Fire is Raging On (A Hunger Games Fanfic) [#Wattys 2016]

Chapter Eighteen

Chapter Eighteen

Peeta's POV

"Lewis. Jones," a man says as we step off the hovercraft. "Welcome to England, Peeta and Katniss Mellark."

I look around at my new surroundings. It looks quite a bit different from District Twelve and different from any other place is Panem. There are heavy clouds in the sky that look like they may start dropping rain at any moment. There are is a river running along where we landed with many bridges spanning across as the water races underneath them. There are also a great many of older looking building spread about.

"I'm Brandon Mills," the man that talked earlier says stepping forward to shake our hands. I take his outstretched hand in my grasp and shake his hand firmly. "The Royal family is waiting for you to arrive. We just need to cross the Thames and make our way to the palace."

I look at Katniss, and she seems awestruck. I must admit the older building do have a unique style and have obviously deteriorated in places. But with as old as they look, I suppose that is only to be expected.

"Many of the building here survived World War III. Quite a few of them are still the originals that were built hundreds of years ago by some of the first kings and queens," Maya offers as we begin to make our way to one of the bridges.

Some of these building are hundreds of years old? That's quite impressive, the oldest buildings we have in Panem are the Justice Buildings and Victor's Village houses. Most of District Twelve are some of the newest buildings Panem has, with the exception of some of the newer skyscrapers of the Capitol is always having built. How can buildings like these survive so long? There structures and the way they must have been built are so different from those today?

"It's so different here," Katniss whispers.

"I know. The buildings are so much more intricate than the ones in Panem," I say.

"An artist like you is sure to see the beauty and skill that went into the many buildings here," Maya says. "Now, let's hurry. It is best to not keep the royal family waiting long."

~FIRO~

The palace gates and walls stand tall before us. Brandon says something to a guard stationed outside the gates. The guard gives us a once over, before nodding and opening the gate. The palace grounds are a lush green and still looks rather bright despite the gloomy sky. More guards are stationed along the pathway up to the palace doors. All serious faced and staring straight ahead. They don't even move their eyes as we walk pass.

The interior of the palace surprises me. It's a vast contrast to the ancient architecture of the exterior. The interior is modern in every sense of the word. On the walls hang TVs, all broadcasting different stations. The closest one to us seems to show news of sort or reports. Just then a loud ear splitting ring echos through the foyer where we still stand. All the TVs turns black and the words "Live From Panem" appear in white block letters.

On the screen, a series of podiums are lined in a circle around a huge metal husk. The Cornucopia. The podiums rise and on them stands the tributes. The automated sounding voice begins talking, "Ladies and gentleman, let the Seventy-sixth Hunger Games begin."

~FIRO~

Gale's POV

It's the morning of the Games. After the interviews last night all I wanted to do is go to bed with Madge in my arms and that is exactly what I did. Or try to do at least, I had a rather hard time sleeping with the very prospect of me dying as soon as the Games start tomorrow or well today at this point. Just as sun is beginning to peek of the horizon, Augustus comes to get me. I leave Madge with a quick gentle peck on the lips. I will see her once more before I die today.