Chapter Text
It was finally Ollie’s turn. Since the age of ten he had been training, and now eight years later it was his turn. He went through one of the best training programs in District One, trying to be the best and he was, at his academy. The one final competition was who could be the volunteer. In his program he was the only one to volunteer, but there were other programs. From everything he spoke about with his dad, there would be around another 9-10 guys that would be trying to volunteer, not too bad.
His dad wasn’t in the games himself but the prestige of the people who won was a goal for all of those in the career districts. His dad didn’t win his program but he wanted more for his kid. Ollie was raised to be ruthless during training and a polite kid outside of it. Now he had just turned 18 and it was the final opportunity for him to play the games. Everything he had learned, from the fighting, to his politeness for the performance piece of the games. He didn’t have to have it, he was a career after all and would get sponsors anyways, but it was a little touch that his dad wanted to show off the type of family they were.
He had gotten into his outfit for the reaping, just an ironed white button-down, a nice pair of black dress pants, and a black leather belt with a golden buckle. When he came downstairs his mother wanted to add one more thing.
“Honey come here, I have a gift for you, for some good luck!”
His mom did have a victor in her family, her mother. His mom was never vocal about him joining the games, but she let his father decide. She did have a couple of horror stories about her mother but no one in the career districts batted an eye. Doctors related it more to what happened to her in childhood rather than what went on in the arena.
“This was something that my mother’s mother gave to her before her games.”
It was a beautiful golden necklace with a small bear with a circle surrounding it. These things were expected from the luxury goods districts but this was something so detailed and intricate. She put it around his neck before kissing his forehead and moving back to just hold his shoulders.
“You are such a good kid. I am proud of you, no matter if you get into these games or not. You trained so hard and I will also be so proud of that fact. I love you honey, good luck.”
“Oh mom,” he said before pulling her into a hug. She had also been the sweetest and most supportive person in his life. Even when he was low in his age group she was there after his duals, telling him he did great no matter how bad he had done. She was the one who was really keeping him going with the rigorous training, that constant support. No amount of his dad pushing him with force could equal the support she had given him.
After breaking away from their hug he went and stood in front of his dad. His dad was never really an affectionate person, but for once his dad also hugged him. It was an awkward hug but it was nice. After his dad pulled away he just sort of nodded at Ollie and it was time.
Walking up to the crowd, he worked his way close to the front of his age group, right next to Dino.
“Oh look who it is. Being late to the most important day of your life is crazy work my friend.”
Dino was a part of the same program as Ollie. He was the runner up to the spot of volunteer, Ollie felt bad but they all had agreed no hard feelings about it.
“Yeah, yeah, yeah. The traffic from my place was bad and I had to get through this crowd. I never understand why it is so large with only a couple of solo trainees and a couple of programs.”
“People want to see the people they are going to try to be in a couple years time, you should know that. You literally were pushing people to see the day Charles got to go into the games.”
“Well that’s different, he’s like my brother.”
“You believe that buddy.”
“It is I …”
The speakers crackled as the microphone was turned on. The escort walked out onto stage, it was time.
“Welcome to the 70th annual Hunger Games!”
The crowd erupted into cheers and applause. It wasn’t a quarter-quell but it was an anniversary game, games that are once every ten years. There wasn’t anything super crazy like a quell but normally there was one part of the games that was a little bit special. It was a way to keep capital citizens interested, keep them watching.
“It has now come time for us to call on one strong man and woman for the honour of representing District One in the Hunger Games.”
“Now as always, the girls first.”
Her hand reached into the bowl, you could see the difference between her hand’s skin-tone and her face’s. She sort of digs through the papers. This was all for the show of the games. Once a name was spoken the volunteers all called out.
She sharply pulled a paper from the bowl, ripping the tape off before opening the envelope, “Izzy Greenbell.”
He recognized the name as a girl who was only 15 but was in his same development program before the entourage of ‘I volunteer’ rang out. This year a short, dark haired girl was plucked from the crowd by the peacekeepers. She had a smile on her face that showed how proud she was of what she had now accomplished. Once she got up onto the stage, Ollie recognized her. Daisy Bluebell. She was his school crush that he had throughout middle school. After middle school they split into different academies but she was still pretty. Pretty enough to get capital sponsors.
“What is your name dear?” the escort asked her.
“Daisy Bluebell.”
“What a beautiful name for our first tribute for our first district, but now it is time for the men.”
Ollie was ready, it was finally time. The escort seems to take so long to pull the paper.
“Rafael Camara.”
“I volunteer as a tribute!”
It felt like he was first. As he was waiting to see if the peacekeepers would grab him or not he registered who was actually reaped. A boy who was in a different program but his same age, they were in one of the same classes in one of their secondary school years. For him it was unfortunate, even if he was the top of his program, you can’t volunteer for yourself.
Just as he was getting lost into his thoughts he was pulled by someone into the aisle. He had done it. He was pulled onto the stage.
“Now what is your name?”
“I’m Oliver Bearman.”
Throughout the crowd he saw his parents, some of his extended family, all of his program friends, and more people he knew. It was such an amazing feeling to have beat everyone else to it. To the glory and honour it was to be a tribute for the games.
He was escorted into the Justice Building and into his meeting room. First his parents came in and his dad was the proudest he had ever been. His mom gives him another hug, but she was hesitant still, like in a way she didn’t want him to actually make it. Many of his friends were coming in, congratulating him. He only had an hour to speak to all of them. Everything generally was feeling good until the escort came in.
“Hello, before we start my name is Iris Silver and I will be your escort for these games. Your hour is up and it is time for you to begin your journey to the capital and meet your fellow tribute.”
“Yeah all good.”
With the final goodbyes to his friends and parents done it was time to walk onto the train. For district one it was only three hours by train. As he walked into the main car, he found out who his mentor would be.
For him it would be the winner of the 63rd games, Gloss. For Daisy it was the other mentor’s younger sister, Cashmere, winner of the 64th games. A very strong duo for mentors. They both knew how to play the game well and were very well trained by their programs. They made a bit of small talk before the reaping highlights were released to see all of the tributes. Both of the District Two tributes looked strong, although the boy looked a bit short and unhappy about being up on the stage, strange for a career district. Four also looked strong this year, they even looked to be slightly trained. There were a couple other buff guys throughout and some girls who looked like they could get some sponsors. There was one young kid, a girl from ten, who looked not a day over 12. It was always hard to watch for Ollie to see those young kids go into the games, even if they weren’t from One. It was time to think about the games though and strategically, it was great. One person who had no way of winning the games, just 22 other tributes to go.
After some more conversation about the competition both tributes separated into their rooms with only an hour left until they would reach the capital. With time to just sit and think, he realized the gravity of what was happening. He was going to be gone from home for weeks, at least, and may never see his family again. He believed he could win but you never know how talented any of these other tributes were. But for now it was time to think about how to win, not how to lose.