Jade Waterly
When the official rules of the Hunger games had been released, there had been a rule dedicated to prohibiting training before the games. I wasn't sure if other districts were following this rule, but as far as the children from District 1 were concerned the decision on whether to follow this rule or not would be the difference between life and death.
I'm not sure what brought me to the training center every day. Perhaps it was simply the entertainment factor. I never participated because I wasn't into violence or fighting, but I also didn't have any close friends and that left me with copious amounts of spare time. So each day after the bell sounded I would drag my cello to the training center, check-in as though I would be training and then I would take a corner and watch my peers battle it out.
The announcement of the Hunger Games seemed to have brought a dark cloud over our district. Parents' thoughts of restarting the rebellion were now replaced the need to train their children in hopes that if they were picked they'd survive the arena.
I, however, didn't worry about the reapings. The chances of me not being picked seemed to be in my favor and although this shouldn't have been a factor I also came from a rich family. Mrs. Donahall, the Head Gamemaker, had told us that all children would be in the reaping bowl no matter what their status, but deep down I believed that having money would mean I could buy my way out. Perhaps if my name did get picked, my parents could pay to release me.
No, I didn't need to train or submit myself to these violent acts. As I watched, two girls adamantly attacked each other. The one who was clearly winning had a sly grin on her mouth, and it was almost like she was enjoying herself. I was even more convinced that I would not be going to the arena. If I were chosen I'm sure she would step in to take my place.
"Hey, you," a voice addressed me from the target practice area.
I wasn't sure that she was addressing me, so I pointed to myself and asked her if she was talking to me.
"No, stupid, I'm talking to the person behind you."
I instinctively turned my head to look behind me, even though I clearly knew there was nothing but a wall. I was confused though; I'd never been spoken to while I was here.
She gestured me to come over, and I stood up and walked over to where she stood.
"What are you doing sitting there?"
"Uhh…" I suddenly felt as though I could not form coherent speech, "I don't know."
"Here," in her hand she held a bow and in the other an arrow. I had never shot before, and I had no idea what I was doing.
"I'll show you," she said sensing my unease. She positioned the bow and arrow in my hands and counseled me on how I could make a direct hit. I pulled my arm back, eyes straight for the middle of the target.
"Concentrate," she said.
I concentrated long and hard, eyeing the bullseye, and aiming my arrow towards it. When I released I was sure it was going to hit the center.
Once my arrow struck the girl stared at my arrow for a long time in silence, "Well," she finally said, "at least you didn't miss the target.
The girl had introduced herself to me as Alexandrite, or Alexa, the only daughter of a now single father. She bid me farewell and told me she'd see me tomorrow even though I had never agreed to come train with her again.
Glitter Harison
I make a conscious effort to push my dark hair from my face, but today it does not want to cooperate and immediately falls back in front of my eyes. I don't blame it, because I don't want to cooperate either.
We were instructed that we must look our best today just in case we were sent to the Capitol, but I could really care less. Why do I have to get all dressed up for them? What did they do to ever deserve it?
Thoughts of the Capitol made me think of my mother. Her death was still fresh in my mind although it had happened over a year ago. I remember the Peacekeepers barging in on us, questioning us, arresting my entire family and taking us into custody.
Nobody had known my mother had played such a huge role in the rebellion, not even her own family. I could've been angry with her for not saying anything and putting herself in danger, but it was her silence that had saved us all. Once we had been questioned and sent through polygraph tests more times than I could count, they had finally realized that we had no idea about my mother and therefore were not a part of it.
They never sent us her body, and we never got to give her a proper burial. I know she wouldn't have minded, and that the sacrifice was worth it, but it angered me.
I often wondered what she would say if she were here today, how she would feel about the Capitol sending the districts' children into an arena to fight for their lives. I imagine she'd be appalled, and angered as many others were. I felt that her death had been wasted. We had lost anyways, and now we had the Hunger Games to look forward to every year. I wanted nothing more than to avenge her sacrifice, but I had no idea where to begin.
"Glitter?"
I turn to see my younger brother, Spangl, standing in the doorway. He's wearing a nice button-down shirt that must have been my father's and a pair of khakis. At 14 he's eligible for the reapings as well, but he won't be going to the Capitol today. I'll make sure of it.
"Aren't you going to put something nicer on?"
I look down at my clothes. I'm wearing worn out jeans that look like the knees are about to be ripped open and a pale blue shirt that is less dressy because I decided to roll my sleeves up.
I shake my head, "I don't care. Maybe if I don't dress up, they won't want to take me to the Capitol."
He chuckles at me, "I don't know if that's quite how it works."
"Yeah, you're probably right." But I don't care anyways. I feel like I'm rebelling by not following the guidelines. I imagine that my mother, wherever she was, would be proud of me.
"It's almost time," Spangl says after a long period of silence.
I nod my head and together we walk to the town square.
The square is already packed full when we arrive. Peacekeepers are guiding people to their section based on age, and we are sent to wait in a line for check-in. The line moves swiftly and before I know it, an emotionless voice is saying "Next!"
I approach the table. "Glitter Harison," I say. They take my finger and mercilessly prick it before dabbing blood under my name in their giant book. They scan the sample, and the scanner confirms that I am indeed Glitter Harison.
I am told to move along and I manage to find the section for the fifteen-year-old males. People from school notice me and acknowledge me. I nod to them, and find my way to an empty spot. I try to find my brother, but he is nowhere to be found. I'm not terribly worried about him because I know Spangl can take care of himself. Once everyone is checked-in. A man who is clearly from the Capitol approaches the microphone. His accent is heavy and I can barely understand what he is saying.
I hear him excitedly welcome us to the first Hunger Games, and that we are about to be apart of a highly historical event. A video with clips of the rebellion is shown next, and I can't help but see my mother's face everywhere. Finally, he tells us it's time to begin and before I know it he's reaching deep inside the bowl that holds my name on four different slips.
"Aha," he grabs one and makes his way back to the microphone. The crowd is completely silent, not even the sound of rustling. My heart is pounding, and everything looks dream-like. He's opening the slip of paper. He's analyzing the name. He's opening his mouth to speak.
"Glitter Harison!"
I'm not sure if I'm imagining things or not, but the boys around me turn, their eyes filled with remorse and even relief that they're not going.
As I make my way to the stage I am filled with a new energy. Perhaps this is my destiny, my way of avenging my mother's death. I'll be in the heart of the Capitol, so who knows how many opportunities I'll have.
The escort pulls me on the stage, and vibrantly welcomes me to the Hunger Games. My disposition stays emotionless, and as I look over the crowd I make a vow to myself that I must win. Losing was not an option.
Jade Waterly
The best thing about it being reaping day was that my mother was spoiling me.
First of all I got to take a warm bath. Although my family is one of the richer ones in the district we were still without hot water. My mother boiled water for me to bathe in, and I sat in the warmth until the water went cold. Afterwards my mother dried and curled my hair, which was another luxury. The best thing though was when my mom led me into her room, and offered me one of her dresses.
It was a simple pink dress, but beautiful nonetheless. She helped me put it on, and the fabric was soft and smooth. I smiled at her and gave her a hug and she tightly grasped me.
I started to feel small and scared. "I'm going to be okay, right Mom?"
She pulled away and looked at me for a second, as though she wasn't sure. "Of course you will," she reassured. She smoothed down my hair, and told me it was time.
I arrived, and checked in before making my way to the group of 15-year-old females. I looked around for Alexa, and then realized I had no idea how old she was. She always struck me as maybe sixteen or seventeen, but the crowds were so large I couldn't pick her out.
After everyone assembled, a man who looked like he came straight from the Capitol approached the microphone. He introduces himself as Antonio, talks loudly and excitedly, and then we get to watch a video about the Capitol.
I have no patience for any of it and I find myself daydreaming when Antonio clears his throat and says it's time to pick the tributes.
He begins with the males and digs through the bowl before finally pulling out a name. He approaches the microphone, opens the slip, and clears his throat again.
"The first male tribute of District One is," a pause, "Glitter Harison."
I have never met this kid and I stand on my tiptoes to try and pick him out from the crowd. I finally see him as he climbs the stairs to the stage. His expression lacks all emotion, and I can't tell whether he's accepting or scared to death. Anotonio welcomes him, and with even more enthusiasm he rushes to the bowl of female names.
He digs around for a while before grabbing a slip. I wonder whose name is written there, but I'm not worried because the chances of it being mine were slim.
So slim in fact that a smile creeps on my face knowing that I'll be going home after this to celebrate with my mother, and maybe even my father will come home from work.
"And the female tribute is,"
Yes this reaping thing wasn't so bad after all.
"Jade Waterly!"
"What…" the voice that leaves does not sound like mine. People are looking over at me, and I stand paralyzed by fear.
Antonio places his hand above his eyes and scans the crowd. "Jade, do we have a Jade here?"
I raise my hand, and Antionio motions me to come to the stage. I'm waiting for somebody to volunteer in my places, like all the girls who were fighting in the training center, or even Alexa; girls who are a lot more capable.
Nobody volunteers, and Peacekeepers begin moving toward me. I don't want to make a fool of myself so I slowly make my way to the stage. People are whispering around me.
"I see her at the training center all the time."
"She knows how to fight."
"Every time I've been there, she's always been there."
"She can use a bow and arrow"
That's when the realization hits me. My fellow peers think that I'm a legit fighter, that all those times I went to the training center to watch I was actually honing my skills.
I had been practicing the bow and arrow with Alexa, but I wasn't any good. Speaking of Alexa, where was she? She was the one person who knew my abilities were not sufficient enough to survive.
When I climbed to the stage I disregarded everything Antonio was saying and combed the crowd for Alexa. Not with the fifteen-year-olds, not with the sixteen-year-olds, not with the seventeen-year-olds.
"Well, shake hands," Antonio was pushing Glitter and I towards each other. He reached out his hand and I took it. He uses this opportunity to size me up, and I can't tell what he thinks because his expression still remained motionless. I can't help but wonder if he'll be responsible for my death.
Before I can comprehend anything else, I am quickly whisked away with a promise that there will be time to see my family.
Glitter Harison
My father and brother come to see me before I leave for the Capitol. They both are strong and our good-byes are formal. My father shakes me hand, and then pulls me into a quick hug.
Then he hands me an embroidered bracelet. He tells me it was my mother's and to keep it with me in the arena. I only hope that her spirit will be there too.
Jade Waterly
I'm sitting on the train alone, clutching what bit of my family I have left. As tributes, we are allowed to take one 'token' into the arena with us. This token can be anything we want as long as it can't be used as a weapon. My mother informed me of this when she came to say good-bye and took off her diamond necklace and placed it in my palm.
My mother had be relatively calm, and I used what little time I had to crawl into her arms and cry. My father had not shown up, and I wasn't surprised. My mother had told me he was busy and couldn't leave work, but it's not like he cared much about me. Alexa hadn't shown up either, though I wasn't expecting her to, I had a small hope that she might come and give me some pointers and even say good-bye. I had begun to think of her as a friend during our training sessions, but I guess the games changes everybody.
I hear the compartment door open and I turn to see my district partner. He walks over to the counter and pours himself a glass of water. I can tell he's not about to start a conversation, and I don't really want to talk to him either, but I need him on my side if I'm going to get out of here alive.
"Hey," I call out.
He turns around with his piercing gaze and I begin to feel extremely nervous.
My voice shakes, "Uh… Glitter right?"
He rolls his eyes because he knows that I'm well aware what his name is and turns around to leave.
"No, wait!"
He doesn't stop and I feel words begin to flow without thought.
"We shouldn't have to do this alone. I know we can't have more than one winner, but the rules don't say anything about having an alliance. Think about it, two people can survive better together than alone."
He stares at me, and I clench my palms.
"We can help each other." I throw in as a last resort.
He finally speaks but the words are not what I wanted to hear. "I don't think so. I can't trust anybody and you'd probably drag me down anyways."
I can't help but think he's right. I slouch down in my seat once I hear the door close. I need to figure something else out if I'm going to stay alive for one day let alone until the end.