Chapter Text
He found the warmth of the embrace comforting as he nuzzled his head to the side of his mother's chest, she kissed his cheeks then his forehead in an attempt to ease his mind for what is to come. The sound of the steps of the Peacekeepers were coming closer to them each moment, his head turned around to see one of them grabbing him by the arm, hurrying him to walk and stand on the stage next to the other tribute that was called before him.
He didn't know why he was so surprised by their brutality, he had heard many stories of Peacekeepers using violence—even killing some of their people in the districts to enforce the Capitol's control, plus he had nobody but himself to blame. He had volunteered after all,
A mere act of mercy, and maybe kindness that occurred to him when he volunteer for little boy that looked no more than twelve, a faint small thought in his mind before his mouth said it and now because of that one act, he was about to meet his fate, either dying or becoming a victor—a “survivor” of the Hunger Games, the name of the strict regime created by the Capitol for their uprising almost thirty years ago, each year, young men between the ages of 18 and minus were reaped to fight to the death or to simply survive until the very end but it quite rare as they die early on.
He was about to participate in the annual Hunger Games. The 24th one. The 24th Hunger Game.
He would be lying if he said that he wasn't scared or stressed out, his mind wondering about all kinds of possibilities that could have happened to him, good and bad ones. Life-saving as death-bringing.
Isagi glanced at the person beside him, the other tribute—who unlike him didn't volunteer but was chosen. The boy looked his age, small soft brown eyes, almost resembling chestnut, reminding him of the ones he used to pick up in the forest nearby his little house, styled beige-like white hair and a small defining mole near his left eye. He was handsome, Isagi almost felt insecure being next to him, in comparison, he was plain, bland and as common as blueberries.
“He would be good, if the people in the Capitol prefers handsome and not plain. Maybe they like chestnuts more than blueberries, blueberries are more common, they must be sick of always having them. I know I would be sick if I was them and I know the people in the Capitol have food.” He thought, glaring back at the crowd as he watched his mother and father waving to him, small tears falling from their eyes, he could see those, he knew they were sad, he didn't know if they were proud he volunteered to save another person's life or if he thought he was foolish but they cried so it must have been neither he hoped.
The door behind them opened as they got escorted out of the stage, walking through a long hallway, the colorless wall and floor shifted through gray, steel black and white as they stepped out of the hallway. Isagi was familiar with those colors, in District 12, colors were not common or even rare, they were nonexistent. It almost made him feel safe, he wished he could stay in the hallway and not fully step out of the hallway.
He felt a hand on his shoulder tapping him and turned around,
“I'm Kira Ryosuke—if you have forgotten.” The other tribute introduces himself, a faint smile on his face. “You are Isagi, right?” He ask.
Isagi's face flush a little, he had forgotten the other boy's name so it was embarrassing. “Yes, I am. Sorry, I forgot your name so soon.” He says, an apologetic smile on his face
“Ahh—it's okay. We don't know each other so it's fine.” Kira chuckled, “I think it was very kind of you to volunteer for that boy, it was the first time I saw someone do that with my own eyes.”
“Oh. Well, thank you… I guess?” Isagi raised an eyebrow. “I thought it was a little foolish for me to do so but I can't go back now. I already made my choice.”
“Little birds! Come on, we do not have all day in our hands.” Their escort interrupted them, hurrying them to walk faster to catch the upcoming train as they stepped into the station. The same station was empty, the only presence were them and the two remaining peacekeepers that followed their moves.
Once the train appeared, they went inside. The inside of the train was anything like Isagi had ever seen before, three brilliant shining ceiling lights illuminating their cabin, the soft blue colored wall almost appearing white from it. They walked toward the long table in the center of the room, there were all kinds of food on it, from fruits to meats, Isagi's mouth watered as he glared at them as he sat down next to Kira.
“Well feast on!” Their escort excitedly said, “you two will arrive in the Capitol in no time. I will be looking for your mentor, he must be there somewhere, probably reading one of his empty books.” their escort chuckled and rolled their eyes before leaving the main room.
“It's a little bit awkward, I don't know what to eat first… I guess it's like that when you're not familiar with eating a lot.” Kira said, looking uncertain as he stared at Isagi who responded by pointing at a fruit on a separate plate,
“Maybe you can start with the healthier one, keep the big one for later.” Isagi smiled, picking an apple, biting into it.
Kira smiled back, “maybe you're right.”
As they ate their food, their escort came back, a man following behind them. The man had downturned soulless eyes, a straight expression plastered on his face as he walked toward them and red cherry hair on the top of his head which transitioned into black at the end, more noticeably on the back of his neck.
“Gentlemens, I present to you your mentor, Vivian Hugo!” Said their escort, the only one who seemed cheerful about this first encounter, “Also remembered as the second winner of the 22th Hunger Games!”