Jaded ||| Johanna Mason

one

Jade's callused hands worked at the butt of the gun. Sweat dripped from her forehead as she pushed two of the pieces together until they clicked. With a satisfied sigh, Jade threw the gun into the completed bin, turning to the next one.

As soon as she did, the sharp alarm blared through the speakers. It crackled and popped, the volume almost too much. All of the workers set their things down and stood, walking away from their stations in an orderly and practiced line.

Jade was one of the first out, collecting her measly pay before sprinting through the streets of the district.

District 2 was rocky. It was situated in the middle of many mountains, the peacekeeper academy situated inside of one. Rumour had it, the mountains used to be a popular tourist destination. Jade couldn't think of anything more outlandish, people coming to gawk at nature. It was all around. What made the mountains so special?

The streets were always clean, the district usually looked pristine. From the outside, it looked perfect. Two was loyal, their businesses prospered and citizens were wealthy.

But that wasn't true. At least, not for Jade.

She had some parts of the usual district 2 look. Jade was strong, she had built muscle over years of training and working in the quarry. She was medium height, not short but not considered tall. Her skin was a rich, umber brown, her features sharp and symmetrical, part of the reason she was chosen for the academy.

Jade's eyes were what she liked the most about herself. They were a different colour. One was a deep golden-brown and the other blue like the sky on a clear day, enchanting. The sun enhanced their colour, something which Jade adored.

But Jade and her mother weren't a part of one of the Great Houses, like Boleyn or Jasper. No, they were the richest. Their lineage went back generations to generals of the great war.

Jade lived in a small house. Her mother lived at the hospital. She had diabetes that if not treated, would kill her.

They had been doing all they could for her but it wasn't enough. Without the insulin, she'd die. And to get insulin, Jade needed money. And to get money, she needed to go into the hunger games.

It's not that Jade wanted to go into the games. She wasn't blood thirsty like the kids in the academy, or so patriotic the colours of the flag ran through her veins. Jade needed to go into the games. She had no other choice.

But that was the problem. Usually, it was the opposite, people were begging their god not to go, not to send their children. The outer districts held their breath at each reaping, the choice of children looming over their heads like the axe was already buried in the child's chest.

In two, not so much. Odius, an old victor, ran the academy. It was technically called the Peacekeeping Preparation and Training Academy, or PPTA. But everyone knew its other purpose. To train tributes.

Odius was the winner of the 18th games and was a very pale man in his sixties. His hair was a shade of light grey with streaks of pure white scattered throughout. He always kept his beard groomed too. It was the same colour of his hair and covered half of his face.

And even for being in his late 60's, the man was miraculously well built. It was one of the reasons he still had a following in the capitol. And the fact that he had "dazzling blue eyes" as the tabloids called them.