Lost Shadows [Hayley, open]

(Gavin Doherty has really annoying color combos)

I hate my life.

I do. It sucks. Already I'm almost old enough to be forced to become something as mundane as a Peackeeper, or a fisherman. I'm seventeen. I'm two years from this desolate future that I call "giving up". I can't give up. My goal wasn't fulfilled this year. Hell, not even Nila's dream was fulfilled this year. Getting Reaped for the games. That's our dream - both Nila's and mine. To be victors. Well, it's not just our dream. It's our life. We need to win; crave it even. And we both had the same reason for our desire. I guess that's why we hate each other - for if one succeeds first, the other will be second-best. The other victor - or worse, a dead tribute. Even worse; the sibling to the victor. If I had to claim that title, I'd kill myself. I need to be the victor. I need to win. I need to beat my good-for-nothing twin sister.

So I guess that's why I feel that my life sucks today. The training center's filled to the brim today, so I couldn't go there to train. Nila would no doubt be there, and she doesn't exactly know that this is my dream as well. And less practice means that I won't be as ready for the Games next year. But our tributes this year are ridiculous. That girl with the purple hair and eyes, who talks really weird. And that guy didn't make an impression on me at all. They don't deserve to be tributes. They should be ashamed of themselves. I deserve it more than them. I've worked so hard just to wind up being a seventeen-year old career. I'm one of the older Careers. Sure, I've lost a few of my friends via the Games, but they died with honor - with glory. I need to be remembered. I need to be respected, and I need to be loved.

So here I am, sitting outside of the Training Center, a cigarette in my hand. I started smoking when I was younger, and it's well... It's just stuck. You could call me "addicted", but I personally prefer the term "daily user". I could quit if I wanted. And at this thought, I cough. It's a very bad sound, but I assume that it'll stop eventually. And if it's due to the toxins that I inhale into my lungs, good. At least I'll know I will die early if I don't become a tribute.

The air today is crisp. It's cool, sending slight shivers up my spine. But I'm wearing a sweatshirt today, so I'm unaffected. I'll need to be immune to the weather. The elements can be the death of a tribute if they aren't strong enough to deal with it. Careers like me are normally lucky enough to get a stash of the wealth - we get lots of items necessary for survival. But at the same time, we're slowed down by all of the items. So I guess it's a give-take relationship then. You get more items, but it takes longer for you to move. And escaping is even more important than the temperature of an arena.

But back to reality; the wind is starting to pick up. In fact, it looks like a storm is brewing. Gray clouds are starting to cover the irritably bright blue sky, causing darkness to quickly approach. Everyone's a tad bit shocked at the loss of so much light. It looks like it's dusk, with its intimidating shadows and enveloping darkness. The wind starts to whistle - the ocean begins to churn, causing the boats that are docked to the harbor across from the Training Center to bang against each other, causing paint and barnacles to fall of their sides.

BOOM. A deafening roar is heard over the wind. The thunder yells and screams as if it's begging for attention. I know how it feels. Slowly I take a drag of the cigarette in my hand. I slowly exhale, relishing the feeling that comes with the fumes. But suddenly, it begins to rain.

At first it's a light drizzle - kids begin to play in the slowly forming puddles. People start to return back to their normal routines - shopping for groceries, eating at that nasty café or sparring with other Careers. But quickly, the water starts pouring harder and faster. Soon the rain that's pouring from the sky has increased in volume by infinite amounts. It's a tad bit harder to look out into the distance, but the few trees that are in District 4 are blowing to and fro in alarming angles. Lightning strikes a boat across the way, causing a thunderous roar to fly through the air into my eardrum.

People begin to run towards shelter - a house, a store, the Training Center, all become refuge for soaking wet fisherman and whiny children who want to continue to run outside. But me, I just watch. Ha. Mindless adults, not good enough for the games. They just run for shelter while I, Gavin Doherty will prove to them that a true victor can withstand anything.

"IS THAT ALL YOU GOT!? HUH!? IS IT!?"

I scream at the sky and start to laugh. This is nothing. The cacophony of noses that envelop me grow louder, and the rain begins to fall even harder. I hear a ripping sound and look to my left. A tree has been ripped in half, and falls into the nearby street. My fellow bystanders start to sprint towards their designated shelters, hoping not to get crushed. But that won't happen to me, because I am invincible. I, Gavin Doherty, will be victorious over mother nature, over Nila, my father, and twenty-three other tributes that will soon be trying to destroy my very soul.

Well go ahead, they should all just try to extinguish the flames that are Gavin Doherty. But I'm sure their mother taught them not to play with fire. I start to laugh, in a maniacal sort of manner. If other people are watching me, I don't really care, because I'm above them all. For I, Gavin Doherty, will be seeing them next year in my big house with the big yard, with my dear old twin sister sulking in a corner.

(longest post I've ever made. WOOT.)