District 7 Awakening: My Eyes
My Eyes by Christina Perri
My eyes are lonely and cold.
They're young and they're old.
They're looking for a way out,
And a moment to let you in.
They're hungry.
I'm warning.
And I'm scared…
I apologize for the long wait! If you've been to the forum you'll see that my laptop is broken and school and band got busy -_- I will still be busy, but now that I received a laptop for my birthday it'll be a lot easier to get in the writing groove again. I'm hoping to get the rest of the reapings up by mid-March. I really want to take my time on these since these chapters introduce your tributes and all.
Chancellor "Chance" Aristotle (29) D7 Victor of the 87th Games
"Daddy, I want to go with you," Kallista whimpers as I hold her in my arms. "I want to go with you this year…"
"You have to attend the meeting in the town square, Kallista. You have to like all your other friends."
She snorts softly and unwraps her arms around my torso and steadily meets my gaze, her eyes beginning to well up. "What friends? No one wants to hang out with me anyway," she says softly as she returns her feet to the ground. "I'm a Victor's daughter. Everyone at school thinks they'll get reaped if they're in my presence."
"Hon-"
"Daddy, I miss Mom…"
I sigh and look off into the cemetery not far from the Justice Building and spot her grave, standing out from most with all the colorful flowers Kallista collects each year on the anniversary of her passing. Looking down at my little girl I can't help to feel angry and wistful for her, the small brunette with the large brown eyes that remind me so much of her mother.
"I'm going to need you to stay with Uncle Braxton for the Games. I'll be home soon enough," I state forcibly as I crouch down to meet her eyes. "I love you, Kallista."
"I love you too," she whispers barely audible as she hugs me, her small arms not reaching all the way around me.
"Be good. I'll be home in two weeks."
"Okay Daddy," she yells as she runs down the empty and desolate streets of the lumber District. I let out a frustrated sigh as I stand just meters away from the building where my tributes await me.
Another year of mentoring, another year of misery. Hudson, my tribute from last year made it to the final two before he died at the hands of River Echo. His death shocked everyone in the District. I remember watching his funeral service from afar; afraid of what his siblings would think as I was the one who failed to get him home. Failed yet again, even failing to save my only successful tribute: Oakland Sorrioten. I was ecstatic when she was declared Victor, enough to call Kallista that night. I was happy for the selfish thought of finally retiring and finding peace at home with my daughter. This dream was soon crushed when Oakland's mental state weakened and faltered. Defying President Echo when she told her that her talent was 'nothing'. Lying in bed all day, singing and talking to herself. It scared the hell out of me. Mostly for the fact that she was my saving grace from the Capitol, that she would take off most of the attention from me.
Several months of careful observation from several houses down, I found her in the bathtub. Her wrists were mangled and bloodied, the water murky and her body was deathly pale. I was surprised to find a weak pulse, barely there as I called for help. President Echo had her admitted to the Capitol Asylum and left it at that. I still fucked Capitol women and men, the nights stretching and compressing as I worked for what my body had to offer. Still mentoring those tributes that depend on me to get them home, their eyes filled with hope and dependence from me.
False hope. Even worse than hope at all, because in that one moment, all you can think about is how the world deceived you. This… is my fear, and yet… it happens every year to my tributes…
"Chance! The tributes are ready to be awakened," the scientist calls from the entrance to the Justice Building.
I pinch the bridge of my nose with my thumb and fore finger and inhale, trying to relieve the growing pressure in my head. "I'll be there momentarily…"
"Yes, Mr. Aristotle," the young scientist dismisses as her small frame disappears from the large oak door. I sigh and stride over the steep steps and enter the building which reeks of rotting vegetation and other living things, a subject I wouldn't want to talk about for my sanity and yours.
The air is suffocating, the humidity casting its ever lingering shadow on these summer days. The long corridor brings back memories concealed and corrupted deep beneath my eyelids which never seem to stay closed for very long…
"I need a name, Chance. What if you-you don't come home…"
"Ariella… I'm coming home. I'm not leaving you and… Kallista."
"Kallista… beautiful," the brunette coos as she stands on the platforms of her swollen feet and pecks me on my lips. "Please… for our daughter."
"Of course."
And I did. I returned home to Ariella and Kallista who was born several months before the Victory Tour. Just when I thought things were starting to heal, they suddenly vanished. Prostitution, nightmares, becoming a single father, mentoring… all starting within a year of my 'victory'.
I find myself at the small entranceway to the lab, my hand subconsciously reaches for the brass handle and I stop myself, my fingertips grazing over its cold touch. So many people have been torn away from their lives here, the tragedy and hurt starting in this very room. The last time I had been here was when I was sent here, shoved into this room in a haze as the thought of being in the Games started to sink into my head. The painful memories begin to bubble and swirl in my chest and I reach for the doorframe, gripping onto the wood as best as I can while the pain subsides.
"Mmmhhmmm…"
My heart stops as I hear a low rumble erupt from the room and my mind begins to race as I hear the soft rustling of fabric.
They are awake.
I push the fear aside and enter with the best smile I can manage and find a young man sitting upright on a metal table, his eyes groggy and not focused. He runs an uncoordinated hand through his dark brown hair and looks up at me, startled.
"Where the fuck am I?!" He says panicked as he jumps from the table. He stumbles forward and hits his head on the table leg of one of his district partners table.
"Listen…" I quickly fumble around my knapsack for his file and find his name. "Kale. I'm your mentor for the 4th Quarter Que-"
"I'm in the 2nd Quarter Quell," he blurts as he steadily balances himself up.
"N- well… yes but now you're in the 4th."
"I don't understand." His voice quivers and he sits on the floor. He silently shakes as he looks at his arms and legs, his eyes wide in bewilderment.
"You died in the 2nd Quarter Quell, you've been brought back to life to compete in the 4th…"
"This is a dream…" he grunts. "Just some sick and messed up dream…"
"I wish I could tell you otherwise," I sigh as I pat his shoulder. He flinches at my touch and cringes as he looks at his surroundings. "The twist for this year's Games are past tributes… you were chosen from thousands…"
"I don't believe you."
"I don't expect you to."
He just nods and sits there, staring at the two other tables that lay his district partners. I hand him his folder and he hesitantly reaches for it and finally accepts it as I stand back up. I dust off my trousers as I sit on a small love seat and clasp onto the other two folders. I tentatively bend back the edges as I stare intently at Kale as he silently sobs in the corner of the room. Quickly ducking my head I find myself staring back at a familiar face… one I thought I'd never see again.
"Em-Ember."
Her photograph stares back at me, a faint smile stretched across her pale complexion. Her wavy black hair cascades down her slim figure and her brown eyes stare deep into my own. The last time I had seen her was at the Cornucopia, winking at me before the gong sounded. Her picture lit up the sky several days later, during my interview I had found out that she had died at the hands of a Career.
I silently walk over to her table and find her body encased in a billowy white sheet that covered the other two. I don't realize the tears that begin to slowly fall from my chin as I lift the sheet up. Her face is blank, no sign of life evident as I trace my index finger over her arm.
"You know her," Kale says softly as he stands behind me, his eyes glued to his district partner. I respond without even hesitating.
"She was my district partner…"
He slowly nods and makes his way toward the large screen monitor which shows his and his district partner's health stats and medical history. His eyes seem to fog as he begins to read his own history, even scanning through the events of the 2nd Quarter Quell.
I look down at Ember when a beep sounds from the monitor and watch in astonishment as the life returns back to her face. Her deathly pale skin flushes a warm beige and her eyes begin to move underneath her eyelids. Almost hesitantly do her chocolate brown eyes begin to open, fluttering softly as I begin to choke back tears.
"Chance… you saved me," she breathes as I feel her small, cold hand caress my cheek. "You saved me from the pond…"
"Ember." I let out a disappointing sigh and hop onto the metal table with her. Her smile shines as she continues to look at me, not even realizing where she is.
"You look different Chance… older. Is there something wrong?"
"Wrong?!" I feel the anger and hate begin to bubble and erupt inside me as I face her, my eyes probably strained and bloodshot. "Look where you are! Don't you see something diff-"
I shut my mouth the instant she begins to rise from the table, her eyes widen and limbs tremble as she catches sight of the monitor and then Kale who stands unfazed by the events about to unfold.
"Wh- Wh- Where? Why? I can-" She's stammering, unable to find the words as she begins to sob and howl. My heart breaks as she buries herself in my chest, her small frame quaking in terror against my broad chest.
"Here," I reach into the breast pocket of my jean jacket and pull out a small tablet, an anxiety pill. "Take this and you'll be fine. Calm down," I assure her as I hand her the tablet and a small paper cup. She nods and gulps down the pill and water and retreats to her metal bed still trembling and murmuring incoherently.
Kale then motions her to the monitors and she slowly makes her way next to him, each step cautious and quiet. I can feel her gaze as I rest beside the last tribute that still hasn't awakened. I pull out the file and my heart nearly stops.
Kallista.
It takes awhile for my brain to register that it's not my daughter, but a girl very, very similar. Long dark brown hair, rich brown eyes and small build. Scared me half to death… having to mentor Kallista, she wouldn't get out alive… did you see Victor Beck Holloway's adoptive son last year? Merit Phoenix? He was a strong candidate to win last year's Games and he didn't make it past the bloodbath. I couldn't let that happen to Kallista… no. She is safe because of what I do, well who I do. President Echo had promised me that Kallista would be safe from being reaped if I became a prostitute. Just a couple times a year and she'd be fine, not one slip in that cursed glass bowl. I agreed and now… I only have seven more years until Kallista is safe.
"Barkley Brimming still hasn't awakened yet?" My head snaps back to see the young scientist at the entranceway with eyebrows furrowed. "She was the hardest to rebuild… so many deep cuts…"
I lift the white sheet off her body and examine her body, long red lines seem to trace a merciless and sadistic map across her small body. My throat begins to swell as tears threaten to spill for the small girl, her death most likely painful and traumatizing.
"The District 1 Male: Royal Harris tortured her for almost an hour. She died in agony several hours later…."
"…"
"If she doesn't pull through in thirty minutes we'll have to retrieve another tribute."
I nod slowly and clasp my hands over Barkley's and watch intently at her monitor, the realization slowly creeping up that she could be saved from another Games, another nightmare. Soon everyone is standing around her, watching with heavy eyes as minutes pass and the shriek of a train sounds outside. Just twenty minutes before we have to leave and five minutes over Barkley's time.
"Barkley… I understand."
I let go of her hands and pull myself out of the chair when something from my peripheral vision catches my attention. A slight twitch of her slim fingertips and the slow steady beat of her heart monitor begin to whiz to life.
"She's still unconscious though. She won't have time with her family…"
"Do Ember and Kale have anyone to visit them?"
The scientist shakes her head and points to the papers in her files. "They're all deceased, or in Ember's case gone."
Without hesitation I grab the video camera in my beige knapsack and run to the small meeting room, pushing through the scientist and the two startled teens. As I reach the door, the faint sound of sniffling stops me dead in my tracks and I press my ear against the cold door.
"It's been too long, Dusty. Isn't she coming," a very dreadful and saddened voice rasps. The slight creaking of wood and shuffling tells me that there is a small family in the room.
"She's coming, Dana. We'll finally see our baby girl again…"
"I can't wait to see her! You can finally meet your aunt, Bark."
"Yeah Mommy!"
High pitched giggling erupts from the room and I decide finally to go in and give the news. I inhale slowly and gradually reach for the door handle when suddenly a burst of hot air sends me startled and looking down at an elderly woman whose dark brown eyes glisten with tears.
"Hello, you must be Barkley's mother?"
She nods slowly and a few moments later her husband appears behind her. "Yes."
"I'm Chance Aristotle, your daughter's mentor. I'm sorry to say that Barkley won't have time to say goodbye to you all. She had some complications with her awakening and she's still unconscious now."
"My baby girl…" Barkley's father sighs and looks down at his wife, tears filling his eyes. I feel the ever blossoming tension fill the hallway as a young couple and their daughter appear behind them, eyebrows raised.
"You can leave her a video message, if you wish. I know this isn't the best circumsta-"
"We'll do it."
I reach into my knapsack for the old and worn camcorder my grandfather had left me when he passed. It's simple enough to use and holds more memory than the crappy ones sent here from the Capitol.
"I'll be right outside."
The family nods and quietly closes the door. I lean up against the wall and wait, not wanting to listen in on their dreadful second goodbyes. I prop my right foot up against the wall and cross my arms. Closing my eyes, I listen to the deafening sound of ticking of the old oak clock that's been here since the Dark Days.
Tick
Tick
Tick
The sound almost comforting. Soothing as it keeps me from slipping into the nightmares and demons that haunt me every night. I never sleep, and if I do it's because of the pills I swallow on occasions. I don't like taking them; I don't want to become addicted like Victors Delta Brookes and Berk Jerald. I couldn't bring myself to do it, not even for the anxiety attacks.
"Here you go."
The small voice startles me as I quickly push my foot off the wall and stand in front of a small girl with auburn curls and dark blue eyes. A smile stretches and rests on my face as I crouch down and retrieve the video camera, her expression innocent and cheerful.
"Thank you."
"You're welcome."
She skips off as the Peacekeeper Rowan escorts the family out of the meeting room, his dark eyes piercing as he eyes the small group. Once he sees me however he darts his eyes quickly and leaves. We were classmates long ago, he used to bully and me well… once I won, he never acknowledged me again.
"Attention. All of those attending the 4th Quarter Quell in the Capitol need to board the train at this time."
I rush into the room and gather the teens, propping an unconscious Barkley on shoulder as we hurriedly run down the hallway. Passing by a mirror I catch a glimpse of myself and see a tired and sad man holding a little girl with little hope.
"When you look into the mirror look into it real close, really close, and watch as your true self appears."
I stop short and take a moment to stare at myself, to see if anything changes. It doesn't. Not that I'm surprised… just disappointed that it came down to this.
A boy similar to Hudson Archipello from last year.
Ember, my district partner for the 87th Games.
And finally, Barkley who scares me half to death when I look at her because she looks so much like Kallista.
Coincidence or… the doing of President Echo herself?
A/N: Here are your tributes: Barkley, Kale, and Ember, plus their mentor: Chance Aristotle. Forum is up and running! We need you guys! Link is at the bottom of my profile.
What are your first impressions of the tributes? Your favorite and least?
What did you think of Chance Aristotle?
Want some more sponsor points? I posted a One Shot for the Caesar's Palace's prompt contest. It is about District 7's Victor, Oakland Sorrioten and why she is not mentoring in Chance Aristotle's place. Plus her emotional state… :/ So reviewing it will get you some points since it relates to the SYOT :D
Love Always, Domi