District 10 Awakening: Guilty Pleasures

Guilty Pleasures by Ke$ha

I like to lay in lace?

A little leather (a little leather)

I know you want to taste (my guilty pleasure)

You know there's nothing better

I am your guilty pleasure…

Tanner Mustang (24) D10 Victor of the 94th Games

My eyes flutter open and the blurred images slowly take form, the dark colors slowly dissipating from the bright sunbeams that cascade from my windowpane. The light strikes my hazel eyes and the room becomes clear, my room strewn with clothes and food boxes. Turning my head to the left, I catch the flashing of numbers: 7:18 AM. I hastily throw a muscled arm to the small box and silence the radio, country music obnoxiously sounding from the alarm.

"You'd think they would play something different, no?"

I turn my head to see Cyana casually leaning on my chiseled chest, her well-endowed chest against mine. She wears only a lacy, black bra and underwear, her light skin accenting her curves in all the right places. Her long, wavy brown hair held up in a bun, several strands falling into her hazel eyes.

"Last night," she purrs as she traces her index finger across my forearm. "Was so… amazing."

I nod. "Yeah, you slept well?"

"The nightmares weren't there, so yes." She murmurs as she leans into me and our lips meet, her fervid kisses driving me crazy. "Today's reaping day, right?"

" 'Awakening' day."

She smirks. "Ah, I see." She falls back onto the other side of the bed, her chest jiggling lightly. "Well I don't need to go…" She playfully sticks her tongue out. "You do, however."

I shove her playfully. "I thought we were going to the bar before I leave."

Her eyes widen. "Oh, yeah. I'll meet you outside in, like, an hour." She throws her short legs over the side of the bed and gathers her shirt and jean shorts in a heap in the corner of the room.

"You better not put those clothes back on before you leave," I growl softly.

She grins. "You know I never do."

She quietly shuts my door and I run up to the window and watch as her slim, petite figure emerges from my front entrance, bra and all, and saunters over to her house across the street. Her eyes shine bright against the newly emerged sun. Her skin glistening with sweat from the night before, her body rejuvenated from the love we had shared the night before.

Cyana Mills: Victor of the 82nd Games. Her Games had not left her broken, but stronger. Her shell had shattered and left a strong, independent woman underneath. She became a model Victor, advertised by President Echo to follow by example. She always managed to keep a smile on her face, a laugh, anything really. A very small part of her though was drowning. Submerged under the pains and faults of her Games and post-Victory, she turned to human pleasures. The highs of sex became her, a nymphomaniac. That is how she stays sane, and I help fill the void.

I crawl out of bed and rub my eyes, my eyelids falling ever so often in the still silence. Stretching my muscles as newfound energy begins to spread throughout every fiber of my being, I find myself thinking of today. The sorry excuse of 15 year olds that I need to mentor, needing to pick the one who I'll bet on. I didn't bother looking at their past Games, much less their pictures.

Taking a quick shower and dressing in the usual attire, a black t-shirt and jeans, I collect a small bag of things and throw it over my shoulder. Clasping my hand around the brass doorknob, I swing the grand door open and find Cyana sitting on the front door steps, her back turned to me and subtly humming an old District 10 hymn. Her long hair is now down, her locks accented by a feminine cowgirl hat. She wears a pink and white checkered blouse that hugs her torso, jeans encrusted with rhinestones around her waist that flare at the bottom.

I feel the smirk forming on my lips as I stealthy make my way towards her, her strawberry scented shampoo filling my senses. I pick her up mid yawn and she yelps, laughing loudly as I attack her with minute touches in erogenous places. Placing small kisses of my fingertips on her body, my guilty pleasure.

"We have to go, Tanner." I return her to the ground and together we head to the small family owned bar that Cyana's parents operate. She takes her hand in mine as we travel the few blocks together, laughing, and smiling as our presences are enough to keep the other happy. Friends with benefits.

We enter the bar and welcome the strong scent of stale beer and sweaty men as she leads us to a booth in the far corner of the room. The place is the traditional of sorts, the wooden décor and rustic atmosphere tie the whole place together, District 10 at its best.

Her mother greets us with a bright smile and a large platter of eggs, bacon, and other various breakfast items with orange juice and milk. She pecks her daughter's cheek and returns to her place at the counter, men suddenly drawn to her.

"Mom makes the best breakfast," Cyana moans as she bites into her toast. "Nom nom nom…." She laughs and a cheerful expression takes place. She grabs her glass of orange juice and chugs it, her head tilted back as I watch the muscles in her neck contract as the freshly squeezed juice travels down her neck that appears to have two red marks.

"Do you remember your Games, Cy?"

She puts her glass down. "Of course."

I nod. "What happened to your neck? I noticed it last night an-"

"My District partner strangled me…" She brings her left hand to her neck and clasps onto it. "He… it was the final two… I managed to get away, that bastard. I took that lasso there…" She draws my attention to the rope that is hung on the wall above us that appears to have metal spikes around the rough threading. "I lassoed the fuck out of him…"

She takes a swig of orange juice and slams the glass down. "That son of a bitch had a family, a little sister… crying and crying…" She says this all with a straight face, deadpanning every word, every syllable. "I did what I had to do to survive… like we've all done."

I look down at my hands and for a moment and envision the crimson liquid, hot and sticky as my jackhammer swung over my head and dented the girl from 6's skull, the fragments of bone and brain matter splattering against me. The screams of Kaylee as I killed her, as I silenced her with the blow of that blasted jackhammer.

I killed. I lived. I enjoyed it, killing as I was one-step closer to winning. One-step closer to ultimate riches and fame, Capitol whores and sluts at my disposal. It was infinite, nothing could stop me from winning, not even Kaylee Rineston could stop me with her killer legs and smile. As the last blow was delivered to 9 I triumphed, my heart bursting and exploding with relief. I had not asked for this, but I was not going to let it control me. To let the evil behind it take me would denigrate my being, every fiber of my being. I chose to live my life to the fullest, my heart set on living in the now.

"We are the outer Districts, us, 11, and 12…" She drops her head slightly biting her lip. "You're the newest Victor to this imaginary circle of ours. We stand united, no matter how different our mentalities or personalities are. Beck is fucked up and that Calloway is just starting off, not to mention he's a Gamemaker this year."

"What?" I raise my eyebrows.

She nods. "Yeah. He's mentoring and a Gamemaker. Kinda fucked up if you ask me, having to mentor and then kill them…" She chuckles. "President Seraphina Echo… I'll never understand that woman."

"How did you find out about this?!"

She smirks, her eyes shining. "It's what I do best, Tanner. Instead of money, I get paid in secrets…"

"Secrets?"

"Mmhmm. My grandfather who was a Victor back in the Mockingjay Rebellion knew Finnick, knew his way of payment. Seraphina just needs the money which I get paid for every month, so I give her my Victor salary and I get to find out all her dirty, little secrets…"

I laugh. "You're one sneaky bitch, Cy. Tell me one."

She smiles. "Well, according to a politician's son, Seraphina killed Reed. You remember him, right? He looks exactly like Calloway did when he won his Games… Anyway, she stabbed him, like, fifty times or something and Calloway witnessed it…"

"Wait, wait, wait. How does the politician's son know this?"

"Video surveillance. There's a tape that she tried to hide, but somehow someone got it. They tried threatening her, but she'll claim otherwise. You know all the photoshop programs they have now…"

"Wasn't Seraphina the one who pursued him? Why would she kill him?"

She wraps her arms around herself and sighs. "He was planning… planning a takedown of sorts with the other Victors. " He started planning around Quinne's Games, but didn't start recruiting until yours…"

"I was never told of this."

"Of course you weren't. He was planning on the older Victors like myself, Thread, Delta… Haymitch, Beck, Mercedes, Marie, Rye, Berk… he didn't bother with Mason and Jewel since they were sick and Emerald refused."

"And…?"

"Well obviously Seraphina found out and killed him. There's nothing much more to it than that, besides his death being ruled as immune system failure from the flu."

"Any more?"

She smirks, leaning against the counter enough for me to glimpse at her cleavage. "You'd have to wait until after the Games…" She brings her lips close to my ear and whispers. "Don't forget about me while you're over there with all the Capitol prostitutes, kay?"

I feel the familiar heat stir in me again as her nose rubs against my cheek and she faces me eye-to-eye, hazel to hazel. "I don't know… you didn't leave me much to hang onto until then." I smirk as her eyes brighten and widen.

She smirks back. "I'll make it worth your while…" She sits back down and flips her hair over her shoulder, effortlessly. "It's nearly 11."

"Shit." I jump from the booth and grab my jean jacket, my heart racing in my chest. "Bye." I race out the swinging doors and run to the Justice Building just blocks away in the sweltering heat that cloaks itself in the humidity District 10 is accustomed to. Feeling the beads of sweat fall from my forehead and down my chest, the anticipation of this year's Games swelling in me.

I manage to get to the ancient building in five minutes flat, completely drenched in sweat and breathing heavily as I run past the receptionist and into the make shift lab made for this year. The room is sterile white, not a blemish in this damned room. Reminding me too much of hospitals and doctors, illness and disorders…

I push the thoughts away as I catch a glimpse of gold on each of the three metal tables with teens induced in coma like states as monitors are dead, not a sign of life present. Upon further inspection proves to be golden files, one for each tribute including history, past Games, etc.

Coyote "Coy" Coy

Tribute of the 8th Games

15 years old

Elmay "El" Risque

Tribute of the 87th Games

15 years old

Elijah "Eli" Sonenclar

Tribute of the 10th Games

15 years old

"Dammit. A bunch of fifteen year olds." I sigh as I toss the files aside. There had been younger tributes who had won before, but in past District 10 tributes' cases, well, they were killed by a much stronger, older opponent. Our history since the Mockingjay Rebellion has been well renowned, for our tributes, who most of the time, come in the top 12 spots and our secret organizations like the drug cartel and rebel force who do their work underground. We're surprisingly more interesting than the other Districts, much more well rounded, citizen wise at least.

Passing by each table, I read each of their files, trying to find anything I can use to man them up for this. Luckily for me Coyote has had some experience in the drug business, he's got to be tough, right? Elijah proves less than successful as records shows various operations done on his throat for thyroid cancer, his parents being avid supporters of the Capitol to be able to afford such costly treatments. Finally I arrive to the female tribute's files and welcome a rather attractive girl with dark brown hair and brown eyes that contrast her pale features delicately.

"Quite cute..."

The thoughts of her end however when neat calligraphy at the bottom of the page stops me, my hart stopping.

DNA testing on Ms. Risqué proves that her paternity belongs to that of Mrs.

Risqué proves that her paternity belongs to that of Mrs. Ethel Risque but not of Portley Risque. Further research proves that the biological father to Ms. Elmay Risque is Mr. Haden Mustang who is also the father to Victor Tanner Mustang.

"Wh-What…?!"

I snatch the phone out of my pocket and dial the number, the number to my promiscuous father. My hands start to sweat and the corners of mouth begin to twitch, a million thoughts running through my head of what I'll say to him.

"Hello." His voice is husky, rough just before he leaves for work. I can hear the soft crinkling of the newspaper and the beeping of the coffee machine, my mom singing in the kitchen.

"Dad, how far has your flirting gone?"

I hear a soft chuckle on the other end. "Well, son, as far as it can. Why?"

"You have a daughter, remember Ethel? You're the father to Elmay Risque, testing was done and-"

He goes silent in the other end and I let out a shaky breath. "Listen. If word if this gets out…"

"Don't tell her…"

"What?!"

"Don't tell Elmay, and if you see her parents don't make it seem suspicious."

"Pssh. Good luck with that…"

"Look, if you have to, just tell her before the goes into the Games. The secret will die with her an-"

"How could you just accept that?!"

"She lost the first time, I doubt she could win this time around…"

Typical Dad, I wouldn't be surprised if he'd said the same to me when I was reaped. "She's family…"

"She ain't in my family. She may be your sister, but I ain't her real father."

"What do you mean?"

"Portley is her father, he's been there since the beginning. Just don't let the relationship between the both of you get out of hand, Tanner."

I scoff. "Whatever. I've got two others I have to babysit. Anyhow, tell Mom I say hey."

"Okay, son. Be careful."

"I always am."

I end the call and sigh, burying my hands in my face and try to recollect my thoughts. Wiping away the sweat and damp clumps of hair that have grown slick on my face, I push my hair back and turn around to see a young boy with big, round brown eyes and a slightly upturned smile: Elijah.

"You didn't hear anything, did you?"

He smirks. "Of course, old sport. I most certainly did." His voice is very different from the southern accents here, almost as if it were from a different country all together though I'm leaning towards rare Capitol accent. "Now where am I?"

I go over to him and slide the chair over to him, placing my elbows and my knees and feet firmly planted to the floor. "This is District 10's Justice Building. You've been chosen from a large selection of past tributes to compete in the 4th Quarter Quell."

His head cocks to the side. "But I was in the 10th Hunger Games, was I not?"

I let out a sigh. "Yes, but now you're in the 100th."

He nods slowly and looks up at me. "The girl over there is your half-sister?"

I grunt. "Yeah, don't go telling her, you hear?"

"Oh, I hear you real well, old sport. Though I would love some tips on the Games, you know, my mouth can get me into trouble…" He haughtily laughs and jumps from the table, the way he walks towards me is regal and formal. "Tell me all your strategies and I'll keep this mouth of mine shut." Elijah motions around his mouth similar of that to the lock and key crap and sits on the loveseat, swinging his right leg over his left.

"Fine. You better keep your end of the deal, kid."

"I always do." He mocks me and grins as he relaxes into the seat, the red scarring around his throat less than subtle as he rests his head back.

"Damn kid."

We sit and wait, wait for the other two to awaken and announce the news of their awakening. Thoughts of future endeavors begin to swirl in my head and all I can think of is El, her eyes, my father's eyes and the glassy stare of the young girl's eyes as the monitors begins to stir…

A/N: Sorry for the late update! Now with AP testing done with and the school year coming to a close, I'll be able to get back on track with Oblivion for the summer. Important info on my profile pertaining to pre-Games. Thanks so much to those who are reading and those who've reviewed :)

1. What did you think of Tanner and Cyana?

2. What did you think of Eli, El, and Coy? (With the small info that was said XD)

Love Always, Domi