Escule Hirosho
Everybody is in a blind fury, running madly to escape fire that has broken out over the forests. Peacekeepers are firing in the air, and I watch as people drop like flies. I cling to my ten-year-old brother's hand as we dart through the crowd trying to stay alive. I see my mother a few feet ahead holding Isaac, my three-year old brother and tugging six-year-old Gabriel to move faster, and then I see my father with the newborn baby, shielding him from the chaos all around as he screams and cries though he has no idea the extent of the danger we are all in.
The train. It's so close, but yet so far from me. On the train we can make it to safety, we can start over and be in peace. My little brothers will not have to face this cruel district. Suddenly my brother's hand slips from mine and he falls. I lose him from my sight and I'm scared of him getting trampled by the crowd. My mother does not see me and keeps running, but my father stops shoves the baby in my arms and reaches down to fish my brother out.
"Go!" He yells and I take off with the screaming baby. Mama is climbing into the train and handing my two brothers off with Peter, our neighbor, who is getting us out of here. He pulls my mother up and she scans the crowd in panic when she realizes we are not behind her. I want to wave her, but I fear dropping my baby brother and that would cause devastating results. I push myself to move faster. My lungs ache from breathing in smoke and my legs feel as though they have lead weights tied to them. It's only a few more feet, just a few more steps. My mother catches us and starts yelling to me to hurry, and that I can make it. When I reach the edge mother sighs with relief as she takes the baby and Peter pulls me into the car. I feel as though I need to lie down, and pass out, but I can't until I find father.
"Where is your father?"
I am struck with silence, for this predicament is my fault.
"Escule, answer me!"
"I lost Adrian, and so Father went to get him. I'm sorry Mama," I begin to cry in distress and she pulls me close to her.
"Shh," she pats my head, "it'll be okay. They'll make it."
Peter looks over at us, "The train is set to leave, and I can't delay it any longer."
I begin crying out for my father and brother, but they are nowhere to be seen. They will be left behind for sure, probably to die here in District 7. As the train picks up in noise I place my hand over my eyes and hunt for my father and brother. I finally spot them, my dad carrying what looks to be an unconscious Adrian, but they must be alive. The train begins to lurch, trying to gain enough momentum to move, and my father picks up speed. He pulls my brother off his shoulder and my mother and I lift him into the train just as it begins to pick up speed. My mother holds out my her hand for my father and he takes it, but the train is moving too quickly and he cannot make it up.
"Jump!" My mother yells.
I watch as my father picks up speed, and lurches for the edge of train. His hands catch it and I breathe out a sense of relief, but it is short-lived as his fingers slip and he lands on the ground with a thud. The last I see of my father is his hand lifting in the air as he yells something unintelligible.
I awake terribly warm and covered in sweat. I rub my eyes reminding myself that it was only a dream. But yet it wasn't a dream, it had actually happened. I normally sleep well, but tonight I am wrestled with nightmares. My stomach lurches into a spasm and I roll over, clutching it in pain. I pray that I am not getting sick, between the nightmares, the sweating, and my stomach pains I wonder if I'm catching fever. I am already at a disadvantage, and I don't need to deal with this so close to game day. My stomach twists into another cramp, and I can't help but press into the pain. This is probably just anxiety I think, but the pain gets me up out of my bed and I decide to search for a remedy in the kitchen.
A dark figure is sitting by the table, I cannot make out who it is because of the darkness, but I can take a good guess.
"Dorien?"
"The one and only," she answers back sleepily and I walk over to join her.
"Can't sleep?" I ask.
"I didn't try yet," she says as she sips at her cup. "The beds are too comfy. I tried the floor, but that's even a little to plush for my liking." I see her head tilt forward in sleepiness.
"What are you used to sleeping on?" I ask. "A bed of rocks?"
"You could say that."
This is the most I've ever heard Dorien speak to me. I decide to press my luck, and try to get conversation out of her.
"Do you come from a poor family then?"
Upon asking she sighs loudly and leans forward, resting her head in her hand.
"I'm sorry for asking. My family is pretty big so I know what it's like to not have money."
She doesn't respond and simply sips at her mug. I guess she isn't tired enough to let her guard down.
"I don't have any family." Or maybe she is.
"You're alone?" I ask.
She shifts uncomfortably around in her chair.
"No, I have somebody who means a lot to me, but she is not my real family. I don't really want to talk about." She stands up and empties the rest of her cup in the sink before plodding off to her room. "Good night Escule."
"Uh... good night." I plod over to the sink and investigate the contents of her cup. It smells like some kind of tea. Tea would be wonderful right now and I look around from some, and realize she has left some on the stove.
I finish the tea and I don't feel any better. In fact, I feel like I might be sick. I bolt for the sink and spill the contents of my dinner and whatever else was in my stomach. I feel better after the wave of nausea passes. I blame it on whatever I must've ate and go back to bed.
Ashley Henns
I haven't left my room the past few days for meals. I feel guilty for ignoring Daryl and Iris, but I haven't been feeling well. I'm terribly homesick and I'll I want to do is go back to District 12 to be with my father.
I reach into my jacket pocket and pull out the ring my mother gave me before I had to leave. When my mother gave me this ring she told me to look at it whenever I felt scare or frightened and know that she is thinking of me. The ring is plain, there are no jewels or diamonds adorning it only a white magnolia that sits on top.
Magnolia flowers are used to relieve stuffy noses, sinus pain, and other symptoms of the common cold. It may also be used for allergies and headaches. Some people have sworn the bark of the magnolia tree reduces depression and anxiety, but we are Mama is unsure. But the Magnolia means more to me than just a medical flower. My mother's full first name is Magnolia, and I was lucky enough to get it as my middle name. When I look at Magnolia's I think of my mom's quick and calm fingers. Her ability to get rid of all sadness and hurt, and then I think about me and how I can be just as strong as her.
There is a knock on my door, and I slide the ring back into my pocket. Behind the door stands Daryl.
"Why don't you come and eat breakfast with us Ash? It's training day again, you need to keep your strength up."
I consider his words carefully. I'm not really hungry, but he's right. I must eat and stay strong for the Games if I'm going to have any chance of winning. I think of what my mother would be saying to me and I know she would be ashamed of my attitude and lack of care towards my health.
"Okay," I say and I grab Daryl's hand as he leads me to the kitchen.
"You know you remind me of my little sister." He says.
"You have a sister? I have an older brother, I miss him a lot."
"Yes I do and I miss her just like you miss your brother."
When I enter the kitchen I see Iris who greets me with a smile.
"Oh it's so nice to see you Ashley, come sit down right here, and we'll get you some food."
I really don't want to burden anybody by serving me my meals. "Oh no, I can get it by myself," I insist.
"No, no, no that won't be necessary Ashley." She calls the attention of one of the servants. "Yes you, get our young tribute some breakfast now."
The food smells wonderful. I don't think I've ever gotten the privilege of having so much food in front of me. My appetite comes back in full force and I eat until my stomach is bursting.
"Oh it's so wonderful to see you eating Ashley." Irish says. "You're a growing girl and growing girls need to eat."
Her statement confuses me. "Then how come they don't feed us at home?" I ask curiously. Daryl gives me a weird look and shakes his head no. Iris however ignores my question and asks for a second helping to be brought out.
The training center feels just as daunting as it did yesterday. All the different stations overwhelm me. Yesterday I practiced non-combat skills like knot tying, learning how to build shelters and hunting for food, as well as setting traps. I don't wish to hold a knife in my hand and use it to harm another person. A healer's oath is to never hurt another, so how can I break that?
I decide to start myself off slow with the bow and arrow. It feels less threatening than holding a sharp knife in my hand, and at least I'll only be able to use it from far away.
The man helps me load an arrow and shows me how to shoot, but as I pull back on my own for the first time my hand's tremble terribly and the bow slips from my hands, clattering to the floor.
"I'm so sorry," I say, and the man just shrugs his shoulders.
I am letting my nerves get to me, and I pick the bow back up and decide try again. As I pull back tremors come in waves down my hands. I put the bow down at my side and take deep breaths. I think of my mother cheering me on. I must do this so I can come home to both her and my father. I wipe the sweat from my hands on my pants and try again, lifting the bow back up and pulling back the arrow. My form is not perfect, and my hands are still shaky but I manage a release and a hit on the target.
I must keep practicing until my fear goes away. I cannot play this Game by being myself. I am just a young girl who wants nothing more than to be at home with my family and friends. I want to help mother take care of my father and someday be as skilled and talented as she. I know nothing about violence and death, but I guess I must face it. In order to win I must be clever. I must be vindictive. I must go against my heart and hurt others, even if it means betraying them.
Audrey Carpenter
"This isn't fair," I swear under my breath and I throw the compass to the ground smashing it into pieces. "I demand to talk to someone about this!"
"Ma'am you are in no position to make demands." The guy behind the station is cocky. I need to learn essential survival skills yet all I have is this buffoon to teach me. I would learn more from a bunch of monkeys.
"Who runs this?" I ask. "I want to talk to her."
The guy picks up his phone nonchalantly a look of annoyance on his face. I stand with my arms crossed, indignant. I will not let this go.
"Yes Ms. Donahall, I'm sorry to bother you, but there's an unruly tribute here who wishes to speak to whomever is in charge."
Unruly? Really?
"Alright I'll pass on the new. Yep you too. Buh-bye." He hangs up the phone and looks at me. "You may speak with Ms. Donahall after lunch has concluded. Somebody will be down to escort you up."
I hated our lunch breaks. I get stuck sitting with Orion, who doesn't hold back from making inappropriate comments, including foreshadowings of my death that he makes up. It riles me up, but I keep my cool. I can't believe somebody has christened me their first kill just because I'm in their district. I'm just praying we are not next to each other when the timer hits zero. His sheer power will take me down and I won't have a fighting chance.
I think of Oliver and how he had kept me on level ground. I don't know how I will face this stress with a cool head without him here.
Rion ignores me thankfully as I sit down. There is absolutely nobody near me worth talking to. Alice from District 7 is quiet, and is already getting bombarded by some boy. I think he's from District 4. Dorien from 5 has her arms crossed, clearly she doesn't want to talk to anybody. Then there's Kyra from 9. Honestly something irks me about her overall attitude and I have no wish to converse with her. I then notice the District 6 girl, she hasn't left much of a mark on me, so I can't remember her name, but she looks normal enough.
"Hey you're from District 6 right?" I yell to her.
Her head shoots up. "Huh?"
"You're from District 6 right? I'm Audrey." I reach my hand out and she smiles and takes it.
"Stephanie Fox also known as the girl who fell out of her chariot."
"Oh no, that was you? I felt so horrible."
She rubs the side of her jaw. "It's okay, it's already been healed up."
I see the boy next to her look at us curiously. That must be Jasten, the one who hit her. I'm nervous as I watch his eyes dart back and forth, but he just turns back around and starts gabbing to another boy.
"How's the training going?" I ask.
She merely shrugs and I take that as a bad sign. Maybe I shouldn't be speaking with her, she might drag me down. Wait what am I thinking? I'm just having a conversation with her this doesn't mean I have to ally with her. But then I'll have to kill her? No not necessarily. But if I did, could I? My thoughts are quickly getting away from me, and I try to bring myself back to reality.
I feel a small tap on my shoulder and I turn to see a young girl. She beckons me with her finger and I follow her.
Her silence makes me believe she's an avox. I can't help but wondering what such a young girl did to get herself turned into this. She leads me to an door, and then leaves me. I guess this is it.
I knock gingerly and am meant with a curt "come in".
I enter to see a woman who exudes authority. Her skin is pale, and she is dressed nothing like a Capitolian. She is dressed in a black shirt and skirt and there is barely any make-up on her face.
"Hello, my name is Audrey Carpenter" I walk over and hold out my hand. She stares at it strangely and clears her throat.
"Scarlett Donahall," she says leaving me awkwardly holding my hand out.
I take a seat at a chair in front of her desk and she sits with her hands folded, clearly annoyed with my presence.
"And what have you come to ask?"
"You see Ms. Donahall there are twenty-four of us and we all come from different backgrounds and expertise. Some are at an advantage because they know about weaponry, especially District 2, while some others don't know any essential survival techniques.
These training days are a great idea, don't get me wrong, but the people teaching them do not wish to help us. I feel so lost and confused about what's going to happen. I think it'd be great if each tribute, or at least each district gets a somebody to help them, like I don't know: a mentor?"
She cleared her throat, "Well Audrey, where do you suppose we will get these mentors from."
"Maybe people from the districts, they could work as mentors if these games are to continue."
Ms. Donahall finally cracks a smile, but not for the reason I was hoping for. "Oh these games will surely continue. There is a problem with your logic however, Ms. Carpenter who in the districts would ever volunteer to help send their children to slaughter."
"There has to be somebody who would," I say.
"Nobody is going to want to help you. You need to realize that." Her voice has an edge that cuts deep, and I feel myself sinking in my chair.
"You have no right to infer that!" I say angrily.
"Oh, but my dear I have every right, as I am the Head Gamemaker and what I say goes."
I spot something unusual on her desk. "So then why don't you have your own desk then?" I ask.
Her lips purse and she catches sight of the engraved plaque on the desk.
"Who is this McNamara?" I ask again, finally catching her off guard.
"That is none of your business." She says curtly.
"I know what kind of person you are. Did you kill him off so you could get a promotion?"
"Mr. McNamara is no longer here, he is serving somewhere else."
I stand up because I can't keep myself planted on the chair any longer. "Yes you're right he is no longer here. I wouldn't be surprised if you offed him!"
"Get out!" She says sternly and points to the door. "If death weren't knocking at your door right now I'd have your tongue cut of for speaking treason."
"If by treason you mean truth!" I yell before slamming the door.
A Peacekeeper has his arm around me before I can figure out where I am and I'm being drug back down to the training center. They drop me off and in my confusion I turn and run smack into Rion.
"Watch where you're going!" He shouts. When he realizes it was me he takes the knife he was practicing with and pretends to slide it against his throat, indicating what will be happening to me come Game day.
Is it possible for this day to go any further down the drain?