The Rogue Games

Part 1 - The Games Chapter 1

Breathe in
Breathe out

I stick the string of my bow to my lips.

Breathe in
Breathe out

The deer is in front of me. 10 meters. Be quiet.

I put the bow into a perfect position. I haven't seen a deer in these parts for 2 years. My hand slowly lets the string go and it gets through the air with a silent sound. A scream. Then quiet.

I walk to it and take my arrow back, placing it in the gag. I take the lifeless body by the legs and start pulling it. I get soon out of the forest and then to the non-electrified fence that was supposed to be electrified between the small city of Vault and the outside world.

It wasn't always like this. When I was born, we were a free Galaxy, but after the Clone Wars finished, everything changed. The Rebel Games appeared. I like to call them Rogue, because you are kind of free in the games. No rules. The only objective: survival.

I throw the killed deer over the fence and I get throgh the metal strings. I start pulling it again to the city. On the way there I see my sister waiting for me. She takes the other pair legs and we carry it to the butcher's. We will have food for tonight.

We get out of there with the money for three breads and 1 leg of the animal. "You go home and prepare something with it. I go take some bread." I say and she nods. Her face reminds me of our mother. Her eyes, her nose, her mouth, everything is there. In the same thing, I look like our father. I used to be told I have the same eyes as him. He thought in the there was stardust. That was my nickname for him.

I turn a sharp left on the way home to the baker's area. I open the door and see the baker himself. "Have you got any animal for me?" He asks.

"Yes." I say and get out of my other bag a bird. "I also have money." I say as I put the coins on the glass. "I want every single bread that this is worth." I say. He nods and gets out 4 breads.

"Wait a second." He says. He gets something from behind him. "I know in two weeks it's your birthday. I made a cake for you if you get into the games during that time."

"You shouldn't have-"

"You deserve it." He says. I smile for a few seconds and get the foods.

"Thank you." I say as I get out of the shop. I walk the half of mile to my home: an old house with a bedroom, a kitchen and a bathroom. I open the door and get to the kitchen. I place the breads on the left and put the cake in the middle. I sit down in the chair and stare at it. 16 years ago, I was still in the belly of my mother. 16 years ago the Empire didn't even exist. 16 years ago we were a happy family.

"What's that?" She asks, pointing a few seconds to the cake.

"The baker. Free. For the day in two weeks. Not that I care so much about it." I say and look outside the window.

"Don't be so rude to yourself."

"You cut your skin 3 centimetres last year with a knife. You still have a wound." I say. She doesn't say anything amd gets back to the food.

"You know I'm only 1 year younger than you."

"I know. That's why I care so much about you. You know too much to give up." I say. The sky is grey and the grass outside is a darker green.

"So the extraction tomorrow, huh?" She says. "How many times is your name?"

"30 times." I say and look at her. "At you?"

"1 time." I nod.

"Good." She stops the cooker and puts the meat into the plates. She turnes around and I get two peaces of bread for each other. I push the cake to let the plates some space and take our forks.