District 9
Demetriana "Demi" Walser's POV – District 9 Female
God, I need a drink.
It was kinda amusing to me. During the reaping after hearing my named called, I felt empty. I felt nothing as I talked to my family and my best friend Kendra for what was most likely going to be the last time. Now, as the peacekeepers escorted me out of the Justice Building and towards the train station in District Nine, all I could think about was getting something to drink. Hopefully the train would have something – preferably something strong.
Drinking was something that I had started three years ago. Whenever I was feeling sad or depressed, I would go find the nearest beer or wine I could get my hands on. Now, with the feeling of nothingness starting to fade as I approached the train to leave for the Capitol, I really needed a drink.
The District Nine escort, a woman named Aphrodite with brown hair, enough makeup that made her face look ghostly white, and the largest breasts I had seen on a woman, led me and my district partner inside the only train at the station. My eyes widened at the sight.
The train was gorgeous. It was entirely furnished with the nicest looking couches, tables, paintings, statues, and electronics. My family couldn't afford a single thing in this train, and this was just one room!
My eyes then focused on a particular table in the room with glasses of champagne. I quickly rushed over to it.
"Aphrodite, we can take a drink, correct? This is all for us, right?" I asked.
The woman nodded. "Go right ahead dearie. We at the Capitol spared no expense for our darling tributes!"
Aphrodite continued to speak, but I didn't really care to listen. I downed the first glass of champagne in one, long gulp. I could feel it going down my body and I sighed in relief. "Ohhh, you all got the good shit."
After finishing it, I quickly reached for another glass and started drinking it at a slower, more relaxed pace. Aphrodite looked at me in shock as she watched me drink.
"You aren't supposed to drink so much that fast! Don't you know that's not healthy for you?" She questioned frantically.
I rolled my eyes, ignoring her. She wasn't the first person to tell me something like that. I had been told that I drank too much by Kendra all the time. Honestly, I couldn't deny that. One of these days, it was going to be a problem. Hell, it probably already was! But I really couldn't stop drinking. It was a clutch for me. I drank whenever I was feeling depressed, and honestly, I had been constantly depressed for more than two years now.
I took another sip from my drink before I raised my glass towards my district partner, Jason. He was a black-haired boy that was very tall: at least six feet. He also had a bit of muscle on his body and his green eyes were focused on me. It was actually intimidating to me slightly and I quickly thought of a method to break any tension between us.
"You want a drink yourself?" I asked him. "It's not the strongest thing ever, but the taste is pretty good honestly."
"… No thanks. I don't drink." He mumbled softly.
"Suit yourself." I shrugged as I took a seat on the couch.
Jason took a seat as well, sitting across the room from me. My eyes continued to remain on the guy as a question entered my head. I didn't know a single thing about him, but the one thing I knew about him in particular made me very intrigued. Jason was a volunteer, and I was very curious about why he would want to enter the Games willingly. When I was sober, I wasn't much of a talker. Maybe it was the little bit of alcohol I had in me, but I really wanted to know his reasons for volunteering.
A few moments of silence passed before I finally voiced my curiosity. "So, who was that kid you volunteered for? That your brother or something?"
Jason shook his head in response. "No…"
"Your cousin then? Nephew? Best friend?" I continued to question. He, once again, shook his head to all my suggestions. "Then who was he?"
"… No one I knew." Jason answered uneasily, looking downward. From what little I observed in this conversation, he didn't seem like the kind of guy who was good at socializing and talking to people he didn't know. I took a sip of my champagne while I waited for him to continue. "He… he was just a little kid that didn't want to leave his family. I… I couldn't just let him go in to the Games and die… I had to volunteer for him…"
I spat out my drink in response.
"Demetriana! That is disgusting!" Aphrodite shouted at me in disgust.
Once again, I paid no attention to her and simply stared at Jason in complete bewilderment. "You're telling me that you volunteered for the Hunger Games, the HUNGER GAMES, because you felt bad for a little boy that you didn't even know?" He nodded his head in response. "Who are you? What are you? Are you suicidal or something?"
The 'suicide' comment was intended as a joke, but Jason gave no response and his eyes trailed even further downward. Understanding crawled over my face.
"Oh god… you really are suicidal." I realized.
"… I wouldn't call myself suicidal. I don't really want to die. But better than me than that little kid or someone else, you know? I mean, I was going to die sooner or later anyway…" He answered quietly with a shrug.
I nodded, but I couldn't help but still feel confused. I didn't really understand his answer.
Guess I couldn't understand his reasons to volunteer. I shrugged in indifference as I turned my attention back to the champagne in my hand. I quickly took another drink before finishing it off and reaching for my third glass.
I wouldn't have blamed Jason if he was suicidal. To be completely honest, there was a time in my life where I thought I would have killed myself. I used to be a really happy, rather loud girl all the time. I was so bright and innocent. Everything changed a few days after my sister's twentieth birthday. Her friends had convinced me to start drinking and I drank more than I should have and I got completely wasted. Then, one of her friends started to get really close to me…
No matter how many glasses of wine or bottles of beer I drank, I could never forget that night. I will never forget the feeling of being raped by that boy…
Of course, he claimed that it was consensual to anybody he talked to. He spent weeks talking about how I came onto him and how much I wanted him to anybody that would listen. The description he gave of me completely changed people's perception of me. Even to this day, I was still seen as some mindless slut.
In the back of my head, I realized that the Games probably would be a nice reprieve from that perception. There was no way that people watching would see me as a slut. I would be just the District Nine female tribute that may or may not be dying in the arena. And, knowing me, it would most likely be dying.
"What are you thinking about?" Jason questioned me, pulling me out of my thoughts.
I quickly looked back towards my district partner and shrugged. "Nothing in particular. Just life I guess."
"I do that from time to time." He chuckled in response. "I'm Jason by the way."
"I remember your name from the reaping. Nice to officially meet you though Jason." I tipped my glass of champagne slightly. "The name's Demetriana, although you can just call me Demi. I don't know many people that actually call me by my full name."
"Well met Demi." Jason said with a smile. I was surprised at how well it suit him. If he was dressed in little nicer clothes, I would have probably mistaken him for one of those young, Capitol gentlemen they show in cheesy movies. "I like your name."
I felt my cheeks start to redden slightly. Damn alcohol.
"Thanks. It's kinda unique, isn't it? My parents actually named me after Demeter." I explained.
"Who is that? Is that an aunt of yours?" He asked in confusion.
I shook my head. I probably should have realized that not everyone would catch that reference. "No, she's the goddess of the harvest of one the dead, ancient religions: from a time way before Panem."
"You mean like Christianity or Buddhism?" Jason asked.
Again, I shook my head. I laughed a little before I continued to speak. "No, even older than those two. It was a religion from some faraway place called Greece with many different gods and goddesses, and Demeter was one of those goddesses."
Jason opened his mouth to say something else, but a loud, masculine voice interrupted him before he could start talking.
"Ah, did you guys start the drinking party without me?"
Jason and I turned our heads to the left and saw an older woman and man walking our way from one of the doors in the train. I recognized them both immediately: they were two of our three living victors, Flora and Einkorn.
Flora was the victor of the ninetieth Hunger Games and was now a woman of seventy-five. Most people don't live that long in the Districts, but Flora was not like most people! She was the daughter of a small clinician in the district and, therefore, knew everything about health and anything that was either life-saving or fatal. The arena she fought on was a large forest that had a giant river of freshwater running through it. Flora, after finding enough supplies in the arena, managed to poison the entire river by the fourth day and walked away that day as the victor. Eleven tributes died from drinking poisoned water. To this day, no victor from the non-career districts has ever reached her kill count.
Einkorn, the man who had interrupted Jason, was around forty years old and was the victor of the one hundred twenty-eighth Hunger Games. He was a loud, boisterous man in his interviews and in public and his fighting style in the arena reflected that. He carried around a giant warhammer and he was muscular enough to use it properly. Not a single tribute could defeat him in combat, not even the career tributes. He won the game in seven days with a total of six kills.
Both Flora and Einkorn were complete opposites in every category. One was quiet and stoic while the other was loud and obnoxious. One appeared to look old and frail while the other looked young and muscular. One won the Games using tactics by poisoning river water while the other simply won by simply overpowering his opponents. They represented two different styles of fighting entirely, but they were both lethal killers. They were also my hope to survive the Games.
"I was wondering where you two were!" Aphrodite stated happily. I actually forgot that the Capitol woman was even in the room. "And Einkorn, there won't be much of a 'drinking party' today as I'm trying to cut back on my alcohol consumption. The party will just be you and Miss Demetriana over there."
Einkorn looked over in my direction and his eyebrows rose in curiosity. "How much do you drink?"
"This is my third glass." I answered with a shrug as I took another sip.
"Feeling a little tipsy yet?" He asked.
I couldn't help but scoff. "Please. It would take me at least five of these before I feel anything."
"HA! I like this girl already!" The man let out a loud, hearty laugh. "Later today, I'll show you where the rest of the alcohol is. Believe me; you have not lived until you drink Capitol whiskey."
"I am looking forward to it!" I responded as I took another sip of my champagne, making not much of an attempt to hide the smirk on my face. It was going to be a very good thing to be in the good graces of one of my mentors already.
"Einkorn, sit. You too Aphrodite. We have much to talk about." Flora stated sharply as she took a seat on the couch next to Jason.
"Ah, we're getting down to business already." Einkorn sighed as he reached for a glass of champagne from the table as well. "Fine. Let's get this stuff out of the way."
The male victor and Aphrodite sat down on the couch seats next to me. Everyone in the room stared at Flora. Her eyes were moving back-and-forth between me and Jason in a calculated manner.
"First question: do either of you know how to use a weapon?" She questioned.
"I've been working on the grain fields since I was ten. I'm familiar with how to use a scythe, so I think I could maybe use it in the Games." I answered honestly. Although I only used it for the job, I was very familiar with the mechanics of a scythe and how to properly cut something with it. It was easily the most ideal weapon for me. I just hope I had enough skill with it to survive!
"Excellent. You would think we would get more grain workers in the Games that could actually use that thing. Not like I'm one to judge." Einkorn noted with a shrug. He then turned to Jason. "What about you?"
Jason looked downward. "Um… I work a little in the grain fields, but I'm not really good with the scythe at all…"
"That's alright. It's not a weapon for everyone. Too awkward for me, and with your build, I would assume for you too." Einkorn stated in understanding. "What would you rather work with instead?"
"… I um… well…" Jason mumbled quietly in response, barely being able to be heard.
"Are you not skilled with a weapon at all? I would have assumed you could use something properly if you were going to volunteer." Flora stated, shaking her head.
Jason responded by standing up. He then bowed his head. "Excuse me!"
With those words, he rushed out of the room into one of the other rooms in the train. All eyes were on him as he closed the door and walked away.
"What's got him all upset?" Aphrodite asked in confusion. "You haven't even said anything mean yet Flora!"
"I never say anything 'mean'. I'm simply critical." The female victor scoffed in response. "Still, I don't know what is bothering him. Perhaps he will be back. If he values his life, he'll be back to discuss the Games with us."
I couldn't help but frown in response. It was the first time I really thought about the killing aspect of the Games. If I was to get out of the Games, the other twenty-three tributes were going to die. That would include Jason. While I do think I could maybe kill someone in a fight, I didn't really enjoy the thought of my district partner dying. He seemed odd, and definitely a tad socially awkward, but I could tell he was a very nice guy from the little conversation that we had. It didn't seem fair to have to hope for him to die, even if that was the only way for me to get out alive…
I think I'm going to have to take Einkorn up on his offer for the Capitol whiskey. I was definitely going to need something strong for this whole 'Hunger Games' experience. Hell, I probably was gonna need at least a beer or two during the Games itself…
Jason Icarus's POV – District 9 Male
I wandered the train and its hallways until I found a bathroom. I quickly walked inside the room and looked at myself in the bathroom mirror and sighed.
In the back of my head, I knew it was very rude of me to just rush out of the room in the middle of conversation. Still, I had to get away. I knew that meeting the mentors would be uncomfortable for me, and it unfortunately lived up to all my expectations. It wasn't that I disliked either Einkorn or Flora, but I knew that they were going to have us talk about the Games and our plans for them, and honestly, I had no clue what the heck I was going to do for them.
Heh. They probably were excited when they saw me volunteer. I'm kinda a big guy and I have been told by some people in District Nine that at first glance, I look intimidating. They probably thought I was victor potential. Now, I bet they were starting to realize how incorrect that statement was…
It did feel surreal knowing that I was in the Hunger Games by choice. I would have never thought that would ever happen! But here I was, a volunteered tribute…
Looking back to the reaping, I realized I made a very rash, hasty decision. I always had a hard time watching the reaping and seeing kid after kid get reaped and dying each year. This was more than just cruel; it was completely unjust! So, when I saw a little twelve year old get called out for the Games and I saw him reach out to his family in the crowd for help, I couldn't hold myself back any longer. The injustices of the Games had to be stopped, so I did what I could to make sure at least one of them was stopped: I volunteered and took his place in the Games.
Seeing how relieved the little boy was and how grateful he and his family were was something that I would never forget. I would never regret the decision to take his place. However, I did act without fully thinking about what I was doing and now I was going to have to suffer the consequences of my actions. It didn't dawn on me until I was in the Justice Building and had to talk to my mother and my best friends that I was going into the Hunger Games and was going to have to fight for my life. Immediately afterward, I felt terrified!
I turned the faucet of the sink on and washed my face with the water. A few seconds passed before I turned it off and looked at my reflection. My face was now dripping with water, and it was covering any tears that I may have let out. As I stared at my reflection, I couldn't help but repeat questions in my head. What was I doing here? What was I going to do? Was I going to die?
The answer to the last question was, most likely, yes. I didn't think I could kill a person. One thing that I had been told by people was that I am too kind: that I care too much for other people. I never really considered that a weakness, but in the arena, it would be a major issue. I did not have the 'killer instinct' that the careers and the victors had. But, was that really a trait that someone should want to have? What kind of society do we live in where ruthlessness was promoted in the children?
Perhaps I could spend my last few days helping some of the other tributes out? Maybe make an alliance and protect them. I didn't know what I was going to do for the Games. It was all still confusing to me!
A few minutes passed before I sighed and walked out of the bathroom. I was still uneasy about returning to talk about the Games with my mentors, but I had already been gone for too long. My mother raised me to be polite to everyone I met, so I needed to return, apologize, and continue with the conversation, no matter how uncomfortable it may be for me.
I made my way back to the main room and saw my mentors, Aphrodite, and Demi all talking about the Games. The conversation quickly ended, though, when they noticed my presence in the room.
"I was wondering when you would come back!" Aphrodite exclaimed loudly as she looked at me with a frown. "Where did you run off to young man?"
I flinched at her tone-of-voice before I spoke up quietly: "S-Sorry… I had to use the restroom for a second…"
"I believe it took longer than a second, but it does not matter. You aren't wasting our time. You are wasting yours." Flora responded coldly.
Once again, I flinched. The same uncomfortable feeling resurfaced in my body. This time, though, I fought the urge to run back to the bathroom and instead walked back to my spot on the couch.
"To fill you in briefly, we were just talking about basic arena strategy. Stuff like don't rush into the cornucopia blindly for your ideal weapon. Don't wander the arena carelessly. Don't piss off anyone in the training period before the Games. Just a bunch of basic things you probably could've figured out with common sense." Einkorn explained to me.
"We also agreed that I would be focusing most of my time on training Miss Walser while Einkorn would be focusing on training you. I trust you find this acceptable?" Flora questioned me.
I nodded. Flora intimidated with her general demeanor, so I was more than happy to have Einkorn be the one to help me out with anything.
"We'll continue going over advice in a little bit. The Capitol is going to show the live recaps of the reapings on television soon, so we're gonna watch that before continuing." Einkorn added.
Once again, I nodded.
The television in the room eventually turned on and displayed a room with the symbol for Panem in the background. A well-dressed, muscular man with short hair with pink, green, and blue highlights walked into the room and sat down at a table with a microphone. I recognized him immediately – all of Panem knew the face of Sapphire Taric. He was a famous talk-show host in the Capitol and, for the past ten years, had been the man in charge of doing all press-related shows for the Hunger Games.
Needless to say, if you were from the districts, he was one of the last people you wanted to see on the television screen.
"Gooooooood afternoon Panem. Happy Hunger Games to all and may the odds be ever in your favor!" He exclaimed happily to the camera. "Can you all believe it? One hundred and fifty years since the beginning of the Hunger Games. It's already time for the Sixth Quarter Quell! Oh, doesn't time go by so fast!"
"… Mr. Taric is a sweetheart, but he talks so loud." Aphrodite complained a little. I chuckled a little in agreement.
"Do we still not know what the twist is for this year's Games?" Demi asked as she took a sip of her champagne glass. I noticed this one was a completely filled glass, meaning that she probably was drinking another one. Was this her fourth glass or her fifth?
"Nope. President Draven still wants it to be a surprise." Einkorn answered with a sigh.
"It'll be a pleasant surprise: one that will really spice up the Games!" Aphrodite exclaimed, her voice sounding nearly as loud and annoying as Taric's voice.
"If by 'pleasant surprise' you mean another way to fuck over the lives of innocent children, then yes, I would agree with you. It will be a 'pleasant surprise'." Flora replied with an eye roll.
Aphrodite stared at Flora in shock for her comment. Einkorn started to laugh loudly while Demi and I settled for chuckling lightly. I didn't realize that a woman like Flora would enjoy telling jokes!
Then again, that seemed more like a bitter, truthful statement than a joke.
Taric continued his speech for a good ten minutes before he finally stopped talking and the screen changed images to the reapings.
The first image was the bright, shiny District One. Its tributes were standard in the sense that they were both Career volunteers. The girl was tall and muscular with wavy, blondish-brown hair. There was an arrogant expression on her face, but she seemed more tired and annoyed than anything else.
Her district partner had blonde hair and was actually smaller than most other District One boys; both in height and in muscle size. Still, the boy had multiple scars on his arms and there was no visible emotion present in his pale green eyes, which unnerved me.
The television screen flashed the names of the One tributes: Kendra Perone and Ariail Bardineux. Demi's face immediately paled after reading the names.
"The girl from District One is named Kendra? That's the name of my best friend…" She stated, gripping her champagne glass tightly.
"That girl is as stereotypically career as they get. She probably has nothing in common with your friend. Don't worry: you won't be imagining your friend when she dies." Einkorn informed her.
Demi frowned in response and quickly took a long drink of her champagne. I understood exactly how she felt. It didn't matter if their personality was the complete opposite from the namesake you were familiar with: a name had powerful images and memories attached to them. My best friends, Lacy and John, meant the whole word. I don't know what I would do if any of the tributes reaped had their names!
Soon, the screen switched images and showed the grittier District Two. A girl quickly volunteered for the Games and rushed forward to the stage. She was short with straight, black hair, but she also looked rather muscular. She smiled to the cameras and the people happily. Unfortunately for her, her district partner stood out more than her due to one major reason: he was not a volunteer.
The District Two boy, upon getting reaped, hugged someone his age in the crowd before he walked forward to the center stage. No one volunteered, probably because no one stood as much of a chance as him. He was well over six foot and he had very visible muscles that could be seen despite his baggy clothing. He was, by far, the most muscular person I had ever seen.
The names Victoire McBlock and Lepolio Huang flashed on the screen before the dark, green-less video of District Three appeared. Unlike the previous two districts, the Three tributes were clearly not in any way prepared for the Games and both appeared nervous. The Three girl had olive-colored, kinda grimy skin with dark brown hair. She walked forward with a vacant expression on her face, but I could tell she was trying to hide her fear.
The District Three boy, however, made no attempt to hide his fear. He was a tall, pale, lanky boy with dirty blonde hair. The expression on his face made me feel horrible: it was the face of resigned defeat. It was as if the Three boy was seemingly accepting death.
This really wasn't right. None of this was right at all! What did we do to deserve this treatment? A rebellion may have happened, but that was one hundred fifty years ago. None of us were involved! Why were we getting punished?
Determination filled my eyes as I finally realized what my purpose was in the Games. I didn't believe I could win and I was not going to try to win. No, my purpose was to be an example. I was going do my best to show the people, both in the districts and in the Capitol, how wrong these Games were. I will willingly become a martyr. If my death could spark a flame that will one day end these Games, then I'll have lived a meaningful life and will have died appropriately!
I had no idea how I was going to do it, but I was determined to accomplish this goal. I will do everything in my power during these next few days to take the Hunger Games down with me!
With this newfound motivation in my mind, I continued to watch the screen. The names of the Three tributes, Kaylee Harper and Ethan Neurus, appeared. They were then replaced with the sunny, blue image of District Four.
District Four was a surprise to all of us: none of the tributes were volunteers! The girl was of average height with light brown hair and she was, in my honest opinion, very pretty. She appeared calm at first as she walked on to the stage, but her eyes twitched when she realized she was going into the Games. Her eyes wandered to the crowd, as if she was looking at someone. A family member perhaps?
The boy looked very typical for a District Four boy: tall, tan skin, brown hair, and handsome. He didn't seem too nervous when he realized no one was volunteering for him. He looked capable, and he himself probably realized that. Their names, Alaska Dayte and Cascade Bolt, appeared briefly before the image of District Four vanished.
District Five was the next district shown and the reaping began almost immediately. The girl was short and had blonde hair that was tied in a bun. She had glasses over her blue eyes and she was making a strong, conscious effort to appear tough. I could tell she was nervous, but she was trying to act strong and proud. Probably to appeal to sponsors.
Her partner was, surprisingly, a volunteer. The boy was rather wiry and had unkempt black hair. There was also visible burn marks right under his neck. It looked as if the scars continued down his dress shirt. His whole chest was probably burned! He looked completely emotionless on the stage as he walked up – similar to a robot. It appeared as if he was about to something, but the screen quickly changed images to reveal the names of the Five tribute: Stephanie Volk and Icarus Bolt.
Icarus? His name is my last name?
… I wonder what he is like.
I did not have long to think about the Five boy with my name, as the image of District Six showed up on the television screen. The girl that was reaped was tan, had brown hair, and had the darkest blue eyes I had ever seen. She also seemed slightly malnourished. The girl walked up to the stage with confidence not usually seen in tributes like her and I was already seeing her as a potential victor.
The District Six reaping quickly turned to chaos as a tall, muscular boy with short brown hair stormed forward and accused her of crimes. He then quickly volunteered, claiming he wanted to see the girl punished by his own hands. The two Six tributes started to verbally argue until the screen faded away.
The television screen switched to playing commercials. There was a thirty minute intermission between the first six reapings and the last six each year. This gave us tributes to digest information slowly and time to talk.
"Well, it looks like you all don't have to worry about District Six this year at all. I'm willing to bet they both kill each other!" Einkorn laughed.
Demi quickly drank the rest of her champagne glass in one gulp before she responded to Einkorn in a voice that was slurred. "They both… they both look tough, though. Whoever lives after their battle… they will be a major threat."
She quickly reached for another glass of champagne and started drinking again. I had only known her for less than a day, but I could already tell that drinking was a clutch – a nervous tic of hers. Judging by the rate she was consuming her alcohol, she was deathly afraid of what was going to happen.
I couldn't blame her. Even if I wasn't planning to come out of the Games alive, I was terrified. This was going to be the most horrifying experience of my life.
District 4
Cascade Bolt's POV – District 4 Male
When the thirty minute intermission started, everyone left the room and wandered around the train. I was the only one that remained in the room to watch mindless, idiotic Capitol commercials on the television. Guess I was the only who had nothing better to do. Not that I minded too much. I liked to consider myself reserved. A little time by myself gave me some time to think about this mess I was in.
It wasn't often that a career district such as District Four didn't have volunteers. It was also unheard of for both tributes to just be reaped tributes. But here I was: one of two reaped tributes for this year's Hunger Games. I had no intentions of volunteering for the Hunger Games before. Maybe that would change when I turned seventeen or eighteen, but I was just fifteen years old. Never once did I imagine being in the Hunger Games this young!
Not that it matters much in the end. Like most kids my age in District Four, I had received proper training. I was rather good with a spear and I knew how to fight with my fists. I've gotten into many fights with a bunch of dumbasses my age over the stupidest shit.
Needless to say, I was a trained fighter. The Hunger Games weren't anything I had planned on entering, but I had no doubt in my mind that I could handle them. Back in the Justice Building, I had a pretty emotional conversation with my older brother, Dylan. He told me that he loved me and then told me to do anything to come back home, and I was going to do just that. I was going to come out of them a victor and return to him and the rest of my family.
I remained in the room by myself for about fifteen minutes before one of the doors opened up, revealing my district partner, Alaska. She had changed clothes out of her reaping dress and was wearing more casual clothes. She was wearing a pair of black shorts and a brown t-shirt that matched her hair-color. Her casual clothes were, surprisingly, a lot more revealing than her dress. Not that I was complaining. Alaska was smoking hot! Although, in my honest opinion, that was the only positive trait about her…
"Did you stay here?" She questioned me as she sat down on her position on the couch opposite of me.
"Eh, yeah. I didn't have anything else to do." I answered with a shrug.
"You weren't at all curious to explore the train? See your room?" She continued to prod with confused eyes.
"What's the point? I'll be over there to check the stuff out in a little bit. Besides, we were all gonna come back in here to watch the rest of reapings in thirty minutes. How much exploring can you do in that amount of time?" I explained, rolling my eyes slightly.
"I was only gone for maybe fifteen minutes tops, but I was able to explore most of the back half of the train, check out my room, and I had the time to change my clothes." She commented with a smirk.
"… was that supposed to impress me or something?" I rolled my eyes.
Alaska frowned in response. Her frown then quickly disappeared as a wide smile crossed her face. She giggled a little before speaking: "I was just listing a few of the things you could've done instead of just sitting down on your lazy ass."
I glared at the girl in front of me, tightening my fists. I had to make a conscious effort to not get out of my seat and give her a punch straight into her jaw.
I normally didn't hold in my anger when people pissed me off; I would confront them and give them a solid punch or kick to release the anger! However, I couldn't go around attacking Alaska, or any of the other tributes for that matter. I didn't want to risk getting on the bad-side of the Capitol and endanger my chances in the arena. With this in my mind, I tried my hardest to fume internally and not attack her.
A few more minutes passed of tense silence before the rest of our company joined us. The District Four escort, Triton, walked in followed by our mentors for this year's games: Aqua and Storm.
Aqua was the victor of the one hundred thirtieth Hunger Games and won the Games when she was fifteen, just like me. That year was a rather boring year for the Games; at least at the beginning. The careers dominated the entire Games together all the way until the final six. They then had an epic showdown amongst each other. Aqua was skilled at using knives and was very quick, so she was able to outmaneuver and avoid all attacks and manage to deal lethal blows against her former Career allies. She won after finally managing to get a good hit on her district partner and left the arena with seven kills.
Storm was, actually, the most recent victor. He was nineteen and had just won the year before. The guy looked no different than he did in the Games: tall, muscular, scary-looking red-haired guy who looked ready to pounce on anything that moved. He was undoubtedly lethal with an axe and managed to tear apart his competition limb from limb – literally! He won in five days with a kill count of twelve.
Aqua and Storm looked at Alaska and I with distaste as they walked into the room, saying nothing to us. I could tell that they were disappointed with us not being volunteers. I had heard rumors that District Four mentors were very against the non-volunteer tributes. Guess they were true.
It didn't really matter too much to me though. I would prove them both wrong in due time!
More silence passed in the room until the television screen lit up with the image of the reapings.
District Seven was the first to be seen, in all of its green glory. The first tribute shown after the thirty minute break was a little twelve year old girl with brown hair. She was the tiniest kid I had ever seen enter the Hunger Games. Rightfully so, she looked terrified on the stage.
"Looks like we know who is winning the Games this year." I commented dryly.
My joke earned a light chuckle from Aqua. Good. Maybe this is an early sign that I can earn at least one of my mentors' support.
After the little girl was on the stage, her partner was chosen. The boy was much more intimidating than her, although that didn't say much. He was tall, skinny, and had brown curly hair similar to an afro. He, himself, didn't look that strong, but the way he had stormed onto the stage and the way he looked into the camera – with angry, crazed eyes – made me a little concerned about him as a possible threat. It wasn't uncommon to have a complete nut in the Games and it looked like he could be this year's token crazy.
The names Winnie Goldstein and Raegae Oak flashed on screen before they disappeared. District Seven was replaced with the image of the grey, smoke-covered District Eight. The girl was rather unremarkable in my opinion. She was of average height with blonde hair in a pony-tail. She looked kinda cute, but nothing too special. She seemed standard for the bloodbath like most girls her age from her district were.
The District Eight boy looked even worse than she did. He was a fat, brown-haired boy that looked like he was going to pass out any second. After getting on the stage, he ended up vomiting, scaring the District Eight escort.
"HA!" I couldn't hold back my laughter. "Okay, I stand corrected. THIS guy is the victor for this year's Games!"
"Dick." Alaska commented off-handedly, her eyes focused solely on the television.
I was about to fire a comment back at her when the image of District Eight, along with the tributes, Raven Bell and Xander Lugar, faded.
District Nine appeared next and the girl was quickly called onto the stage. She was tan and had long, bright blonde hair that went down to her back and she looked like she had a bit of muscle on her. I studied her intently, looking for any hint of emotion to gauge what she was like. I couldn't see any. I couldn't read her at all, and that was something I did not like.
A little twelve year old brat was reaped with her. I was about to make another sarcastic comment about the competition, but then a loud voice was heard from the television: "I volunteer!"
Everyone's eyes widened. Another outer district volunteer?
The little twelve year old boy was replaced with a tall, muscular boy with shaggy black hair. Based on sheer size alone, he was second only to the District Two boy. That made me very cautious. This guy was going to be a threat. He was going to have to die as soon as possible!
The names Demetriana Walser and Jason Icarus appeared on the screen. I made a mental note to remember 'Jason' as I watched the names disappear, along with the image of District Nine.
District Ten was next on the list of reapings in all of its country glory. The girl that was reaped walked on to the stage with determination on her face. She had brown hair, tan skin, and was rather built. She looked like one of the stereotypical cattle ranchers from her district. There was an off-chance that she could be a threat, but it wasn't anything I was going to worry about right away. I will see what she is like in the training!
The District Ten escort called out a name for the male tribute, but before the boy was able to walk out of his place in the crowd, a barely-audible voice spoke up. "I volunteer."
"What the fuck?" I couldn't hold back myself from shouting.
"Four outer district volunteers! Are you shitting me?" Storm hissed.
It appeared as if the Capitol wasn't 'shitting' us. A rather tall boy with olive-colored skin rushed forward to the stage and eagerly declared himself as the tribute. Immediately upon seeing him, I was disturbed. Sure, he was muscular, but that was not what was unnerving. The Ten boy looked psychotic. He was grinning on the stage like a madman, he was moving around uneasily in place, and his eyes contained a deranged quality to them.
I took back everything I said about the District Seven boy. This guy here was going to be the token crazy of this year's Games! I was already looking forward to the day when this piece of shit would be dead.
The names of the Ten tributes, Maddison Holland and Logan Faber, showed up. Just like I did with Jason, I made a conscious effort to remember the name 'Logan'. He was another early target for me!
The television screen then shows the image of District Eleven. The girl that was reaped gasped loudly before she started walking, shaking like a scared puppy. She was a girl with honey-like skin with brown, braided hair and a pair of glasses over her amber brown eyes. The girl proceeded to trip on her way to the stage. By the time she pulled herself up and reached the stage, she was crying rather loudly.
After two volunteers that appeared intimidating, it was nice to see a weak, stereotypical outer district tribute. It was good to know that there was still a few easy kills.
The male tribute didn't seem much better than her. He had light brown-colored skin and had long, golden brown hair. He was average height and built for a guy his age. Just like his partner, he was also crying when he got onto the stage.
Florina Everett and Bane Darnell were the names that flashed up on my screen, but I doubted that I would remember them much later. There was no real reason to remember the names of bloodbath fodder.
It was now time for the final reaping. The dirty, disgusting image of District Twelve showed up on the television screen. A few seconds passed before the District Twelve girl was reaped. She was a blonde-haired girl with glasses and freckles that had olive-colored skin. She walked forward with a smirk. She appeared to be brave to the crowd, but I could tell she was faking it. I had seen enough girls from District Twelve get reaped each year. They all had that same, fake face. Deep down, she was probably scared she was going to die. Realistically speaking, she was probably right.
The District Twelve male had a similar idea to his district partner as he walked forward with a bright, cheerful smile. He was slightly tall with unkempt brown hair and he was definitely malnourished. He seemed a little more comfortable than his district partner with his smile, but I could still tell it was fake. He, just like her, was most likely going to die early in the Games.
The names, Emery Aspen and Yaro Hailstien, flashed on the screen. Immediately after, the image from the television screen changed to the image of Sapphire Taric. The reapings were now finally complete.
"And there you have it ladies and gentlemen! Those were your twenty-four tributes for this year's Hunger Games!" Taric exclaimed to the cameras with a dazzling smile. His teeth seemed to glow unnaturally. "Tune in two hours from now for my commentary on the tributes. I will be taking your calls on which tributes you think stand the best chance of winning this year's Quarter Quell! And as usual, we are still taking your calls about what you think this year's Quarter Quell twist will be. Let us know. We all want to know! I'm Sapphire Taric, and I will see you all later. May the odds, always, be in your favor."
After his little speech, the image on the television faded away.
"So, what are your initial thoughts on the tributes?" Triton questioned Alaska and me.
"The other careers look pretty tough. In particular, the guy from District Two." I answered with a shudder. I was pretty thankful that, as careers, I wouldn't have to try and take down him until much later in the Games. "Other than them, the only ones that seemed possibly dangerous were the boys from District Nine and Ten."
"I'd agree, and would add both tributes from District Six, as well as the boy from Five." Alaska commented. I nodded in agreement. I wasn't too nervous about the District Five boy, but he was a volunteer as well and that was enough reason to be cautious around him.
"Hmph." Storm scowled as he got out of his seat in the couch. He gave both Alaska and I a glare. "I hope you both are proud of being a part of history. Not only is this the first year that District Four has had no volunteers, it is also the first year in Hunger Games history where there are more non-career district volunteers than career volunteers.
I stood up immediately and glared at my mentor. "If you weren't paying attention, the guy from Two wasn't a volunteer either! But disregarding that, I am clearly more capable than just some random reaped tribute. I'm trained, and I will this year's Games!"
"Big talk. You think quite highly of yourself. We'll see how long your ego holds once you are in the training room with the actual volunteers." Storm stated coldly.
I felt my hand tighten. That bastard!
I couldn't stop myself. I punched Storm in the face, knocking him back slightly. Triton gasped loudly in shock while Aqua and Alaska stared at me in quiet shock. Storm seemed to have no outward reaction; he simply stared at me.
"It's not 'big talk'. I can handle myself in the Games. You'll see!" I hissed at him.
Storm said nothing as he rubbed his cheek where I had hit him. A few seconds passed before a small grin developed on his face.
"Not a bad arm you got there." He stated with a chuckle. "But you clearly have anger problems. I'd advise you try and control them, otherwise you're going to get into a fight with someone much stronger than you are and die in the process."
With a scoff, I raised my middle finger before I turned around and left the room.
Alaska Dayte's POV – District 4 Female
"That dumbass…" I mumbled, more to myself than anyone else.
My first opinion of Cascade was that he was a quiet, but generic pretty-boy from the district. He was the same young, tanned skin, attractive guy that Capitol women seemed to flock around ever since Finnick Odair almost a hundred years ago. After one look, I had expected him to be arrogant. That I was correct about. What I was not expecting him to be a loose-cannon who would be willing to even punch his own mentor in the face!
"I wasn't kidding. That temper of his is going to get him killed if he can't control it." Storm commented nonchalantly. I noticed he was no longer rubbing his cheek, meaning that any pain he felt was probably gone.
"I guess I'll be the one to mentor him. I'll try and see if I can calm the boy down before he goes into the arena." Aqua noted with a sigh. "Kids like him need to really learn a lesson or two. When I have kids, I'll definitely teach them how to control their emotions!"
After that comment, Aqua stood up from her seat and excused herself as she left the room in the direction Cascade had stormed out in. Most likely to go to talk to him. That left me with Triton and Storm, who was most likely going to be my mentor.
"Cascade was very clear to reveal the fact that he had been trained beforehand. What about you?" Storm questioned me.
"Not official training, no. I have had some basic training with weapons though." I admitted with a sigh.
I was probably one of the few girls who had no interest in training for the Hunger Games. In hindsight, I should've trained in case the day came where I was reaped into the games – like I was now, but I had always assumed there would be a volunteer to take my place! But here I was, on the train to the Capitol, and my brother was left alone…
Discomfort filled my body as I thought of my brother. Oanou was a great little brother: the best I could have ever asked! However, I was very nervous about how he could handle living by himself. Our parents had been dead for three years after an accident on their fishing boat, leaving me alone as his only caretaker. And Oanou himself was, in the politically incorrect terms of District Four, mentally disabled.
'Disabled' was definitely not the word I would use to describe him, but he was very innocent and naïve about the way society works. I was afraid that by himself, he would do something that would get him in trouble. He could get himself arrested or worse…
He needed someone to look after him. That's why I needed to get out of the Games as the victor as fast as I possibly can!
"Are you listening to me?"
I was snapped out of my thoughts. Storm was glaring at me, waiting for me to answer a question of his.
"Um, I zoned out for a second. What did you ask me?" I asked sheepishly. Mentally, I cursed at myself for not paying attention. All I could hope for was that I didn't disappoint him anymore.
Storm's eyes narrowed into a glare before he continued to speak. "What weapons are you skilled with?"
"Knives and daggers. I can also tie knots very well." I answered with a grin.
Back when my parents were alive, I would help my father out with his business as a fisherman. I've chopped up many fish before and I, genuinely, was interested in the tool. I was very skilled with the weapon and I could easily win the Games with them.
"Good." Storm nodded in acceptance. "I have to say, you seem capable for a non-volunteer. You're athletic and, if you have any skill with a knife and making traps, then you will be fine. You'll also benefit from being attractive."
"… excuse me?" I asked in a shocked tone-of-voice.
"Don't think I'm coming on to you or anything. I'm just pointing out a fact. It will help get Capitol sponsors." The mentor elaborated.
I nodded in understanding, but I still felt a little crept out. It did bother me that a good portion of my sponsorships were probably going to come from perverted Capitol men. However, if they were going to help me get out of the Games faster, than that was the plan.
"Do you have some general advice for the arena?" I asked him.
"That will come later. It's late right now, and we have plenty of time to discuss that in much more detail. What I will say is simple: stick with the careers early on. The benefits you'll receive from being with them are very helpful." Storm advised.
Outwardly, I nodded in agreement and understanding. Inwardly, I frowned. Truthfully, I had no interest in working with the careers. I was the kind of girl who did better off by myself. I really didn't care how well-trained the other careers were, I just knew that I would do better by myself if I didn't have to worry about them and whether or they would cut my throat in my sleep.
A few minutes passed before Storm dismissed himself. With him gone, I stood up from my seat and decided it was about time for me to return back to my room and enjoy some time by myself.
"Alaska? A moment, if you please."
I turned my head around and saw Triton still in the room. I had forgotten he was in here!
Triton was a rather odd for a Capitol citizen. He looked, honestly, like another man his age from District Four. He had tan skin and short blonde hair. He didn't wear any of the Capitol makeup or any exuberant clothing. He looked just the fishermen from the district.
"Can I help you Triton?" I asked politely.
"I just wanted to talk for a little bit, if you didn't mind." He asked.
I nodded before sitting back down on the couch.
"Well, I kinda make it a habit of mine to talk to any of the non-volunteer tributes I get and… well… how are you feeling?" He asked me in a caring tone-of-voice.
"How am I feeling?" I scoffed. "I feel great!"
"You can talk to me. I won't tell either Aqua, Storm, or anyone in the Capitol about this. I just want to know… are you sure you feel great?" He continued to question.
His tone-of-voice was so sincere that it startled me. For a moment, I forgot that I was talking to a man from the Capitol. He sounded a little similar to how my father used to talk to me.
"Well, I, um…" I mumbled in response. A few moments of hesitation came into my mind before I finally sighed. "… not really."
"… then how are you really feeling?" He repeated his question.
"I'm… I'm worried." I answered truthfully, my eyes looking downward.
"About your chances?" He questioned.
I shook my head. "Honestly, no. I don't mean to sound arrogant or anything, but I do think I stand a good chance to come out of the Games alive. I'm just… I'm really worried about my brother."
Something told me that I could trust him. It was a gut feeling based on no logic, but I felt at ease with him. So, I explained to Triton about Oanou. I explained his condition to him and how I was worried about him being left alone in District Four while I was gone.
Triton did not say anything while I spoke. He simply listened, nodding his head in understanding. Once I finished talking, he remained quiet in deep thought. A few seconds passed before he smiled at me.
"I'll take care of him." He told me.
Huh?
"Wh-What do you mean by that?" I asked him cautiously.
"I have connections in District Four to a few of the mentors. I'll make a few calls and have some of them keep an eye on your house and your brother while you're gone. I can easily get someone." Triton responded, his smile seemingly brighter in my eyes. "He'll have someone watching him while you're gone. And… in the worst case events… he will have someone to look after him no matter what happens."
My eyes widened in shock. I could feel myself shake as I processed everything that he had said.
"Y-You… can't be serious. Can you actually do all of that?" I mumbled in a very weak voice.
"Of course. It won't be a problem for me at all." He replied with a shrug.
I jumped out of my seat and grabbed the escort and pulled him into a hug. I actually felt a few tears fall from my eyes. Normally I'd try and hide them, but I could honestly care less at the moment.
"Thank you. Thank you so much!" I exclaimed, tightening my hug.
The hug took Triton by surprise, but the Capitol man quickly returned it with one of his own.
"Don't thank me. I'm just doing what I can to help you. I don't want to have you worrying about your brother while you are in the arena. You need to be focused on yourself. Your brother will be fine." He told me, rubbing my back in a comforting gesture.
"I will, I will. Promise." I responded with a smile of my own.
Nearly a minute passed before we separated from our hug. I quickly wiped away the tears from my eyes.
"Sorry about that, I don't normally cry like that." I apologized. "It's… kinda been a long day."
"I understand completely." Triton nodded in understanding. "Go off to bed and take a nap. We can talk more when you wake up, or in the morning maybe."
"Of course." I replied with a smile. "Goodnight Triton."
Triton smiled and waved, telling me goodnight. With those words, I left the room.
I walked through the hallway in the train until I found my room. I entered it and quickly lay down on my bed.
Triton really helped me out in more ways than I thought. All throughout the day, I was concerned about Oanou and whether or not he would be okay without me. Now, I knew that someone would be watching him. Even if I died, he would have somebody to take care of him. That made me feel so relieved. All of the worries I had about the Games had completely vanished.
I would not necessarily call myself arrogant, but I knew that I was skilled. I was fast, I knew how to use knives, and I could tie knots. There were many strengths I could think of when I thought about my chances. I did have a legitimate chance. Whether I was with the careers or by myself, I stood a chance.
I was going to do everything I could to come back a victor, to honor my parents' names and to return home to Oanou.
With this last thought, I was able to fall into peaceful sleep.
Author's Note: And here is the next chapter everybody!
I really appreciate all the support that I have received in the reviews. Thank you all so much for reading and I hope you all continue to enjoy the story that I have planned!
I would also like to make a comment about something an anonymous reviewer said. While I do appreciate the need to defend me (I really do!) I would also like to clarify that I welcome criticism. Anyone that has anything they want to say to me about my writing style can say anything in a review or a PM. I would honestly love to hear any of it! My goal is to become a published author soon, so I would really appreciate anything that can help me improve my writing quality! And, in addition, I would love to be able to write higher quality works for all of you.
So yeah, this was the train ride to the Capitol. What did you all think of the tributes from District Nine (Demi and Jason) and District Four (Cascade and Alaska)? I'm really excited to hear about your opinions!
And now, it is time to start working on the next chapter. I will have it up as soon as it is finished! See you all then! :)