In penance for their uprising, each district shall offer up a male and a female between the ages of 12 and 18 at a public "reaping". These tributes shall be delivered to the custody of the Capitol. And then transferred to a public arena, where they will fight to the death until a lone victor remains. Henceforth and forevermore this pageant shall be known as
THE HUNGER GAMES
The sweat streamed down my face as I stood in the battered town square. The rebellion was lost, and since I live in District 2, we weren't hit as hard as some districts. I can't imagine what it was like in the other districts, especially 13. It was completely destroyed. All that stood was the Justice Building, but just barely. In my honest opinion, I think that its bullshit to punish the entire country for the acts of rebel districts. It has been 3 years since the end of the rebellion. Now I am standing here, in a crowded town square waiting to see who will be our 'tribute' that will have to compete for their life against other children. I held Timothy's hand tightly.
'God, please don't let it be him' I whisper, looking to the sky. We had already lost our parents in a rebel bomb attack when Timothy was 8. Now we stand alone. No one to miss us if we die.
'Welcome!' I lose my train of thought and look up. A bright, mid-twenties Capitol woman with blue tinted skin stands before us on out freshly washed stage.
'Happy Hunger Games and, May The Odds Be Ever In Your Favor'
I scoff: under my breath of course. If anyone had heard me, I would be shot on sight. The Capitol is stricter than ever.
" It is with great honor, that I, Eta Viponit, be District 2's very first escort. Now, let us see who tributes will be, shall we?" She smiles and walks over in front of where the girls are, where a ginormous glass bowl filled with tiny white slips, awaits her.
"District 2's Tribute for the 1st Annual Hunger Games is," she opens the folded slip of paper, "Charm Belgerdas!" A shocked girl walks to the stage, nearly tripping on the stairs. A mothers cry breaks the silence. This girl must be at least 17 years old and already she is being sent off to her death.
"And now, the gentleman: Titus Alderdyce!" I stare straight ahead. I could only have imagined it. She didn't say my name. She couldn't have. Timothy lets go of my hand. I look down at him, tears in his eyes.
"Go" He whispers. I find my way to the stage, my vision blurred. No, I wasn't crying, but I felt like fainting. I am going to be shipped back here in a casket. I am sure of it. I am not strong, nor smart. I have lost an enormous amount of weight since the war. I am almost a stick.
"Ladies and Gentlemen, I give you District 2's very first Tributes!" The Anthem to Panem plays and we walk off stage, through the halls of the Justice Building, out to a train station. I looked back before the walls had shut, and I see Timothy, standing their up straight, with 3 fingers in the air, saying goodbye. He knows my fate too.
