Ascendance: The 99th Annual Hunger Games

Chapter 3

District 9 Reaping

"There around here somewhere, the crooks who have been stealing the grain." Says an angry man off in the distance.

I jump, causing the grain I have been picking to fall out of my hands. I quickly look at Leo. We're best friends but he's like a brother to me. I can see the terror in his eyes and know that I must have the same look in mine. I put my finger to my lips in a 'shh' position.

"The voice came from that way." I whisper to Leo, pointing in the behind us.

"What do we do?" Leo asks me.

"Run." I say.

We take off down the row of grain.

"Turn" i whisper and we turn down into another row of grain.

We make 3 more turns before I hear the same voice again.

"I think I see em' down there!"

shit. We haven't been caught before. The grain delivery is always on a Thursday. Today's a Wednesday. How did they find out about us? I tap Leo's arm twice in a signal of 'turn right' he takes hold of my hand and we sprint down the next row of grain, being careful for to not make any sound or rub against any grain crops.

I can see the end of the grain ahead, we may be able to sneak out without being spotted. But before we can make it out, I'm tackled to the ground by a peacekeeper. I can taste the dirt in my mouth. I quickly wriggle out of their grasp and step hardly on their back. Crunch.

We keep running. Another peacekeeper steps out of the grain crops to the left of us. I turn around and see the peacekeeper who tackled me before get up and start to run after us. It's over. They know who we are, there's no way out. But I'm not going down without a fight. I glance at Leo and through the darkness I can see him nod.

We both pull out our flint and steel and rub them against each other. I smile. The grain crop quickly catches fire, along with the other peacekeepers inside. A peacekeeper grabs my arm from behind me. I flick my flint and steel in their direction and hear the receiver screech. We keep running. I hear Leo grunt and turn to see a peacekeeper launch at him. He pushes the peacekeeper off of him and uses the flint and steel to set the peacekeeper on fire.

But as my attention is on Leo and his attacker, another peacekeeper jumps onto me.

"Agh!" I yell.

I know it's over. We're surrounded by 6 peacekeepers.

"How did you know they would be here?" I hear one ask with a smile.

"I've been noticing that everyday before we deliver the grain, some is missing. So I thought I would investigate." Says another voice, tauntingly.

I can hear the smugness in the voice. The man takes off his smooth, white peacekeeper helmet and I can see his smile staring down at me.

Soon enough, we're tied up and taken to the city hall. Leo and I, still tied up, are placed on a bench inside the Hall of Justice. A peacekeeper walks in through the doors. He briskly marches over to another peacekeeper and whispers something in his ear, the only thing I can decipher is 'orders from the mayor' both peacekeepers look at us and laugh. Leo and I look and each other confused. The first peacekeeper comes over to us.

"You better get some good night sleep before your big day tomorrow, or should I say big day next week?" He then bursts into laughter and walks away.

As if reading my mind Leo asks

"What was that about? Tomorrow? Next week?"

Wait-

"Tomorrow's reaping day... And next week is the Hunger Games." I say.

"So?" Leo asks, still confused. "What does that have to do with anything? What are we going to do-"

I see his face form into a look if realization.

"Oh my god, Zea, you don't mean that we're going to compete in the 99th annual Hunger Games." Leo asks, but I can tell he already knows the answer.

"Yes, Leo. That's exactly what I mean."
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"This is absurd!" I scream for about the fifth time in the last 3 hours.

I hate living in District 9. I hate having to steal. I hate the capitol, but most of all I hate the Hunger Games. Leo is the only person who understands where I'm coming from. Both our family's are poor and live off our stolen grain to survive. The tesserae only lasts so long.

"Well...at least we will have some training. We'll be ok." Leo says, trying to convince me.

But I can tell he's really trying to convince himself. Although, he's right about one thing, we're both our skilled with weapons, flint and steel. Our parents are bakers so we know our way around fire.

"We'll have to fight fire with fire."
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I wake up on the bench Leo and have been tied on for what feels like forever. Peacekeepers pull us upright and drag us to the wooden door of the city hall.

"It's your time to shine." One says with a cruel laugh.

We're pushed out through the doors onto the stage, the gleaming sun shining in our eyes. Squinting, I see the mayor look in our direction an evil gleam in his eyes.

"Here they are! The criminals!" He says with a shout. "They have been stealing grain from our grain crops before they have been sent out for delivery. Not only did they commit this crime, they harmed peacekeepers and set fire to the crops. Instead of public execution, they will get the honor of being our tributes for the 99th annual Hunger Games! Let us welcome convicts, Zea Oatley and Leo Rye! He says joyfully, an evil smile on his face.

And for the second time in 24 hours, we're tied up and hauled into the hall of justice once more.