A/N: Here is the District 13 reaping with tributes by Elnur (Jiro Dai) and DaughterofApollo7 (Pyralis Hayes)! Thanks for reading and review!
Also, keep sending in the tributes!
Jiro Dai's POV
"Jiro! Jiro! Turn off that annoying thing! You know today is my only free day, so I want to make the most of it!" I hear my mom shout from her bedroom. Only then do I realise that the alarm has been wailing away for the past 10 minutes. I gently hit it so it stops.
My thoughts have been louder then the clock, keeping awake through the night. They were suggesting me terrible ideas that I couldn't believe my mind could come up with. I turned 12, which means that I am now a possible tribute of the Games. I always thought that I would be scared to death or already would have had a heart attack but now I don't know. I feel nothing. To be honest I am nothing, so it's not particularly surprising that I'm empty on the inside as well.
I get up from my bed and drag my feet towards the bathroom. Our flat is small but it's cosy. It's the only place where I feel completely safe and where I can just be myself. There is no need to put on an act when no one is ever around.
After washing my face and brushing my teeth, all the while avoiding looking in the mirror, something I am used to doing, I lie down back on my bed. My thoughts start with thinking that it should be a good day, right? No school, I finally get to see mom for more than an hour, my name is only put in once, and so what are the odds of getting reaped? But then there is this husky voice at the back of my mind that just keeps reminding me of everything and it sounds so sure, so knowing. It keeps telling me that I'm never going to have a good day, because I am just bad luck to everyone around me, including myself. I am aren't I? I mean dad left us because of me. Mom has to work so much because of me. People are not nice to me because I'm so weak. Why am I even alive? Wouldn't it be so much easier if I just died? And poof, everyone's problems would die with me. It's so easy really, just raise my hand and say those 2 words. Those words that will change everything for the better.
Pyralis Hayes's POV
Mom! Dad! No! Please stop screaming! Please I cannot listen to it anymore. Please please please… No don't leave me alone. Mommy! Daddy! I jolt up from my makeshift bed, covered in sweat and breathing as if I had ran a 12-mile marathon. My heart feels as though it is going to explode. Every pump is getting heavier and heavier, as I relieve my dream, which has haunted my dreams for the past 5 years. I can't get rid of the screams even when I'm sleeping.
Slowly, I come back to my senses, as I keep repeating to myself strong, strong, strong. It is a better mantra than please please please. It helps me feel strong, not useless and weak. I slowly stretch out my limbs and hear every bone pop back into its place. Letting out a loud sigh of relief, I think about finding a better place to sleep at, as bus stations are definitely not the 5 star hotel experience. However, even after 5 years of being homeless, I still can't get used to sleeping outside. It's not so much the lack of comfort or privacy, especially at night when I have to pee and all the stores are closed already. It's more the looks that people give me and the whispers and the sneers. They think that I'm a monster. They think that I killed my own family. They never believed me when I described the murderer to them, as he didn't fit with anyone's description and sounded too 'perfect', whatever that meant. The only thought of these stupid, pig-headed and spineless peacekeepers makes me want to hurl something at the wall and scream scream scream. Scream until my throat, no, my lungs get sore. Until there is no more pain.
You probably think, that I'm just overreacting since I am not in jail or asylum and so on and on. I am 15, therefore cannot go to jail. When they tested me I didn't have any evident psychotic disorders, meaning they couldn't hide me away at the asylum. So you're probably asking, so is she just free to do whatever? Essentially, yes. However, the peacekeepers found a different way to ruin my life further. Whenever any manslaughter takes place, guess who gets blamed first? You guessed right. It's lovely me. It doesn't matter if I was at work during the murder, or if I had a solid alibi. They just pointed at me and said "It's probably you, you little monster". They need to get their facts straight: I am no little. I am freaking 6'1. And monster? Maybe I am but not a murderer.
Jiro's POV
"Oh, look our Asian-boy is coming through! Hey, everyone don't mess with him, or he'll crush you with his bi-i-i-ig muscles!" Rob Barnes shouts out, his gang immediately barking in laughter as if he had made the best joke of our century. I hate him. I hate him for being everything I am not.
"Ah, I'm so sorry did I hurt your feelings? Are you going to cry? Or is it your face just giving up on one side?" Their laughter gets even louder, attracting even more attention and I could see some other people snickering too. I can feel my hand shacking by my side, as it wants to cover my right side of the face, but I simply flick my fringe to the side, look up and act.
I join their laughter, making it sound as realistic as possible. I even slap my knees for a stronger effect. "Yeah, half of my face is so disappointed with what I've become, that it just decided to flop down", this makes them laugh. Good. I pass quicker while they continue making jokes and rush towards the registration counter. My fringe gets in my eyes again and I don't notice someone walking in front of me, until we've already collided. I fall on my butt and am about to start apologising, when I see who it is. That's when I realise that it was not just random someone. It's Pyralis.
I haven't heard much about her, but everything I heard scared me. She killed her own family when she was only 10 and is a suspect for a few more homicides. Her long red hair and giant frame make her appear even more menacing than she is. My mom always told me to stay away from her, that she is a psycho who gets off on slowly killing people. After my initial shock, I quickly get on my feet, murmur an apology and dash off. I hope she isn't going to kill me.
But do I really?
Pyralis's POV
I look at the small Asian boy's back, who just collided with me. I really feel sorry for him. The nuclear accident from 60 years ago has really affected him. I don't mean he was present there or anything, but the radiation has somehow messed up his grandpa and therefore his dad, meaning that poor boy was born with half of his face drooping down, as if it was 50 years older than the other side. Kids constantly made fun of him, as his tiny build didn't do him justice either. However, he only egged them on, as he too laughed at their jokes. Why?
When he realised who I am, as you already know I am a District celebrity, I saw the fear slipping into his eyes. It made me feel terrible, as I never talked to him personally, meaning that he thinks that I'm a bloodthirsty psycho. I look up at the sky, thinking why is it me? I realise that I'm being very dramatic and smile to myself. Hey, at least I still have a little humour left in me.
Suddenly I feel a hand on my shoulder and then my hands are handcuffed and I'm blindfolded. I don't even pretend to be surprised as this happens at least once in 2-3 months. Probably, another murder I did not commit happened, which of course means that somehow I am a suspect. I let out a deep sigh and don't struggle as they take me somewhere.
"So how are you doing Steve?" I ask one of the peacekeepers.
"How did you…" he doesn't get to finish as he is interrupted by the other keeper
"Shut up man! Commander clearly told us to keep our mouths shut!" They cover my mouth too, meaning the rest of the journey was spent in an awkward silence.
I drift off and when I'm slapped awake I realise that I have already been moved to a brightly lit room, with white walls and floor and only one door. I once think that their interior designer sucks. Before I voice my opinion on their poor choice of colour, a fist slams hard into my cheekbone. I see stars as I turn my head back and say
"Is that all you got?" I recognise the man, as he is generally the one who tortures me when I am brought here.
"So what are we doing today? Cutting? Bruising? Chocking? C'mon we don't have all day, I have to be pretty for the reapings" He sneers at me and once again proves that he looks like a lizard, with his dry pale skin, sharp features and bald head.
"Sadly, my dear Pyralis, today we don't get to have fun", he has the decency to make a frowny face, "today I am here to convince you to volunteer for the Games!"
That's when I stop smirking.
Jiro's POV
I thought that my first reaping would be terrifying. I thought I would be shacking like a leaf, like most kids do. However, all I can feel is determination and it's so so sweet. I haven't felt like this in a long time. It is as if the heavy fog of thoughts has been lifted from my mind and there is only one voice speaking clearly. Once again reminding, but this time to help me remember what to do.
Slowly, everyone quietens down, as they start rolling the Capitol clip. They show the last year's victor and I look at him in awe. He is from District 4, so he is tall and tan and handsome. He easily killed everyone last year; the games didn't even last 5 days! I was disappointed, as I really enjoy watching the games. Especially the Quarter Quells! And it is one next year, so I have to do this. It's easy, the voice says, just raise your hand and say…
"I volunteer"
Freedom.
Pyralis's POV
I stand quietly. I don't know what to do. I wish I could break every damn bone in that man's body. I wish I could kill every member of our district council. All I see is red and even my mantra is just a distant cry, as all I can think about is taking his neck in my hands and just snapping it. It'll probably be so easy.
No one is standing next to me as usual and I can see peacekeepers all around the 15 year olds, my section, trying to act casual but failing miserably. I wish they all die ugly painful deaths, as they choke on their blood and feel the life leaving them slowly. I was distracted by my own thoughts that I didn't notice who was reaped. I look up to see who my partner is going to be and my eyes widen in shock.
It's the Asian boy! He says his name is Jiro. I feel even worse for him. It is probably his first reaping ever and he is chosen. However, everyone is extremely quiet and even the escort, who is wearing a ridiculous wig that seems to be crawling with insects of all sorts, is staring at him wide-eyed.
He smiles widely and says, "I volunteered because I love the games. What did he just say? He volunteered? I can feel my mouth hanging open and then the irony slowly dawns on me. Two volunteers in one night! Wonderful! I couldn't wait for my turn so I just shout it out.
"I want to volunteer as well!" Everyone's head snaps in my direction, and I can see shock, disbelief and of course satisfaction. These sick bastards want me dead. I go up to the stage, not once faltering and pass Jiro, who has a terrified look on his face.
"Hello, my favourite district! What a wonderful day! District 13 is very generous this year! Two volunteers!" I laugh as loud as possible, filling up the tense silence.
Suddenly, I stop smiling and look him right in the eyes.
"When I win the games, I am going to come back and snap each of yours necks. Why? Oh because I'm a serial killer, aren't I? And this will be my greatest accomplishment. Obviously, after killing my parents", I spit out, then turn around and stand next to Jiro and my escort. Both of them try to edge away from me, but I don't care anymore. All I think is strong, strong, strong.
A/N: Whew, all done! Hopefully you like it but if there's something you don't like, just a drop a comment! I didn't include interviews, as Pyralis doesn't have anyone, while Jiro's author didn't think that Jiro's time with his mom would very significant.
Anyways, please review and keep sending the tributes!
P.S. If you find any typos, I am so sorry! I try to spellcheck as much as possible, but I don't have a beta, so there is bound to be a few mistakes. Thank you for understanding guys!