Village of terrors| 70th Hunger Games

Chapter 1- Favoured

July 4th.
The day full of excitement, well at least for the Capitol, in a few hours, thousands of people will be crowded all together eager to see the tributes of this year's Hunger Games. Very soon, they will see faces of 24 children aged 12-18, who will be thrown into an arena where they will brutally fight to the death till a lone victor remains. The rules of the Hunger Games are basically kill or be killed and of course, be very cautious of who you are willing to trust and even then, it's never guaranteed, that you won't feel a sharp dagger stabbed in your back when you least expect it. The day when a young male and female are picked, known as the reaping is horrifying for many of the districts, screams and cries coming from the unlucky ones who are reaped, tears from their loved ones. There were multiple times when the selected tribute had to be dragged on stage despite their protests. Once their name is picked there is nothing they can do about it, unless someone also between the age of 12-18 steps up or more specifically volunteers as tribute. Since these games are dreaded by the districts, it doesn't happen often. However that isn't the case when it comes to district 1, district 2 and sometimes district 4 since every time a child is picked from the reaping bowl and even before they can finish reading the name on the slip, the area is full of screams of people volunteering. For those districts, the games are the greatest things to have and to bring pride to their district, therefore if someone really doesn't want to to participate in the games, they really don't have anything to worry about, since it's guaranteed that many others will want to. Since there is always more than one volunteer, everyone who volunteers will have to show off their skills and only then the one who proves that they have the best chance, will be the one to be named tribute.

"Rise and shine girls, big day today, well at least for you Vi"

Dona, Vivian's mother says. Anona could hear the raspy voice of her mother, she could clearly tell she didn't get much sleep. District 2 truly believes that the Hunger Games are on of an opportunity to show of and bring pride to their district but that didn't stop Dona from worrying about her daughter, who recently just turned 12, making this her 1st year to be entered into the pool of names of citizens from district 2.

Dona walks into the kitchen being greeted by her husband Arthur, who immediately spotted the worry in her eyes.

"Dona, that little one's name is only there once and so what? I assure you if her name is picked, seconds later the crowd will be screaming their lungs out to take her place"

"You know that's not what I'm worried about Arthur, I've known her for 12 years, her being picked isn't my worry at all. She's a feisty one and you know it, she would rather cuddle with a knife than a teddy bear during her sleep."

"Your point being?"

"My point is that what I'm worried about is her volunteering."

"And can you blame her? I mean come on, all kids here are raised and taught to believe these games are the greatest thing to have happened and she's got it in her, you can tell by just looking at her, she won't hesitate to launch at someone who crosses her way"

Arthur was right. Vivien surely wasn't one of the kids who would spend time running around the district with a smile on her face. She has this cold glare like a doll from a horror movie.

"Are you serious right now Arthur? I've raised that little girl for 12 years and I'm a certainly not going to watch her get a knife thrown in her back."

"Look all I'm trying to say is it's out of our hands. I love both my daughters very much but in this case, you can't stop her Dona. If she volunteers and passes the test, there's no stopping her, plus that one, she's sneaky as a fox, if I were the other tributes, I would watch my back day and night, she's got the aim."

"I'm pretty sure you're forgetting that she's only 12, I bet half the other tributes are going to be twice her size-"

"Mom? Dad? What's going on"

Dona's head whips around to see her daughter Vivien dressed in a blackish dress with a grey rose pattern.

"Oh nothing honey, we were... we were just talking about when we should head out- why are you al dressed up already?"

"I'm going out,who knows if I get the honour to compete, I won't be able to see this place for a while"

Vivian replies fidling with the hem of her dress.

"Sure honey, but don't be long, I still need to do your hair"

"Mom please, if I'm going to be competing in who knows what like arena, I think I can deal with my hair. Anyways I'll see you later, gotta head out before the sirens announce the time of the reaping"

Before her mother could say anything back, Vivian is already out the door roaming the streets of her district. After walking for less then 5 minutes, she hears a familiar voice and snicker not far away from her.

"Soooo Vivian Ambrose soon to be Victor of the 70th Hunger Games"

The voice mocks. Vivien turns around and not to her surprise she sees the one person she's been hoping to avoid since the reaping.
Aster Murrow.
Aster and Vivian had been going to the same school, except different years, since Aster was a year older than her. They weren't close friends, actually quite the very opposite.

"What do you want?"

Vivian rolls her eyes. If this were the arena, she would already lunge at her with no second thought.

"Oh nothing. It's just cute how you think you have the chance to actually win this years games, my sister is 1 year younger than you and she clearly has more muscles than you. Even if you volunteer, you're gonna have to show off what you got in the academy and I hate to break it to you but you probably can't even cut a carrot with that knife of yours"

"Hm we'll see, is your head considered a vegetable? I could use some practice after all"

"How cute miss 'I'm great with knives' thinks she stands a chance"

"You know what Aster, you are the one you should be worrying about, not me"

Vivian says with a slight grin on her face, which makes her peer boil with rage.

"Fine! After all the reaping is about to begin soon, I better go get ready. You on the other hand? You look like you came straight out of a bat cave."

"If I'm correct, these are the Hunger Games, not dress to impress"

Vivian laughs and with that, Aster gives her a death stare and walks right past her, shoving her with her elbow in the process.

"Real tough Aster"
Vivian
"But may the best one win"

May the best one win, the one who in a few hours will be sitting in the train on their way to the capitol.