Nothing around here is quite
As it seems
Not sure if anything is real or
A dream
Felix Quintus
District 2, He/Him, 18
(The Justice Building)
...
"Our tributes from District Two!" Our escort cries, having to stand on her tip-toes to reach the microphone. Ranger and I take our cue to leave but before I turn, I get what could be my last look at District Two and the people within it. Butterflies seem to be bouncing around the walls of my stomach because a sudden feeling of uneasiness overtakes me at the thought of leaving behind my District, my home. It is necessary, though, I know that. I must leave for them so that I can come back carrying the glory and honour that all of them so desperately crave.
The doors slowly close behind us and I look over my shoulder, watching as home becomes smaller and smaller until it is gone. Ranger doesn't look back, a stoic expression remaining on their face as they stare ahead, awaiting further instruction. I've never spoken to them but most of The District, myself included, knows of the rumours of their robotic additions after an accident between them and another trainee a few years back. It created a lot of controversy in The Academy with many trainees thinking it unfair of them to volunteer, I determine that to be down to jealousy. Ranger has fought just as hard as me to be in this position, the both of us deserve to be here over anyone else because of that simple fact.
"Okay, then my little tributes! My name's Iona." Someone giggles behind me, Ranger and I turn to see our Escort reading from a clipboard - her wavy blue hair falling in her face. "Ranger, your goodbye room is on the right corridor, look for 'J3' on the door." They silently walk toward their assigned room. "And you, Felix, are on the left corridor in the room 'J9'."
"Thanks," I say, offering a smile that Iona returns and heading to my room.
It's nothing too special, with marble walls and floor and a heavily cushioned couch in the centre. I take a seat on the couch, patiently waiting. I've had my time to say goodbye, having known I was volunteering for a few months now, but this time it feels much more intimidating. I suppose that's due to the fact it could be the last time I'm ever speaking to them. My family has its issues, and many of them for that matter, but there's not much else I love more than them.
It's another ten minutes of sitting and thinking before the door to the room finally opens, my Father walking in with my Mother clutching to his arm. I see the fear in her eyes and quickly stand, enveloping her in a hug while Father stands to the side watching. "You know what you're doing, yes?" She whispers into my ear, voice wobbling. It hurts my heart to see her like this, to see the pain that I've caused her. It's everything against how Father has brought me up, to protect the feelings of the women in our family and it takes a lot of effort for me to hold myself together.
"Of course, Mother. I can do this." I say, loud enough for Father to hear and I'm met with a nod of approval. After a few moments, Mother loosens her grip on me and I gently slip out of her arms. "I have been preparing for this my entire life, please, don't worry." She closes her eyes and takes a deep breath before nodding.
"You've done well, Son," Father says, his usually stern voice intertwined with something else. Pride. I can't help but beam at him, this moment is what I needed to alleviate my doubts. "If you win this, you may be the most honourable Quintus man as of yet." With this, I have a sudden revelation like the sun shining on something hidden inside my mind. Nobody will be able to stop me from getting home to my family, and from achieving the honour that I have lived my whole life for. That I have fought for.
Mother gives me a last hug goodbye, holding on longer this time and I stand in that position until I know she's ready to let me go. Father rests a hand on my shoulder, looking me directly in the eyes and does something that I never expected. He smiles. I smile back and for a few moments, it's just the two of us in the world - Father and Son - two men who have always fought for what they've earned. And then, he takes my Mother's arm in his and leaves.
Felicity enters next, rushing through the door and straight into my arms. "God, I can't believe you're actually doing this, you idiot." She mutters and I laugh, squeezing her tighter.
"I'm actually doing this. I'm insane, aren't I?" I say, pulling out of the hug.
"Totally insane." She chuckles, guiding me over to the couch where we both take a seat. "How was Mom?"
"It was...hard." I sigh and she nods, a sad smile stretched across her face.
"And Dad?"
"You won't believe it." She leans forward, eyes wide. "He said he was proud of me and then..."
"There's an and then?!" She cries, jaw hanging open.
"He smiled!" I laugh and she falls to the couch, clutching her heart.
"Impossible."
"Apparently not." The two of us laugh for what feels like hours until a knock sounds at the door. A Peacekeeper enters.
"Time to go." He orders and Felicity sighs, the two of us stand up and share one final hug before she leaves. A minute later, The Peacekeeper comes back to collect me.
I guess it's time for The Capitol.
Cybill Kaminski
District 3, She/Her, 14
(The Justice Building)
...
"Why the hell did you do that?" Rowan mutters as the doors to The Justice Building close behind us, he pushes back his dirty blonde hair into its middle part and out of his eyes. "Seriously, why would anyone want to be in The Hunger Games? Especially someone who can't win, suicidal?" I scoff, rolling my eyes at him.
"I may not look like your average Victor but I know what I'm doing." I retort. "So, no, I'm not suicidal." He shakes his head in disbelief as if he can't understand why somebody like me would want to volunteer. Perfectly fine with me, I've been underestimated by my family my entire life and I've proven them wrong, I'll do the same to Rowan all in time. God, I wish we could just get to The Games already - I could care less about any of this nonsense.
"Cybill, Rowan, hello!" A cheery voice sounds, a short and chubby man coming up behind us. "My name is Ashley Schneider, your escort." He smiles, running his hand through his pink hair which stands up in a way that looks unnatural. Neither Rowan nor I say anything in response, this man seems like another nuisance that I'll have to deal with to win. Which is fine, I know how to handle nuisances, I have had to live with the Kaminski family for 14 laborious years. "Right, then, Cybill you'll be doing your goodbyes down that way. Find room 'J2'." He points to a hallway on the left.
"Are the goodbyes mandatory?" I ask.
"I'm afraid so, Cybill. You're a feisty one, you, I like it." He replies, winking in a way that makes me like him even less. How patronising, do people truly not see me for what I really am? If they don't, I guess they will soon. I walk toward where Ashley pointed and manage to find J2 with little trouble, pushing the door open to find a rather unwelcoming room with blue walls and an ugly greenish-yellow carpet. There's a matching green couch in the centre of the room and I decide to lay myself down on it, yawning, it's already been quite the day.
I hear my parents before I see them. "Please, she's just a kid, she doesn't know what she's doing!" Mom shouts from outside the door, I know that she's crying and I have to force myself to not care. She never cared about me, why should I care about her? After some shouting, the door swings open and my parents rush in bounding toward me. "Tell them, Cybill, tell them it was a mistake!" Mom cries, pulling me into a hug with her tears dripping down my neck. I push her away, struggling out of the hug.
"No, it wasn't a mistake." I snap. "And don't touch me." Mom looks taken aback, stepping away from me. For a second, just a second, I wish I could take it all back but I push that thought to the back of my mind. No, there's no taking anything back now and I cannot afford to think that way. Maybe, if I make it out of the arena, my family will finally pay attention to me - finally, care about me. But until then, they are an unwelcome distraction.
"Cybill, apologise to your mother," Dad shouts, tears starting to well in his eyes. "You don't mean that."
"Yes, I do! And this is exactly why I did it, nobody takes me seriously in this family." I cry, staring my Dad directly in the eyes. A flash of hurt spreads across his face and he places his hand to his heart. "Every day of my goddamn life you would either be ignoring me or helping my siblings torture me!" I scream, tears now streaming down my face and my fists clenched. "I'm sick of it, I'm so sick of it! So I've taken matters into my own hands."
"We...Cybill...We didn't know." Mom cries. "We thought...We love you, Cybill, please." I close my eyes, shaking my head.
"No. No, you don't get to do this now. You don't get to take it all back." She doesn't stop crying, her entire face wet with tears. Dad just stares at me, a look of something like horror on his face. "I think you should go." Mom begins to shake her head. "Now. I think you should go, now." Dad nods, takes ahold of Mom's arm and guides her out of the room - neither of them giving me a second glance.
I don't expect my siblings to come and stay in my position, sitting upright on the couch, waiting for someone to collect me. So, when Myra strides into the room with Willie a few steps behind, my jaw hangs open in surprise. "What the hell is wrong with you?" Myra spits, her eyes full of rage and disgust. I don't respond to her, closing my jaw shut and staring in defiance. "I just had to see if it was true if my little sister was truly a monster." With that, she spins on her heel and storms out leaving myself and Willie.
"I'm sorry." He squeaks. "I'm sorry if you did this because of me. I know I can be annoying." I nod, at least one of my family members is willing to admit it. Willing to admit that this is not my fault, it is theirs and now they are suffering the consequences of their actions.
"I'm sorry too," I murmur and we stare at each other in the eyes, Willie's begin to fill with tears but I know he hates people seeing him cry so I understand when he rushes out of the room. Leaving me to myself.
Conifer "Connie" Smith
District 7, She/Her, 16
(The Justice Building)
...
"Our tributes from District Seven!" Aysha, our Escort cries into the microphone. She looks back at Enver and I and shoos us away, the two of us quickly turning to rush into The Justice Building. Once we're both inside, the large doors close behind us and we're left alone. I look at Enver out of the corner of my eye and see him smiling at me so I turn to face him.
"Why are you smiling?" I ask incredulously.
"Well, I suppose it isn't a real smile. Just one to make you feel better." He says and I smile back.
"That's very kind, thank you Enver."
"Who's gonna say goodbye to you?" He asks curiously and I'm a little surprised, I thought the goodbyes would be something private that we kept to ourselves. Our last memory of home but I guess he's curious and just trying to make conversation so I reply.
"Well, my parents of course and they'll likely bring my daughter.
"You have a daughter? That's crazy!" He says, smiling wildly and I'm a bit surprised. Usually, people try to hide their shock when I tell them that I'm a teenage Mom, not this kid I suppose. He's different and I like that, I find it refreshing. Before I can respond, Aysha enters through another door with a clipboard and pen. Her bright pink outfit was still as extravagant as ever.
"Right, Enver, we've got you in the right hallway in "J6". And you, Conifer, in the same hallways in "J9"." The two of us begin to walk together, staying silent until we reach Enver's door. He turns to me with a small smile.
"See you in a bit, Conifer." I nod and smile back before walking toward my door and opening it. The room is nothing special, with teal walls, a cream-coloured carpet and a singular, green armchair sitting in the centre. I perch myself on the edge of the armchair, anxiously anticipating the arrival of my parents and my daughter. A few minutes later, they're rushing into the room both with tears streaming down their faces. That sets me off and suddenly salty tears are filling my mouth and dripping onto my white summer dress.
Mom has Willow in her hands, cradling her gently and I take her into my own. I press kiss after kiss to her face, knowing this may be the last time she ever sees her mother. The thought of it breaks my heart, of my parents dying when she was still young and her having nobody to support her, nobody to even love her. I can't bear to think about it, pulling her toward my chest and squeezing her against it, not wanting to let her go.
"We'll protect her, Connie," Father mumbles. "We'll protect her."
"Until you can come home and do it yourself." Mother adds, talking haltingly through her sobs. I smile a sad smile, at them both and continue to rock Willow back and forth. I know there is a very good chance I will die in a couple of weeks and my parents are aware of that but, as always, they are doing everything they can to support me and for that, I hold nothing but love for them in my heart.
"Yes, until I come home," I mutter, trying to offer them the slightest bit of comfort. I stare down at my daughter, silently, trying to remember every detail of her round face. Her chubby cheeks and pale complexion, bright blue eyes and blonde hair already starting to come through. Tears drip down my face because I know I will never get to see her to be the beautiful girl that she most certainly will become and if I do, I'll likely be too messed up to even care. That's the thing about The Games, it's a lose-lose situation and either way it's going to end with my daughter without a mother. "Don't watch. Please. I couldn't bear it to know you are watching me fight for my life."
"We have to." Father sighs. "We won't be able to sleep at night not knowing whether you're dead or alive. It'll drive us mad, Connie." Mother nods in agreement and I frown, I expected this but I'd still held out some hope.
"Well, close your eyes if...If you know, it's about to happen." I whisper, avoiding meeting their eyes.
"It's not going to happen." Mother says assertively.
"Please, just promise me." I whimper, clutching tighter to Willow now.
"We promise," Father says and I look up to see them both nodding their heads. "If it is going to happen then we won't look." I nod, satisfied. Or, as satisfied as you can be in a situation like this. With much hesitation, I hand Willow back to Mother and then pull the three of them into a group hug. We all stay like that, for a moment, a family complete that is about to be broken.
"Bye, you guys," I say as they leave and the two of them don't respond as if it's too painful to say goodbye.
Saxony Hampton
District 8, She/Her, 16
(The Justice Building)
...
I turn sharply on my heel after the Escort announces us as District Eight's tributes, strutting towards the open doors of The Justice Building. Wells, my fellow tribute, has a slower reaction and awkwardly follows me from behind. Once the doors, rather dramatically, slam closed I turn to face Wells. His tanned face has gone a slight shade of pink and he is fiddling with his hands, clearly very nervous and I certainly can't blame him.
"What's your deal, then?" I ask, wanting to figure him out.
"My deal?" He asks, scrunching his face in confusion.
"You know, tesserae, unlucky?"
"Oh, well I've taken out quite a bit of tesserae." I nod my head, he's poor then. Interesting. I wonder if he works at all or what his house looks like and I'm about to ask him when somebody clears their throat behind us. We both turn our heads to see our Escort, I'm still very curious about the whole 'I'm not like other Capitolites' look she has going on with the grey sweatpants and matching t-shirt.
"I'm Edith, your Escort. Saxony, you'll find your goodbye room on the right hallway - first door on the left." I nod and walk toward the room, thinking about meeting my Father and how much I need it. I'm not showing it, I've watched enough of Father on his jobs to know that showing emotions is showing weakness and so I keep my head held high and my hands still at my sides. Internally, my heart is beating faster than it ever has before and sweat is dripping all over me. All I want is Father to hold me in his strong arms and tell me everything is going to be alright.
The room is fairly ugly with a white and blue pattern on the wall and white carpet, there are two blue armchairs facing each other diagonally at the centre of the room so I take a seat in one of them and wait. It isn't long before Father is storming in, his face paler than I've ever seen it and his eyes filled with shock and fear. I stand suddenly and he rushes forward to pull me into a long hug. "This isn't right, I won't let them do this." He murmurs and I feel him shake his head. "It's my fault. They're doing this because of my gang, they have to be. I'm so sorry Saxony, I'm so sorry."
I gently shush him, rubbing his back with my hands. "It's not your fault, please, don't say that. There was always a possibility." He pulls away from me, looking me in the eyes and placing his hands on my shoulders.
"Are you not afraid?" He whispers.
"More than I've ever been before," I whisper back, smiling sadly. "But I'm also determined. You've raised me to be a fighter and I will not stop fighting." He nods his head, still frowning but I notice a bit of his fear start to slip away.
"I know. I know you can do it." He mumbles. "But I'll try, I'll try and make it so you won't have to."
"Don't put yourself at risk, please, don't do anything stupid," I say, pulling him into another hug. "I love you."
"I love you too, Saxony. More than anything." Then, I feel a drop of wet on my shoulder and realise the true extent of his love for me. As far as I'm aware, Tanner Hampton has only cried for one person - my Mother. Now he is losing the only person left that he loves, I can't do that to him. I won't do that to him, I will come back for him. I'll come back so he doesn't have to spend the rest of his life with nobody but a bunch of gang members who wouldn't care less if he dropped dead. A Peacekeeper enters during our final hug and tells him he has to leave. "I know, I know." He responds, sighing. He leaves me with a kiss on the cheek before walking out of the room, looking back at me the entire way.
I collapse onto the armchair and have to keep myself from falling apart, tears threatening to slip from my eyes. I refuse to let them, I need to stay strong because if I fall apart, I won't make it back here. I know I won't, strength is the only thing you have in The Games and I must keep mine intact. I'm thrown back into reality when three people walk into the room, faces filled with concern. It's Violet, Clarisse and James - my friends. The three of them crowd around the armchair, Violet throwing her arm around my neck and Clarisse and James holding my hands.
"You have to come back," Clarisse says into my hand, kissing it gently. "Please, tell us you'll try."
"Of course, I'll try, idiots," I say with a sad laugh. "I'll do anything."
"Murder isn't easy, Saxony," Violet mutters. "But you need to put everything aside to get home, everything." I nod, I know it's not going to be easy. I've seen Father murder a few times and understand how he has suffered over the faces of those he has taken out of the world. Violet's right, though, I'll need to put that aside if I want to have any chance at winning. These tributes, can't be people. They must be numbers, numbers I must pick off until only one remains.
The three of them give me a final hug before leaving, and I sit in the armchair in silence.
This is going to be a living hell.
Odalis Witherell
District 11, He/Him, 14
(The Justice Building)
...
Malory begins to head towards The Justice Building so I follow her lead, walking through the large open doors that stand before us. I don't look back at District Eleven, I don't think I can. I suppose it was never the nicest place to live, actually, like one of the worst in Panem but I still feel drawn to it. It had its attributes, the vast acres of grassland and fields that you could run through all day and never find an end for one. Not that I've ever done it, you need friends for that sort of thing, but I've heard it from others and it has always sounded so mystical.
"You okay?" Someone asks and I look to my right to see that it came from Malory, she looked very solemn with a deep frown on her naturally beautiful face.
"I'm okay," I respond, then, I realise I should probably ask her the same thing. We are in the same situation after all. "And you, are you okay?"
"No. Not okay." I offer a small smile and she gives me one too, although, it looks rather strained.
"Who was that girl screaming?" I ask - the echoes of the girl's screams still in my head, sending shivers up my spine.
"My girlfriend, Briana." I nod, I thought so but didn't want to assume.
"Must be nice. Having someone who loves you that much." I say and she looks at me with sad eyes.
"Yes, yes it is nice." Our conversation is interrupted by someone's footsteps coming toward us, it's the tall man with the tall hat and orange tuxedo.
"Hello, you two. Sorry for leaving you so long, we had a couple of room changes." He smiles but it doesn't come off as very genuine and both Malory and I keep our expressions neutral, waiting for him to start talking again. "Right, okay. Malory, you're gonna be just down the hallway over there sweetie in the room 'J5'." Malory gives me a small smile and nods before heading in the direction she was pointed toward. "And you, Odalis is it? Yes, yes. Down that hallway and in 'J9'." I walk off without another word.
I was expecting a little more from a room in the most expensive building in the District, instead, I enter to find yellow walls and a wooden floor with a wooden chair sitting in the centre of the room. I puff an annoyed breath out through my nose and take a seat on the chair, it's incredible how they can't even provide us with a pillow when we're being sent to our deaths. My legs begin to swing and I find myself becoming quite nervous, I don't really have any idea how my parents are going to react to this. Father will probably be sad, maybe he'll even cry. But Mother? Will she be as cold and demanding as usual?
My questions are quickly answered when my parents burst through the door, however, it's not my Father who is crying. Tears stream down Mother's face, she doesn't bother wiping them and runs over to embrace me. I'm shocked at first and don't hug her back but, once I've processed what's happening, I wrap my bony arms around her waist and begin to cry too. "I'm sorry, Odalis. I'm so sorry." She cries, not letting go of me even for a second. "I've been such a terrible Mother."
"No, you were never a terrible Mother. Please, don't say that." I whisper into her ear and I genuinely believe that to be true. Celia Witherell has lived a hard life, a harder life than many, but she has been able to keep strong through it all and she has done that for me and my Father. "I understand why you said the things you did. You were frustrated, with life. I know that." She nods, still crying and clutching to me.
"You've always been too good to me, Odalis." She sniffs and finally pulls away but the tears don't seem like they are going to stop any time soon. Father hugs me next, his soft beard pressed against my left cheek.
"I love you, Son." He says, gruffly. "You know that you've always known that. Please, come home, for us." I nod my head.
"I'll try." And I mean it, I will try despite the probabilities being stacked against me because I have something to come home to. A family that loves me, I've always known that but now more than ever I realise how much they need me and I must come home for them. When Father pulls away from the hug, the two of them leave quickly and without a sound.
I don't expect my sister to come but she gently opens the door and walks into the room. "Amara."
"Hey, Odalis." She says with a smile that doesn't quite reach her eyes.
"Thanks for coming," I say, standing up. She opens her arms and I fall into them, a small tear running down my face. The two of us have never been close, a couple of awkward interactions here and there, but we're siblings and she loves me. "Amara, what happens after death?" I mumble, nervous. I had wanted to ask my parents but it hadn't felt right to interrupt the moment with something as morbid as this.
"I don't know. I suppose nobody really knows." She says in a hushed tone. "But you won't be finding that out any time soon, Odalis. You hear me?" She pulls me out of the hug and faces me with stern eyes.
"Yes, I hear you." I smile and she nods her head in approval.
"Well, in that case, I'll see you soon."
"See you soon." And with that, she exits. The question still floats around my head, though. What does happen after death? I am going to find out, I have to.
A/N: Here we go, we've got the goodbyes done and dusted. I really enjoyed writing this chapter and I apologise if it got a little bit repetitive at times but I hope you did enjoy reading it and getting to know our tributes a little more.
I'm planning on train rides next with another 5 POV chapter, every tribute will have at least one POV before the bloodbath and plenty of screen time from other tribute's POVs so don't worry about that! Anyway, thanks for reading and let's head on down to The Capitol.
- Neb