No big trigger warnings apply for this chapter, just the slight mentions of drugs.

Messier Chitra, 15
District 7 Male

Two weeks before the Reaping

I watch as the cigarette dangles from Deneb's lips, slowly dropping little white ash pieces into the dirt. He flicks it away and pulls out a new one from his pocket. Ugh. I don't get how he can even stand those things. Plus, Dad's got them pumped of who knows what and occasionally uses them to smuggle drugs. You want a good and safe smoke, you pawn them off the hobos in the woods. They may be dirty, but they're way cheaper and definitely not laced.

Granted, I've never tried one before. Dad thinks I'm too young to use any substances, especially laced ones. And he literally doesn't care what Deneb does half the time, as long as he's still taking care of his chores. And Deneb loves doing all sorts of really crafty shit. Meanwhile I can't get away with anything these days. Dad's always got his eye on me.

"Little Makara? Little Makara! Where did you go?"

"Oh my God, Dad. I'm not a little kid anymore."

"Perhaps. But you're still my little Makara, aren't you?" Dad gives me his infamous shit-eating grin. It's the kind of grin that tells you for a fact he is gonna happily kick your ass to the next district if you piss him off and you're not someone who goes by "Little Makara." Gotta love parents playing favourites.

"What's up, Pops?" Deneb flicks the cigarette across the room.
"Deneb, do me a favour and accompany your cousins with a new shipment. It's being delivered to a politician at the very edge of the district. Apparently, he's going to try and smuggle it into 6 and give it to the rings there."
"He ain't a narc, is he?"

"Well, how would I know? This is your job. But do take the guns along. And make sure you're not being followed. This is nothing new to you."

As Deneb turns to walk off, and pulls yet another freaking cigarette from his pocket, Dad just shakes his head. "He'll find a way to mess it up. I'm sending Algedi and Nashira along too. I need them to pick up more supplies anyways if they'll be out that far."

"You ought to have more faith in your own kids, Dad."
"I do have faith. I wouldn't have sent them on this job otherwise."

Dad wraps his arm around me and we walk back inside. Everyone's bustling around, because a new shipment of the sweet stuff just came in and there's people who will buy it from us. Sweet illegal stuff. Y'know...drugs. Pills. A sticky black tar substance and a fine white powder. All extremely addicting. All extremely dangerous.

It all stays "underground" for a reason. Hidden in broad daylight from authorities. If the Peacekeepers and Capitolites found out, we'd all be in serious trouble and I'd never get my turn at playing business kingpin.

Oh yeah, this is gonna be mine someday. Mine, all mine. It seems kinda stupid to name your youngest kid as your heir, but Nashira hates working with literally anyone, Algedi can't stay out of prison for longer than a week and Deneb is Deneb. I'm Little Makara, the little goat, and sure as all stubborn like one.

The carbon copy of my old man.

Creepy? Nah. When all your kids come from different moms, is it really that surprising I'm the only one who looks like him?

Dad picks up a clipboard and checks his notes. "Humph. We were promised 30 tonnes. This barely comes to 25. We got ripped off."
Nashira scowls and lifts her head from the crate she's leaning over. "For fuck's sake. You want me to hunt the guys down? I'll be clean; they'll never find the body."

Dad holds a finger up to her lips and Nashira calms down. "My girl, you really need to learn that violence is not the answer to every little situation. Right now, I need you to go with your brothers and cousins to oversee the shipment."

"Is Messier coming too?"
"Nashira, don't worry about him. Worry about your duties."

Nashira sticks her tongue out at me as she pushes Dad's finger away and stomps off. In return, I flip the bird at her back. Dad sticks his elbow into my arm so I just let my hand fall. Fine, not very mature of me to be making fun of my sister like that. She started it.

"So, Dad? What do you need from me?"
"You see that broom in the corner?"
"...seriously…?"
"Well? These floors aren't gonna clean themselves, Little Makara. Nothing good ever comes out of having a messy workspace. Besides, I won't be gone for long."

How come everyone gets to go on cool undercover missions across the district and I'm just the janitor? Unfair, Dad! So unfair.

"There's like a million other things I could be doing right now," I grumble as I sweep all the dust into a neat little pile. "I could be the one running shipments. I wouldn't mess them up. But nooooooooo. I have to clean the floors. Can't do anything super cool...not until the floors are clean!"

Whatever. I'll just have to do a damn nice job. My old man may be a crook, but he's a crook that doesn't half-ass anything. And I can appreciate the importance of a good work ethic. He does have a point sometimes.

Finally, all the dust is in one little pile. I pick it up with a pan and dump it into the trash. There, now nobody can't say I don't do anything.

I find myself standing around for an hour with nothing to do. I could go back to my room and take the opportunity to rest, but I want Dad to see how clean these floors are. I want him to know that I can accomplish literally anything he asks me to do, and that's proof my talents are wasted sweeping.

Nobody shows up. Not even other workers who are just happening to pass by. After another half an hour, I'm starting to get a little worried. Usually, when all is silent, that's not a good sign. It usually means we have to hide from the authorities threatening to clean us out and dump us in the prisons.

Finally, I see someone walking by. "Hey. Where is everyone? Is my dad back yet?"
The guy just shrugs, then leaves. Great. Nobody knows what's going on anymore. Stupid. This better not be some kind of cruel prank where I'm-

"Peacekeepers! PEACEKEEPERS! They're here! Everyone take cover!"

Oh shit!

I chuck the pan and broom to the ground and begin to run. The safe room isn't far from here and the Peacekeepers won't be able to get inside. As I pick up my pace, I hear the gunfire going off. I can't stop at all to turn around and see the damage the Peacekeepers must've caused. Dad's drilled into me from the start what I'm supposed to do in an emergency like that. All I'm supposed to do is save myself. Get to the safe room and wait.

But I didn't think this would happen. A raid was never supposed to happen.

A sharp elbow swings into my gut and throws me to the ground. Before I can even get back up, the Peacekeeper tackles me and knocks me back down and presses into my back. "Not a damn movement from you!"

The next few minutes are a blur. I'm thrown into the back of a truck but I don't remember where it was parked. I remember looking for someone but not finding them. My vision is foggy and I think I might have something in my eye. The daylight hurts.

After the Peacekeeper screams at me, something about rebel scum before he finally takes his entire body off me, I can only recall plunking my head into Deneb's lap and he pushes me away before whispering one sentence in a fear I've never heard from my half-brother before. "He's dead."

"Who? Who's dead?"
"Dad."
"No."

Deneb just nods. "Yes."

This can't be happening. My father can't be dead.

The truck doesn't stop moving until we get to the Justice Building. I've never been afraid of a building before but now, the exterior terrifies me. I don't know what the inside looks like. And I don't dare stray from Deneb's side. Like a little kid, looking for their parents. I'm not a little kid anymore. But not as far as the Peacekeepers are concerned.

This isn't happening and this isn't real. None of this is real. Right?

The Peacekeepers make us sit down in front of a desk, in a little room that smells stale. I think one of them offers me a glass of water that I just leave in front of me. They don't offer Deneb anything. Then the Head Peacekeeper sits down too.

"It's not his fault," Deneb says almost immediately. "Messier wasn't even there and he didn't know what we were doing. He was kept in the dark. We never told him anything."
"Mr. Chitra, that's not what I wanted-"
"He's just a kid, sir! He's fifteen! You can't punish a kid for this, right? He wasn't a part of it!"

"Deneb," I whisper towards him, only to receive Deneb's leg jutting outwards and giving me a hard swift kick in the shins. I shut up as a tear juts down my face and the Head Peacekeeper either doesn't notice, or pretends not to. It doesn't hurt as much as my bruised pride anyways.

"Mr. Chitra, I will assure you my intent was not to punish the young Messier. By law, as a minor he is automatically excused. And if what you say is true, that he was not at all involved with the drug smuggling the rest of your family was caught in today, then I'll make sure his charges are dropped. I'll make the calls."

The second the Head Peacekeeper leaves, I turn to Deneb. "What the hell are you doing!? Trying to steal the business out from under my nose!?"
"I'm trying to save your ass! In case you haven't noticed, there is no business! It's all gone! Dad's dead!"
"No he's not!"

"Yes he is! I saw him get gunned down right in front of me! And guess what! Everyone else is gone and if you don't let me do the talking, we're next!"
"What makes you say that?"

"You know what the punishment is, right?" Deneb shakes a little. "For an interdistrict drug smuggling operation? Execution. Maybe some of us could've pleaded our way out of it, but Nashira and Algedi actually opened fire back. Killed at least one guy. They're done for. They're going to the noose."

In the span of only a few hours, my entire family has been cut in half. The shock, the only emotion I can feel, is immediately replaced with horror. "Oh. Oh fuck."
"Understatement of the year, Little Makara."
"I'm scared. Deneb. I don't wanna die."

"I don't either. That's why I lied." He sighs. "One of the Peacekeepers said that since I was cooperative, that might count towards me. But...Dad would kill me himself if he found out we all just let you die. Maybe you've still got a shot at picking up where things left off."

"What about you? They're not going to-"

"Okay." The Head Peacekeeper is back. "Messier Chitra, today is your lucky day. We've arranged for your mother to now have custody of you."
"My mother?" The word catches in my throat. I never met my mother. I didn't even think she was still alive. And I never had a reason to care either. Just another chick Dad bed and left.

"Ashleigh Pacros. She's waiting outside for you. You'll also be placed on house arrest for ten days. Oh, don't look so glum; it'll do you good to stay out of trouble. Not that there will be any more trouble coming from you."

"Yes sir," I mutter, still staring at the desk.

"Good." The Head Peacekeeper snaps his fingers. Two more Peacekeepers step inside, then flank Deneb. Each of them grabs one of his arms and yanks him out of the chair. It gets knocked over.

The Head Peacekeeper sounds grim. "As for you, Deneb Chitra. Consider yourself lucky not to be waiting in line for the gallows like the rest of your family is. Keep up your cooperation, and you may even see a reduced sentence."
Deneb scowls. "Oh joy. The greatest thing to happen to me thus far."

"Wait!" I grab Deneb's wrist, but a Peacekeeper slaps my hand away. "You're locking him up!? But I don't have any other family left!"

"you can still see him. Your visiting hours are every Wednesday from 2 to 4. And the first round of executions will be tomorrow night. Attendance will be expected of you." The last line was clearly directed more at me than Deneb. But the Head Peacekeeper steps in between the two of us, pointing a finger at the door. It's over. I'm lead to the front steps of the Justice Building, where a lone woman in a green coat waits for me.

Ashleigh Pacros doesn't look either happy or upset to see her once forgotten bastard child, just numb. Can't say I don't feel the same. Strangers in all but blood, we walk home together towards her house and my new life. I want to cry. I just lost everything and everyone I've ever cared for and I have nothing left.

What do I do now?

Solana Stellar, 67
District 7 Escort

"i think we'll be fine!" Solana insisted. "We will certainly have a much better experience than last year, now that the Reaping is back to its usual standard. It'll be fine!"
"I would hope so," Acacia sighed. "I can't mentor another child again."

You really ought to look on the bright side a little more, Solana wanted to say. But she kept her mouth shut. She didn't really want to hurt Acacia or Baron's feelings because just like her, they were mere mortals trying their best. But they could certainly bring home another win for 7! Every year was a brand new opportunity!

The light fell through the window panes and onto the floor in soft waves. A lot of it ended up on the bottom of Solana's sparkly white dress, sending little dots all over the walls. Some of the sparkles came from her makeup, a gradient of blues and purples, with stars decorating her almost ghostly pale skin. Good thing she remembered to let her hair gel set properly this morning, creating a bright white mane that stuck out in every direction. If you weren't careful, you could seriously cut yourself on Solana Stellar's hair.

"Well now. The Reaping's about to begin." Solana shot Baron the most comforting smile she could manage. "Don't look so glum, dears. I'm sure today will be absolutely fine and we'll get some very strong contenders! Every year is as successful as we make it!"

"I wish I could be that old and optimistic," Baron whispered to Acacia as they followed Solana.
Acacia glared at him. "Don't be rude, Baron."

The Justice Building was often surrounded by tall oak trees that thankfully provided a bit of shade from the sweltering heat. Not like Solana was ever one to shy away from the Sun. Ignoring the way the crowd pushed each other around to claim a spot under the trees, she drew the first name. "Brooke Hellbur."

In the crowd, a sixteen year-old burst into sudden tears as others pushed her towards the stage. She barely made it halfway through before a hand shot up and a voice rang out. "I volunteer as tribute!"
Solana hadn't called for volunteers yet, but certainly a break in routine would be fine. After all, she couldn't remember the last time 7 had actually produced a volunteer. "Oh my, would you look at that! Why don't you come up here and tell us your name?"

The volunteer in question was 16 years old with light brown skin, hazel eyes, and a frame of messy brown curls surrounding her face. She introduced herself as Aisling Trier and grinned at Solana. "I'm here because I'm gonna have a good time in the Games!"
"Me too." It was nice to see someone who shared Solana's enthusiasm. "Let's see who your district partner is, shall we?"
Aisling snickered. "Hell yeah."

"Messier Chitra!"

A teenager only about a year or so younger than Aisling slowly withdrew from the crowd. Messier's skin was a slightly darker shade of brown, his wavy hair cut short. Chocolate brown eyes stared at the ground and he didn't even look up at Solana as he climbed the steps to the stage. All she heard was him mutter to himself, "I fucking knew it."

Behind Solana, Acacia gasped.

If the escort noticed, she didn't say anything to indicate it. She was too caught up in the excitement of the Reaping. It seemed that her earlier words had been almost prophetic after all, and they did get some very strong contenders indeed!

Victory was right in their grasp, she was sure of it.

Hope the holiday season is treating everyone well. I don't know about you guys, but I'm more than ready to finally put 2021 behind me. What are you looking forward to in the new year?

Remember to check out the blog to see some more cool stuff, such as art and moodboards! And I'll see you all next chapter,

-Vr