Author's Notes:
Sorry y'all for the delay. I had a little bit of a writer's laziness. I hope I make up for it with the length and quality. Read and review! Special thanks to Wandering princess for Emily and Fructus, and Jamez S for Ford.
District 6's Male Tribute: Ford Gini POV:
"Emirates! Psst, Em!" I see her head peaking out her window, her blond curls cascading down her shoulders, her bright blue eyes gazing out at me. My stomach flutters just a bit. She is the most beautiful girl I have ever lain eyes upon. Oh, I couldn't live without her.
Her room is on ground level, where I am, making it easier to talk to her than if she was up in a tower. Em's house is a mansion, but is only one storey. Her mother has bad knee problems, sometimes, she can barely walk. That's why they don't have a multi-level home.
"What are you doing here?" She asks me, implying that I shouldn't be here. She's right, If her father saw me right now, I would definitely get a tongue lashing.
"I came to see you." I tell her.
She rolls her eyes."I would come out and talk to you but, I have to finish my work."
"What work?" I ask, thinking I could just maybe help.
"Ford, you don't know how to sew or do needlework, don't even try helping." There is slight irritation in her voice.
"It wouldn't hurt me to learn." I give her my most charming smile.
I can hear her door open. The alarm in her eyes is all I have to see, to know that I need to hide. I quickly duck behind a big hedge.
"Who were you talking to dear?" Crap, it's her dad.
"Oh, sorry, I didn't know that I was talking that loudly. This sounds stupid, but I was talking to myself. This needlework is just too hard!"
"Well, maybe you need an instructor to help you."
"No, don't waste the money, I'll figure it out." That is just like Em.
"Ok, have you seen Ford lately?" Her dad asks.
Oh no, I totally forgot to wash his car. Boy, am I in for it.
"Uh, Ford..? No, no, I don't know w-where he could uh, be." Damn Emirates, stop being so bad at lying! I guess, it isn't a bad thing, but still.
"Well, alright dear. Are you going to go with your friends to the reaping, or your mother and me?"
"I'll go with some friends, we will probably be leaving soon."
"Alright honey, we'll see you afterwards."
I hear the door close and I carefully come out from behind the hedge. When I see her, I pretend to wick away sweat from my eyebrow, like I was really nervous. To be honest, I was.
She glares at me and asks what her dad needed me for.
I reply honestly, telling her about not washing his car. To say the least, her dad hates me. I'm a poor hand that works for him. My only family is my Aunt Niss. My parents both died when I was really young, I don't know how, Aunt Niss never told me. I work to keep food on the table for both of us. She cared for me until I was 10, now I'm returning the favour. She is old and frail, she can't do much any more.
Mr. Merlin gave me a job to care for whatever he needed taking care of. I was grateful for the work and the pay, but I might have accidentally fallen in love with his daughter and she might have accidentally fallen in love with me. Sounds bad, I know. Once he saw me just talking to Emirates, he flipped, telling me if he ever saw me talking to her again, he would fire me on the spot. That happened 5 times. Em and I aren't too good at hiding our feelings. I know he would never let me marry his daughter, but he would also never fire me. What can I say, I'm good at what I do. Most of the time, most.
Like right know, I was in a jam. Should I go start cleaning the car now? It would take awhile, and I didn't have too long. I started contemplating, forgetting Em was there.
"So, are you gonna wash the car, or are you going to come with me?" Emirates asks with curiosity.
"Well, I've been very good to your father, for all these years. I'm going to do a very bad thing and don't you dare judge me, okay?"
"What are you going to do?" You can practically see the worry etched in her eyes.
"I'm just going to soak it and tell him that I washed it."
"Oh, that's not that big of a deal." She sighs, probably thinking that I would do something terribly worse.
After I finish "washing" the car, I take the old trail to the Reapings. Next to me is Em - side by side, just like we should be. I grab her waist and pull her towards me, she lets out a little squeal, before giving me a light kiss on the nose. I smile down at her, and she returns it.
District 6's Female Tribute: Emily Trainor POV:
Nate, I have to go!"
"Oh, come on Milly. You know you still want me - I'm like the morphling I sell. You couldn't even keep your hands off me last night."
I cringe, hating to think about what we did last night. I'm not proud of what I do, but I do it to survive. My two older sisters left me with my morphling addicted father. His dealers found an interest in me. Now, they are my lifeline. Selling my body to survive. It's a rough road, but somehow I manage.
As I start to get up, Nate grabs my arm and pulls me back into him. I can still smell the liquor in his breath as he starts kissing my neck again.
"Let's go another round doll, I know that you still have plenty of time."
"Actually, I don't," I reply. it's a lie, but who cares, my whole life is a lie.
I've got another person I have to see, before this torturous night is over. When I try to get up this time, I'm able to squirm out of his grip. I find my clothes and duck into the bathroom. Once I'm fully clothed, I open the door.
To my surprise, Nate isn't even there. Good, I think to myself, now I have plenty of time to get to Harry's. 40 minutes, but it's dark out so I'll have to be extra careful.
I step out the door, just to be enveloped in complete darkness. Then someone grabs my waist with one arm and covers a hand over my mouth with his other arm. I'm pushed to the side of the house. Then I hear his husky voice, practically dripping with lust.
Nate.
"Thought I was gone, didn't you? Doll, what happened in there wasn't enough to keep me away. I want more."
I shudder and start to shrink back in fear.
First, I hear the sound of coins jingle in my pocket. It helps, just a little. It eases the pain, when I feel his hands they slowly drift there way down my back, leaving a trail of nothingness.
Then his lips start to attack mine, the feeling I have is disappointment in myself, letting some sick hormonal bastard make out with me. After what I had to deal with in the house. His hands stop on my ass, and I just want to kick him in the balls. One hand goes back in my pocket, and when he takes his hand out, my pocket feels lighter. He took money out. He can't do that. I start to tell him that, but he interrupts me.
"Listen babe, I know you want me, but I want others to know. Tell me you want more. Plead for me to give you more."
That's it I think, I'm done. Before he realizes what's going on. I turn him to face the side of the house. By know, my eyes have adjusted to the darkness. He thinks, that he turned me on or something. I can tell by the smirk on his face. I bit my lip. He drops the change back in my pocket.
Perfect. He starts to lift up my shirt, but instead, I pin his arms above his head. He's really buying it now.
Wait for it... wait... now! I thrust my elbow into his stomach, he topples over and I make a break for it.
Seven minutes later, I'm at Harry's house. Fastest I've ever gotten there. I know that Nate didn't follow me, but I just wanted to be safe. I knock on the door. It opens and Harry stands there ushering me inside. His shirt is half open, probably trying to look sexy. He isn't. I let out a small sad sigh. This is going to be a long night.
I wake up to find Harry's sweaty body on top of me.
"Morning Princess," he whispers in my ear. "Last night was something, wasn't it."
"Yeah," I reply. It's a lie. After each session, I try to forget about them. I start to get up.
He gives me smirk, "You know you could stay longer."
"Oh, you know I would, but the Reapings are today, and I have to look my best." I say with a sweet little voice.
"You look great honey, no need to rush off."
"Thank you, but I really must go now." Shouldering him away.
He grabs my shoulder and spins me toward him. The lack of a bra instantly registers in my mind. Immediately, I cover them with my arms. Harry doesn't seem to notice. Instead he starts kissing the back of my neck and rubs his hands over my back.
When he finally breaks away, I find my clothes thrown all over the room. Before he can object, I put them on and jog briskly out the door.
Ford Gini POV:
I wait in my enclosed section. I liked it better when Emirates and I were walking here. It felt right, like I was supposed to be there. Here, I feel like I'm in prison. Like I'm some sort of prisoner.
We all wait for the escort to come, Fructus Sum. The rumors about Fructus: his tattoos on his head change with the mood he has. I'm trying to see if it's true or not, but he I wearing a black witch-like hat with colourful streamers wrapped around it. It's a bad mashup between Halloween and New Year's Eve. Honestly, it looks so messed up. His ears stay true to the rumor, they are hexagon shaped. Maybe for better hearing, who knows?
He's now walking over to the reaping bowls. Oh, shoot, I missed the video, I think to myself sarcastically.
"We will be doing the boys first, to make it more interesting!"
Seriously? It doesn't matter, you're going to still pick one boy and one girl. Like duh.
"Ford Gini!"
Wait, what? That definitely pulls me out of my daze. Everyone makes a line. All so smug that they will make it through this year without going to the real prison of Hell.
"No, please don't go!" It's Emirates.
I keep walking, I can't show any weakness. I make it to the stage and wait for the girl to be chosen. I don't worry about Em being picked, her dad pays big money to make sure she doesn't get reaped.
"Emily Trainor."
I see a young girl emerge from the crowd. I've seen her around. She's a slut. Well, I guess I can't judge her yet, I still haven't met her. She could be doing to survive. She could be more of like a prostitute.
I shake her hand. Her hand is small and cold. Her eyes look into mine, and I feel like she has seen me. Like she knows every secret in me, like she knows me better than I know myself. It's creepy.
Next thing I know, I'm pushed into a little room. There is a comfortable couch, so a sit down. Emirates tentatively opens the door. Her eyes are red rimmed, she's been crying. Her hair looks flat, and worst of all, her face looks lifeless.
"Come here Emmy." I tell her with opened arms. Immediately she goes into them. We sit there together the whole time. When the peacekeepers come in to take her out, she tells me to come back to her. I just want to break down, but I can't. Show no weakness.
Next my Aunt Niss comes in, barely able to make it through the door. I help her and guide her to the couch. She can barely talk, but if I put my ear next to her mouth, I can hear her.
"Ford," she starts out, "if you do make it back, I want you to know that I loved you as my only son, and that I probably won't be able to see you ever again. When you come back, I'll be with your parents." She looks up to the ceiling. The Peacekeeper comes in and gently takes her out. Aunt Niss, gone forever? I won't let that happen.
Next person to walk in makes me do a double take. It's Mr. Merlin. He kneels in front of me, his hand on my knee.
"Son, you have worked hard for me for eight years now. I never like the fact that you and my daughter fell in love, but I will do anything to make her happy. I will spend every cent I have to get you out of there, alive. Don't worry about your Aunt either, she will be well cared for I promise." I smiles, probably seeing the shock on my face. The peacekeeper comes back in.
As I board the train, I feel an odd sense in my stomach. It's confidence, confidence that I will make it back. It feels good.
Emily Trainor POV:
"Emily Trainor."
Well, I guess it's better to die there, than to live the rest of my life in District 6. It's almost better this way, I think as I climb the steps of the Justice Building. When I'm told to shake the boy tribute's hand, I can see his judging eyes all over me. I've seen him before, he is a worker for Mr. Merlin. He likes Mr. Merlin's daughter. I know his parents died when he was young, from what I believe was a car crash.
He looks away and I walk into the Justice Building. To my right is a staircase, it probably leads into the second level. To my left are closed doors, one of which I'm put into. The door opens after a couple minutes, and it's Nate. I swear to God, I've had it with him! He leans close to me. I turn and walk to the other side of the room.
"Baby, this is my last chance to see you. Come here." He meows like he's sexy or something. Ugh!
"Shut up! I've had it with you! The only reason I've slept with you and done all that crap, is because I needed the food, the protection. I don't want you, you fucking dickhead!"
With that, the door opens and a peacekeeper takes Nate by the arm and pulls him out of the room. I go and sit down. I wait there for a while. The next time the door opens, it's a peacekeeper telling me that it's time to go.
A small smile is on my lips as I leave District 6 behind. That was the first time I've ever cursed at someone. Yes, in my head, but aloud. Maybe I could be a bad ass.
Author's Notes:
I hope you guys liked it! Please review.
1. What did you think?
2. Who do you like the best overall? It's the 6th district, so we are halfway through the reapings. I'll put a poll up after I finish all of them. (Reapings)
3. Anything I can do better? Other than faster updating.