Chapter Text
Della
Eighteen years ago, I ran. I somehow escaped the games. For two years, the Capitol has looked for me. I used to live in District 8, but my brother Donald and I had to start new lives and flee to our uncle Scrooge, who lives in the Capitol.
A few months before the reaping, I thought of applying as a pilot or gamemaker for the Capitol. If I start working for them, they'll stop asking questions. I stared at an application for the job as a gamemaker once. I felt hesitant, because there might be a chance they'll know that I'm the same Della that escaped the wrath of President Bradford Buzzard.
The person sitting at the table, Black Heron, was waiting for me to sign it. Black Heron is the head gamemaker.
"What're you waiting for, Miss?"
I kept staring at the paper. The more I stared, the more she lost her patience.
"Hurry up..."
I sighed, and signed my cover up name.
"Daniella Waterfowl", I wrote on the paper.
"Pleasure doing business with you", Heron shook my hand.
Three sons.
Three districts.
I don't even know if they remember me, their mother.
My friend, Launchpad helped me say goodbye.
My uncle Scrooge has never tattled on me or Donald so far, since I trust him dearly. I hope my boys are safe. Wherever or whoever they are.
I sat at the dining table with Scrooge and Donald the night before the reaping.
"Think tomorrow's the day?" Donald said in his really raspy voice.
"It's been the fourth year you've been hoping for them, let go of the thought, lad. " Scrooge sliced a piece of steak.
"So we can finally see how they turn out." He looked disappointed.
Donald and Scrooge never really got along, but he really can't do anything since Scrooge is the only person we could rely on.
"I know my boys when I see one of them", I said with confidence.
"And what if they end up killing each other?" Scrooge asked me.
I didn't answer. Since Scrooge hosts interviews for the games, I'm hoping the he, himself could recognize any of my sons.
Life was easy before I got reaped. I lived with Donald, and our parents. Unfortunately, the peacekeepers thought it would be a good idea to take our parents away when we were only 10. Donald and I had to take care of each other, while we see our Uncle Scrooge on the TV every summer. That's why Donald didn't really like Scrooge. He was more of a "eat the rich" guy. He's still my brother and I love him, even though his beliefs may get him publicly executed.
✦ ✦ ✦
Serendipity
I have many memories of my childhood, and they always were at a lab. I live in District 12 now, all by myself.
Every day, this woman named Emily Quackfaster checks up on all the "special kids" from each district, and I'm one of them. By special, I mean sent by the Capitol. She goes on a bullet train to each district every morning starting 6 AM. Since I live in District 12, she arrives in 10 AM. She's pretty fast checking up, but I think she'll wish us good luck this morning. Ironic for me.
District 12 is nice to live in, even if it isn't one of the healthiest districts in Panem. Well, one of the bad things is the smell of coal. It always smells like coal. I don't have friends because rumors say that I'm bad luck. Back at school, the teachers say that even President Buzzard knew that I was bad luck. Lots of kids avoided me because of that.
During my childhood, the lab professors always mentioned the name, Gladstone Gander. I don't know who, this guy is or why the Capitol even made a clone of him. I don't know where the name, "Serendipity" even came from. People just called me that.
Every year my name stays inside that glass bowl. This year will be the last year that it stays in there.
I've always feared my chances of getting reaped, but since I'm turning eighteen, I have a strong feeling that this year will finally be the year. I live in The Seam, but I don't need Tesserae. Well, I think I don't need it.
Quackfaster tells me that I need to participate in Tesserae, even if I don't have any family. I get what she means, but I'm scared of multiplying my name in the ball even more.
"I don't want you to stay malnourished," Quackfaster always tells me.
Quackfaster opened my door this morning.
"Get up, Serendipity. Today's reaping," she yelled.
I rolled over in my bed.
Quackfaster lied her hand on my head. "Are you sick?"
I got up. "I'm not sick! Don't send me again!"
Quackfaster was usually cold, but when she heard me, I saw an empathetic gaze. She let go of my head.
"Well, c'mon. You've got a special day today, kid."
I sat on my bed. "...What's today?"
She rolled her eyes. "Reaping."
Oh. I failed to pretend that I forgot.
Quackfaster walked towards the door. Before she closed it, she lingered there.
"May the odds ever be in your favor."
Classic.
✦ ✦ ✦
Huey
Webby's really daring, and Granny is really protective of us. I love both of them with all my heart, and I'd do anything for them.
I share my room with Webby, even though we're too old to share a bed room and we live in District 2. Even though we live in one of the wealthier districts, we're still poor. Granny always goes out for us every morning, but she never lets us go out unless it's The Reaping. She says that she doesn't let us out to keep us safe.
Sometimes in the middle of the night, I catch Webby sneaking out of the window. She tells me that she wants to go out and do something instead of being trapped in a small house.
I woke up to Webby shaking me out of bed today. The smell of Granny's tea drifted through the hallway.
"Guess what day it is!" She bounced beside my bed.
"What?" I groaned into my pillow.
"Reaping day!"
I stood up. "Webby, get dressed. C'mon. I don't want us to be late again."
Webby was looking through the clothes in her closet. "Well, I'm gonna volunteer this year!"
I looked back at my sister. "...You what?"
"I said—"
"Webby, absolutely not."
I don't wan't Webby to die. She's really good at combat, but there's no way that she'll survive in The Hunger Games. If she's volunteering, then I plan to volunteer too. If my sister's dying, then I'm going to die with her. I've calculated every possible outcome, and it's most likely that we'll both end up dead.
After Webby finished dressing up for reaping, I confronted her about it.
"Are you sure about this?" I asked her.
"About what, Huey?"
"Just... don't."
Webby patted my head. "I've trained myself for this."
I smacked my sister's hands off my head. "Webby it's the Hunger Games, not just some silly little thing."
I looked at the mirror. "Now look what you did, you messed up my hat."
Webby's taller than me, so she placed my hat back on my head. "I'm sorry, Huey."
"Well, may the odds be ever in your favor, Webby."
✦ ✦ ✦
Dewey
Launchpad was fixing my tie, "Gee, your mom would've really liked this tie."
I've always wondered what happened to my mom, but I don't think Launchpad knows either.
Who was she? Was she awesome? Was she the most daring duck to ever live?!
My friend, Gosalyn says that "the Hunger Games only exist to scare everyone in Panem." Well, I'm planning on volunteering this year. Even if I don't win, at least I'll be on national TV, right? I've always wanted to be some type of celebrity, and The Hunger Games is the only chance for someone like me to suddenly become famous all over the world.
Well, at least I'll be entertaining. I heard that if people are entertaining enough and they die, then they'll be sent to the Capitol hospital and somehow be brought back to life. Hopefully if I die, that'll happen to me. Gosalyn says that it's just Capitol propaganda, Launchpad genuinely believes in it. One year, he was really rooting for this one tribute, and they died. The night we watched the tribute die, I walked in on Launchpad talking in his sleep, hoping that The Capitol resurrects them.
I don't know why Launchpad always comes to me for advice. Before he met Drake, he's always had dating problems.
Well, Gosalyn's dad is an actor, and if an actor can live in District 8, then there's surely another way to get famous. I'm not sure if I should be considering Drake famous, because his TV show had to get cancelled before it even aired.
Gosalyn said that the Capitol killed her grandpa for cheating in the games, that's why she hopes that neither of us should be in the games.
I haven't told her that I'm planning to volunteer. I want to surprise her. I hope that I'll be the Capitol's darling after I win the games.
I think the Capitol really likes blue. I'm always trying to keep up with the latest trends. Maybe if I wear blue in front of the cameras, then everyone will be wearing blue before they know it!
All the factories were humming last night, and it kept me up.
Anyways, today is the day! I know I'm not supposed to sound excited, but I truly am. Today, Launchpad asked me if he should pick his outfit today. First of all, I'm sixteen. I don't need anybody to pick my own clothes. Besides, I want to dress like a citizen of the Capitol so I could stand out during the reaping. You're probably wondering how I even have clothes like a Capitol citizen, well Gosalyn and I sneaked into a factory and we may or may not have stolen clothes. I'm so lucky that I live in District 8.
Gosalyn came back into the house from her morning training. She uses the crossbow as a weapon.
"Now why're we looking so garish today, Dewey?" She asked me.
"So I could stand out during the reaping!" I stroke many poses in front of her.
"Dewey, you look exactly like the Capitol residents."
"That's what I was going for! Thank you very much, Gos!"
"Dewey, no. That's an insult."
I froze on one pose, showing my coat. "I don't listen to haters, Gosalyn."
Gosalyn sighed. "Where's my dad?"
"He went to get something for you." Launchpad yelled from the kitchen.
I can't wait for the reaping. Gosalyn just doesn't know what'll happen yet.
I wonder if they'll hate me. Would national TV hate me? No, I'm too lovable! I'll be the trendiest tribute of the 74th Hunger Games. No, I'll be the trendiest tribute ever! Launchpad says that I'll make a great model, that basically means I'm fashionable enough for The Capitol.
By tonight, all of Panem will know the name, Dewford Duck!
✦ ✦ ✦
Louie
My dad woke me up this morning. "Get up lad!!!!!"
I heard my mom walk into the room before she could even open the door. Her expensive carpets muffle every footstep, and that annoyingly makes it louder.
My mom pulled him away from me. "Don't startle the kid, Flinty."
I yawned, and rolled my eyes at them. "I know it's reaping day today."
My dad put his hand up, offering a high-five. "And what does that mean?"
I gently put his hand down "...I won't let anybody else get in the way of my chances of volunteering." I got up from my bed.
"Good job, Llewellyn!" He said.
"...Don't call me that." I responded.
"Well, be glad I didn't name you something like Dewford, lad." He crossed his arms at me.
"I guess I'm glad for that." I got a blouse from my closet and started buttoning it up.
I need to look proper for the reaping. I chose a white blouse with a green vest, and brownish pants. My dad tells me I need to brush my hair. I personally think that it looks better messy. Speaking of my hair, this may sound strange but— my hair color is different than both of my parents. I'm a brunette, my mom's blonde, and I don't even know what hair color my dad is. He wears a fake grey beard and he's bald. Maybe my dad's a brunette. It's hard to imagine his actual hair color.
My mom says that I'm really good at spotting gold, and that I got it from her. My dad just wishes me good luck for the reaping. My dad still brags about his earnings from fishing, even if he hasn't touched a net in ages. He's the richest person in District 4, but not the richest in Panem. My dad always despised the Television Host, Scrooge McDuck. Not only was he the Television Host for the Hunger Games, but he's the richest duck in the world.
I really need that prize money. I hope that I won't die for this year's games, I still have a long and hopefully wealthy life upon me. We're rich enough to own a mansion and live in a wealthy district, but not rich enough to not even care about money at all. If I win the games, then my family finally could have the money we always wanted. They don't love each other, but I think they love me.
I've been a Career tribute my whole life, but I think I'm slow. I never have the chance to volunteer. Every year it's one of the kids I train with and I have to see them die. I will volunteer this year. Or hopefully, I'll get reaped. I'm planning to win, but not with the fact that I'm a Career. Maybe there will be some tributes from poor districts that are good, and they'll help me win. Well, I'll eventually have to get rid of my allies. I'm hoping I'll finally make friends, even though I know they'll die. Maybe the other Careers are rich, or even friendly. I don't think there can be a tribute that's rich or friendly at the same time.
I'll meet the perfect person on the train.
As I got to the dining table, my dad had that same look on his face he always has when he's trying to interrogate me.
He chomped on a slice of beef, and gulped it down so the whole table could hear.
"Louie, do you know why I married your mother?" He said, with that thick, fake Scottish accent.
"Because she didn't like you back and the only way to give into your fantasy is to force her to marry you", I answered.
My dad laughed loudly. With that stupid Scottish accent. "He's so funny! Did you hear that, Goldie?!"
"...Mhm." My mom didn't even look up from her plate.
I don't think he's aware that it's true.
He calmed down, "No, it's because she loves me."
My mom and I took a glance at each other.
My dad continued, "And we wanted a successful child that'll get us even more wealthier."
I gritted my teeth. "Yes..."
And he got up from his seat. "And you're the child, Louie!" He opened his arms and embraced me. I tried pulling back, but his hug is so tight. This is the first time my dad hugged me, he's either doing stupid stuff or plotting revenge schemes that'll always fail.
"You better win that game for me— I mean us, laddie."
I always hope that he'll stop faking that Scottish accent. I don't think he gets how dangerous the games are. I feel like my dad's the least normal person in our household. My mom is okay, and my dad has a thing for sharks. He has this weird shark tank in the living room. I get that we're rich, but how does he even afford that as a district citizen? Every day I go downstairs, I have to see this stupid tank. He's always feeding them fish that weren't even caught by him.
I hope that I win too, but I won't give the prize money to my dad. Even if he'd die for it.