May The Odds Ever Be In Your Favor!

The Unlucky District 7 Boy

Christilleny calls into the microphone after her bony fingers finally "Jaezene McPhilum? Please come up young man!"

My heart pummeled through my stomach, through my feet. It threw itself threw the stage's floor boards, and buried itself into the cold ground.

A boy, 16 years old maybe, slowly pushed his way through the throng of other boys looking for "Jaezene."  Why the only boy, outside of our family, that Luke cared about the most? Jaeze had a family similar to us. Jaeze always worked with Luke, covered for him when Luke couldn't be there, he was small for his age, and picked on. That was why Luke got into Out of School Suspension in 7th grade. Because Jaeze was quiet, didn't stick up for himself when the guys would start to beat the crap out of him. Wouldn't even throw a punch back. Would just sit there and take it. Over and over again. One time, Luke sneeked up behind one of the bullies, and put him in a vicious headlock. Luke held him so tight, that from where I was, half a block away, I could see the boy's skin turning pale, then red, then purplish. The other bullies quickly backed off of Jaeze. Luke brought Jaeze to our home, and I fixed him up. Luke almost never gets mad like that. But when he gets ticked, somebody is gonna regret getting him irritated. After that, Luke hung out with Jaeze more, and the bullies never really messed with Jaeze too much after that. They became as close as brothers. Luke even taught Jaeze to fight, and a couple of survival tips. But nothing that could help him against bloodthirsty Game Makers, Capital people, mutts, and Careers.

I swore, the reaping was sometimes rigged. I just didn't know how they would know Jaden would volunteer for Makaly, I would volunteer for Jaden. Or that Luke would volunteer for Jaeze, leaving the Twin's and Selinna alone.

"I'm right here," Jaeze called. He had chocolate brown hair, It was shaggy, and it fell over his eyebrows until it flicked out forward a little bit. His eyes were nearly black, though. His hair implied a cute, nice boy. His eyes foretold of a hidden killer on the inside, waiting to be set loose. They were dark, cold, suspicious. Always flitting from one face to another.

"No! Please! Jaeze, no, you can't!" Luke let go of Jaden. She jumped, scared; he hardly ever yelled.

"Luke, you'd better sit down, right now, and let me handle this." Jaeze said quietly, yet stern.

"But- your family!" Luke called out.

"And what about yours, Luke? It's you, Selinna, and the Twins. Do you honestly think I'd let you take my place? Whatever." (he didn't mention my name. Either so that the whole district wouldn't feel pity for the family, or to prove to Luke that I could easily be dead in a matter of weeks.)

Luke sank back. The words were harsh, and Luke had always had a large pride. I was shocked, I knew Jaeze to be pretty silent. Luke opened his mouth again.

"Luke, just knock it off, okay? He's got this." I pulled Christilleny's head closer to me and I spoke into the headphone.

Christilleny pushed me off of her, as if I was grub. She called out "Well, this has been wonderful!" As Jaeze came to stand next to me. He didn't catch my eyes.