Hi, everyone! It took me a while to update, sorry. Anyway, I've started a SYOT titled Divine Punishment in parallel with this story. In case of references, you'll see the symbol * and find the explanation at the end of the chapter. I inform you that there are still plenty of slots free for submissions, you just need to PM me or send a review, if interested. In short, you can still submit:
- 23 TRIBUTES for Divine Punishment (check the list on chapter 2 or on my bio)
- SPONSORS for Love Is the Deadliest Weapon (at the moment, there's only one sponsor, who supports 1 and 2)
For further info, see my profile or PM me. Just remember that people who submit will get the opportunity to assign EXTRA POINTS to their favourite tributes, even if I didn't accept their tributes/sponsors.
Thank you :)
Some months before the Reaping
Christopher "Chris" Terranova (12)- Citizen of District 6
We thought that everything would be easier under cover of night. But we were wrong. Now, Mary and I are in a side road, panting behind some trash cans. She's peeking at the street.
"Can you see them?" I ask her under my breath.
"No," she replies, without taking her eyes off the street.
I don't know whether I should feel relieved or scared. The night is dead silent… too silent considering the fact that a group of peacekeepers is after us. Have we really been able to throw them off? But I don't even have the time to ask myself this question that Mary starts running. I hear some dogs bark not too far from where I am. Scared to death, I immediately follow my mate. I look back just for a second and see the light of an electric torch coming around the corner. They're close. If we don't find a good hiding spot soon, they'll catch us. I dread to think of how our overseers at the community home would punish us for escaping.
At some point, Mary turns right, taking a dark, narrow street between two rows of houses. I follow her. We run till the end of it and… no! It's a blind alley! We turn around to go back, but I can already see a flashlight in the distance. A peacekeeper has taken the same street! We're trapped. We begin desperately to look around, trying to find a way out. But we're enclosed by walls, which provide no handhold for climbing. Eventually, we hide behind some trash cans… again. Neither says a word, the slightest noise would betray us. We can only hope that the peacekeeper doesn't find out our hiding place. But it's too much for us to hope for. In fact, the peacekeeper brings down the trash cans with a kick. We're doomed. I'm scared stiff, I barely have the energy to wince.
"There you are, you little brats!" he shouts, pointing the flashlight at us.
It's all happening in a moment. I hear a hiss in the air, then the peacekeeper keels over to the ground, hit by an invisible force. I approach him and notice that there's a sort of dart on his neck. Suddenly, Mary screams. I turn around, scared. A bold figure all wrapped in a dark cloak has appeared out of nowhere. No, wait… a rope is dangling behind the stranger! I look up and see that there are other dark figures on the roof. The stranger is not alone, then. But what does he want from us?
Before I can say a word, he speaks with a voice as deep as a moonless night: "Follow me."
"We're not going anywhere without knowing who you are!" replies Mary.
"Do you prefer the company of peacekeepers? They'll be here in no time," he points out.
In fact, the sound of their boots is closer and closer, accompanied by the barking of their dogs. I wince at the thought of their jaws biting me. As things stand, we'd better follow the stranger. Don't know why, but I feel that I can trust him.
Mary and I use the rope to climb over the roof, followed by the stranger. It's hard, but we make it. In the meantime, some peacekeepers have crowded around their mate laying on the ground. Luckily, we're already bent down on the roof, and the rope we used to climb has been collected. They cannot see us, I hope.
"They hit John!" someone shouts.
"Don't tell me he died…"
"No, he just fainted. Look at that dart! They used some kind of sleeping drug."
"How could they get it?"
"No idea."
"But where have they gone?"
"They ran away!"
"They couldn't have gone very far, we must find them!"
Only when they're gone, the stranger and his mates stand up.
"You were lucky," he says, addressing us.
"Why did you help us?" I ask him.
"This is neither the time nor the place to ask questions. Follow us, we'll take you to a safe place," he replies.
To be sincere, there are a lot of questions I'd like to ask him, but his mates have already started to swing from rooftop to rooftop by using ropes tied up to their hips and fitted with harpoons. I cannot help but gape. They're amazing acrobats, but Mary and I will never be able to emulate them. Climbing over the roof was already a slog.
"Hang on to me and Davis," orders the stranger, indicating one of his remaining mates.
It's almost like he had read my mind.
I'm a bit afraid of falling, even if I'm wrapped around Davis, who's a muscular man. Anyway, I cannot miss the opportunity of seeing the city from above, so I avoid closing my eyes. It feels like I'm living one of those amazing adventures I used to invent for my roommates at the community home. Suddenly, I feel sad. None of them wanted to risk escaping, Mary was the only one who accepted. I hope they'll be okay. As for me, I couldn't stay in that place one more second. I couldn't accept to live there until I would find a job to survive. After all, the world is a wondrous place and is waiting for me to explore it.
In the meantime, we have reached the outskirts of town. We descend to the ground and enter a fence. I look around, bewildered. It's a cemetery of trains. Some of them are onto sidings, while others lie on the ground. There's also a great warehouse in the middle, surrounded by lower buildings.
"Once, this place was meant to fix trains, but now it's just a landfill for old wrecks. Broken things aren't fixed any longer, people think only of building new ones and consuming them. But it doesn't mean that we have to do it as well… we're different, we recycle the pieces that are still usable and resell them," explains the stranger grimly.
"You work here, then," I say.
The stranger lets out a smile. "We live here, kid," he specifies.
When we enter the warehouse, he takes off his dark cloak, so that I can see his face. He's a middle-aged man, with scarred, tanned skin, thick, grey hair, and different-coloured eyes- one blue and one brown.
"My name's August, by the way," he introduces himself.
"I'm Christopher, and she's my sister, Mary."
Actually, Mary is not my sister. We were put in the community home the same day. My parents died in a train accident leaving me orphan, whereas she had been abandoned. Since then, we've grown very close. Mary has even decided to take my family name… she thought that having the same name would increase the chances of being adopted together.
"Davis, give them some food, and then find them a place for the night," orders August.
"Yes, boss," replies Davis.
August starts climbing a wooden staircase. "See you tomorrow," he says.
"Hey! Wait! You didn't answer my question! Why did you help us?" I point out, but he neither replies nor stops.
"You owe us an explanation!" insists Mary.
I'm about to follow him up the stairs, but Davis stops me.
"Don't discuss with August. It has been a heavy night, you need to rest. Tomorrow, he'll answer your questions. August is a good boss, you'll learn to appreciate him," he says with such a gentle smile that we give up.
…...
Two years ago
Craig Donovan (44)- Head Peacekeeper
If there's anything I really hate, that's patrolling in the pouring rain. But the Head Peacekeeper has to give the example, otherwise these lazy soldiers will learn only to slack off. And District 6 is definitely the wrong place to slack off. With all its criminal gangs, it's one of the most dangerous districts of Panem. Peacekeepers need to have broad shoulders here… and who better than a native to lead them? Not one of those dandies who think that they're the best just because they come from Career districts or, worse, from the Capitol. But I'm not so silly to reveal my true feelings for our government. The Head Peacekeeper is supposed to be loyal; besides, I've got a family to support, I would never risk their lives due to my beliefs.
My attention is drawn by one of my men, who comes running from a side road.
"What's up, soldier?" I immediately ask him.
"A fight broke out in a school, sir," he answers, panting.
"Where?"
"In the outskirts, sir, near the community home."
The outskirts of District 6 are the most similar place to hell that I can bring to mind- a maze of streets and slums that seems endless. There, you can find the heart of criminality. People are so used to coping with criminals, that breaking the law is regarded as the norm… and I know this because I was born in the outskirts.
When we arrive on the spot, only two contenders are left standing- a girl and a boy. The others are laying on the ground, wailing.
"You may have knocked out all my friends, Steel, but you've got no chance against me!" shouts the boy.
"We'll see," she calmly replies.
That little girl was able to defeat all her opponents, then. That's incredible!
"Shall we intervene, sir?" asks a peacekeeper behind me.
"Not yet," I reply. I'm curious to know how this fight will end.
The boy is definitely stronger than the girl, but his moves are too hasty due to his rage. On the other hand, the girl is keeping a cool head. She's little, but quick and sly. She's avoiding all his attacks, making him wear out. Some of his fists almost hit their mark, but she's always ready to block the blows and fight back. Eventually, she punches him repeatedly in the stomach, making the boy keel over on the ground.
"I think it's enough," says the girl.
She turns her back on her opponent- a bad mistake, because he has got up again, and is about to stab her in the back with a pocketknife… that's when I intervene. I pull my gun and shoot his knife, which hits the ground with a dead sound.
"Stabbing someone in the back is for cowards," I say.
In the meantime, the girl has turned around. She's staring at the pocketknife on the ground with widened eyes. Suddenly, she jumps on the boy, as if she wanted to choke him to death. But I nod to my men, so that they separate the two opponents.
"You," I say, addressing the boy. "Now, you and your friends shall clear out."
The boy helps his mates to get up again, and then they leave without saying a word.
I turn around to talk to the girl, who's still held up by a peacekeeper.
"Release her," I order him. "What's your name?" I ask her.
"Why do you want to know it?" she replies, massaging her arm.
Her gaze is defiant, her brown eyes are on fire.
One of my men is about to slap her, but I stop him.
"I asked you a question, you should respond," I go on, staring at her.
She doesn't get intimidated though, but she answers, at least: "Alexa… Alexa Steel."
"Well, Alexa, I'm Craig Donovan, the Head Peacekeeper. Would you like to join our forces?"
…...
Present day
Christopher "Chris" Terranova (12)- Citizen of District 6
Even if it's early, Mary and I are already on the main streets. Who knows? We might find someone to rob. Yes, since we have accepted August's protection, we have become skilled thieves. To him, reselling pieces of old trains doesn't bring enough money, so the youngest members of what he calls his "family" are sent on the streets to rob. Our targets are mainly the rich people, who live in the city centre. We mustn't even think of stealing from the poor. Now, I feel like Robin Hood, my favourite hero who robs from the rich and gives to the poor. Besides, August always says: "Better a thief than a morphling"… he's right, I suppose. The truth is that I don't know what a "morphling" is, but it must be something really bad, since nobody wants to tell me what this word means.
Mary is watching the street, but her eyes are unblinking. She looks worried.
"What's up?" I ask her.
"Nothing… it's just… I was just thinking that today it's our first Reaping," she answers.
"Are you afraid?"
"You not?"
"A bit."
"I think it's normal. I know we've got only one slip, but twelve-year-olds are often reaped and, you know, they don't stand a chance in the Games," she points out.
"Don't overthink it, today is like any day," I say, putting my hand on her shoulder.
"How could you say that, Chris?" she replies, unbelieving.
I shrug. "We have only to blend in the crowd and attend a stupid ceremony. It's all the same, for the rest."
"Do you really think you'll be able to go unnoticed with that?" she asks, pointing to the tattoo on my left shoulder.
Actually, everyone in August's family- including August himself- has the same tattoo on their left shoulder- on the left to be near the heart. It consists of a diamond made by joining two As, one of which is upside down. "A" stands for "August", of course.
"Gus is megalomaniacal," I say with a smile.
Mary giggles. "If August heard you call him like that, he could get angry. Only Davis can call him Gus, and only when the boss is in a good mood."
"But Gus is never in a good mood. He's always so sulky!"
Then, I start doing impressions of him, until Mary bursts out laughing. At least, I managed to cheer her up.
Before heading to the main square for the Reaping, we get back to base. Our family is gathering in the warehouse. August and Davis are already in.
"After the Reaping, come back here. No one is supposed to work on Reaping days, but the world cannot stop just because the Capitol has kidnapped other two kids," says August grimly, as soon as we are all gathered.
When Mary and I reach the main square, I feel a lump in my throat all of a sudden. In the crowd of those of Reaping age, I've spotted some of my ex-roommates of the community home. I feel like crying, but Mary puts her hand on my shoulder. I turn around and see that she's got a sad smile on her face.
"We'd better avoid them," she says.
"Why? They're still our friends!" I complain.
"Do you think they'd like to talk to us after what we have become?"
"What do you mean, Mary?"
"We're robbers, criminals… they're likely to be frightened by us," she explains.
"You're right, but…"
"When August told us about his family, we weren't enthusiastic about it at first, remember that?" she goes on, interrupting me.
"If they knew our boss, they would change their mind!" I say with conviction.
"But they cannot know him."
"Until they stay in the community home," I add.
"They didn't run away that night, and they won't either today. There are too many peacekeepers, Chris. Don't do anything stupid, please," she replies, whispering.
That said, Mary reaches the twelve-year-old section, and I follow her. Neither says a word. I clench my fists. Why does she disagree? If I managed to convince just a few friends, August could bring them into our family. Together, we could explore the city, and invent amazing adventures like old times. If only I could speak to them… but they're all scattered across the square!
"Alexa Steel!"
I'm suddenly dragged back into reality. I look up at the stage. The escort has just called the name of the female tribute… luckily, Mary is safe. Now, it's men's turn. I hold my breath.
"Christopher Terranova!"
I can't believe it! I've been reaped! Instinctively, I look at Mary. She's gaping, her eyes widened with terror. A couple of peacekeepers is approaching, so I quickly leave my section and mount the stage head-on. My heart is racing, and I feel cold. I force myself to keep calm. I look at my district partner: she's not very tall, with short, dark hair, brown eyes, and some freckles on her cheeks. There's no sign of fear in her eyes.
"Ladies and gentlemen, the tributes of District 6! Alexa Steel and Christopher Terranova! Happy Hunger Games! And may the odds be ever in your favour!" shouts the escort, who looks like a giant candy.
When I'm left alone in the waiting room, I still feel cold. Today, it's hot and sunny, but my body is a block of ice. What about Mary? What about my friends? What about me? I don't want to die... I keep repeating to myself, as tears start flooding from my eyes. I wipe them away. I open the door to tell the peacekeeper that I don't want to see anybody and notice that the principal of the community home is out there. He's staring at me with his cold eyes.
"Send him away, I don't want to talk to him," I whisper to the peacekeeper at the door.
I get back into the waiting room, shaking like a leaf. I close the door face down. The cold eyes of the principal remind me of bad times. Why did he come? Now, I'm a tribute, he cannot bring me back to the community home. But maybe… maybe he came for Mary! What can I do? Mary back in the community home, without me… what an unbearable idea! No, no, no… August will do something! That's for sure!
When Mary enters the room, I immediately hug her.
"Mary, the principal… the principal…" I stammer.
"I saw him," she replies.
"Run!"
"Don't worry, Davis came with me."
I break the embrace, reassured. "How are you, Mary?" I ask her.
She giggles, teary. "I could ask you the same thing," she points out.
I don't know what to say. I limit myself to smile, but I'd like so badly to cry. We pass the rest of the time in silence. Mary looks like she's about to say something, but she keeps silent. I don't want to force her to speak, her presence is enough to me.
…...
Alexa Steel (17)- District 6 female tribute
Don't know why, but I'm not angry, I feel relieved. I've always wanted to have a better life, and now I've got the opportunity to achieve my goal. I smirk at the thought.
My three brothers- Danny, Miles, and Jeremy- visit me.
Miles and Jeremy hug me tight. They're too young to realize what's happening, they're not even of Reaping age. I promise them that I'll be back as soon as possible. Then, they run outside the room, leaving me with Danny.
"Samantha will look after them until I get back," he says.
Samantha is his girlfriend… no, his wife, since they got married in secret. I've never been able to stand her. I'm pretty sure she doesn't love my brother, she married him just to get off the street… besides, she has got pregnant by Danny... assuming that the baby is his, of course. Another mouth… no, two mouths to feed! Our parents died years ago, and since then Danny has worked hard to support our family. We really needed other two mouths to feed!
"If you trust her…" I say, rolling my eyes.
"She's my wife, I do trust her, of course."
We stare at each other in silence. The relationship between Danny and me has always been complicated. I cannot get along with him, because his ideas are too different from mine. He's too narrow-minded for my liking.
"How do you feel, sis?" he asks me, at some point.
From his tone, I can tell that he's not at ease.
"I'm fine. Maybe I should have volunteered, I would have made a better impression," I reply with a shrug.
"What?"
"Yeah, it would have been better."
"How can you say that? You're going to fight to the death!" says Danny, clearly upset.
"… and I'm going to win and leave that landfill you call house forever!" I add.
"If you found a good job instead of being the lapdog of the Head Peacekeeper, we could move to a better house! No, you prefer being a mindless soldier… a puppet… instead of helping your family! I let you join the peacekeepers, even if I didn't approve your decision, but that's too much! You can't really think about the Hunger Games as an opportunity!"
"The Games are an opportunity, though. Don't worry, whether I win or lose, I'm no longer a problem for you, Danny. You can go on with your life," I say, turning my back on him.
He's about to leave the room, but then he stops on the threshold. "We may argue, Alexa, but we'll always be siblings, you cannot sever a blood bond. Remember that. Farewell," he says, and then leaves me alone.
What do you think of Alexa and Chris?
Thank you for reading and reviewing :)
I'll be waiting for your submissions!
