Prologue 2-Victors/Mentors Part 1

Trigger Warnings: Second POV talks about suicide and somewhat attempting it

~Dealt with it myself, Hiding in the bathroom, wearing long sleeve shirts, Scared of what I might do~

Emma Benoit (20), District 4

Victor of the 5th Annual Hunger Games

~2 Months before Reaping~

Emma slammed the door shut; almost hearing those voices echo inside her head. Those words of being a constant failure; someone everyone just replaces, after a while, all because she couldn't do anything correctly. She was just a mistake that no one cares about; all they see was just a victor that came out of the Hunger Games, barely even alive with her heart still beating weakly, after she almost bled to death when the boy from one stabbed her with his spear right near her heart; a miracle she was still alive.

Emma remembered those days; even it only been five years since she won the games. Four years of failing to be a mentor and watching silently as she watched her tributes dying every year; more gruesome than the last. She remembered watching last year as the girl from four-River Satagno, a friend of her sister, made it to third place before she died of starvation; hearing her cries of wanting food, not daring to eat case it was poisonous such a cautious girl. Emma remembered her by her pale locks of blonde hair and those bright ocean eyes that seemed to light up everytime, Emma would see. She felt helpless knowing that she couldn't help River, as no one wanted to watch a fourteen-year-old die; making it passed at the predicted places everyone betted on.

"Hey Simba," Emma greeted, as she felt a tickling sensation next to her leg. She looked down and saw a tabby cat with green eyes. A rare occasion that Simba actually got up from his bed of his diagnosis of osteosarcoma; a diagnosis she found out a few months ago after her cat was meowing a lot and started walking funny. She knew she would have to let him go soon. But Simba was her only family she had left, since her parents died on a fishing boat accident two months earlier, and her aunt wanted nothing to do with her ever since she became victor of the Hunger Games. "You feel better, boy?" It was just something she liked to say to him just to assuage her pain.

Emma gently picked him up and started rubbing the back of his neck (a spot where Simba loves it at). She petted him until he started scratching and biting her. She felt tears dripping down her face and wiped them away as she looked in the jade eyes of her cat. Poor thing, she thought. She knew she was being selfish of keeping him while he suffered in pain instead of putting him down.

"I'm sorry," She whispered, planting a kiss on the cat's head before she set him on the hardware floor and watched him limp into her bedroom.

Emma just couldn't bring her heart into putting him down just like some worthless animal that shelters often do to those who won't ever get adopted. Emma had him ever since he was a kitten year and years ago, but she knew she had to make a difficult decision; one that would put her into the state of mourning but leave Simba in peace forever.

She heard a small tumble that came in from the bedroom that sounded like someone fell off which shook her out of her thoughts and ran towards the noise; praying that it wasn't whom she thought of as she approached the noise.

Emma looked at Simba with tears forming in her eyes, looking at the helpless animal in front of her. It was time, but that didn't mean she had to like it, though. Emily had to put him down; to put him out of his suffering and hers.

Emma looked at the waves of the blackish-blue ocean as she stood in the ocean with a box tucked underneath her arm as she felt the chill water claw at her ankles, sending a shiver up her spine. It was a somewhat perfect day to do this. It has been nearly two weeks ever since she made the decision of putting Simba down. It's been more devastating than she thought it would; with the absence of her long lost friend as life never really been the same: coming home with no meow to meet her, or his fur bristling against her skin whenever he wanted attention. The sun shone as Emma looked at the vast, open waters of the Pacific Ocean with a slight breeze that reminded her of the brightness that Simba brought her, when he was still alive before the disease encroached into his bones.

This was something Simba would have wanted, Emily thought to herself and open the lid of the box she was holding; inside was the ashes of Simba. She knew he would wanted to be in the ocean for all eternity, but still was hard for her. He survived everything that life threw at him besides the osteosarcoma, but she thought that he was immortal but she guessed no mammals could live forever, not even him.

Emma would never forget him.

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.~I found my heart and broke it here, Made friends and lost them through the years, And I've not seen the roaring fields in so long, I know I've grown, I can't wait to go home~

Jem Lynn (27), District 1

Victor of the 1st annual Hunger Games

~A Month Before Reapings~

Jem gazed with a frown on at the jug filled with a clear substance which he knew what it was; whiskey. Hoping to drown away the nightmares-not from the games but from his life. Losing his love by suicide nonetheless after losing their princess from being born prematurely in fifteen weeks along was devastating. This house was filled with memories, some good and some bad. Everything came with a price and this was no acception.

His friends-Jaspar, Glitz and Maximus stopped inviting him for outings as they really didn't want to take care of him being depressed and had thoughts of killing himself quite a few times, and actually attempted to kill himself for months, after his wife died and still tried at least once in a blue moon (wasn't that bad though even though he still had to be supervised just in case he attempted).

"Jem, are you okay?" His sister, Azule asked, placing her arms on her hips as her brown eyes stared upon him.

"Yes, Az. I'm just commenting on my thoughts and not actually attempting suicide," Jem replied back, his eyes still staring at the large, white jug of whiskey.

"Good and no drinking! I don't need taking care of my little brother as he gets sick into the toilet and you ruined my outfit the last time. I had to get rid of my favourite dress because of you!"her melodic voice carried from a different room. He heard footsteps walking up the staircase and heading into either her room or the washroom depending on where she was going. Azule really tried her best with him but she always had dates what it seemed like every night. To him, time really didn't matter to him. "FYI, Seph's is coming over to talk about mentoring and all that shit."

Sapphire "Seph" Brown was another Victor that won recently and came over often as she could and grew attached to Azule which was understandable as they were both around the same age and had stuff in common while he and Seph was only on an acquaintance level as Jem just didn't want to socialize with her as he did found her incredibly provoking and ditzy.

Just as soon as Azule said that, the door opened with Seph standing in the doorway; nothing changing besides the way her auburn hair was put up, "Jem," she greeted, her tone neutral which was usually whenever she talked to him, since they didn't care about each other.

"Seph," his voice sounded as tired as he usually was. Jem lacked the energy to get up, and actually greet people properly as there really wasn't that much of a point to. People come, and people will go leaving hearts in ashes which happened to be his.

"I would say how are you but we both know how you are." Seph grinned as she took a step back away from him. "Since we both are mentoring this year… I was wondering if you would have a preference over a gender or if you don't care and um discuss our mentoring strategy."

"Why?" Jem inquired, not bothering to look at her eye-to-eye as he really didn't care. As long as one of them comes home alive; he didn't care. It's just the tributes doing in the Hunger Games if they come back alive or be buried in the ground once the Victor comes back home. The bodies preserved until the Victor is shown. "It's just the tributes doing out of all of this, we're just guiding them and pray that they will win."

.

~Tell me does it scare you, That I'm living my dream? Now I don't mean to hurt you, But you make me wanna scream, You smile while grinding your teeth, You clap while stomping your feet,~

Samantha "Sam" Jenkins (20), District 2

Victor of the 8th Annual Hunger Games

Sam didn't blink as she passed through the glass doors of the academy that was only built a few years ago; where did she spend those few years practicing with her sword until it all paid off. This time she was determined not to let anyone get in her way of bring home a Victor. Nine Victors of nine years of the Hunger Games; only two of them won throughout those nine years and she was determined in making another one.

What good can the nickname of a "career" district if the district didn't produce careers? Nothing good. Besides everyone in the district knew that district two was the best. She frowned as her gaze wandered off to where a few young ones were missing targets, and more playing with each other. The children really couldn't be older than about six or five years of age, but they would need to grow up, Sam thought to herself. She remembered her years here and visited often as she could, hoping to find some worthy candidates of future volunteers.

"Samantha Jenkins, I didn't expect to see you here so soon," a familiar voice called over and Sam looked back to see who it was; it was Headmaster Eaton, the head of the academy, with his balding head with what it looked like to be a bruise right by his topaz-coloured eyes. "I thought you would be somewhere else." his tone turned cold as Sam fixed her posture and met him eye-to-eye.

"Don't call me Samantha," She hissed. "I could kill you in at least a dozen of ways."

Eaton didn't flinch upon the silent threat Sam made as everyone knew she hated the name "Samantha" as it was considered to girly for her tastes.

"I just wanted to see some of the future candidates for the Hunger Games, but none looks like they would be able to kill anyone, despite those children's silly games," Sam replied, her voice cold as ice. "It's nice to step in to this academy once again despite its lackness of authority."

Headmaster Eaton cleared his throat and changed the subject, "Have you heard about the new system that will be taking place for the Hunger Games this year?"

"Obviously… Maybe you'll select some worthy tributes that actually has a chance of winning instead of dying in the top eight."

"Yes… those were the unfortunate doomed for their blood be spilled in the arena and another unworthy soul who couldn't bring back the Victory to District two," Eaton continued on, his voice sounding like he was bored which he constantly was if Sam remembered correctly. "Just like your district partner, Jason Ismen, before you beheaded him without slaughter when you two were told to be there until the top eight."

Sam grinned as she recalled that memory; that memory was amusing and besides it was the Hunger Games so she didn't do anything illegal. That act caused the Headmaster angry at her for not listening to them. Sam never listened to anyone as she lived by her own rules; and never took a "no" for an answer. So she replied back, "Oh him. He's history and besides he wasn't someone worthy of becoming a victor."

"Samantha-" Eaton cut off as Sam sent him a glare as he called her Samantha again. Sam didn't know why people just called her Samantha for no reason when she never responded to it.

"Save it," Sam hissed as she walked away from the academy never looking behind her until she reached the glass doors to the outside world. If she did bother looking back and was close enough to hear she would hear the words, "I wish she didn't change."Those words weren't nonsense, Sam didn't blink as she pushed her way out of the mob that was surrounding the district. She used to be like them, being carefree and actually being a pleasant person to be around with but that just seemed like a million of years ago where no one didn't notice a girl crying in her pillow as those words echoed through the night into the mind of a little girl, shattering her bright spirit in the process.

"Stupid people," She murmured as she went back to her house without bothering to look for her girlfriend, a black-skinned girl with dreadlocks that reached to her mid-back with purple eyes that seemed to be something odd about her but it was striking at least to her. Sam missed her, but Alyssa wanted to have some space as her brother recently died of heatstroke during the blistering hot day back in May. Eventually, Alyssa would lose interest in her, and Sam would be alone.

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~It's crazy how that four letter word gets tossed, And I'm guilty. Said it so many times before, But I can't front no more~

Dock Johanson (21), District 4

Victor of the 6th Annual Hunger Games

Dock looked on the black tiles on the floor not bothering to look up to meet his family. He really didn't like these "family meetings" as his family liked to call them but they weren't his family. His biological family gave him up when he was little and didn't care about his adopted parents that much as they tried to get him involved more about the family traditions they seemed to have. It wasn't like Dock could advocate for himself as this was his family. Family stuck together in situations.

"Dock, what's your opinion?" His sister, Angel, inquired as he felt brown eyes dig into him. Somehow, his adopted family actually had a gif that could make them feel fear and feel paralyzed. Another reason why he hated his family. He was the oddball and can't destroy the ties that tie him to his family.

"I really don't care about this," He replied, looking at three identical dark brown eyes that he could have sworn were black; eyes he wished he had but he had silver eyes, a rarity that was found in 4 but most commonly found in District 12.

"Do you even care about us at all?" Angel snapped, accusation lacing her voice.

"Of course, I do," I lied.

"Liar!" Angel hissed, lunging at me with her long fingernails which he could've sworn was talons but he could be crazy. He was already crazy, and his family was a bunch of demons. "You're a liar, Dock!" Talons grew and scratched his eyes out and felt the blood dripping down his face out of the empty eye sockets.

Everyone agreed and started changing into demons that had long talons and tortured Dock until he felt himself slipping. Dock woke up with a start as he felt himself die in the dream. Oddly enough, it just felt real and it wasn't a dream. He felt a stinging pain as he tried to wet his arms. A long scratched covered his right arm and wasn't bleeding at least It was just a dream… The cat scratched him which would explain the hiss he heard when he was in a somnolent daze. He dreamt that his family actually found about his lying and accused him of lying multiple times before they finally killed him in the dream.

Lying was in his nature and no one would actually accuse him of saying he was lying but on the occasion someone would. It was so easy to lie instead of being candid like his family told him too but it was a habit; sometimes protecting him than it should.

"You okay?" Angel asked, standing in the doorway with her black eyes squinting at him. She was either really tired or actually didn't have her glasses on. "I heard you from next door."

"I'm fine," Dock lied, trying to lay back down and close his eyes to actually hope he could go back to a decent dream that could involved with hopefully Dory but dreams were unpredictable.

"You could tell me the truth you know," Angel pestered.

He turned sideways, his eyes locked on his walls ignoring her. He really didn't need anyone, did he? After his best friend died, life hasn't been the same. George has been battling with kidney failure, and doctors told them that he only had months to live and died weeks later but that was before he went into the Hunger Games.

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~Used to cry 'bout some crazy shit before, I used to feel so obligated to be so much more, I used to let some people tell me how to live and what to be, But if I can't be me, the fuck's the point? No… I don't care about it anymore~

Sapphire "Seph" Brown (19), District 1

Victor of the 9th Annual Hunger Games

Seph's fingers danced as the white keys made the sound; the sound of music. It sounded amazing even though she's rusty on the piano after taking a break from music because of her surgery involving her wrist. She managed to break it, and the doctors told her, her wrist was unable to rectify itself and had to be surgically fixed. She still had some problems with it and with the pain often getting worse due to the weather. It throbs so often it drives her insane but she knew it wouldn't ever be the same again just like her life; murdering the young ones in the arena, ones who will never return to their families alive.

It would often haunt her as she tried to sleep but it wouldn't do. So Seph tried to avoid sleeping as it was better than lying awake in the silent hours of the night, paralyzed by fear, unable to move as she slowly watched herself killing the innocents. It's been months since the Games and she saw the hatred expressions the districts often gave her as she visited them on her Victory Tour.

"You okay?" Her brother, Topaz asked as he leaned on the piano, his stubble face smiling at her. It was just like old times when they hung out doing stuff and going ice skating once in a while whenever they wanted to but ever since she got back; she felt like there was something missing, something she couldn't put her finger on, something she missed dearly.

Seph sighed as her fingers stumbled off the key which made her huff at the interruption. She used to be able to do this but know she didn't feel any connection to actually want to do it. She's been tired and always wanted to sleep but something made her get up every morning and she responded, "Not really. I just feel like something's missing and everything has changed and I'm still trying to collect the pieces to put it back together again just like it used be."

Topaz wiped her cheek; she didn't realize she'd been crying until that gesture realized she was. "It will be alright… You're just someone who doesn't know their place in the world like dozens out there." he tried to reassure her which made Seph laugh.

"If they did, money would come in if they appreciated my music but it doesn't help I have this thing." she held up her left wrist as proof. Seph abhorred her wrist and felt like it was useless but she remembered how she broke it in the first place and realized she didn't sprain it. Seph was ice-skating alone to clear her thoughts as she'd been occupied with stuff and wasn't able to think correctly. The next minute, she fell and winced as she moved her wrist and thought she sprained it but it wasn't until Topaz persuaded her to go to the hospital to get checked out.

"I have to go," Seph said, her voice sounding like she hadn't been crying so she left leaving Topaz alone. Topaz was her loving brother, always humble and kind but he wouldn't understand what she been going through. It wasn't like she had friends as she would rather do something different and people told her she was really stubborn to actually admit she was wrong.

Seph laughed as she remembered those times; people stopping who she was. Being someone they wanted to mold and sculpt into another puppet for someone ready to control but unfortunately she wasn't that kind of girl.

I've recieved three submissions so far and you are able to send a lot. I'll pick one/none or multiple depending on whether how much submissions there are. So this is the Mentors Part 1 as it was getting too long and the next wll just be the outliers. Check out my profile for more information. I'll accept Pms only and there's a deadline. March 10th is when I'll stop taking submissions. PM only.

What did you think of the mentors of the careers?

Edit: I mixed up the ages. My mistake and now it's fixed. Add, and changed things someone pointed out. Fixed grammar mistakes