want this drink? {Arc} AAW

[Knuckles]

Anthony Edward Cullen

Nothing was surprising anymore. Most of my time was spent at the old raggedy bar in the district away from everyone. It's been a while since I talked to Mist. (I hope she's okay.) Life isn't the same anymore, though. So much is expected from us, especially since Colgate returned to the district. I don't know how he did it, but he was liked. The Capitol was tossing roses upon him at every second, but they stopped in the last games. They didn't want a repeat victor from the same district; at least that's what it looked like. It's hard watching the games even when I'm drunk because innocent people were being killed. District four was lucky. Both tributes made it to the finale, and the fight was interesting to watch, but it didn't mean anything to me, and it never will.

I planned on making the best of today. I cleaned myself up for the first time, and I washed the smell of beer off me. I combed my hair, and that was the first time since the fight with that kid. His name escaped my mind, but it's the only thing I can remember. My rib, and my foot still ache from the bones that were broken. (He got a lucky shot.) It hurt to breath, but everyone has to breath. If someone isn't breathing, they're buried six feet under the ground. Honestly, it would be nice to be buried under the ground right now instead of facing the death that lies before me if I'm ever reaped for the games. There is no honor of being in the games. There isn't any honor of winning the games because all that's left is the life of torment, and the constant reminder of killing the innocent souls in order to return home.

We're all innocent until that first kill.

I took my favorite hat off the shelf. (It's the only hat I own.) I toss it on my head and place the biggest grin on my face as possible. Each step sent pain surging throughout my body as the bone in my foot grinds against one another. The feeling I got used to, but the pain hasn't gotten any better. I hate it, but nothing will ever change the feeling of what's been happening. I shut the door behind me, and walk towards the raggedy bar hidden within the district. Everyone knows about it, and it's amazing I have the money for it because it's not the cheapest place in the world. Most people were of age to drink, but occasionally we'd sneak someone inside and get them a drink. That's when the real fun began. It brought extreme joy to my life watching the young drunks move around staggering. I was once like that, but this time I'm more prepared. I've drank so much in my life that it takes a lot to phase me.

The moment I arrive at the bar, I sat down on the steps outside it. It's beyond my wildest imagination why I sat down, but I did. The constant buzz of the people chatting inside made my day. Knowing that many were having the time of their life was enough for me. I place my hand on my knees wondering what Mist would do if she saw me right now. It doesn't matter, though, because she's not here. She won't be here. I didn't want her to see me drunk because it wasn't a pretty sight. Vomit would always fly from my mouth covering everything in it's path. My eyes weren't the eyes she enjoyed. Nothing was the same. I take a deep breath before bringing my head to my knees.

I am prepared to have the night of my life.

[thompson harvard - d2b - arc]

Willow Fields

I had found myself wandering around the District, as I found nothing really entertaining to do and was in the kind of mood that I needed to get out of the house and go on a small walk to see if I could find something of interest. I was walking, while thinking of the number one topic that seems to be revolving my head like a continuous circle; death. When you think about it, the games are about the least of our worries, us back in the later districts witness almost daily. Why? Because we're starving and dehydrating to death almost every day. Life to most of us is a drag, and sometimes cause us to steal; we never have enough money to eat or keep our own hearts beating. But, the thought was normal to us as we at least witness it 23 times each year.. Right? God, I get off topic so much.. I think to myself with a giggle, I didn't go on a walk to think about death now, did I? Not that nobody does that, but I went on this walk to look at the beauty of the district.

So, I walked. Looking around, it seemed to be a very beautiful day. Though, it was kind of cold I looked around at the nature surrounding me, like I had never seen it before. The sun was glinting through the leaves on the grassy pathway that lead to a building that I didn't recognize from others that I usually see in the district. Cocking my head in confusion like a dog, I decide to walk towards it. Getting closer, I started to recognize the building from the clink of a drink and a large amount of manly laughs. It seemed to be the bar, this will be entertaining.. I think to myself as I stepped inside the doors of the building.

I see a man, a man that seems to know this place very well that had walked in before I had. Wondering to myself how could someone that seemed so young, and had so much potential know this place by heart? Did he grow up with alcoholic parents that probably went drinking every night, leaving him alone at home without anyone to talk to or ask for help with anything? I hope so, nobody this age should really know a bar that well. But, that's what I really thought and I knew that there would be people who would walk into a bar on a  regular basis without a single doubt. They'd assume from the environment they were given as a child was the way they are supposed to live. I knew by walking in here, my whole entire life could change.


By just drinking one simple glass.

[Knuckles]

Drinking had always been the way of life. I watched my parents drink and do other things they shouldn't have done. For the longest time I begged them to stop because it was tearing the family apart. My parents actually abandon my baby brother, and it kills me knowing that it happened, but he has to be alive somewhere. It hurt watching my parents torture themselves with the alcohol and drugs as it became more and more evident in their lives, and the longer I stood by and watched brought the pain to an end. It wasn't long after the pain started to end that the bottle was brought to my mouth for the first time. My throat screamed for me to stop as the alcohol made contact with it. I felt like someone had taken a match and set my throat on fire, but it didn't stop me from drinking anymore. Drinking became a passion - a hobby - although it could be a deadly hobby.

A guy walks up to where I'm sitting and asks if I wanted anything to drink. Of course I would say yes because that's exactly why I came here in the first place. He went back to the bar as more people crowded in. It wasn't the nicest place in the district because, let's face it, nothing is nice here. We're given such little for working for the Capitol just to be entered into a lottery where death is inevitable, yet it's nothing new. One girl catches my eye as she walks in. She couldn't be very old. Why was she here? Doesn't she know that drinking is bad? (Says the alcoholic.) I move from my table and walk over to her. I keep an eye out for the bar tender because I don't want to lose the drink. "And would would a young lady like yourself be doing here?" The words fell silently off my lips because I didn't want to alert anyone around us. Maybe she just wants a drink because that's a request totally worth answering.

[thompson harvard - d2b - arc]

I had always been told not to drink, it's a lifestyle that most likely lead to you getting whipped from being hung-over. But, this daily walk had brought me a new thing to try out. I'm not really sure if it was smart of myself to come into here, as some old drunk may attempt to get some of this. There was a man walking over to me, as I stood here looking around like a child at the zoo. Though, I had always wondered what it looked like inside a bar. I kind of expected more of a bidding set-up, though this is kind of close. Poker tables, bars, a couple tables to eat on, not that different from many others. As his face focused up into view, I noticed that it was the male that had interested me before I walked into the building.


"What would a young lady like you be doing here" the male said. I couldn't answer that question, honestly. All I knew was that I had come here in curiosity, and would probably need to get out soon. Though, I decided not to leave. A lot of things could be discovered here, and hopefully, good things. After some thought, I had come up with this idiotic response; "Well, besides trying to hook up some guys.. Adventuring, I had never been here before." I said. After listening to that into my head quickly, I slapped my hands to my mouth. What the hell was THAT? I thought to myself as I widened my eyes, making the expression that most people would read as regret of what they had just said. Honestly, I have no idea what I had just said, but oh well. His response would probably be something along the lines of calling me a slut, at that bet- I stood there. Waiting for a response.