The 66th Hunger Games

The Justice Building

Her own name had never sounded so strange. It rang around her skull a few times before she realised it belonged to her. Mollier blinked a few times before looking to Valvine for confirmation that she hadn't imagined it. Valvine's hand was clasped over her mouth and she had taken a sep back with Piper, as if being made a tribute was catching. The crowd was so silent, as silent as they were for Grid, who was waiting alongside Viro, his own face mirroring what Mollier's must look like. She had to think fast. There were cameras fixed on her expression. She looked to the screens and saw indeed the same petrified, stunned gaze that was plastered over Grid. The shot flickered to Fission, who had stopped yelling. Instead he stood, chest heaving and brows so furrowed in rage and concentration the camera angle had to be changed so they could still see his eyes. Mollier had never felt the absence of her father so much. Ohmran would be watching live as he had to. He would know already that she had been chosen. Mollier pushed the thought away. She had to focus. She had to look strong.

The teen took a deep breath and raised her head, squaring her jaw. She clenched her fists and imagined all of her rage and fear were contained there, all the heartbreak at the loss of her life so quickly, so suddenly, so carelessly. Though they felt as though they were chained to the floor, Mollier forced her feet to move, stepping out of line and towards the central path. Piper reached out to grab her forarm. Mollier looked down to her and saw the terrified tears streaming down Piper's cheeks. Mollier paused and bent down. She pulled Piper into a tight hug before wiping the tears from her eyes, giving her a very forced smile.
"It's okay." 

The walk to the stage was mostly in a blur. She was containing so many emotions, the outside world didn't feel real, she had made herself numb. Viro seemed to notice her absent mind and he walked the few steps down to take her hand, genlty escortingher up to the stage. Mollier turned to face the crowd and found two camera's on her, one on her whole body, the other very close to her face. 
"Mollier Wanless of District five, ladies and gentleman!" Viro had begun again, though Mollier knew she would have to answer She couldn't look weak, like Grid. "How old are you Miss Wanless?"
"Sixteen" 
"Sixteen! So you must be in your first year of working?" He asked. Mollier looked over at him and nodded.  "Yes, at the hydroelectric plant." Viro gave her face full of excitement and raised eyebrows, ignoring what a waste it was for her to be sentenced to death like this. 
"So you're one smart cookie? Wow." She nodded again, watching the man. The sweat had beat the powder on his forehead and she watched a droplet run down his dark skin, making it sparkle in the sunshine. "Well the very best of luck to you Mollier Wanless of District Five! May the odds be every in your favour. That's all from us here at District Five, we will no go over to District Six to see who will be joining our journey from the world of transport - Happy Hunger Games!"

Mollier had been vaguely listening but her eyes had wandered over to the Wintess stand where Fission was being directed by a couple of Peacekeepers to the exit, no doubt to be taken to see Mollier off. She had never seen him so angry and she had never felt so far away from him. Viro was prattling on to the crowd about them being free to enjoy the rest of their day but to keep an eye on the screens around the town to see the rest of the tributes being reaped. Mollier and Grid were then swept away towards the Justice building. She turned to get one last glance of Valvine and Piper before the doors were closed behind them and they were there, at the start of their journey to the Hunger Games. To their deaths.

Mollier found the silence torturous. Once told to sit ont he bench in the hallway, she twisted to face Grid. He didn't look at her.
"Hey." He didn't reply. "I guess we will have to get to know eachother. My name is Moll-"
"We don't need to get to know eachother. We're both dead." He snapped. His voice was lower than she thought it would be from someone so slim. The bluntness of his words threatened to bring up that panic Mollier had been working so hard to keep in check.
"Well... Wouldn't it be best to not go through it alone?" She asked. He shrugged, eyes on the floor. 

Viro approached the bench with two people, one that anyone from any District would instantly recognise. District Five's Porter Millicent Tripp, the victor of the thirty-eigth Hunger Games. Porter was even more famous than most other victors as she won despite a severe spinal injury which lead to the Capitol fashioning her what they called a "Halo", a back and neck brace that she had to wear for years after the games. It became such a staple of her look that others in the capitol started to add metal stints and supports to their garments to follow the trend set by the victor. Now in her fourties and living the life of a victor, Tripp did not wear the brace, but still walked with a very straight back and always turned with her whole body. She was beautiful of course, as most people are when they win the games in such a dramamtic way, the capitol makes sure their beauty is preserved so their living museum of victors can be paraded around at any time.