The 53rd Hunger Games- Two Words

4.The Competition

Dinner is simple but elegant. Perhaps we are slowly being introduced to the splendour of the Capitol. I eat more than I've ever had before, and drink all sorts of coloured liquids. Some of them are alcoholic, and those ones I refuse.

Gladius is looking ill, and he runs to the car when his bed and bathroom five minutes after he's finished eating. I'm struggling to hold my dinner down, so I sit curled up on the couch, waiting for the reruns to come on. I want to see who I'm up against as soon as possible. Some stupid Capitol program is finally coming to an end...and then the seal of Panem comes up. I sit straight up, leaning forward with anticipation. The Careers will be the first tributes I see.

Caesar Flickerman gives his speech. For the first ten second I listen, but then I find myself wishing him to hurry up. This year, his eyelids and hair are a fuchsia colour, which stands out alarmingly. Hurry up Caesar! I think. I want to see the tributes.

Finally Caesar's speech comes to an end, and they go to the reapings. District One is up first. The escort is wearing an outfit that looks like it's welded out of black metal. As soon as she calls the name of the girl who has been chosen, another lunges forward to claim the female tribute's place. The new tribute is a couple of inches taller than I am, and a few pounds too light to be called voluptuous. Still, she has maybe thirty pounds on me.

The boy who volunteers is tanned with dark hair and a confident smirk. He's a half foot taller than the girl, and stocky beyond belief. The Careers already have two strong members. I can only hope that the rest of them aren't as bulky.

In two, the boys are called first. A tall, lean red haired boy is chosen, but will not allow anyone to volunteer for him. He has a sly look on his face, and the girl that ends up beside him could be his sister. Her auburn curls frame her picturesque face. They look to be around seventeen, and although they're not as stocky as the tributes from One, they still look threatening.  

The tributes from three are like a lull, as they separate the three Career districts. The tributes chosen have dark hair, and ashen skin. They are small and weedy, and bear what I'm sure will be a resemblance to the District Twelve tributes. Both of them look intelligent, though, and I think not to count them out just yet. After all, it is pretty much anyone's game.

The final Career district is no different. The escort is in a painfully bright suit, and she starts will the girls. Predictably, as soon as the first girl has stepped up onto the stage, another volunteers. She has the typical District Four look about her; well build, with bronzed skin and sun-bleached hair. She's a year older than I am, and stockier than I could hope to be. I've already forgotten her name, just like I have for the rest of the tributes.

Then come the boys.

The escort flicks her hair, and totters over to the glass ball that contains the strips of paper with boy's names.

"Elrin Barra!" she calls out.  A slim boy slips out of the crowd, only twelve years old. The second the escort opens her mouth to ask for volunteers, a voice calls out from the crowd.

"I'll take his place!"

A boy makes his way into the aisle, where he is met by Peacekeepers. The boy on stage sobs, and runs down the stairs. The boy who has just volunteered, however, lets the Peacekeepers take his arms, and march him up to the stage. He has a tan, and sandy hair. His eyes are a watery green, and he still has a smile on his face.

He looks beautiful.

The escort greets him with a smile. "Your name?"

He steps up to the microphone. "Hadrian. Hadrian Lore."