Victor's Village (Hunger Games Spinoff)

"Yield already!" He stood no chance against me. This was the final test before the games. I was the only one good enough. Or at least better than everyone else. I had him in a leglock, choking the living breath out of him, and the bastard wasn't even yielding. He'd rather die than win the Hunger Games. Finally, he tapped my leg in submission, and I withdrew.

"Amazing, as usual, Ginger. Your sister would've been proud." Ugh, everyone brought up my sister whenever they were around me. It was like her honorable performance dampened everything I did well. Well, Clove, once I win the games, no one will be thinking of your performance. Only mine.

"Next time, remember your other leg." I kicked the challenger one last time for good measure and left him whimpering there. What a pathetic mess. There was no way he belonged in that arena, let alone in honorable District 2.

"Nice job, girl!!" Kate gave me a high five. "You almost made him barf! Hah, what a weakling!" Kate was the only other sensible person in the entire training class. Everyone else was merciful and kind. Such circus monkeys.

I was going to get into that arena this year, whether I volunteered or not. No one was going to stop me. And then, I'll be the best victor that anyone's ever seen.

As I waltzed home, prowling the streets for unsuspecting freaks, I heard a scream from inside my house. Then another, only this time it was a male scream. That meant Aunt Enobaria and Dad were sparring again.

"You've gotten old, Leo." She gave him a sucker punch, laughing all the while.

"Not as old as you!" Dad swept her legs out from under her and put her in a chokehold. I held my breath. That was what real victors looked like. Finally, she tapped out. Sometimes Dad won, sometimes she won, but they could both fight better than anyone I'd ever seen. That was what happened in the arena. You grew strong.

Enobaria wasn't actually my aunt, but she was the closest victor to my Dad. She had won the 62nd Games, my Dad had won the 60th. He had known her since childhood though.

"Dad, Eno, I'm home." I threw my bag on the table, which brought their heads up immediately.

"Hey, Fox!" That was his nickname for me. Fearless Fox. Wasn't that bad, actually, compared to what it could be. Foxes were agile, clever, vicious. He'd started calling me that after I killed my first rabbit.

I walked up into my room, picking up pieces of equipment as I went. It was time to practice. I normally practiced for five hours nonstop, but this was different. Reaping was in a week. I had to practice on a target.

As I ran back out into the streets, I flexed my muscles and breathed in the fresh air. It felt good to be the queen.

_______________________________________________

"Stop!!" The tiny kids were running away, frantically trying to escape. There was no law here against fighting, as long as you classified it under training for the games. I was training for the game so they allowed it.

I slammed the smallest with a combination of punches and kicks. He wouldn't survive, but I didn't care. I was going to be in tip-top shape up until the point that they plopped me in that arena.

"Ginger! What are you doing!" Suddenly, strong arms pulled me down to the ground. It was Kate Reynolds. "That's my brother, you freak!" She punched me a couple of times before running away with the weakling boy.

I was aghast. My only friend disapproved of my training for the games? Maybe she wasn't the honorable warrior I thought she was. I trudged along. Clove wouldn't have cared if someone was beating me up. She would've let me suffer, thinking it would make me stronger. That was what a good sister did. I hated to admit it, but Clove was a better sister than anyone who solves their sibling's problems for them.

DAY OF THE REAPING:

I stood in the crowd, knowing that even in my drab attire I stood out. I was the obvious choice. No one else would be volunteering if they knew that I was. The little cowards. As Martin Lestrade walked aboard the stage, he looked out at everyone. He did this every year, seeing who would bring honor and glory to the Capitol and their District. As his eyes swept over me, I smiled with pride. I was going to win this no matter what it took.

As President Snow's voice overtook the crowd, I listened. I imagined him telling me "Fine performance, Ginger. You have made Panem proud." That was every tribute's dream. Or at least the dream of every true warrior.

The tape stopped and Martin was silent. I immediately knew something was wrong. He would always start into his speech right after President Snow's video.

A scream sounded through the crowd. Peacekeepers were swarming everywhere, knocking down people left and right. So it was a test. I ran up to them, kicking and punching, chopping, and squeezing. They stood no chance. I had all of them down on the ground in seconds.

A sound wafted into my ears. Clapping. Martin Lestrade was clapping.

"Well done!! Now we must ship you off to jail." His smile never wavered.

"What? I thought it was a test! I thought I passed!" I started getting violent, kicking the wounded soldiers.

"No, my child. Not everything is a test. The Capitol was trying to infiltrate traitors, and you have just violated federal law." He giggled gleefully.

No, I had to go. They couldn't stop me. No, I was going to go. To be better than Clove. They can't stop me. No! My mind kept spiraling in a circle, angry and deranged. Suddenly, I turned on him.

"You can't stop me. I'm going to the games no matter what." I lunged at him, no longer caring. There was a new victor in town.

DEDICATED TO FEARLESS FOX, KATE REYNOLDS, and LEO GREER. CHECK THEM OUT PLEASE THEY'RE AMAZING!!!!