Petronella 'Nellie' Query | District Six {FIN}

Petronella 'Nellie' Query
District Six | 12 Years Old

I've always been told that the worst thing that can possibly happen to someone my age is getting reaped to go into the Games. I believe them, too. Ever since I was really little, my parents would sit me in front of the television to watch the Games. It wasn't that they wanted me to watch them, though. No, they were required to make me. Everyone in the entirety of Panem, as far as I knew, was required to watch the Games as they unfolded.

Watching the death that happened on the screen every year was always terrifying to me. Maybe that's just because I have a weak stomach. It's likely that if I ever saw someone die in front of me, it would make me feel quite sick, as it already does when I see it on that screen. I wonder what I'd do if one of my siblings were the one on the television screen, competing in the Games. I don't think I'd ever get over it if I saw one of them die such a brutal death like always happened in the Games.

"I won't let anything bad ever happen to you, okay?" my eldest brother would tell me. He's no longer in the reaping at nineteen years old, so he can't truly promise to protect me, can he? He can't volunteer to fight by my side- although I'd never want him to, anyway. My family has always been very kind, loving and protective. I care about them deeply, too, as they're the most important part of my life. If I didn't have my family, I wouldn't know what to do.

People can tell that my family and I are all together, too, just by looking at us. They're all very similar to me in appearance with the same striking blue eyes and soft, pale skin. I'm the only one in my family with fiery red hair, though. I suppose that's how I'm different. I'm quite small, too. My fragile build and gentle hands are what make me different from many of the people I encounter in life. Oh so many people in District Six are big, strong and don't look nearly as gentle as I'd like.

I've always dressed my best, although that's hard to do with the little amount of money that my family possesses. My parents and eldest brother all work hard to make ends meet, but it's not always successful. I truly appreciate their hard work, though. With my wavy red hair often left down to tumble down my shoulders, I still get called pretty, even when I don't put in much effort. I do, however, have a small chunk of my left ear missing. This is one thing I don't like about how I look, and it's because of something that happened with the only pair of earrings that I've ever owned. They dangled down a bit from my ears, and one day, one of them got caught, ripping my ear. It never did heal properly, and doesn't look very nice. I suppose that's why I always keep my hair down- to cover it.

I'd consider myself not only to be protective of my family, but also of my friends and anyone else that I care about. I'm someone who doesn't give in easily when I want something done a certain way- sometimes this stubbornness can be a downfall of mine. The reason this stubbornness isn't the best thing is because it can cause people to be deterred from talking to me. I'm also a bit overly trusting, I've been told. Some people tell me that I'm too quick to believe what I'm told, and that I'm not good at telling when a person or situation is a bit unsafe or sketchy. That's why it's very uncommon for my parents to let me go off on my own unless I tell them exactly what time I'll be returning.

I'm a really good student, from what my teachers have told me. I would say that my intelligence is one of my absolute best traits, if I had to choose one. I am also a very determined individual, never giving up when I want to accomplish something. If someone tells me I'm incapable of completing a task, I never believe them. I never like to think that anything is truly out of reach.

As someone who's very confident in themselves, I feel that if I were to go into the Hunger Games, I may at least survive the first day. If I could, I would feel very accomplished. I don't, however, ever want to find out if that's the case, as the Games terrify me beyond belief. I feel that if one of my friends or relatives was reaped, however, that I would volunteer in their place if I could. I hope that my fear wouldn't overcome me, and that I'd be willing to protect them by going in instead.

When I was really young, I developed a love for reading that stuck with me. I suppose that's why I became rather intellectual. I'm always asking questions, which is something I've done ever since I was young. I grew up with two older brothers, aged nineteen and sixteen, as well as two older sisters, aged fourteen and fifteen. I also have a twin sister named Vanessa, but we call her Nessie. We are almost always by one another's sides, and are extremely close with each other. We don't look identical, but are basically inseparable. I'd do absolutely anything for Nessie. Our one agreement, however, is to never volunteer for one another. I have a feeling that will be a hard promise for me to keep.