The Sixty-Seventh Annual Hunger Games

The Sixty-Seventh Annual Hunger Games (Chapter One)

     No. I think as the District Seven escourt reads my name out to the audience in the town square. "Piper Owens." she had said clearly, only seconds before. My legs don't work. How could they? I'm about to go fight to my death on television, with the whole country watching. Out of the other thousands of girls, my name was picked. What chance does a fifteen-year-old girl from Distric Twelve stand? 

     Every one stares at me expectantly. What am I supposed to do? My mind isn't working. The girl behind me nudges my a little too hard with her elbow. I stumble onto the stage. My hands are shaking, my palms are sweating, and I'm not sure if I'm the only one aware of the loud ringing coming from all directions. Our escourt, Palma, announces my name one more time, and starts over to the boys bowl. 

     I can't show my nervousness, people will see me. I straighten my posture, and fold my hands together firmly, but not too tightly. I lock my knees in place. Now I'm ready for the cameras. "James Peters." Palma calls out in her high, heavily accented voice.

     A boy of about twelve or thirteen stumbles onto the stage. He's from the Seam. His dark hair, violent gray eyes, and extreme thinness give him away. I continue trying to make myself look confident, while the boy shakily walks to the stage. Thank God that I don't know him, and I realize that I must relish that small relief, it may be the only I get in the weeks to come.

     All too soon I'm being directed towards the Justice Building. Will my family come to see me? My brothers will, for sure. Maybe not my father though. He's a detached drunk, who only participates in life when he's screaming at one of us to go out and get him more liquor. His constant want for alcohol is a reason that we live in the Seam. My two older brothers work cutting down trees, I do too, we have to support ourselves.  

     Will they be able to continue all day, with the thought of me in the arena, probably already dead before she even gets there? I'm over analyzing things right now. I need to calm down, and prepare for the arena. I need to think about myself right now. 

     As I'm guided into the room I'll be stationed at for a while, I notice how clean and beautiful it is. The couch looks expensive. Red velvet. I don't know how I know what it is, yet I'm sure of it. I sit down as the Peacekeepers close the door behind me. It's barely five minutes when my two brothers burst in. My father is nowhere to be seen, as expected. Too bad I don't really care if he's here or not. 

     "Piper." Jake, my oldest brother, who's 21, says as he pulls me into a tight hug. My other brother, Zander, hugs me too. He's only eighteen.

     "I wish I could've volenteered." He says. His voice is cracking. I shake my head, "Don't say that. Don't ever say that." My voice is barely a whisper. 

     Zander starts to reply, but suddenly the door swings open. My father stumbles in. He's dead drunk, and he's here to yell at me. 

     My brothers and I break appart. "What didya do that for, kid?" he yells at me. We all stare at him angrily. 

     "You think I wanted this? You think I wanted to go die in front of the whole country?" I reply angrily. My sassiness is only making him even more mad. I don't care anymore. If I'm gonna die, I might as well say what's on my mind before it's too late. 

     "If I'm gonna die, I get a death wish, right?" I say angrily, "well here it is: Get out now, and don't come back in. I never want to see you again." My words pour out all of the anger I've had building towards him since my mom left three years ago. My father advances towards me, probably to hit me. He might've made it if Jake hadn't shoved him into the door. 

     "Get off me, boy!" he shouts. Zander walks to Jake's side. They form a protective wall between my father and I.

     "You heard her. Get out." Jake says. My father grumbles as he opens the door. It slams against the wall, and the doorknob leaves a small dent in the wall. My brothers embrace me again. 

     "You're gonna win this thing. You're gonna beat it, and you're gonna come home." Zander assures me. I look at him sadly.

     "How am I going to win something that I've already lost?" I ask sadly. Zander looks annoyed. Then he says something I tell myself to always remember.

     "You can only win when you start. You'll only lose if you don't start." he says it as if it settles the matter. But I'm not good at anythig. And I tell him that. 

     "You know how to start a fire, you can use knife, you need to get your hands on weapons." Jake interjects. I nod. The Peacekeepers open the door. It's time for them to leave. My brothers hold me tightly, and I hold them back, possibly the last hug we'll ever share. "I love you." we say to eachother.

     Those are good last words to the people that you love.