The Divergent Games - A Crossover

Tris - Snow's Talk - 5

President Snow is a powerful man. That much is evident to me just by looking at him. He reminds me of Jeanine in his easy composure, but like Eric in his ruthless brutality. The train station is in complete silence when he's not talking, and when he is talking, it's like every person in here is holding their breath.

"Your city," he says, pausing for what I assume is dramatic effect, "Chicago, has offered to come to an allegiance." He talks slowly, as if he's thinking about every word he says with great consideration.

"Chicago?" questions Tobias. His muscles are tense against me. He does not like this situation anymore than I do.

"Ah," murmurs Snow, his eyebrows rising and his lips curling. His smile is charming, but I am not fooled. "How is it that you don't know your own country's name? Don't tell me I know more about where you come from than you do."

Chills rise from my neck and race down my spine, causing me to shiver. I'd never thought about what our city is called. I've always referred to it as just that: the city. I am not just from Dauntless, I am from Chicago, this place whose name I've never heard. Why does he know that, and I don't?

I bite my lower lip and stare at President Snow.

"Anyways, as a show of our allyship, they sent me you two. You will be participating in one of the Capitol's biggest, most symbolic events. It is a true honor. Some people would die to be in your spot."

I can't help but think that that was a play on words. Die. Just something about the way he said it, the way his smile grew just slightly, as if he's proud of some sort of joke. Maybe I would be less skeptical if Eric hadn't sent us here more excited than I've ever seen him. But I don't trust this man. How come I have never heard of the Capitol when its city is greater than ours? Why did I always just assume that Chicago was the only place out there?

"What is it?" I ask. "What's the event?"

"It is called The Hunger Games. Every year, twenty four tributes are selected at random from the twelve districts."

"Districts?" Tobias cuts in. My mind immediately moves to Factions. I can't imagine having twelve Factions.

"Each district is a region in Panem that specializes in a certain thing. District eleven, for example, works in agriculture. A male and female tribute is chosen from each. They then compete in the games for a chance to win a fortune."

"What's the catch?"

His smile shifts from something charming to something frightening.

"They must fight to the death. Whoever survives the longest is the victor."

He says it so casually that it makes me sick. My heart pummels to the bottom of my stomach and rises again, almost numb. This is why Eric was so excited. He wants to watch us die.

I let my head fall into Tobias' chest. I close my eyes and focus on keeping myself steady. Snow wants a reaction out of us, I refuse to give him the pleasure of it. Besides, I'm very lucky that I already suspected it would be something brutal, and my mind had already braced itself for news like this.

I try to tell myself that this is what I've been preparing for. The skills and strategies that I learned during each stage of Dauntless initiation will come into use during this game.

"Why does your city want to watch us die? What's the point of 'The Hunger Games?'" I spit. He leans forwards, putting his hands behind his back as he looks at me amusedly. I close my fingers into fists and squeeze them to prevent myself from dropping this brittle old man to the floor. If I did, I would be dead within the second, and so would Tobias.