Binar Krein
People say knowledge is power. Others say power corrupts. So, put the two together, if you are smart then you are corrupt. I am both.
Working, tinkering, creating is what I do when I have a problem. And I do have a problem now.
My faithful and creative friend, Arcad is assisting me with my project.
I use my laptop to hack into computers, one by one, getting well needed information for us. For example, test scores and questions, changing grades, money matters, or classified information that could be used against people.
"I don't get it!" I give up my tries frustrated.
"What is it?" Arcad asks has he looks up from my book and fixes his glasses.
"It is impossible to hack into Beetee's CPO. I tried everything I have, but no, his firewall is gone, Norex is gone, but his self-made anti-hack virus cleaner program is not budging!"
"Did you ever try to ask him for the information needed?"
"Never! Me and my brain shall not surrender!"
Arcad stands up, walks next to me and puts his hand on my head. He looks at the monitor, sighs and ruffles my brown hair, then starts to play with my curls.
He does that when he is thinking. I bet he'll become the next Einstein or something. When it is about solving problems the creative way, he will solve it the insane way. He is a bit loony, but it suits him.
As he twirls my hair, I can almost hear his brain working.
"So. He is online, no?"
"He is."
"Okay then, send him a message with an attachment for a … something, then send another message saying it was a wrong attachment, don't open it, and have some hacks on the secound mail."
Beetee's face appears on a new window. He has spiked up dark brown hair and white glasses with a swirl on each side, not allowing us to see his eyes.
"Nah-ah-ah," he waves his pointing finger at us, "didn't your mother tell you not to hack a victor's computer?"
"I told him to ask you," Arcad tried to save his neck.
"I know you did Arcad, that is why you tried to heck my computer too, right?"
"Oh smuts."
"Next time, I'll tell your parents," Beetee warns and the window disappears.
"I told you so," Arcad sings along as he hops out of my room.
"Fumble-nuggets and shipwreckers." I sigh as I give up permanently. "Wait up!"
My mom, Data, is a hardworking lady. She's a teacher in a well known university and an inventor on the side. She was working with my dad until he got a heart attack and passed away. If Beetee tells her about me trying to hack his computer, she'll deliver the worst of all rage, the Mother's Rage…and believe me, with a super-smart mom, you do not want to get in trouble.
Tect, my older brother, is my role model. He is an introvert person, really anti-social, private, insecure and critical. He always acts cautiously, since once he almost blew the house apart, but thanks to his brain and mine, we saved the house. He has my dad's shoulder length auburn hair and his cheekbones. I'd like him just a tad better if he'd be a bit more open, but oh well. I do not know what goes on in his head.
Arcad is not the only friend I have, Gott sei Dank. There is Conduc, this lanky guy who is quite…loud, compared to Arcad and me. He can be cruel to people he doesn't like, just like my brother. He is also a very straightforward, logical thinker, and he doesn't mind what people think about him. He is an evil mastermind with a good humor, but when he starts to make jokes about killing people he detests, it is not funny, because he electrocuted this one kid at school, but he survived.
Then again, since it is Reaping day, things will be ever more fun.
We walk to Conduc's house to walk get him to the Reaping with us.
"What do you want to do after the Reapings?" I ask Arcad as I ring the bell.
"Watch a movie? I heard that there is a good movie showing," he says and the door opens. It is Mrs. Munton , Conduc's mom.
"Hey lil' munchkins," she greets as she usually does.
"Hey Mrs. Munton, is Conduc home?"
"Yes, yes he is but he is taking a shower."
"Can we come in?"
"Sure," she says and lets us in. "Do you want some cookies or tea?"
"Could I have some tea?" I ask her. She makes the best tea in District 3.
Arcad, without words and not surprising me, trudged upstairs and right into the bathroom, creating a not-so-manly shriek from Conduc.
"Motherfucker!" Conduc screams as Arcad runs down the stairs, followed by a flying shampoo bottle. I hear the disturbed one walking back to the bathroom, but then he slipped and hit his head. "This is all your fault Arcad!"
Minutes later, naked Conduc with a towel around his waist came down.
Yep, that right there I envy of him.
To be successful in life you have to be smart and good looking. Well, I am smart but not good looking, it is Conduc with the physical greatness.
"Mom, where's my shirt?"
"Secound drawer from the left under your bed," his mom answered from the kitchen, and in no time, a dandy Conduc walked down the stairs and we went to the Reapings.
Finley Autumn
Great. I still really dislike that, even though it happened years ago. Not like District 3 is not is not good or anything, it's just…I miss the sea. But I've friends. There is that cuckoo guy, Sandellius and his friend Ydrox. First they were really…interesting, but then I got used to them, and now I pretty much think they are my saviors.
Sandellius Tytanem, believe it or not, has roots in District 5. I mean his name Tytanem, sounds awfully like tetanus and….yeah. He is also a bit loony, or a bit too loony, but not the bad way, not like he is retarded, but, he sees the world in a different way. Maybe he is not crazy at all, just people call him. He sees opportunities, and alternate usage of everyday items. People see him crazy, maybe, only maybe, because his eyes are golden.
Ydrox is really tomboyish. She has nothing girly inside her, nothing, well, beside that she likes boys. Other than that, nothing. The other funny thing is that she doesn't look like a District 3 person. She has sandy brown hair and sea green eyes, and she doesn't have anything to do with District 4, beside the fact that her mother buys clothing for special events from this my friend's sister.
Gee, I miss her. Carolie and her amazing family. We were playing around all the time, and then my dad says we have to move to District 3, and yay we had only week to say our goodbyes, and for the love of god, he didn't allow me to say goodbye to Carolie! Of course I hated his guts, but then we have instant message and video phones, so I talk to her a lot.
Anyways, when I got here, I wondered why District 3's Reapings is after the sun sets. Now I understand why. All the lights get turned on any occasion, and on Reapings, it is a grand light show. My dress also goes with it…it is a black dress with neon green lines and a neon bow under by chest. I do look ravishing in it.
I also enjoy all this electric stuff, which is not a combination with my love of water. Some of the guys are really kind and they help me a lot, and I appreciate it.
"Hey Finny! Are we fencing or wondering?" Sand asks as he nods at me. I thought him how to fence in exchange for him allowing me to mess around in his electric room.
His family is a major electric family, really important and stuff. They have this room that is channeling energy twenty-four seven, and everything is electrified. Kind of dangerous, but very cool. Also, he has this thi-woah!
"Sand, I wasn't paying attention!" He almost poked me! Well, not like that's bad, but in fencing it is.
"When you get Reaped, people will allow you to wait."
Oh yeah, kind of forgot about him. He won the previous games, though not in a very brave way. He basically used his surroundings to destroy everyone. But he still one.
"As if I get Reaped," I strike and he evades.
We do this a lot, talking and fencing.
Ydrox is here too, but she is too absorbed in her little iPad touch thing…which is actually really cool, but…whatever.
After fencing, we, or at least I take a shower.
It still sends a shiver up my spine, when I showed with closed eyes. It reminds me too much of the water around me, the depths…the deep secrets oceans and seas hold.
Fencing kind of stuck to me from District 4. Fencing was different of course, we used marlins instead of professional fencing material, but it was twice the fun. You see, my mom is kind of paranoid since her brother got Reaped into the Games, and she wants to make sure that Pulse and I are both prepared.
Pulse is my little brother. Not little, he is only two years younger then me, but not young enough to be safe from the Games. Not like he will get Reaped. I heard about some rumors that the Games are manipulated. That the Gamemakers choose the names, and everything all that unfair…that they observe everyone in the districts and hand pick the players. That they manipulate everyone…I don't know, it was on this major rumor site, Unknown Dimensions or something.
Still, the idea is pretty, I cannot find the word. Depressing and angering, also gives the feeling of suicide and all that negativity.
But what the hell who cares.
Even if I get Reaped…please, that won't happen.
But if it does, than mom's time in training wasn't for nothing.
I got pretty good with swords and daggers, but not really throwing them. I'm also pretty much fast and stealthy for no reason, and swimming is not a problem, so if I get into an arena like I the third Quarter Quell, I'd be winning while laughing, or however American people say that.
Though Dad would be sad, and mom would go insane, and Pulse would be depressed, additionaly my friends would go bananas and Ydrox would volunteer for me, as she said. She says that every year. I will volunteer for you Finley, I will volunteer for you.
Like she will survive.
Like I will survive.
"Finley, you really should stop thinking and doing your personal narrative of your life and pay attention," Ydrox said smiling, her yellow eyes dancing under her grey curly hair.
"Okay okay, geesh. You're worse than mom…"
Binar Krein
Silly me, I forgot that the Reapings are at night. I always forget it, but Cunduc and Arcad? That surprised me.
Anyways, we went home and did the usual. Hacking into computers and crashing sites, softwares.
I tried to hack into Beete's cpo, but I failed, again, this time he didn't notice. He was a at a meeting, hopefully. Or he was talking to my mom,abou me hacking to his computer. One of the two.
So I was hacking into the Capitol computers. Really easy.
They should hire Beetee or me to get their computers protected by people like…me.
"Would you look at that," I say, "there are a hundreds of sites about the Games."
Conduc looked over my shoulder. "That is no surprise. It's the Capitol you are talking about."
I looked around some sites and was even more surprised. Those bastards have games about the actual Games. Online mmorpgs like 'Submit your tribute and watch it die its horrible death by reading me pathetic writing!' and all that. I mean really, they do look at the Hunger Games as games…pathetic.
And they have stories called SYOTs. Submit your own tribute. Hell to it. Writing their own games…at least they aren't real. What's weird, is that they have Games that already happened, and everything altered, the winner, how the win, but the people and the arena is kept the same. Then they have future games where you send your characters in by completing a form.
I clicked on a forum about this year's games.
Who do you want to see in the Games? Was the first comment, and then people had their descriptions about people, very specific. Date of birth, hair and eye colour, preferences, friends, tokens, everything. Then…I read a biography that could be my person biography. From my birth, family, friends and everything, just like it is about me.
Oh yeah, Binar?
Stop.
Binar? I'm Binar. They are talking about me?
What in the world?
How do they know about me?
If they know about me…then…they basically watch everyone.
Suddenly my computer went dark and the lights shut down.
"Sorry kids, I think I pushed something," Mom called upstairs.
In that inconvenient silence, I could hear my heartbeat.
"Binar, are you okay?" Arcad asks a bit worried. Maybe I was pale, maybe not, maybe I was shaking, maybe not. Maybe I looked like a ghost, maybe not.
Then the lights turned back on and my computer started up.
"Guys…wouldn't it be awkward if there would be people watching us all the time?"
"Well, we have parents," Arcad joked.
I turn around. "No, I mean, random people watching us all the time. All. The. Time."
"I bet girls get crazy over me," Conduc said, and I may have replied jokingly, but not now.
I saw what I saw.
Internet get back and I got back to the old site where I saw my name.
"Oh would you look at that. Submit Your Own District 3 Geek. Binar. That's a coincidence," Conduc says and I scrolled down.
Now, there was a list of names and characteristics to choose from.
No…that's not right. This changed. I don't know how, but it did.
"Boys, get to the Reapings!" Mom reminded us.
Fine.
Let's go to the Reapings.
I don't have anything against the Escort of our District. He is quite normal.
"Goodnight ladies and gentlemen. The stars are up and the party's starting. As you know, this is the fourth Quarter Quell, and we have a twist. The twist is that now the tributes friends and family and acquaintances will be in the Games. The male tribute is…" he takes the paper out from a bowl. "Binar Krein!"
I didn't have anything against our Escort.
Up until he said my name.
Finley Autumn
Well now, our Escort, Ray, is quite amazing. He is in his late twenties, with black hair and neon green eyes. Neon green! He is also much of a character. A party animal, also a gentleman. He is very kind and he is nothing like a Capitol person, even though he is one.
This year he is wearing a skin tight black uniform with a neon green electrical network starting from his body, and ending by his foot. His shoe is elevated, and it looks like he is floating above the stage.
He wears a translucent face mask, and looks like a very humanoid robot.
"Goodnight ladies and gentlemen," he greets us. "The stars are up and the party's starting. As you know, this is the fourth Quarter Quell, and we have a twist. The twist is that now the tributes friends and family and acquaintances will be in the Games. The male tribute is…Binar Krein!"
This tall kid slowly walks up the stage, talking to some guys.
"I volunteer!" A boy yells and walks up the stage. "I volunteer for Binar."
Binar said something, argued with the boy, but I didn't hear them. Finally, Binar grabbed the boy's neck and started to choke him.
"No, you will not volunteer," he said slowly and I could actually hear him.
Wow, some kid he is.
Binar let go of the boy.
"And now, your female tribute representing District 3 is…Ydrox Hide" Well, I didn't get reaped, my friend did. She slowly walks up, as if she is going to her won funeral, up the stage and next to Ray.
"I volunteer!" My tiny voice breaks into his. "I volunteer." I walk up the stage, pushing kids and Peacekeepers.
"No! I've got Reaped, I will go to the Games!" I look into her eyes with my mean look. I grabbed her arm.
"You really want to disagree with me? Are you sure? Girl I could snap your bones right now. I volunteer for her." I let her hand go.
I hope she will understand it, and I did not cause her too much pain.
"Okay, well, what's your name pretty lady?"
"Finley Autumn."
"Well now, your District 3 tributes are Binar Krein and Finley Autumn."
I really hope Ydrox will understand it.
Binar Krein
Sweet mother of god. I think I went a little bit too far with that. I mean choking? No, you didn't choke him. You grabbed his neck, but not chocked him. It was all to put the people into a false knowledge of me being evil.
I guess that Finley girl is evil. I thought I'll actually have a kind and or normal partner, not this psycho.
Inside the Justice Building, not surprisingly, Conduc and Arcad are the first ones to come in.
"What the fuck?" Conduc snaps as he massages his neck.
"Sorry!"
"Hell yeah you should be sorry. Why did you attack me?"
"I don't want you to be a tribute."
"Then just tell me? No need to attack your best friend…"
"I am very sorry, but to give the false impression to my audience, and make people believe I am fearsome."
"Haha, attacking a person does look fearsome, but why me? Why not the Escort," Conduc asks me.
"Well…I'm sorry."
"Stop being sorry," Arcad says finally. "If you are sorry in the Games, they'll finish you off. You started your evil character side, play it. Don't be sorry, be mean, and never be sorry. If you are, you doom yourself."
He's right.
No more turning back, nor more kindness. It is Binar the evil.
A group hug and they leave.
Possibly my last visitor is Tect.
He slaps me.
"Do you know what happened? Do you?" He particularly roars at me. "Do you?"
Surprised, I didn't know if I should be scared or angry. "…No?"
"Mom got a heart attack!"
Oh motherfucking bitches.
"What?" I ask to make sure.
"She got a heart attack!"
"Is…is she okay?"
"For now she's good. I don't know how she will handle when you die."
"I won't die!" I yell at him, now he got me mad. Blaming on me everything. Like I could allow Conduc to volunteer for me. I'll be in the Games either way.
"Please."
"But…" he says and sighs, "we're screwed either way. Conduc knows us, so we'd be in the Games." He sits down on the coach and hangs his head in the air. "Goddamit Binar, just don't die, okay?"
Thanks. Now I've got to play the evil me and survive.
Finely Autumn
"Why did you volunteer for me?" Ydrox snaps at me.
"Should I allow you to the Games?"
She sighs. "I don't know…"
"No," Sandelluis answered my question for her. "If you look at that in a way, Finley has more chance to survive than you, no offence."
"Non taken."
"Beside, if you get reaped your two brothers will be in the Games too, with you and your family."
"I know."
"And Finley knows a lot of things, thanks to being a mutt."
"Excuse you," I say to him.
"You know what I mean."
I nod at him.
I really don't feel like talking. Not like I won't see them anymore, they'll be with me in the Games.
Sand gives me a pill.
"This is a little pill that gives you a stronger immune system. And something. But I don't know what. Forgot it."
Whatever now. I swallowed the pill.
I wish I never done that.
Felt dizzy…and the floor slammed into me.