Chapter 3:
District Eleven
Sonya Starling, 14
One Month Before
"Psst, little lady, you still there?"
"Of course I am," Sonya answers immediately, bringing her focus back over to the trainer working with her. She hadn't expected to even wind up at the training center once it was built, let alone working with the victor in front of her. But he's the only one that hasn't treated her any differently and pushes her just as he does the others, so she keeps finding herself drawn towards working with him.
"Then what's on your mind?" Bronn asks her, gentle smile on his face that sets her at ease immediately. It's hard to not feel that way around the grandfatherly victor from Two – yeah, that still surprises Sonya at times when she thinks about it, but Bronn is nothing like the current victors from Two. "You seem a little unfocused today."
"I'm not," she's quick to respond, getting defensive at the thought of him judging her work today. But the truth is, she is distracted. She knows the victors stop by once a month to check up on things and today is that day. She needs to talk to them. "Well…" she hesitates, not used to telling people these things, and while she still doesn't trust Bronn – hell, she barely trusts her own family – he's one of the few people who can make sure she's prepared for what's to come. "The victors are coming in today, probably for the last time before the Games."
"Ah, I see," Bronn says, nodding his head in understanding. "And with the Games in a little under a month, you're worried they're here to pick volunteers that aren't you." Sonya cringes at how spot on his statement is and she curses herself for being so readable to him. She just can't help it when he's like a grandfather! "I'm sure if I spoke to them, they'd consider my recommendation."
"No," Sonya says quickly with a shake of her head. "I need to do this on my own and prove to them I can be our next victor. I can't have the grandpa telling them what to do."
Bronn smiles and chuckles at getting called a grandpa, despite having no children of his own. "Very well, let's see what you can do Miss Starling."
And that right there is why Sonya likes working with Bronn. He accepted what she has to do, no questions asked, and even kept encouraging her to keep training. No one else ever does that for her. They're all afraid she'll break if she does anything more exerting than a walk, sometimes not even that. They get back to work with some weight lifting, with Bronn lifting a surprising amount as he corrects her technique. If it wasn't for his gray hair and wrinkles on his face, it'd be hard to believe he's as old as he is.
But soon, three people enter that have Sonya's focus – and some of the other trainees – right away. Pinova Braeburn, their youngest victor, leads the way towards Head Trainer Nikhila, face full of determination. She holds the hand of her boyfriend Aineon and partially drags him along with her as he looks around the center, a hint of nervousness in his eyes. Sonya has spotted him around before, learning from some of the trainers, but from the way he keeps to himself, she figures he wasn't really interested in talking to the others. It's also just none of her business and she doesn't care that much. Rounding out their small group is one of the two other victors in Eleven, Kanzi Yesenia, a woman who just oozes confidence and a willingness to do whatever it takes. Sonya is banking on the older woman respecting that same drive in Sonya.
Pinova stops to chat with Nikhila, looking around the center as she does so and giving a cheery wave at Bronn. And then Sonya makes her move.
"Sorry Bronn, I'll work double when I'm back," Sonya tells him before she makes her way over to the group of four, catching them as they turn to start walking towards Nikhila's office. "Excuse me!" she clears her throat, getting their attention.
The turn to look at her, various looks on their faces. Nikhila seems slightly annoyed at the interruption and leans over to whisper to Kanzi, making Sonya narrow her eyes at her. Aineon has a look of concern, like she's gonna spill his secret or whatever. But Pinova gives her a warm smile, "Hi, what can we do for you? And what's your name?"
"I'm Sonya Starling," she says as she offers her hand out and Pinova takes it, and she gives the victor a firm handshake. "And I am here to tell you why I should be the volunteer."
Pinova blinks a couple times in shock and raises her eyebrows, clearly not expecting there to actually be people that want to volunteer. She looks over at Nikhila, who sighs quietly and gestures for them all to follow her. The woman hasn't done a good job at hiding the fact that she thinks Sonya's training is a waste of resources and Sonya resents her for that. The only reason she's held her tongue about it is the fact that Nikhila can kick her out if she decides to. "Come with me to my office."
Sonya keeps her chin up and shoulders back as she follows after Nikhila, the victors and their escort following behind her. She does her best to ignore their soft whispers, unable to hear what they're saying, as Nikhila gestures for the group to enter her office. Sonya sits at the desk as Nikhila moves around it to her chair. The two victors hover somewhat awkwardly between them and Aineon takes the other open seat, prompting Pinova to move to stand behind him. "Alright," Nikhila says with a disinterested wave at Sonya. "Get it out."
Sonya focuses on the two victors, knowing they're the ones that are really in charge here, no matter what Nikhila thinks. "I'm here to make a case for why I should be one of the volunteers. I know I'm only fourteen, but I've been working hard and have a very good reason for why I need to go into the Games-"
"Sonya has a lung condition," Nikhila interrupts her and Sonya briefly looks over at her to give her a glare. "Shall I pull out your medical record? Tell them all about how any heavy physical exertion can send you to the hospital?"
"No, I was getting to that if you would let me give my pitch," Sonya crosses her arms at Nikhila before turning back to the victors. "Yes, I have a lung condition and that doesn't define me. God, I hate people assuming that! I've been working on breathing exercises and training to strengthen my lungs, but the fact is…we can't afford the treatment I need to completely manage it. I'm getting worse each year and it's only a matter of time until I become the weak, sick thing everyone thinks I am. So I have to do this."
"You're willing to risk your life for this?" Pinova asks her in disbelief before her expression changes to confusion. "I…wasn't sure we'd have volunteers."
"I'm willing to try anything to get that treatment and prove myself," Sonya tells her, desperate to make her see her point of view. "Jarle did the same thing twenty years ago. I promise you, I have the same drive that he did, if not more."
"We do have lots of other trainees for you to consider," Nikhila speaks up and Sonya really wishes she could cuss her out without consequences. It takes every ounce of restraint she has to not do so. "You should take a look at them before making any decisions."
"I can tell you right now that half of those kids out there are doing this just to play with sharp knives," Sonya tells the victors with a scoff. "And the rest are using it for socializing. I'm the most serious one here."
"Well…" Pinova says, giving the other two a look to hear her out and Sonya knows she's won her over. "If it comes down to it and there's more than one volunteer, the victors pick…"
"Please pick me," Sonya pleads with them, knowing she has to do this now. There's simply no other option for her. "I promise I'm putting my all into this. I'm out of options at this point and don't know if I can wait another year."
"The Games are extremely physical," Kanzi points out to Sonya, much to her dismay. "The first five minutes are going to require the hardest running of your life. Are you going to be able to do that?"
"I'm willing to give it my best shot," Sonya answers determinedly before giving them a shot. "If I don't make it, well, I was on my way out in another year or two so what's the harm in letting me go? Would you rather some perfectly healthy kid who has never experienced any hardship go into the Games instead?"
Kanzi and Pinova share a look at that, seemingly having a silent conversation between the two of them, as Aineon looks at Sonya, troubled look on his face that surprises her for a moment.
"Okay, let's go see what training you have."
Frederick 'Ricky' Baldwin, 15
One Week Before
Laughter from the next house over brings Ricky to a pause, reaching up to wipe the sweat off his brow with his arm as he leans back on his feet. He stays crouched down, hands full of weeds as he looks over, finding his new neighbor Felicity out back with a friend. "Hey girl!" Ricky calls over to her, standing up and tossing the weeds aside before brushing the dirt off on his pants. He walks over to the wooden fence surrounding their property, watching the two girls. He casually leans against the fence and flashes Felicity a flirty smile, which just makes her friend hide a giggle behind her hand. "How's it going?"
"Hey Ricky," Felicity responds, giving him a polite smile as she humors him. Her friend leans over to whisper in her ear, using her hand to block her mouth from Ricky, and Felicity gives a short nod. "It's going. What about you? You doing okay?"
She's the only one that ever asks Ricky how he's doing, which makes him about 90% certain that he is going to win over her affection someday. "Ah, you know, same old, same old," he gives a wave of his hand. "Enough about me, what are you up to?"
"We need to work on a school project," her friend tells him in a snotty voice that has him narrowing his eyes at her tone. Of course she thinks she's so much better than him because she still goes to school. She gives him a slight sneer that he returns earnestly, the only think keeping him from cussing her out then being Felicity standing next to her. "Come on, Felicity, let's go inside. We have more important things to do than talk to that psycho's brother."
Stupid bitch.
"Sorry Ricky, but we really do need to work on this project," Felicity says apologetically and gives him a small smile as he barely holds back his temper. Just barely. Only because she's cute and he wants to date her. "I'm sure we'll chat another time considering you live next door."
That comment has his anger start to fizzle out as the girls starting walking back to the house. "One of these days you're going to say yes!" Ricky calls over to her as he starts walking backwards, watching the two girls head inside. "No one can resist this," he says with a gesture at his sweaty, dirt covered body. Well, maybe not the best example right now, but his face is still handsome.
"Whatever you say, Ricky!" Felicity calls back with a laugh, waving at him before closing the door shut behind them.
Ah, he'll get her one of these days. She can only try to resist his charm for so long before she realizes what she's missing out on. And hopefully she stops hanging out with that stupid asshole friend of hers. "Who does that bitch think she is?" Ricky mumbles to himself as he goes back over to the plants and resumes picking the weeds once more, angrily ripping them out. "Thinks she's so high and fucking mighty because she goes to school, oh get fucked asshole."
He keeps grumbling as he goes, his anger eventually soothing out as he falls into the rhythm of plucking the weeds and tossing them aside into the bucket next to him. It's taken time to build back up their crop of herbs and finally they're starting to be able to reap the benefits of them, but it still will be a long time before they're back to where they were before his brother destroyed everything. If ever… Stupid ass Walker. Ricky hopes he gets the shit beat out of him every day as he rots in that cell.
His actions slow as he hears the front door shut and raised voices inside the house, indicating his parents are back from visiting the bastard that got them here in the first place. He doesn't know why they still waste their time visiting Walker anymore. He's getting exactly what he deserves and needs to rot away for the rest of his life. God, he hates that asshole more than anything for all the shit he did to Ricky over the years. He clutches the dog nametags on the necklace tucked under his shirt, a bitter reminder of the cruelty he had to witness at Walker's hands when he was only six.
But still, curiosity wins him out since he so rarely hears his weak mother raising her voice, even if it is just in panic, and he heads closer to the house so he can listen at the kitchen window. Of course she's upset after visiting her eldest son, she's the reason he ended up the way he is.
"I just can't believe he wants to do this!" Edith says, voice wavering as she chokes back a sob. "What is wrong with him to think it's a good idea?"
"It's his shot at freedom," Alfred responds and Ricky can't read his tone without seeing his face. "If he wins, he'll get pardoned of his crimes."
"Yes, if he can live going up against 23 other children also fighting for their lives!" Edith tells him and they go quiet for a few seconds as Ricky starts to piece together what Walker wants to do… No. "Isn't it better for him to live out his life in jail than die in the Games?"
Ricky immediately starts shaking his head as he runs into the house, slamming open the back door and making his parents jump a little. "What the fuck is Walker going to do?" Edith and Alfred share a look like they weren't going to tell him this, which just further incites his rage. "What's he doing?!"
Alfred sighs and wrings his hands in front of him, but at least he actually gives Ricky an answer. "He plans to volunteer for the Games next week."
"No," Ricky tells them, repeatedly shaking his head at them.
"We tried to tell him not to but he wouldn't listen to us," Edith chimes in, standing near her husband as if he'll protect her.
"He's never listened to you a damn day in his life!" Ricky yells at his parents, in a bit of disbelief that they aren't doing more to stop Walker. But then again, he's not surprised at all. They're the reason Walker ended up the way he did and then allowed him to make Ricky how he is. "We can't let him do that! There's gotta be a way."
Alfred gives a shrug before putting his arm around his wife's waist. "We all know there's nothing that will stop him. Once he volunteers, he'll be free. I doubt anyone else will step forward to volunteer."
"I will," Ricky tells them without a second thought. If it means stopping Walker from destroying his life even more than he already has, he'll do it. "He can piss on it if he thinks I'll let him go into the Games and get his freedom."
"Ricky, don't do that," Edith pleads with him, which just makes Ricky want to do it even more, just to piss them off. "Don't throw your life away in the Games!"
"Ah you actually care about my life?" Ricky scoffs at the woman and shakes his head. "Don't lie to yourself. I'd rather gouge my own eyes out than watch Walker go into those Games and earn his freedom. He completely deserves that life sentence and I'm not letting him get out of it after less than three months!"
Ricky has to shut his eyes and take a deep breath, red hot rage burning in him at just the thought of his brother running free in the District. And not just free, as a victor if he were to manage to get home. A victor that they'd praise since their District is so pathetic in the Games. A victor who'd be pardoned of his crime. How long would it take before he came back here and started getting in fights with Ricky? Or until he sets this house afire like he did their old home and destroy everything they've rebuilt? "No fucking way am I letting that bastard get freedom. He can rot in that cell for his whole damn life. Over my dead body will he volunteer for the Games."
He never wanted to go into the Games and thought with the changes, he'd never have to worry about being Reaped. He would get to sit back and watch the prissy Capitolites get a taste of what the rest of them have been experiencing. But leave it to Walker to make him have to do this. So be it.
He'll never let that bastard see the light of day again.
Alright we have our two little firecrackers from Eleven! Big thanks to lexi486 and House Elf Liberation Front for Sonya and Ricky respectively! I'm excited to show some of our younger tributes! Just because they're young certainly does not mean they should be overlooked (hehe, overlooked). And yeah, I couldn't resist that Bronn cameo, I just love my D2 victors lol. I've actually figured out all of the victors that go to other Districts and we might see a few of them in the remaining intros. Also I didn't realize until writing Sonya that we have a Starling and Sterling in this story lol.
So yes, District Eleven was next up and we're a quarter of the way through! At this point, if you're gonna figure out the order, I'd say you can figure it out at this point lol. If people have started to get it, I'm curious if you can successfully guess who is up next! Speaking of, I have the next chapter finished so I'll be updating that next Friday! I actually have 12/24 intros written so woo being at the halfway point! And I have the rest planned out so hopefully I can keep cranking away on them and keep regularly updating!
RQ #3: Well we've seen 1/4 of the tributes so far, so who is your favorite of the six introduced at this point?
Alright, I'll see you next Friday with the next District!
