Tributes and trains
District three really caught my attention there escort, Auk Molls as he introduced himself, is a sight I've never seen. His sheer size disturbed me, he seemed to ever extend into the sky with the clothing he wore you could easily tell them apart. He wore a large pitch black shirt with little green markers blinking every second or so, oh my, his pants, they where the longest pair in the entire human being history they just seemed to extend for miles. None of these little characteristics could compare to his voice, the voice that belonged to this giant of a man belonged to some 5 year old girl.
"All right now my favorite district lets get down to business."
Auk said with a squeak as the mayor finished the well crafted speech about the history of the capital or something along the lines of that. Smiling he turns to draw from an assortment of name slips
"Ok let's start with our beautiful girls."
Recognition swept throughout the side containing all the 12-18 year old girls roped off into groups based on age. This might be there last year alive, this might be the last time to see there family, the last time to see any of there crushes or boyfriends, or best friends. The camera sweeps back to Auk as he draws from the mass of names that only belonged to the girl's selection. With the sheer numbers of slips I began to realize how much bigger some of the other districts are compared to district 5.
"This year our district three girl will be Grace Idée!"
After a moment a small red headed girl steps from the crowd, walking with her head up straight and tears gushing from her eyes, she stops at the base of the stairs. Before taking another step she inhales possibly her last free, well as free as possible, breath. Then wiping the tears from her eyes continues up the stairs and stops behind the escort whom dwarfs her in size. The camera scans the crowd getting the desired product from calling the little girls name many of the parents are crying ether from relief or just from knowing the seemingly bright girl about to be sent to her death. Finally the camera stops on one woman who weeps loudly clutching three more children as though the capital would take them from her any second lets out another moan before burying her face into the children's faces, sweeping back for another look at grace I see the resemblance between her and the woman it must have been her mother. With the camera still trained on grace I start to size her up, she doesn't look like she could make it very far in fact I think she would be the easiest to kill at this moment, just as the thought hits me shame follows. Trying to shake the thought Auk's voice startles me.
"Well we need to get the ball rolling again time to draw our b…"
"I volunteer!"
Echoes across the town square. Finding the person behind the voice the camera zooms in the catch more detail from the mystery person. His face is sprinkled with freckles thinning out as the reach the edges of his face, glasses rest on the bridge of his nose they accomplish giving him the distinguished look. His night sky black curls bounce as he walks angrily to the stairs, several girls just realizing what happened start to wail. Without looking back the tribute reaches the stairs as Auk's voice rebounds from the news that there is a volunteer.
"What would be your name my boy?''
Not as steady as before he relays the information.
"M… my name… my name is Brinnen Canady."
With some effort he makes it up the stairs and stops next to Grace. Closing my eyes I sigh I can't take all of this, putting my hands over my ears and start to doze off. After what seems like ages I remove my hands and look up just in time to hear a new voice.
Melanie Pepin is our female tribute for our lovely district four. Taking another look at her I see not some small girl or teen but a beautiful woman with bronze skin with the deepest brown hair that seems to float around her like a net catching anything that dares look. This woman projects ferocity, she is taller than most girls I've seen maybe she is 5'10" or 5'11", she has a muscular build to her as most people in district four do and she moves quick and fluid she will be a contender. The mayor step up to the podium and makes another speech, then the seal lights up the screen.
'I've had enough I can't look at all of these faces and kill them later in the games, without saying a word I get up and leave when I hear my name called I don't bother to look back to the caller, slamming my door I hit my bed and with in a few moments drift into my nightmare filled dreams where little girls turn into demons that the capital have altered to root out my deepest secrets and fears and use them against me. A light knock wakes me from a bed I don't recognize tangled in sheets with books and scarred pages strewn across the floor. Finally I rise and look through the draws until I find a simple set of garments taking them with me I quickly change after a short shower, looking around the litter full room I spot the trinket, my mother left for me after the reaping. With all the care I can muster I pick it up and slip it around my neck. As I leave my room I spot Ty sitting down with an empty plate in front of him looking up from the plate I notice his eyes are still wet, puffy, and red from a night full of crying, disgust hits hard; how can I have such a horrible partner like this and expect to survive in the arena. Taking a deep breath I walk out of the door way and toward the table just as I sit the train comes to a stop. The beginning of my plan starts to form, I must make it back home and if that means killing Ty I will come back home, looking once again at him I see fresh tears spilling , even if it means I have to kill him first I'll make it back home. Plastering a smile on my face I wait for our door to open and take my last innocent steps before touching capitol soil and become forever tainted. With a bright light the door opens and cameras fill my vision. At last I make the last step as a innocent girl from district five and my first step as a killer, because I plan on doing everything in my power to come back home even if it means joining the careers ..
End of chapter 3
