Sorry guys but this is going to be (probably) my last update for around a week, I'm going on holidays and I might be able to write some more but I don't know about internet…
The name Niger means river of rivers and isn't an accidentally misspelled racist faux pas.
District 4: Felix Haas
People cowered away from me in the street as I sauntered towards the square. Best they should or they'd end up with my big brother. He thought he was so tough and look where he is now; swimming with the fishes.
A little girl almost got run over as she tried to cross the road to avoid me. That's right you little bitch, run back to Mommy.
I was getting to the square early; no way was I going to be pushed out of the way by those gits from the 17s and 18s. It was gonna be Felix Haas this year, standing on that stage and listening to the catcalls of my adoring fans in the Capitol. Those big 'tough guys' a.k.a the bid shitheads from the 17s and 18s were going to be left in the dust.
I could already see the crowds as they announced Felix Haas as the newest victor of the Games, Felix Haas; the strongest, fastest and best Career of them all. I wasn't afraid of anything they could throw at me; Felix Haas was the best of the best. All those wimps that had won the Games in the past? Pathetic. Crying and drinking, trying to drug the 'pain' away. What pain was there in winning?
All those babies volunteering to get their names drawn and then when they win they're all sad and lonely. What losers. I'd dreamed of winning since I could think and yet it's always someone older and weaker than me who gets picked. They stop me from fulfilling my dream and then they come home crying and depressed about being in the Games.
If I won I'd be happy, I'd be the King of the District with everyone kissing the land I walk on for winning them food for another year and prosperity for this District's pathetic tributes and people.
I wish I was born in District 2, all those Careers, training and practising all year round and I'd be better than the rest, the King of the Careers.
To do after Games list: Change my name to Felix King.
I'm the first kid at the Reapings and I'm going to be the first one to win.
District 4: Summer Ciel
Today's the one day of the year that I don't spend with Stella and I'm not sure if it's a good or a bad thing. Sure she's annoying but it's like a little sister annoying.
The reason I'm not going to see her isn't exactly great either.
I'm not saying I want her in the Reapings or anything but it's boring having no one to talk to. Logan is still eighteen, just, but he'll be in a totally different section but at least with all the cocky Career guys around he's in no danger of being Reaped.
Instead I'm sitting in my room while my mother covers me in make up and a ridiculous dress she ordered from the Capitol. It's blue like the reef about three kilometres out from the shore and if it weren't for the reason why I'm wearing it today.
Normally spending time with my mother is great, except for the whole bipolar thing after she won her Games. Today it's a drag; since Dad died before I was born she's been permanently paranoid about me getting Reaped to the stage that every Reaping Day is a matter of me getting up at 6 am so that she can make sure I look perfect for the cameras.
It's definitely not a boost on the worst day of my year but I guess the same applies to her having to find out who she'll be mentoring and watching dies this year and whether, maybe, it'll be me.
If it was anyone else I'd be running for the beach but seeing as it's Mother I sit in silence in the chair and hope she'll be done soon. At least she has to be ready for the cameras before anyone else so I'll get to spend some time with Logan and everyone else before the Reapings.
I'm not sure if it's a good or a bad thing I think about Logan before any of my other friends. Sure he saved my life but that's not why I want to see him all dressed up for the Reapings.
Finally Mother sighs as she stands up with a last pat of my hair. She was dressed long before I woke up, but it's clear that she doesn't care anywhere near as much about how she looks as how I do.
She gives me a last hug before she hurries off to prepare for the Reapings with all of District 4's other victors.
Logan's waiting outside for me and I feel my heart give a tiny skip; not that anyone else is ever going to find out about that. He's grinning, wearing a loose shirt and jeans, never one to overdress.
"You look nice," he smiles as we walk towards the main square.
I don't know if it's a compliment or sarcasm but I hope for the best and reply, "Thanks."
We talk about fishing and a new spear I got from Mother as we walk towards the square, trying to delay the inevitable anxiety of the Reapings, crossing our fingers and hoping it won't be us.
Felix:
I can't wait for the Reapings to begin.
I can see tons of sullen teenagers, praying they won't be Reaped. I don't know what they're getting at. Surely they should be excited at getting the chance to be on TV; to be famous and win all the money they could ever want as well as the love of their District?
Yet they're not.
Probably just because they're not as good as me; not good enough to win.
I'm going to win, I don't care about anyone else; they don't deserve to win anyway; they weren't born with the skill, the class and the looks to win the Hunger Games.
Their loss I guess.
Everyone clears out of my way as I move towards the front of my age group; no way was I going to be beaten by anyone else because they were in front of me in the group.
Yeah, that's right, you better fear me because I'm going to be the next victor of the Hunger Games. No more pathetic "Careers" disgracing the name of District 4. I bet the other Districts all think District 4's so crummy and unworthy but I'm going to prove them wrong.
Whale Heartson changed his name several years ago when he was given District 4 to escort. He even got fish scales tattooed all over his face and tiny gills carved into his neck.
Everyone thinks the only reason he hasn't been demoted is that they don't want to inflict him on any lesser Districts with his weird fish obsession.
Still, I don't care about my escort; the mentors can deal with him and all the gifts I'm going to get from the Capitol sponsors.
I mean, who wouldn't want to sponsor Felix Haas? Tall, handsome, strong and well-trained there isn't even going to be a competition. They might as well give me the trophy, the money and the house and be done with it; it isn't like anyone else is going to beat me.
There are a few noises of shock when the girl's name is drawn but I don't care. Soon the entire District is going to be watching Felix Haas as I volunteer and then they're going to be looking at the soon-to-be newest victor of District 4.
District 4 has a Volunteer bowl, but when it's empty enough, like the girl's one was, they just go back to the good old-fashioned name drawing.
For the males I get to show off before they crown me District 4's newest male tribute and soon-to-be victor.
"Come on boys, let's show those other Districts how it's done!" Whale shouts as I sprint for the stage.
The 16s are near a set of stairs which I sprint up to avoid the onrush of people trying to climb onto the stage while being shoved off by their competitors. It's even easier than I'd expected and I was almost disappointed as I said my name into the mike.
Well at least I was until I reminded myself that I was the better than everyone else by miles.
Summer:
"You totally like him," Brenna whispers as the age group becomes more packed as I shoot a quick glance at Logan to see him grinning back.
"No I don't, we're just friends, now shut up," I hiss in reply as Brenna grins and tries to hold in a laugh.
"You should totally ask him out. You're so into each other," Brenna replies, still not taking the oh-so-subtle hint and shutting up.
"Wait he's into me?" I ask but as Brenna's grin widens I realise I've fallen right into her trap. It's true I've had a crush on him since he pulled me out of that riptide, black hair glistening in the sun as he pulled me back to shore but there's no way I'm telling Brenna that, "Oh shut up Brenna, you're telling me nothing's going on with you and Niger?"
That shut her up as she gulps for a few seconds before finally shutting her mouth and stalking off to join some other friends. Maybe she was just joking around but that really ticked me off.
Whale looks like his usual creepy self. I could be wrong but it looks like he's had even more scales tattooed onto his face. Soon he'll have more ink than brain in his head; not that that was too hard.
He isn't as bad as the usual droners from the other Districts but his voice is deep and sounds like a constipated whale, I'm a District 4 girl- I would know and not just because Logan took me to see one last year, and I can't help but wonder if he had surgery on his vocal chords.
He finally gets around to drawing the girl's name and he's definitely mastered the art of suspense as he slowly unfolds it.
I'm hoping and praying to all those gods I don't believe in that it won't be me when Whale reads, "Summer Ciel."
I guess Mother wasn't so wrong after all and I can see the tears streaming down her face as she sits on the stage, looking torn between the Capitol's demands and me as she dithers on the edge of her seat.
I shake my head at her as I hold my head high and climb the stairs up to the stage. If they're going to try and get back at my mother I'm not giving them the satisfaction of getting through to me.
The whispers hiss through the crowd about my being a victor's daughter but I ignore them as I come to a halt beside Whale.
The male is a massive git. I vaguely remember hearing about him a few years ago after his brother died in a training "accident." Everyone knew it was Felix but there wasn't any proof except the fact that he's a total narcissistic dick who couldn't handle being overshadowed by his brother.
Whale tries to hold our arms in the air like Districts 1 and 2 do but I yank my arm out of his grip and fold them across my chest. He looks almost hurt, but he seems so inhuman and it's not like the Capitol gives a damn about any of our feelings so I just shrug it off and stand there while the cameras are probably zooming around form all angles.
Oh well.
Life sucks, I guess I should have realised that earlier.
I'll have a lot of time to learn that lesson very soon.
Felix:
My parents come and visit me first but the atmosphere is awkward.
They don't give me a hug or tell me they love me or any number of other classic goodbyes.
In a way I guess they're glad to be rid of me after the Jonas incident.
I'll definitely be glad to get rid of them; they're just dead weight, dragging me down after I win the Games and get rich and famous in the Capitol. I get a half-hearted 'good luck' from Father but they seem happier when they're led out by the Peacekeepers.
They've already got grandchildren from Lena, my next visitor, so really I'm free to do whatever I want without their pathetic 'morals' and their love of my older, deader brother.
Lena doesn't bring her husband or her children who are 3 and 1, I don't get why she doesn't want to get her kids ready to start training for the Games ASAP and win her tons of money and a house in the Victor's Village and to be just like their uncle Felix.
Instead she comes to say goodbye. Like she doesn't believe I'm going to win. She knows I beat Jonas, two years older and taller, when I was 14 and yet she's still saying goodbye.
"Good luck, little brother," she says, fiddling with a bit of hair and not meeting my eyes, "I know I haven't seen you in ages but I still don't want you to die."
"Do you really have that little faith in me?" I laugh.
She looks pained, "It's not that," she's lying but she's also wrong, "I just don't want you to die without me at least having said goodbye first. If you die maybe I'll name my next son Felix."
"Fine you've said goodbye. Next time you see me I'm going to be the newest victor, don't you worry about that, sis," I reply as she leaves. Maybe I might give her some of my money if I win, for the kids… nah. Unless she names them in my living honour she doesn't deserve to share in my greatness.
I guess Sophie's trying to look after Marie so that she doesn't know what's happening to me because neither of my other sisters come to wish me luck; not that I need it. I'm good enough already.
I know most tributes would probably be worrying about their families right now but I don't care.
I'm going to see them in a few weeks anyway.
Summer:
Mother is the first visitor; smashing through the doors, sobbing as I catch her in my arms while she cries. Unless there's only one mentor, the victors aren't allowed to mentor their own children so she'll be watching me on TV with no control over what happens to me.
After Father and her own Games I think that it might push her over the edge she's been walking with insanity. I try not to break down while Mother holds onto me but I'm fairly unsuccessful. Normally I hate letting anyone see me get emotional, but this might be the last time I ever see my mother.
"Don't worry, if I… if I don't come back, Logan and Stella will look after you," I whisper.
Mother laughs slightly, but it's a mirthless laugh, "Yes I expect Logan will but you know who he'd rather look after. If not for me, do everything you can to get back for him."
I smile for what's probably the last time as she holds me tightly in her arms before Peacekeepers pull her away.
I try to chase after her, to stop the Peacekeepers from taking my mother but they hold the doors resolutely closed until I back away.
I thought Mother was the worst possible person I could have to say goodbye to until Stella comes running into the room. She's only eleven and I'm not quite sure how we ended up best friends; all I know is that I can't bear to see her crying like she is now.
"Summer… don't let them… take you," she chokes out between sobs.
"I can't Stel; you just have to stay strong for me, okay?" I reply as she keeps trying to choke down tears, "But I promise I'll come back to you, okay? I'll do everything I can to make sure I win these Games and then you can come with me to the Victor's Village."
It helps a bit, but Stella isn't stupid. She knows that I'm trying to make her feel better and that I've got a limited chance of winning no matter how hard I try.
"Okay Summer," she replies, biting her thumb like she's 8 again.
She starts crying again and I try to make up for all the times I won't get to see her in the future with a single hug.
It doesn't work.
There's still so much I can't do and haven't said to her as she's dragged out.
Once again my theory that it couldn't be worse is proved wrong as Logan is sent in by the Peacekeepers, "Hey Summer," he grins awkwardly, trying to work out what to say.
"There's something I wanted to do before I go," I whisper as Logan cocks his head to the side, clearly about to ask as I silence him by kissing him. I don't know if it's good or bad but all I know is that it's the only thing on my Bucket List I couldn't die without doing.
When we finally break apart, I see Logan's smiling but sad and I know how he's feeling. It's not just the happiest but the saddest moment of my life as I know it can never happen again but it's the only thing I want to do again in my life.
We don't speak, we just share our final moments together before I go off to die.
Sorry if Summer's a little bit sappy here but it's sort of a last chance for her to deal with Stella, Logan and her mother before she has to leave for the Capitol and the Games where the tough-and-quick-tempered demeanour (as shown with Brenna) reappears. So while this is an element of her character enjoy it while it lasts.
The tribute list is up (finally) and I'm away for a few days so this is the last update for a while.
I hope you guys are enjoying the story so far.
Sorry if there are any mistakes, please tell me and a reminder to self that I needs to stop writing these so late at night…