life elsewhere, and even though that would take an insane amount of effort I'm sure that with enough perseverance it can be done.
I wonder what can be found past the fence. What if there was a place where the Capitol can't control us? What if there was hope, what if there was freedom? I stare off at the woods and don't even notice Rosaline stopping abruptly right in front of me.
"Sorry," I mutter, but she's crossing her arms and staring right at me. "What?"
Rosaline frowns and runs over to Mom. "Will Dad be at the Reaping?"
Mom nods her head and smiles at the youngest sibling. "He'll be a little late, but he'll be there, right next to me." Rosaline grins, and we all quicken our pace.
After a few more minutes of quiet walking we finally reach the Square. My sisters and I register ourselves and then head off into our own separate sections.
Callum White, 17
District 12 Male
I stare at the stone wall in front of me, watching the water drip from the ceiling. This is too cramped, I've been stuck in here for two weeks already! All because that… That girl who doesn't understand that life won't always go her way! Just because she's a merchant girl doesn't mean she's the whole world… I mean, money doesn't mean everything!
I shouldn't have let my mother take advantage of me, but I guess sometimes things like this just happen. I can't believe Pansy figured out about Maggie and me though, and then tried to get us killed. Even if she did let me go, I wouldn't be able to live with myself. Maggie is my everything, and if that snob gets her killed, I swear that I'll- No. First of all, if Maggie dies, I would die too. Second, even if I didn't, Pansy would have the upper-hand in whatever situation arises and then I'll be killed. I guess I could always die in worse ways. Starvation always seemed painful.
A tray of food is slid from underneath the bars, and I gratefully gulp down the rock-hard bread and thin broth. I slide the tray back out, and then I hear a whisper from the other side of the door. "Get ready to go. We're leaving to go to the Reaping soon."
"Okay," I reply back, and look at the pile of clothes I had in the corner. Today, when I had woken up they had placed the clothing I was arrested with into my cell. I guess they wanted their inmates looking at least remotely presentable.
I slip on the white shirt and tan trousers and run my fingers through my hair. I wonder if I can see Maggie today. I would love to see her once again before we're executed. The Peacekeepers let me out of my cell and lead me out into the open. They escort me and a group of other haggard looking male "criminals" towards the Square.
Is there a way that Maggie and I won't be killed, or a way that I'll never have to communicate with Pansy again? The penalty for stealing was death, after all, and there was no way that anyone will believe a Seam girl and her rich boyfriend. I could volunteer, but then what would happen to Maggie? She'll be killed anyway. What if I tried being charming enough in the Capitol, and try to garner sympathy for Maggie? I don't know if it would work, but it would definitely be better than sitting in a damp, dingy cell all day looking at dripping water.
Once I'm registered, the Peacekeepers disperse and I wander over to the mostly empty 17-year old section. Do I really want to do this? I spot Maggie standing hand-cuffed by herself in her section, and I strengthen my resolve. Yes, yes I do.
Kiana Jewelstone, 14
District 12 Female
I look side to side as more and more people fill up the Square. I wish I could have spoken to Dad before the Reaping, he always helps me with my nerves.
After some pointless video and some pointless speech that I really wish I haven't listened too, the escort, Katerina, walks back up to the microphone and reaches into the girls' bowl. "Kiana Jewelstone!"
I swear that at that moment my heart stopped. I can feel the hot tears streaming down my cheeks. Why me? I haven't even showed any signs of rebellion towards the Capitol. My name was only in there three times…
The Peacekeepers approach me and pick me up. No, no, no! I can do this on my own! About halfway to the stage I wiggle out of their grip and before they can pick me back up I put my hands up in front of me. "I have legs and arms. I can walk on my own." I say, trying to play it up just so that I can hopefully seem less weak. I shove one, and they let me walk up to the stage alone. Once I reach the stage, Katerina smiles and holds up my hand
"The female tribute from District 12!" A round of polite applause rings through the crowd, and the escort sticks her bony fingers into the boys' bowl. "Daryl Johnston!" A malnourished looking 13-year old staggers out of his section and trips before he can reach the stage. A nicely tanned boy from the 17-year old section raises his hand and the whole crowd hushes.
"I volunteer as tribute!" He shouts, and runs to the stage. Some girl screams, probably his girlfriend. I wonder why he volunteered, I mean, I'm pretty sure him and this Daryl person aren't related.
"What's your name?" Katerina asks him, and he walks up to the mic himself and gives the audience a lopsided grin.
"Callum White."
No one says a word as we're both taken to the Justice Building. Just a few seconds after I'm dumped in the elegant room my family stumbles in. "Kiana! I'm really sorry I didn't volunteer! I meant to, in case you or Rosaline were reaped, but I just couldn't bring myself to do it!" Toria is sobbing now, and I lock her into a soft embrace.
"It's fine. I mean, you already had all of our tesserae." Toria nods, and just as everyone steps forward to me to hug me, Rosaline interjects.
She hands me a ruby pendant and smiles. "I'm sorry for always treating you like a bitch. It's because you're… You're…"
Rosaline, the twins, Mom, and Dad all reach forward and put me into a tight hug. When the Peacekeepers enter, Toria whispers the words into my ear.
"You're adopted."
Callum White, 17
District 12 Male
I've been hoping Maggie would come and see me, but she was probably sent back to her cell already. Sitting here in this luxurious room was good and all, but I wish she would just get here already. 10 minutes pass, and instead of Maggie, Pansy enters the room. I look down at my handcuffs that the Peacekeepers put on me right after I volunteered and act as if I don't notice her presence. She strolls up to me and lifts my face up.
"This is what you get for cheating on me, slut. I'm sure you already know this, but I'm the one who slipped the jewelry into you and that whore's pockets. I'm sure you're-"
"Just leave. Please." She rolls her eyes and confidently strolls out of the room, and shoves a pained looking Maggie into the room.
Delighted, I run up to her and help her off the floor. Her hands are handcuffed, and her beautiful, freckled face is riddled with random bruises. She stands, and we both keep each other in a soft, warm hug, which quickly escalates into a heated kiss. I pull away, and she stares at me with puppy dog eyes. "Callum. Why did you volunteer?"
I look her straight in the eyes and give her a sweet smile. "I wanted to see if I could save you. If I could persuade the Capitol, maybe…?" She shakes her head, trembling.
"It's not going to work, Callum. You know it's not going to work. Thank you for always being optimistic though, I'm really grateful." She smiles at me. I kneel onto one knee and pull a plain, golden ring from my pocket.
"Maggie, will you marry me?" She nods, tears streaming down her face.
"Yes. Yes, I will!" She kisses me one last time, and the Peacekeepers begin to drag her out of the room.
In a hurry I run up to her and try to hand her her ring. "Maggie! Maggie, take the ring!" She shakes her head, and right before she's shoved through the door she says something.
"Use it as your token. I love you, Callum." And then she was gone.
Huge thank you to Red Roses1000 for Kiana and chocolate chip homicide for Callum! These two are great tributes, and I enjoyed writing them. I'm sorry for Callum's POVs being a lot shorter, it's just different backstories... Anyway, short notice below...
I'm aware I haven't been updating too regularly, and I'm just going to have to say that now there's going to be a longer wait in between chapters, because I'm starting a new story! It's basically a random hunger games, except the tributes are going to be people I know from school... I'm only writing it because my friends have been begging me for a while ever since I've told them about a dream I had where they were all in one. Just saying, it will probably be short and shitty because I don't really know what I'm doing XD
Oh, and I'll be revealing my crushes and my friends crushes in there so yay! Whatever I'm sure you all don't even care anyway.
Anyway, here are some questions:
1) Favorite POV?
2) Anything grammar or mechanics wise I need to fix?
3) Thoughts on the tributes introduced so far?
Thank you to xGred-Forgex, dreams and desperation, VeneratedArt, and Red Roses1000 for the reviews! Reading them really do make me happy :)