Authors Note: I am so sorry this took so long and no matter how much I explain. I don't think I have much explanation for how I took so long.
Let's just say a lot has happened in my family and I just couldn't feel like writing. Plus school, school, school! *groans* and I was on holiday. I was so busy!
I'm sorry readers, please don't be mad! Well anyways here's a long awaited chapter!
Sorry my grammar is bad, I'm only 13.
Plus thank you for the reviews! May the odds be ever in your favour.
Disclaimer: Please note I do not own The Hunger Games and characters are owned by their respective owners.
Chapter 2: D2 Reaping
District 2
- Minerva Triana POV -
My dad's library is covered with books. Books from the ceilings, books on the ground and books on the table; this is where I spend of my time when not at the Academy.
When you think District 2 girls, you think of girls that spend ages training and training. Top of the notch killers and not that bad to look at.
Yes I do train but I think you can learn a lot from a book. They call me a snob but I ignore them. It's not my fault that I'm more intelligent than I am violent. If you were to blame anyone, blame my parents. They produced me.
I'm just ordinary, average height; I have average district 2 hair and I'm someone who just blends in. What really sets me a part is my dad.
My dad is a peacekeeper, a very important one. He's the high ranking member of the propaganda and intelligence branch of the Peacekeepers. Most people's parents have jobs like this but you'd be a fool if you didn't respect my dad. He had enemies but they deserve his hatred.
My dad may be a stone hard peacekeeper but inside the uniform is a kind loving man who cares about all his children; I'm the youngest.
Since he's so high with the Peacekeepers, he has access to pre-panem books. They are my favourite, reading them makes me think of how wonderful life would be back then. I just can't believe how selfish they were to let it slip through their fingers.
Today is reaping day, the day I'm destined to volunteer. It's my last reaping year so I have to do it.
My brother he volunteered a few year ago but he didn't make it out the bloodbath. Me and my brother never got along so it didn't really make much difference for me but people now are starting to loose respect for our family.
It's my duty in blood to volunteer even if it's the last thing I wanted to do.
I stare at the huge grandfather's clock, thirty two minutes to go. Usually in the morning I'd be training but I wanted to spend time in the library because this could be the last time I ever sit here.
The thought of that scared me as much as I hated to admit it. I couldn't imagine how much things I'd miss and all the things I could of been, burned to ash, all because of a game.
I must be strong though because maybe the odds will be in my favour; even how stupid that sounds. I just need to play my game right.
Why does the world have to be so...?
"Minerva time to get ready or we'll be late!" I heard my mother panic like a mother hen.
I closed my book and put it back on the shelf.
Taking one last look at my sanctuary, I headed out the door. "Goodbye..." I whispered.
My name is Minerva Triana and I'm eighteen years old. In more than thirty minutes I'll finally face my destiny.
To walk into a death pit, may the odds be ever in my favour...I hope...
- Gabriel Lépou POV -
"I heard your volunteering!"
"Even if your aren't planing on it, you have too!"
"Your the best in our class!"
"You'll win Lépou!"
"Yeah Gabriel!"
"YOU HAVE TO VOLUNTEER!"
I ignored them...idiots, of course I'm volunteering.
"Well guys I can reassure you I am and if you guys excuse me I'm going to get ready..." I spat and picked up my training gear.
The girls around me sighed. "He's so rugged and handsome...I wonder if he likes me?"
I rolled my eyes and stalked off. All they cared about was love and romance, that small group of girls did. There are much more important things.
Success...Ambition...Bravery...
Sixteen of my past family members have been in the Hunger Games. Nine of them have won and the ones who didn't, made it til near the end. One did die in a bloodbath but we never mention him. He's a failure. No true Lépou is a failure.
Today I'm going to volunteer. Ever since I was born, I was groomed to compete. I'm one of the best the Academy has ever seen.
I once nearly killed a fellow classmate. Bashed their head, my fellow trainees can't look at me the same. Oh well it's better to be respected than not being. Some people could argue about it.
My sister Cecelia who's only fourteen laughed about it. According to her, it's not respect but fear. Personally I think if they did fear me, I could still count that as respect. They know not to mess with me.
There is one person who does push me around. That person takes the shape of my mother and trainer, Victoria. Whenever I do something wrong in training, she will point it out and I mean everything.
She will beat me up in training and pushes me to the limit. In many ways I am thankful for what she has done. If it wasn't for her I wouldn't be the strong and deadly person I am. She has groomed me for destruction, she has groomed me for victory.
As well as the many things she has done to make me who I am, it came with a price. On parts all over my body there is scars from training, many made by her. Many people could argue about it and some people even call it "unhealthy".
I don't get it though, what's "unhealthy" about helping your child become what they want.
Well Bellona does...
...Bellona...
The only person who doesn't judge me. Bellona Aberdeen is amazing and beautiful.
Now I'm sounding sappy and stupid but it's true. She's the only girl who has ever caught my eye.
What am I even thinking, I shouldn't be fussing about her right now. No one knows about her and I. The enemy could use her against me.
But I can't, she makes me feel reassured and safe. She is also one of the kindest people I know. Her body is covered in scars from her father.
Yes...her father abuses her just like my mum does to me but I don't think he does it to help her.
Bellona will be... When she finds out I'm actually volunteering but I have to...I'm going to do it for her.
- Minerva Triana POV -
It felt like my heart was coming out of my body when I walked down to the Reaping. The butterflies in my tummy were growing and growing. Not even the reassuring look my dad kept giving me helped. It just made me feel worse. I could hardly hear my mum chattering away excitedly to my dad because of the nerves.
She isn't the one going into the games so I don't see why she's making such a fuss about it. I'd rather just get it all over with. I don't want fuss.
"See you later sweetie," mum kissed me on the cheek just like it was any other day. "Do us proud."
Mum disappeared into the crowd over to her giggly group of friends. I sighed and started to head over to the lines until my dad grabbed my arm.
"Minerva..." He quietly said. "You don't have to do this..."
"No dad...I know," I whispered with the strongest voice I could muster. "I have to do this."
He nodded. "Good luck Minerva."
He stalked off over to the other peace keepers. I then finally joined the line.
Soon enough it was time for the reaping, beside me was a girl called Bellona. She was one of the few people who I held tolerance too. She doesn't just care about training, she cares about other things too.
Our escort is Plasma who's new, her hair is half black and half white. Her dress is half black and white too so is her high heels. She isn't too hideous and is quite pretty. She's all black and white except from her bright purple lipstick.
"Welcome welcome to the 4th quarter quell and 75th Hunger Games-" her voice was bright but it wasn't too bubbly and it sounded like she almost...pitied us...
A few minutes later it was time.
"Now let's meet our years tributes," Plasma smiled almost fake, I was good at reading people. "Ladies before gentleman."
She walked over in her high heeled boots over to the bowl. "Bellona Aberdeen!"
Bellona beside me looked like she was going to cry but she was in luck.
"I volunteer!" I yelled.
I quickly walked over, not wanting fuss.
"Well looks like we have a volunteer, your name sweetie?" Plasma took my hand and guided me over to my place.
"It's Minerva...Minerva Triana..." I said quietly.
"Now it's time for the gentlemen..."
- Gabriel Lépou POV -
"Bellona Aberdeen..."
I could feel my heart sink as she was called up. NO...NO...not her anyone but her.
I was quite surprised when Minerva volunteered but it didn't surprise me...Trianas like Lépous are famous in District 2 for volunteering. I also knew I was going to make sure I'd help her in the games...she saved Bellona...
"Now it's time for the gentlemen..." Plasma walked over.
She didn't even have to say the name. "I volunteer," I lazily said.
Plasma dropped her bit of paper. "Oh my..."
I walked up with my head in the air, I could hear my sister laughing excitedly. My friends cheering loudly and my family roaring with pride but their was one sound that made me feel terrible. That was the sobs of Bellona.
When I got on stage, I looked at her. She had a face full of sadness but something else too.
"My name is Gabriel Lépou and I will bring victory to District two!" I yelled.
The crowd cheering, I had them in the palm of my hand. I looked beside me to see Minerva rolling her eyes.
One thing I did know about her is she doesn't tolerate people like me that much. I know for one thing I want her as my ally.
- Minerva Triana POV -
The rest was a blur and they pushed me into the visiting room. First was my mother but there was no sign of my dad.
"Where's dad mum?" I asked even though I already knew the answer.
"He's busy sweetie but he sends his love," she smiled.
I couldn't help but feel angry. He could of at least brushed his duties aside and say goodbye. I don't stand a chance against Gabriel Lépou.
She sighed and pulled me into a hug. "Sweetie win this, don't underestimate the Lépou boy, ally with the careers. Do everything in your power to come back!"
I sigh, "I will I promise," I had my fingers crossed.
I could tell Mum was trying not to cry. "You are strong Minnie," she hasn't called me that in ages. "You won't die..."
"I'll try not to," I whispered still holding my mum.
"I want you to wear this," she pulled out the hug and handed me over a necklace. Her most important one, the one my brother gave her.
"Mum this is your-"
"Shush," she put her finger over my lips. "When you come back you can give it back to me..."
"I will mum," I tied it behind my neck. "I'll keep it safe..."
She smiled sweetly. "I'm so proud of you..."
She's proud that I'm going to be killing other people probably people younger than me. Wow...
Soon it was time for her to go and she was dragged away from me. I now felt alone...I had to come back.
- Gabriel Lépou POV -
My family members came in crowds as the went in and out.
"My son just going to be like the old man here," my dad chuckled throwing his arm around me. "This year I'm going to be your mentor."
Great, now my fellow other tributes will think I'm cheating.
"We're so proud of you!" Mum smiled. "Be good in the Capitol but be bad in the Games," she winked.
I laughed. "Sure thing mum!"
My sister was laughing her head off. "I can't believe you actually volunteered."
"You won't be laughing when I come back," I growled that shut her up. "If I want something, I get it and I want to win!"
"That's my boy..."
After my family went off, in came my friends.
Then came the fangirls and then lastly Bellona but instead of the compliments and excitement I was showered with earlier I was met with something else.
Tears and anger as she kept shoving me. "Why...why...why...why...why?" She kept repeating.
"I have to," I firmly told her.
"Well I told you I didn't want you to," she cried. "You should listen to your girlfriend!"
"Well in the relationship I'm the MAN! I make the decisions plus you're not going into the games," I yelled, she sobbed harder.
"I knew you'd say that," she whimpered. "Sometimes you remind me of my dad."
What!? But then I realised.
"I'm sorry Belle, I shouldn't of said that," I never apologise and I think that made her cry harder.
"I know Gab," she cried. "Please come back."
"You know I can't promise that-"
"I know but please just say it so I can hold onto some hope," she looked up at me.
"I promise," I spoke. "I swear..."
"I love you Gab..."
Love, that was such a strong word for me.
"I know," I tried to ignore the look on her face when I didn't say it back but I couldn't. I didn't want to break her heart if I died.
"Gab please take this," she put her locket into my pocket. "To remind you of us..."
She leaned up and gave me a quick kiss. For the rest of the time we just held each other, her crying into my shirt. I didn't want to leave her.
"Times up love birds," a peace keeper yelled at us. "You must come with me Missy..."
He picked up MY Bellona and dragged her away. I could still hear her cry as she got further and further. I too soon was getting pulled, to the car that will drive us to the station.
I was going to win this for her.
Authors Note: well guys that's District 2!
Who's your favourite from them? Or from all four people so far!?
I hope you guys enjoyed it! Remember to review, no flames please!
Also, if you want me to do a specific district next, let me know!
Bye for now :) xx