𝕊𝕪𝕟𝕥𝕙𝕖 𝕒𝕟𝕕 𝕥𝕙𝕖 𝕋𝕙𝕖 𝔽𝕣𝕚𝕘𝕚𝕕 𝟞𝟡𝕥𝕙 ℍ𝕦𝕟𝕘𝕖𝕣 𝕘𝕒𝕞𝕖𝕤

A District Two Morning

I opened my eyes to the sound of rain tapping on the window. The morning was oddly calm and quiet. On most mornings, the bustling of jackhammers and cement raking, along with the shouts of people communicating with one another could be heard in the distance. Our people took pride in their craft and worked unfalteringly on dozens of brick and stonework projects that we exported. Sleeping in during all of this was next to impossible because of the noise. Even though I had woken up early as I usually did, the familiar morning haste of activity was absent. I would guess that this had something to do with the odd sense of refreshment I felt. I leaned up and sat on my bed checking the analog clock that read 7:30 before standing up and methodically stretching. My siblings and I would be attending the training academy this morning per routine. For me, This rigorous training, chores, and family tended to soak up most of my time. I won't complain though. I was on track for a good future. The following spring I would be enrolled in the Peacekeeper Corps program where hopefully I'd be stationed alongside my father who was serving in District Five for this year.My 18th birthday had recently come and gone. I found this bittersweet in the post-war Panem world that I called home. The last eight years of my life were dedicated to our district's academy training center. My instructors counted me and a small few others combat-ready for The annual Hunger Games. The difference between them and I though was that game participation wasn't something I sought after or looked forward to. Don't get me wrong, If the instructors picked me I would showcase my District to the best of my ability and try to fight and win my way back home to my family. Truthfully if you play devil's advocate life as a victor is a comfortable one for you and your immediate family, especially in a better District like the one I reside in. District Two. Our best contractors have built two or three dozen mansions constructed with the leftovers of our finest Marble and Limestone. I get a glance at them from time to time when passing Victor Village, But I often wonder if it truly is worth the scars and trauma you endure participating in the games. Each year my siblings and I force ourselves to watch the brutalization and turmoil of The Hunger Games. It's rough but we believe that the more information we watch and take in, the better off we might be should fate ever force us into participation one day. Other Adolescents and children watch similarly but for different reasons as well. While they too seek visual preparation, they enjoy watching the games. It's recreation for them, and very much something they desire. This mindset is usually introduced and encouraged by parents. In my opinion, this desensitization causes arrogance, blind ambition, and selfishness. At the age of 10 most of us are enrolled in and participate in District Two's training academy. At the beginning of this program, we are put through a physical exam. This exam assesses the limits of what we are capable of. Running, swimming, strength and weight training, and acrobatics are all performed until exhaustion. From there, instructors divide everyone by skill level and work on their weaknesses. Once you're able to maintain an adequate fitness level you're training shifts into hand-to-hand techniques that are implemented and drilled. Two years from then at twelve years old weapons are added. There are different stations for different things. Axes, spears, and Swords are some of the most popular. But more complex stations are also there as well like maces, throwing knives, scythes, and more. I finished my stretches and stepped out of my room. Our Granite floors filled my feet with an unwelcome cold as I walked down the hallway. Shivering to myself, I entered the living room grabbing up and tossing a disregarded sheet left on the couch around my shoulders. My two siblings were in their shared room sleeping. Their names were Lenna and Sphinx, aged sixteen and fourteen. Seeing the pair reminded me of my parents. My mother had died four years ago in a miscarriage. This destroyed us all emotionally starting with my father. He drowned himself in his work as a peacekeeper voluntarily taking up deployments that lasted months for most of the year. Before all this, he would describe to me how different life was in other districts. Things were much harder the further you got from the Capitol. Food is scarce, wages are lower and peacekeepers are a lot rougher. Most of the peacekeepers stem from either The Capitol or Districts One and Two. With most of ours working where they live they treat their people fairly. I'd imagine being unnecessarily forceful with someone wouldn't go over well when said person owns the grocery store you shop at or is your cousin. A lot of the people of District Two are ignorant of this reasoning that the privileged lives we lead are unanimous throughout the rest of the districts. We have so many small luxuries here that we take advantage of. Three meals a day and a decent-paying job with fair wages is more than most districts have. I guess you don't think about that when you just simply haven't lived another way. " Time to get up guys, we've gotta head out soon. " I said elevating my voice. Sphinx groaned and sat up. Lenna was already on her feet "Good morning you two" Lenna said before passing by me and making her way to the bathroom. Sphinx pulled his curtain back examining the rain. "The roads are going to have that nasty rock runoff," he said standing up. "It's true, if we hurry we might be able to beat it. " I responded. "You know how the instructors get when we're late boys, so let's make sure we aren't dragging our feet. " Lenna announced from down the hall as the sound of the shower turned on. Sphinx wrapped both hands around his throat jokingly strangling himself. " Says Ms. Fourty five-minute showers," he responded sarcastically. " I do not take that long, and even if I did, you can't set a time limit on beauty and fragrance." The bathroom door shut and Sphinx and I met eyes uttering the same phrase " Girls " we said together through laughing. As I made my way towards the kitchen a now muffled " I can still hear you two" escaped the bathroom walls to which my brother and I jokingly placed blame on one another. I cracked three eggs and dumped them in a pan along with cheese and light seasoning. A now-dressed Sphinx joined me in the kitchen. He added three pieces of bread to a buttered skillet and sat down putting his shoes on. The aroma that quickly filled the room rounded my thoughts to the way the house smelled when my mother used to cook. She did it as often as she could despite how busy she was as a peacekeeper. Mornings for her were much earlier than ours but more often than not we'd find pancakes, waffles, or eggs waiting for us with accompanying syrup. My siblings haven't been the same since she died, and if I'm honest with myself I haven't either. It hit Lenna especially hard. She's always had a temper same as her mother, but it was mom who was the best at teaching her to control her emotions. She kept her grounded, with a methodic way of rationalizing situations to her like no one else could. Sphinx turned over the toast and I stirred the eggs. My siblings lately have been a product of their environment becoming more and more like other District Two teens. I do my best to be a supportive older brother remembering that all kids have their issues. Lenna came into the kitchen dressed right as I slid equal portions of the eggs onto the toast. We each took our slices and left locking the door beforehand.