Hi, everyone! I'm finally back! I hope you enjoyed your Christmas holidays. But now, let's not waste time and move straight to the chapter! Special thanks to santiagoponcini20 and Annabeth Pie for submitting the tributes of District 5.

Enjoy your reading :)

Last year

Leroy Jacobson (11)- Soldier *

The calm before the storm… that's what I think of, while I'm looking at my brother, who's having a cigarette. It glows, and then the ashes fall to the ground. I hypnotically watch them fall… they're not that different from the lives we're going to wipe out. A cloud of white smoke is now shrouding my brother, but I can still see his face… his weary face. The Capitol has turned us into soldiers, as they did with many other war orphans. We know more about the territory, so we're more likely to find where rebels hide.

"Want to have a puff?" asks my brother at some point.

He offers his cigarette to me, but I reject it.

"You'd better have it… you know, a little elation before the battle won't hurt," he insists.

Soldiers from the districts are not unfamiliar with taking drugs before fighting. Drugs make them brave and fearless… but they're also the way in which the Capitol controls them. If you want more drug, you have first to find some rebels to execute… that's how it works, that's why even innocent civilians may be killed. Sometimes, there are food shortages, and drugs are taken to overcome the pangs of hunger. I took some drugs myself, but I'm not addicted… not yet, at least. Unfortunately, the same cannot be said for my brother Lorenzo. He takes great pleasure from the painless oblivion they give, even though he's turned into a wreck as soon as their effect wears off. Drugs may help him to cope with killing, but they're slowly destroying him, and the worst part of it is that there's nothing I can do to save him, because we are in this together.

"I'm fine," I say rather shyly.

"Sure?"

I nod.

"Well, you don't know what you're missing," he replies, while having another puff.

Oh, I know exactly what I'm missing, instead: ecstasy that makes everything- even killing- thrilling and fast-moving, but that makes you a stranger to your own body, as if you were watching it from outside. If you kill people, you suddenly see red, as if their blood was running before your eyes, and the noise of their screams reaches your ear just as a distant, muffled echo. But when you wake from this macabre daydream… oh, how sick you feel! No, it's not worth it.

At some point, we hear a rustling from the surrounding trees. Lorenzo immediately stands up, his inseparable rifle in hand, his cigarette still between his teeth.

"Don't shoot, it's me!" cries a voice from the wilderness.

Lorenzo relaxes. "Me who?" he asks, rather amused.

Clearly, he has recognized the voice. A boy emerges from the trees. He's one of our fellow soldiers, indeed.

"You treat your best customers like that?" he complains.

"Better be careful," replies my brother, smirking.

"Customers?" I ask, puzzled.

"Ah, nothing you should care about, kid! Just a little bargain to earn extra money!" says Lorenzo.

"You've got it, by the way?" inquires his companion under his breath.

"Later."

"There could be no later."

"What?"

"We found some rebels."

"Oh, really?" says my brother, his voice trembling with excitement.

"There's no time to waste, then," I chime in, standing up.

My legs ache due to the uncomfortable position in which I was sitting. Not that one can expect to find a comfortable place to sit in a wild wood.

"His nickname is well-suited, Salas," comments the guy, addressing my brother.

"Salas?" I ask, confused.

Who the hell is Salas? What does it mean?

"Just my war nickname. Every elder soldier has a nickname," explains Lorenzo.

"And we find one also for the younger. Do you want to know yours?" adds the other, laughing.

I look at my brother. "I didn't know I had one."

He rolls his eyes in response.

"Your brother calls you Squirrel."

"Squirrel?" I say, rather dismayed.

"Yeah, because you look so cute and tiny, but you can bite," explains the guy with an amused smile on his lips.

"Oh, really? That's what you think of me?" I reply, addressing my brother in an angry tone.

"It's not necessarily an insult," he justifies himself, shrugging.

"Yes, it is, instead! It means that you don't take me seriously… that I'm not a good soldier for you!" I rebut, beside myself.

"Uh, Squirrel is freaking out!" says my brother's companion, pretending to be frightened.

"Oh, shut up!" I shout in response.

At this stage, the sound of several shots reaches us. We all know what it means: the raid has started… ecstasy, blood, death… will I ever wake up from this nightmare? And, if so, how could I go on with my life, if my hands are blood-stained? Actually, I feel more pity for the soldiers who survive a battle than for those who die… at least, the latter won't suffer any longer.

"They've started without us," Lorenzo points out.

"Let's go! I don't want to miss all the fun!" says the other, excited.

They start to run, rifles in hand, towards the direction from which the unceasing shots come, and I follow them. We get out of the woods, go down a slope, and reach a series of caves along a river… that's where rebels were hiding! As we're coming closer, all the sounds of human desperation join the choir of rifles. Anyway, by the time we get to the place, the raid is over. I hear a weak moaning on my right… a man, a survivor… but Lorenzo immediately puts him out of his misery with his bayonet. I instinctively look at his eyes… there's no trace of elation in them, unlike what I expected… his brown eyes are cold despite their colour, insensitive despite the sorrow they endured, unblinking despite what they're seeing … on the whole, my brother looks more like a machine without feelings than like a human being. And this vision frightens me.

I look around, at the landscape, trying to focus on something different from the spectacle of death I've just witnessed. Too much red, I need to find something green to soothe my sore eyes… but nature doesn't help me, since it's fall. I don't know exactly where I am… somewhere between District 5 and District 6, I suppose. Eventually, I find the courage to gaze at the death scene again. I gradually realize a thing: these rebels had no weapons with them. No weapons!? My head starts spinning as I understand what this implies… they weren't rebels, they were probably normal people who wanted to flee war… like Lorenzo and I, before we were captured and turned into soldiers. They were innocent!

A light breeze has started to blow, bringing some dry leaves with it… this is the last thing I remember, because then I lose my senses…

…...

6 years ago

Dynamica Sleet (10)- Citizen of District 5

I'm in that state of drowsiness- when you know you'll wake up soon, but you still want to linger on your dreams. But it lasts little. Someone enters the room, shaking me. I get up with difficulty, my head is spinning due to the sudden awakening, my body is trembling due to the sudden passage from warmth to chill. I look up. It's my mother.

"What's up? You could let me sleep a little bit longer on Saturdays," I complain, while yawning.

"Where's your sister?" she asks me in a worried tone.

I look around. We sleep all in the same room, but I can't see my little sister Diamond anywhere. At first, I'm neither worried nor surprised, I know she's not a sleepyhead, but the tone of my mother is somehow alarming.

"No idea," I reply, shrugging.

"She told me she wanted to have a walk with you. Didn't you see her?"

This makes my antennae raise. For Diamond, "have a walk" means "go exploring". She's so curious, she likes wandering in what she calls "unexplored places", no matter if it's dangerous. But I don't want to make my mother worry even more, so I simply get up with a reassuring smile on my lips.

"Don't worry, ma', she must have started without me, you know how active she is. I'll go find her, okay?" I say.

"But she could be anywhere!" she rebuts.

"I know her favourite places."

"Oh, hurry up, Dynamica! I can't think of that poor child of six wandering alone! She's also crippled, what if she fell and hurt herself?"

"She's fine, ma'," I say.

I'm not 100% sure it's true, though. To be sincere, I'm a bit worried myself.

"I'll find her before pa' comes back from the night shift, I promise," I add, nonetheless.

"Yeah, I'll wait here, your father must be tired and hungry," she mechanically replies.

I leave, wearing just a worn, beige shawl in addition to what I put on to go to bed last night. The sun has risen a short time ago and the air is chilly. I try to call my sister, but my voice is hoarse because of the cold. Actually, it's so cold that my head aches and I can barely feel my nipped fingers and toes. I rub my arms, tying to keep warm. I must find my sister soon! But I don't know where to start. I told my mother I knew Diamond's favourite places, but she hasn't really a favourite place for walks. Then, a thought hits me: a couple of days ago, she wanted to see the abandoned nuclear plant, but I didn't let her, because it's too dangerous. After the Dark Days, part of the nuclear production of the former District 13 was moved to Five, but it was a failure. They built only one plant, which was later on shut down, because it was not compliant. In fact, there were some radiation emissions, not enough to kill, but enough to bring about issues. I truly hope Diamond didn't go there, but I have to be sure, all the same. It's not very far away from where we live, so she could perfectly go there on her own.

The area all around the plant is enclosed by a high fence with barbed wire on its top, with signs such as NO TRESPASSING and symbols of radioactivity everywhere. But there are some holes in the fence, since the place has been basically left to itself years ago. My father told me once that the plant was built on a vast green area… as if District 5 was not bleak enough! The green area must have been wonderful, certainly better than a grey nuclear plant. I cross the fence, venturing into a real "unexplored place". Green grass is growing in patches on the brownish turf and ivy is slowly making its way on the grey walls of the plant. It's a good sign, I suppose, it means that the place is not radioactive, right? I used to imagine radiations as glowing, yellow-green rays that expand everywhere, but then I was told that they're invisible, which makes them even more dangerous, if possible. Anyway, the plant has been secured, so there shouldn't be any dangers. I'm moving forward with a soft pace. At some point, I step on something in the weeds. I look down: it's a pink slipper with a little, white ribbon on its top. My blood turns cold in my veins: it's my sister's! She must have tripped and lost it!

"Diamond!" I shout, ignoring my sore throat.

No answer.

"Diamond! It's me! Where are you?" I insist.

Finally, my sister pops up from some thick shrubberies. I hug her immediately.

"Oh, Diamond! You can't imagine how worried I was! Is everything okay? You're not hurt, are you?"

"I'm fine, I just lost one shoe," she simply answers, showing me her bare foot.

"Don't worry, I found it," I say, helping her to put it on. "Why are you here? I told you it was dangerous!"

"I was curious," she replies, watching me with her goo-goo eyes.

Oh, she knows that I cannot stay mad long, when she watches me like that!

"Promise me that you won't do it again," I say.

"Okay, I promise," she replies with the tone of someone who knows they got away with it.

Nevertheless, I hug her again. Diamond is one of the few people I really care about. She seems always so weak and harmless that one feels the need to protect her. But today I risked failing at it, it cannot happen again! If I lost my little sister, I don't know what I'd do. But it won't happen… I'm the elder sister, I will never let it happen!

…...

Present day

Lorenzo "Salas" Jacobson (18)- Citizen of District 5

I wake up earlier than it is necessary, but I cannot help it, I need to have a cigarette. I get up and then start wandering around the room like a zombie. Suddenly, I stop. I look behind my back: my little brother Leroy is sleeping like an angel. I immediately feel guilty, but I cannot get cold feet now, I'll do what I have to do.

I get out of the house with a cigarette in hand. I light it, enjoying its sweet scent, and I immediately feel better. I can make it; after all, I'm more prepared than anyone else will ever be. The sound of footsteps distracts me from my thoughts. It's Leroy.

"You woke up early," he points out, yawning.

"I'm not tired," I reply, without looking at him.

I'm looking beyond the porch of our house, but my eyes are actually vacant.

"You okay?" he asks me.

"I'm fine."

"Let's have breakfast, then!" he offers.

"I'm not hungry," I rebut.

"You should eat something, Lorenzo; cigarettes are not food," he retorts.

"I told you that I'm not hungry! Find something to eat by yourself and leave me alone!" I speak up, annoyed.

Leroy winces but keeps his eyes fixed on mine. He's not afraid, he's resolute.

I sigh. "Okay, sorry for that… it's just the Reaping, it really gets on my nerves…" I apologize.

In response, he just smiles and takes my free hand. "Don't worry, we're in this together. Basically, the whole district is uneasy today, so we're not alone."

I don't rebut; he's right, after all. I just smile. But I feel so stupid! This year, Leroy is eligible for the first time in his life, and he seems more self-confident than I am. What's happening to me? I'm the elder brother, I should be his gold standard, not the other way round! His confidence will make me more resolute, though.

Don't worry, you'll be safe, Leroy… it's a promise!

My brother goes to the kitchen and prepares bread and butter for both of us. I put out my cigarette and join him inside.

"Apparently, you cannot help being my nurse," I comment, trying to sound cheerful.

"You're my brother, and I love you," he replies with such a candour that I'm almost tempted to reveal my plan… but I keep quiet.

I'm going to do dreadful things for you, Leroy; we'll see what you'll think of me afterwards. I fear that you'll end up hating me. I promised you no more violence after the war, but I cannot keep my word… I cannot chance what I am, that's my curse: I've become so heartless that blood leaves me indifferent… a machine rather than a person made of flesh and bone...

"Lorenzo?"

I look up. My brother is watching me with that gaze.

"Are you okay?" he asks me, worried.

It's not the first time he catches me staring into space- sometimes, he does it himself- but it' usually due to war memories popping out from a past that is too recent to be forgotten… not that I believe I'll be able to forget it, anyway.

"Yeah… I was just thinking… what are we going to do after the Reaping? A whole day for ourselves, we must take this opportunity!" I lie.

"Umm… no idea. But we'll come up with something. For the moment, let's get ready for the Reaping!"

When we leave, we're both wearing casual clothes. First of all, celebrating the restoration of the Hunger Games with finer garments would be silly, and by looking at other people in the street I can tell that many agree with me in Five. Secondly, we cannot afford expensive clothes. But things may change. We reach the main square and enter the roped area reserved to the eligible kids. I accompany Leroy to his section.

"Be brave, kid," I tell him, before heading to my section in the front.

"You too," he replies.

Onstage, there are the mayor, his wife, the Head Peacekeeper... and there would be also the past victors of the Games, if District 5 had any still living. The mayor gives an introductory speech, reads the Treaty of Treason, and then leaves the word to the escort- a woman who's wearing a white top, a yellow hoodie, bright yellow sweatpants with vertical, black stripes at the sides, high heels, and long, silver earrings.

"Hello, District 5! My name is Kira Joy, and I'll be your escort! Welcome to the 76th annual Hunger Games!" she chirps with exaggerated enthusiasm. "And now, the moment we were all waiting for: the reaping of our tributes!"

"I volunteer!" I immediately shout.

The escort hadn't even the time to approach the balls with the entries, but she seems delighted to have a volunteer. "Oh, what a brave boy! What's your name, darling?" she asks me with a wide smile.

"Lorenzo Jacobson," I answer.

Out of the corner of my eye, I notice that the Head Peacekeeper nods with satisfaction. But it's just for a second, he immediately composes himself.

"And now, our female tribute is… Diamond Sleet!"

The reaped girl doesn't immediately make her appearance.

"Diamond Sleet!" repeats the escort.

A peacekeeper has to drag the girl out of her section. She's twelve years old… like Leroy. She's crippled and clearly blind, and the peacekeeper has to push her forward. A pitiful spectacle. They'd better kill her right now, because she stands no chance.

"I volunteer!" someone shouts.

An older girl emerges from her section. In the meantime, a man and a woman have got out of the crowd, and they're now accompanying Diamond Sleet out of the roped area. They're her parents, I suppose. However, she seems to resist. She's vacantly and desperately looking in the general direction of the stage, where her saviour has just mounted. I look at the newcomer. She's a bit underfed, with a pale complexion and wavy, blonde hair… her hair has a sort of neon green streak that immediately catches my eye.

"Oh, that's fashionable! Is that a new trend?" comments the escort, pointing at her hair.

"Well, if you consider exposure to radiation a trend, then I'm fashionable," she replies.

Kira Joy doesn't seem to care about this last comment, though. "Two volunteers from a non-Career district! That's an event to celebrate, don't you think? Let's give a round of applause for our brave tributes!"

Someone applauds, but the majority of the crowd keeps quiet.

"Ahem… the tributes of District 5: Lorenzo Jacobson and… oh, how forgetful I am! What's your name, dearie?"

"Dynamica Sleet."

"Ah, a relative…quite predictable. Anyway, I give you the brave tributes of District 5, ladies and gentlemen: Lorenzo Jacobson and Dynamica Sleet! Happy Hunger Games! And may the odds be ever in your favour!"

Once in the Justice Building, we're both assigned a private room for visitors. There's a peacekeeper at the door, whom I tell that I don't want to get any visits. I don't want to see Leroy cry. I don't want to explain why I volunteered… or, rather, why I was forced to volunteer. He would not understand. He would probably feel guilty.

My thoughts are interrupted by the noise of the door opening.

"I told you I don't want…" I start saying, but I don't finish my utterance, because, when I turn around, I see that it's the Head Peacekeeper.

"Sir," I greet him, tensing up.

"Looks like you still remember how to show respect, Jacobson," he comments.

The Head Peacekeeper was my former chief during the war. Those who were recruited in the districts like Leroy and I usually ended up in units aimed to guerrilla actions. Once the war was over, he was appointed Head Peacekeeper of Five, also because he comes from Five. Since then, he has been constantly keeping an eye on me and my brother. We had tried to desert at some point, but, unfortunately, we were recaptured. However, instead of executing us, our chief stroke a secret deal with me. He was certain that the Capitol would reintroduce the Hunger Games, so he ordered me to volunteer in order to kill possible rebels among the tributes.

"Too show-off for my liking, but you did what you had to do, at least. In any case, just to be sure, what's your mission?" he inquires, revolving around me like a vulture.

"Killing rebels, if any, sir," I promptly answer.

"Anyone could be a rebel, Jacobson, remember that!"

"Yes, sir."

"And what if you failed?" he goes on.

"I won't fail, sir," I affirm.

"But what if you did?" he insists, watching me with his piercing, cold eyes.

I hold my breath. "You would kill my brother, sir," I say.

"Precisely. That's the ending of deserters. But I was merciful to you, and I hope you won't disappoint me."

"I won't, sir."

…...

Dynamica Sleet (16)- District 5 female tribute

As soon as I'm left alone in the waiting room, I burst into tears. Seeing my sister get reaped… seeing how they treated her… but I did the right thing. She would have been killed, whereas I stand a chance, at least. I've always felt the need to protect her, especially after her health got worse due to radiation. I don't know if that day at the nuclear plant enhanced the whole process, all I know is that now poor Diamond is both crippled from birth and blind. Nobody cares about her in this cruel world, expect for me and my parents. If I have to die in the arena, I'll do it knowing that I saved her.

The door opens, and my family enters the room. They're all crying. I immediately hug Diamond, then my parents.

"Why did you volunteer?" asks my sister.

"I love you, Diamond, I couldn't let you go," I answer, teary.

"You did the right thing, kid, and we're proud of you," says my father.

He's almost unable to watch me without sobbing.

"Please, look after Diamond, I… I won't come back home for a while," I tell my parents, wiping away my tears.

"Sure… and look after yourself, Dynamica. Remember that your family will always support you," replies my mother, caressing my wet cheek.

"Please, Dynamica, win for me… win for us! Our house will look empty without you!" pleads Diamond.

"Yes, I'll win. We will all move to a bigger house in Victor's Village… a house with lots of unexplored places… we could play hide and seek, what do you think?"

"And what else?"

I make a list of things that we could do in the new house: adopting a dog, playing in the garden, exploring the neighbourhood… the more things I add to the list, the more this project seems wonderful and feasible. Yes, we could have all of these. I could win and our lives would be better forever. We could even afford a good doctor for Diamond. But, first of all, I have to win, and it won't be easy.

So, another Reaping is finally done and other two interesting tributes were introduced. All in all, we can say that this chapter revolves around the idea of protection. Both Lorenzo and Dynamica want to protect those they love in their own way. What do you think of their protective attitude?

I'll hopefully update more frequently from now on. For the moment, thank you a lot for reading and supporting me :)

Please, leave a review, if you liked this chapter! Have a nice day :)

*This character was introduced in Love Is the Deadliest Weapon chapter 7 (D5 Reaping) as one of the post-rebellion victors of District 5