District 8
Xander Lugar's POV – District 8 Male
Once the reaping ceremony ended, the peacekeepers escorted me and my district partner, Raven, into two separate rooms in the Justice Building. The room that I was in was very bland. It was a small, grey room with the only distinguishable features being a large mirror on the wall, a silver video camera in the corner of the room, and the brown door that I walked through.
I was more than glad to be in this room, away from everyone and everything. Today had been hell and I was glad to just be by myself. In general, I considered myself an introvert and did not enjoy having too much attention on me. At the reaping ceremony, Destiny, District Eight's escort, had picked one of the many pieces of paper that had my name on it. The entire district was staring at me, trying to size up my chances of survival in the Games. All of that attention alone was enough to make me uncomfortable, but I also had to face the realization that I was going to die in the Hunger Games.
My eyes wandered to the mirror in the room and focused on my clothes. My family – or what is left of my family I should say – couldn't afford any nice clothes for me, so I wore my grandfather's clothes when he was my age. He was a lot taller and skinnier than me though when he was my age, so the white shirt, the matching white pants, and the brown shoes I was wearing were both too long and too tight on me. These clothes were also covered in my vomit.
Tears started to fil my eyes as I looked at the vomit stains. I…I couldn't stop myself. I was so uncomfortable and scared during the whole reaping ceremony that, after I looked out into the crowds of people from the district, I threw up on the stage. Destiny shrieked in disgust at the sight and the rest of the district, even my own partner, looked at me with some variation of pity. Everyone knew what was going to happen: I was going to die.
In that moment, I effectively ruined any chance I had at making any sponsors. To anyone watching, I was just the slightly chubby, weak thirteen year-old boy who vomited on stage. Maybe some people would feel bad for me, but they all were going to assume that I was going to die in the bloodbath.
"It's not fair…it's not fair!" I cried to myself. "…damn the Capitol!"
I couldn't take it anymore. I couldn't look at my tear-filled, pathetic face. It was pissing me off! I took off one of my shoes and tossed it at the mirror. Upon impact, the mirror shattered and shards of glass scattered on the ground. I then rushed over to my shoe, put it back on my foot, and proceeded to jump on the shards of glass, shattering them further.
In the back of my head, I knew that I wasn't acting rationally. There was definitely a chance that I could get in trouble for destroying public property that belonged to the Capitol. I just didn't care. What was anyone going to do to me? I was also reaped for the Hunger Games. They can't do anything to me until the Games! Even assuming they could do something to me, I was already slated to die – what more could they honestly do to me? Kill me sooner? I would probably prefer that! It wouldn't prolong my life and would simply put me out of misery.
A few minutes after I had completely crushed all glass shards, I had started to calm down. Immediately after, the door to the room slammed open. A peacekeeper stormed in and glared at me.
"Listen here, you brat. Do you know what you just did? That mirror is worth more than anything you could ever hope to pay for!" He hissed at me.
I laughed un-humorously in response. "I've already paid my life. Consider that my payment!"
"Your life isn't worth shit, you snot-nosed kid!" He retaliated with a scowl.
"Go to hell!" I shouted back at him.
The peacekeeper snarled back, calling me multiple obscenities. I just rolled my eyes, ignoring him. He honestly could not do anything to me. The Capitol would have his head if something happened to one of the reaped tributes.
This wasn't the first time I was 'told off' for something I said or did. I was told I had anger-management issues, so verbal fights were quite common for me. Ever since my parents died in a house-fire when I was six, I became a much more irritable person. I had a tendency to not accept people's bullshit, no matter who they were. I didn't care if they were older than me, tougher-looking than me, or even if they had political authority over me – if you made me mad, I was going to let you know that!
A few minutes passed before the peacekeeper decided to quit our verbal argument. He glared at me before he stormed out of the room, slamming the door. For the briefest of moments, I was left alone. A minute passed before the door opened again.
Instead of another peacekeeper, I was greeted by my actual visitors: my grandfather and my older sister, Amaya.
Amaya rushed forward and grabbed me by my shirt. She then pulled me into a hug and sobbed into my shoulder. I immediately returned her hug and started to cry as well.
"Xander…are…are you okay?" My grandfather asked quietly as he walked towards us slowly. He was a rather old man that was in his seventies, a very rare feat for someone living in the districts! His age, though, made him rather slow and frail. To be honest, I was surprised he had the energy to come all the way to the Justice Building and visit me.
"Grandpa…honestly…no." I answered, my voice weak.
"Why…why did this happen? Why now?" Amaya questioned amidst her tears, her head still on my shoulder. "Things were just starting to look up for us…"
This really was a bad time. My sister and I had just stopped mourning for our parents and were finally able to fully function again. We had also just gotten new jobs at a textile factory that paid more than our previous jobs. For the past month, we were able to work more for more money and my grandfather was slowly getting the chance to work less and rest more at our small house. Until today, I would have said life was starting to be easier! But now…
"Amaya…Grandpa…please, just look after each other. Promise me that you'll keep doing what you are doing. And don't look…when…well…" I shook my head. "…just try not to be watching when I die…"
"…no." Amaya stated firmly. She pulled herself away from me and proceeded to glare at me with her tear-filled eyes. "Don't talk like that. Don't you EVER talk about that to me! You are not going to die Xander!"
"Don't try and deny it sis. I embarrassed the crap out of myself today and I'm not going to get any sponsors…" I replied quietly, looking downward. "…besides, my district partner looks much stronger than me…and that's not even counting the other tributes."
Raven, the girl that was reaped with me, didn't look much older than me but she definitely had a much better chance than me. She was a pale-skinned, slightly-thin girl with blonde hair that actually had a little muscle in her. She was also very pretty and was able to smile and wave at the cameras after she was reaped. Raven already had a much stronger chance than I did to come out of the Hunger Games…and that was just one tribute. I'm pretty sure at least twenty of the other tributes had a stronger chance than me to win as well!
"I don't care what the other tributes are like and how many sponsors you have! You can still win this dammit!" Amaya shouted at me. "You're smart, and you know it!"
"Probably not as smart as the tributes from District Three or Five…" I mumbled in response.
"Xander, just stop…please…" My grandfather spoke up. He put his arm on my shoulder and stared at me intently. "I've seen you in your room. You know how to work with gadgets and gizmos. And you have more common sense than most kids your age. You can do it…you just need to believe in yourself."
"Believe…in myself?" I repeated his words.
"You're smarter than you think! And you can definitely learn a few things when you get to the training area. Learn a weapon; learn how to survive in the wild: it shouldn't take you nearly as long as most people!" Amaya stated. "Please…I don't care how unlikely of a chance you think you have…just please try and do your best. I believe you can do it…and…and…" She stopped her speech as more tears started to develop in her eyes. "…we've lost enough family already. I don't think I can live if I lose you too…"
"Amaya…" I repeated her name.
She's right. Although I didn't think I had as much of a chance as she and our grandfather thought I had, I did realize that I can't lose! Our family really has been through too much. Seven years ago, Amaya and I lost our parents and grandfather lost his son and daughter-in-law. Just a year ago, our grandmother passed away from disease. We've been through a lot these past few years, but we've been tough. We've been able to survive so far, and it was because well all had each other!
I wasn't going to let either Amaya or grandfather go through any more pain. I just wasn't!
"…I'll…I'll do my best!" I told them with a smile as I rubbed any remaining tears out of my own eyes.
At that moment, a peacekeeper opened the door. It was the same guy who had yelled at me earlier before my family had came in.
"Hey little shit, your visiting time is over. Say goodbye to big sis and the old man, because you aren't seeing them again!" He taunted me as he walked forward towards them.
"Once again, go to hell!" I hissed at him before turning back to my family. "You guys take care. I'll do my best."
"You can do it Xander…I believe in you!" Amaya told me as she rubbed the tears out of her own eyes.
"Xander…take this into the arena. Look at it when you need strength, and know that me and Amaya are back home rooting for you." My grandfather stated as he took off a watch on his right hand and gave it to me.
Right as I accepted it from him, the peacekeeper grabbed my grandfather by the back of his clothes. He then roughly dragged him out of the room.
"He can walk himself! Let him go!" I shouted at him.
The peacekeeper made no verbal response: he simply extended his middle finger towards me. He continued to drag my grandfather out of the room. Once he was removed from the room, he grabbed Amaya by her hand and dragged her out as well.
"Xander, do your best! You can do it!" She shouted before she was pulled out of the room and the door was shut.
With my family gone, I was left alone. No more visitors came to see me off. I really didn't have many friends. I had a few people that I guess I could consider acquaintances, but I didn't have anyone else who would come to see me off. And, at this moment, I preferred it that way.
With nothing left to do, I put on my grandfather's watch on my right hand. It was rather simplistic: just a small, plain black watch made of some cheap leather. There was no aesthetic reason to have it: it simply just told time. I didn't care though. I looked at it fondly, not really caring about the time.
My family may have been removed from the room, but they were going to be with me. Grandfather and Amaya were going to be my side as I entered the Games.
Did I honestly think I have a chance? I…I didn't know. I really didn't. Amaya and grandfather were overestimating my intelligence. I was not as smart as they think I was. But I had did have some intelligence I think! And I had the will to live!
I was not going to let Amaya and grandfather watch another person die. I was just not! I would do everything I could to make sure that I walked out of the arena alive. I didn't know how I was going to do it, but I was!
With this determination in my mind, I spent the rest of the time in the Justice Building thinking about my strategy for the arena and what I was going to have to try and learn during the training…
Raven Bell's POV – District 8 Female
I walked back-and-forth in the room in the Justice Building. I was the kind of girl that did not like to be sitting still for too long. Right now, there was nothing else I could do but just pace, think, and panic about the Games.
Perhaps it was rather naïve of me, but I had assumed that I stood no chance of getting reaped. I was only thirteen years-old and my family was well-off. My father was a peacekeeper, so money was never an issue for me. With only two slips of paper in the bowl of girl names, I had never expected to get reaped, so I never worried about the Games. Now, knowing that I was going into the Hunger Games, I was freaking out and trying my hardest to stay calm.
A few minutes of solitude passed before the door to the room was opened. My father, mother, and older brother, Aiden, came rushing in. Mother was the first to reach me and she pulled me into a hug. She already had tears in her eyes, but the second she grabbed me, she started to sob hysterically.
"Raven, my baby! My sweet, sweet baby…" She continued to cry as she held on to me tightly.
"…Mom…please don't cry." I requested as tears developed in my eyes. "…I'm trying my hardest to not cry as well."
"This…this just isn't fair. Why did this happen to you? I don't understand it!" She exclaimed frantically. She somehow tightened her grip on me and it was starting to get hard to breathe.
"Leigh, please…you're going to crush her. Let the girl breathe." Father spoke up.
Mother let go of me reluctantly. She tried to rub off the tears in her eyes, but she continued to cry. My mother was a sweet, sweet woman who worked hard to improve the lives of everyone around her. She was such a happy woman and I had never seen her this upset before…and I wish I hadn't. The sight was enough to break my heart!
Father walked forward and put his hands on my shoulders. He looked me dead in the eye and I noticed that his eyes were red, as if he was trying his hardest not to cry.
"Raven…pay attention to the other tributes. Study them well. Learn what makes them tic and take them down." He told me.
"Dad…" My eyes widened. I was still just accepting the fact that I was going into the arena. I didn't want to even imagine having to kill someone.
"Once you get to the Capitol, you need to learn a weapon. Pick something small, like throwing knives or a slingshot or something. You're quick on your feet, so you shouldn't have something dragging you down." He continued.
"…do you honestly think I stand a chance Dad? I can't kill anybody…" I stated with tears in my eyes.
"…I do. Raven…this isn't anything I wanted to have to talk to you about. I had hoped this would never happen to you or your brother. But I know you can win. You're strong. You're tough. You've been doing dance for years now, so you're quick on your feet. I know you can win if you fight. So please…Raven…fight." Father begged.
That did it. I couldn't hold back the tears in my eyes any longer. I quickly put my hands over my eyes and nodded. "I'll…I'll try…"
"…Dad's right. You can do it Raven." Aiden told me as he approached me. He moved my hands away from my eyes and brushed away my tears.
I never really was too close with my brother. He was a cool guy at times, but he was also kinda a jerk. Like most guys honestly. I always thought of him as an annoying, stupid older brother. Right now, though, I looked up to him, probably looking at him for the last time. I saw the guy who had been there my whole life who had helped take care me, the guy who would walk me home from my dance lessons, the guy who would do anything for me.
"…Raven, don't cry. Don't cry." He told me, as tears started to fall down his eyes. "…otherwise, I'll start crying."
"…kinda too late for that now." I replied with a small smile, attempting to make a joke.
My brother returned the smile, but it was small and insincere. He quickly went to his left hand and took off his watch: a nice, gold watch that my father bought him for his fourteenth birthday. It was something of his that I had always wanted and I remember getting really angry that he was given it and not me.
"…do you still want this Raven?" He asked me in a soft voice.
"Aiden, no. That's your special watch! That was a gift: I can't take it!" I told him, shaking my head sharply.
My brother shook his head. He grabbed my left hand and put the watch on it.
"Consider it a gift from me to you. Know that your big bro will always be by your side in the arena." He told me.
I couldn't response to that. I just simply started to cry harder and pulled him into a longer hug.
The rest of my time with my family was spent with me, my mother, and Aiden crying while my father watched solemnly, as if he was trying to find some way to help. The other peacekeepers came and escorted my family out, leaving me alone for a few moments. The door quickly opened again, however, and I was greeted as my best friends, Carolina, Gracie, and Rose, came rushing in.
Rose took a look at my face and makes an uneasy smile. "Raven…you look like shit…"
It was a joke. Rose was a very direct and blunt person that often made jokes based on those traits. Normally, I would have laughed and probably responded back with a comment, something probably like 'At least I'm not shit like you', but I couldn't muster up the words.
Instead I nodded in agreement. "I feel like shit."
The uneasy smile dropped from her face and a frown covered her face. Gracie immediately burst into loud tears.
"This…this isn't fair Raven! What about all of our plans?" She cried out with red eyes.
Gracie, Carolina and I had all taken dance lessons. It's actually where I met Gracie! We were all really young and we had big dreams of becoming famous. We had often planned on opening a school and doing a recital so big that we got the attention of all of Panem. Our dances and shows were going to be revolutionary. Now, though…
"Well, you two can go on ahead. Rose, can you take my place in the dance?" I ask. "…it really did need three people."
"…Raven…I don't think so. You know I'm not much of a dancer like you three are…" Rose made another attempt at a joke, but she frowned when no one laughed back. "…I will if you want me to. But please…you can come back. You know you can! You need to fight!"
"…I'll try." I replied back.
"You know you can too. I already know you got plenty of sponsors. I mean, you're drop-dead gorgeous. All the boys our age want you and you know it!" She continued.
That comment actually made me laugh a little. Oh boys…I always told myself I was too young to date anyone, but that didn't mean I was too young to flirt. It was a talent that came naturally and one I enjoyed probably more than I should.
"You can do it Raven! You just need to do it…" Rose assured me.
Once the peacekeepers came into the room, Rose and Gracie left the room and waved me goodbye. As they walked out, Carolina, who had been quiet the whole time, walked up to me and gave me a hug.
"…I'm going to miss my best friend if you can't come out. Win for us Raven!" She whispered into my ear before she broke the hug and left.
Carolina and I had been best friends for the entirety of our lives. We both complimented each other so well. I was the outgoing, loud one who helped her open up more to the world and she was the shy, quiet one that helped keep me grounded. She was my rock, and I was hers. And I would do everything I could to come back to her, my other friends, and my family!
For a few minutes, I was left alone. I didn't really think anyone else would come visit me. I simply continued my pacing as my thoughts started to wander about the Games.
…I wonder how many people came to visit my district partner. Xander was a brown-haired, slightly chubby boy that I hadn't met, but I could hear the sounds of an older girl crying when his name was called. He obviously had some family and friends out there and I felt bad that he, too, was also in this situation. And I couldn't help but feel even worse for him when he threw up on the stage. Destiny, our escort, freaked out and made a big deal about it. She called him disgusting several times before she finally walked off stage immediately after.
I couldn't help but roll my eyes at the thought of that. It was completely understandable. The entire time I walked up the stage, I felt like I had a knot in my stomach. I honestly that that was going to throw up as well. I'm surprised I was able to hold it in. I don't fault him for doing it. I just felt sad that he was put in the situation…sad that we are both put into the same situation…
My thoughts on my district partner were interrupted as the door opened up a third time. A boy walked in: someone who I had never expected to show up.
"Jason? What are you doing here?" I gasped.
Jason was the son of my dance instructor and he was my age. He was a super sweet boy that I thought may have had a crush on me. He wasn't the most subtle person! I told him a week ago that I wasn't interested in a relationship, so I thought that he was upset with me. All the other guys that I said similar things to did not show up today after all! But, here he is…
"…I came to see you off Raven." He told me with a frown on his face. "…how are you doing?"
"…honestly, I've been better. But I'm feeling better than I did earlier." I answered with a sigh.
I just hated this. These last meetings with my family, my friends, and even with Jason…nothing felt natural! I wasn't the friendly, outgoing, sarcastic girl that I thought I was! I was so mopey and depressed! It was like I wasn't me right now. I couldn't forget for even a second that I was going into the Games and I hated it!
Tears developed into my eyes and Jason quickly rushed over to me and wrapped his arms around my back. I quickly did the same and buried my head into his chest.
We stayed like this for the rest of his visit until the peacekeepers came into the room. He broke his hug and looked me in the eyes.
"You're the best girl I have ever met…if you try, no one stands a chance against you." He said softly as his eyes turned red. "…good luck out there Raven."
I let a smile grace my lips as I rubbed the tears out of my eyes. He believes in me that much? I never really considered him that great of a friend: he was just a sweet boy I knew in passing. To hear him have that much support for me…
I gave him a small kiss on the cheek.
"I'll do my best. I promise." I tell him sincerely. "Please, take care Jason."
Jason smiles back. He waves goodbye to me as he walks out of the room before the peacekeepers force him out.
…no more pity party! I spent too much time whining about what was going to happen in the Games and let it overshadow who I was. My family was right. Carolina, Gracie, and Rose were right. Jason was right. I could win. I really could!
The idea of killing someone made me uncomfortable, but I'd have to get over it. I was going to come to everyone. I had many plans to do and many people to come back to. Nothing, not even the Hunger Games, was going to stop that!
District 5
Stephanie Volk's POV – District 5 Female
I had never been inside the Justice Building, despite the fact that the mayor of District Five was my father. Unless you had business there, you were not allowed inside. No exceptions. Seeing the inside of the building was exciting to me. Although I was quickly shoved into my room, I still saw things that enthralled me.
The ceiling of the rooms, including the room that I was to wait inside, were all painted silver and had clear, see-through ceilings. I could see the electricity that powered the whole building running through the different visible currents in the ceiling. It was all so fascinating to me! When the peacekeepers left me alone in my room, the only thing I could do was stare at the ceiling and the electricity running through it.
In the back of my head, I realized that I was probably only interested in the ceiling so I could focus on something other than the reaping. I was, indeed, very nervous about the Hunger Games. Girls – small, nerdy girls like me – were reaped all the time from our district and very few came back alive. This thought remained in the back of my head, but I did my best to ignore it and focus on the electrical phenomenon that I was observing. I was not the kind of person who enjoyed focusing on the negatives in life, no matter how short my life was most likely going to be. If I could find one thing, even if it was just some electricity that intrigued me, I would spend my time focusing on that!
My study did not last for too long, as the door to the room opened up. Father and mother walked in with tears visible in their eyes.
"Stephanie…" My mother started. Her eyes wandered between me and the floor.
Father did not say anything. He simply looked downward, letting his tears hit the floor. I frowned in response as I adjusted my glasses. I didn't want my parents to be upset about me entering the Games. I didn't like seeing anyone depressed, especially not my family!
"…why are you two crying? I haven't died yet. I can still win." I reply quietly with a small smile.
That comment caused both of my parents to stop crying. I sighed in relief. Father looked up at me and his tear-filled eyes glistened with pride.
"Stephanie, your mother and I are so proud of the woman you have become. You're the brightest girl District Five has ever had…" Father spoke up quietly. "…you can win."
"Will win." I reassured. I could see the edges of my parents' mouths lift slightly.
Was I really this confident? No. Definitely not. I was terrified for the Games. I was terrified about an inevitable death in the bloodbath. But for them, I'll be the most confident woman they have ever met! As long as they left not feeling depressed, I would be whoever they wanted me to be!
"There are many victors from our district and District Three that have won through shear ingenuity alone. My best friend is one of them! And you will join that list of victors. I know you will!" My father exclaimed. He was growing more and more confident due to my attempts to cheer him up.
"Your father is right, dear." Mother spoke up in her quiet voice. She, like my father, was becoming more confident in me. "You can easily outwit all of the other tributes."
It was always possible. For every ruthless career that won the Games through brute force, there was always those few tributes that won through alternate methods. Maybe they used electrocution, explosions, machinery, traps, or whatever they could build. They won through outwitting the competition. I would definitely be playing with this mindset in mind. Technology of any sorts would be my weapon! The only question is if I really would win like I am telling my parents that I would…
As I thought more about the Games, a thought occurred to me that I needed to ask my father about.
"Dad, can you tell me about my partner?" I asked politely.
My father immediately stiffened. "…what do you want to know about him?"
"He obviously was familiar to you and the other people in the district based on that whole debacle a while back. I'm curious if you know anything about him." I answered.
My district partner, Icarus Bolt, was a volunteer. Those were rare for District Five standards, but volunteers like him were even rarer. He was not a muscular boy, but rather a wiry, lanky boy with unkempt black hair. He also had a few visible scars on his chest in areas where his red dress-shirt didn't cover. The fact that he volunteered was interesting to me alone, but there was more that I was curious about.
When he volunteered, Icarus made claims that he had attempted to escape the district. He didn't elaborate much. The only reason that I was concerned was that I noticed the eyes of all the surrounding peacekeepers, and even the eyes of my father, widen in surprise and disgust.
"…that boy is a crook. And from the way he volunteered and confessed to his crime, he's suicidal. I don't think he is much competition." My father dismissed.
"But father-"
My questions were halted as a peacekeeper entered the room.
"Sorry Mayor Volk, but I can't make exceptions for you. It's time to head out." The peacekeeper informed my father.
Father nodded before he turned towards me. "Forget about him. Focus on the other tributes. Focus on building something spectacular that will bring you home. Good luck Stephanie!"
"We are here for you when you get back." My mother stated with a smile on her face.
I gave each of them a kiss and a hug goodbye as I watched them leave. They left calmer than they had arrived, much to my relief.
I didn't have to wait much longer before the door opened up again. This time, my older brother walked in.
"Orion…" I looked at him intently.
Orion was a very stoic person. He masked his emotions well, no matter the circumstance. Today, however, was different. He came into the room with a nervous look on his face.
"Stephanie…" He mumbled my name quietly before speaking. "…I'm sorry…"
"…for what?" I asked with a slight laugh. "You didn't ask for me to get reaped, did you?"
"No…never. But I always told myself that I would be able to protect you from anything…and I failed that. I couldn't stop them from taking you away to here. And I'm sorry…" My brother continued to apologize.
I couldn't stop my frown from developing. Orion had always looked after me. I was always the little, quiet nerd that was picked on. Older kids would always harass me for being some sort-of freak to them. Whenever things would get bad, though, my big brother would come in like a knight in shining armor and send them away. No matter what was going on, he was always looking after me. He always protected me.
Tears started to fall down my eyes as I thought about all the things my brother did for me. When I became older, I wanted to do something for him. Maybe earn enough money and pay him back. I wanted to do something for him…to thank him for all the times he picked up when the bullies knocked me down, for when he bought me lunch when I had my lunch money stolen, for helping me clean up my messes whenever a lab experiment went wrong…
I had so many things I wanted to do, but I now had too little time to do any of it…
My brother and I hugged, and I finally let out all the tears I had been holding back since this nightmare began.
We stayed like this for nearly a full minute before I let ago and rubbed my eyes beneath my glasses. I then took off my glasses and proceeded to wipe off the tears on them.
"…one of these days, I need to work on designing a pair of glasses that cannot get wet." I mumble as a joke.
"You can work on it. Perhaps I can help you with the blueprint designs?" Orion suggested with a small smile.
"Sure…" I nod. Mentally, I added the last part of my sentence: if I get back.
Orion nodded before he started to speak again. "…Stephanie, I know you. I've known you now for sixteen years. I've seen you work in the laboratories and facilities here all throughout District Five. No matter what you say, you are a genius. More than anything, I know how fast you can learn. Spend your training days wisely, and I know you will have a realistic chance to win."
"…that's what I told Mom and Dad earlier ago. But I really don't know Orion. I just…" I sighed, shaking my head.
"In the Capitol, in the cornucopia, there will be plenty of items that you can work with: some of which are things you could never hope to find here in the district. Imagine all the possibilities you could make with a few wires, let alone a bunch of Capitol equipment." My brother informed me.
The mention of Capitol equipment lifted my mood up slightly. One of my biggest dreams was to get access to the equipment that the Capitol possessed. I had long fantasized about all the different creations I could make: from power plants, to elemental weapons of fire and electricity, to full-body robot suits, to explosions! There were just endless possibilities with the amount of resources they possessed and I had always wanted to have access to even a portion of them! Even if I wasn't going to last much longer than a few weeks, I could stop fantasizing and start practicing.
"…you know, it would be cool to design a giant robot suit for the Hunger Games." I admitted with a chuckle.
Orion chuckled as well. "And I believe you are the kind of person who could actually feasibly build one."
…maybe I could. I already had hypothetical blueprints mapped out for most of my fantasy ideas. If I could just find the right equipment, I think I could make anything!
All of the possibilities…
"…heh, maybe going into the Hunger Games won't be such a bad thing after all." I stated with a grin.
My brother smiled at me, seemingly relieved that I was in better spirits.
The peacekeepers came in and soon escorted my brother out. I was then left alone. I was not a very outgoing person, so I did not have too many friends that could've showed up. There was a friendly a friend, a man named Atticus Deltro, that I thought would possibly show up, but he never did. Atticus was a former victor and, I believe, this building brought back bad memories from his experiences in the Hunger Games twenty years ago. The idea of not seeing him saddened me, as he is the man who inspired my love for science, technology, and knowledge in general. He was the one who encouraged it and helped it grow and in general played a major role in helping me become who I was today…
…wait. Atticus was a former victor. I wonder if he might be mentoring this year…
A smile graced my lips. There weren't many living male victors from our district. My friend, Atticus, would most likely be mentoring. If he was, I could run-through all of my ideas and plans for the Games with him. With his help and access to the Capitol resources, I could actually do it. I was no longer trying to convince my parents or my brother of my possible-success in the Games: I convinced myself.
Icarus Bolt's POV – District 5 Male
I couldn't help but cringe as I noticed the electricity running through the ceiling of the Justice Building rooms. It was probably the single thing on this planet I knew the most about, but it was also one of the few things I was legitimately afraid of. It was ironic, considering that I was born in the district that specialized in producing energy in power plants. I noticed even more irony when I thought about my father, who was an electrician who had spent years teaching me everything he knew about the art. Electricity was supposed to be what my life was based around, but after everything that I did to me, after all the harm it caused to my life, I don't know if I could ever really look at it in a positive light.
Being in a room alone with nothing to look at but electricity currents disturbed me. I walked back-and-forth, trying to ignore its presence.
A few minutes had passed before my first visitor walked into the room. My father, a man named Daelus, came into the room with a nervous look on his face.
"Icarus…" My father spoke up as he walked closer to me after entering the room.
Instinctively, I inched back away from him. "What do you want father?"
He stopped walking forward and looked at me with a hurt expression on his face. A year ago, I would have been devastated to know that I caused my father to feel such emotions. Nowadays, though, I didn't really care. He could be upset for all I care.
The man was partially responsible for me being in this room. Not entirely responsible, as I did volunteer, and therefore, I made the conscious decision to enter the Hunger Games. However, my father was indeed the source of my reason to volunteer.
"I…um…Icarus…thank you…" He mumbled nervously.
My eyes widened in surprise, and his eyes tightened in embarrassment. "…thank you? You're thanking me? For what?"
"…for taking the blame…I am…" My father continued to speak nervously. The man was starting to sweat more profusely. I wasn't very interested in psychology and reading people, but I would assume he was feeling some variant of guilt. "…I'm sorry. I'm so sorry Icarus!"
I couldn't stop myself from rolling my eyes. As he should be! I don't really believe I could forgive him for everything he did to my cousin, Tallie…
Up until a year ago, I had an overinflated opinion of my father. He was the best electrician to exist in District Five and a great father. He had raised both me and Tallie alone after my mother and her mother died in a riot years ago. However, our family was never liked. I never really understood why. From what I observed, most of the district seemed to be jealous of my father's successes. As a result, my family was exposed to constant resentment from the people around us. This resentment deeply disturbed my father. When I turned sixteen, my father decided that we had suffered enough in the district and decided that we needed to escape: we were going to flee for District Thirteen.
Rumors existed about District Thirteen. The rumors were at their strongest at the time of the Third Quarter Quell, when people assumed that District Thirteen was about to rise from the ashes and lead a rebellion against the Capitol. This rebellion never happened and, thus, the rumors died. My father, for some reason, still believed in them.
We had reached the electric fence surrounding the district, ready to escape, when my father started to get nervous. He was supposed to shut down the electricity under the guise of doing a routine check, but he chickened out at the sight of the first peacekeeper. He tried to let me know that the plan was called off, but I didn't realize that meant that he failed to shut down the electricity. Therefore, I tried to maneuver myself through the electric fence and received a near-fatal shock of electricity throughout my body.
The electric shock…that was my fault. I take full responsibility for it. I should have inferred from my father that he hadn't shut the electricity off. I was just being a stubborn, reckless idiot and paid the price for it. It forced my father and Tallie to have to spend the next few months nursing me back to health in hiding.
It was at this point when my opinion of my father started to fade. During this time, my father started to focus solely on me and started to ignore my cousin Tallie entirely. He would neglect her, deprive her of food so he could give me more food, and sometimes force her to work more needless, long hours at her job so he could spend more time 'taking care of me'. His actions were abusive, but no matter how much I told him of that or how many times I assured him I was fine, he didn't listen. Even after I was fully healed and out of bed, he spent all of his time and focus on me and he wouldn't do a damn thing for my cousin.
Maybe he was a good father to me. Maybe he took care of me. But after all of the things he did to my little cousin, I cannot have any respect for that man…
"Icarus…are you there?" My father spoke up, getting my attention.
I snapped out of my thoughts and focused on my father in the room. I returned his question with a glare. "Of course I'm here. An apology is appreciated, but you should really be apologizing to Tallie."
"…Tallie…" My father repeated the name with a frown on his face. "…I owe her one too…but I owe you a bigger one. You're here because of me after all…"
"I'm here because of choices: both mine and yours. We are both at fault for this father." I answered coldly.
The aborted-attempt at fleeing the district did not go unnoticed by the peacekeepers. They had been doing constant investigation since the incident and, just a few days ago, had started to discover more clues into the identity of the culprit: me. They had found a blackened pin that resembled a pair of melted wings. It had belonged to me before the incident and, after a few more days of investigation, would have been properly traced back to me.
When I had informed my father about the information I had learned, he told me that he was going to pin the blame on Tallie if the peacekeepers ever questioned him. That was the point where the man lost all of my previous respect. I was not going to let my little cousin suffer more due to the poor decisions of this foolish man! In a rage, I demanded him to admit to being responsible for the escape attempt or else I would volunteer for the Games. My father, ever the coward, could not possibly admit to the decision. Therefore, I decided to volunteer and take the blame for everything.
"Icarus…I've been a terrible father. A terrible person, both to you and Tallie. I realize that…I tried so hard to do everything right, but I couldn't…I'm sorry…" Father apologized to me, openly sobbing. "…I didn't mean for you to go into the Games…p-please…come back!"
"You know that's unlikely, right? I have a one out of twenty-four shot. Not the best odds if you ask me." I responded sarcastically.
"B-But your odds are much higher. I've taught you everything I know about electricity. I'm…I'm certain you could electrocute any tribute with just a few supplies. I know you could!" My father declared frantically.
"…true." I shrugged. My volunteer entrance to the Hunger Games was not suicidal: I was planning on winning. And if I wanted to win, I realized that electricity was probably going to be my central weapon in the Games.
"You can use it, yeah! You could make great traps…I know you can Icarus…everything I taught you…it can get you out of the Games alive…" My father commented with a slight, humorless laugh. "Heh…maybe that…teaching you something you can use in the arena…maybe that's the one right thing I did when raising you."
The peacekeepers came into escort my father out of the room. I did not give the man another glance as he was dragged out. I didn't want to.
Being around my father hurt. Seeing the man who I had previously had so much respect for hurt knowing how much damage he did to Tallie. I don't think anything was ever going to change that thought. It was uncomfortable to me. Generally speaking, I didn't consider myself a hateful person. I really did like people and I didn't enjoy feeling any negative emotions towards others! Feeling such strong negative emotions, for my father of all people, was draining.
Soon, the door to the room opened up again and I Tallie ran into the room with tear-filled eyes. My little cousin ran up to me and latched on to me tightly.
"Why…why…" She sobbed, struggling to begin her sentence. "…why did you volunteer Icarus? Why did you confess to the escape attempt? Why?"
I winced at the tone of her voice. Tallie was not aware of the conversation I had with my father. She had no idea that he was going to pin the blame for everything on her and, therefore, wouldn't understand why I volunteered.
A part of me debated on telling her the truth, but I decided against it. Like it or not, if I died, she was stuck alone with my father. I'd rather her not hate the man if she was going to have to rely on him for a while longer.
"…we need the money Tallie." I answered her falsely.
"…money? Money? You're doing this for money?" Her sobbing seemingly grew louder. "…I could have worked more hours at the factory…"
"No, Tallie, no. You don't deserve to work yourself to death! You've worked god-knows how much more than you should have for a girl your age." I stated sharply as I pulled her away from me. I looked her directly into her tear-filled eyes and did my best to not cry with her. "Now…do me a favor. I will be gone for a few weeks, but I'll be back once I win the Games. In the meantime, don't work any excess hours. Just try and take care of yourself. My dad should be there to help, but you never know with him."
"I-I'll be fine. It's you who I should be worried about!" Tallie exclaimed, resisting the change in topic.
"Tallie, you know me. I'm fine. I'll be fine. I wouldn't have done such a reckless thing and enter the Games if I wasn't capable of winning. I'll be out, and we'll all have a much better life. I promise!" I informed her with a small smile on her face.
We remained like this for a few more minutes: Tallie crying in front of me while I did my best to try and cheer her up. As the peacekeeper opened the door to escort her out, she stopped crying and gave me a hard look.
"You…you promise me you'll be coming back home?" She asked.
"I promise. Cross my heart!" I told her with a smile.
She wiped away the remaining tears and gave me a hug and a kiss on the cheek. "Be careful Icarus…you're…smart enough to win. Please come back home…"
After those words, Tallie was escorted out of the room. She was the last person who would visit me. Not that I minded. I was introverted in nature and enjoyed the quiet.
My eyes wandered upwards toward the electric currents running through the clear ceiling of the room. I was going to have to get over my distaste of the energy by the time I got to the Capitol. Electricity was the only source of combat I had and it would be the tool that would help me get out the Hunger Games.
I wasn't going to be one of those tributes who whined about the Games. I volunteered for this. I knew exactly what I was getting involved in. And I knew I had the intellect and the tools to out of the Hunger Games alive. With that thought in mind, I sat down in the room and closed my eyes as I mapped out my general plan for the Games. I needed to make sure every little detail was perfect. I was going to get back home to Tallie. There was nothing any other tribute or any gamemaker could do to change that fact.
Author's Note: Hey guys! Here's the second chapter! :)
A lot of you seemed to enjoy the idea I had on how I was writing my chapters. I'm glad! I feel it is a way that will keep the plot moving at a faster rate and won't slow it down.
I hope you all enjoyed this chapter, and these four new sets of tributes! What did you all think of the tributes from district 8 and 5? Xander? Raven? Stephanie? Icarus?
I don't have much to say at the moment. Just know that I am beginning work on the next chapter now! Hopefully it'll be up within the week! I will see you all when it is finished! :)