Cleo Ari District 6

28 ¦ Victor of the 17th games ¦ Mentor

[cleo-ari-d6-blog]

Over Thinking ¦¦ Train Ride

I had obviously fallen a sleep when I was woken by rows further down the wagon and decided to keep my door locked. I had food delivered to my room and allowed my self wander deep into thought. 

Would I have been chosen if I hadn't of helped my father? Was it some kind of punishment or revenge for all the cruel stuff I have done? But I had won. If it was a punishment I would of died a horrible painful death, surely. Maybe this is my punishment, the nightmares and watching it happen to others. 

If I could scream, I would.

Thank god for the Morphling. It helped with the pain, did all the other victors feel like this? Or did people like the careers smile when the memories crossed their minds? Probably. 

At least it was back to the Capitol's food, the one thing I look forward to about this. Even knowing 23 people are going to die, the food makes me forget. I don't know how the people here eat it all the time. It's so rich and a lot of it's sickly, but the orange juice is fresh and the dessert is sweet. 

I can't hear anyone rowing now, and even though it's pretty late i consider going out. But then I would have to introduce myself and be nice and well, I'm too full to do that. I'll head down to the suite and sit in the corner hoping no one will see me. Maybe I'l make an effort when we arrive. 

[cleo-ari-d6-blog]

Not Goodbye -See you later ¦¦ Goodbyes

I had already packed my bags, I did it last month I think. After everything we've been through and done, I still feel a little uncomfortable living with my father. We've grown so similar and so lose, but part of me never forgives him. Sometimes I think he wishes he had killed me or I have died in the arena and sometimes, I wish that too. But he's my father and I love him, like I did my mother and brother. 

As I carry my bags downstairs, I head through the living room and into the kitchen to get a drink. The basic victor's house had been transformed into a home, but it's been over 10 years since we moved in and I still don't feel comfortable here. Even if I don't it's better than the Capitol and their crazy ideas of style and fashion, at least they're fierce. 

I almost throw my drink in the sink as my father will be home in twenty minutes and I hate goodbyes. Practically running out the house, until I realize I had forgotten my hand luggage. Re-entering the house I saw it by the fire place, picking up the bag I dusted the ashes off when the picture on the mantel caught my eye. 

 From when I was young, when I was innocent and sweet. Now the only picture left among the empty frames which were filled with my family.

I walk out the door grabbing my other bag and head towards the train, being from the district of transport it's amusing how quite a few of us actually like travelling ourselves. But I head straight towards my cabin and I know that apart from dinner I will not be leaving this room. It's not like I can have a conversation with anyone, so I'll wait till I need to communicate with people.  

Before I lock the door I rattle around in my head to see if there's anyone I need to say goodbye to. No. I turn the key and collapse on the bed behind me, just as I hear Oliver and Alyssa come on board. As much as I enjoyed being alone and avoiding people, I knew I was going to have to see them some time and I'd rather get it out the way. I doubt they understand sign language so I grab one one the dozen notepad and pens and put it beside the door so it's ready for when I leave. 

Until then, I make the most of my time alone and work on my 'I do care, honestly' face in the mirror. 

[cleo-ari-d6-blog]

May the odds be ever in your favour ¦¦ The Reaping

I would of thought that I'd be used to watching a kid be chosen at the reaping and having to watch them fight to the death, but some how it feels worse each reaping. This year will be different. I won't even bother trying to keep them alive if I know they're going to die anyway, no point in the sponsors wasting their money. Unless we have a possible victor of course. 

I know it's not my turn to go to the arena any more, but I know what their all feeling. Words cannot describe what they're all going through; the thoughts running through their heads. So young. It's not the life they deserve. But I was ready for it, I knew I was capable of killing the innocent. I had done it before -somehow this was different though.

I still shake as if I'm hearing my name and I'm walking on stage for the first time, but it's not the first time; that was 11 years ago. Now it's time for another two to go through that feeling, everyone staring, silently saying goodbye.

As I stride towards the stage, I feel everyone looking at me. I was used to this feeling after the games and the victory tour, but this was different. Some people looked at me in envy, at how I had won the games and their sibling had been killed. The rest gazed at me with belief, they believed I would be the one to help them survive if they was chosen. 

I see so many young innocent faces, I was in their position once, except I wasn't so innocent. I was ready. I would've volunteered when I was 18 if I hadn't been chosen; luckily I was. But I think I can safely say no one stood in front of me today felt the way I did. They're all terrified. And even with the elder siblings trying to stay strong for they younger ones, you can still see the fear in their eyes. The fear everyone's sharing. 

Everyone is on stage now, and a deadly silence has fallen upon the crowd. Is there this much tension in the other districts? The careers probably que up to see who can get on stage first. 

Tears build in the younger ones eyes as a name was picked from the bowl. No one could stand the tension and as the tiny piece of paper is unfolded to reveal the girls name. 

"Alyssa Gardener!" 

A few girls gasp, but most sigh with relief -some giggle. They all scoot away making a path for Alyssa to get to the stage. I had seen her a few times before, she was about 17 with long, blonde hair. She was the cursed one. Some say she's crazy, but I don't know; this could be bad -really bad. Then again, it may even work in her favour. 

People had moved on, and it was time for Alyssa's partner to be chosen. Since our girl wasn't the best, I could only wish for someone decent. I mean, she won't be too bad, but doesn't look like a winner. I hope I'm wrong. 

A piece of paper is drawn from the other bowl, the boys try to be brave. They don't want to look like wimps in front of everyone, not the capitol or the other tributes in case they watch this, but everyone knows that they're just as petrified as the girls were. 

"Derek Khendal!"

A small boy, stood in front of me trembling and nearly in tears. He looked like he was no older then ten, pushing it eleven, but he was obviously twelve. The odds were not in favour this year. Alyssa was my best chance, she looks like she could do some damage if she could come out alive, but Derek was hopeless. He wouldn't last 10 seconds in the bloodbath, you could kill him with a nasty look. 

Not paying attention and making mental notes on my new tributes, I didn't notice the new boy on the stage. The volunteer. His name is Oliver Rush. I recognized his face but that was all, Oliver didn't look like a killer but her could be used as a heart-throb and none of the girls in the capitol would want to see him die.

Hopefully we will have a chance this year.  

[cleo-ari-d6-blog]

24 hours in hell.

This time the whole of Panem will be waiting for the twenty-four district children to begin their training. Two of those children I will be training. I've done this eleven times, I should really be used to it by now - but I'm not. I've witnessed twenty-two innocent children walk up onto the stage on the day of the reaping, none of them cut out for the games and all of them killed. 

Everyone is splashing out on nice clothes and a good meal. It could be their last. I haven't had to worry about money or food since winning.  Now I just worry about keeping the future tributes alive. But then again, when you're dead, you don't get the flash backs of being in the arena. I do. All the time. 

I don't want another death this year, it makes our District look bad. It's not entirely my fault but a big part of the tributes outcome is down to me. It's just, none of them had potential. But I don't say anything. I can't, literally, I have no tongue. I guess I only won because of my father. None of the others in District Six were brought up like me though. I guess after the games I came to realise it was him that kept me alive, I owe him everything.

I need to stop over thinking. It's going to be the same as last year. A useless kid sent to the Capitol to parade about in a costume and be killed. We need someone who is capable of a bit of damage. Could I volunteer? Ahaha. At least I know I can kill. 

[teacupinastorm]

The Hunger Games: Districts & Occupations → District Six: Transportation