Rowless's story before, during, and after the arena~ = w =b
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Rowless, age 14. Before the arena.
"Okay, sweetie. It's time for the Drawing of Tributes," my mother said to me as she finished prepping up my dress. Of course, she wasn't smiling. The day when Tributes were drawn was not a happy day for the people of District 11. Well, the people anywhere in Panem, really. It was a dreaded day because two children from each district is taken to go and fight to death in an arena. Only one child from one district would come back, and they would be put in the Victors Village with their family, then go to tour every District. It was absolutely horrible.
"Okay, Mom," I replied. Turning to my little brother, I put my hand on his shoulder. "You're going to be a good boy for Momma, right?" My voice was quiet, yet stern. I had never been the strongest of teens, but when it came to someone I loved, I'd do anything for them
"Yes, Roro. I''ll stay with Momma," he replied, smiling. To me, his smile was so cute. He was missing his two front teeth, since he recently lost them. He looked so childish.
"All right, if you two have everything figured out, lets go now. You know what happens when we're late," our mother warned, directing us out of the house. As we walked through the streets, we passed many buildings and shops. Most of the things we couldn't afford, since we were given little. That's why I had gotten the tesserae every year since my name had been put in the ballet of tributes. My name was now in there twelve times.
When we got to the center of the village, I was taken from my mother and brother and put in a rope-pen with the other fourteen-year-olds in the district. Facing toward the stage, I waited until the escort came up to draw names.
It took a few minutes for our district's escort to get out. He had to have all of his make up prepped before he went live on television. When he came out, his hair was styled a dark orange color. Though, his brown sideburns were showing. It was obviously a wig. His suit was a darker orange color. Obviously he was going for a late autumn look.
"Okay, everyone! It's time to start the ceremony! Now, I know you're all excited about which lucky children will get to be portrayed in the Hunger Games this year, so I'll just get right to the point~" he announced, as happy as ever. He was this way every year. Though, I knew that he just wanted to get in and get out as soon as possible. Who blamed him?
"All right~ Well, I think I'll switch it up this year! I will draw the males first~ Sorry ladies, you'll just have to wait your turn~" Sticking his hand into the big bowl, he fished around for about a minute. Then, looking at the paper, he announced, "Our male tribute this year will be Channeler -idon'thaveanameorz-!"
I looked over at the stairs to see Channeler walk up them. He wasn't my age - he was actually eighteen - but I knew him. We worked together a lot in the fields. And he was one of my few friends. It was painful to see him standing up there, no one willing to take his place when the chance was given. The escort moved onto the other bowl.
"Okay girls, cross your fingers~ The lucky female tribute for this year will be... Rowless HopVenus Flytrap!" he announced. I almost choked on the air I breathed in. He called my name? Out of all the names in that bowl? Getting out of the rope-pin, I slowly walked up the steps to take my place next to the bowl my name had been drawn out of. "Does anyone want to take this pretty girls place in the games?" Complete silence. I never knew how deafening it could be.
"Well then, this has been a wonderful tribute ceremony! Happy Hunger Games! And to you two-" he stopped, looking from me to Channeler, "-may the odds be EVER in your favor~"
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Final Good-byes
Two Peacekeepers led me down a few flights of stairs in a big building after the ceremony. I didn't bother to ask where they were taking me. It was the same place they took every tribute before leaving for the games. Their 'last goodbyes' as they call it. All it is a white room with a bench to match. It felt like they had put me in an asylum. Then, my first visitors came in.
My mother and little brother stared at me for a minute, me staring back. We said nothing and we took in this moment. This final moment. The last time we might ever see each other. My brother was the first to move.
"Roro, you'll be back after the games, right?" he asked me, grabbing one of my hands. It broke my heart how innocent and clueless he was. He didn't know that I probably wouldn't be coming back.
"I...I'm not sure, Rolan. I'll try my hardest, though," I told him, trying to boost his spirit by not crying. Looking up at my mother, I noticed how she was trying to do the same. She never let him watch the games at the house, so he was pretty much oblivious to them. We just never imagined that I would be the one going to fight to the death. Then, a man poked his head through the door, telling us that our five minutes was over.
"Mom," I said quietly, walking over to her and hugging her. "Please, if I don't come back, don't let him get the tesserae." She nodded, put something into the palm of my hand, and was about to leave when Rolan looked back at me, tears in his eyes and a smile on his face.
"Come back safely, Roro! I'll be waiting!"
---
The few friends that I had came in to say good bye, but I could see they wanted to be anywhere but here. They had better things to do than see their half-a-friend off. It was in their eyes.
The last few moments in that room were agonizing. I could swear that they were trying to drive me mad. I decided to study the thing my mother put in my hand. Opening my palm, there was a single golden hair tie. I smiled, for I had watched her make it many months before. I slid it onto my wrist when a Peacekeeper walked in, directing me out. Finally, I got out of that accursed white room.
Outside I was practically blinded by camera flashes and trampled by reporters from the Capitol. When had they gotten here? Of course, a video camera was stuck in my face. I was being portrayed all over Panem. That was before Caldem - District 11's escort - rounded me and Channeler into the train to be led off on the trip to the Capitol.
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On the train, before dinner.
Once I was shown my room, I locked myself in it. I didn't want to see anyone, and I didn't want anyone to see me. I had to take all of this in little by little, not rushing in so I wouldn't overload my mind.
Early this morning, I had helped my little brother dress. He always had trouble with his shoes, so I put them on right and helped him tie them. My mother and I made a small breakfast, so the choices of tributes wouldn't make our stomachs upset. Though, the probably already were. Closing my eyes, I imagined my little brother sitting outside out house, counting the flowers that were growing on the street. That was a daily thing for him. Mother would be inside, sewing, while I would be walking back from a day in the fields. My brother was far too young to be working, and my mother was far too old. I had to do three times the work just to keep us going, but that was fine with me. I always got to come home at a reasonable time, along with a flower for my mother. She always put them in a vase, trying to keep the alive, but they usually died after a few days. The longest one ever lasted was a week. But that was fine, since I brought her one every day to accompany the others. Then, a knock on the door brought me back to reality.
"Hey, Rowless? It's me, Channeler. May I come in?" the voice said. Standing up steadily, I walked to the door and unlocked it. As soon as it was opened, I was pulled into a rough hug. "Why did you lock yourself in here? I didn't get to see you after we walked onto the train. You really need to stop running away and hiding." He said this sternly but kindly.
"I-I'm sorry, Channeler. I just needed some time alone is all..." I told him, not returning the hug. Sure, he was a good friend, but I didn't want a hug. Anything from it, really.
Letting go, he sighed. "Come on, Caldem's called us to dinner." With that said, he grabbed my wrist and literally dragged me down to the dining hall.
At the table, we sat for a minute, listening to Caldem's complete and utter babbling. I stared down at my plate, ignoring our escorts every word. Then, a bowl was set out in front of me with some kind of soup in it. I didn't even hear any doors open. Had I really spaced out that much? Looking up, I noticed that Caldem and Seeder, our mentor, had already started eating. So, I began eating as well, but not as much as they gave me. I stayed with the small portions that I got in my district. If my mother and brother couldn't have this much, I wasn't going to, either.
"Rowless, you need to eat more so you can build up your strength," I hear someone say, but I don't know who. I shake my head no. Standing up, I excuse myself from the table and head back down the hall toward my room. I can hear footsteps behind me, but I don't care.
"Rowless, can I just talk to you? Please?" Channeler. I stop a few steps short of my door, staring down at the ground. "Rowless, listen to me. I know it's not fair, but if you want to have any chance of getting back to your family, you do have to eat." He was right. I knew he was. But I didn't want to do what they told me to. I wasn't going to follow their rules. Abide to their wishes. Because their slave in these games.
"Rowless?" My head shoots up when I feel a hand caress my cheek. I look up into his eyes, and they're filled with worry. I shake my head, not wanting to talk anymore. Pushing him away, I open the door to my room and slam it shut. Channeler mumbles to himself for a second and walks away from the door. His footsteps grow softer, until I can no longer hear him. It was going to be a long ride to the Capitol.
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The prep team.
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Rowless, age 14. Before the arena.
"Okay, sweetie. It's time for the Drawing of Tributes," my mother said to me as she finished prepping up my dress. Of course, she wasn't smiling. The day when Tributes were drawn was not a happy day for the people of District 11. Well, the people anywhere in Panem, really. It was a dreaded day because two children from each district is taken to go and fight to death in an arena. Only one child from one district would come back, and they would be put in the Victors Village with their family, then go to tour every District. It was absolutely horrible.
"Okay, Mom," I replied. Turning to my little brother, I put my hand on his shoulder. "You're going to be a good boy for Momma, right?" My voice was quiet, yet stern. I had never been the strongest of teens, but when it came to someone I loved, I'd do anything for them
"Yes, Roro. I''ll stay with Momma," he replied, smiling. To me, his smile was so cute. He was missing his two front teeth, since he recently lost them. He looked so childish.
"All right, if you two have everything figured out, lets go now. You know what happens when we're late," our mother warned, directing us out of the house. As we walked through the streets, we passed many buildings and shops. Most of the things we couldn't afford, since we were given little. That's why I had gotten the tesserae every year since my name had been put in the ballet of tributes. My name was now in there twelve times.
When we got to the center of the village, I was taken from my mother and brother and put in a rope-pen with the other fourteen-year-olds in the district. Facing toward the stage, I waited until the escort came up to draw names.
It took a few minutes for our district's escort to get out. He had to have all of his make up prepped before he went live on television. When he came out, his hair was styled a dark orange color. Though, his brown sideburns were showing. It was obviously a wig. His suit was a darker orange color. Obviously he was going for a late autumn look.
"Okay, everyone! It's time to start the ceremony! Now, I know you're all excited about which lucky children will get to be portrayed in the Hunger Games this year, so I'll just get right to the point~" he announced, as happy as ever. He was this way every year. Though, I knew that he just wanted to get in and get out as soon as possible. Who blamed him?
"All right~ Well, I think I'll switch it up this year! I will draw the males first~ Sorry ladies, you'll just have to wait your turn~" Sticking his hand into the big bowl, he fished around for about a minute. Then, looking at the paper, he announced, "Our male tribute this year will be Channeler -idon'thaveanameorz-!"
I looked over at the stairs to see Channeler walk up them. He wasn't my age - he was actually eighteen - but I knew him. We worked together a lot in the fields. And he was one of my few friends. It was painful to see him standing up there, no one willing to take his place when the chance was given. The escort moved onto the other bowl.
"Okay girls, cross your fingers~ The lucky female tribute for this year will be... Rowless HopVenus Flytrap!" he announced. I almost choked on the air I breathed in. He called my name? Out of all the names in that bowl? Getting out of the rope-pin, I slowly walked up the steps to take my place next to the bowl my name had been drawn out of. "Does anyone want to take this pretty girls place in the games?" Complete silence. I never knew how deafening it could be.
"Well then, this has been a wonderful tribute ceremony! Happy Hunger Games! And to you two-" he stopped, looking from me to Channeler, "-may the odds be EVER in your favor~"
----------
Final Good-byes
Two Peacekeepers led me down a few flights of stairs in a big building after the ceremony. I didn't bother to ask where they were taking me. It was the same place they took every tribute before leaving for the games. Their 'last goodbyes' as they call it. All it is a white room with a bench to match. It felt like they had put me in an asylum. Then, my first visitors came in.
My mother and little brother stared at me for a minute, me staring back. We said nothing and we took in this moment. This final moment. The last time we might ever see each other. My brother was the first to move.
"Roro, you'll be back after the games, right?" he asked me, grabbing one of my hands. It broke my heart how innocent and clueless he was. He didn't know that I probably wouldn't be coming back.
"I...I'm not sure, Rolan. I'll try my hardest, though," I told him, trying to boost his spirit by not crying. Looking up at my mother, I noticed how she was trying to do the same. She never let him watch the games at the house, so he was pretty much oblivious to them. We just never imagined that I would be the one going to fight to the death. Then, a man poked his head through the door, telling us that our five minutes was over.
"Mom," I said quietly, walking over to her and hugging her. "Please, if I don't come back, don't let him get the tesserae." She nodded, put something into the palm of my hand, and was about to leave when Rolan looked back at me, tears in his eyes and a smile on his face.
"Come back safely, Roro! I'll be waiting!"
---
The few friends that I had came in to say good bye, but I could see they wanted to be anywhere but here. They had better things to do than see their half-a-friend off. It was in their eyes.
The last few moments in that room were agonizing. I could swear that they were trying to drive me mad. I decided to study the thing my mother put in my hand. Opening my palm, there was a single golden hair tie. I smiled, for I had watched her make it many months before. I slid it onto my wrist when a Peacekeeper walked in, directing me out. Finally, I got out of that accursed white room.
Outside I was practically blinded by camera flashes and trampled by reporters from the Capitol. When had they gotten here? Of course, a video camera was stuck in my face. I was being portrayed all over Panem. That was before Caldem - District 11's escort - rounded me and Channeler into the train to be led off on the trip to the Capitol.
----------
On the train, before dinner.
Once I was shown my room, I locked myself in it. I didn't want to see anyone, and I didn't want anyone to see me. I had to take all of this in little by little, not rushing in so I wouldn't overload my mind.
Early this morning, I had helped my little brother dress. He always had trouble with his shoes, so I put them on right and helped him tie them. My mother and I made a small breakfast, so the choices of tributes wouldn't make our stomachs upset. Though, the probably already were. Closing my eyes, I imagined my little brother sitting outside out house, counting the flowers that were growing on the street. That was a daily thing for him. Mother would be inside, sewing, while I would be walking back from a day in the fields. My brother was far too young to be working, and my mother was far too old. I had to do three times the work just to keep us going, but that was fine with me. I always got to come home at a reasonable time, along with a flower for my mother. She always put them in a vase, trying to keep the alive, but they usually died after a few days. The longest one ever lasted was a week. But that was fine, since I brought her one every day to accompany the others. Then, a knock on the door brought me back to reality.
"Hey, Rowless? It's me, Channeler. May I come in?" the voice said. Standing up steadily, I walked to the door and unlocked it. As soon as it was opened, I was pulled into a rough hug. "Why did you lock yourself in here? I didn't get to see you after we walked onto the train. You really need to stop running away and hiding." He said this sternly but kindly.
"I-I'm sorry, Channeler. I just needed some time alone is all..." I told him, not returning the hug. Sure, he was a good friend, but I didn't want a hug. Anything from it, really.
Letting go, he sighed. "Come on, Caldem's called us to dinner." With that said, he grabbed my wrist and literally dragged me down to the dining hall.
At the table, we sat for a minute, listening to Caldem's complete and utter babbling. I stared down at my plate, ignoring our escorts every word. Then, a bowl was set out in front of me with some kind of soup in it. I didn't even hear any doors open. Had I really spaced out that much? Looking up, I noticed that Caldem and Seeder, our mentor, had already started eating. So, I began eating as well, but not as much as they gave me. I stayed with the small portions that I got in my district. If my mother and brother couldn't have this much, I wasn't going to, either.
"Rowless, you need to eat more so you can build up your strength," I hear someone say, but I don't know who. I shake my head no. Standing up, I excuse myself from the table and head back down the hall toward my room. I can hear footsteps behind me, but I don't care.
"Rowless, can I just talk to you? Please?" Channeler. I stop a few steps short of my door, staring down at the ground. "Rowless, listen to me. I know it's not fair, but if you want to have any chance of getting back to your family, you do have to eat." He was right. I knew he was. But I didn't want to do what they told me to. I wasn't going to follow their rules. Abide to their wishes. Because their slave in these games.
"Rowless?" My head shoots up when I feel a hand caress my cheek. I look up into his eyes, and they're filled with worry. I shake my head, not wanting to talk anymore. Pushing him away, I open the door to my room and slam it shut. Channeler mumbles to himself for a second and walks away from the door. His footsteps grow softer, until I can no longer hear him. It was going to be a long ride to the Capitol.
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The prep team.
