Hey, back with another Reaping Chapter… I'm trying to get through these as quick as possible! It probably won't take long now seeing as I don't have university :) Yay for SUPER long summer holidays… still in the need of a District 8 male, without him I can't finish the Reapings but hey I'll just make one if needs be!
So here we are to meet the district partner to Ginna Wallace, Carrick McCall courtesy of OwlMist. He is super cool…well in my opinion :S
And thanks to FreeMyMind for Virginia Wallace.
Carrick McCall, District 10.
I am still shell shocked, disorientated and honestly I feel as if I'm about to explode; so many emotions are coursing through my body, it's overwhelming. So much in fact that I feel like I'm stepped into some alternate reality, it's seriously so surreal but the ironic thing is that this is actually a grim reality: I, Carrick McCall, have been drafted into the 62nd Hunger Games as the male tribute of District 10. When you say it like that it sounds so sophisticated but all it means is that within the week I'm going to be thrown into some freaky death battle with 23 other kids; you see everyone sees me as the jokester and that word pretty much sums me up, I can joke about anything: I'm the clown, the funny guy who is cracking jokes left, right and centre because I live for entertaining others; it's my thing. Now the thing with this whole situation is out of my comfort zone: Truthfully I could take the piss out of the whole 'Gladiator' thing because it's just stupid, we're all rational people but having 24 kids fight it out and I think there's no real reason and the fact of the matter is this whole freak show is not a laughing matter.
Now comes the part I'm dreading, I mean it's cool I get to say goodbye to my family because the rumour is that when the Hunger Games first began nobody got to say goodbye; which is pretty messed up seeing that the next time 23 people will see their loved ones is when they come home in a wooden box. See, the reason I'm dreading this part is due to the fact that it will be awkward as hell; I mean for like the past four years I have been raised in a house full of men. We just chill and wrestle in the mud and joke around like we have no care in the world but I know for a fact that this is going to be super emotional and I know it will mess my head up more than when that Felicity Cortez woman with the pink eyes called my name.
I mean I want to leave on a good note, with a light hearted atmosphere: I mean it's what has been the norm, what I enjoy and it's what I call home; but what am I meant to say? 'Hey, I'd like this song at my funeral…Or, I wish I was going down to the party later…Or, maybe get me a beer.' See, this isn't going to be easy and I'm worrying about what to say when I should be trying to think about how I'm going to get out of the damned arena alive. It's such a piss take, I'm 16; I should be thinking about getting drunk without the Peacekeepers noticing, skipping school not embracing my more than likely immanent death. I look around the room, the panelled walls and the pointless furnishings: It's kind of ironic that such a glamorous place is the setting for something as gruesome as 'final goodbyes' but hey it represents the Hunger Games perfectly because the Capitol try and sugar coat such a horrific thing such as an annual event which celebrates the death of 23 kids and the mental deterioration of the one who manages to escape with their life. That was surprisingly insightful for me, now wouldn't Maeve be proud.
I take a few more moments tinkering around the room because I'm curious about how these upper class people live: Down on the ranch you get what you get, simple furniture like a simple like a rickety rocking chair because it's all you can afford as it means you work for what you get and I honestly prefer the simple things in life. I know it would be nice to live in the lap of luxury and I understand why the Capitol love all their little gems and mahogany stuff but I would rather live somewhere where I've earned the things that are around me; if you're handed everything on a plate you never learn the value of hard work, coming from District 10 I have learnt the value of hard work and it's helped me mature in a lot of ways that I'm sure the spoilt brats from the likes of District 1 have never imagined and I'm banking on this maturity and my appreciation of hard work to help me escape that arena intact. I take a few moments to note anything I know that will help me and in all honesty it's not much but I've got to make it work: knot work, some basic knowledge about edible plants and I'm pretty strong but the one thing that will go against me is a reluctance to kill. I abhor the sentiment of running around killing kids for no reason, in self defence I reckon I could do some damage but I'm not overtly violent. I'm the class clown not the class bully and that will never change. Before I end up giving myself an aneurism with over thinking everything the parade of visitors begins and instead of being a brooding cowboy I revert to the Carrick I've always been: Jokester extraordinaire.
'Bro, this truly sucks' Leave it to my goof of a brother Nash to sum up everything I've been thinking in a matter of words, he looks a lot like me: the crystal clear blue eyes and the guns which people fall over themselves for; I mean it's inevitable working on a ranch and not to be packing some serious muscles. But no we're not twins at all; we have our physical differences with him being about a foot taller, and although it pisses me off I am considered petite; he has the same colour hair as me he has grown his into a shaggy style which he swears acts as a 'chick magnet' but hey I don't care I wear my honey blonde hair in a buzz cut, it's convenient and I can't be bothered with the whole styling thing.
The rest of the time with my family is spent on joking around about how I'll be able to have any woman I want when I come back and that I should try and seduce Pepper, the female mentor and although the chat seems pretty pointless it is a great comfort; I may be going to fight for my life but I have a family waiting for me, and even if I do die the world keeps on spinning and the guys of the McCall family keep on laughing and I wouldn't have it any other way. Now don't get me wrong it wasn't all trivial chat about harassing Peacekeepers and sneaking liquor into parties; my family did decide to bestow some wisdom on me and I've taken it to heart. Whereas Nash and my Uncle Avery lightened the mood with their unique brand of comedy, which generally entails stories of drunken debauchery and planning my homecoming party, my father Lyle and cousin Zeno were the ones who decided to take it seriously. Although they are only uncle and nephew they are very alike, a serious perspective on the world and very intelligent: I tried playing both at chess and let's just say that it wasn't pretty at all. My family all leave, after a round of 'manly' hugs and goodbyes and my father is the one remaining.
'Son, I don't want you to promise to come back; that's just words. I want you to try as hard as you can to be the Victor, you can do it. Work hard as I've always taught you and you'll be coming home but remember: These tributes, their cattle and you're the one who has to lead them to the slaughterhouse; don't question yourself and you'll do amazing.' With that he kisses my forehead, and although the gesture does seem pretty weird it means a lot. My dad may not be overly affectionate and seems to lose himself in work but I know that he loves me; now he's gone and I'm stuck pondering his advice. These tributes aren't children anymore but cattle ready for the slaughter? It doesn't sit well but it might be my only chance. Oh, however cliché it sounds I'm torn here; I hate seeing people in pain, I spend more than enough time patching up the animals on the ranch and to go and deliberately inflict pain and more importantly kill someone. It's wrong, immoral and it makes me pretty damn mad which is an achievement seeing as I'm so laid back I'm practically horizontal; which itself poses yet another problem, how am I meant to summon the aggression necessary to kill someone. I need to stop this over thinking, and then she arrives.
Maeve O'Sullivan, the only girl I love, the only girl I talk to and the only girl welcome in the McCall household; well on a permanent basis, for with Nash living their there is always some girl coming and going. We has the typical best friend to romance story, and this bloody reaping has gone and spoiled the happy ending I'd selfishly anticipated; although it makes me sound like some hopeless romantic I love her more than any other man is capable of loving any other woman, and if by some miracle I actually win it'll be Maeve that I come home for and in no time I'll make sure that she becomes Maeve McCall. Although that outcome is unlikely it is a nice fantasy to hold onto, her emerald eyes are swollen and tears are streaming down her face; her skin is blotchy and she is simply radiating devastation. I fold her in my arms and rest my chin atop her head and I really want to hold onto this moment forever; to remember the soft satin that is her skin and her silken locks that are golden in colour, this moment in time will never leave me and I'm glad I get to see her one last time.
'Carrick, I love you. No one will ever replace you, so come back. Don't leave me here alone' Her pleas are heart rendering, and I feel my own tears begin to fall: Well now I've lost any chance of playing the tough man persona but oh well, right now it's just me and the girl I love, the fucking Hunger Games can wait.
'I love you too, and I always will. No matter what, you know that and of course I'll be fighting to come home to you.' We're not necessarily the kind of couple who declare our love like petty teenagers; although we are teenagers we know that the bond we share far surpasses the relationships of a teenage love struck fools but I need to tell her now, because I never know when I'll see her again.
Pepper Garrington, District 10 Mentor.
I have chewed my nails so much that my fingers are bleeding profusely; some would say I shouldn't be nervous: I've already won my games and there isn't any chance of me ever entering the arena ever again but those people don't know what it is like to mentor 2 children every year and watch them get butchered like the livestock down at the abattoir. To get to know these kids and then watch from the sidelines, helpless to help them; I'm not the only one who feels like this, Haymitch Abernathy is just the same. He is tormented by the fact that we can't do a thing to help these kids, but unlike him I haven't turned to alcohol; I've turned to something called revolution. These sick games are going to end soon, kids are going to be able to be children rather than live in fear of being reaped and me, and I'll just live a life of peace knowing that I don't have to watch kids die every year. It's not much to ask for and I'm pretty damn tenacious, I set my sights on what I want and I do everything possible and in some circumstances impossible to get what I want. It's how I won the Hunger Games, and I'm pretty damn sure it's how I'll end them too.
I personally think we have a good set of tributes this year; well on first glimpses anyway. They're both built pretty well, well a lot better than I was when I was reaped and I don't know they both seem to have a silent strength and as of now I don't know what it is. But it's most certainly there; call it a woman's initiative if you will. The girl, she's a fighter and I'm pretty sure she'll go in all guns blazing to make sure she gets back to her family and the boy seems to have some motivation too. It's gratifying that I have a set of tributes who seem like they want to come home, they have hope and I know from personal experience that in the arena that hope is the more powerful than any sword you'll find in the cornucopia. But on the other hand at least one will die, I haven't spoken to either of these kids but I feel as though I'm already mourning; I should try and remain detached because getting to know these kids will only result in pain but that's not how I operate, no matter how much it may hurt.
I return to chewing my nails when I hear someone giggling, my hands automatically curl into fists and I know exactly who that bloody voice belongs to; Felicity Cortez, the one woman who I could kill happily. She's always simpering around and giggling and just being damn annoying; to her this is all a joke, I'd love to see what would happen if she was thrown into an arena to fight for her life; this thought puts a smile on my face just as she barrels into the room.
'Pepper, Darling. How are you? Austin has just been telling me all about life here in District 10. Sounds very 'rural'' God help me, if this woman keeps blabbering on in that ridiculous accent I cannot be held responsible in the actions I take to shut her up, permanently. And the jibe about 10 being rural, I'd rather be surrounded by trees and fields than skyscrapers. Bitch.
'Oh yeah, it is rural isn't it?' I am considering that this woman may be mentally handicapped; I think I'm making it pretty obvious that I don't want to talk to her since I've turned my back but she continues to gush. I count to ten before I respond and plaster a big old smile on my face.
'Felicity, where's Austin?' I inquire about my fellow mentor so that he can deal with this annoying woman, he would love to have the piece of trash fawning over him and his bloody ego.
'Speak of the Devil, and the Devil shall come' Austin Mallaroy waltzes into the compartment, cowboy boots and all. He tips his hat at Felicity, and she almost faints at his 'Southern Charm', simply ridiculous but if it gets the woman out of my hair I can't really complain. Felicity flies to his side, attracted like a bee to honey and starts preening him like a bloody cat. I bite the inside of my cheek to stop myself laughing aloud, Austin is enjoying the attention, his dark green eyes twinkling; he is attractive: 6' with a nice lean build, ebony hair that seems to shine a midnight blue in the sun and cheekbones that even I'd kill for and I'm not vain in the slightest.
'Felicity, you can go now. We need to talk strategy, and well I wouldn't want you to feel dumb when you're unable to understand a thing.' Okay, it was bitchy but hey she's a bitch so it's all good. Austin looks amused as always, I'd hate him if I didn't know that he is as every bit as eager to see the Hunger Games end as I am; Felicity looks affronted and somehow seems to grow a backbone as she glares at me.
'Humph! Well you're just trailer trash Pepper, I mean you're name is ridiculous and you have like loads of split ends. I can go where I like…' I don't really catch the end of her sentence because I have launched at her, calling me trash? I'd rather be trash than some snobby Capitolite bitch; we're a mess of tangled limbs: she's pulling my hair like some schoolgirl as I punch her wherever I can reach. I manage to pin her to the ground and I'm about to punch her square in the face when I hear Austin cough; I look up and standing there looking shocked as hell are my two tributes. Well, I think it's safe to say I made a good first impression?
Carrick McCall, District 10.
However strange this sounds, I feel rather comfortable; yes, I'm on a train that is probably taking me to my death but its okay. My mentors seem cool, Austin is laid back and has a good old sense of humour and Pepper gets brownie points seeing that she beat the hell out of Felicity and has saved me endless hours of her babbling on about nothing of importance; they make me feel at home and they don't seem as aloof as I thought they would be; in fact they talk about strategy and they seem to have some sense of faith in me and that means a lot; it's made me feel confident and realise the importance of hitting the ground running in this competition.
Ginna seems like a great girl who under any other circumstances I could envision myself being great friends with, she has a family she cares for like myself and she seems strong, there's no other way to describe her; she's going to be a competitor I know it already, but if I am to win she has to die: It is unjust, how am I meant to kill a girl who has a family? A life just like myself, I can't do this but I don't think she is incapable of killing me if it comes down to it. We're being trained separately as of now, I'm with Austin and he says we'll be devising my strategy in the morning so I better be trying to sleep if I want to be able to contribute tomorrow; I've been gone for a matter of hours and I miss home, because we may not be in the arena yet but the 62nd Hunger Games have already begun.
To try and soothe myself to sleep I lose myself in memories, the memories I want to remember forever: The sound of Nash's throaty chuckle, Zeno's reproachful glare whenever anybody steps out of line, the smell of the green grass and the sound of a breeze whistling through the trees at the ranch; the rush of adrenaline when your riding a horse, the satisfaction of lassoing a cow for the first time and most importantly Maeve. The conversations about our future, the passionate embraces on cold winter nights, lying in the grass and spotting shapes in the clouds…
Tomorrow will come, the Hunger Games will commence but for tonight I am Carrick McCall, a 16 year old boy who lives in District 10; not a tribute in the 62nd Annual Hunger Games. Tonight is a night to dwell on all my happy memories, all of my achievements and all of the people I love; tomorrow I will worry about how to survive, concern myself with the political mess that is the Hunger Games. I wonder what Maeve is doing right now? Nash? Zeno? Dad? Avery? Do they miss me? I fall into a restless sleep as these questions continue to plague me.
Virginia 'Ginna' Wallace, District 10.
I hope that Viridian has sorted everything out at home, is Loretta in bed already? Has he made sure that Romany and Carter have had their baths? Has he made sure that they're all fed? Is mother glad I've been sent to the Hunger Games? Has she tried to attack any of my siblings? Has V given her my warning? I cannot concentrate on anything but the welfare of my family, I may be on my way to the Capitol but my heart is back in District 10 with my siblings. It's my duty to care for them and with me being absent I don't know what will transpire; Ideally, I would have a mother capable of caring for her children so that I could focus on my own survival but that isn't the case at all. I'm a tribute in the Hunger Games and I should be focussing on how I can try to survive the whole ordeal but no, I'm more distracted by what's happening at home and resenting the Capitol for everything.
For example, Carrick is a lovely young man; full of dreams, ambition and he has a family and girl that love him. We could be friends but the Capitol has other ideas, instead we're thrown into a tournament where 23 children have to die and I could scream at how sickening it all is; can the Capitol not comprehend that all of the 'tributes' are real people, they have a life, they have emotions but to them we're all just lambs to be slaughtered for their entertainment. I can't do this, kill innocent people; perhaps the careers who volunteer for this and seem to find glory in killing others but what about the kids like me? Like Carrick? Kids who have been drafted into these twisted games against their will. I can't do it.
I've lost my father, it was horrible. I mourned and I felt as though my whole world was crashing down around me and in many cases it was seeing as I had to shoulder so much more responsibility and become a pseudo parent for my siblings; but in all honesty I imagine that it is nothing in comparison to losing a child. I imagine having to see Loretta, Romany, Carter or even Viridian in that arena; to watch them die. I shy away from the thought as it really is a pain I cannot bear to imagine, a pain that I would never wish to inflict onto someone and a pain I would never wanted inflicted upon myself. I am a parent, and I could never forgive the person who snatched away one of my family's lives but what about my family? I can see them all so clearly, the twins nodding their head in eerily perfect synchronization; Loretta beaming at me with her wide blue eyes and then Viridian placing his hand on my shoulder; they want me to win, they'd want me to at least try: they wouldn't judge me for my actions. For once I need to be selfish, I need to win no matter what happens, and if not win at least try because I will never give up on the hope of seeing my family again, just as they will never lose hope in me.
However reluctant I am, I will cut down anybody who stands in my way of returning to the siblings I love so dearly, or I will die trying. Panem, let the games begin…
So there you go, District 10 is all wrapped up! Ginna and Carrick, your District 10 Tributes for the 62nd Annual Hunger Games.
Let me know what you think? Did you like Pepper and Austin? Any front runners you see emerging? Anything… Just let me know, so… REVIEW!
Loves Yah, xxx