One Fire: A One Direction Fan Fiction

15

15

   Everybody was dismissed from the gym and sent up to the residential floors after the fight and the declaration of five deaths. Tonight, we knew news of this would be broadcasted all over Panem, and decisions from President Snow and the Gamemakers about what to do now with only nineteen tributes left just days away from the games.

   “Are they just going to go and pick new tributes from the districts?” Leah asked over supper, before the broadcast was set to happen.

   “They wouldn’t do that,” Simon said. “It’s too much work for them. They’ll probably find a quick and easy solution they can bring into action in under five minutes.”

   Katy nodded in agreement. “They spend all year planning these games. Reaping new tributes would throw off the schedule,” she purred.

   When we’d finished eating, Katy, Simon, Caroline, Louise, Leah and I moved into the sitting room in front of the television, waiting for the broadcast to happen. Again, it was a time in my life when quiet hung over us like a block of lead waiting to drop down and crush us all. I felt relief when I heard the Capitol anthem and saw the familiar face of Kaius Evans.

   “Tragedy struck today during the training for the Twenty-Sixth Annual Hunger Games. Tension flared up between tributes Cosmo Carter, Coale Boyd, Chip Burke, Loach Casey and Ash Walsh. Each tribute was killed early this morning by another from this feisty bunch. Training has been excused for today, and the officiates have decided to postpone the games and move them back one day, also adding another full day of training.

   “As for the five tributes still needed to keep tradition, President Snow has concluded to use people already here in the Capitol to fill their spaces.”

   “They’re using Capitol children?!” Katy gasped. Paleness struck her face and she looked as if she were about to faint.

   “These tributes have been chosen from the existing pool of victors,” Kaius continues.

   “What does he mean?” Leah asked in a breath. The terror had shifted from Katy to her.

   But something makes my heart beat increase so that I can hear it in my ears. President Snow the man who despised me more than anyone, and who wanted me dead had come up with this. And I was an existing victor currently in the Capitol.

   “So, from District One: Zayn Malik,” Kaius announces, “From District Two: Niall Horan.”

   “Oh, no,” Caroline gasps, raising her hands to cover her mouth. Tears are forming in the corners of her eyes.

   “It’s rigged!” Leah yells.

   I can’t respond to either of them. My mouth was completely dry. I wasn’t even sure if I was breathing. I was frozen; paralyzed.

   “From District Three: Liam Payne.”

   “They can’t do this, can they?” Louise shrieks.

   “From District Four: Louis Tomlinson.”

   “Of course they can,” Katy sighs, nearly in tears.

   “They can do anything,” Simon growls, “It’s the Capitol we’re dealing with!”

   “And from District Twelve: Harry Styles.”

   I’m going back into the arena.