Okay, meet District ones Xeno and Jacinda
Xeno POV
You may think that a person like me, a tall, thin, quiet redhead, might not be dangerous. That's my advantage in life, this is District 1, and although everyone may be dangerous, I may just be the most dangerous of them all.
I stick to the shadows, my black trench coat helping me to blend in, edging my way along the side of the building, turning corner upon corner till I see him, the man that is now my prey, the target. Making no sound or no signal that I am nearby I follow his every step, running, watching, walking, whatever it takes to keep up with this man. He is a serious threat to the district, growing and dealing all sorts of illegal things, and by doing so he has hurt, and killed many people, and now it's my job to kill him.
I don't know his name, his age, or anything else about him, I don't need or want to know, all I know is I have a job to do and I aim to do it. I watch him enter a 'abandoned' warehouse. Well, it's not so abandoned anymore. I wait many slow passing minutes, not moving an inch, till I follow suit and enter the building. One man is standing guard at the door but he doesn't even manage to realise I'm there before he's lying cold on the floor in a pile of his on blood.
The building was huge, with huge metal boxes piled high, forming some kind of unintentional maze. I sneak through it, sneaking is now my life, I cannot go walking without being noticed, as is the case with any person, no matter what your profession.
"Look, I need that sorted now!" I hear a voice speaking aggressively. Climbing on top of a metal cargo box I peer round, I see the man, speaking to a young girl, maybe age ten, who's cowering over piles and piles of plants, I don't need to say what the plants are, but they certainly aren't legal.
"I'm sorry sir! My brother fell horribly ill a few days ago and is only getting worse, I haven't been here long today." The young girl whimpers. The man picks her up by the scruff of her collar.
"I don't pay you to be late, I don't pay you to not do work, I don't care about you, I care about my reputation." He says so quietly I almost miss it, and with that he picks up a dagger, the girl see's it and bursts into tears. For many people this would be a horrific thing to see, I'm not like those people, I've seen that kind of thing many times in the past, it doesn't faze me, just disgusts me. I jump down from the boxes and run up behind the man, shoving him to the ground hard and he drops the young girl who scampers away, running to the far corner of the opening. I put my trusty ropeblade to his throat.
"People like you should never be born." I whisper. I feel his struggle, his pulse against my dagger holding hand, he knows he can't escape me, I know it too. I've been training all my life to kill efficiently and quickly, I have no emotions, I have no mercy.
When my business is done I walk over to the young girl.
"Don't work for people like that. Next time you won't be so lucky." I say quietly and hand her a small bag of coins, before turning on my heel and walking off, I do a quick check of the building, but it seems that this man didn't have such good security after all.
I reach a small office building and walk straight in, they really need to lock their doors here…
"Ah Xeno, I trust it went well?" Says one of the men sitting at a desk, dressed in a black suit to formal for sitting in an office. I nod and he smiles dazzlingly, flashing all of his sparkling white teeth.
"Ah brilliant, well, here's your payment." He hands over a large bag of coins which I take and put in my trench coat pocket.
"You're not a man of many words, are you, Xeno?" He swivels left and right on his chair, looking me up and down.
"Only when needed to be," I reply. He chuckles,
"So, how old are you again?"
"Eighteen." I reply. My age is one thing I know about myself, along with my first name. My father abandoned me when I was four, I don't recall what he looks like nor do I recall my last name. Growing up in an orphanage did not suit to my taste, so when I was eight I ran away, I grew up on the street, training myself to become someone who could not be intimidated, I was sick of being intimidated. Then when I was thirteen I started hiring myself out, killing people who people wanted me to kill, good or bad, as long as I got paid for it and I got to kill someone I was happy.
"Well, I wish you luck for the future." He says, before turning back to a pile of paperwork.
I walk through the streets unseen, till I find a darkened alleyway, I've slept in better places, but it was getting late so that would have to do. I find a ditch to hide myself in and lay there, looking at the stars, I was lucky if sleep came to me, it never seemed to these days, I just lay awake, or worked, either were common. I didn't have much to think about or any friends to talk to, assassin's don't need friends. I just passed the time with thinking, about what I'm not entirely sure, it varied.
One thing is that I never thought about anyone I killed, I didn't need to, I didn't feel remorse or guilt, I just killed, it's my job. I know I'm a monster, and that doesn't worry me, as I have an advantage, I know how to stay alive. I may even make the mistake of thinking I'm invincible, but that would be such a grave mistake, one that could get me killed, I may be ambitious but I'd never let my strengths get to my head.
So I just laid there, the entire night, occasionally throwing my rope blade at the billboard opposite me then reaching over to collect it, but sleep never came, that was how most of my nights went.
Jacinda Rhenser POV
I lie in the orphanage, looking up at the dull grey ceiling. Everything here seems dull, well, everything here is dull. From the dull blue carpets to the peeling walls, nothing was motivational or whatever it is people thing orphans need.
I've just gotten back from a hard training session at the local academy, the one that most people attended if they didn't have a training ground in their home. It may not be the most fancy but if you go at the right time… In my case I started training at 4am, like usual, and finish at 9am, it is virtually empty until 7ish, meaning I can make the most of training time, I try to train more than five hours a day when I can but it gets hard, especially fitting in all my duties, academics and dancing.
Because I train so hard I don't work, I think the orphanage is counting on me volunteering and winning the Hunger Games, as they pay all me fees for using the training academy. This may not seem like a big deal but the orphanage doesn't give any money to anyone, in fact they try to make money out of us, getting us to do menial jobs such as weaving baskets and anything else they can think of to sell. If we don't co-operate they'll beat us. That's happened to everyone here at least once in the past.
Alongside training I dance, I've been dancing before my parents were killed. The Capitol have even expressed interest into taking me to there to have me as a dancer. If that were the case I would accept straight away. Not because I like the Capitol, in fact, I hate it. More because if I did the Capitol favours they can do me favours, like saving Opal, my younger sister.
Opal is a sweet, kind girl who would never hurt a fly; she also was diagnosed with leukaemia when she was a baby. The capitol could easily cure her, but have no interest to as she's only an orphan in their eyes.
How did we become orphans? Well, when I was eight and Opal was four peacekeepers suspected our family were rebels. That wasn't shocking as we came from a long line of rebels, although we weren't ourselves. As the peacekeepers and the Capitol had their suspicions they murdered our parents and shipped us off to the orphanage. Since then me nor Opal have ever been adopted.
Because we're part of an orphanage, our social standing isn't great, not that I care or anything, but even so, ever since I was orphaned I was bullied, I tried not to let it get to me and I never showed them if it did, only Opal has ever seen me cry. I trust her with my life and would do anything to save her. I also don't have any friends outside of the orphanage, except Jasper, no one would ever be seen with an orphan.
Jasper is my boyfriend, he's seventeen, a year older than me, he's so loving and supportive, also very protective. He comes from a wealthy family so our relationship is kept on the down low, especially from his family, like some kind of forbidden love scenario you see in movies.
My other friends are Precious, who's fourteen and rebellious, wild, loyal and fierce, she gets the most bother from the orphanage because she gives them things to bother about, and Crystal, who's also fourteen but so different to Precious, she's quiet, an amazing artist and devoted bookworm. They came to the orphanage six years ago, and us and Opal have formed a strong friendship since.
Despite being District one, where everyone thinks you're spoilt and wealthy, I like to think I have a good heart, so do many district ones contrary to belief. People never look into our background story and just focus on our victory and brutality in the games. Although I come along with some stereotypical District One attributes, I'm sarcastic, cunning, fiercely protective and many other things which might make me appear violent. I lie a lot, and get found out about every now and then, usually I lie to protect Opal or my friends, as it's now become a little bit of a habit. Although as a child I've been stabbed in the back by ones I love or ones I hate I keep positive, pouring all of my negative energy into my training.
I eventually get myself off my bed, drawing my eyes away from the dull ceiling to the just as dull surroundings. I'd missed breakfast but hadn't cared too much. I got ready for reaping, putting on my best clothes, not that I really had nice clothes, budget wasn't really extravagant on clothes here, but I make do with what I've got.
Heading downstairs I join Precious and Crystal, who have taken part in reaping before but still get nervous about it, although Precious was prancing around claiming that if she gets picked she'll cut off all the other careers heads in their sleep. Which I don't doubt in the slightest…
Then I see Opal, who's first reaping is this year. She's sat in her wheelchair, fazing off into space, she wears a grim expression and I don't blame her, reaping is never a fun occasion and your first reaping is always the worst for any person, of course, unless you get picked, then that would happen to be your worst.
The orphans who qualify to be in reaping all walk down to the centre together where we get registered, then enter. Other districts are quite relaxed about reaping, but district one are not one of those districts, we have to separate off into boy and girl sections, also in age order from youngest at the front to oldest at the back. Luckily I get to stay with Opal due to her condition, so we stand a little to the side of the girls, watching the horrors unfold.
As the representative from the capitol rants about how exciting the games are I study Opal. She's pale, sickly pale, but that isn't that surprising as she is sick, she seems to be getting a lot paler lately, too. She's very skinny, just like I am, in the orphanage we don't get much to eat, so all of us are pretty skinny. She has wispy white blonde hair that just brushes her shoulder, which is practically the opposite of my long brown curly hair that reaches my waist. We both share the same round face and deep dimples, also the same blue-green eyes.
I realise just then what I have to do. I look down at my shaking hands and then look up suddenly, tip toeing to see if I can spot Jasper, but he's buried deep in the crowd. I bring the hand with the promise ring on it, the one Jasper had offered to me only yesterday, to my face, brushing the cool metal against my warm skin. Hopefully I can see him again.
"The lucky lady who will get to participate in this years games is…" The representative crows, rummaging a scarily pale hand through the slips of paper, eventually withdrawing a name.
"Melanie Courtez!"
A young dark skinned girl with beautiful dark hair shakily walks up to the stage, crying her eyes out. All of the older, stronger district one girls are bristling, just waiting for the representative to ask for volunteers, some eighteen, who wouldn't get another chance to compete.
"Any volunte-"
"I volunteer!" I shout, before anyone else can intercept, I'm shocked that I say it, not really thinking that I would but in a way it was automatic instinct. Many others seem shocked, too, with hundereds of faces turning towards me and Opal, some look at me in disgust, which makes no difference to usual. Some look at me with respect, which is a look I haven't received in a long time.
I walk up to the stage, trying to seem as confident as any normal career would seem. Where I meet the terribly dressed representative, who now I'm closer to I realise it's a man, dressed in a suit but with a lot of women make up on which made him look gaunt and reminded me of a corpse.
"And your name, dear?" He says, putting one of his vile hands on my shoulders,
"Jacinda Rhenser!" I spit, trying to come across as violent as any other career.
If I can win this, I can get enough money, and enough respect, to get my sister cured. I can use my winnings, all of them if needs be, and get her the treatment I need. I believe I can win it, I've even been training all my life to do so.
"Now, the boys!" The corpse shouts, picking out a name from the glass bowl in front of him. Opening it he reads.
"Roland Browly!"
"I volunteer." A voice seems to whisper from the voice, but it projects across the whole crowd.
"Oh, uhm.." The representative says, obviously taken aback. "Come on up then!"
The crowd parts to reveal a tall, lanky boy in a long black trench coat.
Xeno POV
I had walked up to the stage emotionless. I didn't register the hundereds of eyes staring at me in bewilderment, even the slight chuckles from the men and whispers of him? He can't win. Who even is he?
"Name?" A voice asks me, I don't turn to look.
"Xeno."
"Xeno?" She replies with a hint of exasperation in her voice.
"Just Xeno."
The crowd are silent, except various sniggers.
I decided to volunteer, not for me or rights or superiority or even to win.
I volunteered to Kill.
DUN DUN DUUUN. Okay I like Xeno, he's not your traditional career but still has there motives.
Also i'm going to thank TheFunnyGirlDefyingGravity for Jacinda, and for giving me a different idea on the careers, saying that we should really look into their back story before judging them.
So, sponsors...
Well, I didn't really know how to go about this, but I have some good ideas after thinking about it for the past few days...
Originally I wasn't going to do sponsorship points until the games had actually begun, but, I have some that will help me and be quite good fun.
Although you can gain points now, you can't give anything to any tribute until the games have begun. Also anyone can gain sponsor points!
Okay I need costumes, both chariot and interview. I have a few for some characters but even so, it'll be fun to hear what some peoples ideas are!
All you need to do is PM me with a district and what you think those characters could wear, you don't need to specify if it's for chariot or interview as I'll sort that myself if they get used. You can only enter with three ideas for three districts, and I will choose my favorite idea for each district and whoever came up with that idea will receive 5 sponsor points, which is an awesome head start for your character/the character your routing for when they start the games!
Also every review will count for 1 sponsor point, but you can only get that per chapter, so no spamming reviews! xD
Hope everyones cool with that! Thanks for reading and thanks to everyone for reviewing!