Quelling the Flames

District 3

District 3 Female
Name: Electra Niktes Aven
Gender: Female
Age: 13
District: 3
General description: Incredibly smart, almost a genius, pays close attention to detail. Kind and friendly although sometimes sarcastic. Quick-witted and very competitive as well as easily jealous. Tall for her age, solid build. Black hair, violet eyes, some Asian features.
Weapon of choice: Pair of twin swords.
Celebrity look a like: Rhian Ramos

Electra's POV
I hurry down the long hallway looking for my best friend. I stop at the door marked with a lightbulb insignia. Knocking, I wait for the cool automatic voice.

"Password?"

"Genius is 1% inspiration and 99% perspiration." I reel off easily. The door clicks open and I step inside concerned. The lights aren't on and the many blinking machine reflects strangely off of the rows of vials at the front of the room.

"Tom?"
A strange, choked noise comes from the far corner. I turn on the lights and see him huddled by a shelf looking utterly broken.

"Tesla." He says in greeting, his face dark and expressionless.
I slide into the space next to him, my eyes searching his.

"Are you ok?"

"How can I be? They killed her and I did nothing. I was her brother! I was supposed to protect her! But I didn't! I'm a failure."

"Don't say that"

"But I am"

"You couldn't have saved her. Nobody could've, not even the mayor."

"They killed her. They killed her! She was twelve! Too young to die! To innocent, too full of life."

He lets out a small, shuddering groan. I wrap my arm around his shoulders uncertain on what to say, so I don't say anything at all. We stay like that for a while. The clock rings 12 and we know we've got to leave.
District 3 isn't big on fancy dress, and nobody can afford nice clothes anyway, so we all just tramp into the squares with greasy pants and sweat stained shirts.
At last we are settled. My 19 year old sister stands wild eyed at the back with the other adults, and Tom stands shoulders hunched looking utterly defeated. My heart aches a little at the sight, and I long to take the pain away, but I can't. I realize a expectant hush has fallen over the crowd, and I turn back to face out District escort Cria Porter.

She smiles and sticks her hand in the glass bowl, digging around her nails clicking against the glass. She pulls out a slip of paper and reads,
"Electra Niktes Aven!"
It takes a moment to register, but when it does, my world comes crashing down.

................................................................

District 3 Male

Name: Roack Stillman
Gender: Male
Age: 15
General Description: Ice blue eyes, brown/dirty blonde hair, fast, quick reflexes, very intelligent
Weapon of choice: Bow and arrow, switchblade, sword, rope
Celebrity look a like: Devon Goyo

Roack's POV
I yawn as I stretch. I love mornings. I jump down from my perch in my tree and land on both feet on the ground. I start to run around parts of the forest, home sweet peaceful home.

Meanwhile in Town..
Everyone gathers in town for the Reaping, dreadful day it is. A lady steps up to the podium. There are two giant bowls filled with names, one for girls and one for guys. The lady reaches into the bowl of girls names first. The girl picked nervously walks to the stage. Then she reaches in for a guys name, "And our guys tribute is..." She adds a dramatic pause, "Roack Stillman!" No one moves. She calls the name again, "Roack Stillman!" Again no one moves.
A little girl pipes up, "He isn't here miss."
"Well where is he then?"
"Probably in the forest on the other side of town. He must've forgotten today was the Reaping."
She turns to some peacekeepers, "Go fetch the guy in the forest."

Roack's POV
As I stop to take a quick breath, I hear running footsteps behind me. I quickly and quietly run to a tree, climb it and hide myself amongst the leaves. I hear voices below, "She said to find the guy in the forest."
Peacekeepers, "Guy in the forest, is that how they refer to me now?" I call out and chuckle.
"Sir you nee to get to the reaping now."
"Crud how could I have forgotten that was today?" I jump out of the tree and roll to cushion my fall. I take off from the peacekeepers leaving them in the forest. I head towards townsquare. When I get there everyone stares at me, "What?"
The girl at the podium looks at me, "Where are the peacekeepers I sent to get you?"
"Probably lost in the forest. I didn't feel like waiting."
The lady shakes her head at me,"You left them lost in the forest?"
"Yes, if they were faster they could've kept up." Other peace keepers point guns at me, "Hey now, no need for violence, I'll just run back and go get them." I take off back the forest and find the peace keepers lost farther away from town. "Follow me lost boys." I say. They look at me and reluctantly follow me back to town square, "You're lost boys are now found madam."
The citizens laugh but the lady does not, "Just get up here and stop showing off young man. You're the male tribute."
"Sounds fun." I say as I confidently walk to the stage. Yes I know what the reaping is and I know what the hunger games are. I just want to get away, even if I don't come back. As I look among the crowd, I realize these people aren't just scared and crying for the girl who was picked, they're crying for me. The lost boy of the forest. It's saddening to know I'll never see anymore shining faces from this district ever again.