After the short conversation he had with Ismene, Logan finally had the time to be alone. Even if the last thing he wanted was to be alone with his own thoughts. At some point during their conversation, Rocco excused himself from the room, and left. Logan's eyes couldn't help watching his Mentor leave, as if he had done something wrong. It bothered him that the man just left. And now the thought just annoyed him. Rocco wasn't even sitting in front of him anymore, and his sudden departure from the three of them, still bothered him.
It seemed natural for his thumb to trace over the bangle bracelet, again. Thoughts of home immediately started to flood his mind. What his mother and father were doing right now. How they would go on with their lives, as they watched him on television. How many Morphling tablets or injections they might take while he was gone. What about his friends? Did they really wish for his safe return home, or did they want to see him, dead? Would Bise go on to become an addict, once he saw his best friend in the arena? What about Steven? Josephine? How the hell was he going to come back, alive?
"If you miss it that much, you might survive day one."
Logan heard an unfamiliar voice ahead of him, and raised his head to a surprise visit. It was the giant, himself, Rocco, standing at the threshold of his door. He still had that look of not wanting to be bothered. Or maybe it was his "I don't care" attitude. Logan's eyes lowered back down to his bracelet. " Whatever it takes to get home, I guess..." Rocco laughed, and started to leave, when Logan suddenly asked: " What's so funny?" His annoyed tone of voice made Rocco's eyebrow arch, while returning back to the threshold. " Whatever it takes to get home, you guess? Guessing won't get you back home, kid." He shrugged his shoulders. " Do what you want. I don't care."
Logan jumped off the bed and took a few steps forward, towards Rocco: " You're my Mentor! You should!" Rocco held his hand up to his ear. " Geez, kid. You know I can hear." Standing up to Rocco made Logan gulp. The man was taller and much bigger than him. He took a step back out of intimidation and fear. " Give me a reason why I should Mentor you?" Logan already had the answer on the tip of his tongue: " I want to win. I want to get back home to my life in District 6."
Rocco slowly smiled. He could hear the determination and longing for whatever it was that was back home for him, in his voice. But he could also see the fear of dying and uncertainty of how to get to his goal from here, in his eyes. Rocco felt the train stop moving. "We're here," he simply stated before walking off. " Wait! We didn't talk about...anything!"
"We'll have plenty of time to talk, later," he started still walking off. " Just get off the train before I change my mind about helping you." Logan shook his head, half smiling. Rocco was some piece of work, but at least he'd help him. It was a start. " Nice to meet you too, Rocco," he mummered as walked off the train.
The shy daughter of a simple farmer and the local apothecary, Celia grew up with a pretty average life in District Nine. During the day she would go to school learning all about grain and the latest methods of harvesting and processing it, then at night she'd go home and help her father in the fields or her mother with her work. She especially enjoyed working with her mother and learning all about the plants native to the area.
Celia was reaped at the tender age of fourteen to which her parents assumed would be a death sentence, especially when the mayors own eighteen year old son was reaped along side her. Her time in the Capitol didn't do much to disprove her parents worries either. She looked invisible next to her hulking district partner, a dismal training score of three, and a forgettable interview all helped to push her out of her competitions mind.
This fact was further reinforced during the bloodbath when instead of running she chose to drop to the ground and lie still, feigning death. She watched the career pack literally tear apart several tributes but not before two of them were taken down by Derrik, her district partner. The tributes from one circled around him and he crumpled to the ground, a dagger protruding from his chest.
Whether it was cockiness or sheer stupidity the tributes from one didn't check to see if Derrik was dead, instead collecting the remaining supplies and disappearing into the swampy arena. Celia got up and ran over to Derrik, finding him weak but still breathing. Using all her strength she dragged his body away from the cornucopia and into marshland that made up the arena.
She spent the next several days nursing him back to health using several plants she had learned about from her mother. As the number of tributes began to dwindle Derrik became worried that the Game Makers might become bored with the pair since they had spent the last week in hiding. His suspicions were correct as early the next morning a giant alligator mutt came barreling into their camp. Derrik was still in no state to fight or flee and made a tough decision. He tossed the dagger to Celia, telling her to run while he distracted the mutt long enough for her to get away.
Tears streamed down her cheeks as his screams of agony echoed behind her, chasing her it seemed. She kept running until she simply couldn't and collapsed on the ground exhausted. She tucked herself into the roots of a tree and waited for the cannons, counting them and finding herself in the final three. An early morning cannon signaled the death of the boy from four and the beginning of the end. By this time Celia had accepted her fate, the water began to rise around her and she made her way slowly but purposefully back to the cornucopia where it was sitting on high ground.
Waiting for her was the girl from One, with a bleeding stump for an arm and a spear clutched firmly in the other. Before Celia could react the spear was flying across the clearing and landed in her stomach. The impact knocked her off her feet and slamming her head down hard on the ground. The world began to grow foggy around her as the slow foot steps of the career girl drew closer. She saw her figure looming above her and as a last effort sliced her dagger across the girl's calf.
The girl from one stopped leaning in, a fear beginning to grow in her eyes. She found herself suddenly unable to move. "What the hell did you do to me?" She screamed at Celia. With a lurch, the girl from One came crashing down to the ground, the paralytic poison Celia had created from plants and laced her dagger with was working. Using her last remaining strength Celia pulled herself over to the body and slit the career girl's throat, earning her the victory.
When Celia first arrived back in District Nine she was only a shell of herself. Broken and damaged she stayed away from people, living with her mother in the victor's village because her father had to stay on his farm. Often times her mother would hear crying coming from her daughter's room. Slowly as time past Celia began to heal. She married Derrik's younger brother Tyron who later became mayor of District Nine when his father past away. She spends most of her time treating people like her mother did and praying that she can save the life of another District Nine tribute.
Soon, I was taken to the train by peacekeepers. I felt sick, what had just happened? I walked looking at my feet. soon, i thought, ill be no more. My body began to go numb and i had to force my legs to move, i told myself just one more step you can do it. I'm not sure how that worked, how is it possible to lie to yourself like that?
The Train wasn't like anything I had seen before and I knew I should be amazed at its perfect silver body. But I wanted to be any were else the where I was standing, where I was being taken. I stepped though the door that opened when I got near and closed as soon as I was out of their way. I wished I was a door.
"Hello." I looked up to the gorgeous Dominique. She made me feel small and insignificant as I stared up as her.
"You ran, why did you run?" She asked. Her voice sounded light and smooth and I began to feel my toes again."I-i just felt it." I answered as she started to circle around me."Mmmm." She said "Come sit my child, lets wait for the boy."
We sat and I started to hum the song I had danced to with my Grandmother, I felt normal again. Dominique closed her eyes, sinking back into the chair. Waiting for Ryder to arrive.
Dominique grew up with her mother, father and younger sister. Her Parents were unhappily married and from her window she often watched her father throw knives at the side of the house when he was angry. As she got older she began to do this too and started to fall into depression after getting bullied at school for being pretty and watching her parents fight. Her father soon started to come home drunk out of his mind and raged at them. He began to beat Dominique and her mother. As Dominique got older, she became a match to her father and he stopped hitting the girls.
When she was 17 she was unluckily picked as tribute for the 71st Annual Hungergames leaving her poor sister with her mother and drunken father. Dominique had given up and had planned to get herself killed but in the days leading up to the games, She was informed that her mother had committed suicide. She realized that she couldn't leave her little sister alone with that man and fought for her sisters life. She had used her looks and charm to her advantage, allying with groups, earning their trust then killing them while they slept. The games were over very soon, the victor being Dominique.
Nowadays, Dominique lives in the victors village with her sister and they live a simple life, often coming down to gatherings. Her father died soon after she had won the games, Dominique had left him, taking her sister with her and he hadn't been able to take car of himself.
My eyes stare straight forward as I walk towards the square. My sister, Dakota was walking beside me, silent. She was wearing our mother's dress: a soft green color with a white lace around the waist. She pulls her hair down from the delicate bun our mother had put it in and brushes her hair over her right shoulder. I smile slightly. "Mother would kill you if she saw you do that. She spent an hour on your hair, Kota. Besides, don't you want to look nice for the capital?" Dakota shrugs her shoulders indifferently. "I'm not going to dress up for my possible death sentence." She mutters.
I reach over and I give her hand a reassuring squeeze before filing into my age group. There were a few tense nods, and a few pats on the shoulders, but other than that no one said a word nor moved a muscle. The girl's name is called: Larka Darte. Then the boy's: David Blade.
I recognized the boy instantly. The twelve year old was small for his age. His left leg was at an odd angle, along with his right arm. He had been sickly ever since I could remember. No one said a word as the crowd parts to let him limp unsteadily through. He suddenly stumbles and falls to the ground. He doesn't make a sound as he gets up and continues to limp up to the stadium.
He wouldn't last a second in the bloodbath of the games. He could barely walk, much less run. Anger towards the capital builds up within me, and pity towards the boy mixes in with the bottle of emotion within me, threatening to burst.
What I was about to do would more than likely be suicidal. I take a deep breath, and I take a step forward.
I sat down and waited, soon i'll see my mother and grandmother for the last time, It scared me. I slipped off the chair onto the ground and waited.
The door opened and Mother ran to me. She picked me up and held me in a tight embrace. I hugged he back and all my tears dropped fast onto her shoulder. "I love you." I whisper into her ear. She places me onto the couch, So i was just a little taller then her. I felt like a child again. she placed her hands on my face and we stared at each other.
"Your my child, your my baby and I love you more then I have ever loved anything, more then I thought was possible for someone to love another. I can't lose you baby. Your my life."
I could see the hurt behind her eyes and I hurt to. I looked over to Grandmother, who was standing in the door way with her hand over her mouth. The two people who had been here for me all my life and I was leaving them all alone. Grandmother walked over and placed her hand on my shoulder and her other on hear daughters face. I threw my arms around my Grandmother and Mother and we hugged and cried until we could her the peacekeepers shoes walking towards our room.
"I'll miss you, I love you." I tell them between sobs. The peacekeepers started to pull us apart. "I know you can do this." Grandmother whispered and they pulled her away. My Mother was screaming and I was screaming for her, then everything went silent.
Soon other people came to visit me, there was a lot of hugging and It was o.k's even thought it wasn't going to be o.k, they said the'd miss my visits and I said i'd miss visiting them.
He didn't have much time to think before the door opened again and six people entered the room. He recognized them all, but Bise and Steven were the ones that stood out the most. " There was a crowd of us outside, trying to push our way into the Building," one of his friends, Josephine, said. Logan smiled, beginning to laugh:" No shit!" Josephine smiled widely: " I'm serious, Logan! We all wanted to see you! We're just the lucky bunch that the Peacekeepers allowed in."
All Logan could do was smile, looking at the people before him. He talked to every single one, and they were all his school friends. His friends that were currently in the room. He stopped to think, maybe what some of his classmates said was true. He was popular, despite not caring for his own popularity. He still didn't. He was just happy to see that some of his friends wanted to say goodbye to him. Like he meant something, when he never thought of himself as something special.
Logan laughed and turned his attention to the only one he hadn't spoken to: Bise. There was a long pause between them. Neither spoke. " You're like a little brother to me, man..." Bise said, sighing. Logan was smiling again. " Because it's not like you have enough siblings, already," Logan replied, sarcastically. But Logan understood. Bise felt like his brother, for years. Which is why he could see how these goodbyes must hurt him. He'd hate to see Bise in the Arena, even though, Logan thought, he had a better chance of surviving.
Bise walked over to Logan and hugged him. Only once. " Don't give up," he started. Oh shit. He's reading my mind. " You've got something that could help you in the Arena. If you use it. Don't waste time in the Capitol. Survive and come home. I can't help them. Only you can."
The door to the room opened once more, and the Peacekeepers escorted his friends, out. Bise's words kept playing in his mind, and Logan had to sit down in the chair to collect his thoughts.
Rubbing the short hairs on his head with his hand, he thought. He knew Bise was talking about his parents. He was afraid they'd spiral out of control without him, and Bise knew it too. An overdose. If it didn't happen before he somehow became Victor, if that even happens, it would happen at some point. They needed him, just as he needed them as a child. It was then Logan realized he had to win. Or, atleast he had to try. So he wouldn't lose his family.
For his mom and dad. For Bise. For Steven. For his friends. For his District.
" I'll try to win the games. For all of you." he whispered.
Logan leaned his body against the wall, away from the window. He wanted to disappear. His eyes were lowered to the ground, arms crossed against his chest, thinking. Waiting. What was he going to do when he made it to the Capitol? The Arena? Asking himself questions was all he could do to distract himself from thinking of his own impending death. He waited for his family and friends to say their last goodbyes to him. He didn't know what he was going to say to them.
As the door opened, he slowly raised his head. His mother came flying towards him, and Logan quickly tried to unfold his arms. Her arms hugged him tightly, just as he had raised his own. He gently placed his arms down, returning the hug, as she continued to cry. Logan didn't cry. His eyes searched for a camera inside the room. No cameras. Knowing that no one outside of the room was watching them, Logan's hands started to curl, holding onto some of the back of his mother's dress. Hugged her closely while clenching his eyes, shut.
When he backed away from her, his hands were holding her shoulders. He looked her straight in the eyes, and tried to hide his fear: " Don't let it get to you, mom." He paused, to look back at his father, " don't let it get to both of you." His eyes now shifted between the both of them. " Don't cope with me being the Arena, with Morphling. God, I wish you guys would stop!" he chuckled. His small laughter died down quickly. " If I die in there, you've got to go on without me. You're both stronger than you look. Learn to control it, if you won't stop taking it. Never take more than I've seen you both handle. Never." An overdose. I hope they don't overdose.
Without another word, Logan kissed the top of his mother's forehead, hugging her one last time, and quietly said: " I love you." His mother smiled and his father took a few steps towards him. His mother stepped back from him, while his father stood in front of him, holding something in his left hand. Logan's eyes stared down at it. The silver bangle bracelet had found it's place, in his father's hand. " I found it on your bed, before we left for the Reaping." Logan did nothing with it. " Take it." his father instructed. Logan took it from his father's hand and fastened it on his wrist. Sleek. Like the high speed trains of his district. Very cool.
He felt his father suddenly hug him and then back away from him. " I guess this makes it real, huh? I'm participating in the 85th Hunger Games."
The door immediately opened after Logan's last words. The Peacekeepers escorted his parents out, and the door closed. Logan stared down at the silver bracelet, tracing it's shape with his finger.
"Round one is over. Who's up for round two?" he half smiled to himself.
