Chapter 2: Kind Enough
District Two Reaping
Roxy Flint - District Two Female
"Freeing yourself is one thing, claiming ownership of that freed self was another,"
-Toni Morrison, Beloved
"Now, are you two ready?"
I nodded, raising the wooden sword. My opponent across from me did the same.
"May the best win," I smiled sincerely to Enobaria(It's obvious who she's named after). She scoffed as if I insulted her in some way.
"Yeah. You too," the taller blonde gave as a reply. A sad thing was the threating edge in a voice that promised hurt. Enobaria was alway's a little cruel, but I'm sure she's just going too far because she's competitive. Best watch out for my ribs, I would hate for it to break. Snow know's that too many in this academy have broken limbs for trying to be the district's volunteer.
"Begin!" the Head Instructor of the Academy of District two announced loudly.
Enobaria didn't waste any time as she rushed me, predictably, as I already sidestepped out of her way and attempting to strike her torso. She managed to block it in time, after that she swung her sword upward's to hit my face. I wasn't going to let her. I took a quick backstep which was enough as her sword almost reached my chin by a millimeter. That was close.
I got into a defensive position, waiting for her incoming attack. She stroke viciously at me, I blocked it. Once more on the other Enobaria swung her sword, and once again I blocked. She made a move against my torso, but I overreacted, she used her free hand to punch me hard in the center of my face.
Taking a couple of step's back, I moved my hand to my nose. The feeling of blood was dripping down my nasal. I'm bleeding.
"Nice makeover," Enobaria mocked, giving out a taunting laugh. She got her sword ready.
She made me bleed. She hurt your perfect nose, a rare haunting voice said in the back on my head.
No, not that. Not that. I don't need to go berserk. It was too late. My mind turned colder, and I glared at Enobaria coldly.
"Yeah. Now it's your turn. I think you'll look so much better," I declared, that pleasant voice of mine now gone. Enobaria made a swing, I blocked it and pushed her sword arm away using mine and copied her technique of using my free hand to punch her. I got her throat, and it made her take a few step's backs.
With sudden speed and strength, she didn't expect I struck hard at her stomach and used her pain in use as I swung my sword at Enobaria's chest to send her to the ground. I quickly stepped on her hand that's containing her sword, she cried in pain and let of her wooden weapon. There, I won. Wait... no, not yet. I put my body mass on Enonaria's stomach. She yelped and didn't like my dark black eye's looking at her with coldness nor my raised fists. I punched her face with my left fist, then my right fist, then my left fist, then my right fist once more.
"Roxy! You won! You're the volunteer! Stop it!" the Head Instructor ordered.
That was a week ago. The fight that decided if I was going to volunteer this year. I beat Enobaria, badly, unfortunately. I won, but I lost control of myself. Made her face black and blue. It was unnecessary. I already won. Why do I make so hard on myself? It was a competition, I don't have to worry about Enobaria's safety. It's because I'm nice. Maybe I because I'm trying too hard to be nice. I do feel bad for what I did, only not at that moment.
Enobaria and I aren't so different. We came from the same background, a wealthy one. A career family that train's their kid's since they could walk to fight to get into the Hunger Games. The difference between me, and she is my control over my emotions. My mother wanted me to be ruthless, but I wasn't like that so I would pretend to. I made a mask of ruthlessness or perhaps, my current face of kindness is my mask. The one I put on every day is the fake and the real me is a cruel mistress.
That problem, however, can be solved some other day."
No matter how much I detested how I won, my parent's celebrated. Proud that I got the position and I'll enter the games. It's a tradition of District Two, but it doesn't mean I like it. My parent's worked hard for me, and my brother Jet. I have to do it for them, so I don't disappoint them.
"Hey. Roxy?" my brother woke me out of my thoughts, I turned to my long-haired younger brother, he looked concerned. "Is something wrong?"
"Nah, I'm fine," I lied to him and regretted it. He deserved so much better than that. I didn't need to worry him now. Not when the Reaping is minute's away.
Jet, my younger brother, walked on the within the sidewalk with so many other's. Everyone's going to the town square, as are we. Nobody in District Two should miss this.
I looked at Jet. He shared similar features as me. Both our appearances came from dad. We both have the skin of Asian heritage. A little uncommon here in District Two where people are mostly blonde. Black hair, dark eye's, and pale skin. That's how we look. For some reason, Jet decided to make his hair as long as mine, mixed with being short, some think he's a girl(I laugh a few time when he's not looking). Our hair reaches the back of our neck's for practical reasons for me. I like my hair this way, and I think I could do well with it.
"Do you think Somnus is going to volunteer with you?" Jet questions. Somnus goes to a few parties of the wealthy mom bring's us too, we hate it, he hates it, we're not by any mean's friends, but we usually get along, so having a friendly face with me would calm Jet.
With that lazy womanizer, who the hell knows? He doesn't seem to care much for it, no matter the amount of natural skill he has.
I shrugged, "Honestly, he's probably too busy with girls to ever. So, don't expect much."
"Good. I don't want Somnus to go with you in the games," he replied. Aww, he's so protective of me. That's cute, but I'm one of the few girls who could resist Somnus's charms.
I laughed, "Yeah. Definitely for the best."
Hate to kill someone I like.
"Are you thinking about going to the games in a couple of year's?" I asked Jet. He's fifteen, and he still has three more year's left to volunteer. He has time.
"Sure. I mean. Mom wants us to, and dad always encourages us to do our best. I don't see why not," he answered, and then turned to me with a grin, "Then the both of us will be victors. That sound's pretty cool."
I grinned. "It does."
We reached the town square. It was packed, with the kid's already lined up and those older than eighteen on the sides. The proud District Two has it's ballon's, and cotton candy machine's around. Yeah. Everyone looked happy and cheery around the square. Why can't the other district's be like this?
"See in later," I told Jet, giggling from the bubbly atmosphere.
"See yeah," he replied, knowing where we'll see each other next time.
The Reaping has started and the mayor did his thing. "The dark days..." and "Treaty of Treason...", it bores me. The mayor isn't known for his creativity. It took a couple of minute's, but the mayor called the escort on stage. The capitolite escort was a pretty woman with an hourglass figure, extremely greased purple hair, and a fancy blue coat with gold belts. Her name was Megara Moldy. My god, that name.
"Now. While I know tradition says I should say a name out. Who cares about that here? Come on out, girl! District Two is waiting for a victor!" Megara bluntly shouted out. Wow, I think this a first. I like her, well better than most capitolite's anyway.
"I VOLUNTEER!" I screamed as hard as I can. The crowd was cheering, and some girls patted me on the back. My pretty pink dress got some attention, and mom was right for picking it. Hopefully, I'll get some sponsors.
As soon as I walked up to her, Megara asked while bringing the microphone closer to me, "Now, what's your name's?"
"Roxy Flint. And I'm going to win this!" I said confidently to Panem. I trained, I did my best, no way I'm not coming back. The crowd cheered my name and waved at me. I waved back.
Megara smirked, "That'll do," she then looked at the crowd. "Now, where's the boy volunteer?!"
The crowd's continued, and no one answered. That was weird, but then we all heard him.
And the crowd looked around, and nobody saw any volunteer. Guess Somnus stayed with his lazy instinct.
The escort tsked, taken back a little that no one called forward. "That's a little embarrassing," she proceeded to walk to the boy's bowl that she didn't want to touch in the first place. "Somnus Marbrand," she read.
The chance's of calling our supposed volunteer is practically nonexistent. I mean, holy crap! Somnus is either extremely lucky or unlucky.
Everyone moved out of his way, and the cheering was once more gaining a rise.
"I'm here," a bored voice called on out. Once people saw his hand raised, they moved on out of his way for him to go.
It was Somnus Marbrand. Wearing a nice polo shirt and jeans. He looked like how a career should be. Tall, handsome, muscular, gorgeous blonde hair. He looked bored, however. Those grey colored eyes were uninterested with everything around him, as it alway's had. That didn't stop him from giving off that charming smile that all the girls swoon for, and a couple of girls did cheer him on.
"Somnus Marbrand," he smirked at Magara, taking her hand and kissing it. Oh yeah, he's also a giant flirt.
"Oh my," the purple-haired escort giggled, forgetting her anger a second ago. "To Roxy Flint and Somnus Marbrand! The District Two Tributes!"
Of course, after that, both of us tribute's went to the Justice Building and put in a room.
Jet came first, as expected.
"You did well out there, sis," my little brother congratulated me.
"I did," I smiled sadly.
He looked up at me, "You finally getting second's now."
Fiddlestick's, of course, he'd know. "No."
"Roxy. Come on. It's me. Your brother," he gave me a teary smile. "We still have a minute to talk about you before our parent's come."
I took a deep breath, and acknowledge that my brother is right, "I know my chances are good. I know it, mom and dad keep telling me that. It's just that I don't think I want to hurt anyone or worse I might hurt an ally if I don't keep my personality under control. I don't know. I think while I'm good, I don't think I'm the best."
"You're not," Jet paused before continues, "You're much better."
"What? But I-" I hesitated before Jet intervened to explain.
"Those personalities can do the hard work for you. You'll have the after effect's after the kill, but you'll be a single-minded killing machine with that ruthless personality. That personality won't stop or listen to begging as other career's do. You'll kill, and just that. You're smart enough. You'll make it."
I hugged my younger brother. My best friend. The one person who told about my personality. He's just the best.
I put my head on top of his head, hugging him tightly. "Don't go."
"What?"
"Don't go to the Hunger Games. Ever. Too dangerous."
"That's hypocritical."
"I know. Don't go. Promise me."
"... I promise."
I let out a breath of relief knowing that.
"And one thing," I mentioned, looking down at Jet, who raised an annoyed brow. "Make some friends."
"That one sound's tough."
Honestly, I rolled my eye's in amusement at that.
"Roxy!" my father cried.
Father was an old man(in his 50's) with short black hair with the Asian descent coming from him, he also has a scar on his nose. My mother, Hera was a stern-faced woman with a tanner complexion than us, but her red hair makes me wonder what I possible resemble from her, cause I can't place it. Both of them nicely with business suits.
"You better win the Hunger Game's Roxy. Our money on you is not to be a waste," my mother steely told me. I love her stern gaze on me. I don't. I want to get away from this controlling woman I call my mother. "You have many sponsors on the way, and remember to use your looks, Roxy. The Capitol already thinks your charming, and you'll have to make them like you, even more, when you go to the interview."
"I understand," I complied to her advice. That's great and all, but would it kill her to say something nice?
My father hugged me stiffly. He was alway's kinder than mother, he likes to encourage us(Jet and me) to do our best. A firm man who taught his children manners and social graces. He looked at me, possibly trying to stop his tear's from shedding, "You already know how proud of you I am, and I'll help you in any way I can to get you those sponsors."
I gave my dad the best smile I could muster.
"Alright, you can go now," a peacekeeper called out authoritatively.
My family left, with Jet giving me one last wave. The door closed.
The kind smile I showed to my smile faded, leaving my face stoic.
Time to get ready to kill. I'm disturbed by how quickly I accepted.
Somnus Marbrand - District Two Male
Why should I be the one to go the Hunger Games?
Sound's like a pain, to be honest. I mean, sure. I'm a natural born fighter, and I got a whole bunch of other skill's careers should have. Only why should I be the one to volunteer? There are other suicidal idiot's who could go to the games, those sadists or glory blind idiots. They would happily take my place, do a better service for District Two than I ever could.
I don't care for it unlike others in District Two. The one and the only reason I train is getting my parent's off my back. When I started it, I never thought I would be any good at it.
Then my honor-obsessed parent's went and signed me up to the Academy. I resented it at first, but I then I got two thing's from the academy I enjoyed doing. Blowing up some steam from beating the other students, and most importantly, the girls. The academy has the hottest girls in the world. Mostly because everyone knows that sponsor's support the beautiful, and I don't disagree on why.
Let's say I'm a real charmer with the ladies. I suppose if there was one thing I can agree with my parent's, it's their genetics. My face knows how to charm women, and I know how to listen and smile at what they want me to hear or do. And man! Do I have a few stories to tell!
"Somnus. What do you think about the movie?" my current girlfriend, Mya asked. She's a great example of an academy girl. Mya is very attractive. Her body was round, and her long dark hair sure makes her cute as a bonus.
We were watching a sappy romance movie that the I got bored watching an hour ago. It was cliche, unrealistic, and the acting was dreadful. I'm pretty sure I saw a cameraman in the background for a quarter of the film.
We were sitting on her couch, sitting close to one another. I was at her house, and the best part was that her parents were at work.
"I think it's my new favorite," I lied, not wanting to ruin the mood. A sultry grin formed on my face, showing off my devilish good looks.
Mya snuggled up to me, blushing a little. "This is nice."
"It is," I proclaimed, and I do like the touch of her skin on me. I leaned my lip's closer to her, she returns it. We were making out for a minute, and then I kept kissing down her neck. Moving my hand's lower, I found her zipper to her jeans. She grabbed my hands.
I raised my brow in confusion, and she said with red cheeks, "I don't know about this. It's my first time."
Oh, I see.
"Don't worry," I whispered, then kissed her in the mouth for a long time. Her doubts were gone in an instant, "Just follow my lead."
That's one story. Mya was this week's girl for me, and man was she sweet. Sometime's I skip classes in the academy to flirt with girls or to take a nap. Both sound's like a good day spent. So I'm a player, I like my life like that. Some girls knew what they were getting into, and some girls were naive enough to believe that I love them. Honestly, the latter is a bit annoying. Do they not know what my status as a playboy?
That date with Mya was yesterday, and today I'm going to the Reaping. Yay. So goddam happy, like everyone else in District Two. I snorted, god these people. District Two is the Capitol's favorite district, but it's a pain's me to see the brainless sheep that can't see past the 'honor' the Capitol show's us. You know what? I don't really care. People are dumb, and kids can keep dying those pointless deaths.
"Welcome district two," the mayor begin the speech.
Yep. Already here. The lines were there. Everyone was happy as if the Reaping is a second Christmas. With District Two, I guess so. This tradition of our's seems pointless in my eyes. Most other districts weren't doing so good, and one day the capital will fall. It's been one hundred seventy-two years, sure enough, but the moment the Hunger Games make's one mistake, the districts(except two) will strike.
"Now, the treaty of treason," the mayor continued.
Being apart of a wealthy family such as mine has benefits. I have a few(very limited, but enough) to know that President Chamber's treat the outer district's the same as it's been with President Snow a hundred year back. Just saying, people get fed up. They will fight the Capitol. Hopefully, not in my lifetime, but it's a conclusion I made year's ago and I stick with it.
"Welcome Megera Moldy to the stage!" the mayor finished his boring speech, and a hot purple-hair lady strolled in front of the District Two stage.
"Now. While I know tradition says I should say a name out. Who cares about that here? Come on out, girl! District Two is waiting for a victor!" Megara bluntly shouted out. Heh, wait to be disappointed when you call on the boys.
"I VOLUNTEER!" a pretty girl in an innocent pink dress called out. Right, Roxy. She's the volunteer. Damn, the pressure of family got her. Too bad, didn't get a shot at her.
She got up the stage next to Megara, revealing a bright smile to everyone, to say her name, "Roxy Flint."
You know, I'm even more glad I'm not volunteering. Roxy was alway's one of the few girls I respect, and I would genuinely feel bad for killing her. Can't say I feel bad for anyone else, however.
"Now, where's the boy volunteer?!" Megara called loudly.
The usual cheering of the district of the district was wavering by the second. Oh, no. No volunteers, whatever will this District Two will do. Yeah. I know they picked me to volunteer. Screw them. Screw my parent's. I'm facing the consequences.
It was easy to see that Megara was clearly irritated, as she stomped her way to the bowl filled with little papers of boy names. Well, now it's time for some unlucky bastard to get reaped. No volunteer this year, and let's hope the guy has a chance. He'll need it.
"Somnus Marbrand," the escort read.
It took a couple of seconds to process that. That my name, out of everyone, was read out of that purple bimbo's mouth. What. The. Fuck.
Everyone was already cheering, and the boys around me were making their way for me.
I'm here," I said with disinterest, raising my hand.
It was too late, I thought. A little pissed, but finding myself caring not much. So I kill a couple of kid's. I don't care if they have to die so I can get home. Kill or be killed.
I walked forward, getting other's to pat me on the back as I go.
Once I get on stage, I noticed how hot her figure despite having that weird hairdo. May as well get some sponsors.
"Somnus Marbrand," I smirked at Magara, taking her hand and kissing it.
"Oh my," the purple-haired broad giggled at my flattery, getting her to smile was easy enough. She shook herself, getting ready to announce, "To Roxy Flint and Somnus Marbrand! The District Two Tributes!"
When I looked at the crowd, I didn't think them anything but a bother. Some ladies in front thought I was being cool and tossed some flowers at me. I didn't pick it up. Roxy, on the other hand, was waving to everyone, and I don't think she'll have any trouble with getting sponsors.
The peacekeeper's brought me and Roxy to the Justice Building.
The first person was Mya.
"I'm breaking up with you," I informed flatly.
"W-What? But I got you a bracelet, and-" Mya automatically flustered, and then cut off by me.
"Don't care. Give it anyone else. I was going to end our relationship next week."
She was still processing it, tears coming out of her eyes. "I-I, y-you. W-we."
"Pick a better boyfriend next time," the advice I give make's her furious.
She slapped me, leaving my cheek red. I snorted. Did she have to be so dramatic? What did she expect? Look's like I'll never know. I'm glad that it's not one of my ex's that's going into the games. Such as Enobaria. Oh god, that crazy chick would stab me in my sleep. Doubly glad that Roxy is my district partner.
"Hello son," my father, Rorius Marbrand, came in. He looked like me, but older and more uncaring.
"Mother. Father."
"You didn't volunteer," Rorius hissed, making it sound like a grave sin. In District Two, I suppose it is.
I shrugged, "I got in anyway. I don't see a problem."
My father gave me the stink eye, "Oh I think you do. Everyone will think you're a coward. A baby."
"I think you've been spending too much time with those overdramatic capitolites," I dismissed his words. "I'll explain in the interview that I was supposed to be a volunteer and that I knew that the paper the escort picked up would be mine. I'll make it. I'm smart."
"Of course you will, I spend a lot of money recently on you," my father commented.
"Recently?"
Rorius smirked, "Did you truly think that your name was called by mistake? Thought you were smart."
That, he wouldn't! No, he would. He most definitely would. I shouldn't be surprised. Rorius is obsessed enough to put me in a death game. Of all the shit he put me threw.
"Get our family some glory will you," Rorius implored arrogantly, after seeing my shocked face. "Hate for you to be such a disappointment. I made you better than that."
After that, he left. That fucking prick. I clenched my fist's in anger.
Oh, I'll win. I'll kill. Then, I'll kill you, dad.
A/N: I'll be the first to say that Somnus left a bad taste in my mouth. But I have to give it to Menectric11, Somnus was interesting if nothing else. God, I wish he wasn't a career, but he has a fair chance to be a winner as everyone else. We'll see. Also, thanks DefoNotAFangirl for the Roxy, and her weird identity issues. I hope I made the character's well. I feel like I did a bit too much.
A shoutout to readers to continue submitting tributes. Like District Three Male. I need that one sometime right away.
To EmberLex, 20, DefoNotAFanGirl, XC-NERD, and That one ace with a popsicle stick: Thank's guy's for both reviewing and submitting the characters. I felt that need to be said.