EMERALD DROOD | 73RD HUNGER GAMES VICTOR | TAKEN
+ Intelligent, Insightful, District Loyal
- Merciless, Distant, Doubtful
Life in District 1 was good to Emerald. The district’s close relationship to the Capitol meant that they were rarely left wanting for anything, and when they were, it never lasted long. Living with her parents, she was an only child. Though her cousin and best friend, Silver, was always nearby. The two were thick as thieves. Like others, they both began training for the games the moment they were old enough to hold a practice weapon. They trained together every day, pushing each other to their limits to continue to grow. When one began to slack, the other forced them forward, and themselves feigned falling behind themselves to ensure that they both would continue to be in classes together and train at the same level. She was loving and affectionate towards him and the rest of their family.
As was custom for District 1, the tributes were chosen from the top of their class. Their parents were proud when the duo was top of their class, meaning that they were both to participate in the 73rd Hunger Games together. The cousins promised each other that no matter what, they would stick by each other and make sure that at least one of them would emerge victorious. As much as it disgusted Emerald and Silver to know that they were having to be pawns in the Capitol’s games, they refused to let down their district. By their mentor’s urging, the two formed an alliance with the District 2 and District 4 tributes to ensure they would survive the early part of the game.
The game took place in hill country, with many shrubs and small vegetation. There were small streams of fresh water, though they were extremely shallow and difficult to obtain water from. There existed a plethora of poisonous snakes that inhabited the area. The cornucopia sat on top of the tallest hill, forcing the tributes to run uphill to get their desired resources. The careers used the landscape to their advantage, as their physical physique allowed them to reach the top before the other tributes, making them easy to pick off during the bloodbath with arrows and ranged weapons. With some slipping through their onslaught, the careers grabbed their desired supplies and ran to the hill they chose as their base of operation. 12 had died during the bloodbath.
Armed with her sword, Emerald quickly established herself as the leader of the careers. The six tributes went out to camp near one of the more plentiful streams in the area, though not for their own use. Having gained many sponsors, they were sent plenty of water for themselves. Their plan was to eliminate more tributes if they tried to look for water. They eliminated two more tributes during the ensuing 4 days.
Over the next four days, one tribute had died. The game makers made things more interesting: poisonous fog was to set in at nightfall. The fog was to force the tributes to rest uphill, making it easy for all tributes to know where others were. The first night of fog threw the careers into chaos. Not knowing what it was coming towards them when it rolled in, they rushed to the top of the hill they had camped nearby. Many of their food supplies were left behind in the rush, and were ruined. As they ran uphill, the District 2 male tribute, Julius, pushed Silver out of the way to ensure his own survival. Having been the first to reach the top of the hill, Emerald witnessed the whole exchange. Her heart shattered at that moment. Silver was obscured by the fog, yet she couldn’t get the image of his horrified expression out of her mind. She did nothing, however, at that moment. She instructed everyone to rest for the next day, plotting her revenge.
Two others had died in the first night of the fog. The next day, they went to gather more supplies to replace the lost ones. Emerald came across something particularly interesting on her search that set her gears in motion: wild lettuce. Some grew in District 1, and was known for its bitter taste. Yet it was also similar to an opiate, and was often used as medicine by doctors in the district to help with sleep. Seeing that it had not been harmed by the poison from that night, she gathered as much as possible, along with some other fruits she had found. Julius had been able to hunt a few rabbits, allowing Emerald to make a last meal for all of them before they agreed to go their separate ways and win the games for themselves. Mixing the wild lettuce with the berries and rabbit, Emerald ensured that everyone consumed the opiate without any suspicion. The District 1 tribute volunteered to have the first watch of the night to let the others rest. They all quickly fell into a deep sleep.
She walked around them a few times to ensure that none would wake up should they hear her. Satisfied with her work, she drew her sword and swung it down on the necks of the District 4 tributes and the female tribute from District 2. They all died silently, none stirring to awaken and warn the others. With only Julius left, Emerald stood over him and plunged her sword into his heart. He awoke, groggy but fearful for his life. She pulled out her blade and stabbed him again, and again, and again as she took out her rage and heartbreak on the man who ended her cousin’s life. To this day, she still doesn’t remember how long she was there stabbing the man, but it was difficult to recognize him once she was finally finished.
The game makers pushed the remaining tributes to the center of the arena to end the game two days later with a large invasion of venomous snakes. Still caked with the blood of the other careers, Emerald used it to help intimidate the other two tributes and pushed them both into the oncoming serpent invasion.
After the game, Emerald wasn’t the same. She distanced herself from others with her dire insistence that Silver was still with her, speaking to her even from beyond the dead. Often, she would speak in terms of “we”, as if there was someone else with her. She, like others, was prostituted to the people of the Capitol. Emerald never spoke of her time with the men and women who paid for her, nor did it ever seem to bother her. It was simply something that was expected of her that had to be done. But she used it to learn about the people of the Capitol, and their ways and views.
When the Third Quarter Quell came around, she only stared on in disbelief. She was found whispering to “Silver” during the whole ordeal, about how she would finally have a chance to be with him once more. Yet she was not chosen, and instead stayed behind in District 1 when the tributes left. She was an advocate in encouraging those in the district to join the resistance and aiding them in transferring to District 13. Her role in the resistance was to send intelligence on how to get into the Capitol and where to start their invasion of the city, much of which she got from being with people of the Capitol as a prostitute.
She was hesitant about all the change; everything set her on edge ever since Silver died. She would, in secret, question the new President of Panem and what her intentions were. When questioned why, she always would say, “Silver doesn’t like her,” and walk away. Though still loving and dotting on the young members of District 1, she acts cold and brash towards those not from her district, especially if they are from District 2. With Snow out of the picture, the woman finally thought that she and her people could finally have peace and not have to live at the whims of a cruel dictator.
Fate has a way of being cruel, and the Second Victor Purge occurred, leaving her the sole surviving victor of her district. Gone were her friends and mentors. No one understood her and what she had endured. All that was left was for the brunette to fall further into her madness. Emerald is terrified of this new Panem. This Panem threatens to tear apart families, hearts, and minds like it did to her. She curses the name of Coin at every safe moment, and longs for something or someone to start something to remove her from her high and mighty spot.
Face Claim: Adelaide Kane
