Save me - A Hunger Games Story

Chapter 5

The horns blurted out the roaring tune of the Tribute Parade, played every year, as the first horses pulled District 1's tributes out into the Capitol streets.

A few minutes later, our horses began to walk and we began our journey. Breathing deeply, Ash hand my hand and squeezed it tightly. At either side of the street, thousands of people dressed in extravagant, bright colours. The cheered and waved and screamed of excitement, especially when the tributes from district 1, 2 and 4 passed by. Those tributes were Career tributes. The tributes that you have to worry about in the Games. In those districts, the children were trained from a young age, in combat, before most of them would then volunteer. To them, it was an honour to be in the Games, as they were sure they would win. Most of the victors were always from those districts.

The deafening music and roaring crowds made my head spin. I become overwhelmed with dizziness and probably would have stumbled out of the chariot, if Ash hadn't been there to pull me up and hold me upright for the rest of the ride. 

At the end of the ride, each chariot was lined up and we stared in front of us, where a figure stood on a raised platform. President Snow.

'Welcome tributes. Tributes, we welcome you.' He said. He then spoke more about how much the whole of Panem would enjoy the Games and then we were led into a large building behind.

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Hazelle and Billy led us inside and into a large lift. Hazelle excitedly told us that the building had thirteen floors: one ground floor and one floor for each district. And as we were District 12, we had the top floor. 

'It's the penthouse!' squealed Hazelle, obviously full of excitement. 'You each will have one room and there is a large lounge and dining room space. I hope it will be a comfortable place to live in for the next week.'

Once we ascended to the top floor, the glass doors opened and we stepped into a vastly decorated room. In front of me was the lounge area, where a large white sofa sat in front of a massive TV. Many side tables were placed around as well.

In the next room along, was the dining section. A large wooden table, with a silk table cloth. The table was decorated with elegant glasses, cutlery and plates. 

'We will be having our dinner in an hour so go to your rooms to freshen up.' Called Hazelle. 

Shrugging, I walked to the room that Billy had pointed me to.

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I sat on the elaborate bed and stared out of the window. Bright lights lit up the dark night outside. Large droplets of rain landed on the window, clouding my view, but I managed to see. Citizens were strolling down the streets laughing and cheering and stuffing their faces with food. The people in the Capitol were oblivious to how we were being treated in the Districts. At home, people barely lived until forty, as most people starved to death or caught some sort of disease or infection. But here in the Capitol, there were hundreds of medicines to help with all of that, and so much spare food that people would just take helping after helping. It was so horrible and unfair.

And as I lay in bed that night after barely eating anything for dinner, out of guilt, I cried for my parents and Axel and mainly for  Lucy, whom I would probably never see again.