Thanks to those of you who submitted. I still need a bunch more tributes, so tell your friends, anyone who might be willing to submit.
I've decided to also put the tribute list on the story, for those of you for whom it may be easier to access.
District 1 Male: Jasper Hematite
District 1 Female: Treasure Lace
District 2 Male:
District 2 Female:
District 3 Male:
District 3 Female:
District 4 Male:
District 4 Female:
District 5 Male: Calic Galvin
District 5 Female:
District 6 Male:
District 6 Female:
District 7 Male:
District 7 Female: reserved
District 8 Male:
District 8 Female:
District 9 Male:
District 9 Female:
District 10 Male: Icarus Valiant
District 10 Female:
District 11 Male:
District 11 Female: Asami Himura
District 12 Male:
District 12 Female: Jasmine Peterson
Just sixteen more!
I've also decided to write a little bit more on the characters you've seen thus far. Except this time, I'll be writing from the avoxes point of view. Just a bit of nothing for your entertainment. Enjoy!
oOo
Again, I find myself under the houses, cars, people. Back down in the sewers, where I do nothing but clean the pipes and shovel sewage. The air reeks of the stench of waste and decay. Avoxes have died in here, from overwork, beatings, and poisonous gases.
The peacekeepers dragged me out of President Terbia's office what seems like a year ago, but has only been a few short days. I screamed my guttural scream, the one Capitolites mock mercilessly.
I couldn't process what was happening. After I became an avox, my family saved enough money to buy me to the surface. When I at last emerged, the sun blinded me, and the fresh air was too good to be true.
I wanted to forget the things I saw and heard down there, the laughter of the peacekeepers as they beat someone, pushed someone into the sewage, or even killed someone.
Sometimes one would tease me, getting close to my ear and whispering, "I'm gonna go up into the sunlight, where the air is fresh, where I can eat whatever I want, darling." When I was stupid enough to turn around, he'd give me a sharp slap on the bottom.
The pipes became cold in the winter, so cold that our lips would become blue, and we would huddle together for warmth, wearing nothing but the skimpy clothes on our backs.
The extravagant uniforms of the avox are for only the lucky ones who work at the surface. Down in the pipes, they issued the girls a brown, cotton shift dress and black boots, and gave the boys a cotton shirt, brown pants, and black boots.
That was it. That was what we had to live with. We did. The boys rolled up their pants in the summer, when it became unbearably hot, the metal pipes reflecting heat. Once, three long years ago, I looked at the thermometer on the wall, and the read liquid had zoomed all the way up to 120 degrees fahrenheit.
And so, as soon as the peacekeeper throws me through the hole in the ground and locks the metal cage above my head, I panic. Avoxes are everywhere, working slowly but surely. No one stops to pay the new girl any attention. No one cares.
A peacekeeper laughs when he spots me. "New slave, see her Emilius? She looks soft, too much above ground work, huh Emilius?" He walks over and roughly grabs me. I remember him. I just hope he doesn't remember me.
I scream loudly. I'm pale, clammy, shaking. Sweat is beading at my brow. Someone save me. Anyone.
I'm not that bad of a person. The only wrong thing I did was try to escape. Escape poverty, hunger, and the Hunger Games. But District Nine was better about security than I thought. I was caught, brought to say my last goodbyes, and taken away. To here.
And here I am again.
The peacekeeper Emilius struts over. He looks ridiculous, like some peacock. I just wish I could tell him so.
"Not much for looks is she?" Emilius stares me up and down. I avert his steely gaze. "She looks a bit weak as well."
I'll show you weak Emilius.
"I like her, huh Emilius? Isn't that right? Huh Emilius?" The other peacekeepers breath reeks of alcohol, and I can only assume he's drunk. "I think she looks familiar? Huh Emilius?"
I freeze. Please don't remember me. Please don't.
They do.
"I think so," Emilius resumes his scavenging of my body. "She looks like-" He snaps his fingers.
He remembers.
"She's that avox who used to work down here! The one you used to whisper things to!" Emilius looks pleased with himself. "Too bad you don't have a name anymore, girl. You're basically an animal, and you know it. Pity. Darwin had the biggest crush on you. He would talk to me constantly about you.
" 'Ya see that girl?' he'd say. 'She and I would be perfect together, no?' I couldn't say I agreed. Me and Darwin are keepers of law, respectful members of Panem. And you are just a filthy animal. Slow and stupid."
I'll give you slow and stupid, idiot.
"Too bad. You really are a pretty thing," Darwin speaks up. "Just too bad you don't have a name anymore."
I do. I do have a name.
It's Delia.
With a scream, I launch myself at the peacekeepers, and suddenly, I'm not the only one. Hundreds of avoxes drop what they're doing and beat the men stationed around the rooms.
It doesn't last long, but God. Does it feel good.
oOo
Just for fun, hope you enjoyed. Make me happy with lots of reviews and tell everyone you know to submit. I need some help. Thanks a lot! You guys are awesome.
Goodbye until next time lovelies!
-Grace
