Authors Note: Tomorrow is my birthday so could I pretty please get lots of reviews? : )
I'll be 18 so finally legal!
Hope you guys like this chapter! I loved writing it!
As for the review question: Who do you think will be the first 6 to die? Which 6 do you want to die? Yes they are different questions. I know they are big questions but… it's my birthday! Haha. Plus I'm having a hard time deciding who to bloodbath.
Can't wait to read your reviews!
As always please check out Xtremeloungingchamp's story! She updates daily and the tributes are already in the Games!
Also a shout out to my ah-mazing beta SignoraBelikova!
Vone Co Vandoncolasmo. Age 13. District 8.
I'm not a real big fan of smoking; it's a dirty and expensive habit. Plus it makes you stink. My sister seems to feel differently. I could easily mistake that girl for a damn chimney. Millainie and I usually get along pretty damn well but when it comes to smoking I just about lose it with her. She is slowly killing herself and she's all the family I've got. How can she be so stupid?
Our parents were only 14 when they had Millainie and 22 when I was born. Talk about some crazy shit. I guess it goes without saying they were not ready to be parents. They spent their days working at the textile factory and nights loosing touch with reality. By the time I was ready to start school they were already wasting away and unable to work. A few weeks after I turned 7 my Dad died shortly after my Mom passed away. Since then it has just been Millainie and me. I guess that's why the smoking bothers me so much. She's all I have and I don't want her to follow in our parents' footsteps. Addiction runs in our family.
Instead of turning to cigarettes like Millainie or drugs like my parents I have an addiction that belongs only to me, sewing.
Jayden Connor Glass. Age 8. District 8.
"Pass it to me!" My buddy Trestan yells.
"Don't pass it to him! Give it to me Jay!" Mickey says with a mischievous laugh.
"You guys are silly," Criar says with a girlish giggle, "you aren't even on his team Mickey!"
As always Criar is right. I pass the ball towards her and watch as she runs towards the trees.
"Way to go Criar!" I hear someone say from the other side of the hill. That voice could only belong to one person.
"Aiden! Whatcha doing up so early!" I say happily. I love when Aiden comes to play ball with us. He is my sister's friend but the best goalie I know. When I grow up I want to be just like him!
"Hey little dude! Just coming by to pick up your sister and Livia. We're going to hang out a bit before the Reaping, but I bet I can fit in a round of ball first. Knowing them they're probably running late!"
He is probably right about that. Livia likes to sleep in and takes lots of time to put on goop that is supposed to make girls pretty. She is the mayor's daughter so has lots of time to get pretty. My sister, Briar, never wears make-up. It is way too expensive and she never has any spare time. Even without goop I think my sister is the prettiest girl in District 8. She looks different then everybody else. Briar has chocolate brown hair that is curly like mine, but hers is really really long. We both have green eyes with long lashes but her eyes are big and a really deep green. She also has deep ruby red lips that are huge. Mama always calls her an exotic angel.
Every morning Briarleigh spends hours finding food. Our Mama is really sick so she can't work. Briar usually wakes up before sunrise and helps the baker for some moldy bread, searches the park for dandelions, and tries to trade for food. Even though she tries super hard we are always very hunger and skinny.
I don't mind it though. I love my sister and if I get really hungry Livia always feeds me. My sister refuses to eat too often at Livia's because of her pride or something like that.
Livia tells me that in exchange for a good meal I must tell her a funny joke. I am good at funny jokes and I still get to keep my pride!
Vone Co Vandoncolasmo. Age 13. District 8.
Millainie snuck into my section with me; the Peacekeepers didn't even glance twice at us. We look nearly identical with our blue eyes and black hair. The only major difference between us (besides our gender of course) is our bodies. I'm about 5'6" and still growing. I only weigh in at about 120 lbs but I've got quite a bit of muscle. Millainie is anything but muscular. She is shorter then me by about 4 inches, yet weighs closer to 150lbs. She is a bit chunky and looks barely a day older then 12.
Not only do we look mildly alike we also have kinda similar personalities. We are both smart but we can be pretty aggressive if pissed off. Although Millainie is shy while I like to speak my mind. I am definitely my mother's son while she reminds me more of Dad.
My train of thought is interrupted by Frank, District 8's Escort. Frank has been our Escort as far back as I can remember. Every year he stands on our stage acting like a little kid on Christmas morning until he has to acknowledge our tributes. I can tell he thinks we are savage despite his attempts to hide it. The dude pisses me off. Frank goes into a ten minute spiel about how great the games will be, the crazy twist, and how privileged he feels to be in District 8. Yeah right. I am way too relieved when he introduces our Mayor. Anything is better then Frank's non-stop talking.
The Treaty of Treason feels awfully short this year and before I know it Frank is back.
"This year I feel like spicing things up! What do ya'll think?" A few people give shouts of approval but the majority look at him with disgust. "We are going to do the boys first," he literally shouts with glee.
"Our male tribute is… duh dun duh… Vone Co Vandoncolasmo! Congrats Buddy!"
The last thing I ever expected was to hear my name but for some odd reason a grin begins to spread across my face. I may be terrified of the Games but I can still be proud.
Briarleigh Nikki Glass. Age 16. District 8.
"Briarleigh Nikki Glass! Come on up! Baby, it's your lucky day!" Our escort, Frank, screams into the microphone.
I can't help but feel a twinge of sadness for the poor girl who just got Reaped. I begin to lose myself in my thoughts. I hate the Games and all they stand for. Twenty-three kids lose their lives every year for no reason and whichever child emerges Victor returns changed forever. I am so engulfed by rage I do not notice Aiden prodding me towards the stage.
"Lala, move. You need to get on stage."
What? There is no way I got Reaped. I only had a few slips in thousands! Aiden must have heard wrong but I can't deny the fact that everyone in my section is staring at me.
I quickly gather all the strength I can and walk towards the stage. My hands are balled tightly into fists, and I am squeezing them with all my might. My hands are the only thing preventing me from completely losing it. I cannot appear weak. I must look strong.
The walk to the stage feels like miles even though it's only a few feet, but once again I feel a hand on my back. This hand definitely doesn't belong to Aiden. Instead of a gentle tap I'm now being shoved along. Anger begins to once again engulf me as the hand pushes me onstage. As I turn towards the crowd I see the owner of the hand; a Peacekeeper with a huge smirk on his face.
Before I even realize what I am doing I slap him straight across the face.
Jayden Connor Glass. Age 8. District 8.
My sissy is going to be in the Games. This is not okay. This cannot be happening.
No.
No.
No.
No.
No.
No.
I can't help it. I start crying and the tears keep falling. What am I going to do without Briar? She is all I have. Mama's sick and Daddy left. Although I don't miss my dad because all he did was beat us.
At least she smacked the Peacekeeper. He deserved it. You do not push pretty ladies like Briar. It's not nice.
"Jayden Connor Glass, oh my could we have siblings?" I hear Frank call out.
This really can't be happening.
I don't even try to hide my tears as I head towards the stage.
Vone Co Vandoncolasmo. Age 13. District 8.
Without hesitation I climbed the stairs and gave a winning smile for the cameras. Someone is gonna win this, why not me? Apparently my calm nature towards this whole thing was not shared with my best friend. John was anything but calm. Before I could even register what had occurred John was under arrest. He lost his cool and attacked the Peacekeepers. I think it is safe to say he will not be able to say goodbye to me. I love the guy but he can be a damn fool at times.
So instead I'm stuck dealing with my sister alone. Her tears are bringing me down and I need to stay positive. I can't cry. So instead I try to think about all of our good times which is hard considering her loud choking sobs and random outbursts of advice.
I still am proud but this sucks. I hate seeing Millainie cry.
Briarleigh Nikki Glass. Age 16. District 8.
After I smacked the Peacekeeper, I wanted nothing more then for Frank to be next. He laughed at me and announced to the crowd that District 8 finally had a "feisty one". This is my life, not some joke.
When they announced Jay's name I really did nearly loose it. He is only 8. So innocent. He means the world to me. After hearing his name I knew I would never leave the arena. I will do everything to protect Jay. I can accept that my life is over in exchange for him getting a chance.
On the bright side of this atrocious situation Jayden will have enough money to buy medicine for our mother when he wins.
Although there is a possible upside to this horrible situation it is impossible to even feel a bit of hope when I look at Jayden. Even though he is only eight he has some really great friends and my heart breaks watching them all huddled in the corner. They are all crying. Even Mickey who never shows emotion, only sarcasm is letting a few tears fall from his eyes.
His friends have been here for awhile when I finally hear mine clunking up the stairs. They are always capable of making a racket.
The first thing that registers in my mind is that Livia looks atrocious. She has never looked so terrible in her life. Her usually made-up face is streaked with tears and she has raccoon eyes from rubbing them. Her hair has come undone and is sticking every which way from frantic running. I can't help but laugh.
"I look that bad don't I?" She retorts with a laugh as she comes and gives me a hug. The small bit of humor we had is quickly gone as she begins to speak.
"I should have volunteered. No one needs me here. I'll regret it forever. I was just in such a state of shock. I couldn't even move you know?" She rambles as she bursts into tears.
I know exactly what she means and I also know she is telling the truth. I'm pretty good at reading people.
"I know," I say and for the first time I let my tears fall, "I love you guys more then anything."
"I love you too," I am shocked to hear my mom's voice. I can't believe I didn't notice her before. I am embarrassed to admit I mistook her for a bundle of rags in Aiden's arm. Poor Aiden is sitting in the corner looking white as a ghost. He is sobbing and apparently not handling this too well.
"Guys, it is going to be okay." I manage to say through my tears and as I give Aiden and my mom one last hug. I know it will be.