Hey guys! Okay, i'm apologising in advance, I really struggled writing aspects of this chapter, so sorry if it's a bit, jumpy!
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District 11's Surin and Angus!
Angus Rider POV
"GUS!" I hear Sonya shout, wow, she's here early. I jump out of bed and quickly change, brush through my sandy blonde hair and run down the stairs, standing there is the most beautiful girl. Sonya has been my girlfriend for seven months now, and all my friends say I've been completely smitten from day one. I know she doesn't truly love me, she just loves my money, but I'm not complaining, she's the nicest, most beautiful human being… Oh shut up I'm not smitten!
"Gus are you really wearing that to reaping?" She states, giving a disgusted look at my jeans and t-shirt I was currently wearing. "Come on, I'm sure you have something, a bit more… rich looking."
"Sure thing boo" I swoon, before giving her a light kiss and charging up the stairs, finding my casual tux, squeezing my slightly stocky build into it, then prancing back down. "Better, dear?"
"Yup, it'll do." She says, before turning on her heel and walking out the door, hand gesturing me to follow. "Hey, Gus, what would you do if I get reaped?" She suddenly stops just outside the house turning to stare at me in a way which states 'think about your answer very carefully'.
"Of course I'd try to bribe someone to volunteer, maybe money for their family, you know I wouldn't let you go into that arena." I smirk, obviously I could more than likely persuade someone to volunteer in her place, almost everyone in this district would do anything for money.
"Awesome. Just checking…" She turns back and starts walking, I pant as I keep up with her fast pace, it's like she's power walking, does she really want to reach the reaping that quickly.
We walk (well, by walk I mean practically run) out of Victors village. Nineteen years ago, the year before I was born, my mother had been reaped for the Hunger Games and won, she'd been eighteen. She never really talked about it but father sometimes told me about it, how she found a dagger, as before she'd worked in the local butchers she was quite skilled with a knife, although she didn't fight until the end, hiding out and living off of the land, then she made her move.
To me the Games seem like the worst thing imaginable, I mean, I can probably win, especially with my mother as a mentor, but, it's still brutal, violent and everything else imaginable.
The Games definitely had an effect on mine and my family's life, though. For one, the money, and also the attitude we have, I admit, I can be arrogant, even more so as an only child, so is my father.
My fathers a good guy, funny, likes rough housing, although he treats me well I'll always be burdened with how I know how he always wanted a daughter, not a son, but I can cope with it all.
Sonya and I make our way to the centre, hand in reluctant hand, we pass by some children who are also going to the reaping, looking riddled by nerves and some are even crying… Cowards. There's the slimmest chance you can get picked, although some people have their names in over forty times, the older ones who come from poor families.
When we reach the centre we marvel at the set, the stage towers above everyone, and there are giant cameras rigged to walls. Altogether it is a beautiful sight, even if it's deadly. Even I couldn't afford to pay for something as extravagant as this to be set up.
Surin Lee POV
"Now time to pick the lovely boy who will be joining Janice Way!" Roella Parfle shouts joyfully to the crowd, next to poor Janice, who looks terrified and appears to be holding back tears. It took a lifetime for Roella to pick a piece of paper, her make up running from the sweat on her face, I'm presuming it's cause by the layered frock she's adopted for the occasion, it's not only an ugly shade of pink but big enough to make getting through doorways difficult. Eventually she picked out a neatly folded piece of paper and unfolded, smiling to the crowd.
"Darian Charter!"
I run to intersect him stepping out on the pathway, hugging him tight.
"Don't worry, Surin," He says, smiling weakly. "I can do this, I'll get back for you."
He hugged me tight and let go.
Now I'm on my way to the reaping, a year after the disaster that has scarred me for the past year. I hold Su-oh's hand, he's only three and doesn't really understand what's going on, he giggles and pulls on my hand, pointing at one of the capitol camera men, who are dressed in polka dot pantsuits, and have 'Camera Crew' shaved into their hair, I barely manage to hold back the amusement, knowing this wasn't the time. He doesn't understand the concept of the Hunger Games or the difference between Districts and the Capitol yet, he didn't even show sadness when we were told our mother had been killed by peacekeepers, but he was only three months old at the time.
We have yet to suss out why mother was killed by peacekeepers, she never rebelled or did anything bad, we just reckon she was at the wrong place at the wrong time.
Alongside me stumbles my father, Kang, he keeps saying things but I don't really register them, I'm feeling pretty numb, which isn't really a surprise. Since my mother's passing he succumbed to alcohol, becoming an alcoholic, all the time. Because of this I have had to care for my young brother, which stops me from getting a job, or returning to school. Before mother had died, father had loved martial arts, and had even taught me quite a bit.
This year my name would be in twenty five times, we aren't in the best economic situation in district eleven and although we get plenty of fruit from harvesting, we need tesserae to keep us going.
"You've got two minutes." The peacekeeper proclaims before opening the door to reveal Damian. I run in and hug him tightly, sobbing into his shoulder.
"Hey, don't cry!" He says, pulling me away and holding me by his shoulders,
"You can do this Damian, I know you said that earlier but I have faith in you, here." I hold my hand out, offering him a shell on a piece of string. "You can wear it as your chosen item, it's from Lili, too."
He smiles and took it off me, sliding it over his head. "Thank you,"
"You're my best friend. You know that, I don't know what I'd do without you, so you better get back! Okay?" I laughed weakly, nudging him.
"I promise." He says. Before I know what's happening he pulls me in for a kiss, I feel warm all over and never want it to end, it's awkward but so right both at the same time. He pulls away and smiles again.
"I've always wanted to do that, Surin, and, I will make it back, just you wait."
When we reach the centre which is filled with young boys and girls, all of whom are waiting nervously in their groups of friends, waiting to be reaped. I hug my father and Su-oh and walk over to the crowd, where I see Lili, waiting impatiently.
"Honestly, how long do they have to drag this out for!" She shouts at a young girl who looks slightly bewildered "I have to get back to work."
Despite everything I laugh, Lili is a district merchant, and makes pretty good money out of it, she's a determined person and sets out to achieve her goals, she's been my lifeline this year, I don't know what I'd do without her.
"Hey Lili!" I say, and she turns from the girl who instantly scampers away to join her friends. "Keeping up well?"
"Surin! I'm fine, but honestly, you're late, you haven't had to put up with the quarter of an hour speech Roella Parfle has been spurting out to the crowd. It's all tosh!" She says exasperatedly, I turn to the stage and see she's right, Roella's stood there, grinning at the crowd and talking about the history of the games, or something like that…
It was the third day of the Games, Damian had been a strong contender, killing two careers in the bloodbath before grabbing some weapons and running off to the hills that are littered around the arena.
I was proud, well, happy to see he was alive, not proud that he was killing people. I'm watching the afternoon take of Game highlights when I have to watch his death.
The District One girl, the only surviving career left, had speared him through the back when he was collecting water. Not even aware of what was going on, not even going down with a fight.
That crushed me, his death made me cry for days, I refused to watch the games after that. Even when Janice had won after battling the District one with a sword she had dipped in lethal poison. One cut and the District One girl went down. Making Janice victor.
"Okay ladies and gentlemen!" Roella cries to the silent, nervous crowd. "Time to pick a young lady who'll go into the games!"
She puts her hand into the glass bowl and withdraws a folded up piece of paper.
She unfolded it…
"Surin Lee!" She shouts,
I stand in complete shock, people turn to look at me, even move away from me, I turn to Lili.
"Lili, you have to look after my brother, promise me!" I cry, giving her a tight hug.
"Of course, Surin! Be back soon!" She says, in just as much shock as I feel.
I stumble up to the stage, putting in on my willpower not to accidentally trip over the stairs, or start crying.
"Any volunteers?" Roella crows. Of course, like every year, there are none. I have to look braver then I feel, for Damian, I put my head up, and try to make my expression… Less grim. Standing tall all I can do is hope that I won't faint or cry or do something that will deem me as weak. I spot my father and brother in the crowd, Su-oh waves, oblivious to the situation, and my father takes out his flask and downs all of it. I look away, at the stricken, relieved faces of all the other young girls who's fates have been saved for another year.
"And now onto the young gentleman…"
Angus Rider POV
Okay, now's the time, similar to every year, when I begin to get nervous, my stomach seems to be turning and filling with butterflies all at the same time. The girl, Surin, who's just been reaped, stands tall on the stage, although she has a confident demeanour she does look horrified.
I try not to look as Roella Parfle takes out a slip of paper, I try not to listen as she reads out the name.
"Angus Rider!"
As soon as I hear my name I burst out into tears, some people around me try to hold back laughs, and Sonya retches her hand away, looking at me crying with an expression of distaste.
"Stop acting like such a baby…" She whispers, embarrassed.
The crowd parts as I walk up to the stage, hot tears still stinging my eyes, when I reach the stage Roella looks at me in sympathy and pats me on the shoulder, I look over at Surin who nods at me, trying to comfort me I guess. Even trying to stay strong is hard.
"Any volunteers?" Of course, like almost every year, there are none, but that doesn't surprise me. So I just stand on the stage, in front of the whole of the district and the whole of the Capitol, crying like a baby.
So there you are. I apologise to everyone for the awful kiss scene! I cannot do them! xD
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3 districts, any kind of chariot or interview outfit that reflects there district!
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