Welcome to wonderland
I'll be your guide
Holding your hand under sapphire skies
Let's go exploring or we could just go for
A walk
Felix Quintus
District 2, He/Him, 18
(3 Months Prior the Reaping)
...
I slice the dummy rapidly with my longsword, creating cuts all around the body of the object shapes like an opponent. Stuffing puffs out, indicating a fatal wound, however, I like to be clean and precise. I allow one final blow right through the right side of its chest, aiming for the heart and stabbing violently. Soon, the stuffing that pours out will be blood of some other person in some other district. I think to myself what that would be like, to take the life of someone, but I don't dwell on it - it's what I signed up for after all.
I move onto the throwing knives, something I've been struggling with for quite some time. It's too late to perfect it before The Games but my trainer said it would be useful to get the basic idea. I pluck a small and sharp knife from the array spread out in front of me and make my way to the throwing range. I aim and take a shot at the red and white target, barely missing the bullseye. That won't do in the arena, the shot must be fatal if I don't want to attract the attention that a shrill scream can bring. I sigh to myself, breathing sharply into my nostrils.
"I thought that was pretty good." A voice whispers, followed by a chuckle, and I jump in surprise. I turn to see my younger sister, Felicity, staring back at me with a mischievous grin. I roll my eyes and place my hand on her back, guiding her out of the training centre and back to the entrance of the academy.
"Father would kill you if he knew you were here." I whisper sharply and she shrugs her shoulders as if she doesn't care. "He'd kill me. Please, Felicity, go home."
"Well I can't walk myself back." She mutters and I put a hand to my head, trying to think of what to do. There's only really one option, though, I have to walk her home. Hannibal Quintus is not somebody you want to disobey and I have grown up with his demands of protecting the women of the household, including Felicity, even though we both know she can handle herself. We've become a little distant over the last couple of months, usually we'd walk to school together there and back in our own routine but, with being selected as Volunteer, I've been spending all my time at the academy. "Please make it back." She suddenly says and I'm pulled out of my thoughts. Is she worried?
"I will."
"Good because I don't think I can handle Dad walking me to and from school every day." I chuckle, she means it as a joke but it's likely true, without me, Father will be the only man in the house and will have the responsibility of protecting my sister. I've been told countless times by Felicity how disgusting that manner of our family is but that is how we've grown up and there's no turning back from it now. "Why do you want to win anyway?"
"Riches, fame, glory. What more could I want?" I chuckle but only to hide what I'm really feeling underneath. I've thought a lot about why I'm doing this and, truthfully, the only answer I've ever given myself is honour. Dead or alive, I want to bring honour to my family name and to my district because I feel that is what I was set out to do when being born into Panem. It's what people expect of me and I am so desperate to meet those expectations. Who knows why. That's just me.
She shrugs at my response, an unhappy look on her face. She has never understood the academies or The Games or the passion people feel to play. I guess that's partly my Father's fault for never exposing her to The Games due to her being 'fragile'. Or maybe she's right, maybe there is no point other than The Capitol punishing us. Either way, I can't turn back. This is my present and my future, The Hunger Games has been my entire life.
And it could be my death.
Ranger Saladin
District 2, They/Them, 18
(Reaping Day)
...
7:00 flashes in a deep red on my alarm clock, indicating the time of morning in which I have been assigned to awaken. As I rise, my eyes make direct contact with the board that sets out my day, the board that has set out every day for the past 8 years of my life.
7:05 - Rise from my bed and change.
7:10 - Fifty push ups. Fifty sit ups.
7:25 - Eat breakfast with Mother.
7:45 - Leave home to walk to The Academy.
The rest of my day consists of the regular training that takes place in The Academy, the only part of my life that sometimes provides a little change and breaks me out of this eternal cycle. However, The Academy's change is small and never permanent. Today is the day where my life will change permanently, the day that I have been waiting for since the age of Ten.
I rise at 7:05 and, instead of changing into my typical black jumpsuit, my Mother has laid out a navy blue tux. For the first time since the day I arrived back from Corax's surgery, I am wearing something that I can feel truly expresses myself. Although I'd never admit that to Mother, my showing of emotions may have her strip it away from me.
At 7:10 I do my morning workout and by 7:25 I'm walking down the steps of my grand house for the last time. Whether I come back in a casket or as a Victor, I never wish to return here, once I have won then my Mother and this house has served its purpose. Pyrrha Saladin sits sternly in her usual spot - the end of our dining table - sipping on her tea with a blank expression.
"Today is the day." She states as I come into view and take a seat on the other end of the table, taking a bite from the banana that she has set out for me. Mother has never believed in spoiling ourselves with food via our riches.
"I'm ready." She looks up from her tea as I say this, staring at me directly in the eyes.
"Don't tell me. Show me." She replies, she never has been one of those supportive parents but her methods to grow me stronger have worked and that's all I care about. The Games. The Games are my life. "The car is here, let's get going." I nod and leave my half-eaten banana on the dining table.
...
We arrive at the town centre within a couple of minutes, Mother pushes me toward the reaping line before walking off without a second glance. It would be strange of me to expect anything more from her. I follow the usual routine, prick my finger and then stand with the others of my age, they all seem to be gossiping and giggling but I just stare forward - concentrated on my goal.
Our escort walks out of the Justice Building, indicating the start of the Reaping. An eerie silence fills the District. That is until her loud voice fills that silence.
"Hello! Hello! Welcome! Welcome!" I sigh, she will be hard to be around. "Firstly, let's give it up for this years mentors... Violet Young and Paula Slater!" Everybody claps respectfully as the two of them walk out, side by side. Their faces remain emotionless as they stand behind our escort. "Now, now. It's time for us to reap our tributes, although I'm sure that's not necessary." She winks and a couple people snicker around me.
"Our male tribu-"
"I volunteer!" Felix, the boy who was chosen alongside myself, shouts. He walks with a sense of professionalism up the stage and wears a small, humble smile. "Felix Quintus." He states into the microphone.
"Give it up for Felix!" The District roars with applause. "For our female..."
"I volunteer." I call out, walking calmly and emotionlessly. Just like Mother had told me to. Well, this is it.
A/N: Shoutout and thank you to goldie031 for Felix and ladyqueerfoot for Ranger!
- Neb