Chive Winfield, 17, District Eleven Male
"Don't hate me because I'm selfish. We're living in a cruel world. The only way to survive is to be cruel."
Chive was always different from the others in his District.
To him, it seemed that everyone that wasn't middle class or higher was okay with living their lives how they were.
But not him.
No.
He wanted more for himself than he currently had. More often than not, his status in the world had him feeling envy and jealousy towards the ones that were wealthy. Why couldn't he have that?
To get by in life, to hopefully get him to where he wants / / to be wasn't easy. Sure, he spent most of his days working, oftentimes without a break. It is how it is to him. Some things don't come free without a sacrifice. Besides, at the end of the day as long as he has food and he's still alive, he's okay. He enjoyed working and providing for himself, though he wished that he go out of it. All he wanted was a life that he could look back on in the later years and be proud of what he did.
People that knew him would describe him in many different ways.
Selfish.
Greedy.
Mean.
Insensitive.
He didn't mind it whatsoever. What good would letting peoples thoughts get to him do? He knew that was who he was as a person. He had his reasons for why he was the way he was. Just like everyone else had theirs. Besides, it was like this because of the world they currently lived in. If they lived in a world with less oppression and poverty, perhaps he would be more nice to people.
Unfortunately, that was only a thought. Only a 'what if.'
Not like that was going to happen anytime soon.
With the district being as poor as it was, it wasn't uncommon for Chive to encounter beggars in his daily life. They were the ones unable to find either long term jobs or anything to get them money. But it wasn't that hard to find a job around town, there were more than enough places that always needed workers. It was safe to say that he didn't like it when they tried to beg him for the little money he had or what little food he had on him. If they were that desperate, go find employment somewhere nearby. It wasn't that hard really. Chive had a belief that only the strongest people, the ones that would be willing to do whatever it took to survive, would live while the weakest would die off.
In the world he lived in, that was just how it seemed most days. The one where other people can choose who lives and who doesn't. The joys of living under the rule of the Capitol. Unlike some of the outliers in the outer districts, he wasn't the rebellious type, more so a keep to himself type. It wouldn't do him any good to bad mouth the Capitol. Of course, he didn't like the capitol, but that was more so for their better way and standard of living. Of how they got anything they wanted and didn't have to fight for it.
But it was the world they lived in and it wasn't like it was going to get better anytime soon.
So he was the one that always obeyed what they wanted and never said anything bad about them. It would work out better that way. Keep low and under the radar. But the way he acted about them just gave the people he worked alongside more a reason not to like him.
People that were close to him would describe him as quiet unless someone speaks to him. He's gloomy, despondent and overall can have a bad temper. Chive doesn't know what it's like to love or to be loved. He wasn't one that had friends, and no one ever made a chance to befriend him. Not that he would have liked that. It wouldn't do him any good to be honest. He'd rather protect himself and his life than anyone else's.
He didn't mind working for his keep, no matter how hot it was outside or how he felt.
He had to survive.
It was after all, the only thing he had known for the seventeen years of his life. He often wondered why his parents had readily given him to the District's orphanage. Life there wasn't as bad as it would have been if his parents just left him on the streets, he knew that much. It was okay for the most part.
He was around thirteen years old when he moved out of the orphanage and into one of the many barracks that the field workers were housed in. Sure it was cramped but it was easily a step up from where he had been. It was easier to live there and to work in the fields anyways. Chive had started working in the fields at only eleven years old, but even then he knew he needed to earn his keep to survive in the harsh world that they lived in. The work was long but he didn't mind as long as he got money in his pocket each week.
.But, somehow despite working day in and day out, he still wanted more for himself. It was then that he started offering to work on the properties of the few wealthy families in the district.
The work was both demanding and hard as not only did Chive have to contend with the heat of the Sun, the cold of Winter, and the Peacekeepers' harassment and wrath. But he also had to deal with the volatile attitudes of Eleven's rare few rich landowning families, who thought that they had a right to constantly insult and harass the poor workers working for them. There were times when Chive wanted to yell at the rich landowners, even commit violence against them. But he kept his cool and just focused on his work.
It was when he was fifteen working for the Bassett family that he started to become a more obedient worker. He started to become more and more the person that made the other field worker's lives absolute hell and at the same time, became more of an informer to the family. Chive's job for them was to listen in to conversations and what people were saying for anything rebellious. In return for the information brought to the family, he always got extra money or sometimes extra food.
Of course, this didn't come without side effects. It would be the thing that made most people hate Chive. They would call him a weak willed wimp and a sell out. And the only reason revenge hadn't been gotten? The people's fear of the rich landowning families.
This was the one thing that kept him alive through the years. And it was like he blinked and it was the morning of his fifth reaping. The air blew in on the windows that had been left open overnight and most of the workers that he shared the barrack with seemed to either be sleeping or starting to get ready. A sigh escaped the male as he pushed himself upright and scrubbed his hands over his eyes.
Based on the sun's position, it had to be late morning and the reaping would begin at noon. No soon, no later. He would need to leave soon if he wanted to make it on time. It didn't take long to get on his reaping outfit. It was the same one that he wore the last couple of years. A white button down, his cleanest pair of pants and shoes that were starting to get a little small on him.
He would need to get new ones soon, that is if he wasn't the one that was picked this year. But that rolling feeling in his stomach had him second guessing that thought. Running his hands over his curls, he took in a deep breath and let it out slowly.
Even with the Capitol hand selecting the tributes this year, his chance of it being him was low. Low enough that he shouldn't be concerned that it would be him. But there was the underlying thought of 'what if.' What if it was him?
Would he be ready?
Time would tell.
The bell located in the center of town tolled once then twice. The first reminder that anyone not there should get moving to avoid the penalty of missing the Reaping. He watched as those left in the room made their way out, and he quickly followed them.
It was slightly cloudy that day, but it was still nice out. It was the one rare day that he could actually enjoy the weather and the day. He shoved his hands into the pockets of his pants as he turned a corner onto the main street that ran through the entire district. The air was thick with anxiety and tension. He found himself not as nervous as he should have been. Perhaps he had already accepted that whatever happened, was out of his control.
He could only control what he did, anything else was up in the hands of others. Another five minutes later, he was reaching the check in desk that had been set up. A quick finger prick later, he was sliding into one of the last available rows in his age section. The conversation stopped as soon as their escort stepped out ontot the stage, heels clicking against the stage. This one seemed calmer with her appearance than last year's. For once, she looked like a normal person, if you ignore the tattoos marking her face and the slight red tint to her face.
"Welcome to the Reaping for the One Hundredth Annual Hunger Games!" She cried out cheerfully. "As always we'll start with a video from our Capitol!"
It was the same old video every year, granted this one showed bits and pieces of last year's games. Which was nice, he guessed. For the most part however, he just tuned it out, not like he missed anything important because of it.
"I just love that, don't you?" Her question was met with silence which she shrugged off as she turned to the bowls in the center of the stage. That was how they were going to do it. There was only one slip in each bowl.
"The female tribute selected by the Capitol is Maleae Picket!" From the seventeen year old section, Chive watched as she made her way up, head held high in determination. He couldn't recall ever seeing her around but maybe once or twice through the years.
Then it was time for the male tribute to be revealed.
"And the male tribute selected by the Capitol is Chive Winfield!"
Shock.
That was the first emotion that sprung up.
Then sheer confusion made way. He thought he was safe! Safe from being picked because he had always been an obedient person who never got into any trouble.
He was shoved, and he noted some people had grins on their face. Like they were happy that he was the one that was picked for the Games. Anger replaced confusion, how dare they. He'd show them.
He shook hands with his partner and they were led away to say goodbyes.
He would show them alright.
He'd win the entire thing.
That would do it.
Maleae Picket, 17, District 11 Female
"Fake it till you make it."
How did her life lead her to this moment?
One she was not so certain she could survive.
How did her day start out good and then end with her not knowing if she would be alive in three weeks time.
Would she survive or would someone else be her undoing?
With a sigh, the female opened her eyes. Another restless night as there always seemed to be the night before the reaping. Shoving her hair out of her eyes, she leaned back against her pillows for a while, soaking in the sunlight and the quietness of the house. Her family was awake though, she could hear the sounds of clicking in the kitchen and movement from her siblings' rooms.
It was only when her father knocked on her door to tell her that she best start to get ready for the reaping that she forced herself out of bed.
It was the one day of the year that she didn't have work or school which she didn't mind. She works because one has to work. She goes to school because one has to go to school. They were just things that helped her get through each and every day.
But it didn't help that she was one of those people that was absolutely bad at setting goals for themselves to achieve. But she's not one to back out of a challenge so to speak.
Her back popped as she moved to her little area that she kept her clothes in and selected the outfit that she would wear that day for the Reaping. A simple green blouse that was her mothers and a pair of black pants that were easy to move around in.
Her shoes would be by the front door, she noted as she moved out of her room and into the kitchen already set for breakfast her siblings and father had made. Her younger siblings were already sitting and she gave them a grin as she sat down across from her sister.
Breakfast was a quiet affair and it was one of the rare moments that she felt herself missing her mother. Maleae had only been fourteen when her mother had been killed from a rare tracker jacker attack. No one knew how they got there or why, but it resulted in her losing her mother. At least she managed to learn a few survival skills through her mother before her death.
Her mother had been the one to teach her to make animal traps. She never knew if the peacekeepers knew or what she would do if they found out about it. But it was something that helped her keep her family fed and to contribute to the family a little bit more.
Helping her father with the dishes, she made sure that Curbita and Laurel were all ready to go. She smoothed out her sister's dress before tending to her hair and making sure it laid in the way her sister wanted it.
"I'm not a little kid anymore, Mal." her sister grumbled to her, pushing her hands away from her.
"You'll always be my little sister." She grinned as she grabbed her shoes from the door. Her father led his family out the door and she grinned as she saw her best friend waiting outside for her. Olea waved at her as she met her in the street, pulling her into a hug. They had met years ago and all competed on a boxing team, something that they all shared common interest in.
"Ready to get this over with?" Olea spoke with a grin as the duo took off walking down the street.
"Please, you just want to go do another round til you beat me." Maleae teased her. "What is it now? thirty to five?"
"Oh shut up. I'm going to get you one of these days." Orlea shook her finger at Maleae, pushing her slightly with her shoulder.
"Garland said he'd meet us there. Said he wanted to take his sister this year."
"It's her first one isn't it?"
Orlea hummed in conformation as they turned onto the main street.
"It won't be her that's picked. Why would they want a twelve year old instead of someone else."
"You know how they are Mal. They just want their fix of killing. They don't care who or what it is as long as they see some blood shed."
"Unfortunately. Sometimes I wish that wasn't how it was but it is and we just have to live with it."
"And we can only control what we do, not the actions of others." Orlea agreed as the pair of them caught sight of Garland, arm around his youngest sibling. The three of them checked in and after Garland led his sister over to her friends, he took them into a tight hug.
"No matter what happens, I love you both so much." he spoke softly. Maleae let out a breath softly.
"And I love you guys too. You are the best friends I could ever want." The hug was released as they headed to their areas they needed to be in. Orlea gripped her hand in hers as their escort for the year finally stepped onto stage. Her appearance was definitely interesting to say the least.
The same video played and she rolled her eyes as it played.
Then it was time for the first tribute to be named.
"The female tribute selected by the Capitol is Maleae Picket!"
"You have to be fucking kidding me." She muttered under her breath as it came to her that it was her name called.
"What? You gotta be kidding me..."
Fear grasped her. She wasn't prepared for this in the slightest. Not at all.
She didn't want to die!
She wasn't strong enough, not as much as she would like to be.
A couple deep breaths, and she pushed those feelings away before the cameras caught it, but she knew they already had. Head held high in faux feeling, she climbed onto the steps of the stage.
The male name was called out after she had taken her place on the stage.
"And the male tribute selected by the Capitol is Chive Winfield!"
She knew of him. Everyone did in town. She didn't exactly like him but she found herself having no issue with him or what he did. Everyone had to do something to survive. He was just not as accepted by everyone.
Keeping her face even, she shook his hand and let herself be led to the justice center for her goodbyes.
Could she do this?
Only time would tell.
But she would take it like she did every other challenge she came onto.
She would meet it head on and give it her best shot.
Maleae had to. Her very life depended on it.
Alright alright alright!
Hello hello! Welcome back to another chapter. Huge thank you to VeryNewToThis for Chive and to FlameAndVoid for Maleae! I enjoyed writing them and I can't wait to write more with them. As always, leave y'alls thoughts in the reviews! I actually have all of the reapings finally done! I might have been on a hyper fixation with getting them done but they're all done!
Next Chapter; Distict Three Reaping
Nova xx