Lucas Sinclair: The Hunger Games

CHAPTER TWO - PREDATOR AND PREY

CHAPTER 2

PREDATOR AND PREY

GRAPHIC VIOLENCE WARNING

Lucas sat at the bottom of a tree, clenching his chest.

He had almost died.

That District 1 richboy was gonna kill me, fucking KILL ME... END MY LIFE... And he was fucking smiling while doing it.

Lucas never tried to wish violence or death upon anyone... but he'd be lying if he said he wasn't glad to see Jason Carver getting his neck snapped by that District 12 girl... Max.

Max...

Lucas thought about her... he didn't know her very well. Nobody did.

She was extremely quiet and always kept to herself. Apparently she liked to sneak off to the woods and stay there, avoiding work.

Most District 12 people have to work in the mines... Lucas got lucky enough to work in the kitchens. Max, whenever she did actually go to her job instead of skipping, worked on making clothes.

Apparently Max was a 'trouble child', and had a problem with authority. Allegedly, she believed that one day she was going to be handpicked for the games due to the District 12 leaders not liking her.

I wonder if that actually happened... I'd hope our leaders are better than that.

Max's name was called first on The Reaping. The idea of her being intentionally called was 100% on everyone's mind.

And then, Lucas' name was called.

When the female and male tribute are picked, they must look each other in the eyes and shake hands on the stage.

Lucas could only imagine what it looked like for Max to look into his eyes and face.

When Lucas looked at Max... a LOT went into his mind.

She's beautiful. Her eyes, her hair... I can see she has a fire in her. I wish I got to know her.

And yet, one thought was most definitely on both of their minds.

It's them or me. If I want to live... they have to die.

Lucas would be lying if he said that thought didn't pop into his head while looking at Max,

If I want to live... she has to die.

And Lucas knew that thought went through Max's head too. That if Max wanted to live, Lucas would have to die.

And yet,

We're from District 12. Both of us are gonna die.

District 12 was the one and only district that never won. Even District 11 had won a few times.

Not 12.

Each district went from most rich and prestigious to more poor as it went on. District 1 was a paradise. District 12 was a slum.

Lucas still felt some pride at being from District 12.

And yet, the fact that every single tribute that went into The Hunger Games each and every time for the past 75 years, the fact each and every one of them died... not only was it devastating for those who lived in District 12... It was humiliating.

Every other District looked at 12 like a joke. Like lambs for the slaughter. Lucas couldn't help but think to himself,

They're probably right. I am a lamb to the slaughter. But this lamb isn't going down without a fight.