Minnow Nevermay

The tape was worn, fairly old and would have crumbled if anyone had been in charge of holding it. But not Minnow, he had been taking the greatest care with this tape since he was young by his father instructions. His dad's pride and joy, and the thing that fed his ego the most. He gingerly put it into the tape-player, and pressed play. A young man that looked too much like himself appeared, standing on a pedestal to one of the most earliest of games. His blue eye's that had a crazed almost frenzied look he had never experienced the sandy hair of the teenager was the same as the style he had on his head right now... It made Minnow cringe when he looked into the mirror. The large timer that was over the cornucopia hit zero and twenty four kids surged forward to the large metal box. The boy that looked like him picked up the smallest of daggers and managed to kill two tributes at that bloodbath. The tape was skipped ahead four or five times, but it was always for the same reason. Minnows dad claiming a kill, every time he used something different. A spear, a sword, an axe and at one point a seashell. This was supposed to be him, this was his year to volunteer... but he wouldn't. His dad had made it clear to him that his future was in the house next to his in the victors paradise. Close enough to the sea so they could go fishing every day and talk about his success in the hunger games that Minnow was entering. That wasn't the future Minnow wanted.

He glanced his attention away from the tape around his room. Weights, Nets, Swords, Daggers. He hadn't touched most of the equipment, he had always had to sneak away to avoid training. When he finally became old enough to get a job he had been grateful for the escape from his dad's pressures of training. It had been a way for him to finally put his time into something more... real. The hunger games always seemed like they would never occur for him. The only weapon in the room that had been used was the bow, and looking at it he wondered how good he would have been in the games. He wasn't exactly the most strongest looking guy in the district, work had given him little muscle power, it was without a doubt that the careers wouldn't have cared to have him tagging along. His only useful skills where fishing, swimming and his minor knowledge of archery. The sound of the door clicking open drew away Minnow's attention. His father stood their, smiling at him looking around the room.

"You ready for this Minnow? Your big year, to join your father in the stars... I know I haven't always been here, but the times I had trained with you I was always impressed and I already have made bet's that you're going to win" He spoke slowly and grandly, and at first didn't register his son's mood. A moment that probably could have been shorter passed when his father became concerned. "What's wrong Minnow, nerves?" He asked, tilting his head in a fashion that made him look fairly unattractive

"I was thinking... maybe I shouldn't volunteer this year, I mean we have a lot of stronger kids who would make better tributes..." Minnow said, starting to trail off. His fathers expression changed quickly, he was confused and then worried and then angry. 'Talk about a mood chameleon' Minnow thought looking at his dads face.

"No, your not backing out. Your 18, every year I asked you and you said you would wait. No more, you're volunteering. If you don't Minnow, I will make sure you remember this day. Ask yourself, do you really want me angry at you?" He said, his voice intimidating and full of authority. Minnow wanted to argue, to fight back but his voice was lost. "That's what I thought... now, get ready. You have a very big day ahead" He threatened, picking himself up and leaving Minnow alone in his room, to dwell on the thoughts of volunteering.

Alethia Dolfay "Allie"

"What are you doing here? If my parents catch you, they will kill you!" Alethia said, concerned about the young man who had turned up at her window. He gave her a cheeky smile and climbed into her room.

"I came to say goodbye, I'm volunteering for the games this year. Your parents might have stopped you, mine didn't. Allie, this is my year. I really wanted to see you again." He said, opening his arms for a hug. Allie rolled her eye's before giving in and hugging him back. "You worry too much, when I come back your parents won't have a problem with me... will they?" He said, wondering if she understood what he was saying. When she seemed oblivious he could only smile to himself. "I mean that we cou-" The sound of approaching footsteps to Allie's door made the muscled teen flee. Giving her one last wave before her mum walked through the door, glancing curiously around the room.

"I thought I heard a boy's voice Allie..." she said, looking at her sternly. To which Allie smiled and shook her head.

"Nope, most boys only speak to me to get to know Marina. You know, the beautiful, more attractive, more 'exciting' and more open then me... who would want to talk to me?" She said, and her mum just seemed to ignore everything she had just said to get out a small bag.

"Your Aunt dropped this by for you, she says you have been a 'perfect' employee at her shop and wanted to give you this before the reaping day..." She handed her the small brown bag and inside was a cupcake, blue icing with a starfish on. She smiled, her Aunt had listened to her idea... The only person who was willing to listen to her ideas and dreams.

"Tell her thank you for me mum?" Alethia asked, her head tilted sideways making her wavy long her curtain her face. She had to readjust the swirls of chocolate with her hand. Today she had to look nice for the reapings, not that she would need to worry. Some other beauty queen of four would volunteer and take my place. But maybe this would be the chance to get someone to actually see her instead of seeing a stepping stone to her sister. She smiled as she sat down onto her chair and started to prepare for the days events...

"The gathering of the children of your district... does it bring pride to you?" The cold, icy voice of Donald Flaggon said. The mayor of district 4 nodded at the comment, smiling. The two men stood watching the kids fill in for the days reaping, and they were again put under the cold glance of the escort for district four that had been the same since the first hunger games. He took great pride in his job here, and was glad that unlike the other escorts he hadn't been moved at all. He was now approaching seventy and his skeleton was becoming weak. He was a tall man, and unlike most escorts he didn't dress in ridiculous fashion or wear the worst haircuts. He wore a simple suit, and had a silver lining of hair around his head. His face was stern, and often scrunched into that of an old wise sage.

"Oh yes, to see this years crop of potential winners always fills me with joy... We have on average more winners than most districts, and so gives us reason to believe..." The short, pudgy mayor realised that Donald had stopped smiling when he mentioned the wins.

"You know what they call districts one, two and four? They call them career districts. I struggle to see the comparison, districts one and two are where warriors are grown and made. We have had three winners, and I plan to leave my job on a high note... How much can you guarantee that these recruits are the best for my last job?" He said, making the small mayor slightly nervous. "I didn't think so..." Donald said after the mayors failure to respond.

Once all the kids had fitted themselves into the small square in front of the justice building, next to the beach Donald took his place at the mic stand. He cleared his throat slightly, tapped the microphone twice and pulled out a small note for his speech.

"Welcome to the thirty-sixth hunger games, as you are all aware I have great expectations of you this year... I'm looking for a lucky young man and women to

represent our district, and I do feel like it is safe to say our district after all this time of me escorting you. Who will be lucky enough to be given honor of our tributes this year?" He said, moving over to the large bowl of names. He didn't announce the gender, or make any sort of statement as he dove in through the bowl to search for the death warrant of a teenager. He didn't make a deal out of it either. He was in and out, unfolding the name with a deadly efficiency. "Our first tribute is...Alethia Dolfay" He called out, and he stood watching the girl make her way to the stage. She wasn't what he had been wanting, she wasn't a lethal killer. It was okay, they still had the male. His hand dove into the other glass orb, losing interest in her before she had even arrived on stage. "Next we have Hunter Marlin" He said, and the boy who stepped out was what he was looking for. He had clearly been training, the boy didn't look happy about it and gave the girl a strange look as he started his journey up but it didn't matter. He had his winner.

"I VOLUNTEER!" The sound of the voice made Donald smile... they had someone bigger and better then Hunter.

"Come on up here then, we can't wait all day" Donald said into the microphone and as the boy approached his hopes sank. The Hunter kid was bigger, looked stronger and seemed more confident then this... The boy wasn't a shrimp by any means, but Donald had wanted a monster to tear apart the career districts. Donald had wanted a real winner. "What's your name?"

"I'm Minnow, Minnow Nevermay" The boy said, he extended his hand to Alethia and the two shook hands, oblivious to the cold watch of Donald looming in the background.

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