The Quater Quell: 50th Hunger Games

Chapter 3

            With my hair braided that resembled the tail of a fish and an all-white dress with lavender stitching, I tell my parents and sister to go ahead. "I will catch up with you guys there!" I shout as I leave our cabin. I had something I had to do. It's silly but I do it every year. I walk down our footpath that leads to our creaky shack of a barn. "Wheatie! Come here girl!" I whistle. I wish my favorite cow good bye and give her a big kiss on her forehead, right between her big, bulbous, brown eyes. "Mommas going away for an hour but I'll be back. I promise. If I don't come back, try not to run away again." I half way smile. Wheatie was notorious for escaping the corral.

          I hear our nation's anthem beginning to play from the town square. "Wish me luck girl!" Wheatie gives me a big lick with her black tongue as if she really knew what I was saying. I jog towards the town square while trying not to mess up my hair. Robin would kill me and besides, I really do want to look good for Walt.

           I make it just in time to the roped off section where the eighteen year olds of District 10 Stand. I sneak into the back trying to remain oblivious to the rest of the District and Peacekeepers that I was late. I scan the crowd for Robin and Jade. They are too close to the front of the cluster for me to get to them. I missed the initial lame video that they show every year of the smoldering District 13 and why Panem is "so great a nation." The new Mayor was  wrapping up his speech as what an honor it is to serve as a tribute and to represent District 10 well when the tributes arrive the capitol. I try not to let anyone see me roll my eyes.

              District 10's escort stand from his chair and walks to the microphone. "Hello everyone!" Cicero shouts a little too loud. He reaches to grab the microphone to bring it away from his mouth but almost knocks it over. "Oh goodness!" Cicero giggles. I bet he was red as a tomato under all of that makeup. Cicero sported a dark green wig that must have stood four feet high from his head. He had some kind of implants under his skin that represented scales and he always wore some kind of reptilian suit. Sometimes, Cicero would try to ass a hiss on the end of every word. I liked him though, well, considering he was a freak from the capitol.

          "Sorry folks, did you see the way that thing jumped at me?" Cicero awkwardly laughs. You could tell he was hoping to get a few laughs but the crowd was silent. "Well, lets get on with it shall we? As you all know, this year is the 50th anniversary of the Hunger Games. Its been 50 years since the end of the rebellion that we call the Dark Days. As you know, our ancestors dedicate every 25 years to be special games to remind us that we are nothing without their grace and we owe them our gratuity. I have here, in my very own pocket-" cicero pauses to pat his scaly pocket and pulls out a golden envelope. "I have here the very words that were written so long ago, on what we can expect from this year's games."

           I look over to the male section that holds the eighteen year old boys. Where is he? I scan the crowd and I finally spot Walt. As if he could feel my eyes on him, Walt turns around and flashes me a dazzling smile and a wink. I can feel myself blushing. I cant hear him but I can see that he laughs and blows me a kiss. I smile and turn my attention back to Cicero, trying to look like ive been paying attention and not thinking about Walt. Surprisingly, I wasn't really nervous. Of all the years my name has been entered into that glass bowl, I am confident that I will be safe as my last year.

        "Without further ado ladies and gentlemen, I will open...the envelope." Cicero say while waving the envelope into the air. He sure does go for the dramatic appeal. Cicero clears his throat. "As a reminder to the Nation of Panem and its citizens that the Dark Days were days of tragic loss of the Capitols civilians. But alas, the Capitol vectored over the Rebels. Their numbers were no match of our great Nation. For every civilian and resident of the Capitol that was killed, two Rebels died. As a reminder that the Rebels never stood a chance and to keep the idea of rebellion obliterated, this year, two males and two females will be reaped as tributes."

          Did I hear that right? Two boys and two girls. Four tributes from each district for a total of 48 tributes. I look around and everyones face must match mine. Shock, tears, and worry fill every face. Cicero looks into the crowd "This will be an excellent game!" he cheers. "This year is Gentleman first!"

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