The Children on Fire

Chapter 1: That Night

       My name is Willow Mellark. And I've never been worried. Or afraid. Or uncomfortable. Until that night. I live in District 12, the coal mining District, and I've always been very proud of it. My family is very famous all over Panem. People from other Districts always came to vistit us and praise us. My parents were the ones that gave us our problem-free life. They're Katniss Everdeen-Mellark and Peeta Mellark.

       There was this cruel game called the Hunger Games. I know all about it. We studied it in school, and I've witnessed it whenever one of my parents wake up screaming and crying, then my younger twin brother, Rye, and I have to calm them down. Remind them that it was just a dream. But I know it wasn't.

        The Hunger Games. It was the most cruel thing ever. 24 "tributes." One "victor." The one victor had to kill 23 people to get out and earn eternal fame. Nobody has been killed in the last 16 years. People only die of tragic accidents and old age. No killing. There is nothing to be worried about. Nothing to be afraid of. Or so everyone thought. The night happened in a blur.

       My dad says that I take after my mom. I have his beautiful blue eyes. I have my mom's dark hair. My mom taught me archery at a young age, and I was a natural. All my brother ever wanted to do was bake and decorate cakes. He was the most amazing artist I've ever met. And he had an amazing singing voice. I'll admit, I was jealous.

       I'll never forget the night when over 200 people were killed in Districts all over the world. Our president, President Wood Snow, had been planning to take over the Districts once again. Just like his father had. We all loved President Snow. He was the one that had ensured our safety. And all in one night it was gone. My dad said that it was Panem all over again. 

       Peacekeepers came with torches and burnt houses to the ground. They carried weapons called "guns" and shot everyone in sight. Anyone who stood in their way. My best friend, Lily, died. Everyone we loved died. Everyone we knew died. They didn't touch the Victor's Village, where we lived. My parents said that District 12 looked exactly how it did when they were our age. Poor. Old. Run-down. Depressed. Dead. My mom cried. My dad did too. So did Rye and I. It was horrible. And in the morning, it hadn't been a dream. The Peacekeepers had reported back to the Capitol. Dead bodies were everywhere. Stores were trashed. Money was stolen, with little left. The old rules were established. The Hunger Games was back on. And the reaping was in a few months. That's where my brother and I come in.