The Ninth Hunger Games

Chapter Two

I walked into the room labeled: 'Paris Mallory'. It was a pretty room. The walls were green and a bed, with green covers, was against the wall. A small dresser was across from the bed. I sat on the bed and looked around. How were they going to get the scores to me?

I walked around the room. It was so small and sparsely decorated. The people who come in don't last very long. I thought.

I opened up all the drawers in the dresser, and looked under the bed. No books, clothes, or writings were anywhere in the room. There was nothing that gave any hint of who the previous occupant was.

I looked at the door. A small mail slot was in the very middle. Ah, that's how they'll get me the scores.

I opened the door and looked down the hallway. Ten doors lined the girls' side, and ten were on the boys' side. The hallway was lit by round hall lights, like the kind in hotels.

I went back into my room. This place is so dull! But, then again, the people using this room aren't staying in here very long. I wonder when we'll get the scores. There isn't a window in here. I guess they don't want you to see the course, and all the places it could be, before it's time. I sighed and flopped back down on my bed.

How could this have happened to me? Tomorrow I would, probably, die, and I would never get to see my family again. I put my face in my hands. This is all just a terrible dream and when I wake up tomorrow, I'll be back at home, Donovan will kiss me in the park, the world will continue spinning, and the drawing won't be till next week. That has to be it.

I stared up at the ceiling, willing myself to sleep. Because, when I woke up, this would all turn out to be a dream. A terrifying dream.

The mail flap flipped up and down. I ran forward and grabbed the sheet of paper.

"The following are the survival chances of the contestants in this Hunger Games. They have been arranged by district, not by name.

Marlee Durshee, District One. Survival Chance: Six

Nickolas Odd, District Two. Survival Chance: Nine

Anikan Armour, District Three. Survival Chance: Nine

Morgan Harppie, District Six. Survival Chance: Eight

Rosebud Johnson, District Seven. Survival Chance: Seven

Paris Mallory, District Seven. Survival Chance: Eight

Catalina Strait, District Seven. Survival Chance: Nine

Giovanna Grey, District Eleven. Survival Chance: Seven

Emma Storm, District Twelve. Survival Chance: Five

Nemo Franklin, District Thirteen. Survival Chance: Ten

These are the survival chances of the contestants of this Hunger Games. Good luck."

I blinked slowly after I had read the letter twice. I had gotten an eight, which wasn't bad, but Nemo had gotten a ten! How had he done that?

A knock came at the door. "Yeah?" I asked.

"Dinner," the door swung open, revealing Anikan, who was holding two trays laden with food.

"Come in," I said. standing up to help her with the food.

She put the trays down on the dresser. "I got your tray as well as mine. They're going to think I'm trying to put my competitors down." She smiled at me and sat on the bed.

"You see the stats?" I asked her, grabbing a roll off of one of the trays.

"Yeah," she said looking at my sheet of numbers. "I got a nine."

"Nemo got a ten," I said, sitting down beside her.

"I know!" She folded the the letter into a paper airplane and threw it across the room. "How? How did he do it?"

I shrugged and took another bite of my roll.

Someone else knocked on the door. "Come in," Anikan called. I glared at her. This was my room.

The door opened slowly. It was Emma and Marlee; carrying their food trays.

"It's like a party!" Emma said chirpily, walking into the room; Marlee following.

Anikan smiled at them. "You see the stats?"

"Yes!" Marlee said, completely ignoring the fact she got a poor score. "Nemo got a ten! How?"

Anikan shrugged. "Who knows?"

We ate in almost complete silence after that, speaking only to complement the dishes, or wonder what the course would be.

After Emma finished her tray she rose. "I have to go. Bed, and sleep," she walked out.

Marlee stayed for another five minutes making small talk with us. Then she too rose and said: "I'll see you tomorrow," then she walked out.

Anikan and I sat in silence for another ten minutes. "I'll see you tomorrow, Paris," she said, standing up. "I have a plan. I-" her voice broke. "Good night, Paris," she walked out quickly.

"Night," I said to the empty hallway. I put the empty trays into the hall and shut the door, before curling up in my bed. "Good night," I whispered into the darkness, letting sleep wash over me.