"Our nation would be nothing without District 2's superb stonework. It builds and fortifies our cities and its citizens are known individually for their strength."
-The Capitol
I awoke to the sound of the birds singing outside. I sat up in my bed scanning the room, I was always paranoid even as a child. My brother told me that my paranoia would save me once I was Reaped into the games. Then it hit me, today was Reaping day. A smile etched itself across my face as I got out of bed and threw on my work clothes, they were the only pair of clothes I liked the rest of the stuff was too frilly and shiny for me too wear. Walking up to my door I could hear the sounds of my family conversing outside.
I opened the door to be greeted my father. He was almost 6'5, his face was rough but today he wore a smile as well as his favorite silken robes. In his hands he held a plate with pig loins, beans, and drum sticks of chicken. We had always ate well ever since my older brother Cassius won the 50th Hunger Games and had us moved to Victors Village. My father then began to speak taking me out of my state of mind.
"Aww you ruined the surprise!" He said sadly coming in my room and setting down the food. "I wanted to give you food in bed for your big day." He said with a smile. I wasn't surprised at how happy my father was that his young boy was going to battle to win honor for our house, it was to be expected of us. Even my 14 year old sister was training for the Games. I sighed and sat down on my bed careful to not knock the food over.
"Thank you dad, but i'm not really hungry. I'd rather just get to my training." I say brushing my food over to the side.
"Not hungry? You sure you're not getting cold feet like your sister Alexis?" He said with venom as he said the name Alexis. Alexis was the oldest of me and my brother and sister, she hated The Capitol and everything they were doing. So she left, tried to escape through the fence but got caught. Instead of an execution they turned her into an Avox a mute slave, meant to follow every command. My father hated her. To him she brought shame upon our family and deserved what she got. I could never understand why he hated her so much even before she started rebelling against The Capitol he hated her. Even if she brought shame upon us I could never hate my sister.
"Hey you heard me?" He said looking at me with suspicion.
"Y-yes my ind just wandered." I said laughing slightly.
"Alright then." He said as his anger just faded away. "Still your gonna need your strength, so eat your food that's an order soldier." He said ruffling up my hair. He then left leaving me with my food. I quickly ate it and made my way outside to my backyard where a multitude of practice dummies were set up next to a table that held a sword, throwing knifes, and an Axe. I grabbed the sword as I heard a crack from behind me, whipping around I saw it was my bro-
*Crack* A snapping noise echoed through the yard as a piece of wood collided with my ribs making me wince in pain. "Don't show pain make ya' look weak." I heard a familiar voice say. Looking up I saw it was my brother Cassius holding a wooden sword. Cassius was a mere 6'4 just under my fathers height, and bore a large scar across his face. He began laughing.
"What? Your just gonna stand there? In the arena you don't stand still, stay on the move." He said flicking his sword back and forth. I was getting tired of his games, every day since he got back he had been 'training' me for the games randomly attacking me leaving me with a feeling of paranoia all the time. I straitened out my back and raised my sword.
"Ooh aiming a blade at your own brother? How dare you?" Cassius said teasing. "How about you prove to me that everything I taught you wasn't a waste of time?" Cassius said voice getting lower and barring his teeth.
"As you wish dear brother." I said getting closer to him. Cassius made the first strike and I quickly dodged it trying to land one of my own onto him, in response he leaped back slightly dodging my attack. He then charged me with quickness. He tried to make an overhead swing at me but I blocked it with my own sword and kicked him in the gullet making him back up slightly then I pressed my advance landing a blow onto his coat. Or so I thought.
I heard him say "Gotcha." as I tripped and fell to the ground nearly impaling myself with my own sword. I tasted blood and the sky began spinning, something cold touched my chin. I looked down slightly and saw my brother holding my sword or rather pointing my sword at me.
"You're fuckin dead." He began. "The type of shit was that? I told you your enemy is not finished till he's on the ground bleeding!" He said yelling irritation growing to anger.
"But I-" He cut me off and then pointed to his scar.
"See this? This is what happens when your not careful." He said withdrawing the sword from my chin and tossing it back towards the table. I then remembered how he got his scar. I was little over 12 years old when I saw Cassius and Marina, the last two Tributes of the 50th Hunger Games begin to fight. Both were evenly matched and both were from the same District. Cassius had the upper hand over Marina, he had steel longsword while all she had was a little iron dagger but she knew how to use it. Marina had gotten close enough to Cassius and was able to disarm him. She slammed her dagger into his leg then picked up his sword. He ripped the dagger out and through endurance was able to run at her with it but she was the one who made the final blow.
She slashed Cassius across his mouth leaving his right jaw cut open. He fell to the ground and we all thought Cassius was dead even Marina, as she left him on the ground. He began crawling towards the dagger Marina saw this and she kicked him over onto his back. She stood on top of him and made a stabbing motion towards him but he dodged it and while she was low to the ground he stabbed her in the ribs while simultaneously headbutting her off of him. Once she was down he took her sword and with the last of his strength embedded it into her skull. Winning the game at the cost of his dear friend and his face.
"Boys!" I heard my father yell breaking me out of thought. "It's time." He said walking back into the house. My brother put down his hand and helped me up.
"Come on." He began as I got to my feet. "Its time for the Reaping."
