1ꜱᴛ ᴘᴇʀꜱᴏɴ'ꜱ ᴘᴏᴠ
❲???, ???, ???, ???❳
Did you know?
Our minds incorporate sounds and smells around us when we're dreaming. If you're napping while someone's cooking lasagna, you might start dreaming you're dining at an Italian restaurant.
And if someone's asking, yes, I got that online. Why am I suddenly giving out that random trivia you may ask? Possibly because it is somehow the only thing I can use to describe my situation right now, and I am afraid to open my eyes after taking my daily nap.
I can possibly say that I am no longer on my study table. Because if I remember correctly, I slept hunched down on my table. But why the heck am I laying down on something hard and somewhat tickling me? Like what? I'm 100% sure that Louis did not move me to... wherever the heck I am!
This does not ease the fact of whether or not I should open my eyes to check my situation or just go back to sleep and remain blissfully unaware.
The sounds around me are also questionable. I can hear waves overlapping with one another and birds chirping all around me. Okay, as far as I can remember, the dorm I'm occupying is NOWHERE NEAR a body of water. Why do I hear waves then? Is that also the sounds of the leaves rustling? I don't want to even open my eyes. Did I somehow get kidnapped?- SOMETHING IS SLITHERING UP ON ME INSIDE MY SHIRT!
I quickly open my eyes and scramble to my feet to get that creepy crawly off my clothes. It quickly comes out, and now I can see the little fella slithering on my body. I look at it with a terrified expression as I find out who my slithering friend is.
"A FREAKING SNAKE?!" It's slithering toward me. "Oh heck no!" I said, running fast away from the centipede. "Nope nope nope! Nopidy nope nope!" I was so focused on getting far away from the centipede that I did not notice my surroundings. It was after I heaved a sigh of relief that I noticed my surroundings. Right now, I'm standing on the porch of a small wooden shed. I marvel at the sight of it and its craftsmanship. "Woah."
'Wait... WHAT IF THIS IS THE BASE OF THE ONES THAT KIDNAPPED ME?!' A look of horror crossed my face as I thought of that possibility. 'WHAT IF THEY ALREADY TOOK SOME OF MY ORGANS WHILE I WAS ASLEEP?!'
I quickly take off my hoodie and shirt and check my body for any stitches or something off. "No stitches here and also there. Phew, my organs are still intact and not one of them is MIA." I said as I let out a sigh of relief, putting on my shirt and then hoodie. I wasn't kidnapped, thank god. But that does not answer my question...
"Where am I?" I muttered to myself as I take in the view of wherever the location I'm in.
2ɴᴅ ᴘᴇʀꜱᴏɴ'ꜱ ᴘᴏᴠ
❲???, ???, ???, ???❳
"What am I gonna do now?" You ask yourself as you take in the view of the lake. You're currently sitting at the edge of the pier, contemplating what you should do next. You had thought of a few choices earlier of what you should do next. One is to panic and run around the vast forest searching for help, possibly endangering yourself by getting even more lost and possibly getting yourself killed by whatever wildlife creature is available here. Two, stay here and wait for someone to pass by so that you can ask them for their help.
The downside is, you don't know if people pass around this area or if this place is abandoned and humans will never find you, and you will starve to death, to put it kindly. Though, there's a shed here. Surely someone must live here, and they're just off to do some errands... or that shed is also abandoned. Which leaves you with option number three... be one with nature. You know, like Tarzan and Mowgli. You just need some talking animal companions to kick-start this journey!
"...As if that's gonna happen." You mutter to yourself as you throw some pebbles on the lake. "Whoever brought me here could've at least brought the book I just bought so that I can at least be entertained... also my phone... and possibly my AirPods - does this area even have WiFi?"
Well, skipping stones might be a good way to pass the time by... if you ever get some help, that is.
3ʀᴅ ᴘᴇʀꜱᴏɴ'ꜱ ᴘᴏᴠ
❲???, ???, ???, ???❳
Unknown to the boy, he was not the only human present at the lake. Nearby, a group of six people were hiding behind some trees, whispering to each other about who the boy is and how he knows this location. They are known as the Covey, nomadic people known for their musical talent and performances. They usually take a trip to the lake even if it takes them two to three hours to get here, but they don't mind; the lake is like their second home.
Now, imagine their surprise when they saw an unknown boy sitting on the edge of the pier of the lake. After the shock wears off, they nimbly hide behind some trees as they observe him.
"I thought us Covey folks were the only ones who knew 'bout the lake," the youngest of the group whispered to the group with her sweet, squeaky voice. She is Maude Ivory Baird, the youngest member of the Covey and can remember every song she hears.
"Me too, Maude Ivory. But here we are, with this unknown boy at our second home," a girl with dark, curly hair, which was pulled up and woven, whispered back. She then looked towards the other people of the group and asked them in a whisper, "Do any of ya'll know him?" She is known as the songbird and lead singer of the Covey, Lucy Gray Baird.
"I ain't never seen that boy 'round here in District 12," a tall, raw-boned young man whispered back with an expressionless face as he and the others kept an eye on the boy who was throwing some pebbles into the lake. The mandolin player of the Covey, Tam Amber, is his name.
"Neither have I," a willowy young woman whispered back. Barbara/Barb Azure Baird, is her name and is the bass player of the Covey.
Maude Ivory then looks at one of the boys, a young man with dark hair. "Well now, reckon ya might know ol' Billy Taupe. You always stirred up a mess 'round District 12, 'specially when you had a few too many white liquors. Could be he's one of them fellas ya tangled with in a scuffle or two." She said innocently though her eyes held a bit of suspicion.
The guy, Billy Taupe Clade, who plays the accordion in the Covey, narrows his eyes as he glares a bit at Maude Ivory. If he bites back, the others wouldn't like that, especially Lucy Gray, whom he is dating. "Well, ain't that just dandy, Maude Ivory," he said sarcastically "Well now, I reckon I don't know that fella none, nor have I tussled with him none neither."
Lucy Gray continued to observe the unknown boy, noting his strange clothes. "He's got some mighty peculiar clothes with him, even stranger than ours." That earned the attention of the Covey even more as they looked at the boy's clothing. "I ain't never seen them kinda clothes 'round these parts before, 'specially not here in District 12," said Lucy Gray, a tad bit intrigued by his clothing, especially the colors.
A skinny young boy suddenly spoke up. "What if he's from the Capitol?" The boy is known as Clerk Carmine Clade or otherwise known as CC. He is the little brother of Billy Taupe.
That made the Covey freeze in their place as their eyes widened at the possible thought. A Capitol citizen? Here in District 12? Rarely do citizens from the Capitol come to District 12, with a few exceptions from Peacekeepers who hailed from the Capitol. But this boy is currently not wearing a Peacekeeper uniform nor showing any signs that he is associated with them. But the most terrified member of the group was Billy Taupe.
Billy Taupe could feel his heart beating at an alarming rate. What if that boy got sent here because the Capitol is now starting to suspect rebels here in District 12, which is, in fact, true since he is one himself. Sweat started to drip down his body as he thought of the possibility.
'It can't be that! It's far too early to get caught, we ain't even done nothin' yet!' thought Billy Taupe as he tried to calm his heart.
"Let's head on back. We can swing by the lake another day," Tam Amber whispered as the other members of the Covey nodded. They started to quietly walk in the direction they came from. But then Billy Taupe thought of something that made him stop in his tracks.
'What if I end him right here 'n now?' The area is secluded and void of Peacekeepers, making it the perfect location to do the deed. Billy Taupe looked back at the boy, his eyes holding anger, maliciousness, and hesitation. The Capitol had been killing District citizens during and after the war thanks to the so-called Hunger Games. They wouldn't notice if they ended one of their own breathing, right? Ending one life and saving hundreds doesn't sound so bad. He can save himself and the rebels from execution!
It was like his body was not his own as he found himself nimbly moving towards the unsuspecting young man with his mind still in inner turmoil. 'What if that fella already has some dirt on us?! I oughta take him out when his guard's down!' thought Billy Taupe as his feet made his way to the guy.
Lucy Gray, noticing the absence of Billy Taupe's footsteps behind her, turned around, and her eyes widened in shock and confusion. "Billy Taupe! What're ya doin'?!" she whispered as to not alert the boy at the pier, but it was loud enough for the whole Covey to hear as they also turned around to see what was going on. They nimbly followed Billy Taupe to stop him from what he was going to do and to drag him back to the Seam if they have to.
But Billy Taupe didn't pay attention to them, his mind already made up. He has to end this guy right here and now. He was already at the pier, his footsteps quick and quiet. Y/n, hearing some footsteps behind him, was elated. There's a person here! Maybe they can help him! As he turns around to greet that person with a smile, he feels a pair of hands on his back... and is pushed towards the lake.
'...The hell-?'
That was the young man's final thought as his body was embraced by the cold water of the lake.
"BILLY TAUPE, WHAT DID YOU JUST DO?!" yelled out Lucy Gray in shock, disbelief, and terror as she and the rest of the Covey arrived on the pier. They saw everything. Billy Taupe looked at them with his eyes wide, still not aware of the consequences of his actions.
'I done did it. I actually done did it.'
Tam Amber was about to jump into the water to save the young man, but the young man reemerged from the water, sucking in a huge breath and looking at them with confusion and anger.
"WHAT IN THE NAME OF JOJO SIWA DID YOU DO THAT FOR?!" exclaimed the stranger as he glared at the group. The Covey could only look in shock and a bit of confusion with one thought in their minds.
'Who's Jojo Siwa?'
The boy looked at them with one of his eyebrows raised. "Well?"
That seemed to snap them back to reality as Lucy Gray walked forward to apologize to him. "We are so sorry about our friend-"
But Billy Taupe pushed her back as he glared at Y/n. "Don't ya act innocent on me, Capitol boy."
Y/n blinked multiple times in confusion and annoyance as he glared at him also, he also spit out some lake water. "Well, I wasn't the one who pushed someone into the lake, now am I?" he said sarcastically. "And also, Capitol boy? What does that supposed to mean?"
That earned a few shocked looks from the Covey, especially Billy Taupe, but he continued to glare at Y/n. "Y'all city folk up in the Capitol need to quit trying to hide behind yer fancy walls! Just 'cause y'all won the war don't mean y'all can treat us District folk like we're nothin'. Every year, two poor souls from each District gotta be chosen for them games-"
Billy Taupe couldn't continue his words as Lucy Gray pushed him out of the way as she stretched her hand for Y/n to take. "Tam Amber, ya mind giving me a hand 'round here?" Tam Amber complied as he also got Y/n out of the lake with the help of Lucy Gray.
With Y/n now out of the lake, he let out a sigh of relief as he stood up, drenched in water from head to toe. "Thank you guys... except for one." he said the last part while narrowing his eyes at Billy Taupe. "Also, I am NOT from the Capitol or whatever that is-"
Dusk was about to continue his words when Maude Ivory stepped in, handing him a towel. "You'll get a cold if ya don't dry off," she said as she looked up at him.
Y/n looked at her in surprise but hesitantly took the towel. "Thanks, kid." he said with a small smile as he used the towel to dry himself off.
Maude Ivory then stepped back and walked besides Lucy Gray, who had a somewhat proud smile on her face at her action and put an arm around her. She then looked at Y/n with intrigue and had her guard up a bit. "So if ya sayin' ya ain't from the Capitol, where'd ya come from?"
1ꜱᴛ ᴘᴇʀꜱᴏɴ'ꜱ ᴘᴏᴠ
❲???, ???, ???, ???❳
'Well, shit.'
Okay, once again, I have no idea WHERE THE HECK AM I TO BEGIN WITH! I most certainly don't belong in the Capitol because I didn't know that existed! I then observe the group and their get-up.
'They are most likely foreigners with southern accents and a different style of clothes. Meaning, I've most likely been kidnapped from my dorm and got SHIPPED OFF TO ANOTHER COUNTRY WHILE I WAS SLEEPING!'
Due to my panic, I just randomly point in a direction. They widen their eyes in disbelief as they look at one another, as if they were surprised at where I'm pointing... okay, where the heck am I pointing?
The teenage girl then looks at me, still in disbelief and hesitation. "So whatcha sayin' is, ya come from the North?" Is that the direction where I'm pointing? Nevertheless, I nod, and for some reason, the group is shocked, especially the guy who pushed me? Probably due to him pushing me into the lake or maybe his personality. I don't like him. A lot. But am I really THAT bad of a liar? Wait, I didn't ask them where I am though. I should've asked that first, stupid me.
"By the way? Where am I though?" I ask while looking around. I gotta admit, I love the view.
The group once again looks at one another as if it's their way of communicating who should answer me. That is, until the teenage girl who broke the silence says, "Well, we just call this place the lake. It's like our second home, but we live at the Seam, near the woods, which is at District 12."
I blink multiple times at that because I have no idea where those are. District 12? What a strange name. Nobody calls a village, town, nor a city like that... well, unless you're in the Hunger Games-
My eyes then widen as a terrifying realization hits me, and my heart begins to race. I mean, it couldn't be possible, right?
"...And you are?" I force my tone to be calm. I have to check if I'm going crazy or proving my super impossible theory.
The teenage girl is a bit hesitant but lets out a smile as she introduces herself, "My friends call me Lucy Gray - I hope you will, too!"
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'Oh, fuck.'
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NOTES
Hello! Author here! I finally posted the first chapter of this story! So sorry if the characters are a bit OOC, but I'll try to fix it in the future. Once again, thank you for giving your time reading this story. Please leave a vote and a comment if you can, and I'm also open to criticism!
So, the beloved reader has now met the talented Covey, but why is that-no-good Billy Taupe there? That will be answered in the future chapters! I hope you'll be there for the next chapter. Bye!
2884 WORDS, EDITED