Hildegarde Hops // [District 4]

I was two when the most famous member of my family died in the 82nd Hunger Games. Elite had done well for himself, overcoming his personality flaws which mainly consisted of his ego and inability to keep his mouth shut. As you can imagine he's now a part of the Hops family lore and the documentary of the 82nd is required annual viewing.

Let me tell you, it doesn't hold up well over time.

Setting aside the cruelty of the Games system for a moment, the 82nd now looks like something from fifty years ago. A crashed space ship was a super fun concept but now the tech looks outdated, even though it's supposed to be scifi. And what point were the Gamemakers trying to make by crowning Kassandra Nerys when Fayre and Eos were so much more worthy?

Elite had it right when he shouted to the sky but I think he worshipped the wrong gods. You can't change anything from inside an arena. Well, unless you were lucky enough to be reaped for the 80th Games. But Elite was two years too late. The only way to change things, cousin, is to change the districts.

My parents always told me I was precocious toddler. I talked and read early, walked late but honestly to this day I'd rather swim than walk. I'd inherited the Hops signature tight curls and my parents went long stretches not bothering to wash or brush it. I don't think I look that much like Elite but every now and again someone will ask. I smile and nod and try to ditch the conversation as quickly as possible. I might share DNA with Elite Hops but I didn't know him and I'm really sure the recap videos do not capture the essence of who he was.

Or at least, I hope they don't. That would be really disappointing.

Because Elite seemed like a rebel, too.

But he didn't change anything. Panem is the same today as it was when he died. That's my biggest fear: that I'll die before I have a chance to make things better. But at least I can be sure I won't die looking for a stupid calculator.

So, how am I going to change things? For now I've started a homework help station in the school library on Friday afternoons. It's not much but just reminding people that books - doors to other worlds - exist is step one. Once I've educated my peers about the depravity of our country, I'm going to do... something. I'm really the brains of the operation and I'm looking for the face and the brawn. I need people who are tough but aren't thugs, people who with initiative but lack vision. I dream of helping organize the rebellion.