Cove Delamar,17, District 4 male
I hear a woman's moan beside me as I feel myself coming to and my eyes slowly open up as I see I'm gazing up at an unfamiliar ceiling. I let out a small yawn and move my arms but I feel it pressed against a warm body followed by another moan and I turn my head to my left to see a completely naked woman laying next to me and I turn my head to my right and see another naked woman but both seem out of it as I start remembering the events that took place. Just another sexual encounter after a long night of partying and popping pills, nothing more.
I barley even know these two girls as I lay between them still slightly hung over but I remember what today is, how I'm supposed to be out training and that's when I get up from the bed and pop one of the pills on the dresser before taking a quick sip of this liquor they left out and I look up at the ceiling loosening up my neck as I can feel the slight burning sensation of the liquor going down my body.
"Mmmmm Cove…" I hear one of the girls moan but I pretend I don't hear her as i slip on my undergarments and jeans.
"Leaving so soon Cove? I still want to have some more fun…" I hear her groan.
"We had our fun, we won't be seeing each other again." I bluntly say and I hear her sigh a little.
"What are you going to do from here? Just go to the boring academy and train again, you still have another year, just relax yourself a little, and let's go another round." She pesters me but I turn around and shoot her a glare and it causes her to tremble a little.
"Another year you said? The fact that you think he should be the one to volunteer this year says everything I need to know about you, guess it's for the fucking better that I can't even remember your name." I bluntly say before storming out of the house with just my jeans and sneakers on and I make my way back towards my home. There's quite a few people out here but most of them immediately clear a path upon seeing me and I continue strutting past them and reach my home afterwards making sure to ignore my mother who's only in the kitchen staring at the faucet of running water.
I head to the restroom to wash up and change into my academy clothes in my room but that's when I hear knocking on my door.
"What." I bluntly say with clear impatience, I know who it is and quite frankly, I don't really want anything to do with her right now.
"Its me Cove…can I come in please?" I hear my mother pleading and I clench my fists and open the door giving her an annoyed look.
"Cove…I'm tired, I'm just so tired of you acting like I don't exist, can you just look at me, into my eyes and tell me what's going on?" her voice cracks and for a split second I remember him, just laying there in a puddle of his blood just because he always wanted to be a man with morals, just because he wanted to be so trusting and kind to the same people who just ended up stabbing him right through the back!
"I have nothing to say to you." I state and try to walk past her but she continues blocking my path and I can feel a scowl spreading across my face.
"I'm only going to tell you once to move…" I warn her but she only glares me as tears continue running down her eyes.
"You're all I have left Cove, you're all I have! Caspian is gone, your father is gone and you, it's almost like you're gone too, but I don't want you to be this way Cove…I don't. It's ok if you don't want to help out with the shop anymore, Riley and Marina are helping out enough but I just want you to acknowledge me, I want us to acknowledge each other because we are a family…" she sniffs and I let out a growl envisioning how things used to be…I miss those days but I force those emotions back and begin storming past my mother, but upon me trying to force my way past her she slaps me across the face with all of her strength and I let out shocked gasp as my head turns and I look down at the floor as I try and process what just happened. She just slapped me…she fucking slapped me!?
"Your my son! You're my son dammit! I brung you into this world, I raised you! So just talk to me, talk to me and at least pretend you give a shit!" she cries uncontrollably but I slowly raise my head up and glare her with my anger fueled emerald eyes and it's enough to get her to back away as I see a look of fear forming over her face. I then storm out of the house and slam the door behind me knocking it off it's hinges. I swear she puts her damn hands on me again and it's not going to end well for her and I keep my fists clenched as I walk towards the academy.
It's been about a year since 'the good boy' Caspian died, my father would die only a month later from a heart attack and just like that it was just us two. Caspian, someone I once considered my damn hero ended up becoming the person I despised the most. He had all the tools to win to these games flawlessly. We're all human in the end, there are no gods amongst us, but Caspian, he was the closest to a god amongst men. All the talent he had, all the skills he possessed, only for it go to a complete waste. No one in that arena had him beat. Emmerane was the only real threat to him but the fact that he was able to get the better of her with a giant hole in his torso is enough evidence that he had the upper hand against her. All he cared about was his fucking morality though. He tried to be kind, he tried to be serious but in the end he just showed what a hypocrite he truly was. He wasn't even trying half as hard most of the time and he was only a weak minded moron who was overridden with guilt and look where that got him!
I didn't even mourn his death when he died, that's how angry I was, but If he couldn't be the god everyone thought he was, then I would be that god! 'The Smiling Ghost' what a stupid fucking name that is. I've been training nonstop ever since he passed and I bulked up my frame with a combination of supplements and training. I learned Caspian's fighting style long ago, I can replicate it almost flawlessly and can also break down all of its weaknesses but I want nothing to do with him or his technique. I have my own way of going about shit because I only look at his legacy in pure disdain and disgust! I began training with Riley soon after and he was a formidable foe, he was the only one In this district that was able to beat Caspian at one point so he was the perfect training partner. I finally managed to beat him and that's when I realized I've surpassed Caspian!
I enter the academy by pushing the double doors open and most of the careers are here training vigorously and there I see him, Ivan Trifton, the chosen volunteer for this year, sparring with the other careers and getting the better of them and I see just how much fun he's having. I've sparred with him multiple times already and got the upper hand, but he always played it off saying he "was barley trying" but I know I'll mop the floor with him any day of the week. Despite me beating him on multiple occasions however he was still selected to be the volunteer this year as they wanted me "To have another year to train." But what's the fucking point in that?
I see several careers at the lance throwing station as they seem to be having a contest on who can pierce through the most dummies and I confidently strut over there and pick up a trident before launching it at the dummies and it pierces through five of them causing the other careers here to gasp in awe.
"Five…didn't even know that was possible, Jesus…" one of the female careers here mumble.
"Yeah well that's what hard work does for you, anything less than that shows how you lazy you all truly are!" I bluntly say and the three careers here looks offended of course but there's not really much they can do about it even if they wanted to.
I then walk over to the weight lifting station where more careers are and I see them bench pressing weights, the largest weight I see here is 150 lbs and I scoff as I take a seat at one of the benches and begin pressing 300 lbs. and they all look ashamed that they can't even come close to pressing this much, so much that they just all walk away in shame and I continue my workout until I work up a sweat and walk over to the fridge to grab a bottle of water.
"Dammit!" I hear a voice and I turn around to see a career on his knees sighing in defeat as Ivan stands across from him spinning his trident in his hands.
"Man this is too easy, is anyone here able to give me a challenge?" he brags and I scoff to myself before taking another sip of my water. There's a reason why he's acting like I'm not even here, he knows I'll wreck his shit just like I already did several times before.
"Why don't you fight someone like Cove over there!? I saw him beat you before!" One of the female careers says loud enough for me to hear and I still have my back turned to them as I sip my water.
"Hmmph, it's called sparring for a reason, if I was serious things would've been completely different!" he bluffs but I loosen up my arms for a moment and grab a trident from the weapon racks before walking towards him and he seems to become a little tense as the entire facility suddenly becomes quiet. He knows I'm the only one in this district that'll dust the floor with him and he must also know that I plan on volunteering despite him being the 'chosen' volunteer'. I'm almost positive he's going to try and find some way to intercept me somehow, but I'll be ready for anything he tries.
"Well what's stopping you from being 'serious' now? You got a lot to prove to everyone here so what's holding you back?" I curiously ask and he only scoffs.
"Get lost Cove, I don't have any time to waste on you!" he glares me.
"Well I have plenty of time, so why don't we have a little spar, and don't worry, I'll try not to fuck you up too bad, gotta be nice and healthy for your big day tomorrow after all right?" I sarcastically taunt him and I can see anger flare in his eyes.
"Fine, you asked for it, I'm going to embarrass you!" he grabs a trident and holds it in a defensive stance but I only grin faintly as I'm already analyzing his weaknesses, like for example, the grip he has on his trident with his left hand is loose, I strike it right and the whole thing is flying out of his hands.
"Well what are you waiting for, 'chosen one'?"I taunt him once more as I stand across from him and he suddenly strikes at me but I slam my trident on top of his quickly knocking it out of his hand and return to a defensive stance as he glares me.
"You…" he mumbles picking up his trident and tries once more to strike me but I once again knock his trident out of his hand and he curses under his breath trying to pick up his trident again but I slam the side of my trident down hard on his hand and he hisses in pain backing up slowly and I plod towards him holding my trident beside me and he quickly grabs another trident and prepares to strike me again but I run, leaping towards him and jab my trident out towards him and he tries to block it but I break right through his guard and he groans again falling to the floor again.
"You haven't gotten serious yet, is that it?" I taunt him and I see a nervous look in his face as I plod towards him but he jumps up to his feet and tries to strike me with his trident but I easily block it and slam the handle of my trident down on his foot causing him to holler in pain and backs up and jabs his trident towards my face but I move my head to the side and strike his trident again knocking it out of his grasp and slap him across the face with my free hand and he lets out a rather girlish gasp and he falls to the floor clutching his face and that's when the head instructor here stands in between us glaring me.
"Really Cove? I literally just spoke to you yesterday about this, get out of my facility!" He scolds me and I see three of Ivan's friends tending to him as he curses in embarrassment spitting some blood from his mouth.
"Take him out, the moment he gets outside just take him out…" I hear Ivan mumbling to them, heh, so this was probably his plan all along, cats out of the bag now!
Without arguing, i only throw my trident on the floor and leave the facility and begin walking towards my best friend's house, considering she's the chosen female volunteer for this year, it's kind of odd that she's not in the facility right now, I continue walking towards her place and I'm suddenly cut off by another male who walks In front of me and I see two males approaching beside me and I only let out an irritated grunt as I stand still, sending these scrubs after me, it's almost insulting…
"Hmmph, I was hoping he'll send some more competent people after me." I taunt them, the three guys here are Cable, Roy and Magnus. They're the three main lackeys of Ivan and when you see how pathetic their "leader" is, there's literally nothing they can do that'll worry me.
"Yeah very funny Cove, you're in over your head this time buddy, you're strong but you're no Caspian, nothing personal either, just ensuring Ivan is the one who volunteers tomorrow and its not rocket science that you plan on taking his spot." Magnus states as he stands In front of me.
"I see, so then what are you waiting for then?" I glare Magnus but I feel a punch coming towards me from my left but manages to spin around in time and punch Cable in his jaw which drops him to the floor. Roy then grabs me from behind but I easily break out of his grasp and shove him onto the ground but that's when I see Magnus throwing a punch towards my face and it lands straight into my jaw but I barley budge and he throws another punch to my jaw that I mostly ignore and I retaliate with a head butt causing him to stumble back into the wall and Roy rushes at me but I catch him in the nose with a straight jab that stuns him and quickly throw a high kick into his skull that knocks him out cold.
"Damn you!" Magnus charges at me throwing a wide hook and I allow it to land against my face and grin manically, their punches literally has no effect on me!
He tries to punch me again but I weave out of the way and kick him hard in the body causing him to grunt in pain and wobble, but I land two jabs into his face and he raises his hands to block his face leaving his body completely exposed so I kick him hard in the body again causing him to drop to his knees. He tries to get back up to his feet but I see how much pain he's in as he tries to throw another punch at me but I quickly kick him in the leg causing him to wobble again and finish him off with two big hooks that also knocks him out cold.
"Arrggghh!" I hear cable roaring behind me and I see him rushing at me with a pocket knife but I easily manage to grab his arm and twist it causing him to cry out in pain and I knee him in the face twice causing him to stumble back and while he's stumbling, I land another high kick into his skull which also knocks him out and just like that, his three lackeys are down. I walk over to Magnus though and kick him hard in the body forcing him back into consciousness as he yells out in pain and I kneel down grabbing his shirt pulling his face close to mines.
"You're right, I am no Caspian, I'm something much different and better than that fucking loser could've ever hoped to be! don't you ever compare me to that piece of shit again!" I yell before punching him in the face with all of my strength knocking him out again and I stand up brushing my clothes off.
"Dude…" I hear a soft voice and I spin around to see it's Willow…my best friend.
"Willow…" I mumble to her and she has an uncomfortable look on her face but also an understanding one.
"Come…" is all she has to say as she holds her hand out to me and without hesitation I gently hold her hand and follow her to her place where I sit across her sofa and she walks into the back of her house where I reflect on what just happened, I can see blood on my knuckles but I know even after washing it, it'll still be there…
I'm not just going into the hunger games to be the god that the 'good boy' Caspian couldn't be, but I'm also going there to tie up some loose ends. Good boy Caspian's selflessness and trust got him killed but like i said before, I'm nothing like that fucking loser. Anyone I see out there is dead, but there's a very particular list of tributes that I'm going to be prioritizing.
Four of them specifically, the first is whoever the male from district 1 is and why? That was cause Caspian purposely let Nox lead the alliance last year and you see how well that turned out huh? I know he was very much capable of scoring higher than a 10 but he suppressed his abilities and allowed another tribute to take charge. My second target will be the male from district 2 and that's cause Caspian had too much blind trust in Hyperion which directly lead to his death. My third target will be the male from district 12 and that's cause Hunter should've been Caspian's kill and my final target will be the female from district 3 and that's cause Emmerane was the only one there who even remotely held a candle to good boy Caspian's abilities. The tributes from last year are dead and the tributes this year obviously won't be the same, but If I'm going to be burdened by good boy Caspian's mistakes then so will they!
Willow comes out with a bowl and rag afterwards and sits next to me before dipping her rag in bowl and rings it out pressing it gently against my busted lip from that weak ass punch from earlier.
"So dude…want to explain what happened?" Willow asks but I only sigh.
"Nothing you probably didn't already expect, they know I'm volunteering tomorrow so they tried to take me out of the equation and as you can see, they got the worst of it." I grunt.
"So you were only defending yourself…" she mumbles.
"More like exposing them, fuckers always planned on trying to catch me from behind, but I got a good heads up…" I state.
"I'm surprised they were even able to touch you, but then again, you probably didn't even try to avoid their attacks bro…" Willow sighs.
"Why would I? Would you dodge an ant trying to attack you?" I question.
"Defense should be instinctive, no point in being a walking punching bag dude." she dabs my busted lip again and I only let out a grunt.
"So other than that, what else is going on dude?" she sits the bowl down on the table In front of us.
"My mother slapped me…" I reveal and Willow seems pretty surprised.
"Really?" she asks and I nod.
"I refused to speak to her once again and that was her retaliation, I feel her pain though. I…i miss how things used to be, having a family...having someone to look up to, but I have to make this right." I admit and I get flashes of fucking Caspian again and that go happy grin he always had plastered across fucking his face and I clench my fists, it's his fault, it's all his fucking fault that things need to be this way now…
"I'm sorry Cove…This doesn't have to be the new norm though." she tries to explain to me.
"I need to correct the mistakes he made, my name, my legacy won't be tarnished because of him." I grit my teeth and I hear her let out a defeated sigh, there's nothing she can say to convince me otherwise, I made up my mind the moment this fucker ceased to draw breath, this is my time.
"Ok bro…" she sighs
"I'm sorry…" I lament.
"I understand, well not completely but, I can see where you're coming from dude, who am i to interfere?" she sighs
"Hmmph...what have you been up to though, considering you're the volunteer for tomorrow, I thought you'd be at the facility training." I question her.
"You know me better than that bro, I'm not stressing over anything, just taking it easy in stride!" she lets out a giggle while bringing her knees up to her chest and I can't help but do a faint smirk, her giggle gets to me every time.
"Typical you huh, shouldn't be surprised…" I snicker a little and we gaze into each other's eyes for a moment and I can see some concern in them…
"Willow, you're the most precious person to me, I just need you to bear with me ok, and please, don't leave my side…" I practically plead to her and she wraps her hand around mines where I squeeze it gently.
"Don't worry dude, I'm not going anywhere!" she smiles and we embrace each other in a long hug and I can feel my eyes begin to swell, no matter how much of a monster I become Willow… please don't leave me.
Willow Leblanc,18, District 4 female
I let out a loud yawn as I stretch out my arms and look out the window, seeing bright sunlight coming through it, today's the day and guess that's my cue to finally get up, wish I can sleep for a little longer though…
I hear knocking on my door however and before I can even answer, my older sister Astrid pokes her head in.
"Hey dude, what's up!" I yawn.
"Still calling me that, anyways 'dude' how you feeling?" Astrid sits next to me while I let out another yawn.
"Feeling good actually, doesn't even feel like the reapings are today." I snicker.
"Hmmph, well you know as your big sister, a part of me is always going to worry, but I believe in you and your skills, when you're serious, no one can touch you but I still worry about Cove, you did say he's supposed to be volunteering right? he really messed those guys up yesterday, and he's going into the arena with you…" she 'reminds' me.
"Why does that worry you bro? He's like family at this point!" I giggle.
"Only one of you can win Willow, how far is he willing to go to make a statement…would he be willing to cut through you?" she speaks in a lower more sinister tone and I sigh.
"We could've spoke about anything, literally anything else and you just choose this for whatever reason." I smirk at her and she only shakes her head gently.
"I'm sorry Willow, I'm just overthinking but yeah breakfast is ready, we can eat with mom and let the boys rot in hell for all we care." She pats my back.
"Yeah it's about time I brush my teeth, bet you're getting tired of smelling my hot ass breath and funky arm pits." I joke with her and she giggles a little before heading back downstairs, no really though, my breath does probably stink, time to clean up!
I take my time washing up, hence why Astrid was pounding on the door but I couldn't help it, you know how it is when you're in the shower and the hot water is just like soothing your entire body, yeah that's how it is bro, you spend more time standing here than cleaning yourself! I finally exit the shower and get dressed deciding to go with my favorite yellow pleated skirt with a white blouse with mary jane shoes. I then decorate my hair with yellow some flower hair clips and petals and I take one last look at myself in the mirror, giving myself a thumbs up before heading downstairs being sure to ignore my two brothers and Gordie and Gyro who are 15 and 12 respectively also exiting their rooms to head downstairs and see both Astrid and my mother sitting on the sofa with their plates of food over the glass tables In front of it and I see my plate over there too but I make sure to give my mother a tight hug and kiss first.
This is usually where we, the ladies have our food at, the boys could have the table and make their own food. Yeah you've probably caught on by now, that my family is divided…
"So Willow, how you feeling dear?" my mother asks.
"Feels like a normal day honestly, I feel great!" I giggle and my mother does an assuring nod but I can see she's still a little nervous.
"Well I guess there's nothing I can say to change your mind…" my mother mumbles.
"C'mon, I'll be home before you know it dude!" I laugh.
"You can't call mom dude, dude!" Astrid scolds me and we all laugh together but I hear my "father" letting out a horrible cough as he plods down the steps to join the kitchen table with my brothers…
"They didn't cook for us once again…" I hear my brother Gyro informing him and I only let out a small sigh. This 'bundle of sunshine' known as my father Is probably the only person in this world that I can say I truly hate… He was once a renowned fisherman here in this district but after a bad accident occurred at his job, he experienced chronic back pain which rendered him unable to work. All of the money he had went towards alcohol and popping pills and in no time, he was a full blown, miserable alcoholic. He'll often have fits of rage and was psychologically and physically abusive towards all of us. I began to detest him and it got so bad that my older brother Gideon abandoned us and left us to suffer with him. I'll never forgive him for being such a coward… the entire house was afraid of my father but my brothers began to develop his misogynistic tendencies and in no time, it seems like they just began to bond with one another.
I try not to let too much phase me, but on more than a few occasions did I consider taking his life. I was never able to bring myself to do it though and I don't know why, the world will certainly be a better place without him, but I just don't know if I'm ready to be the one responsible for it…
My father suddenly plods out into the living room and I can already smell his rancid alcohol filled breath as he breathes heavy glaring us.
"So you little bitches are trying to funny huh?" he growls at us and we try to ignore him but this only seems to anger him more as he storms towards us.
"I asked y'all a fucking question!" he raises his voice.
"The fridge is full of food, you guys are welcome to make your own food' Astrid argues but he suddenly smacks her across the face and it's strong enough to knock her onto the floor and I gasp a little while my mother lets out a scream and he glares me.
"So, I'll ask once again, what the fuck is the deal with this? I expect shit to be made for all of us, now get back in the fucking kitchen!" my father yells at me and my mother while my sister Astrid is still clasping her face crying and I stare at the kitchen knife on the table In front of me, but he suddenly yanks my mother's hair pulling her away from the sofa as she shrieks and without even thinking I grab his other hand and slam it on the table before etching my kitchen knife into it and he lets out a yell of pain immediately releasing his grip from my mother. I quickly shatter the pitcher of orange juice over his head though and it completely puts his lights out as he's sprawled over the floor and we're all in shock for a moment, I've wanted to put this man into the ground for so long, and I still do as I stand over him holding a kitchen knife in my hand, he deserves to suffer though, I won't give him the luxury of having an easy way out, he's going to rot in this world until there's nothing left for the worms and rodents to feast on.
I drop my knife and hold my head down and I don't know why, but I just feel overcome with emotion...
"Willow…you ok?" my sister Astrid worriedly asks.
"Y-yeah…I think, you?" I ask both my mother and sister and they nod but there's still an eerie silence as even my brothers are looking at me in surprise but I look over at them and they immediately flee upstairs.
"So…where do we go from here?" Astrid asks still looking at our unconscious father.
"I'll get the authorities involved, he attacked us and we defended ourselves…" my mother suggests and it's something we seem to all agree on but I hear knocking on my door afterwards and I walk over to it and open it to see it's Cove and puberty has sure treated him well. He looks even better than Caspian now who most of the girls in this district swooned over. He's wearing sage green slacks which are rolled up at the bottom and is wearing a black blazer with a fishnet undershirt underneath it showing off his physique. He's smiling initially upon seeing me but he sees my father sprawled over the floor and it immediately fades away.
"Did I miss the party?" he sarcastically asks.
"Yeah, it wasn't much fun anyways though…" I play along with him and we give each other a long hug.
"Good morning Astrid and Mrs.LeBlanc he greets them but they give him rather awkward looks. Astrid gives him a weak wave.
"Good morning Cove…" my mother greets him back. For my sake, Astrid and my mother are some of the few people in this district he even remotely respects, but of course they see how he treats everyone else and see him as a jerk. There's good in him and I know he tries to suppress it, but it's only when we're alone together that he can be himself…
"So…ready to get going?" he glances at my unconscious father once more and I cuff my arm between his.
"See you two at the square!" I wave to them and me and Cove heard towards the square.
"So, what did I miss?" Cove immediately asks and I sigh.
"He went on another drunken rampage and I silenced him like pow!" I do an exaggerated punch and he snickers a little.
"Well it's about time, I was ready to put him into the ground himself." He grunts.
"You know I can handle myself bro, but thank you." I thank him.
"Hey it's Willow!" I hear a young boy shout and I look ahead to see two small little boys running up to me and they're so tiny that I have to get on my knees to match their level.
"Hey little dudes what's up!" I greet them
"Willow! It's true that you're volunteering this year right!? We saw your qualifying fight with Candace, it was incredible!" one of the small boys shouts.
"Yeah little dudes, I'll be the female volunteer this year, and thank you, she was a strong opponent in her own right and that dude will definitely be a future victor some day!" I laugh.
"Candace is a girl though, why call her dude?" the second boy asks and I can't help but chuckle a little, it's just a bad habit of mine honestly.
"She calls everyone dude, Dude!" the first boy butts in and we all laugh, yeah he knows me very well.
"Ha I guess, anyways future victor because we know you're way stronger than Ivan, can we get your autograph please!?" the second boy asks.
"Hell yeah! y'all for a pen or anything?" I smile at them but Cove walks In front of us.
"Actually, we need to get going Willow." Cove grumbles and the two little boys gasp.
"it's Cove…The smiling ghost's brother…" one of the boys gasp.
"We…we should probably go, he looks mean…" the other boy mumbles and the both of them speed off and I stand up giving Caspian a somewhat disappointed look.
"I could've gave them an autograph bro…" I argue.
"They should be more focused on what toys their gonna get for their next birthday." He grunts and I only roll my eyes, there's no point in going back and forth. He sometimes has mood swings and I only have myself to partly blame for that. A lot of the supplements he's taking now was originally for my father after he got injured. When Cove was still doing his intense training, I gave him some to enhance his performance. He quickly became reliant on them however and his build has massively increased as a result of his immense workout and frequent consumption of these performance enhancing drugs, but I know the toll they can take on one's mental health as well…
"You do look nice today Willow, I wanted to let you know that…" he practically whispers.
"Thank you, you look amazing as well dude!" I kiss him on the cheek and the small hairs starting to grow on his face pokes my lips.
"look at you becoming a man now!" I commend him playfully pinching his cheek and he smirks a little.
"Heh, just waiting for you to grow some now!" he playfully pinches my cheeks back and I giggle.
"Oh shut up!" I hit his shoulder and it only seems like a moment goes by where we reach the square.
"I Know that fucking Ivan thinks he's going to volunteer, but I got a plan…" Cove ominously states.
"What is this plan dude?" I curiously ask.
"You'll see…" he vaguely states before we get checked into the square and go our separate ways, I really just hope he doesn't cause a scene, but I'm not expecting anything good from this…
Our escort Ralph who looks bored like always, is slowly introducing our victors as he prepares to play the annual video soon of how awful our ancestors were.
"Hey again Willow!" I hear a familiar voice and spin around to see it's Candace.
"Hey, what's up bro!" I give her a quick hug.
"How does it feel, knowing you're going to be the next victor?" she smiles at me and I only giggle a little, I don't want to be cocky but I do want to be confident, but me winning will mean that Cove would…
"I feel pretty good dude, but you are so talented as well, you almost had me a few times and I know one day you'll also be a victor!" I compliment her.
"Thank you Willow, that means so much coming from you!" Candace hugs me.
"Well guess we'll start with the females first…" Ralph yawns and walks over to the females bowl to pick out a name.
"Candace Riverwells…" Ralph yawns and me and Candace both burst out laughing at the irony of this but I have to head on up there!
"I volunteer!" I eek out and begin walking towards the stage rather slowly though, it's not really a rush and besides, I'm enjoying the weather and view. I imagine some people are getting impatient with me, especially Ralph who's only sighing out loud in an exaggerated manner. I finally make it up to the stage however.
"Phew! That was quite the workout, wish there was a lemonade stand up here or something!" I joke with the crowd and I hear loud laughs spreading across the crowd immediately afterwards.
"Hmm a volunteer like always, what's your name?" Ralph nonchalantly asks.
"Willow LeBlanc! And dude do you need a hug?" I hold my arms out to him, but he only grunts and walks over to the male's bowl and I start looking around at the 17 year old male's crowd and it's not really that hard to spot Cove as he towers over most of them, but I see a very focused look on his face, just what are you planning Cove?
"Hmm, Roy Galveston…" Ralph yawns that's when I see Cove immediately starting to rush towards Ivan.
"I volun-" Ivan begins but Cove punches him across the face as gasps ring out and Ivan tries throwing two punches but Cove easily weaves them and sidesteps behind him putting Ivan in a chokehold, he's putting too much pressure on the choke though, he's going to hurt him!
Ivan's body immediately goes limp from the powerful grip Cove has on his neck and I see Ivan's eyes roll back into his head as Cove releases his grip and allows Ivan to fall flat on his face as more gasps ring out and all I can do is look at Cove in pure shock, what did he just do…
Cove rushes to the stage however and I can already see medical personnel rushing over to Ivan and can only give Cove a horrified look as he snatches the mic from Ralph's hand.
"I volunteer as tribute, the names Cove Delamar! And he does a throat slitting gesture afterwards.
"That right there is a big fuck you to the academy and their fucking policies, but this is only the surface of what I'm fucking capable of, just you wait motherfuckers!" he yells letting the mic drop to the floor and my gaze doesn't leave Cove, it's like I don't even recognize him…
"Uh wow…ok then, h-heres our victors re-representing district 4 this year, shake hands you two p-please…" Ralph nervously says and this the most emotion I've ever heard in his voice…
Cove finally turns to look at me and I can still only give him a horrified look and I glance back over at Ivan where CPR is being performed on him, but Cove doesn't seem to care whatsoever…
"Cove…" I mumble but he extends his hand doing a cocky grin and I hesitantly shake his hand before we're escorted towards our justice rooms.
"Cove…what did you do?" I finally find my voice as we're still walking towards our rooms.
"I stuck to the plan, and it went off without a hitch!" Cove cockily commends himself.
"Cove…I think you crushed his windpipe, you put way too much pressure on that choke, were you trying to kill him?" I ask but he still doesn't seem to care.
"He's out of the picture, that's all that matters, talk to you later." Cove states entering his justice room and all I can do is stand outside of mines for a moment as I think back on what my sister told me earlier. Cove, just how much of a monster are you willing to become…
I have returned! yes guys it's been like what three months almost? ouch! but yeah life with a pretty mild case of writers block got the better of me for a bit but here I am back with another chapter and the first batch of our careers have been introduced! we got quite the interesting set of careers this year so I'm interested in introducing them all sooner rather than later. Anyways guys thank you for the reviews and support! Things might get in the way every now and then, but I won't abandon you! I hope to have the next chapter out pretty soon as I've already started working on it, but I'll see you guys soon, till next time!