World

Alouette Barsotti was only six years old on the last Reaping Day in Panem, but she remembered it clearly. Families hugged their children every five minutes, wiping tears away before the peace keepers could see it. She saw a fourteen-year-old go through multiple lashings after tying to run away. There was an energy of solemnness that possessed anyone she passed. Though she was so young, she never forgot that feeling of complete helplessness.

That feeling was the exact same one that surrounded District 7 today.

Lou and Avery had gone for a quick run in the morning (as he’d been making her do everyday since they arrived in District 7 three months ago), and Lou couldn’t’ help but exam the faces of the citizens. Many of the children didn’t seem as if they comprehended what exactly was going on. They’d been to young to remember the horror of the games, and even though they would have been taught about it, it was different seeing it. Different living it.

Those who were old enough seemed grimmer than the dead, but there was something more in their expression. There was a challenge. It was a shock, to say the least, when The Capitol came into power once more. Lou was never sure if the citizens of Panem could handle another rebellion again, but that look of pure hatred towards the reaping let her know not to entirely count out that idea. If their plan succeeded, there would be those who backed them once more.

As Lou gathered her hair into a tight updo, she slipped on a cotton dress, the shade of emerald green. She was never a big fan of dresses, but for some reason it was customary during the reaping to present oneself in a neatly formal attire. Make the pigs pretty before the slaughter. She was the last person who wanted to go along with their little game, but for the plan to work, she had to put on face. She couldn’t be Alouette Barsotti, a district 13 soldier. She had to be Astraea Roman, District Seven wood worker with a charming enough attitude that would make the capitols people fall in love with her. She had to be unsuspecting, but she couldn’t blend into the background.

She had to be a player.

Making her way through the little cabin in the middle of the woods in which her and Avery had shared, she slipped out the back door to face the light haired boy chopping wood in the back. He had become rather well acquainted with the axe during his time there. He’d made sure she was as well.

“Alex,” she spoke gently as to get his attention, unable to call Avery his real name. She hadn’t since they’d arrived. He needed to get used to hearing it, and Lou never knew what hid in the trees, able to find out their secrets. “It’s time to go. The reaping is starting.”



They had their plan sorted. District 13 had made sure there was enough history and records of their false identities for no one to second guessed their District 7 status. They were parentless at a young age, having met on the streets. They were outcasts who stuck together in their secluded cabin most of their life. They’d only showed face more often now as they had to produce more work for The Capitol. It would work well enough for a cover story. The Capitol would be interested enough in a sob story of parentless kids come together to make their own family. The game keepers might even try to keep them alive a little longer just for that desperate plot. It would also make sense that if one got into the games, the other would volunteer to ‘protect’ the other. They had enough counting cards in the draw added in that they already had a higher than normal chance of being picked. However, if they had to volunteer, that’s what they would do.

After getting promptly signed in, she made her way into the crowds that had accumulated around the districts Justice Building. Lou slipped in, trying her best to blend in as best as she could. She put on a face of nerves, rubbing her wrists as if she was anxious, eyes darting around, foot tapping on the ground. Inside she was more calm than she appeared. She already knew the intended outcome, and would do anything to achieve it.

As soon as the District 7 escort came on stage, the crowd grew hush. The escort was named Faefarrel Presstina. She was a dainty woman, reaching no more than 5’1. The excessive platform heels however, made her appear just under six foot. She had glossy wavy hair, wore long to the back of her knees. It was a blaring yellow, in a shade Lou had not quite seen before. The silk dress of the same colour was simply draped and pinned over her body, adorned with large blue gems of varying colour. Her makeup was detailed, her skin tinged a soft blue that reminded her of a frosted corpse. Lou never could understand the beauty standards of The Capitol.

She tapped on the mic once with nails of blue that reminded her of claws. She went through her little speech, wishing everyone happy hunger games and all that. Her voice was sharp, strict, yet still soft. She half reminded her of a kitten playing with new toys.

“Well, let’s see what darling sweethearts District Seven has to offer, hmm?” She stated, before making a show of reaching into the bowl of names on her right. She plucked one out while saying, “your female tribute is…” before opening it up and booming out the name. “Astraea Roman! Oh how lovely.”

Lou was a little shocked that her name had been picked after all, but it really worked in her favour. Slipping from the crowd, she strode up to the stage with a look of strength and bravery. A look of someone ready to take on this challenge, not to break it.

As she stood over the woman who towered over her in heels, Faefarrell cooed and she ran a hand over the top of her head, as if petting her. “Well aren’t you a dainty thing.” Instinctively, Lou took a step away from her. She instantly covered it up by faking a sneeze, saying with a little laugh, loud enough for the mic to pick up, “sorry, I think I might be a little allergic to your perfume!” Keep playing along. The Capitol had a habit of liking those with a good attitude, willing to play up a story and character.

Faefarell gave a little titter of her own, half uncaring, before she moved onto the next bowl in order to pick the male tribute. She gave the same little show of anticipation like before, until she pulled a slip of paper and announced ‘Alex Snow’. This is good. They never had to volunteer after all.

Pulling a face of shock and worry, Lou made sure to keep her eyes glued on Avery as he made his way up to the stage. Best start twisting their whole story as soon as possible. She listened as Fae gave the same sort of conversing piece to him, until she took note of the look on Lou’s face. “My, you two look like you know each other,” she commented. Lou snapped out of her ‘daze’, before trying to recollect herself. Going as far as letting a tear fall would be too much. She needed to be charming, she needed a story. She couldn’t show any weakness. Grabbing Avery’s hand in her own, she gave a small sad smile at him, before turning towards the escort. “He’s my best friend” she softly stated. That should be enough for the cameras.

Faefarell gave a sympathetic look that even Alouette had trouble deciphering if it was fake or true. “Well, at least you have one another, hmm?,” she commented, still slightly sullen. Fae shook it off quickly after before announcing them as District 7’s tributes once more.



Walking into training, Lou was counting all the thing she knew they needed to do; get a handle on who all the tributes are, if they would be of use in their plan, who where the ones who’d need to be taken out. They needed to take in as much information as they could, but also show face enough that they wouldn’t be put off as weak. They needed to be challenging enough that they would pique interest in others.

Sadly, Lou had added another thing onto that ever long list the moment she saw her training suit. It was basic, all it had going for it was that it was easy to move in. Her own training gear at home had accumulated many additions to it as Lou grew older and found ways to improve it. She would need to do the same to this one.

As she entered the space, she was quick to count heads. Some faced away, but all she needed to know was that her and Avery where the fifth group to enter.

Glancing up at her partner, she simply nodded at him before gliding away to glance at all the stations. They knew what they needed to do. Spread out, but still look out for one another. Keep notes. Deciding to start on the modification of her suit early, Lou began plucking various materials from the tables, breaking off different pieces of metal here and there. As she moved towards the knife throwing stations, she simply grabbed the knife already protruding from one of the dummies. As she turned away, having collected the materials she needed, her eyes just barley grazed over a frame in which she’d hadn’t seen in years and that had changed drastically. It took her only a second to realize who it was. Her twin sister.

This wasn’t apart of the plan. This wasn’t supposed to happen.

Walking past them, Lou wanted to make sure her sister saw her. She was unsure if it would click in her mind who she was right away, and only hoped her sister was smart enough not to say anything out loud while another person was there. They needed to be careful about this.

Making her way towards the fire starting station, she dropped the collected materials beside her as she began to start a strong flame, all the while plotting in her mind what to do now that something had changed, and why the hell her sister was here in the first place.

Lou had a feeling it wasn’t by chance.